181: Chapter 181 This knife skill is clearly that of a novice.

Chen Yu explained while demonstrating, "Pick the soft tomatoes; they release juice more easily. Beat the eggs, add some salt... Yes, just like that. Lift them with the chopsticks; it's fine as long as there's no obvious egg white."

Xiao Wenhan held the chopsticks like an apprentice gripping a sword. His movements were stiff and cautious, as if beating the egg liquid was some kind of precision experiment.

"The oil is hot. It's ready when you can feel the heat by putting your hand over it. Yes, right now, pour in the eggs," Chen Yu directed from the side.

*Sizzle—*

The egg liquid hit the pan, making a pleasant sizzling sound.

Xiao Wenhan jumped back in fright, nearly throwing the spatula.

Chen Yu suppressed a laugh. "It's not going to bite you. Quick, use the spatula to break it up!"

Xiao Wenhan operated in a flurry, a thin layer of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

After some effort, a plate of tomato and scrambled eggs with a barely passing appearance was finally ready.

He watched nervously as Chen Yu took a bite.

"Mmm..." Chen Yu chewed a few times and nodded.

"The seasoning is just right, and the eggs are quite tender. Not bad, Wenhan. It seems your talent isn't negative."

Xiao Wenhan's eyes lit up instantly. He couldn't wait to take a bite himself, then let out a long sigh of relief, the corners of his mouth curling up uncontrollably.

"How about a vegetable dish next?" Chen Yu encouraged.

"Okay!"

The kitchen gradually filled with the warmth of home cooking—the clatter of spatulas, the popping of oil, and Xiao Wenhan's occasional nervous questions.

Chen Yu watched with his arms crossed, occasionally stepping in to correct his knife grip or remind him of the heat.

Outside the window, sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a warm halo over the two busy figures.

When Su Lingyin returned with Xixi after their walk, she saw two dishes and a soup laid out on the dining table: tomato and scrambled eggs, garlic broccoli, and a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup.

The presentation was simple, but it was steaming hot.

"It's ready so soon? I'll go get Xiaxia."

It just so happened that Xia Ningle had woken up and was washing up.

"Xiaxia, hurry downstairs. There's a surprise waiting for you."

Xia Ningle was puzzled, her speech muffled by the toothpaste foam in her mouth. "Wha' surpri'?"

"You'll know when you see it. Plus, Xixi is waiting for you downstairs."

Xia Ningle thought the surprise was Xixi being back, but it seemed not.

She scratched her head; her curiosity was truly piqued.

*Thump, thump, thump.*

Su Lingyin walked down with the youthful and beautiful Xia Ningle, who had her hair in a bun.

Xiao Wenhan was so nervous he was picking at his hands.

Chen Yu leaned against the kitchen doorframe, smiling without a word.

When Xia Ningle saw the food on the table and Xiao Wenhan wearing an apron, she was a bit at a loss.

"You made this?!" Xia Ningle cried out in surprise.

Xiao Wenhan gave a light cough, looking a bit embarrassed. "I... tried to make it."

"Hurry and try some."

Xia Ningle's eyes widened in surprise. She immediately picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of the broccoli, and savored it. "Mmm! It's delicious! Really good! Xiao Wenhan, you're a dark horse!"

Xixi circled around her feet anxiously, wanting to share in the joy.

Xiao Wenhan looked at Xia Ningle's genuinely praising smile and then glanced at Chen Yu, who was giving him a thumbs-up.

The tips of his ears turned slightly red, and the bit of awkwardness and embarrassment in his heart was completely replaced by a warm sense of achievement.

He seemed to have gotten the hang of it a little.

Not just the knack for cooking.

Life was like coffee with sugar—bittersweet, yet full of rich aroma.

The kitchen became his new battlefield, transitioning from the initial chaos to gradually looking the part.

...

At noon, Xiao Wenhan appeared in the kitchen on time again, wearing that blue apron. He stared intently at the potato on the cutting board, his knife trying carefully and clumsily to cut the potato into strips of even thickness.

Chen Yu watched from the side with his arms crossed and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Wenhan, those aren't potato strips you're cutting; they're potato sticks, and irregular ones at that."

Sweat beaded on Xiao Wenhan's forehead. At the comment, his hand shook, and the tip of the knife nearly grazed his finger.

"Concentrate!" Chen Yu stepped forward, lightly holding his wrist to adjust his grip on the knife.

"Use the strength in your wrist. Curl your fingers and press them against the blade so you don't cut yourself. The cut should be quick; don't hesitate."

Xiao Wenhan's body stiffened for a moment before he relaxed and adjusted as instructed. Sure enough, the potato slices became a bit thinner.

" Take your time， No rush." Chen Yu stepped back， The tone was encouraging.

Just then, Xia Ningle shuffled over from the living room in her slippers, holding a bag of potato chips. She leaned against the doorframe, crunching away. "Chef Xiao, what special skill are you going to perform for us?"

"Do you want some? They're quite good." Xia Ningle held a potato chip up to Xiao Wenhan's mouth.

Xixi at her feet immediately gave two "woofs" and wagged her tail, expressing her unhappiness.

Xixi: *I haven't had any yet!*

Xiao Wenhan smiled a bit sheepishly. "Today I'm learning hot and sour potato strips and... boiled pork slices."

"Wow! A major dish!" Su Lingyin's eyes lit up as she leaned in to take a look.

"If you need a taste tester, just say the word. I, Xia Ningle, am duty-bound!"

Without anyone noticing, Xiao Nuomi had silently jumped onto the kitchen counter and sat in the corner, the tip of its tail elegantly curled around its front paws.

It looked down at Xiao Wenhan and that pile of oddly shaped potato "sticks," its gaze seeming to say: *Stupid two-legged beast, tinkering with things that can't be eaten again.*

Chen Yu reached out to pick it up. "Xiao Nuomi, this isn't your observation deck. We don't want to eat your fur."

Xiao Nuomi gave a dissatisfied "meow," broke free from Chen Yu's embrace, and jumped down elegantly.

It walked to its food bowl and began to eat its cat food slowly and methodically, using practical action to show its disdain for the human kitchen.

The kitchen became busy once again.

The pungent smell of garlic and dried chili being sautéed in the oil pan filled the air. Xiao Wenhan turned his head and coughed twice from the pungency, but his movements didn't stop. Following Chen Yu's directions, he slid the meat slices into the boiling red oil broth.

Lured by the scent, Xixi couldn't sit still. She paced back and forth by Xiao Wenhan's legs, sniffing hard and occasionally touching his pant leg with her wet nose, letting out urgent whimpers.

"It's not ready yet, you little glutton." Xiao Wenhan looked down, his tone carrying a tenderness he hadn't even noticed himself.

He picked up a small piece of cooked meat he had set aside earlier without seasoning, blew on it, and squatted down to offer it to Xixi.

Xixi swallowed it in one gulp without hesitation, her tail wagging even more joyfully. She even rubbed her head against Xiao Wenhan's knee.

"Tsk, you're loyal to whoever feeds you," Chen Yu teased.

Xia Ningle watched this scene and laughed while biting a potato chip. "It looks like you're not far from completely winning her over."

She also hoped that the relationship between Xixi and Xiao Wenhan would improve.

The food is on the table!

The boiled pork slices looked enticing in red oil. Although the potato strips were of uneven thickness, they also looked quite flavorful.

Xiao Wenhan served the rice and looked at the others with expectant eyes.

Chen Yu said, "Why don't you guys guess which dish was made by our Wenhan?"

"That's easy. It must be this potato dish. This knife work is clearly a novice's; it could never be Chef Chen."