C114 – To be Honest
After Jiang’s mother finished introducing Jiang Hao, she turned to introduce the strikingly wild beauty sitting next to Xia Qin.
At that mont, the woman looked at Jiang Hao, her eyes wide with astonishnt, before she introduced herself.
“I’m Xue Zixi, the so-called unimpressive heiress of the Heavenly-Mansion Tavern you ntioned!”
As Xue Zixi introduced herself, she courteously offered her delicate hand to Jiang Hao.
Her words imdiately cast an awkward pall over the group.
Xia Qin shot Xue Zixi a covert glare and gave her a nudge.
Unperturbed, Xue Zixi remained still, while Jiang’s mother, visibly uncomfortable, quickly spoke up to break the silence, addressing Jiang Hao.
“Hao Hao, be sure to thank Miss Xue. She was a big help to us yesterday!”
Though Jiang’s mother didn’t elaborate, her shift in address made her displeasure with Xue Zixi quite apparent.
Jiang Hao, however, rely glanced at the slender hand Xue Zixi extended before turning away, carrying Xin Er, and leaving without another word.
His voice floated back to them, light and dismissive.
“I was simply stating the facts!”
“And as for thanks? There’s no need, as I didn’t require her assistance!”
With that, Jiang Hao disappeared into the bedroom.
Jiang’s mother was left in an awkward silence.
“This child!”
“Miss Xue, please don’t take it to heart. Hao Hao can be a bit childish at tis!”
Xue Zixi shook her head, seemingly unfazed, her gaze following Jiang Hao into the bedroom, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
Jiang Hao’s snub had piqued her interest; she had always been surrounded by adulation and had never been subjected to such indifference.
Xia Qin, standing nearby, hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“Zixi, pay it no mind. Mr. Jiang is always like this!”
Xue Zixi nodded, and the group settled down.
Jiang Hao shed his coat, settled Xin Er next to Xia Qin, and headed for the kitchen.
With three extra mouths to feed today, he’d have to whip up sothing extra.
But what to make?
“Knock ~ Knock ~ Knock ~!”
As he pondered his options, a rhythmic knocking interrupted his thoughts.
Jiang Hao turned to find Xue Zixi casually leaning against the doorway, watching him with evident curiosity.
He shot her a quick glance and then dismissed her from his mind, turning his attention to prepping the ingredients.
Once everything was in place, the oil in the wok reached the perfect temperature. Jiang Hao thodically added the prepared ingredients, one by one, into the sizzling pot.
He then expertly combined the various components in precise proportions.
With a spoon in one hand and the wok in the other, his movents were the epito of coordinated grace.
At the doorway, Xue Zixi’s surprise grew with each passing mont.
To her, Jiang Hao’s fluid motions were not just skillful, but a pure delight to behold.
Soon, the air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of cooking vegetables.
The scent was so enticing that even Xue Zixi, accustod to the gourt offerings of the Heavenly-Mansion Tavern, found herself irresistibly drawn to inhale the delicious fragrance more deeply.
Before long, a dish was ready and out of the wok.
Compelled by the aroma, Xue Zixi stepped inside.
She gazed at the dish on the table: glossy cabbage and translucent strips of at shimring with oil, the enticing aroma wafting above.
It was a feast for the senses – visually stunning and fragrantly inviting.
Xue Zixi glanced at Jiang Hao, then back at the dish that seed more like a piece of art, feeling a wave of astonishnt.
Through her discerning eyes, the presentation of Jiang Hao’s dish was on par with that of a master chef.
And the aroma that perated the room spoke volus on its own!
Even without tasting it, Xue Zixi was convinced that Jiang Hao’s culinary creation could rival the expertise of the top chefs at the Heavenly-Mansion Tavern.
Indeed, it seed only a Grandmaster, long retired from the scene, could possibly outshine Jiang Hao’s prowess.
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