"Take your time," the man's steady voice soothed Bai Nuanxi's restless heart.
"I don't know how…" Bai Nuanxi mumbled, a bit aggrieved, but more so feeling guilty. She had just bragged about sending Sun Miaomiao packing, and now she couldn't even handle the second challenge! She had been so confident, but who would have thought someone would throw a wrench in her plans with something as absurd as cooking?
Huo Muchen thought briefly about the techniques of cooking but realized he had no experience in it either. He could only suggest something simple that required basic ingredients and seasoning, "Cucumber salad, tomato puree, there must be something you can manage. Just add salt, vinegar, and sugar as you please."
"Do you know how to cook?" Hearing Huo Muchen quickly list these ideas, Bai Nuanxi's eyes lit up. She had never actually tasted anything made by Huo Muchen!
The man paused for a moment, then deftly tied the apron behind her back. "I'll cook for you when I have the chance."
"Alright, deal!"
Sun Miaomiao swiftly sliced the cucumber on the cutting board into thin pieces. When she turned her head, she immediately saw the mashed tomato on Bai Nuanxi's board and let out a derisive snort, looking down on Bai Nuanxi's crude technique.
Sure enough, some people just don't belong in a kitchen; she can't even cook a simple dish, so what right does she have to care for Brother Muchen?
However, Huo Muchen's next series of actions made Sun Miaomiao's barely-contained resentment resurface once more! Why couldn't Brother Muchen see her merits?
She was undoubtedly better than Bai Nuanxi in every possible way!
Why couldn't he see that?
Distracted by her chaotic thoughts, she paused while chopping carrots, and the sharp blade sliced across her finger, startling Sun Miaomiao.
Although she could cook, she wasn't accustomed to the idea of getting injured while doing it!
Sun Miaomiao looked at Huo Muchen in alarm. "Brother Muchen! I've cut my finger with the knife!" Her words were filled with fear, tears welling up in her eyes as she gazed at him with a pitiful expression.
Any ordinary man, under such a gaze from Sun Miaomiao, would have melted on the spot, ready to do her bidding.
Huo Muchen, however, didn't spare her a glance and coldly uttered a single word: "Wash."
"...Pfft!" Bai Nuanxi couldn't hold back and burst out laughing!
You really are something, Huo Muchen!
A pretty girl looks at you all teary-eyed, and you coldly tell her to clean her wound. You're unbelievable!
Sun Miaomiao was left speechless by Huo Muchen's response, feeling something stuck in her chest that wouldn't go up or down, making her very uncomfortable.
Watching Huo Muchen carefully attend to Bai Nuanxi, Sun Miaomiao felt even more out of sorts!
When had Huo Muchen ever cared for anyone?
He, who had always been served hand and foot, was now tying an apron for someone else?
What did Bai Nuanxi do to deserve this?!
Sun Miaomiao wasn't the only one with such thoughts; some of the socialites below also showed signs of discontent. She was just the daughter of a small company; what right did she have to stand beside Huo Muchen?
She was truly dragging down Huo Muchen's entire aura!
This kind of woman, appearing within ten meters of Huo Muchen, would affect his entire presence!
"This Miss Bai doesn't seem to know how to cook."
"Doesn't know how to cook? Ha! Then why is she up there? To make scallion tofu and amuse everyone?"
"Tsk tsk, she's biting off more than she can chew. She doesn't even know what she looks like and yet wants to drag Huo Shao down with her."
Hearing the not-so-soft chatter from below, Bai Nuanxi rolled her eyes. As if it's any of their business!
Bai Nuanxi grabbed another tomato, slicing it in half with one clean cut. She took one half and bit into it, offering the other half to Huo Muchen.
Huo Muchen immediately opened his mouth but missed the tomato as Bai Nuanxi pulled back just as he was about to bite.
As Huo Muchen looked confused, Bai Nuanxi bit off a piece of the tomato and passed it to him with her mouth.
Huo Muchen didn't refuse, his tongue quickly darting into Bai Nuanxi's mouth, entwining with her tongue in a heated dance.
After a moment, the man pulled back, wiping the saliva from Bai Nuanxi's lips with a smile. "Sweet."
Bai Nuanxi's face flushed on one side. She had intended to disgust the people below, to show them what 'someone else's business' looked like. Who would have thought Huo Muchen would actually kiss her?
It caught Bai Nuanxi completely off guard.
Hearing what Huo Muchen said, Bai Nuanxi immediately decided, "Then let's make something with tomatoes."
"Hmph, Brother Muchen hates eating tomatoes! You're such an irresponsible wife!" Sun Miaomiao had been watching the whole time, expecting Huo Muchen to angrily push Bai Nuanxi away when she fed him the tomato. But to her surprise, he ate it!
However, regardless of whether Huo Muchen ate it or not, it didn't change the fact that he hated tomatoes!
She had memorized everything Huo Muchen liked and disliked since she was young. From what he could tolerate to what he found revolting—she remembered it all.
This half-baked wife, Bai Nuanxi, didn't know a thing about Brother Muchen!
"Darling, preferences are personal. If some people were to give it to him, he might be furious. But if it's from me… well, guess what he'd do?" Bai Nuanxi responded calmly to Sun Miaomiao's provocation, understanding that Huo Muchen was all about the person, not the action.
Sun Miaomiao lowered her head, focusing intently on chopping vegetables. There was no need to guess what Huo Muchen would do; he had already shown it with his actions earlier, hadn't he?
Even his least favorite thing, Huo Muchen could accept if it came from Bai Nuanxi.
Could Bai Nuanxi really be that special to him?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Sun Miaomiao's chopping grew more aggressive, creating thick slices, making her heart race. She discarded the ruined vegetables and started over.
Bai Nuanxi was doing this on purpose!
She was trying to unsettle her, to make her lose this competition!
No way… if she lost this round, she'd be out!
She had to win!
If she couldn't even beat someone who didn't know how to cook, what right did she have to stay by Brother Muchen's side?
Bai Nuanxi really had no talent for cooking. She simply chopped up the tomatoes into pieces, tossed them into a bowl, and covered them with sugar. That was her idea of a finished dish.
With a resigned attitude, Bai Nuanxi pushed the sugar-covered tomatoes forward. Whoever wanted to eat them could.
She wouldn't touch it… it looked disgusting.
Huo Muchen took a spoonful and tasted it, and his expression, usually so calm, became slightly strained.
"What's wrong…" Bai Nuanxi raised an eyebrow. She had only added two ingredients: tomatoes and sugar. It couldn't taste that bad, right?