Haute Cuisine

Xu Mu curiously answered the phone. "Huihui, it's been a while since you last called. Is something up?"

"Nothing much, actually. I just came by Old Man Wei's place today to drop something off and was wondering if you were home."

Jiang Huihui said on the other end.

"I'm definitely home. There's a little gathering tonight anyway, so why don't you come over for dinner? I can also give you some gifts while you're here."

Xu Mu currently had plenty of pills on hand. Aside from the ones he'd already set aside for specific individuals, there were still quite a few left.

He could easily spare some to help Jiang Huihui improve her strength.

"Sure, I haven't had dinner yet anyway."

Jiang Huihui chuckled on the line.

After hanging up, Xu Mu also called Xu Ningbing to invite her over for dinner that evening.

Once he'd finished arranging everything, Xu Mu headed off to prepare the ingredients. Today, he aimed to earn enough for a triple draw.

That would allow him to smoothly advance to Grandmaster Perfection.

...

Not long after, Jiang Huihui pulled up on her electric scooter and parked it at the entrance of Xu Mu's villa.

She got off the scooter and parked it inside the villa grounds. She hadn't changed clothes today and was still wearing her janitor uniform.

Her long hair was loose and flowing as usual, and paired with her sharp, spirited face, she carried a uniquely striking charm.

Jiang Huihui kept her hands in the pockets of her janitor's jacket as she walked toward Xu Mu.

[Affection +10]

"Xu Mu!"

As she spoke, she blew a bubble with her gum.

"Damn, you're really something. You've already reached the later stage of Divine Ability."

Xu Mu grinned, taking in Jiang Huihui's current cultivation level.

"I have your miraculous medicine to thank for that. Without you, there's no way I'd have reached this level."

Jiang Huihui smiled at Xu Mu.

"Don't worry, I've managed to get my hands on some good stuff this time too. I'll make sure your strength takes another leap forward."

Xu Mu winked.

Hearing this, Jiang Huihui felt a strange knot in her chest.

She had never truly provided Xu Mu with any meaningful help, yet he kept giving her such precious pills.

Even their so-called engagement was just a sham.

[Affection +10]

Just then, Xu Ningbing parked her car in the garage and walked over.

"Xiao Mu, I'm guessing this dinner isn't just about eating, is it?"

Xu Ningbing's smiles had become much more frequent around Xu Mu lately. Though they were still slight, they were a world away from the cold, icy woman she used to be.

"The main thing is still the meal. I just want to show off a little in front of all of you."

Xu Mu said to Xu Ningbing.

...

That evening, everyone gathered in the underground illusion formation.

It was Jiang Huihui's first time there. She hadn't expected that Xu Mu's house had a place like this hidden beneath it.

Xu Mu laid out all the prepared ingredients.

"I've mastered the control of heat by now. Today, I'll give you a little demonstration."

Xu Mu looked at the people before him and said.

The only difference today was that Ye Yu and Bai Yi were still at school and hadn't come back, so there were two fewer people.

Still, it was fine overall, especially since Jiang Huihui had joined them.

Ye Tong took the initiative to sit next to Jiang Huihui, holding her arm and fussing over her warmly.

She had her reasons for this.

The others present were already familiar with one another, but Jiang Huihui didn't know them.

Ye Tong felt that as the official wife, she couldn't let Jiang Huihui feel too awkward.

By this point, Xu Mu looked like a street vendor setting up a stall, except there was no gas under the wok—just flames Xu Mu himself produced.

He held the wok and tossed the ingredients around.

Before long, the aroma reached everyone's noses.

"Brother, do you need my help?"

Dai Xinglu quickly walked over to Xu Mu.

"No need, just stay put."

Xu Mu waved Dai Xinglu off.

Jiang Huihui blew another bubble and looked at Dai Xinglu in the distance. "What's her relationship with Xu Mu?"

She remembered that when they'd interacted before, this woman seemed pretty lively and forward.

"Oh, her name is Dai Xinglu. She's in love with my husband."

Ye Tong said with a smile.

Jiang Huihui was stunned by the answer. She looked at Ye Tong incredulously, especially when she saw that Ye Tong was still smiling as she said it.

Lowering her voice, she asked, "She's not threatening you, is she? If she is, blink once."

How could those words and that expression come from the same person? Jiang Huihui genuinely didn't get it.

"No, I think it's great. The fact that you all like my husband just proves how outstanding he is."

Ye Tong took Jiang Huihui's arm. "And speaking of which, you're my husband's fiancée. When are you marrying into the family?"

Jiang Huihui was completely bewildered.

She stared at Ye Tong in shock. This woman was something else.

Xu Ningbing, who was sitting with Meng Wanyue, overheard Ye Tong's words.

She wanted to say something at first but decided against it.

The situation now was that the Xu family had truly become a hidden clan, and Xu Shou seemed to want Xu Mu to marry multiple wives.

Xu Mu himself hadn't made his stance clear, but given the sincerity of the women around him, Xu Ningbing, as an outsider, felt it wasn't her place to comment.

...

"Alright, time to eat!"

Xu Mu called out from a distance. Meng Wanyue immediately got up to set the table.

The others also stood up—some to serve rice, some to bring over the dishes.

Finally, everything was laid out on the table.

Xu Mu gestured for everyone to sit down and pointed at the spread. "Today's dishes are top-notch: steamed grouper, mei cai kou rou, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, sweet and sour pork ribs, vegetable salad, yu xiang shredded pork, and mapo tofu."

Feng Yue fanned the air near her face. "It smells amazing."

Tong Guoguo also swallowed hard. Just the fragrance alone tasted better than deep-fried starch sausages.

"Alright, dig in. Just one bite and you'll see how special this is."

Xu Mu sat between Ye Tong and Xu Ningbing, smiling at the group.

Jiang Huihui picked up her chopsticks first and tried the vegetable salad. The moment she swallowed it, her eyes went wide in disbelief.

[Affection +20]

"This is incredible! But... why is spiritual energy surging inside me?"

"Simple. I used some heavenly treasures and earthly jewels as ingredients when cooking."

Xu Mu said calmly.

"What? You used heavenly treasures to cook?"

Tong Guoguo couldn't hold back any longer. She grabbed a piece of mei cai kou rou.

As soon as she swallowed it, she understood that the dishes truly contained precious spiritual ingredients.

[Affection +20]

She couldn't believe it. Was Xu Mu even human?

Alchemy, formations, incredible talent for cultivation, and now the ability to make food this delicious.

Meng Wanyue and Dai Xinglu also started eating and immediately felt the power steadily growing within them.

"Brother, how are you so amazing?"

Dai Xinglu looked at Xu Mu with pure admiration, then stuffed food into her mouth without restraint.

Her cheeks bulged like a little squirrel's.

[Affection +15]

Feng Yue took a bite and was also stunned. Not only did it boost her strength, but it tasted incredible too.

[Affection +15]

Xu Ningbing tried a dish as well, amazed internally. This brat of a younger brother was too impressive.

[Affection +15]

Then Ye Tong doubled all of these affection points.

"Brother Mu, the rice must have something special in it too, right?"

Meng Wanyue looked down at the white rice in her bowl.

"That's right. Those little white grains are fourth-grade heavenly treasures. They look smaller than regular rice, but they're chewier."

Xu Mu said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Dai Xingluo immediately raised her hand. "Brother, give me another bowl of rice."

"I'll have one too!"

Jiang Huihui chimed in.

Then, the two of them just stared at each other.