Xu Mengyao's expression stiffened slightly, and she shook her head, saying, "Xiaoxi, Mommy just happened to be passing by, so I came to see you."
"Mommy has something to do later and needs to leave."
Lin Xiaoxi looked aggrieved.
"But I want to sleep with Daddy and Mommy."
Lin Chen said, "Mommy has to work, you know. Xiaoxi, which dish do you think Mommy makes the best?"
Lin Xiaoxi's attention was instantly diverted.
"Daddy, that dish..."
"I like to eat meat."
Lin Xiaoxi pointed at a plate of beef cubes.
For these pan-fried beef cubes, Xu Mengyao had used Top Australian Wagyu.
These were ingredients she'd brought herself.
If her skill wasn't up to par, then she'd make up for it with the ingredients.
Lin Chen looked at the pan-fried beef cubes. With his skill, he could instantly identify dozens of problems.
"Xiaoxi, Dad will get you one. Let's try it together."
Lin Chen picked up a beef cube for Lin Xiaoxi, and he took one for himself. They both ate them.
"Good meat... such a waste."
Lin Chen muttered to himself.
Xu Mengyao's cooking wasn't even as good as his used to be. But as a daughter of a wealthy family, now a CEO, it was already commendable that she could cook at all.
"Xiaoxi, how is it?"
Xu Mengyao looked at Lin Xiaoxi expectantly.
Lin Xiaoxi looked at Xu Mengyao and hesitated, "Mom, it's delicious."
"Xixi, your nose will grow if you lie."
Lin Xiaoxi looked at Lin Chen, "Mom, this isn't lying. Dad says it's a white lie."
Lin Chen: "..."
"Xiaoxi, let's try this dish."
Lin Chen put another dish in front of Lin Xiaoxi.
It was Steamed Sea Bass, and after taking a bite, Lin Xiaoxi's face showed a bitter expression.
"Xiaoxi, don't you like it?"
Xu Mengyao asked.
The sea bass she used wasn't the ordinary kind from the market. One of those could buy a dozen of the market ones.
"Mom, it's delicious."
Lin Xiaoxi said it was delicious, but she wasn't eating much.
Xu Mengyao tried a bite herself.
"Ugh—"
The fish tasted bland and had a fishy smell.
Lin Chen picked up a piece and tasted it. It wasn't even as good as the beef cubes.
"Mommy, I love green veggies! I want green veggies," Lin Xiaoxi said in a milky voice.
She really couldn't eat the fish.
Xu Mengyao quickly gave Lin Xiaoxi some vegetables.
Lin Xiaoxi took a bite.
"Mommy, my tummy feels full."
Xu Mengyao: "…"
She quickly tasted the food herself. It was so salty.
Lin Chen tasted all four dishes. The beef cubes were the best, but the taste was still very ordinary.
"Um… Lin Chen, let's go out to eat."
Xu Mengyao said with some embarrassment.
Lin Chen smiled, "No need to go to all that trouble. I'll fix them. Just wait a moment."
Soon, Lin Chen brought the dishes to the kitchen.
Rescuing failed dishes is also something top chefs need to master.
Many ingredients are expensive; it would be a shame to waste them.
He lit the fire, and Lin Chen worked quickly.
His culinary skills were still at the Grandmaster level, but compared to the last time he cooked with Xu Mengyao, his skills had improved quite a bit.
The system was making his culinary skills stronger in all aspects, and his ability to rescue failed dishes was naturally top-notch as well.
"Mom, don't be sad."
Lin Xiaoxi looked at Xu Mengyao and said.
Xu Mengyao looked at Lin Xiaoxi.
"Although Mommy's cooking isn't very tasty, you have a husband who cooks very well."
Lin Xiaoxi said very seriously. Xu Mengyao reached out and tapped Lin Xiaoxi's forehead: "Your little mouth has been spoiled by your father."
In less than ten minutes, Lin Chen had finished preparing all four dishes.
He brought the dishes out.
Surprise flashed in Xu Mengyao's eyes.
The dishes Lin Chen had redone looked better than before.
"Mengyao, you two try them."
Lin Chen smiled slightly.
Xu Mengyao put a piece of the beef in her mouth and was stunned. Had she eaten the same thing just now?
Why did it taste so much better after Lin Chen prepared it?
Lin Chen fed one to Lin Xiaoxi.
"Daddy, it's so delicious."
Lin Xiaoxi said happily, then looked at Xu Mengyao. "Mommy, the dishes you make are edible too."
Xu Mengyao: "..."
This comfort was better left unsaid.
Lin Chen smiled, "Mengyao, if you want to learn, I can teach you. I guarantee you'll learn, and I won't charge a fee."
"Mom, just give Dad a kiss."
Lin Xiaoxi giggled.
Xu Mengyao's face flushed slightly. Lin Chen put more food into Lin Xiaoxi's bowl, "Xiaoxi, try some of the other dishes too."
"Mmhmm."
Lin Xiaoxi ate heartily.
Xu Mengyao said, annoyed, "Xiaoxi, weren't you full just now? Can you eat again already?"
Lin Xiaoxi didn't dare to look at Xu Mengyao and just focused on eating.
Xu Mengyao looked at Lin Chen. "Lin Chen, I want to discuss something with you. Xiaoxi seems to have some talent for painting, and I want to find her a painting teacher."
"The teacher would come here every day for lessons."
"It might take up a lot of your time."
Lin Xiaoxi raised her head and shook it repeatedly.
"Mom, I don't want someone else to teach me to paint. Dad is amazing, Dad can teach me to paint!"
Xu Mengyao said, "Xiaoxi, your dad is good at painting, but the teacher Mom finds for you will be even more amazing."
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.
He didn't quite agree with that.
His painting skills were at the Grandmaster level, world-class. Although Xu Mengyao had money, finding a world-class painter to teach Lin Xiaoxi was a challenge.
The Xu family had considerable assets, but in the grand scheme of things, a few billion RMB wouldn't make much of a splash globally.
World-class painters wouldn't be hurting for money.
"Mengyao, I'm capable enough to give Xiaoxi a good start."
Lin Chen said.
Xu Mengyao frowned slightly: "I've contacted a painter who's quite well-known nationwide."
"The initial stages are very important for Xiaoxi."
Lin Chen thought for a moment and said, "I'll paint a picture. You can show it to this painter. Ask him if my level is sufficient to teach a child who's just over two years old."
"It's a hassle running back and forth every day."
Xu Mengyao nodded, "Alright, let's do that then."
After the meal, Xu Mengyao said, "I'll clean up. You go paint."
Lin Chen shook his head, "You don't come over often. You go keep Xiaoxi company. It won't take me long to clean up and paint."
"Then... alright."
Xu Mengyao did want to spend more time with Lin Xiaoxi, after all.
After tidying up the kitchen, Lin Chen prepared his brushes and a large sheet of paper.
After some thought, Lin Chen painted an Eight Steeds Painting.
In the history of modern painting, Xu Beihong's horses were unmatched, but this time, he'd met his match.
The horses Lin Chen painted were no worse than Xu Beihong's.
He'd spent more time teaching Lin Xiaoxi to paint, and with his Grandmaster level, his painting was even stronger than his calligraphy.
Xiaoxi can't learn from just anyone.
Lin Chen thought to himself.
Once the ink was dry, Lin Chen rolled up the painting and put it into a painting tube he had bought earlier.
Xu Mengyao walked over.
"Finished?"
She hadn't even had a chance to look.
Lin Chen nodded. "It's all packed in here. Mengyao, when you show it, don't say it's mine. Just ask if this level is good enough to teach Xiaoxi."
"Okay."
Xu Mengyao nodded.
-----------------------
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