After her friends left, Ming Er talk to me with apologetic looks in her face
"Hubby, sorry, we missed the last bus because my friends visit"
"It's okay wifey, they are your childhood friends that not seeing you for a long time. Besides, they will help us promote our business. That's great, right?"
"Um, I'm glad hubby can understand that. Let's clean up the table and bring the glass and plates back to kitchen, hubby"
"Okay…oh there's still one piece meringue left, do you want to eat that wifey?"
"Let's eat that together hubby"
She puts half of the meringue in her mouth and left the rest outside her mouth. I immediately understand what she means to eat together. So I bite the other half that left outside her mouth, our tongue sweep clean any left creams in each other mouth. Although there's no cream left in our mouth, we still kissing for a while until we let go of each other mouth.
"Wifey, that's I called new way to eat snack"
"Tee hee~ I'm glad hubby like it"
"Hmm, let's continue to clean this glass and plates, then we prepare the dish for dinner" 
We take the glass and plates back to the kitchen, wash it and keep it back in the cupboard.
"Hubby, what do you want to make for dinner?"
"We still have Fu Qi Fei Pian for dinner, but Dan Dan noodles are already eaten clean. I must make something to replace Dandan noodles"
"How about Mapo Tofu hubby? That dish quite popular and many people like that dish"
"Do we have tofu to make it?"
"I think we have some tofu in the refrigerator"
"Alright, let's make it"
Like Ming Er said, mapo tofu is a popular dish in Sichuan and can be made in a short time.
Ingredients
• 450g silken tofu (Szechuan tender lushui tofu can be used)
• 100g minced meat-beef or pork
• ½ tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 and ½ tablespoons Doubanjiang, roughly chopped
• ½ tablespoon fermented black beans (also known as dou-chi and fermented soya beans), roughly chopped
• 1 tablespoon pepper flakes or powder (optional)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ tablespoon Sichuan pepper for making fresh ground powder
• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
• water or broth for braising (400ml)
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 scallion white, finely chopped
• 4 garlic greens or scallion greens, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 5 ginger slices, finely minced (around 1 teaspoon)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional for reducing the spiciness)
Water starch
• 2 and ½ tablespoon water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Cooking Instructions
1. Add a small pinch of salt and sesame oil to minced beef. Mix well and set aside.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 and ½ tablespoons of water in a small bowl to make water starch.
3. Cut tofu into square cubes (around 2cms). Bring a large amount of water to a boil and then add a pinch of salt. Slide the tofu in and cook for 1 minute. Move out and drain.
4. Get a wok and heat up around 2 tablespoons of oil, fry the minced meat until crispy. Transfer out beef out and leave the oil in.
5. Fry doubanjiang for 1 minute over a slow fire and then add garlic, scallion white, ginger and fermented black beans to cook for 30 seconds until aroma. Then mix pepper flakes in.
6. Add water to the seasonings and bring to boil over a high fire. Gently slide the tofu cubes. Add light soy sauce and beef. Slow the heat after boiling and then simmer for 6-8 minutes. Then add chopped garlic greens.
7. Stir the water starch and then pour half of the mixture to the simmering pot. Wait for around 30 seconds and then pour the other half. You can slightly taste the tofu and add pinch of salt if not salty enough. By the way, if you feel it is too spicy, add some sugar can milder the taste. But be carefully as the broth is very hot at this point.
8. Transfer out when almost all the seasonings stick to tofu cubes. Sprinkle Szechuan peppercorn powder (to taste)and chopped garlic greens if using.
9. Serve immediately with steamed rice
When we finish making this mapo tofu, my father in law enter the kitchen
"Son, daughter, you're not return yet? No wonder I smell good cooking aroma from the kitchen. Hahaha, good, I still can eat delicious food tonight. Are you done cooking? If so, let's get dinner together"
"Ming Er friends like to have chat with her father, and they already not see each other for long time, and I guess we still can return tomorrow"
"Dad, you wait in dining room, we will bring the dishes there"
"Oh okay, I'll wait in there"
We bring the dishes to dining room after place them in big bowl and big plates so we can eat them together. When we deliver the dishes to the dining room, my father, mother and brother in law already waiting there for our cooking.
"What we have for dinner son?"
My father in law ask tonight menu at me
"Fu Qi Fei Pian, Mapo tofu and Gan Bian Si Ji, father"
"Um, that's good. I still want to eat that lunch menu again and you make it for tonight. Good job son, now let's eat before it gets cold"
We take our seat and start to eat without speaking any words anymore like afraid if we talking, our chewing speed will decrease and the food will be taken by other family members.

You Ben is a talented young cook in Shi Kingdom. But because of vicious intrigue within the palace, he lost his life in tragic death, followed by his family member.
When he’s opened his eyes, he’s already in someone else body. Someone with the same name as him, You Ben, a small restaurant owner in He Xing city, thousand years ahead from when he died.
Inherit the previous owner memory, You Ben found that the previous owner dies because drown in drinking habit because of his restaurant that once a popular restaurant, plummet in the bottom of food business by dirty tricks that made by his rival, which make him depressed.
Cherishing his second life, You Ben steeled his mind to rejuvenate the previous owner restaurant and bring his cooking skill to renowned in the world.

Genre : Romance with mature content.
Story wrote in the slow pace if you can't wait, sorry, this is my way of writing.

He laughed at Chu Xun and Chu Jiaoyang's leaving back views. "Although Chu Xun appears delicate and weak, her strength isn't to be belittled! I didn't expect that!" 
"That young lady with something wrong with her brain is so slim, so if President Chu couldn't manage to drag her away, I'd suspect she was up to something!" Bai Xiaonian's mouth was unforgiving. Perhaps because she minded the fact that Lu Jinnan's eyes had fallen upon that young lady's chest and thus felt uncomfortable, her expression was a little dark when facing Lu Jinnan. 
Being flat-chested was Bai Xiaonian's greatest hurt in this lifetime…
Lu Jinnan glanced at Bai Xiaonian and got the wrong idea, thinking that she was jealous of him praising Chu Xun for being delicate and weak.
What should one do when their girlfriend was mad? Treat her to a good meal! If one meal didn't do it, make it two!
Lu Jinnan had always lived by this strategy, so he walked towards Bai Xiaonian and bent over, stroking her on the top of her head. "You'll surely be pleased with the restaurant we're going to for lunch!"
"Okay!" The corners of Bai Xiaonian's lips turned up, though she only appeared to be smiling on the surface. 
Lu Jinnan felt that this tactic—using good food to appease his girlfriend—worked every time. He straightened his body, satisfied with himself, a smile taking over his fair and dashing facial features.
Little Lu only had the time to say hello to Lin Nuan now, smiling and nodding at her. "Madam…"
Lin Nuan returned the nod and a slight smile, thanking Little Lu for safely sending Tuan Tuan back. She then looked up at Fu Huai'an. "Are you done with your business?"
"Yes, I have the entire afternoon to accompany you. You can think about where you want to go while eating lunch."
"Then let's go to the mall!" Lin Nuan's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Fu Huai'an. "The watch I gave you has been smashed, so I want to get you a new piece."
After she finished her words, Lin Nuan edged closer to Fu Huai'an, who also edged his head closer to her. He then heard Lin Nuan add in an incredibly small voice, "Using the bank card Mr. Fu submitted!"
Fu Huai'an's dark eyes were all smiles as he nodded. "Okay…"
…
Chu Xun yanked Chu Jiaoyang into the suite, then slammed the door shut, staring at Chu Jiaoyang with reddened eyes and a heaving chest.
"You have disgraced the Chu family entirely!" Chu Xun was so mad that her hands were shaking, and she was barely holding back tears. 
Chu Jiaoyang was barefoot, holding onto one high heel in her hand, the other lost somewhere else. Her tears ruined her makeup, and her exquisite braids were loosened, making her appear disheveled.
The young lady wiped her tears with the back of her hands, and her eyes widened in aggrievedness as she stared at her furious cousin. "Why are you so fierce towards me when my love has ended!" 
"What love has ended? Since when did Fu Huai'an date you? Are you shameless or what?" Chu Xun blabbed those harsh words out of anger.
The color of blood drained from Chu Jiaoyang's face as she stared at Chu Xun in disbelief, her eyes watering up again.
Even Lin Nuan and that irritating friend of hers didn't call her shameless, yet her own cousin had just done so. This was a particularly harsh word in Chu Jiaoyang's book.
Tears started falling down Chu Jiaoyang's cheeks. "I'm going to tell my mom!"
Chu Xun nearly exploded from anger. "What are you capable of other than complaining to the family? Chu Jiaoyang! You're no longer a primary school kid! You're already grown! You need to understand that this society is unlike the Chu family, which allows you to summon the wind and call for rain! Can you be more sensible and make others less worried about you? You're going to complain to your mother that Fu Huai'an doesn't like you, and what, are you expecting her to kidnap Fu Huai'an and bring him to your side? Chu Jiaoyang! Stop giving others a reason to call you a retard! Grow up! I beg of you!" 
After finishing her speech, Chu Xun went back to her room and slammed the door behind her, so mad that she leaned against the door frame and started crying herself.
The minute Chu Jiaoyang heard the door slam, she burst into tears, screaming at Chu Xun's door, "Don't think I'm not aware that you like Brother Huai'an too! You're just afraid that Brother Huai'an likes me, so you're no longer that cousin who used to like me! You hate me now too! I know!"
Inside the room, Chu Xun covered her mouth with her hands as her body slid down lifelessly against the door frame. She buried her face in her hands and howled, feeling drained of all energy, unable to lecture Chu Jiaoyang. She felt fatigued, in both mind and body. 
She felt that she no longer had the face to walk out of the suite. How was she to face Fu Huai'an… and other people's peculiar stares? 
She had no idea how others were ridiculing her behind her back, but it must be pretty nasty.
Chu Xun felt her body turn cold. She hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face between them, other people's whispers and murmurs in her ears. 
Chu Xun was a prideful woman who had always hoped to present a perfect image in front of others!
So she hated Lin Nuan!
Even if she was Lin Nuan's rival in love, when she had stripped naked in front of Fu Huai'an back then, she wasn't aware that they had gotten married! Why did Lin Nuan have to be so relentless, to go around spreading her shameful deed such that everyone now knew!
Lin Nuan… was trying to drive her to her grave!
She absolutely wouldn't let Lin Nuan succeed!
Chu Xun wiped away her tears and forcibly pulled herself together. Old Madam Fu had arrived in Venice; she just wasn't staying at this hotel. 
She had to look for Old Madam Fu and come up with a strategy with her.
Chu Xun's father had said that if Old Madam Fu came to Venice personally, she might be able to convince Fu Huai'an to return to the Kaide Corporation, so he told her not to be so anxious!
The Kaide Corporation's share price was still plunging, to the point that Chu Xun's father could barely keep still any longer. If Old Madam Fu couldn't convince Fu Huai'an to return, then he would take a gamble and get Chu Xun to sell his shares to Fu Huai'an at a low price, in order to minimize losses.
Chu Xun had to lift her spirits. She was the Chu family's daughter, and her father had tasks for her. She couldn't remain depressed just because Lin Nuan was trying to deal her a blow.
Chu Xun propped her body up, supporting herself against the door frame. She proceeded to take a hot shower in the bathroom and change into a set of clothes that would please the elders more, then left to look for Old Madam Fu after putting on some light makeup.
The little princess Chu Jiaoyang had already fallen asleep on the sofa, tired from crying, tear streaks still on her face…
Chu Xun couldn't bear to see her this way after all; she picked up a blanket and covered Chu Jiaoyang with it before leaving. 
…
The group of six—Lin Nuan, Fu Huai'an, Bai Xiaonian, Lu Jinnan, Little Lu, and You Nainai—sat in a little boat and arrived at the entrance of a Chinese restaurant. The signage seemed old, but the decor within and the waiters appeared to be cordial and warm. 
Hot steam and the aroma of hot pot could be detected. Regardless of whether they had black hair and black eyes or blond hair and blue eyes, the waiters were wearing an ancient-style black uniform, which was like that donned by waiters in tea inns in the past. They were also wearing a black veil in front of their faces to prevent their saliva from getting onto the food when they spoke while serving. 
The minute the six of them entered, there was the sound of a gong at the door. All of the wait staff spoke uniformly in a Szechuan dialect, welcoming the guests. It was the same whether the incoming guests were Chinese nationals or the local Venice people.


With his engagement at hand, the most terrifying and legendary person of the legal world, Fu Huai'an, returns with a son.

Before the engagement…

He asks, "Since you love Wen Moshen, why are you in my bed?"
She says, "Because I cannot watch idly as Wen Moshen's woman enters an engagement with you."

With a cigarette in Fu Huai'an's mouth, he crosses his legs. Across the light cloud of smoke, he squints his eyes—watching as Lin Nuan's slim arms wrap around his neck; he feels stirred.

So a person can love another so passionately.

"You call what you did a kiss?"
"…"
"What a pure lady!" 

Fu Huai'an spews out a cloud of smoke and snuffs out the cigarette. With a mellow voice, he says, "Let me teach you what kissing is!"

But, what he teaches Lin Nuan doesn't seem to be only a kiss…

Back then, she was curious, but now, she didn't seem so curious anymore because she was experiencing it for herself. AHAHAHAHA.
It was too intense. It was so damn nerve-racking.
She was already at a loss for what to do.
This man was a liar and he still kept saying she was always thinking about that kind of thing, but what was he doing right now?
She wanted to push him away. It was so embarrassing.
However, amidst the embarrassment, she was also a little curious. What to do? What to do? Was she too dirty-minded?
It felt as though 10,000 horses were galloping in her brain until one button of her jeans was undone. She suddenly pressed his hand, stuttering as her face flushed red, "No… no… I can't, I… am still not mentally prepared."
Yan Molun lifted his dark pupils to watch her for a few seconds. In those few seconds, he had the expression of a ferocious beast contemplating whether to eat her up or not. However, he still let her go slowly in the end and took a step back. "Mm. That's fine; I have no condoms at home."
Duoyao: "…."
Is that the main point? The main point is that I'm shy and afraid, alright?
She covered her chest. "Turn around."
Not only did he turn around, but he even walked into the house.
Duoyao fixed her bra clasp and slapped her burning little face hard. She stood outside for a while to cool herself down before walking in with an awkward expression. Yan Molun was sitting on the couch, smoking. He had already finished two sticks by the time she came back in.
When he saw her walking in, he stood up. "Let's go grab a meal. I didn't know that you would come over, so I didn't buy groceries."
Duoyao looked at the time. It was almost six. She pouted. "Since we're going to eat out anyway, why did you bring me over?"
Yan Molun bent down to stub out his cigarette in the ashtray. His thin lips moved. "It's not convenient to kiss you outside."
Duoyao was stumped for words once again. How embarrassing. Couldn't he just make his answers more subtle? Was there a need to be so straightforward?
"Let's go. Leave your things here for the time being. The place we're going isn't far from here." Yan Molun saw the hesitation in the depths of her eyes and said, "Don't worry, it's Li Shaobin's shop. It's very remote."
"Oh." Duoyao walked forward a few steps. Suddenly, she turned back to take out a box from one of the bags. "Where's your fridge? My mom made me chive pockets. The weather is warm and I'm afraid they'll turn bad if I don't put them in the fridge."
"You like them?" Yan Molun frowned.
"They're alright." A sly thought flashed passed Duoyao's eyes and she said with a grin, "You don't dislike them, do you?"
"I don't like the smell of chives," Yan Molun said lightly. "The fridge is in the kitchen."
After Duoyao put them into the fridge, she thought for a while and took out a chive pocket, eating it with a smile. When she walked over to Yan Molun, she even breathed out towards him. He frowned deeply and turned his head around. "Are you doing that on purpose?"
"Do you want to give it a try? It's actually pretty good." Duoyao tried to feed him the chive pocket.
Yan Molun turned his face away with despise and at the sight of that, Duoyao gloated even more.
...
The journey to the restaurant was merely 10 minutes and Yan Molun had the windows down all the way, mainly because of the smell of chives.
When they arrived at a simply furnished Szechuan restaurant, the entrance was filled with cars parked outside. Yan Molun got out of his car and passed his keys to the valet. The valet seemed to recognize him as well. When they entered, the manager came out to greet him personally, ushering him to the VIP suite upstairs.
This suite was simple and the menu was also very pretty. Duoyao ordered a few famous Szechuan dishes and after the waitress left, she asked, "You said this restaurant was opened by Li Shaobin? I couldn't tell at all. This restaurant is furnished pretty well and business is quite good. It doesn't seem to fit his personality."
"What do you mean?" Yan Molun poured some tea for her.
Duoyao smiled. "He doesn't look like a businessman."
"He has a professional team," Yan Molun said lightly. "He also went over to Szechuan personally before opening this restaurant. Now, he has tens of branches. The food here tastes like authentic Szechuan cuisine and on top of that… he has many people working under him… The Li Family also knows a lot of people. This is why his business is so good."
"Oh." Duoyao nodded. "I really couldn't tell. Looks like he's pretty reliable."
The corners of Yan Molun's lips lifted up. "What do you want to do after lunch?"
"… I don't know." Duoyao was taken aback. She shook her head.
She really didn't know. During university, she would go shopping or catch a movie during dates. However, after she became popular, everything she did had to be done in secret. Besides, she was really busy so she hadn't dated for a while.
Yan Molun remained silent and didn't say anything else.
The dishes were served. They were spicy and numbing but very satisfying. Under the light, Duoyao's lips were plump and luscious.
Yan Molun ate a little and in the middle of their meal, there was a knock on the door to their suite.
"Come in," he said. The door opened from the outside. However, it wasn't the waitress but Li Shaobin. He peeked his head in and only walked in assuredly after seeing clearly that the two of them were sitting there in the room. After all, with the incident involving Song Chuyi and Changqing previously, he became more tactful in case he were to disturb something.
"Haha, Old Yan, why didn't you tell me in advance that you were coming to my shop to eat?" Li Shaobin laughed out loud and pulled out the chair beside Yan Molun. When he was about to sit, he hesitated for a while. "I'm not disturbing the two of you, am I?"
"No," Yan Molun said lightly. "Take a seat."
Li Shaobin heaved a sigh of relief. Old Yan prioritized bros over hoes indeed, unlike Old Song. He turned his head to look at Jiang Duoyao, who was sitting opposite him, and greeted her with a smile: "Young Lady Duoyao, I heard you're going out with our Old Yan. Did his arrow shock you… F*ck, Old Yan, what are you doing?"
Yan Molun nudged his waist before he could finish his sentence. Yan Molun looked at him with a warning glare. He was somewhat stunned and suddenly realized that Jiang Duoyao's face was as red as the boiled fish in the pot. He was bewildered. Wasn't this woman very passionate on the inside and very shameless? Why was she behaving as though she was very reserved? He wasn't used to it at all.
Duoyao ate the fish, pretending to be calm, as she chanted: "I didn't hear anything, didn't hear anything…" inside.
"What are you doing here?" Yan Molun changed the topic.
"You know I live nearby. I happened to come over to have dinner," Li Shaobin said lazily. "And also to check the accounts and do a spot check."
"You even have to check the accounts personally?" Yan Molun found it funny.
"The accounts have seemed a little odd recently." Li Shaobin stroked his chin. "Every time I walk past, business appears pretty good but the profits have been decreasing. Of course, the decrease is minute but I still thought something was amiss. I'm suspecting that fellow, Cheng Yu, did something."
Duoyao was bewildered. She really wasn't used to seeing a simple-minded person like Li Shaobin behaving with so much depth in front of her.
"So have you found anything?" Yan Molun asked.
"I got Hu Zhi to go check it out." Li Shaobin chuckled. "Of course, I have to eat first. Can I just add another set of cutlery here?"
Yan Molun said without a change of expression, "If you can waive the bill and add two more dishes while you're at it, I'll agree."
"You're such a cunning person." Li Shaobin told Duoyao, "Let me tell you—you need to be careful. He's a very sly person."
"… Oh," Duoyao replied blankly.
Yan Molun said, "She'd like it even if I'm sly."
Duoyao lowered her head silently.
Li Shaobin rolled his eyes. He really couldn't stand these people in love. However, he was really curious as to whether she had tried Yan Molun's arrow or not. Didn't she say something about meeting Hades previously? However, he found it inappropriate to ask her. Old Yan would definitely slaughter him.
...
The meal lasted until after eight. When Li Shaobin wanted to leave, Yan Molun suddenly said, "Let's hang out at the clubhouse together. What do you think?"
He looked at Duoyao while saying that.
Duoyao was stunned and she nodded immediately. Actually, she felt it was pretty good to have Li Shaobin around since he could liven up the atmosphere. He was just like a chatterbox, going on and on all the time.
Li Shaobin turned his head around in disbelief. "No way. You mean you want me to play with you two? Won't I be a lightbulb?"
"Didn't you want me to introduce her to you?" Yan Molun said expressionlessly. "The clubhouse is a good place to hide and there's quite a lot of things to do there."
"Sure, let's meet over there." Li Shaobin waved to them.
Yan Molun and Duoyao drove over first. One could only enter with a card. Li Shaobin had yet to arrive as they were waiting in the suite.
"Do you know how to play pool? Do you want to play a round?" Yan Molun asked as he walked towards the pool table.
"I know a little…" Duoyao said very hesitantly. She played it before when she was in school but it was only a couple of times. "But I'm very new at it."
"It's okay, I'll teach you." Yan Molun picked a better cue stick for her and started by breaking the rack. When Duoyao bent over to aim with the cue ball, he suddenly moved over from behind her and held her arm. "You're doing it wrong; you have to do it like this. Bend your left leg a little. Raise your arm a little. Your cue stick isn't aimed properly…"
Duoyao couldn't hear what he was saying at all, allowing him to position her mechanically. She could only feel her body heating up. She was small to begin with and when Yan Molun approached her from behind, she was basically enclosed in his embrace. His chest and waist were glued close to her body and his head was right beside her ear. Even his voice sounded lower.
This isn't playing pool; it was simply seduction.
"Come, hit the ball gently like this." Yan Molun held her arm.


Changqing has always felt that she's incomparable to Guan Ying in every aspect. Even though she is pretty and has a good family background, this world is nothing more than a world where Princes are more attracted to Cinderellas.

Her first love that she dearly remembers in her heart for years eventually becomes Guan Ying’s current boyfriend and her fiancé is Guan Ying’s ex. He has yet to forget Guan Ying.

A business marriage brings Changqing and Song Chuyi together despite the absence of love.
In public, he is her friend’s ex and in private he is her husband who cannot be publicly–known.
At the hospital, her good friend enjoys her husband’s embrace while she can only act as though he's a stranger.
At a gala dinner, her good friend hooks her arm around her first love’s arm shyly and she can only smile and give them her blessings.

…

In this marriage, Changqing thinks that all is well other than the fact that Song Chuyi doesn’t love her.
First, her husband is a doctor and he can treat all her illnesses while saving up on medical expenses.
Second, doctors love cleanliness and her husband would always ensure the cleanliness of the house.
Third, at the end of every month, her thin wallet would grow thick with cash that her husband stuffs in secretly.
Fourth, as a person who doesn’t like to exercise, she always get dragged around by her husband day and night to do some pleasurable exercise that is beneficial for the body and mind.
Fifth, she would never have to worry that she would be out of money.
There are always so many uncountable advantages that Changqing enjoys.

…

After the marriage, on a certain night, Changqing looks at Dr. Song gloomily. "Hubby, why are you so nice to me when you don’t even love me?"
Dr. Song continues reading his medical books and ignores her. It's sometimes quite a headache when your wife is too stupid and daft.
Until one day, Changqing realises that there's really no free lunch in this world…

Creases lined up on Tsume's forehead.

Wasn't this girl supposedly learning kenjutsu? Since when was she able to perform such delicate movements? Not to mention, that style was so similar to that particular clan's specialty...

"Girl... is that the Gentle Fist?"

The clan head asked, her tone laced with undisguised suspicion.

"Hmm?"

Hikari rubbed her chin. Gentle Fist? That was a great name, a fitting epithet for the style. Regrettably, it already had a name.

"This is emeiquan, the unarmed martial art style of mount Emei."

Employing low, stable stances that derived itself from the movements of animals living in the sacred mountain, it was a style that emphasizes the usage of qi to strengthen its offense and defense. Even Immortal cultivators wouldn't shy away from using the style due to its versatility.

"E...mei…"

Tsume frowned. The girl was explaining it so fluently, convincing her that it wasn't just some nonsense that she had made on the fly.

Still gibberish, but at the very least, she didn't seem to be related to those Hyuuga...

"Oraah! That one doesn't count!"

Her thoughts were cut short by his son's roar, who had jumped back to his feet after the pain on his chest subsided.

"That counts, you idiot, but you still have one more chance. I'll allow you to use 'that'."

It would be a bit unfair to the girl, but Tsume had a feeling that that one move wasn't the full extent of her strength. Kiba was clearly outmatched in terms of taijutsu, so the only way to even the field was to use the clan's ninjutsu.

"Ouh! Oi, Hikari, I still can't control this well, so do your best not to get hurt, okay?!"

Oh? Interesting. It seemed that he had a trick up his sleeves.

She resumed her previous stable, open stance.

"Show me."

Covered with a thin veil of chakra, Kiba sprung out with his Four Legs Technique, but he didn't attack immediately. Instead, he ran in a circle around her, trying to build up speed.

One lap, two laps, three laps...

"..."

Was his plan to make her confused?

"Heh!"

This time, he took a long detour before turning around toward her, and then jumped up.

" Here I come! <Imitation Beast Ninja Art: Four Legs Technique: Passing Fang>!"

The boy spun his body like a drill, producing an ear-splitting noise as he pierced the air like a hot knife through butter.

""?!?""

Both Hikari and Kokuo were flabbergasted.

What was that absurd technique?!

She quickly leaped to the side, dodging the strike at the last moment. The pressure of the rotating wind, as sharp as tempered steel, struck at the edge of her sleeve, cleanly cutting it off.

A deafening explosion soon followed as the Inuzuka boy smashed the hard ground, throwing dust and dirt into the air.

Before she could recover, Kiba had hopped away, creating distance between the two.

"Heh, what do you think? Great, isn't it?" He gloated.

That technique had been crammed into his brain after grueling months of spartan training with his mother. He had to sacrifice blood and tears for it, but in the end, he was extremely satisfied. The jutsu's destructive power was simply off the chart, truly worthy the title of his clan's secret technique!

"...I have so many questions..."

Hikari stared at the resulting crater, not sure how to evaluate that technique. It was strong, sure, but it didn't seem to have much accuracy. Was it really practical?

She then remembered that Kiba was practically a beginner. If Tsume was the one who was performing it instead...

"Enough daydreaming! Here I go!"

<Imitation Beast Ninja Art: Four Legs Technique: Passing Fang!

He launched out, sacrificing a portion of his spinning force to heighten activation speed.

"Human, do you need This One to-"

"It's alright, Venerable One. I can handle it."

Right when he was about to hit, she took a step back, once again avoiding the drill by a hair's breadth.

"Not yet!"

Kiba stopped his spin the moment he hit the ground, landing down on all four, ready to follow up with another Passing Fang right at her face!

"Guh-"

She twisted her body sideways, using all the strength that she could muster to avoid the strike by a hair's breadth.

Ignoring the cuts left by the biting wind, she scrambled back to her feet, and then darted toward the edge of the training ground.

Meanwhile, Kiba followed right behind her in hot pursuit.

"I won't let you run away!"

<Imitation Beast Ninja Art: Four Legs Technique: Passing Fang>

With a running start, the technique's speed was greatly amplified, creating an even harsher grinding noise.

This time, he was sure that she wouldn't be able to avoid it in time!

Sadly, he was about to get disappointed.

"I'm not running away. I just need to take-"

She reached that place in the nick of time: the spot where they stored the dummy weapons.
 
"-This."

She snatched a wooden staff the length of her arm.

Exercising her dantian at full force, she mobilized her chakra, gathering them in her legs, her arms, and extending further to cover the tip of the staff.

Her legs separated to form a stance, planted firm on the ground like the roots of a tree. She focused her sight at the incoming Passing Fang, taking in the fine details of the spin.

And then-

"...There!"

<<Emei Sect Hard-Sword Style: Needle-Threading Strike>>

Her right arm shot forward, launching the chakra-infused tip of the staff right at the center of the Passing Fang's rotation.

Tsume's eyes almost popped out of her sockets.

The strong wind generated by the Passing Fang flared off, making a show of final resistance before dying out in an instant.

Kiba's figure was revealed. The tip of the staff was grinding on his head, slowing down the spin until all the momentum was gone.

When gravity finally kicked back in, he plummeted to the ground, eyes blinking rapidly in bewilderment.

Eh?

Did she just... break his clan's secret technique? How did-

"Guhoh!"

While he was still in a daze, she mercilessly smacked him in the head, knocking him senseless.

Watching the entire scene unfolded, Tsume was dumbfounded.

She still couldn't accurately gauge this girl's capabilities.

Granted, Kiba was still far from being capable of unleashing the technique's full potential, but to be able to stop Passing Fang with mere taijutsu... 

"Lady Tsume?"

"Ah. Yeah," Tsume snapped out of her trance.

...Nevermind. She would just keep the girl under her watch for now.

Anyway, the result of the spar was already obvious. She raised her hand, ready to announce it.

"The winner is-"

"Actually, I give up this round."

"-is... is..."

Da heck?

Tsume almost bit her lips.

"And, because Kiba is knocked out, that means this round is a draw."

One loss, one win, one draw. So... in the end, a draw.

The two stared at each other in uncomfortable silence before Tsume finally let out a long sigh.

"...Do as you please."

"Thank you."

The girl showed her a cunning smile.

"That means, both of us can have dinner, right?"

"Who says so?"

Sadly, the smile was awfully short-lived.

"You… said that the loser won't have dinner. If we both draw, then there's no loser..."

"That's your reasoning?" Tsume shot her a mean grin. "Let me tell ya, in our Inuzuka clan, getting a draw is the same as losing!"

"..."

Say that from the start!

"Take my son back to the house, 'kay? I gotta run. See you guys tomorrow."

"Lady Tsume, wait-!"

She disappeared with a poof.

"..."

"It seems that your scheme has failed. This One pities you," Kokuo sneered.

"...Nobody will call you mute if you don't speak..." She mumbled in response.

Resigning to her fate, she dragged the unconscious boy inside.

---

Kiba's competitive spirit flared up after his shameful defeat. Even though the winter days were so cold, he would drag her mother to the training ground, urging her to teach him even more powerful techniques.

Tsume was, of course, pleased with her son's sudden enthusiasm. She just wished that he wouldn't be this energetic during a snowstorm...

In the meantime, Hikari continued with her own training. She couldn't do much about the lack of qi, so she focused on familiarizing her new body with Emei sect's techniques.

As one of the Four Great Sword Sect, Emei's swordplay was powerful beyond compare. While she was already proficient with their movements, pulling out their true power was another story. It required muscle memory as well as physical strength, something that could only be gained from constant training.

Thus, Kokuo was forced to watch its Jinchuuriki doing the same absurd dances over and over again...

Winter quietly passed, followed by the warm spring and the scorching summer.

"Time sure flies when it's peaceful. Before This One realized, we've been here for an entire year."

Kokuo was lazing around on the tatami, having materialized into a puppy-sized version of itself, while munching on rice crackers.

As a creature made out of chakra, it had no need for material sustenance, so it never had any intention to try these human foods. However, one day Hikari tossed it an apple out of boredom.

"Immortal cultivators can still taste food normally. Spirit beasts should be able to as well."

So the Tailed Beast gave it a try, just to humor her.

...Lo and behold, she was correct. Maybe it wasn't the exact same sensation felt by humans, but there was definitely something there.

Since then, it would materialize whenever it was sure that nobody else was around, and then demanded whatever snacks she was having at the moment.

The great Tailed Beast had disappointingly turned into a glutton… she started to wonder if the spirit beasts in this world could get fat too.

"It's nice to be peaceful."

Her main goal was to cultivate until she reached the peak. However, even the Foundation Establishment stage seemed like a distant dream with the rate she was going at. The new form of energy of this world, chakra, was simply incompatible with her world's cultivation techniques.

Oh well. How long had it been since she could relish in mortal pleasure like this? Taking it easy once in a while should be fine, right?

While she was making excuses for herself, she noticed quiet footsteps approaching the living room.

"Lord Kokuo, someone's coming."

The Tailed Beast, however, just slightly raised his head before directing his attention back to his crackers.

"Relax, it's just the dog boy."

"Who're you calling dog boy?!"

Kiba barged in with Akamaru perched on his head as usual.

Woof! The puppy barked enthusiastically when he noticed Hikari. He quickly jumped off the boy before landing on Hikari's lap.

Kiba frowned, feeling slightly unhappy that his partner would abandon him so easily.

"Oi, did you feed my partner something weird back then? I still have no idea why he's so attached to you!"

"...Me neither."

She lifted the pup so that they could look at each other in the eyes.

Akamaru's slits were opened slightly, revealing a pair of black pupils. For a moment, she could saw a hint of slyness hidden within those deep, dark pools, as if they were trying to suck her soul in.

Woof!

And then, he barked excitedly, shattering that image in an instant.

...Forget it, he was just a dog, wasn't he?

Truth be told, among the ninja dog in the Inuzuka clan, Akamaru was considered a genius. He was barely a year old, and yet he could already perform intricate jutsu like Beast-Human Clone or Fang Passing Fang with Kiba. He was also highly intelligent, able to absorb everything that Kuromaru and the other senior dogs had taught him in a short amount of time.

"He might even be smarter than you," Tsume once commented to Kiba, causing him to sulk for the entire day.

"Now that you mention it, where's Lady Tsume and big sister?"

Lately, Hikari had been helping Hana with taking care of Inuzuka dogs in her spare time. As such, they had grown closer over the past couple of months. Hana even insisted to be called as 'big sister'. Thus, the nickname stuck.

"Mom's got an emergency mission, so she had to go for a while. Big sis is staying at the clinic tonight. Some idiots fed chocolate to their ninken, now they all have a severe stomachache."

"..."

Chocolate on dogs... how unfortunate.

"I guess I'll make dinner tonight... what do you want?" she turned to Kiba.

"Steak," the boy replied lazily.

"...Tofu it is."

"What- no! That thing is gross!"

"Don't you dare underestimate tofu-! Besides, you had too much meat lately. As a developing cultiv- err, shinobi, you have to balance your nutrition."

"Ugh- But, meat...!"

They kept arguing back and forth until Kokuo got tired of listening and ended up playing with Akamaru instead.

'That girl... she proclaimed herself as a thousands-year-old sage, but she can be more childish than an actual child sometimes...'

The beast shook its head, thinking that it could never fully understand humans.

In the end, the two finally reached a compromise. Szechuan-style mapo tofu for dinner it is!

Kiba had no idea what the heck a 'Szechuan' is, but since it would have beef slices, he finally stopped complaining.

---

"Kuh... I think I put in too much pepper..."

The dish had turned out a bit more spicy than she had expected. She was afraid that her bowel would betray her anytime soon.

"This One likes it. Make more."

It seemed that spicy stuff was the Tailed Beast's thing. It had emptied the rest of the pot after Hikari and Kiba had had enough.

"Understood, Venerable One. Let's just sleep tonight... hmm?"

Someone is coming. This footstep... it was identical to that one in the noon.

Kiba?

The screen door leading to her room slowly slid open. Moonlight poured in, casting the shadow of a boy with wild, spiky hair.

She laid still under the cover, trying to see what the rude intruder wanted to do.

The boy quietly closed the door. He tip-toed over to her sleeping figure, and then crouched down, leaning ever closer to her face...

'Hmm, this familiar scene... this must be...'

"Akamaru, is it?"

She suddenly kicked the boy on the stomach. With an audible poof, the figure immediately vanished, leaving behind a white-furred puppy in its wake.

Akamaru let out a pitiful whimper.

"..."

This dog… what was he trying to do?

"Honestly... if you want to sleep with me, then just come in normally. No need to pull this kind of trick."

She sighed. This puppy had grown too attached to her, hadn't he? She pulled him into a hug, and then brought him under the blanket.

"It's late. Go to sleep."

Just as she was about to close her eyes,

Bark.

The small pup's body jerked slightly.

"...Akamaru?"

Bluish light enveloped the puppy as a tremendous amount of chakra poured out, prompting Hikari to shot up from her bed.

"What's wrong with that thing?!" Kokuo materialized out, feeling alarmed by the sudden surge of energy in the room.

"I don't know, he suddenly-"

She was about to reply when Akamaru opened his eyes. Another poof filled the entire room with a suffocating layer of smoke.

<Transformation Technique>

And then, she was yanked by the wrist.

"H-huh?!"

The world went upside-down as she was forcefully thrown back into the mattress.

Hikari felt an adult human's weight pressing down on her as she was pinned down by two slender hands.

What she saw as she looked up was the face of an exceedingly beautiful woman.

Fair skin as smooth as jade. Amorous red lips akin to a blossoming flower. A pair of gentle phoenix eyes. Long, flowing hair as smooth as silk and as dark as midnight.

It was a beauty that could devastate an empire.

Her gaze trailed down the figure's neck, following the curvaceous form with bountiful twin mountains that had nothing to cover them with.

She gulped. Not because of the temptation, but because she knew who this woman was. In fact, she knew her a bit too well.

The woman's lips parted. And then, a melodious, bell-like voice sang in her ears.

"My beloved Yao Huang, how I've missed you so!"

Those words were spoken in a foreign language. A language that only Hikari could understand.

At least, until now.

Who knew that when she would hear them again, it would be from this fox's mouth?

"So it is you, Daji..."

Yao Huang answered in kind, in the tongue of their now-distant homeland.

Deity-level cultivator Yao Huang had finally decided to re-enter the circle of reincarnation. When he was enjoying the taste of Five-Fragrance Tea, another cultivator wreaked havoc in the underworld, destroying the wheel of karma and mixing up the pool of reincarnation. Yao Huang was accidentally knocked down into the now-chaotic pool, where his soul was threatened with disintegration lest he managed to escape. Without seeing his destination, he jumped into the first path that he could find.

When he opened his eyes once again, his soul had reincarnated into the body of a little girl. At that moment, a mysterious voice echoed in her head.

"This One's name is Kokuo. This weak and small vessel... This One shall devour you whole!"

Oh, also, it seemed that she had grown five tails out of nowhere...

Forced to live in a world reigned by warriors called Ninjas, the former cultivator was joined by her reincarnated allies to find a way to return to their original world.

Meanwhile, the karma of the past slowly caught up to them, bringing up tragedies desired to be forgotten...

---

Is a Naruto Fanfic. Written just for fun. Update schedule is whenever I'm free. My lore isn't the best so don't think too much and just have fun~

---

Addendum: Since people kept on getting trapped, here's the caution list (also check tags in case author added more... twists)

-Gender Bender: For MC and some other characters
-Species Bender: For 1 character (and technically another one actually)
-Confused MC: Think of it as characters from cultivation novel transferring to Naruto world. They had no prior info beforehand so expect a lot of blind grasping over the world concept. No system or anything else to help.

Jingyi eagerly agreed, placing her forefinger and her thumb on her mouth. A high pitched whistle sounded out which called upon a white dove which landed on Jingyi's shoulder. Xiao Lu gave Jingyi a sheet of paper and a brush to write out a message, and the dove was send-off. Both Jingyi and Xiao Lu followed Fangsu to the entrance of her house, "Wait, hold onto me." Fangsu took both of their hands.

"Why?" Jingyi questioned, clearly confused to why they need to hold onto Fangsu.

"The barrier that is placed here only allows people with the Chen family blood or jade," Fangsu explained as they walked through the barrier easily, "If you don't have access, the barrier would activate itself and incapacitate you." Fangsu let go of the Jingyi and Xiao Lu who shudder at thought of the barrier incapacitating them. The trio entered the house where Fangsu's grandpa was sitting inside drinking tea. 

"Grandpa!" Fangsu cheerfully greeted her grandpa.

"Elder Chen," Both Jingyi and Xiao Lu respectfully greeted, bowing all the way to the waist.

"No need to be so formal," Fangsu's grandpa smiled. Jingyi saw the resemblance between the Fangsu and her grandpa, their smiles were small but they had a weight to them whether it be they were happy or angry. 

"Both Fangsu and Elder Chen have the same smile," Jingyi commented.

"Really? I would have never thought about that," Fangsu's grandpa continued to sipping his tea wanting to hear more. 

"Fangsu is always calm very much like you are right now, " Jingyi spoke out of her heart speaking all of Fangsu's traits, "She must have learnt her skills from you," 

Fangsu's grandpa let out a relieved breath, "I only taught her skill but her mother taught her cooking," He drained the last drops of the tea and stood up, "I'm thankful Fangsu has a friend like you." Fangsu's grandpa thanked Jingyi and Xiao Lu.

"Grandpa! Come help me peel the bamboo shoots!" Fangsu shouted from the kitchen, the sounds of utensils clanking against each other, steam and the aroma of fragrant oil swirled mingled in the air. Jingyi and Xiao Both being curious about Fangsu's cooking skill peeked through doorways of the kitchen.

Fangsu's ash grey hair was tied up in a bun with a beige ribbon as she opened at boiling pot filled with ingredients that she had bought in the market silkie chicken, bamboo shoots and herbal plants. After checking the progress of the bamboo shoot and silkie chicken soup, Fangsu began making the dough which she allowed to rest. In a bowl, a mixture of minced meat, finely diced bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, scallions, sesame oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar and egg whites was stirred together so that it would be incorporated together. 

Xiao Lu entered the kitchen, "Could I help out?" Asking if there were any task to be done.

Fangsu shook her head, "You're a guest, there is no need for you to help out," As she rolled out the dough. 

Xiao Lu also began rolling out the dough alongside Fangsu who could not stop Xiao Lu from helping in the kitchen. Jingyi stood in the doorway wanting to help also but was too shy that she would make a mistake. "Jingyi do you want to help too?" Fangsu kindly asked seeing that Jingyi wanted to help make buns.

"But, what if I make a mistake?" Jingyu pouted sadly. Despite her hands dusted with flour, Fangsu pulled Jingyi into the kitchen. Tying an apron to prevent possible flour from dirtying Jingyi's clothes. Fangsu slowly taught Jingyi to roll out the dough and folding technique of the buns to hold the meat filling. 

Eventually, they finished all the dough and meat filling, making a mountain of buns. "We make a mountain of buns." Jingyi cheered happily while Xiao Lu and Fangsu giggled at Jingyi's cute childish behaviour. Fangsu took 8 of the buns they made, placing them into a readily available steamer that Fangsu had already placed beforehand. While the buns steamed in the steamer, Fangsu returned to check on the soup which was ready to serve (Dragon's beard bamboo shoot & silkie chicken soup). Dishing out the soup into a bowl to be served for dinner, "Xiao Lu can you take this soup to the table?" 

Fangsu asked while taking more of the bamboo shoots and stir-frying it with spices and cured ham. Fangsu took another portion of the cooked bamboo shoots which was saturated with sauce while being garnished with chillies and Szechuan peppercorn. As a finishing touch hot oil was poured onto the dish.

Xiao Lu took the bowl of soup and a ladle into the dining room, where chopsticks, bowls and spoons were being set by the Fangsu's grandpa. Jingyi, Xiao Lu and Fangsu's grandpa had already seated themselves at the dinner table. Fangsu finally came into the room with the freshly steamed buns (Pork & Bamboo shoot bun), the stir-fry bamboo shoot with cured ham and the Szechuan peppercorn bamboo shoot dish in her arms which was placed on the dinner table. "Let's eat!" Fangsu smiles happily.

The dinner was filled with laughter, joy and noise which Fangsu missed with her mother and sisters. After the dinner, the finished Fangsu packed a box filled lightly oil uncooked dumplings to prevent them from stick to each other and the surface. Fangsu walked the girls out of the house through the barrier, Fangsu rushed back inside the house to retrieve a lilac purple jade hairpin embellished with silver peacock feathers. A carriage was waiting patiently outside. Fangsu handed the box to Xiao Lu, "Here are the buns we didn't eat," Fangsu smiled gently at the two girls giving the buns that the three of them made together, "You can eat it as a meal or a snack to share with your family." 

Xiao Lu received the box of buns, but before they left. Jingyi and Xiao Lu hugged Fangsu as they happily laughed at each other. Jingyi and Xiao Lu entered the carriage leaving Fangsu who waited for the sight of the carriage to disappear from her sight.

—————

While in the carriage that headed home. Jingyi held onto the box tenderly, remembering the fun times they had together making buns even though her own ones didn't turn out that great. Jingyi could only feel guilt, deceiving Fangsu from the fact she was partly responsible for the death of Fangsu's family. But, Jingyi felt selfish for wanting to keep their friendship even if it meant she had to keep hiding the truth from Fangsu by any means possible. As the distance from the Jingyi's house lessened, Jingyi hopped out of the carriage with Xiao Lu who carried the basket of buns.

"Jingyi you're home." A male called out to Jingyi who patted Jingyi's head, messing up her hair. 

Jingyi swatted the hand from messing her hair any further, "Fang-Ge! Stop messing my hair!" Jingyi poured as she untied her hair to fix the mess her brother made. 

"What do you have there?" Yi Fang peered over to the box that Xiao Lu was carrying.

"Leftover buns from dinner at Fangsu's place," Jingyi answered while smiling which surprised Yi Fang to see such a happy expression on his little sister. 

"The buns don't look the same," Yi Fangsu commented while opening the box to see some of the buns were beautifully folded while the rest looked like a child had made them. "What is this? It's so weirdly shaped!" Yi Fang laughed while holding a bun with folds that were uneven and lopsided.

Jingyi pouted her lips angrily, "Don't mock my buns!" Jingyi lunges to grab the precious bun she painstakingly made with Fangsu. 

Yi Fang was surprised the hear that Jingyi had made the weirdly shaped buns, "You made those buns?" Yi Fang questioned still quite unsure if Jingyi actually made buns. 

Jingyi glared at Yi Fang menacingly, "I did. Fangsu was the one who taught me how to make buns." Turning her back towards her brother, Jingyi depressingly sulked, "Fangsu is my only friend and she never once criticised me." 

Yi Fang felt guilty for leaving Jingyi behind all those years ago when he was travelling for a mission by the request of Li Qiang. "Sorry, you know I never meant for those words to hurt you," Yi Fang patted Jingyi's head, trying to comfort her, "I was only teasing you." 

Jingyi smiled, "Okay, I believe you but you won't be allowed to have any of the buns because you insulted my precious buns." Cheekily sticking her tongue out while running off to the room, to hide the buns away from her brother but she knew that it would be a matter of time before her brother found them.

Morning came, the bright sunlight illuminated the day waking the people of the capital for the beginning of a new day. Jingyi had already awakened with Xiao Lu brushing her hair, tying it into a simple half up and half down hairstyle. Xiao Lu finished tying up Jingyi's hair, "Miss, shall I ask the house chef to cook the bamboo buns for breakfast or have the usual?" Asking Jingyi whether she would like the buns or the usual meal for breakfast.

Jingyi rubbed her eyes tiredly, "Bun." Jingyi didn't feel that hungry especially in the morning but her mother stressed the idea of eating breakfast. Xiao Lu lead Jingyi to the dining room where her father, mother, Yi Fang and his servant Lan He were already sitting at the table. As soon as Jingyi sat next to her mother in front of Lan He, Xiao Lu rushed to the kitchen. Jingyi looked at Lan He's direction and once they locked eyes with each other, Jingyi could not help but blush out of embarrassment. 

"Jingyi did you behave yourself when you were having dinner at the Fangsu's home?" Jingyi's mother gently asked Jingyi since her antics were quite unusual. 

"I did." Jingyi answered pouting at her mother, "Fangsu taught me how to make buns." 

"She did?" Jingyi's mother smiled happily at Jingyi, "Was it the bamboo shoot ones made with Shittake mushroom and scallions?"

Jingyi nodded enthusiastically, "Wait how do you know?" Jingyi was shocked that her mother knew what the buns were made with.

Jingyi's mother giggled lightly, rubbing Jingyi's forehead affectionately with her thumb, "Have you forgotten who taught her that recipe?" Reminding Jingyi of the relationship of her mother with Fangsu's mother. The three men didn't understand what the two females were talking about, thus, they were confused about the origin of the buns. 

Realisation had struck Jingyi, laughing at her own forgetfulness, "Let's hope they taste is how you remember it." Jingyi smiled when Xiao Lu entered with a basket filled with the same buns. Jingyi went to grab a bun with her chopsticks and placed it into her mother's bowl. Her mother broke apart the bun with her chopsticks, smelling the bun that was lightly fragrant of sesame oil.

A wave of nostalgia flooded Jingyi's mother. "It tastes exactly how I remember but it slightly tastes a little different." As she continued to eat through the bun, a smile bloomed on her face. The men were confused to why an insignificant bun could make Lady Rong smile so much.

"Lady Rong, what is so special about this bun?" Lan He was the first to ask about the origin of the bun.

"Let's just say, " Jingyi's mother gestured her forefinger to her lips indicating to Jingyi to keep this knowledge to themselves, "It's a secret among us women." Smiling like a sly fox. 

After breakfast was finished, Jingyi returns to her chambers to change into more appropriate clothes for the palace for the group meeting. Dressing in a white jacket, a pastel purple hanfu embroidered with silver peacocks feather that reflected the light, and a white satin cloak to keep herself warm from the cold autumn wind. Jingyi took out the lilac jade hairpin that was embellished with peacock feathers and slid it into her hair. The stark contrast between her dark black hair and the bright lilac jade hairpin highlighted her glossy black hair which was well cared for. "Miss the hairpin that Fangsu picked for you suits you well." Xiao Lu was given a basket of freshly made buns by another servant.

Jingyi stared at the beautiful hairpin that held her hair, "It is a beautiful hairpin." Jingyi felt a warmth grow from within herself thinking of Fangsu who gifted her with a present that seems so mundane to most people but it gave Jingyi a greater sense of pleasure and guilt. "I will treasure this hairpin." 

"Jingyi! Hurry up!" Yi Fang called for Jingyi from outside her chambers, who was already dressed in an embroidered magenta hanfu while Lan He was dressed in a navy hanfu. 

Jingyi rushed out of her room with Xiao Lu following behind, "Fang-ge! Lan He! Sorry, I was just getting my hair done." Once the two young men saw how dressed up Jingyi was. 

They were surprised to see a lilac hairpin in her hair. "Who gave you that hairpin?" Lan He asked as black lines began forming on his forehead. 

Jingyi pushed down those line on Lan He's forehead down using her hands, "Don't make that face," Jingyi smoothed out the lines from his face which returned back to its normal state, "You will get wrinkles."

"Jingyi just answers the question," Yi Fang scoffed at Lan He obvious affection towards Jingyi. Jingyi was truly oblivious to Lan He's affection towards her but they equally loved each other. He knew that Lan He would treat Jingyi better than all the other men who were pursuing Jingyi just because of her status of being the beloved daughter of the top general. 

"My friend, Fangsu," Jingyi answer honestly while hopping into the carriage while the other two hopped onto horses, "Oh! Xiao Lu! Don't forget the buns!" Jingyi took the box of buns into the carriage with her.

The black lines visibly disappeared from Lan He's face as the misunderstanding cleared up. 

Jingyi moved the curtain of the carriage aside, "Fang-Ge, I will be going out with Fangsu tomorrow." 

Yi Fang agreed and continue to ride towards the Palace. As they entered the palace, they showcased their identification jades and was immediately granted permission into the palace. The trio continued to Li Qiang's study where Gang Hai and Li Qiang was already conversing. The trio entered the room, bowing in unison, "Greetings, Your Highness," 

Li Qiang chuckled lightly, "I have told you much time you don't need to greet me like this when we are together." Gesturing them to rise from their position.

Chen Fangsu escaped away from danger, away from the home she grew up in. With her new life in the capital with the last remaining member of her family, her grandpa, she happily works as the owner of her grandpa’s store. Unknowingly she is involved in an extremely dangerous situation that could cost her everything.

"I didn't hire you to gossip about my private matters."

"Yes, yes, yes, I understand, boss. Ha, all I meant was that I need to know what happened first to give you advice. I am experienced in these things. I courted my wife for three years before she agreed to go out with me. We dated for two years and then, after knowing each other for almost five years, we got married. My wife is an incredibly unique woman, and thanks to her, I've gotten very good at making her happy." Assistant Yang smiled.

"Tell me what you would do."

"Buy her flowers. Buy her ninety-nine red roses and deliver them to her at work."

"Cheesy," Qin Chu said coldly.

"Buy her gifts then. Expensive ones - diamonds rings or other stuff like that. Girls usually love them."

"She doesn't."

Qin Chu knew Huo Mian too well. She didn't care about materialistic things.

"Then pretend to deliver her a package. You can hide in the box, and surprise her. Haha. When I did that, my wife was so freaked out that she actually burst into te…" Assistant Yang swallowed the rest of the sentence before he finished because he realized that the president's face had become even grimmer...

"You can leave now. I need peace."

Qin Chu seriously wondered if his assistant was there to help him, or to make things more difficult.

How did he get a wife, with an EQ as low as this? It was a mystery. 

"Okay, boss."

Assistant Yang walked out glumly. He suddenly remembered something. Was the name of the president's girlfriend 'Peace'?

He just said that he needed 'Peace'.

However, he did get one thing right - his boss really was missing someone, but her name was not 'Peace'.
Qin Chu grabbed his phone several times, wondering if he should call her. However, he also thought it might not be an appropriate time because they were still giving each other the silent treatment.

He didn't have anything to say anyway…

He repressed his yearnings and knocked his right hand anxiously on the desk, without a rhythm. He looked extremely out of sorts.

However, Gao Ran's phone call came in at the right moment…

"Hey, I haven't heard from you since I helped you out last time. Aren't you supposed to buy me a drink?"

"Let's go."

"Right now?" Gao Ran was stunned.

"Yes, right now, the same old Szechuan Restaurant down south. See you later." 

After he finished talking, Qin Chu put on his sapphire-colored slim-fit suit jacket, grabbed his phone, opened the door, and walked out.

The female assistants in the assistants' office immediately began to fawn over him…

"The president looks super hot in those clothes, doesn't he?"

"It doesn't matter what he wears. He's good-looking, so he'll look good wearing anything, or just nothing."

"Yeah, I don't even need to talk to him; I am satisfied just by looking at him. I wonder what type of girl he likes. I am so jealous of her."

- Inside the Szechuan Restaurant -

Gao Ran and Qin Chu sat across from each other in a private room on the second floor.

"You looked bummed," Gao Ran started the conversation.

Qin Chu didn't say anything. Instead, he filled up two cups with baijiu. He passed one to Gao Ran and left one for himself.

Then, he raised the cup and gestured at it.

Gao Ran took the hint, and chugged it…

"Now this is strong. Wine and liquor are jokes. In my opinion, our Chinese grain-brewed baijiu is the best. Three shots and my whole body is on fire. It's a painfully amazing feeling, ha!"
"You are pretty chill lately, aren't you?" Qin Chu raised his head and looked at him.

"Yeah, the criminal police only take on big cases, and trivial cases are left for the local police stations. We have nothing to do with them."

"That's good. I kinda admire you. You can stick with one job and live peacefully until you get old."

"I admire you. You are the boss of your company and are worth hundreds of billions of dollars. I bet you have pretty girls throwing themselves at you every day."

"Ran, I got married." Qin Chu's lips quirked up into a deep smile.
Fortunately, Gao Ran had already swallowed the baijiu; otherwise, he would definitely have choked on it.


Original Synopsis: 
Seven years ago, after their breakup, he disappeared without a trace.
Now, he reappeared on the eve of her wedding, sparing no means in forcing her to marry him… 
With a certificate of marriage, he bound her mercilessly to his side. 
From there, this “Cinderella” began her journey as a wife of the business empire’s heir...
Mrs Huo - composed, sharp-tongued, and freakishly smart.
Mr Qin - wife-spoiler to no end and a complete “slave” to their daughter.
Quality love story, one on one. You are welcome to get hooked on this story with us. 
Stats on QQ Reader: 102 million favorites, and was voted 8.4/10 by 41 thousand readers. 
TL's Note: Probably one of the best stories I've read, and I was very tempted to translate the title to Big D Brings Spring. Girls, I hope you enjoyed it as much as my girlfriend and my female translators who binge read 4000 chapters in about a month. 
For all the guys hesitating to give it a try, you won't regret it. It's a manly book, I swear.

Chapter 96: Kainuman
"Hindi kita tinanggap para makiusyoso sa pribadong buhay ko."
"Opo, opo, opo, naiintindihan ko, boss. Ha, ang ibig ko lang sabihin ay kailangan ko muna malaman kung ano ang nangyari para makapagbigay ako ng advice. May experience ako sa mga bagay na ganito. Niligawan ko ang asawa ko sa loob ng tatlong taon bago siya pumayag lumabas kasama ako. Nagdate naman kami ng dalawang taon at pagkatapos namin kilalanin ang isa't isa sa loob ng halos limang taon, kinasal na kami. Ang asawa ko ay isang sobrang kakaibang babae, at salamat sa kanya, naging magaling ako sa pagpapasaya sa kanya," ngumiti si Assistant Yang.
"Sabihin mo sakin kung anong gagawin mo."
"Bilhan mo siya ng mga bulaklak. Bilhan mo siya ng ninety-nine na pulang rosas at ipadala mo kung saan siya nagtatrabaho."
"Chessy," cold na sinabi ni Qin Chu.
"Edi bilhan mo siya ng mga regalo. Yung mahal - mga diamond rings o mga bagay katulad nito. Madalas gusto ito ng mga babae."
"Hindi siya mahilig."
Sobrang kilala ni Qin Chu si Huo Mian. Wala siyang pakialam sa mga materyal na bagay.
"Edi magpanggap ka na mapapadala ka sa kanya ng package tapos magtago ka sa loob ng box at gulatin siya. Haha. Noong ginawa ko iyon, sobrang nagulat ang asawa ko at halos maiyak…" nilunok nalang ni Assistant Yang ang mga natitira niyang sasabihin bago pa siya matapos dahil napasin niya na padilim ng padilim ang mukha ng president…
"Makakaalis ka na. Kailangan ko ng katahimikan."
Seryosong napaisip si Qin Chu kung sinusubukan ba talaga siyang tulungan ng assistant niya o mas pinapahirap niya lang ang mga bagay-bagay.
Paano niya nakuha ang loob ng asawa niya kung ganito kababa ang EQ niya? Ito ay isang misteryo.
"Okay po, boss."
Malungkot na lumabas si Assistant Yang. Nang may bigla siyang naalala. Ang pangalan ba ng girlfriend ng president ay 'Katahimikan'?
Kakasabi niya lang na kailangan niya ng 'Katahimikan'.
Ngunit, may tama siya ng nakuha - nangungulila ang boss niya sa isang tao, pero ang pangalan niya ay hindi 'Katahimikan'.
Kinuha ni Qin Chu ang kanyang phone ng madaming beses, iniisip kung tatawagan ba niya siya. Pero, iniisip niya rin na baka hindi ito ang tamang oras dahil parehas nilang binibigyan ang isa't isa ng silent treatment.
Wala rin naman siyang kailangan sabihin…
Pinipigilan niya ang kanyang pananabik at hindi mapakaling kinakatok nang walang indayog ang kanyang desk gamit ang kanyang kanang kamay. Mukha itong wala sa sarili.
Pero, dumating sa tamang oras ang tawag ni Gao Ran…
"Hoy, wala na ako narinig mula sayo simula nung tinulungan kita kamakailan lang. Hindi ba dapat ilibre mo ako ng inumin?"
"Tara."
"Ngayon na?" nagulat si Gao Ran.
"Oo, ngayon na, sa dati paring Szechuan Restaurant sa may south banda. Kita tayo mamaya."
Pagkatapos niya matapos magsalita, isinuot ni Qin Chu ang kanyang sapphire-colored slim-fit jacket, kinuha ang kanyang phone, binuksan ang pinto at umalis.
Ang mga babaeng assistants sa opisina ng mga assistants ay nagsimulang magpantasya sa kanya…
"Sobrang hot tingnan ng president sa suot niya, di ba?"
"Wala naman kaso kung ano suotin niya. Gwapo siya, kaya gwapo siya tingnan kahit pa anong suotin niya, o kahit walang suot."
"Oo nga e, hindi ko na kailangan makipag-usap sa kanya; sapat na saking tingnan siya. Iniisip ko nga rin e kung anong klaseng babae ang gusto niya. Sobrang maiinggit ako sa babaeng yun."
- Sa loob ng Szechuan Restaurant -
Magkatapat na umupo si Gao Ran at Qin Chu sa isang pribadong kwarto sa may ikalawang palapag.
"Mukha kang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa," panimula ni Gao Ran sa usapan.
Hindi nagsalita si Qin Chu. Sa halip, pinuno niya ang dalawang cups ng baiju. Pinasa niya ang isa kay Gaoran habang yung isa naman ay para sa kanya.
Pagkatapos, iniangat niya ang kanyang cup at tinuro ito.
Nakuha ni Gao Ran ang nais niyang sabihin at ininom ito…
"Ang lakas ng tama nito. Nagmumukhang biro ang wine at iba pang alak. Sa opinyon ko, pinakamasarap pa rin ang ating Chinese grain-brewed baiju. Tatlong shots palang pero nag-iinit na ang katawan ko. Napakasakit pero masaya sa pakiramdam, ha!"
"Ang dami mong oras nitong mga nakaraan ha, tama ba?" iniangat ni Qin Chu ang kanyang ulo at tumingin sa kanya.
"Oo, ang criminal police kasi ang bahala sa mga malalaking kaso, habang ang maliliit naman ay para naman sa mga lokal na police stations. Kaya wala kaming kinalaman sa mga ito."
"Edi maganda. Hanga nga ako sa'yo e. Pwede kang mamalagi lang sa isang trabaho at mabuhay ng mapayapa hanggang sa tumanda ka."
"Ako ang humahanga sa'yo. Boss ka ng kumpanya mo na nagkakahalaga ng hundreds ng millions ng dollars. Hula ko rin, ang daming babaeng lumalapit sayo araw-araw."
"Ran, kinasal na ako," ngumisi si Qin Chu hanggang sa maging isang malaking ngiti ito.
Buti nalang, nalunok na ni Gao Ran ang baiju; kung hindi, baka nabilaukan siya mula dito.


Seven years ago, after their breakup, he disappeared without a trace. 
Now, he reappeared on the eve of her wedding, sparing no means in forcing her to marry him… 
With a certificate of marriage, he bound her mercilessly to his side. 
From there, this “Cinderella” began her journey as a wife to the heir of a business empire... 
Mrs Huo - composed, sharp-tongued, and freakishly smart. 
Mr Qin - wife-spoiler to no end and a complete “slave” to their daughter. 
Quality love story, one on one. You are welcome to get hooked on this story with us. 

It suddenly occurred to Shen Chen that the amount of food he had prepared before the apocalypse was only enough for four people. Considering they now had at least ten mouths to feed rather than four, it was a miracle they had lasted this long.
He nodded coolly. "I know. I'll bring some food back later."
"Are you guys going out later?" Ye Xiaoyu asked curiously.
"We don't need to go out. Remember the Chinese restaurant on the fourth floor? They must have a lot of stock stored in the kitchen. Besides, it's winter now, so the vegetables won't go bad easily," Shen Chen replied with a smile.
Ye Xiaoyu's eyes lit up. "That's great! Why didn't that occur to me?" She then asked excitedly, "Brother Shen Chen, since the first ten floors are safe, can we go together?" Ye Xiaoyu pouted. "I've been stuck in my room for the past few days…"
Shen Chen was fond of Ye Xiaoyu, although his feelings for her weren't necessarily romantic. It was the kind of fondness one might have for the girl next door, or for a younger sister.
"All right. I'll let everyone know later," he said while ruffling her hair.
Ye Xiaoyu was so excited that she practically bounced out of the room. She was totally unaware that Lin Qianqian was standing behind the door with a sour expression on her face.
During breakfast, Shen Chen announced to everyone, "Today, all the men and Ye Xiaoyu will head out together."
None of the men batted an eye, but Lin Qianqian and Li Jing looked at each other knowingly. When the crowd dispersed, Lin Qianqian immediately went up to Li Jing and asked, "Sis Jing, what do you think?"
"What do I think? I think Ye Xiaoyu's gotten into Shen Chen's bed, that's what I think," Li Jing smirked.
"How gross, using your body in order to survive. Women like that are so disgusting! If it were the past, I would have given them a piece of my mind!" Li Qianqian said with a sneer.
Li Jing looked at Lin Qianqian out of the corner of her eye and merely snorted.
Lin Qianqian continued indignantly, "Sis Jing, look at them! They're all so close with each other, and we're left in the dark. It sucks to be left out like this!"
"Why do you care? You've got a good boyfriend looking after you," Li Jing responded.
"What good is he? All he does is hang on Shen Chen's every word," Lin Qianqian said, somehow managing to sound smug and displeased at the same time. She then turned to Zhang Xiaoya, who was currently playing with Duoduo, and shouted, "Hey! Why do you cook so little these days? Don't you know we're starving?"
Duoduo was startled by the shouting, and Zhang Xiaoya had to comfort him with a hug. "So what if you eat less? You don't do anything anyway!"
"All right. We may not be starving, but how about the men? Do they have enough to eat?" Lin Qianqian asked with raised eyebrows.
Zhang Xiaoya looked up and said somewhat hesitantly, "That's all Ye Xiaoyu gave me. She said it was enough nutrition!"
"Enough nutrition? Enough nutrition? That's what she always says!" Lin Qianqian jeered.
Watching Lin Qianqian lecture Zhang Xiaoya, Li Jing couldn't help but snort. It was a wonder this dumb woman had managed to survive for this long.
By the afternoon, the men had already made a few trips to the kitchen to bring up the food supplies, and everyone was happy to see that the food supply was greatly replenished. It was like a great harvest!
As Pan Di offloaded the goods, he couldn't help but praise Shen Chen. "Boss chose well for our refuge! There's a restaurant below stocked with all kinds of food items! We don't have to worry about having enough to eat and drink!"
Ye Xiaoyu, on the other hand, looked at the yellowed vegetables with a frown on her face. "Brother Shen Chen, I think these veggies are going to go bad if we don't eat them soon. Let's eat them before they go bad!"
Zhang Xiaoya felt put on the spot, since she was responsible for cooking. There were so many types of vegetables before her that she had difficulty choosing. What should she make?
Pan Di's eyes suddenly lit up. He produced a packet of Szechuan Mala hotpot seasoning from the sack and suggested, "Tada! How about we have hotpot? Nothing beats watching TV and having hotpot on a cold winter's day! It's the best!"
Everyone's eyes also lit up. They sneaked a peek at Shen Chen, who licked his lips in anticipation and nodded. He couldn't remember the last time he had hotpot! "All right, let's do it. Let's have steamboat!" Shen Chen said, thumping his fist on the table.
The crowd erupted into cheers. It had been half a month since the start of the apocalypse! The world as they knew it no longer existed, so to be able to have hotpot was more than just a luxury—it was an homage to their beautiful memories of the old world!
Everyone knew that fresh produce like this, free of preservatives and chemicals, would never be produced again!
They quickly got to work, and everyone busily helped out. A few girls helped to wash the vegetables, and the men started chopping the meat and preparing the butane stove for the hotpot.
It was already nightfall when the place was filled with the aroma of hotpot. The pot was placed right in the middle of the plates of vegetables, mutton, and beef. Pan Di even made another trip downstairs to bring up a few bottles of beer and other beverages.
Everyone suddenly had the illusion that they were in peaceful times again and that this was merely a gathering among friends!
The stove was turned on. Watching the soup boil within the pot, everyone was immersed in the familiar aroma of hotpot.
No one moved, but their bodies started to tremble! A familiar scene like this reminded everyone of how reluctant they were to let go of their happy memories of the old world!
Zhang Xiaoya was the first to cry. She covered her face but couldn't stop her tears from flowing out from between her fingers. "I can't stand it… I really can't stand it anymore!" she cried. "Why? Why did this have to happen?"
Zhang Hongtao closed his eyes. Everything in front of them was so wonderful, but this wonderful sight was just an illusion that wouldn't last beyond today. They would have to go back to living from hand to mouth.
There was a melancholy atmosphere in the room. The silence was heavy with unspoken grief. Subsequently, some of them broke into sorrowful sobs, presenting a stark contrast to the boiling hotpot.
Suddenly, Shen Chen opened a bottle of beer with a loud "pop!" Foam bubbled out from the bottle, mirroring the tears that had formed in everyone's eyes.
Shen Chen started pouring beer for everyone, a calm smile on his face. "Let's live in the moment and enjoy this while we can. Leave tomorrow's troubles for tomorrow," he said. "Everyone has to die. It's only a matter of time. But rather than living out the rest of your days in sorrow, why not go out with a bang! Since sooner or later we're all gonna die, we may as well make life worthwhile. At least we're alive now!"
Shen Chen's words were like a refreshing stream of spring water, an oasis that quenched the thirst and soothed the parched throats of weary travelers. Every word he said went straight to their hearts, be they happy or sad.
Their blood quickened, and their heartbeats accelerated, and they could feel their breathing grow heavy. "F*ck it!" someone said. "Let's toast to us still being alive! Bottoms up!"
"Let's live forever! Cheers!"
"F*ck the d*mn apocalypse!"
"Bottoms up!"
...
"Let's start eating!"
Pan Di removed the pot cover with much fanfare, and the enticing smell of the food tickled everyone's taste buds!


Zombies attack; Doomsday arrives. Returning to the start of it all-- this time, he only wants to beat the living dead to a pulp!

"Sister Lu, you really did a great job improving this dish," Huang Shenghao complimented his teammate, but Lu Xinyi brushed it off with a smile. Just like their previous Drunken Chicken, there wasn't much difference in the original recipe by the Ji family.
The two entrees didn't help the diners to decide easily. How could they choose when both dishes were so good that it was hard to pick only one between them? Even when la Reverie's Garlic Butter Chicken Breast and Oriental Bliss' La Mian with Braised Pork Belly in Pork Bone Soup wasn't enough to have a tie-breaker between two restaurants.
It was a good thing that each serving wasn't served in full serving, or else the diners would be too full to eat the next dishes to be served by both restaurants.
In the end, they could only hope that the last two dishes would be able to determine the end of the competition. As for the desserts and steamed buns made by Lu Xinyi, Tian Lingyu was the first one to take the first taste much to Huang Shenghao's surprise.
"Don't tell me you are worried that it wouldn't taste good," he chuckled.
Tian Lingyu raised a brow on him before taking the lid of the bamboo steamer. The thick steam rose from inside, concealing the steamed buns.
They could hear some gasps from the diners and audience as they uncovered their bamboo steamers.
"What is this called?" Someone asked.
"Let's see…" His companion checked the menu on their table and read it out loud. "The Seven Stars of Summer?"
Inside each of the bamboo steamers sat seven different coloreds steamed buns forming a circle around a black steamed bun, which was considerably larger than the rest; this view left the diners flabbergasted. The seven-colored buns had the same weight and sizes. It seemed that each bun had a different filling from the rest.
"A black steamed bun?!"
"Wait. Look at these tiny steamed buns too! They're so colorful!"
Even Tian Lingyu and Huang Shenghao were impressed at the steamed buns made by Lu Xinyi. The buns were steamed to perfection. It was soft, fluffy, and pillowy; sinking one's teeth into it was absolutely amazing and delightful.
"What is this called, Sister Lu?" Huang Shenghao asked. Taking the orange-colored steamed bun, he took a bite from it; and his taste buds were greeted by the delicious taste of crab roe. His mouth was overwhelmed by the liquids from inside—sweet oceanic nectar from the crab itself.
From the first bite, it induced his eyes to roll to the back of his skull and made involuntary noises from deep within his soul. He couldn't remember experiencing the same bliss when he'd eaten the original bun from the Ji family's recipe.
The orange crab roe inside the bun was shiny and very aesthetically appealing. It was also considered as the pinnacle of roe food, which had found great prominence in both Eastern and Western cuisine.
Huang Shenghao was surprised that Lu Xinyi was able to retain its soft and rubbery texture. When blended or cooked in a liquid, crab roes dissolved easily. He tasted not only crab roe but also crab meat inside. Adding the crab roe also ensured great flavor. The texture was unique both in appearance and feel. It added a soft and chunky touch to the filling of the bun.
"I never thought we could use crab roes in a steamed bun," he told Tian Lingyu.
"It has a distinct appearance and flavor, which makes it great for many fine recipes; and there are still wide and endless possibilities for you to enjoy the goodness of roe," Tian Lingyu commented. Taking a side glance towards his sister, he wasn't surprised to see her bored expression as she yawned at the corner.
It was not easy to pick roe from the crab–one needed to be a pro at disassembling the body to do that, but Lu Xinyi managed to do the job without asking for their assistance.
Next, Huang Shenghao took the yellow-colored steamed bun. He gave it a quick sniff before taking a bite.
"Pumpkin bun!" he exclaimed upon chewing and tasting the hot steamed bun.
Pumpkin puree was mixed in with the dough to make the yellow buns to give its nice yellow color and sweetness. Even its filling was made with pumpkin.
Meanwhile, the purple bun from the set was made from sweet potatoes. The red bun was spiced up with Szechuan pork, and the green one had the freshness and slight bitterness of green tea. Garlic had left the diners asking for more of the gray bun.
The brown bun was filled with a rich, gooey chocolate filling inside which was so irresistible not to eat. Last but not the least was the signature bun of the Ji family which had a mildly sweet and savory taste.
All the diners and Huang Shenghao felt that they were experiencing nirvana on earth brought by these seven delicious buns.
The lone black bun on the steamer was the star of the dish. Its glossy, smooth, and perfectly pitch-black color was enough to pique the curiosity not only of the diners but also the spectators watching the competition between the two popular restaurants.
One diner had chosen to cut the black bun on her plate, curious to see what was inside and what greeted her was the luscious golden filling that oozed with aromatic flavors. Her heart sang at the sight of that molten lava golden goodness!
The 'molten lava' was none other than the ever-popular salted egg yolk custard filling. It wasn't runny unlike the original version of Oriental Bliss. Its uniqueness stemmed from its oozing creamy filling in the middle of the bun, not unlike that of a molten lava cake. It was normally served hot in order for the filling to remain soft.
Lu Xinyi enjoyed watching the look on diners' faces when, upon biting in, the dumpling burst inside their mouth; the rich, warm broth washed over their palate. Their reactions come in threes: bulging eyes, laughter, and a slurred 'Ohmigod' with hands covering their full mouths.
She had fixed the consistency and the complex flavors from the original recipe. For this Stygian Golden Lava Bun, the quantity of each ingredient used was crucial to achieving the right texture she was aiming for.
Making the dough was straightforward. The method was similar to making bread, except it also contains baking powder, in addition to yeast. For this bun, she increased the amount of sugar by 10 percent.
Once she increased that sugar amount, the yeast would work much slower and would take much longer to proof the dough. This gave her brother and Huang Shenghao enough time to finish their dishes without worrying about the steamed buns being overcooked.
Steamed custard buns were usually made with yeast dough. Fermentation of sugar in the dough by the yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae helped the dough to rise. Steaming them for too long, the filling would explode. She also had to keep in mind not to open the lid while steaming, or else the buns would collapse.
Wrapping the filling of these buns was the most challenging part for Lu Xinyi. She encountered two challenges while doing it. First was some fillings were sticky and difficult to handle, and the other one was the filling leaking if the bun was not sealed correctly.
In the end, she decided to stick on the general rule on making steamed buns which was to use one part of the filling with two parts of dough for each bun.


[Status: Completed]

“You’re not taking me to bed. Ever.” 
“Who said it had to be on the bed?” 
“What?! You wouldn’t dare kick me off the bed, and I will not share it with you!” 
“The only reason I would force you out is so I can have you on the floor.” She gritted her teeth and glared at her grinning husband. 
“Go fuck yourself!” she hissed. 
“Only if you show me how,” he winked back. 

Once the tabloids released an article claiming business tycoon Shen Yi was gay, his family forced him to date and seek a relationship to stave off the false accusations. After many failed encounters, Shen Yi came upon Lu Xinyi.

Orphaned since childhood, Lu Xinyi had no safe haven left the moment her boyfriend and her best friend betrayed her. Losing her only treasures left, she felt like dying inside as soon as she boarded that ship. However, after a week-long cruise with Shen Yi, she struck a deal with him. Now the Young Madam of the most powerful Shen family, Lu Xinyi turned into a better version of herself. She would not only fight back against those who had hurt her, but she had also taken a shot at accomplishing her father's broken dream.

Attending the country's most prestigious culinary school, Silver Leaf Academy, Lu Xinyi was compelled to compete not only for herself but also for her husband’s pride. Through Shen Yi's love and support, she dreamed to emerge victorious one assault after another from a family that she had long abandoned. Oh, but love for food can be a dangerous thing! As Lu Xinyi and her friends struggle to survive the competition and schemes, more and greater challenges await her, putting her love (for food and Shen Yi) to the test. 

---------------------
Little Miss Series
(1) Little Miss Devil: The President's Mischievous Wife
(2) Little Miss Witch: Revenge of the Tainted Angel
(3) Little Miss Sunshine: Conquer the Emperor's Heart
(4) Little Miss Trouble: The Emperor's Rebellious Consort
(5) Little Miss Heiress: The 30 Days Free Trial Lover
(6) Little Miss Fae: Banshee in the Modern World
(7) Little Miss Immortal: The Nine-Tailed Imperial Consort
---------------------
My Other Books
(1) PS I'm (Not) Over You
(2) Gourmet Empress: Hubby, Why's Your Name on the Menu?

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Little Miss Devil Book Cover 2019 anjeeriku

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