Chapter 11: Their First Match—Complete Defeat

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“This is Gugu Chicken Noodle Soup. Make do with it for now and fill your stomach a little. What would you like for lunch?”

Qiao Xin casually handed him the bowl of noodles Lei Miaomiao had not even glanced at, as though they had always been close.

“Anything without meat is fine.”

Lin Yifeng lifted the bowl with feigned elegance and took a bite. Then, in two or three more mouthfuls, he finished the entire small bowl.

The Lin family matriarch stared at him in astonishment. Ever since he had developed anorexia two years ago, he had been unable to eat anything, no matter how much they researched or tried. In the end, he could not even drink nutrient solution.

In an effort to determine what was wrong with him, he had improved the nutrient solution several times, but none of it had been enough to save him.

They had also searched across the stars for a nutritionist for two years, yet not one had succeeded.

He had frightened her yesterday by suddenly leaving the house, but when he returned, his complexion was far rosier than before. Then he had announced that he wanted to marry someone, leaving her terribly distressed.

In order to understand what had happened, she had come personally to investigate.

Now, seeing this scene, what else was there to understand?

The little girl before her had not been boasting. She really could keep him alive!

“All right,” Qiao Xin replied, though she had no intention of preparing lunch right away.

The Lin family matriarch immediately smiled. “Xinxin, my son says you intend to provide him with food for the rest of his life. Why don’t we choose a date and make it official?”

“Make what official?” Qiao Xin asked, utterly bewildered.

“Your engagement, of course! Although my son will be marrying into your family, don’t worry—we’ll provide the betrothal gifts and dowry ourselves. You won’t have to spend a single credit!” The Lin matriarch promptly presented her with a list of gifts.

The corner of Qiao Xin’s mouth twitched. She glanced at Lin Yifeng and saw him holding the bowl in front of his face. His ears, however, were bright red.

“Madam Lin, I told you yesterday that you only need to pay for the meals. I’m not going to marry him!”

The Lin matriarch was stunned. She looked at Lin Yifeng, who was pretending to be an ostrich, then at Qiao Xin, who wore an utterly serious expression. In the end, she could only laugh in exasperation.

So that reckless son of hers had not even obtained the girl’s consent. He had simply dragged his mother along and rushed over to propose!

After taking a deep breath, she maintained a respectable smile with great difficulty. She had weathered all sorts of storms over the years, after all.

“Xinxin, let’s add each other as friends. I’ll transfer the money for the meals to you.”

Seeing that she was not too agitated, Qiao Xin breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly handed over her optical computer.

The next moment, one hundred million star coins arrived in her personal account.

“Xinxin, this rascal can eat quite a lot. If it isn’t enough, just tell Auntie. I won’t disturb you any longer. You young people should have some privacy.”

Having figured out the truth, the Lin matriarch shot her son a glare and withdrew politely.

“All right, Auntie. I’ll see you out.” Qiao Xin escorted her out of the courtyard, then watched as she departed with her bodyguards in a furious display.

As for refusing the money, that was impossible.

One hundred million star coins looked like a great deal, but if she wanted to buy high-grade ingredients, it would actually be nowhere near enough.

Xiao Ruyi had already told her about Lin Yifeng. As a high-level ability user, he would certainly need high-grade ingredients in the future.

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When she returned, little Lei Miaomiao hugged her leg and looked up at her with her small head tilted back.

“Big Sis, raise me! I’m easy to feed! I’ll give my brother to you to pay for my meals!”

The moment she said it, He Qing nearly burst out laughing.

Qiao Xin sighed helplessly, crouched down, and pinched the child’s plump little cheek.

“For the meals YaYa eats, your brother will pay.”

Lei Wuxie swallowed back the words he had been about to say. When he met Lin Yifeng’s indignant gaze, he glared back without the slightest weakness.

He was not as shameless as that man, eagerly offering himself up at the door!

Lin Yifeng: Hmph! How noble of you!

“Xinxin, will you teach me how to cook?” Lin Yifeng asked, trying to send that little brat Lei Miaomiao away.

The little girl puffed up her cheeks and glared at him. “YaYa wants to learn too!”

“What can you possibly make?” Lin Yifeng scoffed.

“I have my brother! Hmph!” the little girl declared, as though it were perfectly obvious.

“I, too, know a little about cooking.” Lei Wuxie stood up.

“That works. I’ll teach all of you a few things, so you can manage in an emergency when you’re at home.” Qiao Xin was not worried about teaching them. At a glance, none of them seemed like the sort who would compete with a nutritionist for a living.

The Xiao family kitchen was large enough that the group would not be crowded.

Even for Lei Miaomiao, Qiao Xin brought over a chair so that she could take part.

“We’ll start with pastries made from wheat fruit and star rice. People of any age can eat these.”

Qiao Xin had Lin Yifeng and Lei Wuxie grind the flour, one batch each. The machine handled the grinding; the main task was taking the flour out.

The proportions for kneading the dough were not difficult either. The two men acted as though they were competing, and after finishing their mixtures, they insisted that Qiao Xin judge them.

Qiao Xin merely thought they were ridiculous and indicated that they should follow her to the next step.

They both lost their first round completely.

Qiao Xin had chosen the molds for the decorative shapes, so she let them select whichever designs they liked. She then focused on helping Lei Miaomiao make the patterns with the molds.

Lei Miaomiao thought every single one was fun. She kept changing from one to another, and in the end made one of every design.

The four adults were sent spinning by the little girl’s commands. Aside from Lin Yifeng, who occasionally grumbled sourly, everyone else was thoroughly enjoying themselves.

“Wow, Big Sis! YaYa can make pastries now too!”

Looking at the pastries they had made, the little girl was overflowing with a sense of accomplishment.

“That’s right! Our YaYa is so amazing!” Qiao Xin praised her, tapping the tip of her little nose.

Lin Yifeng immediately leaned over, hoping to be praised as well, but Qiao Xin pushed him away in one swift motion.

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“Heat the water and put them in the steamer.”

Lin Yifeng: ???

They had all been doing the same work. Why was he not getting any praise?

Lei Wuxie silently heated the water and placed Lei Miaomiao’s creations into the steamer.

He Qing also moved deftly into action, taking the opportunity to mock Lin Yifeng for competing with a child for attention.

Lin Yifeng: ...

You people are the only good ones, apparently!

Unwilling to lift a finger, he used his ability instead. Qiao Xin watched as everything rose into the air on its own. She was just about to say something when she saw his smug expression and the way he clearly expected praise, leaving her no choice but to offer him a perfunctory compliment.

“Nicely done!”

“Of course!” Lin Yifeng immediately raised his chin. If he had possessed a tail, he would have wagged it into the heavens.

Qiao Xin: Well, as long as you’re happy.

While the pastries steamed, they prepared the other ingredients.

Everyone knew how to wash vegetables, but when it came to things like mud vegetables that needed blanching, the group treated the process as though they had been given some fascinating new toy.

Qiao Xin did not let Lei Miaomiao try that part, but the little one was very good at winning people over.

Everyone except Lin Yifeng.

She carefully divided the water equally among Qiao Xin and the other two, then ignored Lin Yifeng entirely.

Lin Yifeng: What a hateful little pastry!

When it was time to add the seasonings, Lei Miaomiao could not hold back a sneeze. In an instant, the seasoning was smeared all over her face.

Before she could burst into tears, Lin Yifeng moved a finger. A gust of wind swept over her, clearing away every bit of seasoning.

Lei Miaomiao covered her little face and exclaimed in surprise, “Even the mean-mouthed big brother is amazing!”

Lin Yifeng ground his teeth. When had he ever been mean-mouthed?

Qiao Xin and the other two struggled to hold back their laughter. The little thing might have been young, but she certainly knew how to hold a grudge.

Qiao Xin taught the three of them how to add the seasonings. The steps were clearly the same, and they had added nearly identical amounts, but once they had finished mixing their cold dishes and tasted them, each wore an indescribably complicated expression.

Lei Miaomiao covered her little mouth and refused to taste hers at all.

Qiao Xin tried each dish in turn, then directed them to add different ingredients. Only then did the dishes become edible.

Lin Yifeng immediately looked embarrassed. With a pitiful sigh, he said, “I’m probably not suited to making this...”

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