When it reaches just the right heat, with that crispy outside and juicy, tender inside, and those plentiful meat juices—one bite, and it’s clear that Meng Huange really put in a lot of effort on this piece of meat.
Although Su Wanli’s taste buds were deeply satisfied by that bite, her heart, in contrast, became even more wary.
Early in the morning, Meng Huange sat at Bai’s bedside, waiting to help her dress, then enthusiastically did Bai’s makeup, and even specially made a large spread of her own favorite dishes.
From a normal perspective, one would think she was obviously trying to curry favor, right?
But just a few days ago, Meng Huange wasn’t like this at all. There must be some reason for her sudden shift in behavior. Bai couldn’t possibly think that just watching a cathartic movie last night would cause such a drastic psychological change in the female lead.
If the issue isn’t with herself, then Meng Huange must have another purpose; making her happy is just incidental…
Su Wanli furrowed her brows, carefully observing Meng Huange’s neatly tied hair tips and the delicate lines she’d drawn with such care.
Ah, I get it!
It actually isn’t that complicated. When she was doing my makeup earlier, Meng Tuoe had already mentioned her reason~
No matter if it was the makeup or preparing this high-calorie meal, it was all for tonight’s Spring Banquet hosted by the Bai Family!
As for the spread on the table full of her own favorite dishes… She must have prepared them while getting ready for tonight, intentionally displaying some sincerity to lower my guard, so that later she can more easily defeat me at the banquet and steal the spotlight.
Hmph, even if you don’t do any of this, under the System’s arrangement, I’ll end up as your handy stepping stone anyway, so your calculations are completely in vain.
Still, it actually doesn’t feel bad to be so specially catered to by the female lead. I might as well enjoy it for now.
Su Wanli flashed a cool, springlike smile at Meng Huange, and started heartily enjoying the breakfast dishes prepared for her.
No matter what her real intentions are, Meng Huange still spent at least two or three hours preparing breakfast for her, so not appreciating it properly would be quite rude.
But, if Meng Huange was hoping she’d let down her guard just from a few bites of food, she’d be disappointed. I’ll just turn this food into energy to better complete my task tonight…
Alright, let’s eat.
Watching Su Wanli slowly savor her breakfast, Meng Huange hesitated for a moment, then used her spoon to scoop up a ladle of the tomato beef stew and, with a gentle smile, brought it in front of Su Wanli.
“I added some special seasonings to this tomato beef stew. I wonder if it suits your taste? Would you like to try a little?”
Although Meng Huange’s actions were natural and unforced, and this certainly wasn’t the first time she’d done something like this, still…
Tch, this cunning female lead, just to make me believe she has no ulterior motives, she’ll really stop at nothing!
Honestly, I can see right through you! I won’t fall for your tricks so easily!
Already full of suspicion, Su Wanli forcibly suppressed the instinctive temptation inside her, then gritted her teeth and turned her face away, ignoring the spoonful of stew Meng Huange offered.
“No need.”
“I see.”
Meng Huange quietly put her spoon back into the bowl and lowered her head, letting out a soft sigh.
For some reason, even though she’d only been refused a spoonful of stew, the look on her face immediately grew much more desolate.
Wait, wasn’t all this just to make me lower my guard? Why does she really look so disappointed now…?
Ugh, suddenly I feel awfully guilty. Maybe I should give Meng Huange a chance?
It’s just being fed a spoonful of soup, and even with so many people watching yesterday at lunch, my composure didn’t change much. It’s not a big deal.
As supporting characters, we’re supposed to be the hidden help on the female lead’s growth path anyway. Fulfilling the female lead’s little wishes is practically my duty…
[Host.]
Alright, activating emotionless mode, no more thinking.
[Wait, Host, don’t be in such a rush. I’m not here to interfere with your free will, I just want to remind you before you get deceived by the female lead’s acting skills.]
—Acting, you say?
[That’s right. The System never interferes with your true thoughts, but as your last line of rational defense, the System must remind you: never easily trust the soft vulnerability that others display—especially Meng Huange’s.]
[As the main protagonist with the halo of this novel, she’s top-tier in facial expression control, emotional restraint, and on-the-spot acting. So, any emotion you can see is just what she deliberately wants to show you.]
[If you don’t believe me, observe Meng Huange’s left hand right now.]
Meng Huange’s left hand…?
Su Wanli frowned, then looked in Meng Huange’s direction as the System said.
She was lightly bending her left middle finger, tapping slowly but steadily on the table.
What does that mean?
[In psychology, this rhythmic, soothing, and steady tapping is an unconscious behavior people show when they’re deeply thinking.]
…So, all of Meng Huange’s sadness is just an act; she must be considering something unknown…
Phew, good thing I stayed sharp, otherwise I’d have fallen right into her trap.
Having seen through the ruse, Su Wanli snorted softly, ignored the subtle expression on Meng Huange’s face, and calmly finished her breakfast.
After a while of quiet in the Yan Hui Ting of the Su household, seeing Su Wanli put down her knife and fork, her neck shining slightly with oil, and Meng Huange recovering from her brief slump, Meng Huange gently cupped Su Wanli’s chin and asked with a smile,
“Miss Wanli, how do these dishes taste?”
“As breakfast, it’s a bit oily, but it’s definitely my kind of flavor. Not bad.”
Su Wanli took a paper napkin from the holder beside her and elegantly dabbed at her mouth, then raised a tall glass filled with Mountain Grapefruit Juice and took a small sip.
“Then, if you had to score them, which dish did you like best?”
Hah! Pretending to care about my opinion, as if you actually value my feedback.
Hehe, this female lead really tries hard to cater to her audience!
Su Wanli snorted, tapping a few empty porcelain plates in front of her.
“The flavors are okay, but each dish has something lacking.”
“For example, with this steak, your plating isn’t really my style—there’s just too many random green leaves and cherry tomatoes. It’s too showy!”
“And this mashed potato, it’s too smooth—no layers to the texture. Bland!”
“As for this tomato beef stew… well, it’s decent, I’d give it an eight or nine out of ten.”
“I see. So, the tomato beef stew is acceptable, but the others have room for improvement…”
Meng Huange nodded seriously, took out a pen and notebook from her pocket, and carefully wrote down everything Su Wanli had just said.
“That’s right. Since you’re the one making food for me, of course you have to strive for perfection in every aspect! So you better remember it for next time.”
For some reason, after being criticized by Su Wanli, the corners of Meng Huange’s mouth curled up ever so slightly, forming a faint arc.
“As you say, Miss.”
What’s true, what’s false? Is she talking about my reviews? It does feel like I’m nitpicking…
Su Wanli hummed twice, then pointed at the last empty porcelain dish in front of her.
“To be honest, the creamy mashed potatoes were actually alright. You can keep making those in the future.”
“Okay, I’ll make a note of it.”
Meng Huange smiled at Su Wanli and nodded, then raised her index finger and pointed in front of her.
“So, Miss Wanli, can I take your words to mean that from today on, you’re willing to let me make your breakfast every day?”
“I see.”