C75 – Bewitching
Following half an hour of intense kitchen warfare, the smoke gradually dissipated, marking the cessation of the culinary battle.
Emerging from the chaos, Chen Yaru appeared somewhat pallid, her demeanor tinged with embarrassment as she timidly voiced, “I… I only managed to prepare a simple vegetable egg soup. Could I perhaps learn other recipes in the future? For now, let’s taste what you’ve prepared.”
“That’s perfectly fine. I was actually craving a sip of soup,” Zhang Xiaoloong reassured her.
“But what I’ve made seems a bit different from Auntie Xia’s…” Chen Yaru admitted, her guilt intensifying.
Despite silently chuckling to himself, Zhang Xiaoloong maintained, “Variations in cooking are natural. Each person has their own technique.”
With care, Chen Yaru presented the bowl of vegetable egg soup.
Approaching to inspect, Zhang Xiaoloong found himself genuinely surprised.
The soup was indeed unique. While it was vegetable egg soup, one wouldn’t typically find eggshells floating in it.
“Let’s just taste it with a spoon,” Zhang Xiaoloong suggested, regretting letting Auntie Xia depart.
Hastily fetching a spoon, Chen Yaru handed one to her companion.
Zhang Xiaoloong accepted the spoon and delicately sampled a spoonful.
Meanwhile, Chen Yaru watched intently, eager for his reaction.
Though she anticipated difficulty in his tasting, she was determined not to disappoint him.
To her surprise, Zhang Xiaoloong smacked his lips twice after the sip. “Hmm, the seasoning is just right. It’s quite tasty. You should try it too.”
“Really?” Chen Yaru couldn’t believe her ears and hastily took a spoonful into her mouth.
This time, even her own taste buds couldn’t believe it. She was pleasantly surprised.
Having failed with several dishes earlier, she resorted to discarding them in the bin.
Knowing the simplicity of vegetable egg soup, she attempted it, recalling Auntie Xia’s guidance: just mix vegetables, eggs, salt, and seasoning.
While she may have misjudged the ingredient proportions, she dared not tamper further, resulting in an unexpectedly exotic vegetable soup.
Yet, now, as she tasted her creation, she couldn’t help but marvel. It seemed to surpass even Auntie Xia’s culinary prowess.
Was it possible that she had suddenly acquired culinary talent? She glanced at the man beside her, wondering if he had cast a spell on her.
She hastily took another bite. This time, the flavor seemed even more exquisite. Its aroma continued to tantalize her palate; even after swallowing, a lingering enchantment seemed to linger in her mouth.
“How can it taste so divine?” Chen Yaru’s vision began to blur slightly.
Zhang Xiaoloong grinned. “You’re the one who made it so delectable. Why is that surprising?”
Chen Yaru shook her head. It felt as though the deity statue could see through Zhang Xiaoloong. The blurry hues deepened and intensified.
Foregoing the dining table, they opted to sit on the living room coffee table to be closer. Side by side on the lengthy sofa, they conversed.
Suddenly, she lunged forward. Caught off guard, Zhang Xiaoloong found himself pushed onto the sofa.
Chen Yaru, with tousled hair and disheveled clothing, grew even more uninhibited. Boldly, she even stepped onto his body and passionately kissed him.
Zhang Xiaoloong’s mind reeled with confusion. Was this the effect of his cooking?
By the heavens, he had no intention of preparing a dish that incited such behavior!
“Calm down!”
Following the previous incident involving Yang Jingjing, Zhang Xiaoloong managed to retain his composure this time. Exerting all his willpower, he gently pushed away the voluptuous figure to prevent further intimate contact amidst the warm rain of affection.
Regrettably, Chen Yaru disregarded his pleas for calmness. Her actions surpassed even Yang Jingjing’s intensity, directly targeting his trousers.
“Ding Dong…”
The sudden chime jolted him back to reality, dispelling his reverie.
“It must be Sister Yan…” Chen Yaru’s flushed face betrayed her embarrassment as she swiftly disengaged from the sofa and approached the door, hastily adjusting her attire.
Uncertain of the recent events, it seemed that after consuming the vegetable soup, her admiration for Zhang Xiaoloong had intensified, prompting an inexplicable urge to draw closer to him.
Reflecting on her impulsive behavior, she felt a deep sense of shame, unable to face the consequences.
Glancing at the surveillance feed confirming Elder Sister Yan’s arrival, she resolved to table the awkwardness for future discussion. It wouldn’t do to keep Elder Sister Yan waiting outside indefinitely.
Welcoming Elder Sister Yan, a woman in her early thirties, she entered from outside. Lightly adorned with makeup, she matched Chen Yaru in height, her physique more elegantly proportioned than overtly voluptuous. Yet, there was a mesmerizing glimmer in her eyes, reminiscent of legendary fox spirits capable of ensnaring men.
Despite encountering numerous beauties recently, Zhang Xiaoloong couldn’t deny the striking allure of the woman before him.
Describing her as simply beautiful might not suffice; unlike Yang Jingjing and Chen Yaru, she exuded a distinct feminine allure. While the former two resembled blooming flowers, radiating vibrant charm, she emanated the allure of a ripe peach.
Yang Jingjing and Chen Yaru embodied the beauty of blossoming flowers, akin to peonies or lilies, enchanting yet distinctly human. In contrast, the woman standing before them possessed the ripe allure of a peach.
Perhaps no blooms could rival its beauty, yet its flavor bore a sweetness and maturity that tantalized the palate, signaling that the person before you was not only alluring in scent but also delectable when tasted.
Coupled with her naturally fox-like eyes, it gave the impression that she was destined to captivate all beings.
“What’s with the get-up? Why dress yourself like this?” Elder Sister Yan chuckled upon seeing Chen Yaru, resembling a maid in a sorry state, akin to a maid tending to a fire.
“Huh?” Only then did Chen Yaru realize her attire and could only stutter, “I was just… cooking…”
“Well, well, Big Miss Chen knows how to cook for me now? Tomorrow, the young masters of Qing Yang will be green with envy, won’t they?” Elder Sister Yan exaggerated with a surprised expression.
“I…” Chen Yaru glanced inward with a hint of guilt.
At that moment, Elder Sister Yan noticed another man seated inside. “After all that fuss, turns out it wasn’t just for me. I’m touched. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your boyfriend?”
“His name is Zhang Xiaoloong,” Chen Yaru seemed to forget, yet also deliberately refrained from correcting the term “boyfriend.” “Xiaoloong, this is Elder Sister Yan, whom I just mentioned. She’s the belle of Qingyang City.”
“Seems like getting a boyfriend has made Yaru’s tongue sweeter. Must’ve been some training!” Elder Sister Yan’s tone was tender, with a hint of richness. Feeling a blush creeping in, her words added an intriguing flavor.
Extending her delicate hand, she took the initiative, “Nice to meet you, I’m Hong Yan.”
“Hello, Elder Sister Yan!” Zhang Xiaoloong reciprocated, lightly shaking her hand.
It felt slender and smooth, almost as if the phrase “soft as if boneless” perfectly described it when held in his grasp.
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