Chapter 99 – Sleepover
Xiao Qin took a deep breath.
“How unexpected! Even the bad guy can cook food that smells so good!”
“You’re the bad guy here… The person who’s only waiting for their food has no right to call the other a bad guy!”
“Um…Ye Lin classmate, will you despise me if I don’t go and help?”
“Isn’t your body not well? Besides, we still have to finish our homework. Just be the bad guy and wait to taste the class leader’s skills.”
Be that as it may, the class leader’s doing everything by herself. She probably already has it hard enough taking care of her brother at home. I feel pretty bad making her act like our nanny.
Although the kitchen in Xiao Qin’s house was pretty big, if I went in and tried to help, I would probably be meddlesome and eventually get kicked out by the class leader.
Xiao Qin previously bragged about her culinary skills. I wonder if she’s better than the class leader.
“Actually, my body is already fine. Not only can I help the class leader, but I can even immediately have a child with Ye Lin classmate!”
Xiao Qin looked at me with shining eyes showing that she would definitely do what she says.
Who wants to have kids with you! Let’s not mention the fact that you just had your period, so you’re still in your safe period and it’s impossible for you to get pregnant. If I actually made you pregnant, Auntie Ren would kill me!
If your body’s fine, why aren’t you helping the class leader? You might as well put on that rhino apron and show off your hard earned culinary skills!
“I’m not helping the class leader because I want to investigate the enemy…”
“Investigating the enemy?”
“Yeah, a lot of shoujo manga says that in order to capture a man’s heart, you must first capture his stomach! So not only do I have to master my own cooking skills, but I must also investigate the enemy’s cooking skills!”
Xiao Qin’s home was pretty large, there was a space in between the living room and dining room, where there was enough space to put down a square dining table that seated four.
When it was time to eat, Xiao Qin stared at the dishes that was brought over. Her expression was solemn as if she was meeting her enemy.
“It smells delicious…”
Xiao Qin’s chopsticks were paused in midair like she wanted to take, yet not take food at the same time.
“The color looks great…”
“I don’t know how it would taste…”
Xiao Qin’s comical demeanor made the class leader laugh.
“Xiao Qin what are you doing? It’s almost 12, you must be hungry. Hurry and try if you like my cooking!”
The class leader treated Xiao Qin amicably while she coldly commanded me to bring over the rice cooker.
“You eat so much, that should be a simple task for you.”
She never forgets to ridicule my appetite, I only ate a bit more when we ate together last time.
After the class leader’s encouragement, Xiao Qin finally picked up some eggplants from the San Xian Dish.
This time, she learned from experience and didn’t burn herself like the tea incident. She first carefully blew a few time, then carefully placed the eggplant inside her mouth.
She chewed slowly like she was a food connoisseur, then she suddenly froze.
Immediately after, tear drops started to flow.
She held her mouth and rushed into the washroom.
I was surprised and wasn’t sure what happened.
Could it be that the class leader’s dish only looks good in terms of appearance, but it actually tastes super disgusting?
Does Shu Zhe have anorexia because her sister always forces him to eat this nasty food?
I peeked at the class leader, she picked up the eggplants and tasted it while puzzled, then she became even more puzzled.
“Strange? It tastes the same as usual?”
Although the class leader ate it, I didn’t dare taste something that made Xiao Qin cry. It would be a problem if the class leader didn’t have a sense of taste.
I saw that Xiao Qin didn’t close the door to the bathroom, so I went to ask her what’s wrong.
The class leader was checking the taste of each dish and didn’t notice my actions.
As I walked in, Xiao Qin was washing her face to calm her mood.
“What’s wrong? Why did you cry?”
After my question, Xiao Qin couldn’t control herself and tears continued to flow down her face.
“Be-… because, it’s too delicious!”
Xiao Qin said with tears streaming down her face.
“Eh? Why’d you cry if it’s delicious?”
“Why are you asking when you should know the answer! Since the class leader’s cooking is so good, there’s no way I can win in that aspect! So of course I’m gonna cry!”
I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry, but I felt like a heavy burden was lifted.
It’s great that the class leader’s food wasn’t disgusting. Otherwise for someone who eats as much as me,I would have to eat a lot to not appear rude, but then I would be in hell.
I brought the red-eyed Xiao Qin back to the table. I explained to the class leader that she cried because the food brought back memories of her late grandmother.
After a long day, I can finally sit down and enjoy this meal.
I picked a tomato meat and stuffed it into my mouth.
Oh, it’s not bad. A bit sour, a bit sweet, soft meat, juicy, and very appetizing.
Then I picked up some potato.
A crispy outside with a soft inside. When I bit the crispy skin, it kind of tasted like McDonalds fries.
The last one I had to taste was the tomato that made Xiao Qin cry.
It was completely unexpected.
It was clearly a vegetable, yet it had a taste similar to seafood.
Was it because she used oyster sauce?
I don’t understand culinary skills, but I’m assuming it’s a high level technique? I’ve ate Di San Xian at multiple restaurants, but I’ve never had anyone cook tomatoes this good!
Shu Zhe, you’re so lucky! You can’t blame your sister for being that skinny!
When the class leader realized I wasn’t eating the green peppers, she frowned and said:
“You’re so picky, look at how Xiao Qin eats everything.”
As the class leader said, Xiao Qin quickly forgot the pain of losing her grandmother (She’s never even met her grandmother). She displayed her qualities as a glutton and didn’t let a single dish out of her sight.
She finished a whole bowl of rice with a hateful yet happy expression.
“I think I can eat another half a bowl…”
Xiao Qin embarrassingly passed her empty bowl to me, who was the closest to the rice cooker.
I scooped a bit more than half a bowl. She didn’t complain and continued to display her prowess. This could be the meal she ate the most since she recovered.
After the meal, she also drank a lot of date soup and was finally full.
Xiao Qin closed her eyes and let out a satisfied sigh.
The class leader barely ate, Xiao Qin ate quickly, and since I chew thoroughly, I was still eating.
“As expected you can eat a lot.”
The class leader assessed, then she was dragged to the side by Xiao Qin to teach her cooking.
Xiao Qin was pretty sly, was she planning to ‘subdue the enemy by learning from their strengths’?
Before she was pulled to the side, the class leader said to me half-jokingly:
“The last one to finish is responsible for washing the dish!”
I noded and continued piling on rice.
We also had a similar rule at home. If my old man cooked, then I was responsible for washing the dishes; if I cooked, then dad would wash; if we ordered out, then we would decide with rock-paper-scissors.
The class leader and Xiao Qin chatted for a long time. By the time they walked into the kitchen, they saw that I already finished cleaning the last plate.
“You really washed the bowls?”
The class leader had an exasperated expression.
I didn’t understand: “What’s so strange?”
“My brother has never washed the bowls before…”
The class leader walked away while pondering.
Half an hour after noon, the class leader announced that digestion time was almost over, so now she forced us to work hard.
She watched us like a jailer. She didn’t allow us to copy and she even set time limits, it was brutal.
My dream of copying their work was crushed, Xiao Qin also constantly pleaded with the class leader.
The sky turned dark in the blink of an eye. the class loader glanced at her watch, “It’s late, let’s end here for today. Xiao Qin, Ye Lin and I will be leaving now.”
“Class leader, don’t go! I won’t let you go!”
Xiao Qin threw herself and held on to the class leader’s arms.
“I still have a lot of questions I want to ask you! About homework, about cooking… you might as well stay tonight!”
“That won’t be right!” the class leader waved her hands while smiling, “It’ll be troublesome. If you have questions, I can come back tomorrow.”
“It’s not troublesome!” Xiao Qin insisted, “It’s more troublesome if you come and go! Also, my mom is filming a night scene, so she won’t be home tonight. I’ll be lonely and scared living in such a big house alone!”
The class leader didn’t really know the specifics of Auntie Ren’s job, so she slightly blanked out when she heard ‘filming a night scene’.
I frowned and tried to analyze the reason why Xiao Qin wanted the class leader to stay.
Was it to learn from her enemies strength? Or did she think that she’s already lost, so she’s going to kill her?
Since Auntie Ren won’t be home tonight, I have a bad feeling about leaving the class leader alone with Xiao Qin!
As if she read my mind, Xiao Qin turned to me and said loudly:
“The class leader can’t leave! Ye Lin classmate has to stay too!”