Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Tina glanced at the noodles in front of her and thought it best to spare herself, letting the guinea pigs do the testing. She stood up, carried five bowls of noodles to the kitchen, and dumped them. "I'll cook a new batch." Although it was her first time cooking noodles, she often watched Jennie cook and felt confident her steps were correct. Fifteen minutes later, Jared Farrell and his friends again faced a new batch of noodles with indescribable expressions. "Is it the vinegar this time?" Hayden Cohen barely managed the overwhelming sour taste, puzzled.

Tina's expression darkened. "I'll try again."

"Don't!"

Before Jared Farrell and the others could stop her, she was back in the kitchen. Throughout the evening, she stubbornly cooked seven batches of noodles, forcing Jared and his friends to taste each disastrous attempt, their faces ashen and spirits crushed.

"It's too late, Jared, I'm too tired, not hungry anymore. Let Nathan take me to my mom's place," Sophia gave up first, previously planning to stubbornly stay but now wishing she could flee faster.

"I'll take you!" Hayden Cohen quickly stood, grabbed Sophia, and ran before Tina could object.

"Ah, I just remembered the car needs fueling. There's a half-price deal, I better fill it up before midnight," Nathan Lehman made a clumsy excuse, following Hayden's lead to escape.

Soon, only Tina and Jared Farrell remained, staring at each other over the table full of noodles. Jared noticed Tina's reluctant gaze at the noodles and chuckled, realizing cooking was not her strong suit.

"Let me teach you," he said, standing up and using his uninjured left hand to wrap around her waist, leaning on her shoulder with a suppressed laugh.

"Can you cook?" Tina turned, eyeing him skeptically, doubting a notorious playboy like him had any culinary skills.

Jared led her into the kitchen, guiding her through lighting the stove, boiling soup, adding chopped pork and vegetables, and cracking two eggs into the pot with her hand in his. When Tina accidentally mistook sugar for salt, he quickly intervened, and just as he did, she grabbed the pepper, eager to add more flavor.

Holding back a sigh, he understood why her noodles had such bizarre flavors. After multiple interventions, the noodles were finally ready.

At the dining table, Tina cautiously stared at the noodles. Though they looked appealing, her previous attempts had done so too, yet were declared unpalatable by Jared and his friends. Hesitantly, she pushed a bowl towards Jared. "You first." She firmly refused to be the guinea pig.

"Okay," Jared grinned, intrigued by her child-like action, realizing he should have persuaded her to move in sooner to see this side of her. Though agreeing verbally, he remained motionless.

Knowing his intent, Tina, having witnessed his adeptness with the spoon before, still pretended ignorance and used chopsticks to feed him. Jared ate, hinting at wanting more.

"You're not tricking me, right?" Tina fed him another bite, her face skeptical. "This is really edible?"

"Try some?" Jared offered her a taste, "This is our first time cooking noodles together. I'd be sad if you didn't try."

After a moment's hesitation, Tina took a reluctant bite. Five seconds later, her eyes lit up, and she signaled for more.

Jared, indulgently smiling, continued to feed her, and they finished the two portions of noodles by feeding each other. When they stuffed the dishes into the dishwasher, Tina felt a newfound, mysterious confidence about cooking, "It turns out cooking is just like making pills, no difference. Maybe I should try other recipes next time."

Jared, leaning against the kitchen doorframe, chuckled, realizing if she continued seasoning like before, no delicacy would be spared.

After cleaning the kitchen, Tina dragged her suitcase around Jared's spacious duplex apartment in Blue Cove, which occupied an entire floor with numerous rooms. The decor was Nordic, featuring monochrome tones with a living room that offered a panoramic view of Ensford's dazzling night through its wall-sized windows.

"Which room is mine?" Tina looked around at the multiple unprepared rooms.

Jared led her upstairs to a room and gestured for her to enter. "You stay here."

Tina surveyed the large, tidy room with a circular leather bed, perfectly made, and a large balcony facing north overlooking Blue Cove park, its lively bar street visible beneath the green trees and lake, a different view from the living room's windows.

"Do you like it?" Jared asked from behind her, not disclosing that since their engagement, he had prepared such a room in every residence he owned, cleaned daily and ready for her.

"Why this room?" Tina turned, a breeze stirring her hair, carrying her scent straight to Jared.

"Because it's just next to mine."

Her eyeing two other spacious rooms along the hallway. "Mr. Farrell, do you plan to sneak into my room at night and make some improper moves?" Jared, "..."

Could she not assume the worst?

He coughed lightly, a flush tinting his stern face. "Tina, as you know, it's somewhat dangerous here. In case of emergencies, if you stay next to me, I can ensure your safety." Tina, "..."

Do I look unable to wield a knife?

Everyone seems to think she is too frail!

"Are there other rooms?" Tina didn't mind which room, just maintaining some distance.

Was Mr. Reed right? Men and women alone together might be risky. Who knows if Jared might act out at night?

"Besides this room with prepared bedding, only mine is left," Jared stretched an arm around her, pulling her close, reveling in her fragrance. "So, you want to sleep with me? Didn't expect you to be so forward."