Su Mu was curious and asked him why.

Xie Yi suddenly blushed, looking like he had been caught red-handed. He lowered his head, saying nothing, and found an excuse to duck into the kitchen.

Oh right, Xie Yi had recently become obsessed with cooking.

Although Xie Yi could cook before, he basically only made standard Chinese dishes, like stir-fried bok choy or braised eggplant with meat, probably learned at Li Scholar’s house. After all, stir-frying wasn’t common in the desert. The taste wasn’t particularly good, but it wasn’t bad either, just mediocre.

But compared to his culinary skills in the previous life, it was far inferior.

In her previous life, Su Mu often attended business dinners. Although a lot of dishes were ordered at the dinner table, she basically wouldn’t touch them. Returning to Luofeng Garden reeking of alcohol, after vomiting the alcohol from her stomach, Xie Yi would cook special meals for her.

Whether it was meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, or soups, they could all be considered masterpieces.

Back then, she had teased Xie Yi, asking if he had secretly learned from some master chef.

But Xie Yi said that although he grew up in the desert, he had learned cooking from his father since childhood, and he knew how to cook these Central Plains dishes from a young age.

Thinking back now, the Xie Yi of her previous life must have lied to her.

He clearly learned after coming to Juancheng, why didn’t he admit it?

“Xiao Yi, can you embroider?” Su Mu suddenly asked, looking at Xie Yi who was brewing tea for her.

Because in her previous life, Xie Yi had told her: “Sister Mu, my needlework is also quite famous in town. Although it can’t compare to the embroidery men of Suzhou, at least I can embroider a pouch for you. Sister Mu’s business has been growing in recent years, even Xiao Ping dares to climb into your bed. Those men outside must be going crazy. Why not wear a pouch to discourage them… Brother’s embroidery skills aren’t very good, and he’s focused on Shen… He probably wouldn’t be willing to take time to embroider these things for you. Why not wear the one I embroidered for you? At least it can ward off those flirtatious men and women, right?”

Although in the end, she was afraid Yan Jiyue would see it and misunderstand, so she only accepted it but didn’t wear it, the embroidery skills on the pouch Xie Yi gave her at that time were already quite excellent.

That’s why she asked like this.

Su Mu clearly saw the light in Xie Yi’s eyes dim a little as he was fanning the charcoal fire to brew tea. He pursed his lips: “Sister Mu, my embroidery skills can only barely mend clothes, and I can only embroider some simple flowers. But I can learn. Sister Mu, I learn things very quickly.”

Xie Yi put down the fan nervously, looking at her anxiously.

It seems that needlework was also learned after coming to Juancheng. Su Mu felt helpless in her heart. Why did the Xie Yi of her previous life have to maintain a perfect image in front of her?

Was it because he liked her, so he wanted to show her his best side?

Although she had never seen what Xie Yi was like in the desert, at that time, protected by his parents, he must have been lively, bright, and passionate, not like now, looking at her with obvious anxiety and a desire to please.

Su Mu smiled: “It’s okay, you’re very good as you are now.”

“Really?” There was still some uncertainty in Xie Yi’s voice.

“Really.” Su Mu ruffled his fluffy hair. “Not everyone needs to know embroidery. When I earn money, I’ll just buy them for you.”

At this moment, her tone was like that of a fickle woman making empty promises.

But Xie Yi believed her. His eyes widened, green gems shining brilliantly through his thick lashes: “Sister Mu doesn’t need to spend money on me. I’m already very happy just being by your side.”

Su ‘Fickle Woman’ Mu continued to make grand promises, a lock of her long hair sliding from her shoulder to her side: “If you don’t like this, it’s okay. In the future, I’ll buy you whatever you want.”

‘What if I want Sister Mu?’

Xie Yi only dared to say this in his heart, but didn’t have the courage to express his love out loud.

Although the brand on his body had been removed, the brand in his heart could never be erased. No matter how well he concealed it, in front of Su Mu, he would always be inferior.

He only dared to carefully pick up her fallen long hair, tucking this black and smooth lock behind her neck, and softly hummed in agreement.

“We just moved here, and there are still many small things we haven’t bought yet. Oh right, is there anything else you want to eat?” Su Mu allowed him to play with her hair.

Xie Yi looked at the soft white skin at the back of her neck, like a piece of snow. His breathing quickened, and his gaze wavered before looking away.

“…honey-coated seeds.” Xie Yi took out a packet of oiled paper from his bosom. When opened, there were only a few lonely honey-coated seeds rolling desolately on the paper.

“Honey-coated seeds again?” Su Mu chuckled softly. “They’re so cheap, you can buy a big bag for just a few coins. Didn’t we also buy a lot of peony honey cakes, lychee paste, and snowflake crisp last time? Don’t always eat the same flavor.”

Xie Yi’s eyelashes lowered like feather fans: “But I like eating honey-coated seeds.”

“Alright then,” Su Mu compromised, though she didn’t understand why Xie Yi liked these cheap, tooth-achingly sweet candies. “But don’t you get tired of eating the same candy all the time?”

Xie Yi lowered his head, his voice soft yet incredibly firm: “I won’t get tired of it, not for a lifetime.”

The gentle voice crashed into Su Mu’s ears. She turned to look at Xie Yi, dressed in white, his skin even whiter than snow, with an unshakeable light shimmering in his downcast eyes.

In his previous life, he had eaten honey-coated seeds for a lifetime and never tired of them.

Su Mu felt as if her heart had been stirred for a moment.

But she quickly came back to her senses and picked up a honey-coated seed, holding it to his lips.

Xie Yi had been looking down, but suddenly felt a sweet touch at his lips. Seeing that it was Su Mu holding a honey-coated seed to his mouth, he instinctively opened his lips in surprise.

Su Mu took the opportunity to pop the honey-coated seed into his mouth: “Eat it. I’ll buy you more later.” Xie Yi’s ear tips turned red.

Su Mu couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Seeing how much Xie Yi liked them, she also picked up a honey-coated seed and put it in her mouth… it was indeed too sweet.

“By the way, have you met all the neighbors around?” Su Mu asked.

Xie Yi nodded: “I’ve met the householders of the nearby families.” Especially a family surnamed Qiao, where the wife-master of Householder Qiao was a merchant who often traveled out of town, leaving just him with a son and a daughter, and a male servant.

But because they were a merchant family, their household finances were good, and Householder Qiao’s culinary skills were quite exquisite.

So Xie Yi had intentionally built a good relationship with him, seeking to learn culinary skills from him.