A Contest of the Two Supremes

The world had come to a standstill.

Quiet.

Silent.

So silent that one could hear their own heartbeat.

It was supposed to be the most lively time of the year, the Spring Festival, yet all around there was only silence. The boisterous snowstorms and the cacophony of human voices seemed to have been blocked out, as if cut off by the highest of powers.

At the same time, in that absolute quiet, there was an eerie chill that seeped into the depths of the soul, making one tremble.

"Hello, I'm Xu Moli."

"Hello, I'm Wu Yingxue."

Under Xu Xi's gaze, the two girls greeted each other with a friendly handshake. Though they were strangers meeting for the first time, they appeared extremely harmonious.

Wu Yingxue's face was filled with a radiant smile.

Xu Moli also smiled, but her smile carried an icy edge.

"Brother, could you please go inside first?"

"I feel an instant connection with Miss Yingxue, and I can't help but want to engage in some discussion and exchange."

An instant connection?

Hearing his usually obedient sister's request, Xu Xi hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Something felt off.

"It's alright, sir. Please go inside.

"I'm also quite curious about your sister's capabilities."

Both parties acted in tacit agreement, not mentioning what had happened in the chaos. They simply smiled at Xu Xi, claiming they were itching for a bit of action.

Xu Xi looked at his sister on the left, then at the princess on the right.

Seeing that there was no trace of killing intent (shāyì, intent to kill) between them, he nodded in agreement, reassured.

"Go ahead, but don't take too long."

With that, the two girls disappeared before Xu Xi's eyes, leaving him with only the falling snowflakes that gently landed in his hands.

Slowly spreading,

meticulously extending,

the courtyard was once again covered in a silver blanket.

"An instant connection? Xu Moli sure knows how to find excuses... That demeanor of theirs, could it be that they've had some past grievances?"

"This was something I didn't foresee."

"Both of them are not children, so they must have restraint in their actions."

Xu Xi looked at the empty courtyard with thoughtful eyes.

He turned towards the house, ready to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner, but as he entered the kitchen, he discovered a busy figure.

The lighting was warm and yellow, casting a gentle glow on the silver-gray hair that fell over the shoulders, creating a delicate sheen as if draped in fine silk.

"Krisha?"

The witch noticed Xu Xi's arrival.

She paused what she was doing.

Turning to face Xu Xi, her beautiful eyes reflected his image.

"Krisha, what are you doing?"

Xu Xi stepped into the kitchen.

Among the cluttered utensils and ingredients, he saw several dishes already prepared, steaming and exuding inviting aromas.

The aloof witch stood beside the dishes, holding a small spatula.

In the silence, she exuded a charming cuteness.

"I... am preparing... the New Year's Eve dinner... for my mentor."

She blinked her eyes, gazing at Xu Xi with her empty yet mesmerizing gaze, "for... you."

Afterward, Krisha turned back, continuing to stir-fry with the spatula.

One stroke, then another, the precise and repetitive movements stirred the smoke.

This brought back memories for Xu Xi of Krisha's disastrous cooking skills and multiple kitchen explosions during the second simulation.

Nowadays,

the witch's cooking had improved immensely, no longer causing kitchen explosions—a reason for celebration.

Xu Xi chuckled and took the spatula from Krisha's hand: "Let me take over, Krisha."

"Eh..."

"You've done enough already. Now, go and rest."

Xu Xi felt that on this most important New Year's Eve, if he let Krisha handle all the cooking, it would be somewhat exploitative.

Besides,

Xu Xi also wanted to prepare some delicious food himself.

To brighten this significant New Year's Eve.

"...Yes," Krisha complied with Xu Xi's words. She stepped back a few paces, her hands clasped in front of her stomach, standing perfectly poised, watching Xu Xi's busy figure.

The sizzling of the oil,

the sound of stir-frying ingredients,

these noises were very captivating.

But the witch paid them no attention, merely standing quietly in place, focusing entirely on the "light" (Xu Xi)—her mentor.

Whenever he needed something, she was always there, timely providing the required seasonings or ingredients.

"Mentor... let me wipe it for you..."

"Mentor... the chili is here..."

"Mentor... please, have some water..."

Krisha was always busy.

Xu Xi had taken over the cooking duties for the New Year's Eve dinner from Krisha, yet she always found ways to keep herself occupied.

Careful yet somewhat clumsy

Literal translation:

Bènzhuō is a Chinese word that refers to clumsiness, awkwardness, or ineptness.

In the given sentence, it is used to describe someone as being careful, yet still somewhat awkward or clumsy.

Her unique way of assisting Xu Xi.

She had always been this way, disliking idleness, always wanting to do something for Xu Xi.

In the end, it was Xu Xi who insisted that Krisha sit down and rest, and only then did she quietly take a seat at the dining chair, never making another move.

The golden, black, and red eyes, however,

continued to follow Xu Xi's figure, moving with him.

"Krisha, you can go do other things first, I'll call you when dinner is ready."

"...Yes."

Despite Xu Xi's words,

Krisha nodded obediently but remained seated in place, silently watching Xu Xi in the kitchen, following the trajectory of the light (Xu Xi).

Not disobeying Xu Xi's words, but because Krisha's entire existence revolved around him (Xu Xi). Thus, the obedient witch stayed still.

"Mentor, please let me help."

Unable to sit still, Krisha pleaded with Xu Xi.

"I want to... do something for you."

"...Well..."

Ultimately, after repeated requests from Krisha, Xu Xi agreed to let her assist, continuing with tasks like handing over seasonings and ingredients.

"Yes, I understand," Krisha listened carefully to Xu Xi.

Soon, with Krisha's assistance, the sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner was completed.

Boiled, fried, braised, stir-fried.

A variety of dishes, all present and delectable.

The tall vertical window in the kitchen reflected the overhead lighting, further enhancing the visibility inside, illuminating the glistening oil on each dish and making them even more tempting.

Krisha gently waved her hand, and the prepared dishes were magically transported to the dining table, saving the trouble of carrying them manually.

The dining table was wide and flat, steam rising from each dish, blurring the winter's chill. It even made Krisha's eyes slightly blurry.

"It seems..."

This familiar scene brought back memories for the witch of the first New Year she spent with Xu Xi.

Just like before, Xu Xi had taken over the cooking from her.

Just like before, a full table of dishes awaited them.

And, just like before, only the two of them were in the kitchen.

But Krisha knew that this warmth was temporary. In the real world, she was not the only one yearning for the warmth of the sun.

Her slender fingertips unconsciously rubbed together.

That was the uncertainty in her heart.

She had never wanted to monopolize anything; she simply desired to see that familiar face once more and wait for his next command.

However, Krisha realized something serious.

If she did nothing, the radiance of the sun would be shared by others, and she didn't want that... she couldn’t bear that.