A touch of bitterness.

After dozens of minutes, Xu Lin was working on the final dish when the doorbell rang, jolting the three spectators out of their reverie. Mrs. Li hurried to answer the door.

“Is it your female classmate?”

“Dad, why do you have to specify ‘female’?”

“Ahem! Son, your carrot and potato shreds are impressively thin—teach me sometime, I’ll make them for you all.”

“Dad, your knife skills aren’t—”

Before Xu Lin could finish, his mother’s voice rang out from the entrance, instantly causing Chu Qingchan, seated at the dining table, to stand up.

“Qingchan, your sister is here!”

“What should I do?” Chu Qingchan looked pleadingly at him. Xu Lin shook his head helplessly.

“She’s here, so what? Don’t be afraid—I’ll handle it.”

He spoke casually, flipped the wok, and the mapo tofu slid neatly onto the plate.

“It smells wonderful! Perfect timing for dinner. Sorry to intrude.”

“No need to apologize, it’s livelier with everyone eating together,” said Mrs. Li, though Chu Qingchan’s face dropped to below freezing.

“What are you doing here?”

“Sis, I smelled the delicious food.”

She stepped lightly to the table, her golden twin ponytails flicking towards Chu Qingchan and draping over her neck.

Chu Qingchan forcibly brushed her hair aside, but her sister just smiled, unfazed.

“Sis, when are you coming home?”

“I’ve had some new ideas lately. I’m studying with Teacher Guan—I won’t be coming back.”

“Teacher Guan—the Demon King Guan? Sis, can you still sing?”

“Chu Fengyi, if you’re leaving, then go. If not, sit down and eat quietly.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll sit next to brother-in-law. Where is he?”

“What brother-in-law? Don’t talk nonsense,” Xu Lin called from the kitchen, carrying the plate out.

“Mapo tofu! Did you make all this, brother-in-law? You’re amazing!”

She praised him sweetly, but Xu Lin didn’t believe a word—he still remembered her last suplex.

Xu Lin set the food down with a cold expression, and the doorbell rang again. He hurried to the entrance.

Opening the door, he was greeted by Ji Yun in a floral dress. He paused, then smiled.

She was always beautiful, but there was a stark difference between her school uniform and casual wear. The dress, cinched at the waist, highlighted her figure perfectly.

“Why are you wearing a dress today?”

“Isn’t it nice?”

“It is. But I told you not to bring anything,” Xu Lin noticed the bag in her hand.

“It’s just some cooked food from home, not bought specially.”

“I invited you for dinner, and you still brought something. My father-in-law will scold me.”

“Who’s your father-in-law? Don’t talk nonsense!” Ji Yun glanced inside, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Come in quickly, there’s no one else… just Miss Chu’s sister.”

“Oh.”

Ji Yun entered, and Xu’s parents greeted her. She shyly returned the greeting.

“Hello, uncle and aunt.”

“Take a seat, take a seat. You often help Xu Lin with English. We’re not home much, so we never have time to thank you.”

“It’s nothing, really. Studying together makes us more efficient.”

“Oh? More efficient in what way?”

Ji Yun looked towards the voice—a blonde foreign girl smiled at her. Ji Yun smiled back, confused by the implication.

“Chu Fengyi, behave yourself.”

“Sis, I’m just afraid some little fox will steal brother-in-law’s heart.”

Ji Yun, listening, froze and looked at Xu Lin, her heart skipping a beat. Was Miss Chu… Xu Lin’s girlfriend?

They were dining together, and his parents let her live at their house… Is that how it is?

While she was dazed, Chu Qingchan said sharply, “He’s not your brother-in-law! Stop talking nonsense. If you’re not eating, get out.”

“Alright, alright. Miss Ji, sorry—so are you Xu Lin’s girlfriend?”

“I… no…” Ji Yun’s face reddened instantly, lost for words.

“Enough, Chu Fengyi. If you have something to say, talk to me. Don’t make trouble here. Eat properly; we can talk later.”

Xu Lin’s tone suddenly changed, his expression cold and intimidating. His parents, familiar with him, were startled—they’d never seen him like this.

Chu Fengyi, catching his gaze, put away her smile. Chu Qingchan tensed immediately—she knew her sister well.

When she smiled, she was just sharp-tongued; but when her face went cold, it meant she was ready for a fight.

But the next moment, Chu Fengyi made no move. After a few seconds’ stare, she slowly looked away.

“Alright, we’ll talk later.”

“Let’s eat,” Xu Lin relaxed his expression and smiled, his face changing swiftly.

Everyone took their seats—Xu’s parents and Ji Yun on one side, Xu Lin and the Chu sisters on the other. Better to have Xu Lin sit next to the thorny rose than let Ji Yun risk it.

Though he couldn’t win a fight, he’d just spent 6,000 points to purchase two rather mystical skills: Lingxi Breathing and Dawn Step.

Having obtained them, he confirmed that Dawn Step was indeed similar to lightfoot kung fu, though not as miraculous as in TV dramas, and Breathing was just that—breathing exercises.

He’d just tried it and felt his body instantly lighter. With prolonged practice, his constitution would surely improve.

Combined with his self-defense and this lightfoot skill, he might not win a fight, but escape was certainly possible, which made him feel confident again.

“Everyone, eat the dishes—I’ll go serve the rice,” Mrs. Li called, prompting everyone to pick up their chopsticks.

Chu Fengyi glanced at the dishes, subtly wrinkling her nose, but as her sister started eating, she followed suit.

With a slice of meat in her mouth, she paused, then took another spoonful of tofu, her eyes brightening.

She’d tasted many chefs’ dishes, both Chinese and Western, far superior to these, but Xu Lin’s food had a unique appeal—simply delicious.

The others also began to praise Xu Lin’s culinary skills. Xu Lin waved it off modestly.

“There’s still a lot I can’t cook. I only made a few dishes I’m good at. The rest can’t compare to professional chefs.”

“I never expected my son to have such talent. Especially this cold dish—next time your uncle comes over, make it for him. He’ll remember it all year.”

Dad had thought Di Sanxian was his favorite, but it turned out the casual cold dish was the best.

“Ji, come with us for a walk later,” Mrs. Li said as she returned to her seat.

“Um… alright,” Ji Yun glanced at Xu Lin for help, who nodded.

After all, it would soon be time for the Chu sisters’ private conversation—Ji Yun, just a student, couldn’t handle that scene.

After dinner, most of the food was gone. Xu Lin placed the dishes in the sink, and his parents got ready to head out with Ji Yun.

“Xu Lin… Is Miss Chu actually Chu Qingchan?” Ji Yun quietly asked as she came over.

“Yes. I thought you didn’t watch TV and wouldn’t recognize her.”

“I don’t watch much, but she’s so beautiful, of course I know her. I never expected her to be here—I even spoke to her last time.”

“Today you had dinner with her. It’s nothing. She’s temporarily left the entertainment world, so you don’t have to treat her as a celebrity.”

“Xu Lin, I don’t know the situation, but it seems the sisters have some conflict. But since they’re family, it’s best to let them handle it themselves.”

“Mm, I understand.”

Xu Lin listened to Ji Yun’s advice, and instinctively patted her hand—an old family habit.

Ji Yun felt his large hand brush her skin, quickly pulled her hand away, and ran to the door, face flushed.

Not far away, Chu Fengyi, still sitting in the dining room, witnessed the scene and raised her eyebrows at her sister.

“If you don’t try harder, brother-in-law will run off with the little fox—youth is always better.”

“Chu Fengyi, shut up.”

Chu Qingchan turned her head away, but deep down, she knew she’d just felt… a little pang of jealousy.