In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar

However, seeing how serious these scholars were, Wang Yan had an idea: perhaps he could release another batch of Scopia texts.

'Well, let's distribute some books on aesthetics and optics; it'll be a positive feedback for these scholars who have learned the language of Scopy.'

Just like Wang Yan's initial translation work, when these Scots texts appeared on the market, scholars interested in aesthetics and optics who did not know Scots could only hire scholars who had learned Scots to translate them.

...

Responding to the scholars' greetings along the way, Wang Yan finally arrived at the door of Eros's house.

Although she had the key, Wang Yan didn't open the door directly because she knew her mentor was at home.

He stepped forward, raised his hand, and knocked on the door.

Tuk-tuk-tuk~

"They're here! They're here!"

Erosine's voice came from inside the door, tinged with urgency, accompanied by the clanging of spatulas.

Soon, the sound of footsteps grew louder as they approached.

The gate was opened.

Erosham stood at the doorway, still wearing an apron, her hands wet, clearly cooking.

Upon seeing that it was Wang Yan, her eyes instantly lit up, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.

"Wang Yan! You've arrived!"

Her tone was filled with undisguised joy.

However, this happiness lasted for less than a second.

Eros quickly recovered, coughed lightly, and tried to regain her usual composure: "Well, it's good that you're here. I thought you were going to be late."

"How could I be late? I wouldn't dare to be late for my mentor's orders," Wang Yan said with a smile.

"You're such a chatterbox." Eros rolled her eyes at him, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips. "Come on in, don't stand at the door."

She stepped aside to let Wang Yan into the house.

"Please sit in the living room for a while, the food will be ready soon." Eros said as she walked towards the kitchen. "I learned a new dish today, so I'll make it for you to try."

“Okay, I’m looking forward to it.” Wang Yan changed his shoes and sat down on the sofa in the living room.

It used to be that Wang Yan cooked and Falushan waited to eat, but now it's the other way around.

Looking towards the kitchen, Wang Yan saw that his mentor was still busy. He had no intention of getting up to help. He knew very well that Eros had emphasized twice that she had learned a new dish because she wanted to show off her culinary skills. If he went over to help, it would only hinder her from doing so.

Wang Yan, who was sitting and feeling a bit bored, was about to take out a book to read when he suddenly felt someone watching him from behind.

Wang Yan turned his head to look at the source of the gaze.

Tamimi hovered quietly in the corner of the living room, surrounded by three submachine guns, while the optical sensing array stared at him intently.

"Tamimi?" Wang Yan was a little surprised. "You're here too."

At Eros's house, Wang Yan naturally wouldn't use his extraordinary senses, and since she was floating in the corner, he really didn't see her just now.

"Hmm." Tamimi's voice came from the main body, "Erosan said that someone important is coming today, and that I should stay in the living room."

"An important guest?" Wang Yan smiled. "Are you talking about me?"

“It’s an important person.” Tamimi nodded, and the optical perception array flickered a few times. “According to Erosan’s description, it’s you.”

“…Ha, then that must be me.” Wang Yan’s lips curled up slightly, a hint of pleasure in his expression. “Then why aren’t you saying anything? Why are you just staring at me?”

“I’m observing,” Tamimi answered truthfully. “Elfusan told me not to bother you, so I’m just watching.”

"Observe me?" Wang Yan raised an eyebrow. "Observe what?"

Tamimi paused for a few seconds, seemingly organizing her thoughts.

Then, it slowly spoke, "Thank you, Wang Yan."

"Thank me for what?"

“Thank you for restoring my will.” Tamimi’s voice was mechanical, yet carried a solemn meaning. “Without you and Erossan, I might never have woken up.”

Wang Yan waved his hand: "No need to thank me. It's mainly thanks to Bennu and Sesfinhe. Um, Serene also contributed. I just helped out a little."

“No.” Tamimi shook her head, leaning forward slightly. “Erosan told me that if I hadn’t met you, I might never have woken up.”

It was through the connection between Falusan and Wang Yan that Wang Yan was able to bring back Serene, and that Bennu and Shesfenhe were able to help.

Wang Yan can be credited to them, but the origin of everything is that Erosan met Wang Yan, or rather... Wang Yan chose Erosan.

Tamimi paused for a moment, then added, "And I also want to thank you for taking care of Valusa while I was away."

Wang Yan paused for a moment, then laughed: "You're wrong about that. I'm Erosan's disciple. It's always been my mentor who's taken care of me, not me taking care of my mentor. Besides, I've only known my mentor for less than a year."

“That’s not the case. Time is great, but it doesn’t represent everything,” Tamimi retorted earnestly, her optical perception array fixed on Wang Yan. “Besides, I’ve observed it.”

"Observe what?"

“Elaussan’s changes,” Tamimi said, word by word. “When you’re not around, Elaussan is very carefree. She eats whatever she wants, wears whatever she wants, and doesn’t tidy her room much. She does nothing but research every day and doesn’t care about her own life at all. She cares more about those children than about herself.”

"But today is different."

"Before you came today, Erosanne dressed herself up carefully, changed into new clothes, went to the market to buy groceries, and cooked a whole table of dishes herself."

"Logically speaking, you are the variable that makes Estelle better."

Wang Yan: "..."

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't refute it.

Tamimi's logic seems to make a lot of sense.

Also, teacher, didn't you say that you cook because the food will spoil if left out? Why did you buy it fresh?

"And, Falushan, she..."

Tamimi wanted to continue.

However, it hadn't finished speaking.

"boom!"

The kitchen door was suddenly pushed open.

Eros rushed out, her face flushed, whether from the heat of the kitchen or from anger, it was hard to tell.

Without saying a word, she raised her hand and punched Tamimi's mechanical structure.

"Shut up!"

Eros glared fiercely at Tamimi, "Who told you to say those things!"

Tamimi took a punch, her main body swayed, and the three submachine guns also shook a few times.

It seemed confused: "But I'm stating the facts..."

“Facts don’t work either!” Erosham stood with her hands on her hips, her face even redder. “I told you to stay quietly in the living room, who told you to talk nonsense! What do you know about variables and non-variables? You’re just a mechanical life form, what do you know!”

Tamimi was even more confused: "But logical analysis shows..."

“Logical analysis won’t work either!” Erosham interrupted it. “Anyway, shut up and don’t say another word!”

“…Oh.” Tamimi obediently shut her mouth, and the three submachine guns shrank back to the main body, looking like she was saying ‘I was wrong.’

After reprimanding Tamimi, Falusan turned her head fiercely to look at Wang Yan.

Wang Yan: "..."

He wisely turned his head immediately to look at Patishalan outside the window, as if to say, "I didn't hear anything, I didn't see anything."

They even started whistling.

Although his performance was only so-so.

Erosanne looked at his pretentious act and felt both annoyed and amused.

She hummed softly, which meant she was satisfied.

"Alright, stop pretending," Eros said irritably. "The food is ready. Come to the kitchen and help serve the dishes."

"Coming, coming." Wang Yan immediately stood up and followed Erossan to the kitchen.

As he passed Tamimi, he secretly gave it a 'well done' look.

Tamimi's optical perception array flickered, as if in response to him.

Follow Eros into the kitchen.

The kitchen was filled with a rich aroma, a blend of the richness of coconut milk, the subtle spiciness of spices, and a certain indescribable sweetness.

The clay pot on the stove was still bubbling away, with fine foam overflowing from the edge of the lid, which Falushan casually wiped away with a rag.

"Bring this over." Falushan pointed to the casserole on the stove, then to the several small dishes that had already been served next to it, "And those other dishes, take them out together."

"it is good."

Wang Yan stepped forward, picked up the dishes, and placed them one by one on the dining table in the living room.

Then I went back to the kitchen to prepare the main dish.

He lifted the lid of the clay pot, and steam rushed out.

Inside is a soup.

The soup is a warm, milky white color, with a layer of fine oil floating on the surface. You can vaguely see shredded mushrooms, diced coconut meat, and a few plump shrimp sinking to the bottom of the soup.

The texture is thick but not sticky, and you can tell at a glance that it is made from a variety of ingredients that have been simmered and seasoned for a long time to achieve this harmonious consistency.

Wang Yan was stunned for a moment.

This dish... looks complicated.

It's not the kind of thing you can just chop up, throw in a pot, and boil.

Just preparing these ingredients will probably take a lot of effort.

That's why Wang Yan was stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised.

He knows his mentor too well.

When it comes to food, Estée Lauder always prefers the simplest options.

Her favorite food is the kind that doesn't require much effort, such as traditionally made coconut charcoal cakes.

As for this kind of soup that requires slow simmering and careful attention to heat and seasoning...

Erossen used to never touch it.

In her words, "With the time it takes to make soup, I could have finished reading half a book."

But now, she stood in the kitchen, wearing an apron, her hands still wet, making him this complicated soup.

A warm feeling suddenly welled up in Wang Yan's heart.

Just as Tamimi said.

He is the variable that makes Erossan better.

So, this dish was probably taught to him by his mentor.

I don't know how long she studied or how many times she failed, but she finally managed to make such a seemingly successful soup.

Wang Yan did not speak.

He simply picked up the casserole silently, carefully walked to the dining table, and placed it steadily in the center of the table.

Then I washed my hands and sat down at the dining table.

"Let's eat." Falushan took off her apron, hung it on the back of the chair, and sat down opposite Wang Yan, looking at him nervously. "Try it, how does it taste?"

"it is good."

Wang Yan picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.

The warm soup glides across the tongue, the richness of coconut milk blooming first, followed by the fresh aroma of mushrooms, the tenderness of shrimp, and a hint of spices, stringing all the flavors together in a distinct yet incredibly harmonious way.

"Delicious!" Wang Yan's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed sincerely, "Teacher, your cooking skills are amazing!"

"Really?" Erosanne's eyes lit up instantly, and she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

“Of course it’s true.” Wang Yan scooped up another spoonful. “This soup is cooked to perfection. It’s thick and flavorful, and the taste is just right. It’s not greasy at all. If you opened a restaurant, it would be packed every day.”