The man curled his lips. “I said you need to master the method.”
He put down the dumpling wrapper in his hand and approached from behind her at the sight of her frowning and in frustration.
Wrapping his arms around her, the man gave her a dumpling wrapper and held her hands as he guided her as a means of teaching.
“Look, don’t press too hard here or else it won’t move. Using this hand, gently steer it and a pattern will come. Remember this feeling, spin, pleat, spin, please. Isn’t it easy?”
Nell was amazed to find that it was effortless to wrap the dumplings with him teaching her hand-to-hand.
Gideon held her hands and taught her to wrap the same way several times.
By the fifth dumpling, Nell could not sit still and retorted, “Let me try one myself.”
With darkened pupils, the man nodded. “Sure, you try one.”
She carefully lifted the dumpling wrapper and gently pleated based on the feeling he guided her to.
Soon, she was done pleating a dumpling.
Although it was not as perfect as the way he taught her, it could at least be called a dumpling.
Overjoyed, she grabbed the dumpling and turned to him in all smiles. “Look, I got it!”
The man was infected by the young woman’s simple yet happy smile. His eyes darkened with delight.
He nodded. “Yes, my wife is very smart.”
Nell was embarrassed by the sudden compliment.
Sweeping back the strands of hair by her face, she grinned bashfully. “You taught me well.”
However, she had forgotten that her hands were covered in flour from making dumplings all morning. The hair swept back had her cheeks painted with two white prints.
She looked like a shy little kitten.
With his eyes obscure, the man abruptly pressed the back of her head and planted a forceful kill on her lips.
Caught off-guard, Nell’s mind went blank by the kiss. She then gazed around in a fluster.
She elbowed his waist and pouted. “What are you doing? This is the Leith Residence! Grandma and Aunt are still out there!”
Gideon chuckled. “So what?”
Nell glared at him.
“Watch your mouth! What if someone sees us?”
“Nelly, we’re lawfully-wedded husband and wife. It’s really nothing if someone catches us kissing.”
Nell, “...”
That said, the old madam and Jean were around. Even though the old master had not made an appearance, god knew when he would suddenly pop over.
She could die of embarrassment if she was caught.
The man knew she was easily sheepish. Seeing that she was blushing to the ears, he curled his lips cheerfully and stopped teasing her.
He took off his gloves and said, “There’s still some time before dinner. Why don’t I take you out for a stroll?”
Nell glanced at the time. It was indeed still early as it was not even 6:00 p.m. yet.
Hence, she bobbed her head. “Sure.”
The pair took off their gloves and tidied up the place before going out hand-in-hand.
The Leith Residence was surrounded by villa compounds where mostly descendants of the Four Great Clans resided in.
Years ago, 80% of the residents moved over here after the compound was demolished. The neighborhood seemed like another huge compound.
As the couple went on foot, they bumped into several passersby who greeted Gideon.
“Second Brother Leith!”
“Brother!”
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