Chapter 472

Though inwardly grumbling, Willow still prepared a lavish feast to celebrate Aiden's discharge from the hospital. For her, cooking was pure joy. Watching ordinary ingredients transform under her hands into dishes bursting with color, aroma, and flavor—then seeing them devoured with gusto—filled her with an inexplicable sense of accomplishment. She herself only nibbled lightly before feeling full, leaving her free to watch with amusement as Aiden demolished the entire spread. During his recovery, Aiden had been restricted to bland congee and light meals. Though even Willow's simplest porridge was delicious, this slightly richer feast made his taste buds, dulled for over half a month, spring back to life in an instant. The flavors were so intoxicating he could have swallowed his own tongue. What baffled Willow was how, despite wolfing everything down, Aiden's every movement remained refined and elegant, as though bred with impeccable manners. He ate until his stomach protested, finally s