Chapter 1049: Chapter 1049: Don’t Like Owing Others

“Is this tomato egg noodles?”

As Chi Enen was lost in thought, Old Master Li had already pulled out a chair at the dining table and sat down. His sharp gaze fell on the tomato egg noodles placed by Chi Enen, his eyebrows furrowing as if he were deep in thought.

“Yes, I made sure to cook the noodles a little longer so they’re softer–it shouldn’t affect digestion,” Chi Enen said as she handed him the chopsticks at the right moment.

Old Master Li accepted the chopsticks from her. He really couldn’t see what was so special about this plain-looking, unplated bowl of noodles that made his little grandson relentlessly praise it yesterday.

In his lifetime, he had tasted every exquisite dish imaginable. The Li family even employed over a dozen seven-star chefs. The food he ate regularly was crafted from premium ingredients prepared by star chefs, with impeccable presentation and color.

Faced with such “practical” noodles, he hesitated slightly.

However, since he had already promised Baby Chi he’d try it, despite his disdain, he took a few strands of noodles and delivered them to his mouth.

His dining posture was identical to that of Li Beijue–noble and elegant, exuding a refined aura that made one feel the luxury in observing him.

Chi Enen’s heart rose to her throat as she watched him eat a bite, slow and composed. She wanted to ask how it tasted but held back, adhering to dining etiquette, and said nothing.

After taking a bite, Old Master Li furrowed his brows, seemingly recalling something, his gaze holding a moment of sentimentality.

But this dazed state lasted only for an instant; the next moment, his usual authoritative and aloof demeanor returned.

It almost felt like that brief flicker of emotion was just Chi Enen’s illusion.

His appetite that morning seemed better than usual, certainly better than yesterday. One bite after another, and in the blink of an eye, more than half of the noodles in the bowl had been consumed.

He set the chopsticks down, wiped the corner of his mouth, and remarked, “So-so.”

Looking at the bowl of noodles with barely any left, Chi Enen felt helpless.

Old Master Li was just too contradictory.

If the noodles were really “so-so,” he wouldn’t have eaten so much. Was he just humoring her? Impossible! Yesterday, he had repeatedly knocked over the water cup she handed him without a shred of mercy.

Clearly, he felt her cooking was decent, which is why he ate so much–why wouldn’t he admit it?

It’s not like she would mistake his liking for a bowl of noodles as him accepting her.

Helpless as she was, Chi Enen wasn’t presumptuous enough to confront the old master further. Quietly, she began tidying up the table, without uttering a single unnecessary word.

Old Master Li had originally expected her to seize the opportunity to curry favor with him, but she didn’t. Instead, she silently started cleaning, not saying a word more.

If Chi Enen had tried to ingratiate herself and said she’d continue making the noodles for him tomorrow, he might’ve found it off-putting. Her lack of opportunism made him glance at her a few times more.

Suddenly, he asked, “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

His question was startlingly abrupt.

Chi Enen hadn’t anticipated Old Master Li would ask her this. She thought he’d prefer her to leave as soon as possible. Momentarily stunned, she answered naturally, “Not yet. I’ll eat later.”

Just as her answer ended, Old Master Li had already pulled back his chair and stood up. “Stay here and eat. I’ll have someone send it up to you.”

“No–”

Before she could finish speaking.

Old Master Li’s authoritative and aloof gaze had already landed on her, and he directly stated, “I’m not being polite with you. I simply don’t like owing anyone!”