"Hey, speak of the devil," Lin Ran quipped.
Uncle Fu politely inquired, "Miss, Young Master Lin, what would you like for dinner tonight?"
Rubbing his hands together, Lin Ran said, "It's the weekend, and we’ve got plenty of time. Of course, I’ll cook."
Before Uncle Fu could respond, Luo Yao spoke up.
"No need for you to cook today. I’ll do it."
Lin Ran was taken aback. "You know how to cook?"
This was the first time he’d heard Luo Yao could cook.
After a moment’s thought, it made sense—someone who’d grown up in extreme circumstances would surely know how to fend for herself.
What he didn’t know was that Luo Yao actually had no idea how to cook. Though independent, in the place she’d lived, she’d either scavenged whatever was available or relied on ration drops. Survival had been the priority; cooking had never been an option.
Luo Yao shook her head. "No, but I can learn. You’ve always cooked for me, so now I want to cook for you."
Touched, Lin Ran still didn’t want her in the kitchen. It was a place of smoke and fire, bad for her skin and slightly dangerous.
"Let me handle it. You’re too beautiful to be exposed to all that smoke. Besides, the kitchen is the most hazardous place in a home."
"No. I want to make you a meal myself," Luo Yao insisted.
Lin Ran had no choice but to glance at Uncle Fu, hoping he’d talk her out of it.
Under Lin Ran’s pleading gaze, Uncle Fu felt a chill down his spine. But the moment he opened his mouth, Luo Yao’s icy glare shut him down completely.
"If the young miss wishes to cook, then of course she may."
Lin Ran mentally scoffed. Coward.
And here I was, thinking you were some kind of hero.
Resigned, he agreed to let Luo Yao into the kitchen—though he followed her in.
But Luo Yao didn’t want him watching. She pushed him out.
"Today, I’m taking care of you. You don’t have to do a thing—just stay on that couch and don’t move," she commanded, leaving no room for argument.
Watching Luo Yao stride back into the kitchen, Lin Ran could only kick off his slippers and obediently perch on the couch, not daring to step down.
Meanwhile, Luo Yao stood in the kitchen, staring at the array of high-end ingredients in deep contemplation.
"Miss, what would you like to prepare? We can help with the prep work," the head chef offered nervously, flanked by a row of equally tense sous-chefs.
Luo Yao frowned, her tone devoid of warmth. "Do you think I can’t even handle something as simple as cooking for Lin Ran?"
"No, we just—"
"Everyone, get out. I don’t need assistants. I’ll handle everything myself." Her cold order was as final as a death sentence.
One by one, the chefs filed out of the kitchen in perfect formation, rolling away as if their lives depended on it. Lin Ran watched, stunned. She only made me stay on the couch—she really does love me.
Alone again, Luo Yao studied the ingredients, her expression thoughtful.
Maybe I should’ve kept one of them. How do you even turn these things into edible food?
In the years she’d been away, her meals had either been whatever she could scavenge and char over a fire or whatever rations were airdropped.
Her supplies had been stolen countless times—until she’d gained the strength to take from others instead.
But those had all been ready-to-eat rations. Actual cooking? She had no clue.
After a moment, she pulled a boning knife from the rack and painstakingly began deveining shrimp…
A long while later, Luo Yao exhaled in relief. This is more exhausting than fighting.
Then she turned to the stove.
And froze.
How does this thing work?
"It… can’t be that hard, right?"
Minutes later, the kitchen exploded.
With a loud BANG, Lin Ran bolted inside, only to find complete chaos.
Luckily, Luo Yao had dodged in time—unharmed, not even a scratch.
"Sweetheart, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"That little explosion? Not a chance."
Lin Ran looked at her with concern. "If you can’t do it, don’t force yourself. I already appreciate the thought."
"No. Today, I will cook for you. I refuse to believe I can’t make a single meal."
Lin Ran tried again. "Nobody’s perfect. You’re already amazing at making money—why bother with cooking?"
"Go wait in the living room. I will make you a proper meal," Luo Yao said, brushing off his protests.
"Then let me help."
"No. I’m doing this myself. If you don’t leave, I’ll make you eat everything in here raw."
In the end, Lin Ran was forcibly ejected.
Five minutes later—BANG—the kitchen exploded a second time.
Lin Ran tensed, ready to rush in, but then the smoke cleared. Emerging like a hero from the haze, Luo Yao carried a plate of… something vaguely resembling food.
"I did it. Try it, Lin Ran."
Lin Ran’s first concern was still her. "Luo Yao, you’re not hurt?"
"Me? I’m fine. Now eat."
Lin Ran eyed the unidentifiable dish and forced a smile.
"You think it looks bad? Don’t worry—it might not be pretty, but it should taste… okay? I only used edible ingredients."
Lin Ran sighed inwardly. Fine, I’ll humor you.
On the dining table, the charred mass looked wildly out of place in the upscale setting. Lin Ran picked up his chopsticks and tentatively took a bite.
Hmm. Chewy.
Luo Yao’s delicate brows furrowed as she grabbed her own chopsticks.
"Lin Ran, do you hate it?"
Lin Ran snatched the plate away. "Who said that?"
He shoved a large bite into his mouth.
Chew, chew, chew… His pained swallow told Luo Yao everything.
"Let me try it too."
Lin Ran blocked her. "No. What my wife makes is for me alone—not even she gets to taste it."
Before she could argue, he stuffed the rest into his mouth, chewing with exaggerated relish.
"Mmm, this braised eggplant is fantastic."
Luo Yao blinked.
"That was supposed to be garlic butter shrimp."
Lin Ran stared at the blackened remains on the plate, scrambling for an excuse.
"Uh… I know. I just meant I was craving braised eggplant."
Luo Yao’s eyes lit up.
Oh! He wants eggplant? That sounds easy enough.
"Then I’ll make it for you."
"Uh… maybe not today. The kitchen’s kind of… out of commission."
And it was. The explosions had left it in critical condition.
Luo Yao conceded and turned to Uncle Fu.
"Have the kitchen repaired immediately. Tomorrow, I’m cooking for Lin Ran again."
Uncle Fu sighed. "Yes, miss."
Lin Ran: ???
Can't find the book by title? Try searching the author—it might have been renamed!
ave】 Shen Qingling was a man with peerless looks, a cunning mind, and the ability to play both the aloof noble and the innocent sweetheart—a master of seduction who could outplay any player. But after an untimely death, he found himself bound to a system and transmigrated into the tragic "true young master" of a melodramatic novel. In the original story, his childhood sweetheart treated him as a backup plan, his fiancée swore to break off their engagement for the sake of the "fake young master," and his own sister saw him as the family's disgrace. He was nothing more than a rat everyone wanted to stomp on. System 077: "Your mission is to change the original fate and conquer the goddesses." Shen Qingling: "Thanks for the invite. If seduction had tiers, I’d be max level." His childhood sweetheart knelt, begging for forgiveness: "Qingling, I was wrong. Please give me another chance." His ex-fiancée refused to marry anyone else: "Shen Qingling, I was blind before. In this life, I’ll marry no one but you." A yandere CEO went mad for love: "Shen Qingling, you can only like me. I’ll stop at nothing to make you mine!" His green-tea sister clung to him daily: "Brother, look at me, won’t you? I’m more obedient than them—I love you the most~" At first, they scorned and trampled on him. Later, they burned themselves like moths to a flame, all for his sake. His looks were his weapon, his sweet words the bait—heroines obsessed over him, villains turned to madness for him. Shen Qingling became a true male siren, igniting battlefield after battlefield of women fighting for his affection. Years later, when System 077—now one of the elites—was asked how to become as outstanding as it, it lazily exhaled a smoke ring and replied: "Just know how to cheer ‘666’ at the right time."
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
g Yu was preparing for retirement when her organization decided to eliminate her. She transmigrated to a zombie apocalypse world. However, a tiny unexpected situation occurred: She somehow transformed into an adorable little girl?!
] This is a dark fantasy-themed dating simulation game. The main gameplay involves containing various monster girls and investigating the truth of a world shrouded in mist alongside your companions. However, due to his love for the dark and bizarre atmosphere, Luo Wei ended up turning a dating game into a detective mystery game. Women? Women only slow down his quickdraw! To Luo Wei, the female leads in the game are more like tools to perfectly clear levels and squeeze out rewards. For Luo Wei, flirting with every girl he meets and then discarding them is standard procedure. Worried about characters losing affection points? No need. With his maxed-out charm stat, Luo Wei is practically a "human incubus." A little psychological manipulation and those points come right back. It's a bit scummy, but the paper cutout heroines in the game won't actually come at him with real cleavers. However... Luo Wei has transmigrated. He's accidentally entered the second playthrough of this game. His past actions have caused all the girls to transform into terrifying yanderes. Due to the game's setting, most of the heroines he once contained are "troubled girls." Obsessive, twisted, mentally unstable, all aggressive yanderes... The type who will kill you if they can't have you... Luo Wei wants to cry but has no tears left. "I really just want to survive..." In short, this is a story of battling wits and engaging in a love-hate relationship with yanderes.
