Chapter 3: By Roaring

Isn't it just coaxing someone to eat? Isn't it just making sure it's colorful, fragrant, and delicious?

Bao Mianmian rubbed her hands together and walked over to the long table. The ingredients prepared were very abundant, but there weren't many seasonings.

She insisted on turning back to ask one more time, "As long as the Young Master is willing to eat, that's all?"

The chef behind her had lost all patience and let out a roar of "Yes," nearly hitting her with a spatula.

How could the time of a single stick of incense be enough?

Bao Mianmian thought hard. For nothing else, but for the sake of the silver, she absolutely, must succeed.

She ran over to the steamed chicken and said she wanted some chicken soup.

The other party didn't refuse, but the way he looked at her was like he was looking at an idiot.

She asked for another bowl of meat broth and lifted the lid of the large pot.

She poured in two bowls of high-quality broth and boiled it over a high flame, not bothering to manage it much, letting it steam hot.

On the other side, she selected some mushrooms, chopped them all into fine bits, and poured them into the hot soup.

Seeing her walking back and forth, the Head Steward kept a watchful eye and walked over to see exactly what she was doing.

Bao Mianmian used a long-handled wooden spoon to stir continuously.

The broth gradually became thick, turning a milky white color with an enticing aroma.

Bao Mianmian sprinkled in some salt, added some chopped green onions, and drizzled it over a bowl of hot rice.

Mission accomplished!

"That's it?"

The Head Steward's eyes went blank. He had seen simple dishes before, but never one that was this effortless.

"It's done."

"Where's the dish?"

"It's just this."

The Head Steward clutched his head, his jaw aching from tension.

What kind of dish was this!

Bao Mianmian held the bowl with both hands. "Where is the Young Master?"

"You actually intend to deliver it yourself!"

The Head Steward thought about how the Prince's mood had been bad lately; if he were the one to bring it up, he might get slapped out of the room.

So, his finger made a vague gesture toward the door opposite them.

Unexpectedly, Bao Mianmian, with a look of cleverness on her face, understood him instantly.

The person blanching the cabbage was still meticulously plating it; seeing her walk over with a bowl of white rice, their eyes went wide.

Freeing a hand, she pushed open the door. Inside was an elegant small private room.

"Young Master, time to eat."

Bao Mianmian thought she would see a small child.

Instead, she saw an angel.

It was no exaggeration—those eyes were like a painting, that heart-shaped face, that jet-black hair, that fair, tender skin.

Even from across the table, Bao Mianmian could see eyelashes like tiny fans.

She really wanted to reach out and touch them; how wonderful it would be if they grew on her own face.

"Stop!"

Someone nearby barked a warning.

She only then realized that she had only been thinking it, but what was with this hand that had already reached out!

Did she touch him?

She really touched him!

Unfortunately, she missed.

The Young Master's eyes stared straight at her without any reaction.

Bao Mianmian saw the problem.

The other party hadn't dodged at all; the one who had shouted was the Prince, Prince Cheng.

Yuan Wei frowned deeply. The Head Steward always acted with great discretion; how could he let a stranger in?

Fortunately, it was just a young girl, otherwise, what if she scared Yuan Bai?

"Who allowed you in!"

Could this man not speak properly? He didn't use a normal decibel level; he basically just roared.

"I came to deliver food to the Young Master."

Bao Mianmian did not back down. She was here to work seriously; what was there to fear?

Yuan Wei watched helplessly as she acted all familiar, setting down a large bowl of white rice.

It really was a very large bowl.

Chopsticks were placed by Yuan Bai's side, along with two small side dishes, one red and one green. What were those!

"Has the Head Steward tasted it yet!"

"Aren't we letting the Young Master eat?"

"The Head Steward must taste it first!"

"You can't let the Young Master eat saliva every time!"

Bao Mianmian started roaring along too. It was so tiring; talking was truly exhausting.

There were only three people in the room, but anyone outside who didn't know would think they were shouting to each other from across two mountains.

Yuan Wei was so angry he couldn't find words, and he was about to reach out to kick her out.

A miracle occurred.

Yuan Bai lowered his head as if studying the food, then leaned in to sniff the aroma.

Then, he picked up the chopsticks and slowly began to shovel the rice into his mouth.

Silence. Finally, silence.

To Yuan Wei's surprise, not only was Yuan Bai willing to eat, but his chopsticks also poked into the two small side dishes.

He picked up a little and put it in his mouth.

That expression was called: "This dish is really spicy."

A person's first reaction to eating something spicy is to desperately shovel rice into their mouth.

As a result, before Yuan Wei could even react, half of that large bowl of rice was gone.

He was dumbfounded. Never mind that Yuan Bai hadn't been willing to eat lately; even in the past, he had never been this eager.

"Brother, I want water."

Yuan Bai blinked, his eyelashes fluttering like tiny fans.

Yuan Wei first glared at Bao Mianmian. What kind of crooked method was this, actually feeding Yuan Bai chili? He would deal with her later!

He personally poured hot tea.

"The hotter it is, the spicier it gets as you drink," Bao Mianmian muttered softly.

"Brother, I want water."

Yuan Wei hurriedly changed to a cup of cold water.

Yuan Bai practically snatched it, tilting his head back to gulp it down.

"I want more."

Bao Mianmian tactfully continued to refill it; he drank three cups in a row.

Yuan Bai put down the cup and wiped his mouth.

"Brother, I'm full."

Yuan Wei swallowed hard. White rice and cold water—his stomach was certainly full.

But, but, this wasn't supposed to be the process.

"Prince, what I made isn't just white rice."

Bao Mianmian finally had the chance to explain, "If you don't believe me, the Prince can taste it."

Yuan Bai even spoke up for her: "It's not white rice, it has flavor, it's fragrant."

Seeing Yuan Bai offer the chopsticks toward him, Yuan Wei could only take them, lean down, and take a bite.

It really wasn't just white rice; it was drizzled with thick broth, smelling fresh and savory.

He decided to taste the contents of the two side dishes as well.

The red one was chili, and the green one was also chili.

And they were both the spiciest kind.

Seeing his face turn red, Bao Mianmian hurriedly poured water for him too.

"Prince, rinse your mouth, don't let it burn your throat."

In truth, she had also put wasabi—that is, mustard—in the chili.

With one bite, the Prince nearly breathed out three flames from his nose.

By the time he spoke again, his voice was hoarse.

"Who... who allowed you to give the Young Master chili? *Cough, cough*... the manor hasn't even prepared any chili."

"Yes, the kitchen doesn't have any; these are what I brought."

"What are your intentions?"

"To make sure the Young Master can eat. It was agreed upon: whoever can make the Young Master eat can stay as a chef."

In his heart, Yuan Wei had already cursed the Head Steward seventeen or eighteen times.

It was one thing for it to be chili, but if someone had put arsenic in it just to trick Yuan Bai into eating, who could take responsibility?

On the other side of the door, the Head Steward let out more than ten sneezes in a row.

The commotion was so loud that Bao Mianmian almost dropped the teapot.

She lowered her head and thought; the Prince was a petty man, he was definitely cursing the Head Steward in his head.

Yuan Wei, unable to contain his anger, pulled open the door and pointed at her.

"Get out!"

"Prince, we agreed on the rules; you can't just change them whenever you want."

"Get out!"

"Prince, a person must keep their word."

He didn't need a little girl like her to lecture him. Yuan Wei's meager amount of composure was instantly shattered, falling to the ground in pieces.