Chapter 76: Flexible

The moment Lu Yunze saw Jiang Sui appear, it felt like he had just seen his savior.
If at that moment Luo Yao’s attention had been facing him instead, his forced expression would have already fallen apart.

After rushing into the dining room, Jiang Sui first exchanged a glance with Lu Yunze, then hurried toward Luo Yao.

“Miss—Miss, this is bad!”

“What’s wrong? Why are you panicking?” Luo Yao folded her arms.
“Even if something happened to the mansion, you must maintain basic etiquette. Otherwise, outsiders will think our servants are all this undisciplined.”

Hearing that, Jiang Sui instantly straightened up and returned to calmness.
“You’re right, Miss. Even if the kitchen caught fire, we cannot panic.”

“…The kitchen… caught fire!?” Luo Yao’s voice suddenly shot upward, her whole body stunned.

“Yes, Miss. The head chef and the others are putting it out right now.”

“My egg pudding!!”

Luo Yao inhaled sharply, shoved Jiang Sui aside, and ran out.

As her frantic footsteps faded, Lu Yunze quickly asked those who helped him eat the pudding earlier to leave the dining room.

Only he and Jiang Sui remained. Silence filled the room.

“Haah… you came at the perfect time!”
Lu Yunze let out a breath of relief. “Thank you, seriously.”

“What is Young Master talking about? I simply came to inform Miss about the accident.”
Jiang Sui smiled slyly, staring at him.
“You make it sound like I set the fire to lure Miss away.”

“…Did you?” Lu Yunze casually teased.

Her smile didn’t even twitch.

Of course, she didn’t actually set the kitchen on fire—
She merely waited until the stove oil was at its hottest, then quietly dripped in water…
and placed a small flammable cloth nearby.

Nothing more.

“Young Master, don’t worry. The fire isn’t big. Miss will be back soon.”

“Ugh…”

Lu Yunze sat up straight.

If Luo Yao returned carrying an even bigger pan of egg pudding…
his life would end here.

He originally thought he survived the last disaster by luck.
But now he realized—Luo Yao had simply been late.

“Jiang Sui… give me a solution.”
Lu Yunze sounded like he was about to cry.

“Is it really that terrible?”

“You haven’t tasted it! You cannot imagine that flavor!”

Just thinking about it made his face twist:

The pudding was overloaded with sugar—one bite would turn a person into a pig king.
Before he could recover, the chicken pieces began their assault.
They were over-salted to a ridiculous degree—salt emperor level seasoning.

It was like being forced to experience sugar hell and salt hell simultaneously.

If someone gave him this food for assassination missions, success rate would be 100%.

“Is it really that scary?”

“It is exactly that terrifying!”

“Then… compared to my cooking?”

“There’s no comparison—yours is much better.”

“Ha~ I knew it. Young Master still loves my cooking more.” Jiang Sui tilted her head proudly.

“Enough! Think of something! Otherwise tomorrow, you may never see me again!”

Even though he begged, Jiang Sui remained relaxed.
Her gaze drifted toward the phone on the table.

Then, lifting her sleeves, she leaned closer.

“Young Master, want to see if I can do something?”

“Huh?”

Before he reacted, she picked up an almond and rolled it on her tongue.
Then she opened her mouth—

The almond had a perfect knot tied around it.

Lu Yunze was dumbfounded.
“H–how did you—?”

“With my tongue, of course.”
She smiled sweetly.
“If Young Master doubts my abilities… then I don’t need to help anymore.”

“Wait!”
He surrendered immediately.
“I believe you! You can definitely help!”

“Since Young Master says so…”

Jiang Sui leaned in closer, sticking out her pink tongue like a tease.

Lu Yunze swallowed nervously.
“W–what are you doing?”

“You asked me to help, didn’t you?
Just imagine what this tongue can do for you.”

He nearly fainted.
A tongue that could tie almonds into knots—
no man could remain calm imagining that.

“I meant a solution for the pudding! Not whatever weird thing you’re implying!”

“So if I keep you alive, you’ll owe me, yes?”

“…Fine! Whatever you want!”

Seeing him panic, she finally burst into laughter, ending her teasing.

“Young Master wants to eat Miss’ pudding,
yet doesn’t want to suffer punishment.
You’re too greedy.
Lucky for you—I am the only person who will actually help.”

She hopped off the table and proudly lifted her chin.

“The method is simple.
When Miss serves the pudding later,
YOU MUST eat it right in front of her.
No hesitation.”

“What kind of solution is that!?”

Her expression remained sincere.

“The solution exists.
But whether it works depends on you.”

Just as Lu Yunze tried to decipher her meaning—

Luo Yao returned.

Not only did she return—
she brought out a brand-new, freshly made giant tray of chicken-flavor egg pudding.

Seeing its size, Lu Yunze felt his soul leave his body.

“Good thing!
The fire didn’t reach my pudding!”

Luo Yao cheerfully placed it before him.

“This time, you must finish ALL OF IT.
Do not give it to anyone else!”

This pudding was three times larger than before.

Death by pudding—funny, yet true.

Lu Yunze prayed Jiang Sui wasn’t just messing with him.

He picked up the fork.

Under Luo Yao’s burning gaze, he scooped a bite into his mouth.

He braced for death—

Then—

“…Huh?”

Lu Yunze frowned.

“What’s wrong? Not good?” Luo Yao panicked.

“No… it tastes… amazing?”

He widened his eyes and took another bite.

It truly tasted good!

Same person. Same dish.
The difference was like heaven and hell.

“Luo Yao, is this really your cooking?”

“Of course! Who else’s could it be!?”

She was thrilled.

“I knew you’d love it! Eat! Eat more!”

Lu Yunze devoured the entire pudding joyfully.

But a question lingered in his heart—

Why did the taste change so dramatically?

“Did you add something different?” he asked.

“…Different?” Luo Yao blinked.
“Maybe the chicken charred slightly?”

“…No, must be my imagination.”

He faintly tasted a strange fragrance—not from the chicken.

But who cared?

He dug in happily, ignoring the mystery.

The burning kitchen, the smug maid, and the magically improved pudding—

Anyone who wasn’t blind could see:

Jiang Sui definitely did something.