After chopping up the veggies, Nathalie turned her focus to the chaos happening at the stove. She'd recently developed a real thing for Sichuan cuisine, especially the spicy zing of chili peppers. So, she'd whipped up a few dishes from the Kung Pao series. But not For Nathan, this was his first taste of genuine Sichuan cooking, and he eyed Nathalie with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Sis, when did you start getting into Sichuan food?" he asked.

everyone loves the heat, so she also made some steamed pork ribs and a sweet and savory chicken dish for those with milder tastes.

Lizzy, who'd just finished rinsing the potatoes, chimed in before Nathalie could respond, "She's been on a cooking spree these past couple of years, trying out dishes from everywhere. But I'd say Sichuan's her top pick."

Nathalie thought for a moment, then just smiled without a word. She'd heard that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and she had a soft spot for Nathan. Initially, it was just a simple crush, but knowing Nathan's feelings added a new layer to her emotions. How could she not fall for a guy as amazing as Nathan? Yet, she wasn't quite ready to accept his confession; she often felt a bit out of his league.

Nathan turned to Nathalie, "What sparked your sudden interest in cooking?"

She figured she wasn't quite the right match for him yet. She wanted to work on herself, become stronger and more confident. And if, by then, he still had feelings for her, she'd embrace him with open arms. So, she was more than willing to dive into cooking just for him. It was her way of humbly reciprocating his deep affection.

Nathan was still waiting for her answer. Not wanting to dodge the question, Nathalie kept it casual, "Well, you've got a sensitive stomach, so I figured if I learn to cook, I can take better care of you."

Nathan felt like his heart was about to burst. What Nathalie saw as a simple explanation made his heart swell with joy, filling him with happiness. A big smile crept across his face. He asked, "Nathalie, can you take care of me for the rest of my life?"

Nathalie was caught off guard, "Of course, for a lifetime." She couldn't quite wrap her head around why he'd ask something so odd.

Nathan was over the moon, "Then I'm entrusting my health to you."

"Okay," Nathalie nodded.

Nathan pulled out a bank card from his pocket and handed it over to Nathalie, "This is for my monthly expenses from now on. I'm counting on you."noveldrama

When he handed her his salary card, it felt like he was giving his paycheck to his spouse. Nathalie raised an eyebrow and seriously asked "How much is on here?"

Nathan replied, "My whole salary's in there. It's several tens of..."

Nathalie's eyes went wide.

Nathan quickly corrected himself from millions to thousands. Nathalie looked uneasy, "That's a lot of money. We don't need that much just for living. Don't send any more

for now. I'll let you know if I need it."

"Alright," Nathan agreed without hesitation. After all, the amount was plenty for Nathalie to manage for quite a while.

The lunch was a spread to remember, everyone gathered around the table relishing the meal Dominick took a bite of his beloved Kung Rao chicken and gave Nathalie a big thumbs-up, "Wow, I didn't know you were such a fantastic cook, Nathalie."

Nathalie scrunched up her nose playfully, "From now on, just call me 'sis' like Nathan does."

Dominick glanced nervously at Nathan, "Is that cool with you, boss?"

Nathan, though a bit begrudgingly, said, "Yeah, that's fine."