Chereads / The Legendary Supernatural Student / Chapter 210 - Chapter 208: A Complimentary Bodyguard (Part I)

Chapter 210 - Chapter 208: A Complimentary Bodyguard (Part I)

This was the first time Xiang Ri showcased his culinary skills before the three women, and the result was as extraordinary as it was unexpected. Their gazes carried a mix of astonishment and complexity, as though they couldn't reconcile the exquisite dishes with the lazy and indulgent man they thought they knew. 

Initially, they had assumed his retreat to the kitchen was just an excuse to slip away. But to their surprise, he genuinely busied himself with preparing a meal. Convinced that even with the effort, the outcome would likely necessitate dining out, they were wholly unprepared for the tantalizing aroma wafting from the kitchen. When they finally set their eyes on the vibrant dishes, it was clear these were no mere culinary accidents. 

The first taste left them wide-eyed, their amazement mirrored in their glances at the man feigning modesty beside them. 

"Xiang Kui, this is delicious!" Chuchu exclaimed with genuine admiration. 

"Teacher, who would have thought your cooking could surpass mine? This is incredible," Shi Qing remarked, scrutinizing the man as though meeting him for the first time. 

Only An Xin maintained her defiance, her tone dripping with disdain. "Well, it seems someone isn't entirely useless. At least the cooking is decent." She paused, then declared decisively, "I've made up my mind. From today onwards, Xiang Kui will handle all three meals a day!" 

Xiang Ri lounged back lazily, his response dripping with indifference. "For Chuchu and Qingqing, perhaps. But for you, Miss An, I'm afraid we're not that close. You'll have to manage your own meals." 

While confident in his culinary talents, Xiang Ri was adamant about avoiding the fate of a full-time homemaker. The mere thought of surrendering his carefree lifestyle to the demands of daily cooking—especially for An Xin—felt akin to a death sentence. A task like this might be tolerable occasionally, but as a routine? Absolutely not. 

His dismissive remark immediately kindled An Xin's fury. Misinterpreting his refusal as a personal affront, her voice rose with indignation. "What's that supposed to mean? Don't think too highly of yourself, Xiang Kui! To me, you're nothing but—" 

"Alright, alright!" Shi Qing interjected swiftly, cutting off her friend's mounting tirade. Fully aware of her friend's penchant for sharp words and the teacher's propensity to retaliate, she stepped in to defuse the brewing storm. 

"An An, after all, he's a man. It's unreasonable to expect him to cook for us every day. Chuchu and I can handle the meals; you just enjoy them," Shi Qing added meaningfully, casting a knowing glance at Xiang Ri. 

Catching her intent, Xiang Ri smirked inwardly, silently praising his clever and perceptive disciple. Swiftly, he picked up the drumstick An Xin was about to take and placed it in Shi Qing's bowl. "Qingqing, you've been working hard lately. Have some chicken to replenish your energy." 

An Xin ground her teeth in silent rage, her fiery glare fixed on Xiang Ri. This scoundrel had stolen her drumstick! 

Suppressing her anger, she reached out for the smaller drumstick, only to see Xiang Ri again intercept it, this time placing it in Chuchu's bowl. "Chuchu, you should have one too." 

"I've had enough!" An Xin snapped, slamming her chopsticks down with a loud crack. She stomped off to her room, her footsteps echoing her frustration. A resounding door slam followed, shaking the air with her indignation. 

"Teacher, how could you?" Shi Qing scolded him with a hint of reproach. It was evident to everyone now that Xiang Ri's actions were a deliberate ploy to antagonize her friend. 

Even Chuchu couldn't hold back her disapproval. "That was uncalled for, Xiang Kui. An An is our guest. How could you treat her like that? She hasn't eaten all day and even helped us carry the luggage. You really went too far this time!"

"Yes, yes, I admit my mistake," Xiang Ri quickly adopted a contrite expression, facing the relentless reproach of the two women. Rising from his seat, he picked up An Xiao Niu's bowl and chopsticks, adding a drumstick into the bowl before saying, "To make up for my mistake, I'll take her meal to her room and let her eat on her own. Will that suffice?" 

Without waiting for a response, and under their astonished gazes, he walked toward An Xiao Niu's bedroom. Truthfully, Xiang Ri wasn't one to go out of his way, but his fear that An Xiao Niu might, in her anger, blurt out the incident from this morning—when Onnaïs kissed him—spurred him into action. 

The door to her room was unlocked. Gently twisting the handle, he entered. An Xiao Niu was seated at the edge of her bed, sulking. 

"What are you doing here? Get out!" she snapped irritably upon seeing the intruder. 

"Hey, hey, isn't this a bit ungrateful? I'm bringing you food," Xiang Ri said, setting the bowl and chopsticks in front of her. 

"I don't need your fake goodwill." She instinctively wanted to shove him away but restrained herself, fearing the bowl might fall. Instead, she turned her face aside, pointedly ignoring him. 

"You're really not eating?" Xiang Ri's tone carried a hint of teasing. "If you don't want it, I'll eat it." With that, he picked up the drumstick and took a bite. 

"Scoundrel!" she glared at him, stomach growling with hunger after skipping breakfast. Watching him relish the food in front of her only intensified her fury. 

She was about to retort when her gaze froze, landing on the bowl and chopsticks in his hands. Hesitantly, she asked, "Are you using my utensils?" 

"Of course," he replied nonchalantly, adding with a smirk, "Don't worry, I don't mind." 

"You idiot! That's my line!" she shouted, leaping up from the bed, fists clenched, as though ready to strike him. 

But instead of acting on her anger, she snatched the bowl and chopsticks from his hands, ignoring the fact that the food had been "contaminated" and began eating. 

"See? Isn't this better?" Xiang Ri remarked casually. Suddenly, he leaped onto the bed, lying back with his hands behind his head, looking entirely at ease. 

"You dare lie on my bed? Get up, you idiot!" Furious, An Xiao Niu kicked at him. 

"Come on, it's rare for me to visit your room. You can't kick me out so soon," Xiang Ri dodged her attack and rolled over, inhaling deeply. "But honestly, your bed smells amazing!" he exclaimed, taking exaggerated sniffs with a look of mock delight. 

Just as he was about to push his luck further by grabbing a pillow, his eyes landed on a white item near it—a piece of intimate clothing. 

His eyes sparkled with mischief, and a devious thought bloomed in his mind. 

An Xiao Niu, oblivious to his scheming, was still fuming over her failed kick. Determined to settle the score, she set down her bowl and chopsticks, ready to confront him directly. 

Sensing the impending danger, Xiang Ri quickly raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, no need for violence. I'll leave right now!" 

As he sat up, his left hand, hidden from view, stealthily reached behind him. In one swift motion, he grabbed the soft fabric and slipped it into the pocket of his casual pants. The entire maneuver was executed flawlessly, unnoticed even by An Xiao Niu, who was mere inches away. 

"Get out of here, now!" she barked, emboldened by his apparent compliance. 

"Yes, yes, I'm leaving." Having successfully "borrowed" her possession, Xiang Ri dared not linger. Before she could say more, he bolted from the room. 

An Xiao Niu watched him leave, baffled by his sudden obedience. 

Puzzled but unable to make sense of it, she chose to let it go, instead channeling her frustration into fiercely biting into the drumstick, as though it were the flesh of a certain infuriating man. 

At the bustling international airport, the flight from the capital had landed some time ago, and the arrival hall was teeming with people. 

Among the crowd, a particular group of men and women stood out conspicuously. It wasn't merely due to their striking appearances—though that was undeniable—but rather because of the bold, avant-garde style of one member in particular. 

Leading the group was a young man in his mid-twenties, exceptionally handsome, clad in a tailored designer suit and sporting rimless glasses. He exuded an air of refinement and charisma, embodying the quintessential Prince Charming of countless young hearts. 

To his left walked another young man, slightly younger in age yet towering over the first by at least half a head, standing a solid 1.9 meters tall. Dressed in a black casual outfit, his every movement radiated explosive strength, warning others against provoking him. 

On the right, however, was a youth whose appearance was far less commendable—and it was primarily thanks to him that the group attracted so much attention. 

His hair was a fiery red, spiked straight up like the bristles of a broom. He wore a garish plaid shirt on top and a pair of jeans with cross-shaped slashes at both knees. To complete this bizarre ensemble, he sported flip-flops, their incessant "clack, clack" echoing as he walked. 

Trailing behind them was a woman—a breathtaking beauty who, while perhaps not capable of toppling nations, could undoubtedly captivate cities. Her long hair, tied into a ponytail, cascaded to her waist and hips, emphasizing her elegance. 

She wore a sleek black leather outfit that accentuated her flawless figure. Such a stunning woman would normally invite a flood of admirers, yet not a single person dared approach her. 

Partly, this was due to her eccentric companions, but more than that, it was the icy aura she radiated, intentional or not, that kept even the boldest men at bay. 

"Hey, Lan, do you know who we're tasked with looking after this time?" The flamboyant youth in flip-flops suddenly turned to the cold beauty behind him. 

The woman addressed as "Lan" shot him a frosty glare. "No need to ask. It's probably another spoiled young master. I despise these kinds of assignments the most." 

The tall youth chimed in, his tone laced with disdain. "Exactly. These privileged brats, born into lives most can only dream of, spend their days causing trouble. Then it's up to us to clean up after them. Just thinking about it pisses me off! Honestly, it'd be better to send them to Black Dragon Island for some real training—what a waste of time!" 

"No choice. Orders are orders, and we've got to carry them out," the flamboyant youth sighed, turning to the handsome leader who had yet to speak. "Boss, what's your take?" 

"Stop chattering while walking," the handsome man replied coolly, his footsteps never faltering as he strode purposefully forward.