Chapter 41: Waiting

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Waiting

Xi Yunxui stood in the middle of the kitchen with her sleeves neatly rolled up and her apron tied firmly around her waist.

The kitchen was spacious and well equipped, but she had already decided that she wouldn’t rely entirely on modern appliances for this meal.

Madam Huo’s friends were experienced eaters.

If she wanted to impress them, the dishes couldn’t simply be delicious.

They needed to have a certain balance.

A little elegance.

A little familiarity.

And most importantly, they needed to feel as though someone had put genuine thought into preparing them.

Xi Yunxui began opening the refrigerator and cabinets one after another.

She brought out the ingredients she intended to use and arranged everything carefully across the counter.

Fresh fish.

Chicken.

Eggs.

Leafy vegetables.

Carrots.

Mushrooms.

Green onions.

Ginger.

Garlic.

Several varieties of seasoning.

Fresh herbs.

She moved between the counters, checking each item against the menu she had already constructed in her mind.

One dish would be light and delicate.

Another would be slightly richer.

There would be soup.

There would be a vegetable dish.

And there would be a main course that would serve as the centerpiece of the meal.

Xi Yunxui examined the ingredients again.

Then she frowned.

"Wait."

She checked the refrigerator a second time.

Nothing.

She checked the cabinets.

Still nothing.

She opened another storage compartment.

Nothing.

Xi Yunxui placed both hands on the counter.

"That’s not good."

Two important ingredients were missing.

The first was dried shiitake mushrooms, which she intended to use in the soup.

The second was premium dried scallops, known as conpoy, which would give the broth the deep, savory flavor she wanted.

Neither was exactly impossible to find.

But they weren’t the sort of ingredients one could simply pick up from the nearest grocery shelf.

They were specialized ingredients, especially when she wanted high-quality ones.

Xi Yunxui frowned.

"Can I substitute them?"

She began thinking.

Fresh mushrooms?

No.

The flavor would be completely different.

Another type of dried seafood?

Possible, but it wouldn’t produce the same depth.

She considered several alternatives.

None were suitable.

She clicked her tongue softly.

"This is troublesome."

She walked around the counter once.

Then twice.

Nothing came to mind that would preserve the flavor she wanted.

Finally, she looked upward.

"System."

[Yes, Host?]

"Do you sell food ingredients?"

Silence.

Xi Yunxui waited.

Nothing.

She raised an eyebrow.

"System?"

Still nothing.

She folded her arms.

For some reason, she immediately suspected that the system was preparing another sarcastic response.

Perhaps it will say something like, ’The Host has finally remembered that the System Store exists.’

She was almost prepared to argue.

Instead—

[Yes.]

Xi Yunxui froze.

"...What?"

[The system sells food ingredients.]

She stared into empty space.

"You’re serious?"

[Yes.]

Xi Yunxui’s eyes brightened.

"Then give me the ingredients."

A pause.

[The food section of the System Store is currently locked.]

Her expression fell.

"Of course."

She sighed.

"What do I need to unlock it?"

[Host currently possesses 5 Affection Points.]

[Minimum requirement to unlock the Food Ingredient Section: 15 Affection Points.]

Xi Yunxui stared.

"Fifteen?"

[Correct.]

"That means I need ten more."

[Correct.]

Xi Yunxui slowly put a hand over her forehead.

Ten more.

She had only five.

And Affection Points were not something she could simply earn by working harder.

They depended on people’s positive feelings toward her.

Even when she helped someone, the points varied depending on how strong and lasting those feelings were.

She let out a long sigh.

At this rate, gathering ten more points before noon is impossible.

She looked at the clock.

She didn’t even know exactly what time the gathering would begin.

She might have hours.

Or she might have only a short while.

Either way, she couldn’t sit around waiting for affection points to magically appear.

She was still trying to think of another solution when a familiar voice drifted in from outside the kitchen.

"...Yes, that’s what I’m worried about."

Xi Yunxui immediately straightened.

That was Madam Huo.

She could hear Su Meilan speaking with someone.

Xi Yunxui quickly stepped out of the kitchen.

She followed the sound of their voices toward the living room.

When she arrived, Su Meilan immediately noticed her.

"Yunxui."

Xi Yunxui stopped.

"Madam."

Su Meilan looked slightly relieved.

"I was actually looking for you."

Xi Yunxui smiled.

"Is there something you need?"

"Yes."

Su Meilan suddenly laughed at herself.

"I just realized that I never told you what time the gathering is."

Xi Yunxui blinked.

I was wondering the same thing.

Su Meilan continued.

"The gathering will begin at twelve noon."

Xi Yunxui’s expression changed.

"Twelve?"

"Yes."

Xi Yunxui immediately looked toward the large wall clock.

The hands showed—

8:13 a.m.

Her eyes widened.

Only three hours and forty-seven minutes.

That wasn’t a lot of time.

She had plenty of work to do.

She needed to prepare the ingredients.

Prepare the dishes.

Cook everything.

Arrange the table.

And somehow make sure the food remained fresh and hot until the guests arrived.

She quickly turned back to Su Meilan.

"Madam."

"Yes?"

"Is there somewhere I can get two ingredients?"

Su Meilan raised an eyebrow.

"Which ingredients?"

Xi Yunxui quickly explained.

"High-quality dried shiitake mushrooms and dried scallops."

Su Meilan thought for a moment.

Then she turned toward a maid standing nearby.

The woman was dressed differently from the ordinary household servants.

Her uniform was more refined, and the way she stood suggested that she held a higher position among the household staff.

"Lianhua."

The maid immediately stepped forward.

"Yes, Madam?"

"Can you get these ingredients?"

Lianhua listened carefully.

She thought for several seconds.

"The market should have them."

"Can you check?"

"Yes, Madam."

She nodded.

"I’ll go immediately."

"Make sure they’re fresh and of good quality."

"I understand."

Lianhua left without another word.

Xi Yunxui quietly watched her go.

Once the maid disappeared down the corridor, Su Meilan turned toward Xi Yunxui.

"Will you be alright until she returns?"

"Yes, Madam."

Xi Yunxui bowed slightly.

"Thank you."

She returned to the kitchen.

The moment she stepped inside, however—

She stopped.

King C was sitting proudly beside the counter.

And in his mouth...

Was another carrot.

Xi Yunxui stared.

King C stared back.

Crunch.

The sound echoed through the kitchen.

Xi Yunxui slowly narrowed her eyes.

"Where did you get that?"

King C continued chewing.

[I found it.]

Xi Yunxui walked over.

"You already ate one."

[Yes.]

"And now you’re eating another."

[Yes.]

She reached out and took the carrot from his mouth.

King C immediately protested.

[Hey!]

Xi Yunxui held the carrot up.

"Next time, ask for permission."

King C’s golden eyes widened.

[Why?]

"Because this isn’t your kitchen."

[But I was hungry.]

"You’re always hungry."

[That is because I am growing.]

Xi Yunxui stared at the tiny creature.

"You’re already the size of a small goat."

[I am not a goat.]

She sighed.

"If I don’t teach you some manners, you’ll get me fired sooner or later."

King C’s ears drooped.

Xi Yunxui continued.

"And if I get fired, I’ll have no salary."

King C looked at her.

She folded her arms.

"And if I have no salary, I can’t buy food."

King C’s expression became solemn.

Xi Yunxui nodded.

"And if I can’t buy food..."

She pointed at him.

"...you’ll be hungry too."

King C’s little ears twitched.

He thought about it seriously.

Then he nodded.

[That is a serious problem.]

Xi Yunxui almost laughed.

"It is."

She handed him the carrot again.

"But this is the last one without permission."

King C immediately began nibbling.

[Understood.]

Xi Yunxui shook her head.

This creature is going to bankrupt me.

She turned back toward the counter.

The clock was still ticking.

Eight fifteen.

She didn’t have time to waste.

Xi Yunxui began preparing the ingredients that were already available.

She washed the vegetables.

She cleaned the fish.

She sliced ginger.

She prepared the chicken.

She measured seasonings.

She began making the base for the soup.

Her movements became increasingly fast as she settled into the rhythm of cooking.

Every few minutes, her eyes drifted toward the kitchen entrance.

Where is Lianhua?

The two missing ingredients were essential.

Without them, she could adjust the recipe, but she wouldn’t be completely satisfied.

She didn’t want to disappoint Madam Huo.

She especially didn’t want to fail a mission worth fifteen percent system progress.

So she kept working.

Waiting.

Preparing.

And hoping that the senior maid would return before it was too late.