Kiana Married Life (Patreon)

Chapter 32: A Harmonious Coordination

“Truly remarkable, Sir Xiang Lai.” Rita complimented as she watched the freshly baked chiffon cakes being taken out of the oven one by one.

“Whether it’s the preparation or the baking process, everything is flawless,” she added, her tone filled with genuine admiration.

Rita then picked up a teapot, took out a teabag, and began brewing some black tea.

“There’s no need to be so formal, Miss Rita. Just call me by my name,” Xiang Lai responded, a bit uncomfortable with the honorifics. He could only sigh helplessly and shake his head.

Looking at the elegant maid in front of him—who was rumored to be the personal attendant of the high-ranking Overseer of Schicksal, a multinational organization spanning various industries—he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, She’s truly well-trained. Even in casual attire, every movement she made exuded grace.

However, Xiang Lai wasn’t used to being served by others, so he could only smile bitterly and chastise himself silently, A boorish man like me isn’t cut out for such refined company.

Here stood a beautiful, alluring maid—something one could only dream of.

“I’m sorry, but all I have is ordinary black tea, nothing too special,” Xiang Lai said apologetically as he noticed Rita brewing the tea.

“That’s perfectly fine, Sir Xiang Lai. Oh, I mean, Xiang Lai.” Rita chuckled softly, covering her mouth with one hand while pouring the brewed tea into two cups.

“I’ve already told you, just call me by my name. No need for honorifics,” Xiang Lai said, scratching his head awkwardly.

But as he glanced at the maid beside him, who was covering her mouth while chuckling softly, he suddenly realized, Wait, was she teasing me just now?

“Here’s your tea…” Rita gently pushed one of the cups toward Xiang Lai, her gaze unconsciously softening.

“Oh, and this one is for Miss Durandal,” Rita added after pausing for about five or six seconds, handing the other cup to Durandal, who had been enjoying her dessert.

This gesture snapped Durandal out of her trance. 

Even the usually oblivious members of the Kaslana family could sense that something was off with their vice-captain. But despite noticing something unusual, Durandal couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Setting down her knife and fork, Durandal stared at the tea in front of her. The clear liquid reflected her puzzled expression.

She glanced at Xiang Lai, who was sipping his tea while thanking Rita, and couldn’t help but wonder, This man… Ever since I first met him, there’s been something strangely familiar about him.

Where does this familiarity come from?

Durandal trusted her instincts greatly. In fact, as a member of the warrior Kaslana family, her intuition had saved her life multiple times on the battlefield. Yet, for the first time, she found herself doubting her own instincts.

Despite racking her brain and recalling every memory from childhood, she couldn’t find anyone who fit the image of a red-haired man like Xiang Lai.

So where is this sense of familiarity and unexplainable closeness coming from?

She shifted her gaze from the lemon to the display case filled with an array of desserts and unconsciously swallowed. Just then, a timer began to beep.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

“The chiffon cake is ready,” Xiang Lai announced as he turned off the timer and carefully removed the cakes from the oven.

Durandal sat silently, lost in thought. The small piece of chiffon cake in front of her had nearly been reduced to crumbs by her constant poking.

“Rita, you’ve known Xiang Lai for about the same time as I have, right?” Durandal asked, forcing a slightly stiff smile. “How did you two manage to coordinate so well, as if you’ve worked together for years?”

The question caught both Rita and Xiang Lai off guard. They stopped what they were doing, momentarily stunned.

That’s true… Ever since they started helping each other out in the kitchen, their coordination had been seamless—like two perfectly meshing gears. So natural, in fact, that neither had questioned it until now.

It felt as if they had known each other for a long time, as if they had spent years together. They could almost predict each other’s next move, and even the smallest unconscious actions seemed familiar.

Rita’s heart began to race uncontrollably, though she didn’t understand why. Why was it beating so fast?

“Hehe…” Durandal’s laugh was awkward and devoid of emotion. “Maybe it’s because master pastry chefs like you tend to develop an innate understanding of each other?”

“Phew…” Rita exhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves before returning to her work. “Perhaps. After all, it’s not often you meet someone as skilled as Xiang Lai.”

Yet, her actions were far from steady, and even Durandal could spot several glaring mistakes—uncharacteristic for someone as meticulous as Rita.

Meanwhile, Xiang Lai scratched his head, saying, “Honestly, Miss Rita is the most skilled person I’ve worked with, aside from my teacher…”

From that moment on, Rita remained silent, focusing solely on her work.

Sometimes, those directly involved remain oblivious, while outsiders see the situation clearly.

Had Durandal not pointed it out, they might never have noticed the odd familiarity between them.

But once it was pointed out, the question began to gnaw at Rita’s mind, making it impossible for her to stay calm.

No one knew what Rita was thinking at that moment—perhaps not even she could fully comprehend the turmoil inside her. Only she could feel the whirlwind of emotions within her heart.