For Zhao Lun, the culinary competition was somewhat distant. He could only think about it, but asking him to pay attention to it was almost impossible.
He had heard of it, but never visited or delved into it. There was no one there worth his attention, and it seemed pointless to go.
"By the way, where is that master? I haven't seen her," Zhao Lun asked, growing curious.
"Mu Jie went to rest."
"After cooking, she usually reads and then practices her culinary skills," Maria explained, then activated a holographic projection for Zhao Lun to view.
"Mu Jie? She's a female culinary master?"
Zhao Lun was surprised, looking at the image of a woman. She dressed sharply and exuded a distant, almost forbidding aura. The most striking feature was her hair—long, glossy black, meticulously groomed, and tied tightly with a white silk ribbon.
Her hair shimmered, strikingly beautiful, perfect for a shampoo commercial.
She wore a white silk outfit and boots, her entire presence devoid of earthly warmth. When Zhao Lun saw her face, it felt as though the air had turned cold.
Wait, wasn't her hair supposed to be white? How could it be so dark and glossy now?
It was only after Zhao Lun processed this information that he realized the discrepancy.
"Her hair?" Zhao Lun asked, confused. Was Maria mistaken?
"Oh, her hair has turned black again recently," Angela said, with a hint of admiration.
Their hair was beautiful too, but compared to Mu Lan's, it lacked that special touch.
"..." Zhao Lun was speechless. Her white hair had changed so quickly—apparently, the blow wasn't as great as he'd imagined.
Seemingly aware of being observed, she lifted her head, briefly acknowledging the camera with a nod before continuing to read.
Her expression was emotionless, and her gaze was cold, freezing the soul as it passed through the camera lens.
"Hiss!"
Zhao Lun felt the temperature drop around him.
"So cold!?" he exclaimed, astounded. To think such a person existed—it was truly remarkable.
"Impressive!" Zhao Lun remarked.
Indeed, she was no ordinary person. Her senses were so sharp that she could perceive the camera's gaze.
It was worth noting that even Nicole and the others, who had consumed copious amounts of divine spring water, lacked such sensitivity.
The most remarkable part was that she had earned the title of culinary master. For women, such an achievement was perhaps even harder than for men.
Female chefs were often at a disadvantage, with their monthly discomfort affecting both their taste buds and moods.
The scarcity of top-tier female chefs was largely due to this, as they had to exert more effort than their male counterparts to attain mastery.
What was even more astonishing was that she seemed to possess some unique abilities.
"Mu Lan is truly formidable. She can easily take down a dozen ruffians," Angela said.
"Mu Lan? Is that her name?" Zhao Lun felt the name carried some history.
Mu Lan—like the legendary Hua Mulan, a heroine from ancient China who defied expectations, came to his mind.
"Yes. When we ran into some trouble in Xiangjiang, she was the one who handled it."
Angela's lips curled into a smile as she seemed to recall the incident fondly.
"Her name was given by her mother. She hoped Mu Lan would be like the ancient hero, Hua Mulan—an extraordinary woman in her own right, not bound by traditional gender roles."
"Heh, sounds like you've had quite the exciting adventures together," Zhao Lun said with a smile. "Tell me more."
"Well, it's mostly those crazy fans..." Maria began without needing Nicole's prompt.
After the release of Angela, Nicole, and Monica's movie, they had become famous film stars, adored by fans. Some devoted followers even regarded them as goddesses.
Among these, the most fervent were the fans from Xiangjiang, whose obsessive behavior bordered on frightening.
After the New Year, Angela and Nicole went to Xiangjiang for business, where they were unexpectedly surrounded by paparazzi. The situation quickly escalated, attracting a horde of crazy fans near the airport.
Unprepared, they were trapped in the crowd. The wild fans terrified them.
Luckily, their bodyguards responded swiftly and helped them break free, though the throngs were so frantic that they couldn't hold the crowd back for long.
Before things got too chaotic, Angela wisely led Nicole to retreat.
Unfortunately, their luck ran out when a group of ruffians appeared, blocking their path. Just as they were preparing to fight, a white-haired woman emerged, swiftly dispatching the troublemakers and leading them to safety.
"Brother, those bad people! They're terrible!" one of the girls exclaimed.
"Thank goodness for Mu Lan!" another sighed in relief.
"Humph! Maria won't let them get away with it!" Maria said, clearly enraged.
In Xiangjiang, the group of ruffians who had been nursing their injuries trembled in fear. A sense of malevolence seemed to descend upon them. Surrounded only by their own, they wondered if it was their imagination.
The group talked for hours until nightfall.
When dinner arrived, they realized it was already late.
"Time flies; it's already dark," Zhao Lun remarked.
"I'm starving!" Maria said, feeling hungry again.
"Well, if you're hungry, let's eat," Zhao Lun said, ruffling her hair. The mischievous girl playfully nudged him.
Both were growing, so their appetites were voracious, and even without physical exertion, they got hungry quickly.
At home, food was always prepared, so whenever hunger struck, it was easy to sit down and eat.
No need for any orders; the food had already been thoughtfully prepared. The maids brought it to the table, the delicious aroma making everyone's mouths water.
"Wow! So much delicious food!"
A true culinary master's creations never failed to impress; just the scent made everyone's appetite grow.
As family, they sat together without strict formalities.
Zhao Lun remained silent, picking up his chopsticks and beginning the meal, and soon, everyone joined in.
This splendid dinner continued late into the night.
Sadly, during their rest, Zhao Lun did not get to meet the culinary master, Mu Lan, in person.
"Where is the culinary master? Why isn't she coming out?" Zhao Lun asked Nicole.
"Mu Lan is a quiet person. Besides cooking, she doesn't really have other hobbies," Angela replied thoughtfully, then hesitated. "I think she's a bit shy."
"Really?" Zhao Lun found it hard to believe. A grand culinary master, shy? Was this a joke?
Having not returned to his room in half a year, Zhao Lun found it clean, faintly scented with the fruity milk aroma of Maria.
The girl enjoyed fruit milk smoothies, so it was no surprise the scent lingered.
Without thinking, Zhao Lun knew Maria often came here, perhaps even spending the night.
Changing into his bathrobe, Zhao Lun headed to the bathroom for a comfortable hot bath. When he emerged, he found someone had already arrived in his room.
"So late, why aren't you sleeping?" Zhao Lun asked, drying his hair as he approached Maria.
"Maria missed her brother, wanted to see him," she murmured, clearly sleepy.
"Come on, I'll stay with you."
"Mm, goodnight, Maria," Zhao Lun whispered as he gently placed her in bed and covered her with a blanket, watching until she fell asleep before quietly leaving.
The room was warm, with air conditioning controlled by the smart assistant Athena, ensuring a comfortable sleep environment.
By dawn, the melodious song of a lark woke Zhao Lun, leaving him wide awake.
Getting up, he dressed, called out to Maria, and after washing up, he set out for a walk with her, Ivy, and the dogs in tow.
The morning air was cool, with the faint scent of dew on the vegetation, and everything smelled fresh.
In the garden, the flowers glistened with dew, their colors vibrant as if begging to be admired.
The surrounding area was silent, save for the sounds of their footsteps and the occasional panting of the dogs.
Sometimes the dogs, acting like children, mischievously licked the flowers, causing Maria to chase after them. The dogs, in turn, darted around, playfully avoiding her.
A sharp cry echoed above them like the sound of precious jade.
"It's Flash and Snowshadow!" Maria exclaimed.
"They've returned!"
Maria stopped, waving as she watched the birds circle overhead.
The two raptors had grown even more formidable, their wingspan large enough to cover a Hummer vehicle.
Their arrival sent the smaller birds and animals scurrying for cover.
Zhao Lun whistled, and the raptors immediately descended.
The two birds landed with a gust of wind, causing the nearby grass and trees to sway. Zhao Lun shielded his eyes from the wind.
Maria, sensing the movement, nestled behind Zhao Lun, holding onto his arm.
The dogs growled lowly, glaring at the descending birds.
If not for Zhao Lun's restraint, they would have likely charged at the raptors.
"Quiet!" Zhao Lun said, giving the dogs a light smack.
The dogs immediately calmed down, wagging their tails and trying to please their owner.
Zhao Lun chuckled, knowing full well how Maria treated them.
She had her own methods of "training" them, claiming it made them stronger. The pets had learned to fear her antics.
But they also knew who their true master was—Zhao Lun.
The two raptors, now standing taller than Zhao Lun, approached him slowly, their sharp talons gleaming like iron.
Their beaks were like blades, sharp and serrated. Their eyes were keen and proud.
"They've grown up," Zhao Lun said with a satisfied smile, watching them.
The raptors nuzzled
Zhao Lun affectionately, rubbing their heads against his legs.
"Flash, Snowshadow... They're a good match for the coming challenge."
It seemed this morning walk would be the prelude to more exciting events to come.