Mama's Princess is Daddy's Beloved

"Li Xue, do you think this is going good?" Mia asked worriedly as she looked at Li Xue melting the chocolates steadily through the double boiling process. Her hands were working all at her professional limits, stirring the melted chocolate liquid so that it does not form any lumps in it.

"Why? Does this not look good?" Li Xue said as she looked around to search for something.

Mia looked at her and asked, "What? Do you need anything? Tell me, I will bring them here. That's the only help I could offer you, Li Xue. I am not a capable teammate to offer you any big help". She said, getting all disappointed in herself.

Li Xue pursed her lips at those words. She could already feel her guilt and disappointment from hours before but didn't think that cajoling her would be any good idea at the time. But now seeing her all so upset, she was sure that now this little girl needs a pat of love and affection on her head.

"Mia, you are already quite a big help here. Your presence itself is soothing my nervous nerves, making me think that I have your back. That, even if I am not confident in myself, I have your confidence. Don't you think this is any less helpful to me? Without you, I don't think that I would have been able to stand here.

The young girl felt a little relieved in her heart when heard her words. But she also knew the things better. So pouting her lips a little out she said, "I am not that young you take me as. I can understand things too. I know that you love to be modest but that doesn't mean that I am not guilty one here. If it had not been my provocation, then you would not have stepped in there and Chef Ning would not have blamed things on you when it was actually her fault."

Li Xue sighed, "Dear, I did not lie. You were not wrong earlier. I am not a person who will lose my strength and determination in front of anyone's provocation. Earlier you had a point so I supported it and went out to check. And even now being trapped in this complex situation I don't think it's bad."

"Li Xue, I …"

"Mia, you were right before. Sweet Delicacy has us under its roof, so it's our responsibility to care for its reputation and name too. So my stepping in the middle of the situation was not wrong. Either I or Chef Ning has to resolve this before it could have become a greater mess. Furthermore, here come let me share a secret with my good – goodie, not – so – young pretty girl"

She explained and then at the end, gestured to her to come near so that she could share a secret with her ear. The smile her lips held at that moment was exactly the same that mother's hold while luring a child into believing her words.

Mia too getting lured went straight to hear her secret. Her eyes held a childish curiosity.

"Don't you think this can also be a golden opportunity for me. And could make the aura of my rank higher than Chef Ning. If that happens you can always have an upper hand on He Ling and He Lian".

It was the same as asking a puppy to have milk first so that it can have a juicy bone in the night!

And that trick exactly worked as Mia's eyes instantly shone like stars. "Yes, Li Xue! How can I forget the rose in the middle of thorns? Though I still have an upper hand because of your love and support, it will be more good for them to know that my Head Chef is a thousand times better than theirs". She chimed in delight.

And right at this moment, a cold voice interrupted them, making Mia's spine go all stiff. "Chef Li, will my presence disturb your talks here?" Ning Meiling asked, leaning a little over the door frame.

"Oh Chef Ning, you are here! I thought you were pretty busy pushing the blame on my shoulder that you won't find any time to come and check how things are going. Seems like I was wrong. Please come in!" Li Xue said, maintaining her nonchalance with a smile of modesty.

She would not have cared to say so much to Ning Meiling but seeing Mia so scared for the sudden appearance, she has to deviate the things to the other talks. And unfortunately, with Ning Meiling, Li Xue never shared any other topics to talk about.

"Mia, go, help me check the frozen ingredients, I have kept in the refrigerator. Let me know if they are fine or should I have to work on them all over again?" Li Xue said, sending Mia off the scene.

And the young girl could no less be grateful for her thoughtfulness. Moving her lips all slowly, she whispered lightly so that it would only be Li Xue hearing her, "Li Xue, you are that Angelic supervisor of which every staff and intern could ever dream of. In short, I can say, you are the best of the best!"

If not for someone's presence then might be Li Xue would have thought of laughing out loud but since there was already a third person present around, she could only blink her eyes once and nod her head in understanding.

After Mia walked off the workstation space, Chef Ning came to look. "How are the things going Chef Li?" her voice held some worry but both women knew the pretence the best.

Ning Meiling eyes scanned all around trying to read every preparation and things around. Suddenly a rush of shine passed in her eyes as she said, "Ahh! Chef Li, what are you baking now? This does not look like the one which has been asked for. Are you sure you are making the right thing?"

Li Xue's movements halted in an instant. Her eyes snapped to look at the woman as she asked, "Chef Ning, have you known this dish from before? How do you know that what I am cooking does not look like the one made in the past?"

The glitter in Ning Meiling's eyes instantly froze, as her lips wavered not knowing the words of her defence.