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墨書 Inktalez
After obtaining the first badge, Fu Jun felt quite proud and glanced over at Qing Luan with a slight shake. Qing Luan merely cast him a fleeting glance, her expression unreadable.
The ten people ahead were all the same; they didn't even try what Qing Luan had prepared. Yun Nishang and the others were anxious, ready to curse, but Qing Luan remained calm, watching the fire with a gentle smile on her lips.
Seeing this, Fu Jun exaggeratedly threw his head back in laughter and directed some harsh, sarcastic remarks at Qing Luan. He went on about how he would handle things after getting to Ruyi Tower and Jade Pavilion, which made Little Luo and the others seethe with anger, wishing they could rush over and give him a good beating. However, seeing that their lady hadn’t given any orders, they held back their fury and glared at him instead.
"What is she doing?" Bai Feiyang asked anxiously, worry etched on his face.
No one was willing to taste her dishes, which made him even more anxious. If she lost, the outcome would indeed be concerning.
"There's only been ten; why are you so worried?" Seeing that Qing Luan was completely unfazed, Fu Tianlin felt inexplicably confident and had no doubts about the final result.
"Uh," Bai Feiyang was taken aback by his retort.
This guy was truly infatuated; his trust in Zhu Qingluan was beyond saving.
The eleventh person to enter was a ten-year-old child. He looked at Qing Luan and then at Fu Jun, feeling torn inside. His parents were urging him to choose Fu Jun's side, as everyone else was calling out for it. Yet after a moment of hesitation while staring at Fu Jun, the child slowly walked toward Qing Luan, surprising everyone around.
The child said nothing as he sat down in front of her, waiting for Qing Luan to serve him noodles. She greeted him with a radiant smile before quickly preparing the noodles, adding vegetables and pouring over a rich broth that had simmered overnight. Then she playfully asked, "What do you like to eat?"
"…Meat," the child replied hesitantly after a moment of surprise.
"Meat!?" Qing Luan echoed softly, then furrowed her brow and added, "There’s too much meat; which kind do you want?"
Their conversation left those nearby puzzled; they found Zhu Qingluan's words rather nonsensical and suspected she might not be thinking straight out of fear of losing, trying to create some mystery instead.
"Can I take a look?" The child asked softly, unsure if he was being too bold or just curious.
"Sure," Qing Luan said after pondering for a moment. She turned to Little Luo and instructed, "Move those items down so he can choose for himself…"
"Yes!" Little Luo led the two people back and forth five times before finally moving everything, capturing the attention of everyone, including the Old Imperial Chef.
"Wow, it smells so good!" As soon as the lid was lifted, the rich aroma of carefully simmered meat wafted out, causing a stir among the crowd.
"This is pig intestines, spare ribs, large ribs, lamb, beef, lamb offal, beef offal... meat floss, fish floss..." With Qing Luan's introduction, the child's mouth nearly watered as he struggled to choose what to pick. "You can choose a few to try..." Poor child!
"I want this one, and this one..." The child quickly selected five items, looking on with eager anticipation.
Qing Luan's expression was gentle, her lips curved in a smile as she fulfilled the child's requests one by one. She placed the noodles seasoned just right on the table and reminded him, "It's a bit hot, eat slowly, okay?"
"Mm!" He nodded vigorously, grinning widely. He bent down and eagerly slurped up the fragrant noodles, his face filled with satisfaction... Meanwhile, those who had never tasted Qing Luan's cooking were regretting it deeply and were blaming the person who had started it all.
"It's all your fault. If you had eaten at both places, we wouldn't have missed out."
"I... I thought a sixteen-year-old girl couldn't possibly cook as well as an Imperial Chef," he defended himself. "Why do you have to blame me? I didn't ask you to do that!" The person being scolded felt wronged; initially, he thought there was nothing special about her clear broth noodles. He never expected there would be so many choices and that they could fill their stomachs.
For them, those who worked hard, being full was the most important thing. Although the food from the Imperial Chef was delicious, it only came in a small bowl and was served with an air of arrogance. If given another chance, he would definitely not choose them again.
No matter how regretful they felt, what had happened could not be changed.
After the child happily finished a bowl of noodles and set down his sign, he sighed contentedly: "It really is so delicious!"
"Hehe..." Throughout it all, regardless of winning or losing, Qing Luan wore a smile on her face... Her free smile could brighten anyone's mood; why not enjoy it? After all, she was a businesswoman!
"Sister," as the child prepared to leave after setting down his sign, he turned back hesitantly and asked, "Sister, can I take a bowl of noodles for my grandma?"
"No!" Qing Luan rejected without hesitation. Seeing the child's bright smile fade instantly made her chuckle as she reassured him: "But I promise that after the competition ends, there will be a bowl of noodles just for your grandma!" This child was truly filial!
"Really? That's great! Thank you, sister!" After receiving her assurance, the child joyfully ran back.
What does it mean to be unperturbed by honor or disgrace, with an astonishing presence? That is Qing Luan. Even after losing ten times, she remained unfazed, while Fu Jun, after just one loss, wore a gloomy expression that was quite intimidating.
"Feiyang, I truly am not as good as her," Fu Tianlin said with a hint of disappointment after witnessing the scene.
In terms of demeanor, presence, and business acumen, he felt he could not compare to her, which left him with an uncomfortable feeling—it's as if they were drifting further apart.
It reminded him of the first time he saw her; her commanding aura was undeniable. She had not changed; she simply toned down that dominance, making people think she was just a young girl. But that sharpness and assertiveness were qualities he lacked.
"What do you mean?" Bai Feiyang asked, still enjoying the moment and oblivious to the melancholy in Fu Tianlin's voice.
"In a competition like this, she considers every detail. Take the tea sellers from Ruyi Tower earlier; even now... that child was supposed to listen to his parents and go to Fu Jun's side. But after Fu Jun won a few times, his arrogance grew, and his gaze changed too. As for the Imperial Chef, let's not even mention it—he already thought too highly of himself and became even more indifferent. Children are the most innocent; when faced with someone who smiles brightly versus someone who is gloomy and disdainful, who do you think they will choose?" This was what presence meant to him. He believed that if it were him in that situation today, he wouldn't have such composure.
"Ah...?" Bai Feiyang was completely clueless about business matters, but Fu Tianlin's words were straightforward enough to leave him astonished. He opened his mouth in disbelief and stammered, "So, a smile has such a deeper meaning? I thought... she was just being mysterious!"
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