Jasper''s face stiffened, and in his panic, the chicken pieces in his hand dropped into the oil pan with a


    thud.


    Sshes of oil flew onto his hands and arms, causing him pain. He suddenly regained his senses and


    awkwardly parted his lips. "Axel."


    "Do you always talk dirty like this?"


    Axel lightly scoffed and craned his neck to peek into the oil pan. "I don''t know if Lyse smelled it or not,


    but I dide because of the smell. It smells like something''s burned."


    Jasper was startled, and then he realized that he hadn''t taken out the chicken pieces he had put into


    the pan earlier.


    He hurriedly grabbed a slotted spoon. But by the time he retrieved them, the chicken pieces had turned


    brown.


    Jasper''s eyes drooped with frustration. Suddenly, he remembered the series of "fails" Winston had said


    when he first tasted Jasper''s cooking. That voice was still ringing in his ears.


    "Forget it. I understand your intentions. You don''t have to force yourself to do something you''re not


    good at. If you scald your hands with blisters, Lyse will be the one feeling sorry for you."


    As Axel said that, he took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and stood next to Jasper. With his bottom,


    he pushed Jasper aside. "Go rest there. Don''t get in my way."


    Jasper''s eyes widened in surprise. "You''re going to cook?"


    "Duh? If you''re cooking, Lyse will only end up eating charcoal."


    Jasper wasn''t angry at all because what Axel said was true. He had overestimated his cooking skills.


    After washing his hands, Axel skillfully put the chicken pieces into the pan. He nced at his watch,


    carefully counted the seconds, and then stirred the pot before taking out the chicken pieces.


    Jasper stood by, assisting him and earnestly learning. He waspletely fascinated.


    "Get it now?" Axel asked without lifting his eyelids.


    Jasper nodded. "Yeah."


    "Your eyes get it, but I bet your hands didn''t."


    Frowning, Jasper smiled bitterly. "Axel, I also need a little encouragement sometimes."


    Axel''s long eyshes fluttered as he nced at Jasper. "Fail a few more times, and you''ll seed. I''ve


    failed countless times before I could do it decently.


    "If it weren''t for Lyse liking it, who would want to bother making this? It''s both troublesome and smelly.


    The smell of oil lingers for days! Don''t spoil her too much. If you spoil her, she''ll be asking you to make


    this for her all the time. What will you do then?"


    Jasper''s eyes were filled with a tender glint as he smiled faintly. "It''s okay. As long as Lyse likes it, no


    matter how troublesome it is, I''m willing to make it for her."


    "Tsk, who isn''t?" Axel sneered, but he felt warm inside.


    "Wow! Fried chicken! It smells so good!"


    Both men turned around at the same time.


    It was really Alyssa who hade this time.


    With the weather turning colder and to make it easier to take care of Winston, Alyssa was no longer


    wearing an elegant silk nightgown but had changed into an off-white plush home outfit. With her


    delicate face, she looked like an adorable creature.


    "Jasper, Axel, when did you twoe back? You didn''t even let me know."


    Alyssa pattered over in her slippers and threw herself into Jasper''s arms.


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    "No... Lyse, I''m covered in flour. I''ll get your clothes dirty," Jasper gently reminded her. His hands,


    which were covered in batter, froze in mid-air as he was afraid to touch her.


    "I just mentioned it casuallyst night, and you really made it for me?"


    Alyssa wiped away the flour on his cheek, feeling sorry for him. "You shouldn''t bother. You''re


    commuting between two ces every day, working, anding back to apany me. It''s already


    hard enough for you."