Su Wanli stared at the suddenly skyrocketing “Villainess Points” in confusion and scratched her forehead.
Even though she couldn’t quite figure out what Zhang Ma was thinking right now, she wasn’t going to say no to free points falling into her lap.
Once the cooking competition started, with her “skills,” things were bound to turn into a chaotic mess.
If she found herself short on Villainess Points then, it would be too late to regret not squeezing more out now!
But first, she had to check the time. If she missed the lunch window, she’d lose the chance to bring up the challenge.
Su Wanli turned to glance at the clock inside the banquet hall.
11:50 a.m.…
It was almost lunchtime, but since breakfast had been served late today, she wasn’t feeling particularly hungry yet.
If she timed it right, she could propose the cooking contest against Meng Wange just in time.
Before that…
Su Wanli curled her lips into a grin, then dragged out a chair in the kitchen and plopped down in it without a care.
She looked Zhang Ma in the eyes and gave a devilish smile—
“Oh? Zhang Ma, what do you mean by ‘spare me’? Are you saying something about my plan doesn’t sit well with you and you’re thinking of rejecting me?”
“N-no! I just mean, well, I’m getting on in years, and learning all those weird things now doesn’t seem to make much sense…”
“‘Weird things,’ and ‘doesn’t make sense,’ huh?”
Repeating Zhang Ma’s words, Su Wanli slapped her palm flat on the table with a cold expression—
“So you’re saying all the lessons I take every day are pointless? That everything I’ve been learning is useless?”
“I didn’t mean it like that…”
Seeing how Zhang Ma was at a loss for words, Su Wanli felt a brief pang of guilt.
‘Sorry, Zhang Ma. I know bullying an elderly woman like this is kind of harsh… But after all those years taking care of the original Su Wanli, I’m sure you’ve built up a strong heart. You won’t be shaken by a line or two…’
Still, even with all that posturing and subtle threats, the Villainess Points barely moved—just fluctuating between 90 and 91.
[While hostile behavior toward others can help stabilize your persona, it has a cap on Villainess Point gains. We recommend focusing your attention on the main target, Meng Wange.]
Figures…
Su Wanli let out a sigh and waved her hand dismissively at the flustered Zhang Ma.
“Alright, enough with the excuses, Zhang Ma. Didn’t you tell Meng Wange during breakfast something like ‘I’ll teach you when there’s time’? And now here you are, tearing up paper like you’ve got all the time in the world. I’d say you’re pretty free, no?”
Grateful for the change in topic, Zhang Ma let out a breath of relief and nodded repeatedly.
“Yes, Miss Su. Before you came downstairs, I was already preparing a cooking lesson for the two of you. I even found a recipe book…”
“A cook book? Well, aren’t you efficient. Let’s have a look at it, then.”
“Right away…”
***
As Su Wanli reached her hand out expectantly, Zhang Ma suddenly remembered something.
She swallowed hard, and the hand she had hidden behind her back trembled slightly.
Just now was a terrible time—the page from the cookbook hadn’t even been fully torn out.
Only half of it had come off, and the parts she had already tried to tear were left frayed and ragged all over…
If she handed something like this to Su Wanli, her career as a housekeeper would be over for good.
She could already hear the accusations: damaging household property without permission, sloppily handling Su Wanli’s requests…
As Zhang Ma stood frozen in place, Su Wanli, despite her inner desire to respect the elderly, was bound by her villainess persona and had no choice but to press her.
“Zhang Ma? Why are you just standing there? Where’s the recipe? Don’t tell me you lost it already?”
Seeing Su Wanli press forward with growing intensity, Zhang Ma gritted her teeth.
She was just about to take out the tattered recipe book and leave her fate to the winds of tomorrow…
Just then, a calm and gentle voice interrupted her.
“Zhang Ma, if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to learn a dish that might not be in the cookbook. Would that be alright?”
Meng Wange, who had been silently standing behind Su Wanli this whole time, took two small steps forward and leaned close to Zhang Ma’s side to whisper something.
No one knew what she said, but it made Zhang Ma’s eyes light up.
She nodded repeatedly, clearly enthusiastic.
Seeing this, Su Wanli crossed her arms and frowned in displeasure.
“Hmm? Whispering now? Don’t tell me you’re hiding something from me?”
Meng Wange turned back and gave Su Wanli a slight smile.
“Miss Su, this is a rare opportunity for us both to ask Zhang Ma for guidance. Why don’t we turn this into a little tasting exchange?”
‘Tasting exchange? What was that supposed to mean?’
Seeing the confusion on Su Wanli’s face, Meng Wange added with a soft smile:
“In other words, I’ll cook a dish for you, and you’ll cook one for me. Then we’ll swap and taste each other’s food.”
That lit up not just Zhang Ma’s eyes, but Su Wanli’s as well.
‘Not bad, Meng Wange. I was wondering how to naturally turn Zhang Ma’s cooking lesson into a contest, and here you are, offering it up yourself.’
Su Wanli licked her lips and gave Meng Wange a teasing look.
“Heh, pretty bold of you. Not only do you want me to eat your cooking, you even want me to cook something for you?”
Meng Wange smiled calmly, holding her gaze without the slightest hint of fear.
“So, Miss Su, will you give me that chance?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I? But just saying it like this isn’t any fun.”
Su Wanli smiled and ran her thumb slowly across her lips.
Then she stood from her chair and stepped closer to Meng Wange.
Leaning in, her lips brushed against Meng Wange’s ear as she whispered:
“—Just like before, let’s place a bet.”
This time, Meng Wange didn’t brush it off with an excuse like gambling being bad for one’s health.
She simply nodded, naturally accepting Su Wanli’s challenge.
“Alright. Just like before—if I lose, I’ll agree to do one thing for you.”
“Not bad. Since you’re being so straightforward, I’ll be fair with my score. As for my bet… well, since you didn’t want the last one, I’ll change it.”
Su Wanli raised her eyebrows and extended her right hand toward Meng Wange.
“Same deal. If I lose, I’ll do one thing for you too.”
Meng Wange smiled faintly and reached out her own hand, giving Su Wanli a light shake.
“—It’s a promise.”
***
Zhang Ma, who had been left off to the side and ignored for quite a while now, quietly watched Su Wanli and Meng Wange standing hand in hand—one grinning boldly and brazenly, the other smiling gently and elegantly.
Then her mind drifted back to the unbelievable scene she had witnessed earlier in Su Wanli’s room…
‘Ah, I see now.’
Suddenly, she felt like she finally understood how young people interacted these days.
Two people who claim to dislike each other, yet somehow share a strange bond, even occasionally sleeping together…
Zhang Ma nodded solemnly to herself.
‘This must be what my daughter meant when she talked about that “enemies-to-lovers” thing!’