"When I have time, I can teach you how to cook, or Meng Yiran can teach you. I taught Meng Yiran, and while her cooking skills aren't exceptional, she can definitely teach you."
"Thank you… Xiao Ze… Brother~~" Water Binger's voice grew softer and softer, and her face became redder and redder. This shy look was truly adorable.
"To be honest, I should be younger than you all, so calling me 'Brother' is a bit strange," Xiao Ze said with a smile.
"Eh?" Water Binger was stunned, "How old are you, Brother Xiao Ze?"
"A little over thirteen now."
"Oh." Water Binger was taken aback. He was two years younger than her.
Is Brother Xiao Ze's talent really that good?
She was a Spirit Ancestor at fifteen, which was already first-rate talent. Brother Xiao Ze must have innate full spirit power. How amazing.
Xiao Ze naturally knew what Water Binger was thinking: "I don't have innate full spirit power."
"???" Water Binger's mind went blank. She had innate level nine spirit power, which was already very strong. How could he cultivate faster than her without innate full spirit power? It didn't make sense.
"You'll know when the time comes."
The spatula clanged against the iron wok. Xiao Ze plated the last dish and turned to look at the somewhat clumsy girl. "Want to try some?"
Water Binger's eyes widened slightly, like a startled small animal, but she quickly reverted to her cool and aloof expression. Only the blush on her earlobes betrayed her mood. "Ca…can I?"
"Of course. Since you're at my home, I'll definitely feed you until you're full," Xiao Ze said, handing her a pair of chopsticks with a gentle smile.
Water Binger carefully took the chopsticks and elegantly picked up a small piece of fish.
The moment the food entered her mouth, her ice-blue eyes instantly lit up, widening unconsciously. "Delicious!"
After Water Binger finished eating, she secretly opened her small notebook and jotted down a few notes. Her serious demeanor was so adorable it made one want to ruffle her hair.
"It's delicious, so eat more later."
"Mm-hm."
"Actually… I've had a dream of cooking since I was little," Water Binger suddenly spoke, lowering her head, her fingers unconsciously rubbing her notebook. "My mother passed away early, and my father was busy with academy affairs, and then he also passed away.
Before my aunt came, I was the one taking care of my sister. It's just that my cooking was terrible. That period is still fresh in both our memories as sisters."
Xiao Ze was slightly startled, not expecting this seemingly aloof girl to suddenly confide in him.
He softened his voice: "In that case, if you want to learn, you can come here. I will teach you cooking every day, and you should believe that with your talent, you can learn it.
And even if cooking doesn't work out, I can teach you other things, like the pastries and cakes that Rongrong knows how to make, which are very suitable for you girls."
Water Binger looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and her lips curved upwards. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me." Xiao Ze couldn't help but ruffle her head.
Water Binger's pretty face flushed, and she lowered her head slightly.
"Ahem… Let's start with the simplest thing. How about trying to fry an egg now?" Xiao Ze pointed to the stove.
Water Binger nodded vigorously. She was as happy as a child at that moment, eagerly standing in front of the stove, yet appeared a bit flustered due to her unfamiliarity.
Xiao Ze was stunned. What kind of food did she make at home? She wasn't very familiar with these things.
It's a long and arduous journey.
Water Binger was clearly not a talented cook like Meng Yiran, so they could only take it slow.
Xiao Ze stood behind her, gently guiding her hand to demonstrate the movements, deliberately maintaining a polite distance. "Like this first, don't make the fire too high."
Water Binger listened intently, nodding occasionally, the faint fragrance from her hair wafting into Xiao Ze's nose.
When the first barely-formed fried egg was served, a brilliant smile bloomed on her face, like spring after the ice and snow have melted.
"I succeeded! I succeeded for the first time!" She whispered a cheer, then seemed to realize her lapse in composure and reverted to her cool demeanor, though the joy in her eyes could not be hidden.
Xiao Ze looked at her, and he couldn't help but smile along.
He saw a side of Water Binger that few people knew.
The girl just now wasn't the aloof Ice and Snow Goddess in others' eyes; she was just an ordinary girl who was happy about learning to fry an egg.
Outside the kitchen window, Shui Yueer and Huo Wu were peeking through, watching the scene inside.
For once, the two didn't mock each other but simultaneously puffed out their cheeks.
"My sister actually snuck off," Shui Yueer grumbled in a huff.
"You have the nerve to say that? I didn't expect your sister to take care of you when you were little. You really are just an overgrown child."
"Nonsense," Shui Yueer said, blushing slightly.
"Hmph~"
…
Dinner was lively.
A large round table was laden with dishes that were fragrant, colorful, and delicious.
"Wow! Brother Xiao Ze is amazing!" Ning Rongrong was the first to rush to the table, her large, glazed eyes sparkling.
"Why are you calling him Brother Xiao Ze too? Xiao Ze is clearly several months younger than you," Dugu Yan asked.
"I just think calling him Brother Xiao Ze sounds nice, and since they, who are so much older, can call him that, so can I."
Xiao Ze didn't mind, but he hoped that Ning Rongrong would call him Daddy when they were in bed later.
Water Binger sat quietly in the corner, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
She carefully unfolded her notebook and got her pen ready.
"Let's eat," Xiao Ze had just finished speaking when a group of girls eagerly reached out for their chopsticks.
Xiao Ze couldn't stop smiling as he watched the girls eat.
As a chef, he genuinely hoped his cooking could bring happiness to others.
Huo Wu and Shui Yueer almost fought over the last spare rib, but Meng Yiran snatched it with her chopsticks first.
Ye Lingling chewed slowly, but her bowl was already piled high with food.
Ning Rongrong kept putting food into Xiao Ze's bowl while eating, showing the demeanor of a proper madam.
Water Binger's eating style was particularly unique.
Every time she tasted a dish, she would close her eyes to savor it, then quickly record her observations in her notebook.
"Jade Shrimp, main ingredient fresh river shrimp, marinated with a little egg white and starch… cooked to seven-tenths, seasoned with salt, a trace of sugar, and… is this Huadiao wine?"
Xiao Ze pretended to glance at her notes casually and was immediately surprised.
This seemingly clumsy girl in cooking actually possessed an incredibly keen sense of taste. She could discern what was inside these dishes. It seemed she had talent, but her mind and hands weren't coordinated enough.
This was probably what they called, "My mind says I can, my hands say I didn't say that."
A culinary genius with a perfect score in theory and zero in practice.