“So, you’re saying the challenge doesn’t have a fixed theme? We each propose a dish to Zhang Ma, then prepare it under her guidance, and only reveal the dishes to each other at the end?”
After reading the rules Meng Wange had written on the small blackboard, Su Wanli blinked at her in confusion.
“That’s right. Exactly like that.”
Meng Wange smiled as she added a period to the blackboard, continuing to refine the rules of their cooking showdown.
“Even though making different dishes might affect the final scoring criteria, the judges are Zhang Ma and the two of us. There’s already a lot of subjectivity involved, so I think we can overlook the difference in dishes.”
Still, for a cooking competition, each person making a completely different dish felt… a bit off.
Even so, Su Wanli wasn’t planning to refuse outright.
And why not? Before leaving her room, she had already brought along a special little tool—something that guaranteed she wouldn’t be completely outmatched.
A powerful item from beyond this world, something she had spent three full mission rewards to piece together: the legendary-grade artifact known as the Villainess Bully Handbag!
…Ahem. Truthfully, Su Wanli didn’t have high hopes for it.
The fact that it pulled out a megaphone last night just to yell at Meng Wange through the wall meant it could easily pull out quicklime in today’s cook-off.
If the system hadn’t insisted she bring it, she probably wouldn’t have even remembered it existed.
That aside, if they had to make the same dish, no matter how biased Zhang Ma might be, there was no way Su Wanli could make something better than Meng Wange.
And this wasn’t Su Wanli lacking confidence—it was villainess-level self-awareness.
As someone who could manage to get eggshells into instant noodles just by adding an egg, she knew her cooking skills all too well.
Which was to say: she had none.
So in a way, Meng Wange’s proposed rules actually gave Su Wanli a better shot.
With different dishes and some extra guidance from Zhang Ma, she could at least focus on making her dish look more appealing—and that gave her a slim chance of winning!
Still, even Su Wanli noticed a glaring issue in the plan.
“Wait a second. There’s only one kitchen in this house. Even if there are multiple stoves, wouldn’t we still be able to see what the other person is making?”
Meng Wange frowned slightly, touching her chin as she thought aloud.
“You’re right. If we’re cooking in the kitchen at the same time, even with a curtain between us, the smell alone could give the dish away. That would completely ruin the surprise.”
“…Surprise?”
Before Su Wanli could question why a cooking competition needed any “surprise,” Meng Wange had already clenched her fist and raised it above her shoulder.
“Then it’s settled, Miss Su! We’ll take turns cooking, and use rock-paper-scissors to decide the order. Whoever wins gets to choose who goes first. The first dish will be kept safe by Zhang Ma until the second is done, and then we present them together. How’s that?”
‘…Uh, that easy?’
Even Su Wanli, who rarely stepped into a kitchen, knew that food was always best when it was fresh.
The first dish, no matter how well Zhang Ma tried to preserve it, would inevitably lose some flavor by the time the second one was done.
But this might actually work out in her favor.
The more random variables there were, the greater her chances of winning.
If she could just win this rock-paper-scissors match, her odds of victory would increase significantly!
“Hehe, since you’re so eager, I won’t ruin the mood. Let’s do it then…”
However, just as Su Wanli was about to agree, the small pouch hanging at her waist suddenly grew heavier.
It was the Villainess Bully Handbag reacting.
[Ta-da! A random event has been detected. The handbag has prepared a special bullying tool for you—Rock-Paper-Scissors Gloves!]
Before Su Wanli could even reach into her bag, the system’s voice excitedly burst out, enthusiastically introducing the item—
[This tool looks like a thin, flesh-colored glove. Once worn, it feels light as air, almost like you’re wearing nothing at all. But when playing rock-paper-scissors, the glove will guide the wearer’s hand to make the winning move!]
‘…So, the reason you insisted I carry this bag around while cooking was for this exact moment? So I could win against Meng Wange in a game of rock-paper-scissors? Seriously!?’
Su Wanli was already sweating from sheer speechlessness at the system, but she had to admit—this time, the item was actually kind of useful.
In front of Meng Wange, Su Wanli slipped her hand into the bag, pretending to search for something, when in fact she was secretly putting on the glove.
Meng Wange maintained her elegant smile and original posture.
***
“So, Miss Su? Shall we make it a best-of-three match?”
Su Wanli scoffed in disdain.
“Best-of-three? Only little kids who can’t take a loss say things like that. If it were up to me, I’d settle it with one round—winner takes all.”
The system might not always be reliable, but its item descriptions had never been wrong. Even the so-called “Lucky Potion” from before had delivered in its own way.
Still, maybe she should’ve tested the glove first? But now that she’d said something so bold…
Meng Wange began counting down—
“Alright then. Ready? Three, two…”
‘Forget it. There’s no turning back now. I’ll just have to trust the system on this one!’
As Meng Wange counted down, Su Wanli raised her hand high and brought it down in sync with her opponent.
Paper beats rock.
Su Wanli won.
“Hehe, looks like even the heavens are on my side today.”
Su Wanli smirked and shrugged at Meng Wange.
“So, what now, Meng Wange? Are you going to take your turn in the kitchen like we agreed, or are you going to act like a spoiled child and ask for a rematch? I don’t mind beating you a few more times.”
‘Even if I only won because of the cheating glove…’
She made a silent remark to herself, but her tone stayed sharp and mocking to help boost her villainess points.
Meng Wange shook her head.
“Of course not. Since Miss Su has allowed me to go first, Madam Zhang, could you please walk me through that dish I mentioned earlier? There are a few steps I’m still not very familiar with.”
After giving Zhang Ma her instructions, Meng Wange turned back to Su Wanli and gestured politely with a smile.
“As for you, Miss Su, would you mind waiting outside the banquet hall for a bit?”
“Heh. You say that like I’d be interested in your cooking process. Even if you hadn’t said anything, I’d have left on my own.”
Leaving behind that remark, Su Wanli rolled her eyes at Meng Wange and strode out of the kitchen in large steps—slamming the door shut behind her on the way out.
“System. System, are you there?”
[Yes, Host! Did the Villainess Bully Handbag come in handy?]
“Forget your ridiculous bully handbag for now! Just tell me—do you have any tools that can let me see through walls? I want to know exactly what she’s doing in there!”