My girlfriend is from the future!

Before He Tianran arrived, Yu Naoqiu never expected that the other party would help him win over people's hearts.

This was an unexpected bonus. Although the shares that He Yuanchong and his cronies bought together were only a drop in the ocean compared to the overall investment in Haigang District, for Yu Naoqiu, who was a psychologist by profession and in charge of the project, what they needed most in the whole project was this group of capable and obedient "team members".

Seeing that the woman had calmed everyone down, He Tianran glanced at his watch, gave Wu Xiao a look, and walked out of the private room.

"Brother Tianran, where are you going?!"

Zhang Yang was the first to shout, as he was just opening a bottle of wine.

Everyone looked in the direction of his voice. The man, with his back to them, waved his hand and said, "Have fun, I have something to do."

Some tried to stop her, but Yu Naoqiu had already grabbed her bag, walked past the crowd, spun around, and dispelled their thoughts of chasing after her.

"This is my private time with him. Remember to come see me tomorrow morning."

"Oh—I understand, I understand, I understand."

A burst of ambiguous laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Brother Tianran, Sister Qiu, have fun!"

"Come on, come on, it was a false alarm. Let's continue singing."

……

……

Five minutes later, the two walked out of the Platinum Palace Club. The cool night breeze dispelled the smell of alcohol on them.

Wu Xiao went to the underground parking lot to get the car. Yu Naoqiu stood on the steps, turning her head to look at the man beside her.

"You won this bet, but why do I feel like I'm the one who will ultimately benefit?"

“Because only those who think about a win-win situation can be considered ‘partners’.” He Tianran put his hands in his pockets and looked at the traffic in the distance. “Besides, didn’t you ask me to ‘protect’ you? Since I’m here, I have to pave the way for you. Although those people are opportunists, they are still useful as long as you hold the benefits.”

"Aren't you afraid that once I become powerful, I'll devour your younger brother until there's nothing left?"

"That's his business, and it's also your business." He Tianran said indifferently, "He sought cooperation with your Yu family for the land development in the harbor area because he felt he wasn't capable enough. Since he chose to invite a wolf into the house, don't blame others for taking away your cake."

"Don't make me sound so bad. This time, your brother, Tianping Lake, and Shanhai have a completely open and transparent partnership based on good faith, and..."

"And what?"

"And when I said 'protect the emperor,' I didn't mean for you to do these things for me."

He Tianran laughed, then said somewhat sarcastically, "Heh, isn't this what you like? Don't tell me you brought me here just because the drinking party was boring and you simply needed a man to keep you company."

"..."

Yu Naoqiu was speechless for a moment.

He Tianran glanced at her, but didn't say anything more. Instead, he took out a cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and just then, a "snap" sounded in his ear, and a small flame floated in front of his eyes.

The tobacco turned crimson red as it burned with the flame and was inhaled, then gradually dimmed as a puff of smoke was exhaled.

"You still have it?"

He Tianran glanced at the lighter in Yu Naoqiu's hand; it was the "gift" he had left for her in Shanghai.

“I’m a very vengeful person, so I took it as a kind of… humiliation.”

Yu Naoqiu took back the lighter engraved with roses, her tone indifferent.

"You're being too kind. In business, we're just getting what we need. Don't forget why I approached you in the first place. Don't act like you're jealous or resentful. If you feel that I made you lose face in that situation, I'll just promise to be a little more discreet next time."

The woman merely sneered at the man's meaningless and absurd words, offering no response.

Wu Xiao's car came to a steady stop below the steps.

Seeing that He Tianran hadn't moved yet, Yu Naoqiu couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going now?"

This question stumped the man: "I thought you were coming out to see me off. I don't like the smell of smoke in my car, so I'll finish my cigarette here and then go home."

Yu Naoqiu was taken aback and blurted out a time: "It's only nine o'clock now."

He Tianran exhaled smoke as he pointed to the skyscraper behind him: "Yeah, why don't you go back and keep drinking with them?"

"I've already come out with you, and you want me to go back?" Yu Naoqiu looked incredulous, as if this was something extremely difficult for her to accept. She said angrily, "He Tianran, do you even know how to play the game? It's only nine o'clock and you're already in a hurry to go home?"

"Hehe, like you guys were just playing? Tilting your heads back and vomiting horse piss? I'd rather go home and play video games~ You know how to have fun, then keep playing, hire a few male models to keep you company, it's on me. Anyway, we agreed we'd each do our own thing, and don't worry, I'm not as jealous as you, I won't throw a tantrum and say 'Oh, I hold grudges, this is an insult,' hahaha~"

He Tianran parodied Yu Naoqiu's earlier remarks in a sarcastic tone, and finally laughed at himself. He shook his head, walked to the trash can on the side, stubbed out his cigarette and threw it into the ashtray.

"you--!"

Yu Naoqiu's face flushed red and then turned pale, whether from embarrassment or anger, it was hard to tell. Seeing that He Tianran really didn't intend to pay attention to her, she opened the car door, got in, and was about to leave when the woman suddenly raised her voice and said:
"He Tianran, what's the punishment? You won the bet today, what's the punishment? I don't like owing people things."

The BMW's window slowly rolled down, revealing He Tianran's face, which Yu Naoqiu found extremely irritating.

"Ah, you've reminded me..."

The man sitting in the car tilted his head back, pondered for a moment, and then touched his stomach:
"I've been working all day and haven't had dinner yet."

I know a good restaurant.

As Yu Naoqiu descended the steps, she heard He Tianran scoff disdainfully, causing the woman to frown and repeat herself:
"You choose the place, I'll pay the bill!"

She was about to open the car door, her hand already gripping the handle, when He Tianran turned his head and asked:

"Can you cook? If you can, come up here. I'm punishing you by making you cook a meal today. If you can't, go back now and don't waste everyone's time. I really don't have anything to punish you with. What can you give me? I don't need anything."

Yu Naoqiu's hand gripping the doorknob suddenly stiffened. She gritted her teeth, exerted force, and with a "click," the car door opened. The woman leaned forward and got in.

The BMW started slowly, and a wisp of black smoke billowed from its round exhaust pipe.

……

……

"Cough cough cough, cough cough cough cough... Ugh, uh..."

At home in the residential area, He Tianran fanned away a pungent smell with his hand, staring at the black steam rising from the pot, which was obviously burnt food. He then glanced at Yu Naoqiu, who was focused and serious, still tossing the food in the wok.

"Didn't you say you could cook?"

"Isn't this being done right now?! Are you blind?!"

"No...who's blind? You didn't notice it's burnt?" "Just because it's burnt doesn't mean it's inedible! Isn't this still food? Give me the plate!"

"I……"

Yu Naoqiu always had a point, and she would retort with every question He Tianran asked. She couldn't stand any criticism and insisted on logical consistency, believing that raising her voice meant she was right.

"Oh dear, come on, come on, I'll take over. The neighbors are going to call the fire department soon."

He Tianran rolled up his sleeves, quickly turned off the stove, turned on the range hood, and took the spatula to pour the food in the pot to one side.

After returning home, He Tianran asked Yu Naoqiu again if she could cook before going upstairs to play games. Later, she smelled something and realized something was wrong, so she hurriedly ran downstairs. It turns out that Yu Naoqiu is a complete kitchen idiot. She probably couldn't even tell which soy sauce and vinegar were which without labels. Actually, thinking about it, that makes sense. Given her pampered upbringing, she was used to being waited on, so it would be rare for her to know how to cook.

"Didn't you study psychology abroad? You don't usually cook?"

"Hire someone to do it."

Yu Naoqiu stood aside confidently, while He Tianran washed the pot again with boiling water. He had thought too highly of this kind of study abroad experience, assuming that everyone was like Cao Aiqing, who could master some life skills as long as they lived independently for a period of time.

"Hey, why don't you just drink with your cronies? You'd have someone to wait on you and fawn over you. Why did you have to get in that car? Now you're here and you have to cook for me, and you can't even cook properly, you're just making a mess..."

He Tianran gave her a lecture, but this time Yu Naoqiu didn't take it to heart. Instead, she watched the man bustling around and smiled.

"Aren't you serving me now too?"

He Tianran paused, looking at the woman and said:
"I'm just doing my thing now. Either take two potatoes out of the fridge and cut them yourself, or open the door and leave. I don't give free food here; that's for beggars."

"you……"

Yu Naoqiu glared at him for two seconds, then stomped his foot and turned around.

"Walk slowly without sending."

He Tianran continued washing the pot, but the woman did not leave. She stopped when she passed the refrigerator. She seemed to be getting angrier and angrier. In the end, she opened the refrigerator and took out two potatoes with mud still on their surface. She returned and slammed them onto the cutting board.

"washed."

The man finished washing the pot, made room for him, and, without turning off the tap, gave him a casual instruction.

"..."

Feeling no movement from the side, he turned his head and saw Yu Naoqiu still staring straight at him.

"Why are you staring at me with those two fish-like eyes? Go wash them! Do you eat potatoes with the mud and skin on? How old are you? How come you don't know how to handle things? If you were in a movie, the comments section would be full of complaints. All you can do to express your emotions is stare."

Yu Naoqiu finally closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed herself down. She realized that He Tianran had an innate talent for using his tongue, whether it was to bewitch people or to be sarcastic.

He Tianran was processing the meat, while Yu Naoqiu remained silent for the time being, picking up two potatoes and washing them.

Where's the paring knife?

"Na~"

The man handed him a steel wool ball.

"Why are you giving me this? Isn't this for wiping pots and pans?"

"Go ahead and wash it. Use this thing to wipe potatoes; it's much better than any peeler."

"Will this work...?"

Yu Naoqiu was quite disgusted with the steel wool He Tianran had used to scrub the pot, but she still took it and washed it twice carefully. Then, holding the steel wool in one hand and a potato in the other, she thought for a moment, then scrubbed it vigorously...

"Eh?"

I must say, this wiping method removes most of the potato skin in one go. It's really convenient and quick, and unlike using a peeler, it's not wasteful.

"Heh~" He Tianran smiled insincerely, deliberately teasing, "How about it, isn't it amazing?"

"Hiss...it's pretty...convenient."

Yu Naoqiu found it quite novel. Two potatoes, washed clean, were wiped clean in less than a minute using this method. She even asked, somewhat unsatisfied, to confirm:
"Just two... is that enough?"

"That's enough. These two potatoes are quite big. Now cut them into strips. First, cut them into slices, then stack them together. Once you've determined the width, make a single cut and you'll have potato strips."

After He Tianran finished explaining, he relit the fire. It seemed that the previous process had given Yu Naoqiu a sense of accomplishment, and she no longer had any resistance to the man's next request.

"You...don't you have chefs in Nanshan Jiadi? Why would you want to...learn to cook? Is it a hobby?"

He Tianran didn't respond to this question with sarcasm or mockery; he simply continued with his work and remarked with a sigh:
"In my memory, I only ever ate one meal that my mom cooked for me. After eating it, I vomited and had diarrhea. I still remember the appearance of that dish very clearly. It was also shredded potatoes, and it looked exactly like the culinary disaster you just mentioned."

Yu Naoqiu couldn't tell for a moment whether this was a sarcastic remark about Bai Wenyu or a mockery of himself, and could only try to save face:
"Well... isn't it normal not to know how to cook?"

“Someone has to do it. I moved out of my family home when I was fifteen or sixteen and lived alone. My monthly allowance was just enough for food. If I wanted to eat something better, I had to cook for myself. So it’s not a hobby, it’s a necessity of life.”

"Why...did you move out?"

He Tianran turned to look at Yu Naoqiu with some confusion, "What, didn't my brother tell you? After he and Aunt Tao moved here, I didn't want to stay in Nanshanjia anymore, so my dad let me move out on my own."

"Did you ask for this yourself?"

“Hmm…” He Tianran thought for a moment and said, “I guess so. Anyway, my dad and I were on the same page about this.”

After listening, Yu Naoqiu said with some anger at his lack of ambition:
"Are you stupid? You're giving up the life of a pampered young master to go out and suffer. And can't you fight for yourself?"

"Hehe, what are you arguing about? Competing with my brother for my dad's favor, like playing a palace intrigue game, huh?" He Tianran shook his head with a smile, marinating the sliced ​​meat in his bowl. "My dad knows everything. You did come to the family banquet, and besides, if I hadn't moved out back then and learned to face life independently, I would probably be one of those pampered young masters sitting in the private room today."

"You are different."

"Ok?"

“You are He Tianran, and your surname is He. Even if you have accomplished nothing, just sitting there makes you different from them.”

The woman cuts a potato.

As he blanched the meat and watched the water gradually boil in the pot, He Tianran suddenly felt a deep-seated resistance to Yu Naoqiu's statement, and his tone was filled with disdain:
"Ha, it's the 21st century now. Where are the so-called nobles and born rich? If you don't work hard, you can only wait to be ruined. On the contrary, the higher you stand, the harder you fall."

"You mean... He Yuanchong?"

Yu Naoqiu tentatively asked, unsure.

"...I am, I am talking about myself."

He Tianran silently reduced the fire from a large flame to a medium flame. (End of Chapter)