Chapter 64: The Strange Substance [3]

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Strange Substance [3]

Xi Yunxui was just about to speak when something unexpected happened.

King C, who had been happily nibbling on his carrot, suddenly stopped.

His ears twitched.

For a moment, the goat-like creature seemed to sense something that no one else had noticed.

Then, without warning, he leaned toward the Huo patriarch and lightly tapped his arm with one of his hooves.

The Huo patriarch paused.

He slowly turned his head and looked at King C.

King C stared back at him.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

Xi Yunxui blinked in confusion.

What is he doing now?

She was about to call him back when the Huo patriarch’s gaze shifted.

His eyes moved toward the Golden Jade Seafood Soup sitting in the center of the table.

The warmth that had been present in his expression moments earlier seemed to disappear.

He studied the dish carefully.

Then his gaze moved to Xi Yunxui.

Xi Yunxui’s heart tightened.

She had no idea what King C had communicated to the old man, but somehow, the Huo patriarch seemed to understand that something was wrong.

His eyes then shifted again.

This time, they landed on Chef Chen.

Chef Chen, who had been standing quietly behind the servants, immediately felt his heart sink.

The Huo patriarch said nothing.

Instead, he leaned back against his chair and calmly picked up his teacup.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

It was a smile that looked pleasant at first glance.

But there was something strangely unsettling about it.

"Since this is a new dish," he said leisurely, "why don’t we let our chefs sample it first?"

The entire dining room fell silent.

The Huo patriarch’s smile deepened slightly.

"They can taste it and give us their honest assessment of Xi Yunxui’s hard work."

Chef Chen’s expression changed instantly.

His body stiffened.

For a moment, he almost forgot to breathe.

The chefs?

His palms began to sweat.

He had expected the Huo family members to taste the dish first.

He had never imagined that the patriarch would suddenly ask the chefs to sample it.

Beside the table, Xi Yunxui also stared at the Huo patriarch in surprise.

She had been desperately trying to figure out how to prevent anyone from eating the suspicious dish.

She had not expected him to solve the problem himself.

Did he notice something?

She glanced at King C.

The creature was already busy chewing his carrot again, looking completely innocent.

Xi Yunxui’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Could it be him?

She had no idea what King C had done, but somehow, she had a feeling that the creature had played a part in this.

Madam Huo was equally surprised.

She quickly recovered and turned toward Auntie Zhang.

"Auntie Zhang, please call the other two chefs."

"Yes, Madam."

Auntie Zhang immediately left to carry out the instruction.

Chef Chen’s face became increasingly pale.

He tried desperately to maintain his composure.

"Sir", he began cautiously, "there’s really no need to—"

The Huo patriarch calmly raised his eyes.

"Why not?"

The simple question made Chef Chen’s voice die in his throat.

The patriarch smiled.

"Is there a problem with the dish?"

"No."

Chef Chen immediately shook his head.

"Of course not."

"Then there is no need to worry."

The Huo patriarch’s tone remained perfectly calm.

Yet those few words made Chef Chen’s back break out in cold sweat.

Xi Yunxui quietly watched him.

She noticed the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides.

The way he avoided looking at the soup.

The way his eyes kept shifting toward the door as though he were hoping for an escape.

Her suspicion became even stronger.

Interesting.

A few moments later, footsteps could be heard approaching.

The other two chefs entered the dining room together, looking slightly confused about why they had suddenly been summoned.

Auntie Zhang gestured toward the table.

"The patriarch would like both of you to sample the new dish."

The two chefs exchanged a glance.

Then they looked toward Chef Chen.

Chef Chen’s expression was already tense and his uneasiness did not escape Xi Yunxui notice.

She remained silent.

She did not need to say anything.

The truth would reveal itself soon enough.

While everyone was focused on the chefs, Xi Yunxui quietly glanced toward King C.

The creature was still sitting beside the Huo patriarch, nibbling away at his carrot as though the entire situation had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Their eyes met.

Xi Yunxui stared at him.

King C stared back.

Then, as if deliberately refusing to accept her praise, he turned his head away with an exaggeratedly arrogant expression.

Xi Yunxui’s lips twitched.

Really?

You just helped me, and now you’re acting like you did me some enormous favor.

King C lifted his chin proudly.

His expression seemed to say:

Of course I did.

Remember that.

Xi Yunxui almost laughed.

She quickly covered it with a small cough and looked back toward the table.

Meanwhile, the Huo patriarch’s eyes briefly flickered toward King C.

A faint, knowing smile touched his lips.

No one noticed it.

No one except perhaps King C.

The creature’s ears twitched.

For a fleeting moment, the two exchanged another silent look.

Then King C lowered his head and continued eating his carrot.

The dining room gradually returned to silence.

The two chefs stepped forward.

And Chef Chen could only stand there, watching helplessly as the plan he had carefully prepared began slipping completely out of his control.

---

The Huo patriarch’s gaze settled on Chef Chen.

His expression remained calm, almost relaxed, but there was an unmistakable weight behind his eyes.

"Chef Chen," he said, "you will taste the dish first."

The words were simple.

There was no raised voice, no harshness, and no obvious threat in his tone. Yet the patriarch had spent decades sitting at the top of the Huo family, making decisions that others could only obey. That long history of authority had become part of the way he spoke.

Even when he was calm, people instinctively listened.

Chef Chen’s face stiffened.

He immediately bowed slightly.

"Patriarch, that would be inappropriate."

The patriarch raised an eyebrow.

Chef Chen quickly continued, "It would be disrespectful for me to taste the dish before the head chef. Chef Zhao should be the one to sample it first."

He turned toward Chef Zhao as though he had just found the perfect solution.

"After all, he is the head chef."

Chef Zhao’s brows furrowed slightly.

He had not expected to be dragged into the matter.

The Huo patriarch remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he calmly repeated,

"I said you will taste it first."

Chef Chen’s throat tightened.

There was nothing else he could say.

The patriarch had not shouted.

He had not even changed his expression.

Yet somehow, those few words carried more pressure than a command barked across the room.

Chef Chen lowered his head.

"Yes, Patriarch."

He slowly stepped forward.

The servants immediately moved aside, clearing a path for him to reach the dining table.

Every step seemed heavier than the last.

Xi Yunxui watched him carefully.

She noticed the beads of sweat forming along his forehead.

His hands were trembling.

He’s afraid.

That realization made her suspicion even stronger.

Auntie Zhang, who was standing nearby, also noted the patriarch’s instruction.

Madam Huo glanced toward her.

"Auntie Zhang, serve him a little."

"Yes, Madam."

Auntie Zhang stepped forward.

She took a clean small plate and carefully ladled a small amount of the Golden Jade Seafood Soup into it. A spoon was placed beside the soup before she handed the plate to Chef Chen.

"Chef Chen."

Chef Chen stared at the plate.

For a moment, he did not move.

Then he slowly reached out and accepted it.

"Thank you."

His voice was noticeably strained.

He picked up the spoon.

His fingers trembled so badly that the surface of the soup rippled inside the plate.

The dining room became completely silent.

Everyone’s attention was now focused on him.

Chef Chen swallowed hard.

He lifted the spoon.

Closer.

Closer.

The spoon was only a few inches away from his mouth when—

Clatter!

The plate suddenly slipped from his hands.

It struck the floor and shattered.

The soup splashed across the polished tiles.

Chef Chen immediately stepped backward.

"Oh!"

He looked down at the broken pieces with exaggerated shock.

"I... I’m terribly sorry!"

He hurriedly crouched down as though he wanted to pick up the broken pieces, but his movements were awkward and nervous.

"I don’t know what happened. My hands suddenly..."

He stopped and lowered his head.

"I’m truly sorry for breaking the plate."

Nobody spoke.

Chef Chen swallowed.

Then, as though he had suddenly thought of another solution, he quickly added,

"Perhaps... perhaps Chef Zhao and the other chef should taste the dish first. They are more experienced than I am. It would be better for them to..."

His voice trailed off.

The Huo patriarch stared at him.

The old man’s expression had changed.

The warmth that had been present earlier was gone.

His eyes were cold and frighteningly still.

He looked at the shattered plate on the floor.

Then at the soup splattered across the tiles.

Then slowly back at Chef Chen.

For several seconds, he said nothing.

That silence alone made Chef Chen’s breathing become more hurried.

Finally, the patriarch turned his head toward Chef Zhao.

"Chef Zhao."

Chef Zhao immediately straightened.

"Yes, Patriarch."

"Deal with this."

Chef Zhao’s expression changed.

He understood immediately.

The patriarch wasn’t talking about the broken plate.

He wasn’t talking about Chef Chen’s clumsiness.

He was talking about the dish.

Chef Zhao’s gaze slowly shifted toward the Golden Jade Seafood Soup.

Then toward Chef Chen.

His eyes narrowed.

He had worked in the Huo household for years. He knew exactly how seriously the patriarch treated food safety, especially when it concerned the family.

And now Chef Chen was sweating, trembling, refusing to taste the dish, and had deliberately dropped the sample before it reached his mouth.

There could only be one reasonable explanation.

Chef Chen had tampered with it.

Chef Zhao’s expression became stern.

"Understood, Patriarch."

Chef Chen’s face drained of color.

"Patriarch, I—"

"Enough."

The patriarch’s voice remained quiet.

Chef Chen immediately fell silent.

Xi Yunxui stood quietly at the side, watching everything unfold.

She had suspected Chef Chen from the beginning.

But now, the patriarch had confirmed her suspicion without even needing her to say a word.

King C, meanwhile, continued nibbling his carrot as though the entire matter had nothing to do with him.

Only his bright eyes betrayed the fact that he was watching everything.

Xi Yunxui glanced at him.

The troublesome goat seemed completely satisfied with himself.

As if he were silently saying—

See? I told you I was useful.