[Cooking proficiency +5]
[Cooking proficiency +5]
…
[Spicy and sour shredded potatoes exquisitely made, cooking proficiency +100]
To prove his ability to cook, Su Chen skillfully cut some potatoes into shreds of uniform sizes in the blink of an eye. He then made a dish of spicy and sour shredded potato. His family's jaws dropped to the floor.
"Now, would you believe me?" asked Su Chen while smiling calmly as he brought the dish to the table.
"Bro, you are awesome!" Su Mo complimented him in awe.
"Oh, my god! Bravo! Bravo! Are you still the wretched son of mine?" Wen Xia eyed Su Chen from head to toe with her brows knitted, trying to identify if the young man standing in front of her was an imposter.
The skill that Su Chen got going there was something that not even she, as a mother, possessed. She had tried hard to learn cooking right after she married Su Wenshan, but cooking was not meant to be her thing.
After ruining endless kitchenware, wasting plenty of material, and almost burning the house down in several endeavors, she finally surrendered to her destiny and gave up.
After that, the kitchen in their house became basically a decoration, only used sometimes by Su Wenshan to cook some noodles and frozen dumplings.
When Su Chen and Su Mo were little, they had a nanny who was responsible for cooking. When they were older, the family often ate out. After food delivery became popular, life got so much easier.
Su Chen gruffly rolled his eyes at his mother and said, "Haven't you guys noticed that the food gradually became better recently?"
The three realized that what Su Chen said was right now that they recalled.
"That's why I thought that your taste in ordering food delivery had improved. You are learning incredibly fast!" Wen Xia was green with envy.
"Bro, you are so great! You were the one who made those delicious meals we ate these days," Su Mo looked at her brother admiringly.
"Well, just so-so." Su Chen's heart swelled with pride when he saw adoration in his sister's eyes.
"Chen, I noticed that you've changed a lot lately. What's on your mind?" asked Su Wenshan while looking at his son.
The old Su Chen was always muddling along as if there was nothing that he cared about. Although he did not get himself into trouble, he lacked the ardor that young people should possess.
Yet he was a different man all of a sudden. He not only started working out; he even learned to cook.
Su Chen shook his head, grinning. "I just thought that I was too lazy previously. I wanted to change and learn more."
"It's great that you have this mindset. Young people are supposed to be like that." Gratified, Su Wenshan nodded with approval.
"Chenchen, do you have a crush on someone? Usually, the reason for a guy your age to improve himself involves pretty girls." Wen Xia winked, her big eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Really? Who is it, brother?" Shocked, Su Mo looked at her mother and asked. It looked like she was ready for gossip.
"What are you talking about? Why would you think that? There isn't a girl." Su Chen shook his head, speechless, but he couldn't help but think about the sweet, adorable smile on the girl he met in the gym today.
When he recovered from his thoughts, Su Chen frowned as a strange feeling enveloped him.
Wait, why would she come to my mind? he wondered. That shouldn't happen; we've only met once, and today was the first time!
Wen Xia and Su Mo witnessed the change of Su Chen's facial expressions. They exchanged glances and smirked understandingly.
"Okay, okay, let's quickly finish the food. Momo is going out with her friends later, right? Don't be late," said Su Wenshan abruptly.
Su Mo, her face creased, took her phone out to check the time. "Oh no! There's only half an hour left; I'm running late. I've got to hurry!"
After dinner, she took a shower and put on some clean clothes. She was all dressed up and ready to go.
"Momo, where are you going? Bring mommy, would you? It gets so boring at home." Wen Xia blinked her big eyes and looked at her daughter longingly while eating fruit on the couch.
"Mommy, what tricks are you trying to pull? There are only gonna be a few of my classmates. Do you think it's appropriate for you to join?" Su Mo frowned.
"I could pose as your sister. The truth will not be exposed," said Wen Xia confidently.
"Nope, if you are going, then I'm not." Su Mo's expression hardened.
"Boo-hoo. Momo's grown up now. She doesn't like me anymore." Wen Xia pretended to be sad and wept crocodile tears.
"Mom, stop faking. Momo's going to spend time with her friends. It's not suitable for you to go with her. You can play video games and help me to get more points later." Su Chen gave a reluctant smile and interrupted to save his sister while he mopped the floor.
"Humph! Chenchen, you're the best!" Wen Xia finally compromised.
Su Mo darted an appreciative glance at him.
"Momo, be careful out there," Su Wenshan reminded aloud while doing the dishes in the kitchen.
"I will, Dad!" answered Su Mo. She browsed through the messages in the group chat with her phone and was startled.
Her friends wrote…
"Momo, your brother is so handsome. Bring him to our gathering."
"Yes, that's right, you must bring him. Or else, no present for you."
"He's got the look and can cook, oh my god! Momo, does he have a girlfriend?"
"Agree!!"
The photos that she'd sent to the group chat just now had wreaked havoc almost immediately.
These bitches! she thought. I treat you girls like sisters, but you are slavering after my brother.
Su Mo's face clouded with embarrassment. She glanced at her mother, who was watching television and called out under her breath to her brother, "Bro!"
"What is it?" asked Su Chen, looking at her, confused.
"Please go with me; my friends insist that I bring you along," Su Mo pleaded with her palms together.
"Me? But I..." Su Chen looked at the cream that was still on him.
"I'll wait for you," she winked and pouted her lips at their mother.
Su Chen took the hint and nodded. He then quietly went upstairs to his room.
Su Mo sat on the couch and played with the phone absentmindedly while waiting.
"Why are you still here?" Wen Xia's slender fingers fed a grape into her mouth as she looked at her daughter curiously.
"I…I was just asking where they are," Su Mo replied guiltily.
"Oh!" Wen Xia did not give it too much thought. Her focus shifted back to the Korean drama on TV.
Before long, Su Chen came downstairs in clean clothes and exchanged looks with Su Mo.
The brother and sister moved toward the door softly and put on their shoes. They quickly opened the door and ran out as the door slammed shut behind them.
Wen Xia looked at the closed door, startled, and only realized what had just happened after a while.
"Hubby, the two little thugs bullied me." Wen Xia stood up and grumbled to her husband pitifully.
"Pahaha!"
"Haha…"
The brother and sister ran into the lift, looked at each other, and burst into laughter.
"Mom will be so mad; you are so gonna get it in the neck later when you come back." Su Chen chuckled.
"I'll go shopping with her tomorrow!" Su Mo shrugged and giggled.