Chapter 63: The Strange Substance [2]

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: The Strange Substance [2]

By the time Huo Jingchen finally came downstairs, the Huo family’s patriarch and Madam Huo were already seated at the dining table and had begun eating.

Huo Jingchen had changed out of his formal suit and into something more comfortable. He wore a simple, well-fitted dark shirt with the sleeves neatly rolled to his forearms and a pair of comfortable trousers. His appearance was considerably more relaxed than usual, though there was still an effortless elegance about him that made it difficult for him to look truly casual.

He walked toward the dining area without much thought.

But the moment he reached the table, his footsteps slowed.

His gaze fell on King C.

The goat was sitting proudly on a chair beside the patriarch as though he were a legitimate guest at the table.

Huo Jingchen stared at him for several seconds.

King C stared back.

Neither moved.

Huo Jingchen’s lips twitched faintly.

So you’ve already made yourself comfortable.

He gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head before pulling out the chair beside King C and sitting down.

The patriarch noticed his arrival but didn’t comment, continuing to enjoy his meal.

Huo Jingchen picked up his chopsticks.

He had barely lifted them when he suddenly felt something touch his arm.

He looked to the side.

King C had stretched one of his paws toward Huo Jingchen’s shoulder.

The goat’s eyes were practically glowing with expectation.

Huo Jingchen stared at him.

King C stared back.

The message was painfully obvious.

I’m hungry.

Huo Jingchen raised an eyebrow.

King C tapped his shoulder again.

Very hungry.

Huo Jingchen almost laughed.

"You want something to eat?"

King C immediately nodded.

Huo Jingchen glanced around and noticed a maid standing nearby.

"Bring two carrots."

The maid froze.

"...Carrots?"

"Yes."

She looked at King C, then at Huo Jingchen, as though wondering if she had somehow misunderstood the eldest young master.

Huo Jingchen remained completely serious.

"Two carrots."

"Yes, Young Master."

The maid hurried away.

King C watched her leave, his eyes following her every step.

Huo Jingchen turned toward him.

"Your carrots are coming. Wait patiently."

King C immediately settled down, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

---

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Xi Yunxui was facing an entirely different problem.

She stood before the suspicious dish, her expression thoughtful.

The warning from the system continued to echo in her mind.

Someone had tampered with the food.

And worse, the person had done it carefully enough that the alteration was almost impossible to notice.

Xi Yunxui folded her arms.

What am I supposed to do now?

She glanced toward the kitchen entrance.

The servants had already carried most of the dishes out.

The Huo family’s patriarch was probably eating already.

If the substance was truly harmful, she couldn’t simply allow him to continue eating it.

She mentally called out to the system.

"System, what should I do?"

There was silence.

Xi Yunxui waited.

Nothing.

She frowned.

"System?"

Still nothing.

After several seconds, the system finally responded in its usual indifferent tone.

[The system did not issue the host a mission concerning this meal.]

Xi Yunxui blinked.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

[Therefore, the system has no obligation to assist the host in ensuring that the Huo family’s patriarch enjoys the meal.]

Xi Yunxui’s mouth fell open.

What?

She stared into empty space.

"Wait a minute."

Her voice rose inside her mind.

"Aren’t you the All Works Maid System?"

[Yes.]

"Isn’t your purpose to turn me into the perfect maid?"

[Yes.]

"Then if something goes wrong while I’m doing my job, shouldn’t you help me?"

There was a brief silence.

Xi Yunxui’s expression became increasingly frustrated.

"And what happens if I get fired? If I lose my job, will you still be able to give me missions?"

The system remained silent.

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

"System?"

Still nothing.

"Are you ignoring me?"

A few seconds passed before the system finally responded.

[That is not the system’s concern.]

Xi Yunxui’s eye twitched.

Not your concern?!

She clenched her fists.

"Then what exactly is your concern?"

[Completing assigned missions.]

Xi Yunxui almost choked on her own anger.

This system is unbelievable.

She continued arguing internally, but the system remained completely unmoved.

It simply listened to her entire rant before responding with the same indifferent attitude.

[The host is finished?]

Xi Yunxui’s face darkened.

"No!"

But the system had already gone silent.

She stood there with an expression that made Chef Zhao, who had been observing her from the side, hesitate.

The head chef finally approached her.

"Miss Xi... are you alright?"

Xi Yunxui immediately realized that she had been glaring at nothing for several seconds.

She quickly composed herself.

Then she forced a smile onto her face.

"I’m fine, Chef Zhao."

Chef Zhao looked at her suspiciously.

She looked anything but fine.

Still, he didn’t press her.

Xi Yunxui took a quiet breath and straightened her clothes.

"I’ll go to the dining room."

With that, she turned and walked out of the kitchen.

But as she headed toward the dining area, her expression became serious again.

I don’t care what the system says.

I’m still responsible for the food.

And she had no intention of allowing anyone to be harmed by a dish she had prepared.

---

By the time Xi Yunxui finally stepped out of the kitchen, she had already made up her mind to keep her expression as calm and natural as possible.

Whatever had been added to that particular dish, she could not expose Chef Chen without evidence. More importantly, she could not allow Madam Huo and the others to eat something that the system had specifically warned her about.

She needed to find a way to handle the situation without causing unnecessary panic.

With that thought in mind, Xi Yunxui carefully wiped her hands on a clean cloth and walked toward the dining room.

The moment she entered, the first thing she noticed was that everyone had already taken their seats.

The Huo patriarch sat at the head of the table, his posture relaxed but dignified, while Madam Huo sat nearby.

Huo Jingchen had also changed into more comfortable clothes and was seated at the table.

And, naturally, King C had somehow managed to secure himself an excellent position.

The goat-like creature was sitting proudly on the elevated chair beside Huo Jingchen, his little body positioned as though he were an important guest who had been personally invited to the family banquet.

Xi Yunxui’s lips twitched.

How did he even get that comfortable?

As if sensing her gaze, King C turned his head.

The moment their eyes met, he immediately looked away.

Xi Yunxui narrowed her eyes.

He’s still angry.

She could not help remembering the earlier incident in the garden.

I suppose being chased with such anger left quite an impression on him.

Before she could say anything, a maid approached King C and placed two freshly washed carrots in front of him.

King C’s eyes immediately brightened.

He looked at the carrots.

Then he looked at Huo Jingchen.

Then he looked back at the carrots.

His expression was so obviously pleased that Xi Yunxui almost laughed.

Huo Jingchen, meanwhile, picked up one of the carrots and handed it to him.

"Here."

King C immediately grabbed it between his front hooves and began nibbling happily.

However, after taking two bites, he suddenly looked toward Xi Yunxui.

His expression changed.

It was almost as if he was deliberately showing off.

Look.

I have carrots.

Xi Yunxui stared at him speechlessly.

This creature really holds grudges.

Huo Jingchen noticed the exchange and the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

Before Xi Yunxui could say anything, Madam Huo suddenly looked toward the table.

Her gaze swept over the dishes that had already been brought out.

Then she frowned slightly.

"There should be one more dish."

Xi Yunxui’s heart skipped a beat.

Madam Huo turned toward her.

"Yunxui, what about the soup?"

Xi Yunxui immediately understood which dish she was referring to.

The dish that had triggered the system’s warning.

She had deliberately left it in the kitchen.

Her mind began racing.

What am I supposed to say?

She could not simply tell Madam Huo that someone had secretly added an unknown substance to the food.

Without evidence, that accusation could create an enormous problem.

Just as Xi Yunxui opened her mouth, footsteps came from behind her.

"Madam."

A familiar voice sounded.

Xi Yunxui’s expression stiffened.

She slowly turned around.

Chef Chen was walking toward the dining room.

In his hands was a beautifully decorated porcelain bowl.

Steam curled gently from its surface, carrying a rich and fragrant aroma throughout the room.

Chef Chen wore the same calm expression he had maintained throughout the morning.

Nothing about his appearance suggested that he had done anything wrong.

He approached the table with measured steps and carefully placed the dish in the center.

"Madam, this is the Golden Jade Seafood Soup. It is the final dish."

Madam Huo smiled.

"Thank you, Chef Chen."

Chef Chen bowed slightly.

"It is my duty, Madam."

Xi Yunxui stared at the steaming bowl.

Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

He brought it out himself.

She had been wondering how she could prevent the dish from reaching the table without attracting suspicion.

Now, the person responsible had conveniently brought it out himself.

How troublesome.

Chef Chen straightened and glanced briefly at Xi Yunxui.

It was only for a moment.

So brief that anyone else might not have noticed.

But Xi Yunxui noticed.

His eyes met hers.

There was something hidden in them.

Something that disappeared almost immediately.

Xi Yunxui’s suspicion deepened.

So it really is you...

Yet she still had no proof.

She could not accuse him.

Meanwhile, Madam Huo seemed completely unaware of the tension.

She looked at the dish with satisfaction.

"This looks wonderful and the aroma is quite different from the other dishes."

The Huo patriarch’s gaze landed on the food.

"It is one of the dishes Yunxui prepared," Madam Huo explained with a smile. "She has quite a few interesting recipes."

Xi Yunxui forced a small smile.

Chef Chen’s expression remained unchanged.

He simply stepped back.

The Huo patriarch, who had been silent until then, reached for his chopsticks.

Xi Yunxui’s heart tightened.

Wait.

She had to stop him.

But before she could speak, Madam Huo picked up her spoon.

"Since everyone is here, let’s have a taste."

Xi Yunxui’s eyes widened slightly.

At that exact moment, the system’s earlier warning echoed in her mind.

[Warning: Unknown substance detected.]

Her expression became serious.

She could not let anyone eat it.

But how was she supposed to stop them without exposing everything?

Xi Yunxui’s gaze shifted toward Chef Chen.

The jealous chef stood quietly behind the other servants, watching the table.

Then, for the briefest moment, his eyes met hers again.

This time, Xi Yunxui was certain.

He was waiting.

Waiting to see what would happen after they ate the dish.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes narrowed.

So that’s it.

Whatever Chef Chen had added, he was confident enough to stand there and watch.

Unfortunately for him, he had made one mistake.

He had underestimated her.

Xi Yunxui took a quiet breath.

She needed to act—and she needed to do it before the first spoonful reached anyone’s mouth.