"It's just that it looks a bit unappetizing, that's all."
"It's… delicious," Huo Muchen said, swallowing the tomato. His face returned to its usual impassiveness as he kissed Bai Nuanxi on the lips.
Bai Nuanxi blinked, momentarily puzzled. Why the sudden kiss?
The next moment, she understood Huo Muchen's intention.
Salty.
Huo Muchen's lips were salty!
Bai Nuanxi: "…"
Could she be this unlucky...?
With only two seasoning options that looked similar, she had to pick salt?
She actually intended to use sugar.
This dish winning was a long shot!
With a grimace, Bai Nuanxi looked at Huo Muchen. This round seemed precarious.
"It's alright," Huo Muchen reassured her, as if reading her thoughts. "There's still one more round."
Bai Nuanxi: "..."
Had he already concluded that she lost this round?
Couldn't she get a chance to make up for it...?
Clearly, it was too late, as Sun Miaomiao's dish was already finished.
One had to admit, the food Sun Miaomiao made smelled incredible. Even though it was just simple home-cooked fare, Bai Nuanxi found it quite appetizing—more enticing than those grand meals served at hotels.
The knife work was neat, and though she hadn't tasted it yet, the aroma was pleasant. She could smell it from here.
Bai Nuanxi quietly pulled her plate of tomatoes back.
Not worth presenting, not worth presenting.
Might as well just eat it herself... or better yet, just throw it away.
"What's this? Feeling like your dish isn't presentable?" Sun Miaomiao appeared in front of Bai Nuanxi, reaching for the plate of tomatoes.
Since she'd been caught, Bai Nuanxi simply let go, crossing her arms as she looked at Sun Miaomiao. "Judging by your tone, are you curious about how good my cooking is?"
"What could be so great about what you make? I just want to see what kind of taste Brother Muchen likes!" Sun Miaomiao wasn't particularly interested in the dish, but seeing that Huo Muchen had taken a bite, and the spoon he used was still in the plate, her eyes fixated on it. She felt a surge of impulse—using that spoon, anything would taste good.
Bai Nuanxi raised an eyebrow and, following Sun Miaomiao's gaze, noticed the spoon in the plate. Oh… so that's it.
Bai Nuanxi immediately understood. Seeing through Sun Miaomiao's intentions, Bai Nuanxi took the spoon, put it in her mouth, and ate the tomato on it before placing it back in the plate.
Bai Nuanxi pretended to offer the plate, "Here, have a taste."
A look of disgust flashed in Sun Miaomiao's eyes. If she had looked at the spoon like it was a precious treasure before, now it seemed as worthless as scrap metal!
The shift in her expression couldn't have been more obvious.
"No, thank you. This wonderful dish is all yours to enjoy," Sun Miaomiao said, turning away.
Bai Nuanxi laughed and called after her, "Don't go! Come on, give it a try. It's super delicious, you know! You won't get this chance again!"
Seeing Sun Miaomiao stumble slightly, Bai Nuanxi laughed even harder!
How could someone so lacking in composure ever hope to compete for Huo Muchen?
A little girl's naive thinking, that's all.
But… isn't it a bit too much to bully a little girl like this?
Bai Nuanxi thought for a moment and then immediately dismissed the notion.
This "little girl" was far from ordinary; her thoughts were much more sinister than she let on!
Now, with Sun Miaomiao being relatively young, she hadn't reached the level of cunning she displayed in the previous life when Bai Nuanxi was still alive. At this point, Sun Miaomiao was still a devil in the making, but if she were allowed to fully mature, she might one day disrupt Bai Nuanxi's life or even threaten her existence.
After all, no one could truly fathom a deranged mind.
"Now, we open the tasting. Guests are free to choose which dish they'd like to try. Afterward, we'll announce a winner."
Sun Miaomiao stood by the table, admiring her exquisite dishes with a satisfied nod.
Most people are drawn to appearances, heading straight for the prettiest dishes.
Bai Nuanxi scoffed, "Hmph, these people have no taste. Don't they know that the more delicate something looks, the less flavor it often has? They really don't know how to enjoy food."
Huo Muchen: "…"
Your tomatoes, I'm afraid, aren't something most would relish.
Eating a bite without choking would be a miracle!
"Right, darling?" Bai Nuanxi, seeing no one responding to her, desperately needed someone to affirm her, so she directed her plea to Huo Muchen.
The girl blinked her eyes, her thick lashes fluttering like fans, as if stirring a breeze on Huo Muchen's heart.
His heart seemed to soften in a way he couldn't quite place. Unable to refuse her, he reluctantly said, "What you make, as long as it's for me, is enough."
"Really?" Bai Nuanxi's eyes sparkled. If that's the case, maybe she could start cooking more often to practice and refine her skills. "Then I'll cook for you regularly from now on?"
Huo Muchen: "…"
For some reason, even though it was just a suggestion, Huo Muchen felt a pang in his stomach.
Would he end up in the hospital with food poisoning if he regularly ate what Bai Nuanxi made?
That… sounded a bit too comedic.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?" Bai Nuanxi pouted, tugging on Huo Muchen's sleeve. "Are you ignoring me?"
Huo Muchen thought for a moment. For the sake of his health, it might be better to dissuade Bai Nuanxi from this whimsical idea. "Cooking too often can hurt your hands. We have a housekeeper to handle everything."
"Hmm… alright then." Bai Nuanxi thought about it and realized it made sense. She was an actress, and maintaining her health was crucial. This wasn't just about her well-being but also about her skin's appearance. Scars, for instance, couldn't be present!
They could ruin the on-screen aesthetic and easily distract the audience. If you're playing an ancient empress but have scars on your hands, viewers will immediately be taken out of the story.
Anything that doesn't belong to the character you're playing shouldn't be seen on the actor!
Within moments, Sun Miaomiao's dishes were devoured like locusts sweeping through a field!
Meanwhile, Bai Nuanxi's dish remained untouched.
Bai Nuanxi yawned lazily. Hurry up and finish this round so we can move on to the next one.
She was already feeling sleepy!
Just then, the judge announced, "Now I declare, the winner of the second round is—Miss Bai Nuanxi!"