A top star in the Chinese entertainment industry, but also a Taoist priest.

Chen Shouyi and Shouzhuo coughed simultaneously. Shouzhuo reacted quickly, immediately covering for his master:

"That braised beef is something Master has been talking about for a long time, it has nothing to do with today's dishes, it has nothing to do with it."

Zhang Ruonan chuckled. She wasn't stupid; now that she thought back on the scene of them pushing each other's flesh, she understood everything.

"Don't eat anymore!" Zhang Ruonan wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffed. "I'll try again tonight—"

"No need!" Shouzhuo shouted reflexively, then immediately realized he had overreacted and quickly tried to make amends.

"I mean, Sister Ruonan, you've only just arrived and you've already cooked so many dishes. You must be exhausted. Take a rest tonight, and I'll go out and buy the food."

Chen Shouyi nodded: "You should get some rest. Let Shouzhuo make the arrangements for tonight."

As Zhang Ruonan watched the master and apprentice working together in harmony, the slight frustration in her heart slowly dissipated.

She moved the plate of chicken aside and picked up her chopsticks again to take a bite of greens.

Although it was overcooked and not salty enough, for some reason, it didn't taste so bad after a while.

Just as I was eating, a lively female voice suddenly came from the mountain gate, which could be heard from a distance.

"Master Daoist! Where are you? I'm here!"

Before the words were even finished, Chen Shouyi's mind was already racing.

[Daoist affinity sensing module triggered - A person with compatible Daoist affinity detected]

[A Person with a Fate to the Dao: Bai Mengyan]

[Compatibility: 86%]

[Spiritual Root Aptitude: High-Grade Profound]

[Destiny: Lively and agile, with abundant blessings]

[Taoist affinity: This woman is pure by nature, her smile is like light, and she has a very strong infectious power.]

Its personality is unconventional and lively, unconcerned with formalities, and highly compatible with the host's lineage. Once a connection is established, it can help the host gather their aspirations and accelerate their cultivation.

[Recommendation: Bind]

Bai Mengyan's footsteps were faster than the system's suggestion. Chen Shouyi had just finished binding when she rushed into the backyard like a gust of wind.

"Taoist Master! I'm here—oh?"

Bai Mengyan abruptly stopped in front of the stone table. She immediately spotted the three people sitting around it, then her gaze fell on the dishes on the table, and she tilted her head curiously:

"What are you all doing? Why aren't you eating?"

Shouzhuo quickly stood up and bowed to Bai Mengyan with his hands clasped in greeting: "Greetings, Benefactor Bai!"

Bai Mengyan smiled and waved at him, "Hello, Master Shouzhuo! Long time no see!"

She and Shouzhuo had become quite familiar with each other, so she wasn't so polite with him anymore.

Bai Mengyan turned back to Chen Shouyi, sat down on the stone bench, and placed the fruit she had brought beside her.

"Master, you're amazing! I just got my first short film shot, and you're already in a big production, haha~"

Chen Shouyi looked at her, a slight smile curving his lips into a smile that sent a chill down Shouzhuo's spine.

"Benefactor Bai, have you eaten yet?"

Bai Mengyan readily shook her head: "Not yet!"

"Shouzhuo, go and get a pair of bowls and chopsticks."

"Okay!"

Shouzhu immediately stood up and ran to the kitchen, his movements so swift as if he had been waiting for this order.

Bai Mengyan sat down at the stone table with a smile, looked at the dishes on the table, and then looked at Zhang Ruonan opposite her:

"Then I won't be polite!"

Chen Shouyi watched her pick up her chopsticks, the smile on his face still lingering.

Zhang Ruonan sat beside her, watching the girl who had suddenly appeared sit there so confidently, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

Bai Mengyan, however, didn't sense anything amiss. Her gaze fell on Zhang Ruonan, and she asked curiously, "Daoist Master, is this your newly accepted disciple?"

"No," Chen Shouyi said, "this is Zhang Ruonan, my assistant."

"Assistant?" Bai Mengyan glanced at Zhang Ruonan again and said with a grin.

"Master, your assistant is so pretty. If you two go out together and someone takes a picture of you, they'll definitely look at you first and not at you."

Zhang Ruonan quickly stood up and nodded to Bai Mengyan: "Hello, just call me Ruonan." Her tone was still a little weak, as she hadn't fully recovered from the earlier energy.

Zhang Ruonan was slightly taken aback by her compliment, then smiled shyly and nodded gently:

"Hello, I'm Ruonan."

"Hello, hello," Bai Mengyan returned the greeting with a smile, then extended her hand generously:

"My name is Bai Mengyan. I'm a model, no, I should be considered a part-time actress now."

Zhang Ruonan shook hands with her, and her eyes lit up when she heard the word "model":

"I'm also a model; I used to do Taobao online sales."

"Really?" Bai Mengyan perked up and looked Zhang Ruonan up and down again.

"No wonder you have such a refined air! I knew it, a Taoist priest wouldn't be accompanied by an ordinary person. I've taken photos for several stores online and even worked as an extra in a short film. What about you?"

"I filmed in Hangzhou, mainly shooting clothes and shoes."

"Hangzhou is great! I had a job there before, but unfortunately I couldn't go. I heard their photography studios are huge..."

Chen Shouyi, holding a teacup, watched as the two went from greeting each other to chatting enthusiastically in less than thirty seconds, gaining a new understanding of social efficiency.

Bai Mengyan looked at Zhang Ruonan again and added, "Ruonan, you're so beautiful! Your skin is amazing too!"

Zhang Ruonan felt a little embarrassed by her praise and smiled.

The frustration from messing up the cooking earlier was somewhat alleviated by these compliments from my colleagues. Although I wouldn't say I'm fully recovered, at least my energy has returned.

Shouzhuo returned with the bowls and chopsticks. Bai Mengyan thanked him and took them, picking up the chopsticks and looking at the dishes on the table.

"So many dishes!" She picked up a piece of scrambled egg and stuffed it into her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and then paused in her action of picking up more food.

Zhang Ruonan's heart jumped again.

Bai Mengyan blinked, swallowed what was in her mouth, and then naturally picked up a piece of cucumber salad and put it in the bowl.

"I've been controlling my diet lately, and I can't eat too much oily food," she explained naturally, her chopsticks honestly reaching for the vegetarian dishes.

Zhang Ruonan lowered her eyes and quietly bit her lip.

In order not to damage Ruonan's self-confidence, and also so that she can continue to cook in the future.

Chen Shouyi silently picked up his chopsticks, put a few pieces of the remaining chicken into his own bowl, and then put a few pieces into Shouzhuo's bowl, without changing his expression.

"Eat more, don't waste food."

Shouzhuo looked at the few pieces of chicken that had suddenly appeared in his bowl, opened his mouth, and then silently picked up his teacup and took a big gulp.

"But then again," Bai Mengyan put down her chopsticks and looked at Chen Shouyi,

"It hasn't been that long since we last met, and you've already become a proper actor, directing such a big production and having such a beautiful assistant. Wow, your development is too fast!"

Zhang Ruonan was delighted by the compliment about her beautiful assistant, and the frustration from her cooking mishap earlier faded considerably.

Compliments from someone of the same sex always make people especially happy.

Chen Shouyi looked at her grinning face:

"It was just a coincidence. Tell me, why are you here again all of a sudden? Was your pay high this time?"

"As for the pay..." Bai Mengyan scratched her head, "It's alright, enough for me to live on for a while. But there is indeed some good news."

She leaned forward, her voice tinged with excitement:

"The director had a good impression of me and said he wanted me to act in his next film."

Just then, Shouzhuo came over with a teapot to pour her water. Bai Mengyan smiled and nodded at him as a thank you, and then continued the conversation from before.

"It's a small production, nothing compared to the one you directed, Master." She paused, looking at Chen Shouyi, "So I was thinking of going there to stay for a while and waiting for news from the director."

"I came to the Taoist temple to visit this humble Taoist priest," Chen Shouyi said.

"What do you mean 'by the way'?!" Bai Mengyan slammed her hand on the table in dissatisfaction. "I clearly came here specifically for this!"

Chen Shouyi smiled at her eagerness to refute, "What do you want to see?"