Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 122

Chapter 122: I’ll Pretend I Don’t Know
Lariette and Ruediger took over than one hour to finish folding all the wontons.

While the man started frying and boiling the little pockets of yummies, she sorted the remaining wontons in different containers before freezing them.

‘One for the beef filling and the other for the shrimp.’

Lariette admired the boxes of wontons sitting in the freezer section of the huge fridge. She wouldn’t mind having these yummy pockets again tomorrow.

Closing the freezer door, Lariette turned to look at Ruediger. The crimson-haired man was standing before the stove, focusing on the tasks at hand.

A pan sat on the stove with hot oil, ready to crisp up the wontons to golden perfection. Next to it, a pot of water was gently boiling.

Ruediger picked up the first set of the wontons, carefully lowering them into the oil. The sizzling sound echoed once the pockets touched the hot oil.

Lariette almost salivated as she took in the rich and savory aroma of the wontons being fried. Clasping her hands behind her back, she approached Ruediger.

“Do you think these are enough for us?” said Lariette, her eyes watching the wontons in the sizzling hot oil.

Lariette’s question earned laughter from Ruediger. Turning his head, he looked at her whose gaze was still on the pan. He refrained from poking her cheeks.

“We can fry or boil the rest if you still want more,” replied Ruediger, his voice having a hint of teasing. He returned his focus to the pan, scooping the fried wontons out of the hot oil.

“Ahem, that’s a good idea,” Lariette covered her mouth with a fist, pretending to cough awkwardly. She quickly steered her eyes to the next pot, now the water boiled furiously.

“Let me boil them,” Lariette picked the ones intended for the chili oil wontons. She carefully lowered them into the boiling water.

“Can you set up the table?” asked Ruediger while frying the second batch of the wontons, “I’ll scoop the boiled wontons for you.”

“Okay! How about eating on the balcony? Do you want any specific drink?”

“Sounds nice,” Ruediger liked the idea of having dinner while enjoying the nightscape of the city. Smiling at Lariette, he added, “I don’t mind anything.”

“I’ll make iced chrysanthemum tea then.”

Before setting up the table, Lariette stepped the dried chrysanthemum flowers in a cup of hot water. She would add sugar later before mixing it with cold water. Adding ice cubes came last.

Stepping into the balcony, Lariette was greeted by the fresh breeze and the soft twilight glow. The sun had just set, its warm hues fading.

Lariette quickly arranged the setup. Two plates, a pair of chopsticks each and small bowls for dipping sauces. She hurried back inside, needing to finish making the tea.

“They smell so nice!”

Lariette couldn’t help but exclaim upon returning to the kitchen. She saw one huge plate of fried wontons and one of the boiled ones, placed on the kitchen island.

“Ready to be eaten,” Ruediger winked, his lips carrying a soft smile.

While Ruediger brought the plates out of the kitchen, Lariette carried a tray of iced chrysanthemum tea in a jug with two empty glasses. Their tummies began asking for food.

Sitting across the table, Lariette and Ruediger enjoyed the wontons. The stunning view of the city lights began to flicker alive around them.

“All so good!” Lariette exclaimed, waving one hand in front of her mouth because of the hot wonton, “The fillings are so yummy! Perfectly seasoned!”

Lariette’s continuous praise over the wontons cast a light blush on Ruediger’s cheeks. Her face beamed with delight under the soft light of the balcony lamp, hanging above.

“So, how many stars?” asked Ruediger, playing along with Lariette.

“Ten out of ten!”

Lariette held back from gushing over the wontons too much. She liked how crisp the fried ones were while the boiled wontons perfectly matched the chili oil.

Both fillings were juicy and packed with delectable spices. With just one bite, the flavors burst in her mouth, making her giddy from how delicious the wontons were.

Ruediger grabbed the glass of chrysanthemum tea, his palms touching the wet surface from the condensation. Lariette was still focused on eating.

As Ruediger sipped the beverage, the cooling sensation of the flower-infused drink seemed to spread in his body. It was a perfect match for the savory wontons.

He truly appreciated the hours he spent with her today.

“Lettie, I haven’t told you,” said Ruediger, his deep voice slicing through the air, “Nate’s parents invited us for dinner this weekend. Do you want to go there?”

Lariette lifted her gaze from her bowl of chili oil wontons. Her sapphire eyes collided with Ruediger’s emerald ones. His crimson strands sheened under the balcony lights, softly swaying by the breeze.

“Oh… you did say that Mr. Nathaniel has to return early because of his parents’ surprise visit,” Lariette muttered, recalling what Ruediger told her before, “They invited me too?”

Nodding once, Ruediger said while putting the glass on the table, “They know I just got married but, they don’t know it’s just a contract marriage. If it’s fine with you, I’ll bring you for the dinner.”

Lariette had already heard from Ruediger how good of a person both Chairman Faulkner and Mrs. Faulkner were. They cherished and loved Nathaniel as if he was their biological son.

Listening to how kindly Ruediger talked about the husband and wife intrigued Lariette. At the same time, she wondered about another matter.

“Actually… I’m curious about something,” said Lariette, sounding a little cautious, “When… and how did you and Mr. Nathaniel first meet? Can you share with me?”

Ruediger was stunned, never expecting Lariette to ask about the beginning of his friendship with Nathaniel.

“You can’t wait until our next meal with your grandpa, en?” Ruediger chuckled, referring to what Nathaniel told Chairman Delaney a few nights ago[01].

Covering her mouth, Lariette answered, sounding conspiratorial this time, “Shh… Don’t tell Grandpa. I’ll pretend I don’t know later. If it’s okay with you, I wanna know when you started living with Maddie too.”

Helpless laughter slipped out of Ruediger’s mouth. Lariette’s cheeky remarks deepened the smile on his lips.

Almost two decades had passed but, he still fondly remembered the particular moment he crossed paths with his best friend.

It was quite funny actually.

“I first met Nate when I was sixteen. He was twenty-one at that time. We…”

Accompanied by the delicious wontons, refreshing iced chrysanthemum tea and the lady in his heart, he opened up the tale of the past.

———-

Reference:

1 – Chapter 87