Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

"I'll take you home."

These four words, like a pebble thrown into a lake, rippled gently across Li Chen's heart.

He was led by Yan Xi up the white marble steps and through the heavy oak door, which was carved with the family crest.

Inside the door was a huge foyer large enough to accommodate hundreds of people for a party.

A dazzling crystal chandelier hangs from the nearly ten-meter-high dome, casting its light onto the gleaming marble floor.

The air was filled with a faint, elegant scent, a blend of floral and woody notes.

On the huge sofa in the living room, a figure sat upright.

It was Yan Zhen.

Today he was dressed in a dark-colored traditional Chinese Tang suit, holding a cup of tea in his hand, watching the financial news on TV with a blank expression.

That powerful aura made the temperature in the entire living room seem to drop several degrees.

He didn't even lift his eyelids when he heard the noise at the door.

"You're back?"

The voice was flat, yet carried a subtle, almost imperceptible, scrutiny.

"Um."

Yan Xi responded and pulled Li Chen along to change her shoes.

Li Chen's heart jumped into his throat.

Here comes the first boss.

He took a deep breath, just about to say hello.

A gentle, sweet voice came from the spiral staircase on the second floor.

"Oh my, our Xixi finally decided to bring her boyfriend home?"

Li Chen looked up.

A beautiful woman, dressed in an elegant cheongsam, with a graceful figure and still charming demeanor, was holding onto the stair railing, looking at them with a smile.

She looked to be only in her early thirties, and her features bore a striking resemblance to Yan Xi.

But unlike Yan Xi's aloofness, her smile is full of sunshine-like warmth and approachability.

Without a doubt, this is Yan Xi's mother, Luo Yun.

"mom."

Yan Xi's tone carried a hint of helplessness.

Hello, Auntie.

Li Chen quickly bowed and greeted him.

"Hey, don't call me 'Auntie,' it sounds too formal."

Luo Yun had already walked down the stairs. She walked up to Li Chen and looked him over carefully from head to toe, like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law.

Her gaze was not one of scrutiny, but rather filled with the pure appreciation and affection an elder has for a younger person.

"Hmm, not bad, you look even more energetic than in the photos."

Luo Yun nodded in satisfaction, and then, quite naturally, she took Li Chen's arm from Yan Xi's hand.

"Come in, come in and sit down. What are you standing for?"

She warmly pulled Li Chen towards the sofa in the living room.

Yan Xi was left standing there, feeling both amused and exasperated.

She knew this would be the outcome.

In front of his mother, who is obsessed with looks, Li Chen's face is the strongest passport.

Li Chen was somewhat flattered as Luo Yun pulled him along.

He felt as if he were enveloped by a warm, irresistible force.

Luo Yun pressed him down onto the sofa and sat down next to Yan Zhen.

"Old Yan, what are you still putting on airs for? We have guests over, and you don't even bother to greet them."

Luo Yun glared at her husband reproachfully.

Yan Zhen then put down his teacup, raised his eyelids, and glanced at Li Chen.

"Um."

He hummed a single syllable through his nose.

That counts as having given prior notice.

Li Chen: "..."

"Ignore him, that's just his bad temper."

Luo Yun smiled and patted Li Chen's hand, then looked at Yan Xi.

"Xixi, you too, how could you let Xiaochen come empty-handed?"

She saw the shopping bag that Li Chen was carrying.

"This is what I bought for him."

Yan Xi explained.

"Oh?"

Luo Yun's eyes shone even brighter.

"Our little cycad, it's actually starting to buy things for boys now?"

Her teasing made Yan Xi's cheeks blush slightly.

"mom!"

"Alright, alright, I'm not teasing you anymore."

Luo Yun smiled and then spoke to the butler beside him.

"Uncle Zhang, you can prepare dinner now."

"Yes, madam."

Dinner was held in a huge restaurant that could seat twenty people at once.

The long dining table was laden with a variety of exquisite dishes, a fusion of Chinese and Western cuisine, a dazzling array.

The atmosphere, however, was somewhat eerie.

Luo Yun and Yan Xi were both enthusiastically serving food to Li Chen.

In no time, the plates in front of him were piled up like a small mountain.

At the other end of the table, Yan Zhen ate his meal silently, without saying a word, like an outsider.

But Li Chen could feel that sharp gaze was always, intentionally or unintentionally, falling on him.

He felt extremely uncomfortable during the meal.

Finally, dinner was almost over.

Luo Yun put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"Oh, right, there's also a Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup that I made myself in the kitchen, it's been kept warm."

She suddenly said.

"Xiao Chen, could you... help Auntie get this?"

Li Chen was taken aback.

coming.

The real test has finally arrived.

He knew this meal wouldn't be so simple.

This is clearly a private meeting to give him a "final trial."

"Of course, Auntie."

Li Chen immediately stood up, a polite smile on his face.

"I'll go with you."

Yan Xi also wanted to stand up.

"Sit down."

Luo Yun glared at her.

"I just asked Xiaochen to lend me a hand, why are you getting involved?"

Yan Xi had no choice but to sit back down dejectedly, giving Li Chen a "good luck" look.

Li Chen gave her a reassuring smile and followed Luo Yun into the kitchen.

The Yan family's kitchen was as big as the back kitchen of a small restaurant.

All kinds of top-quality kitchen utensils are available and wiped spotless.

A middle-aged man dressed in a white chef's uniform, who looked like the head chef, was directing several kitchen helpers to finish up the work.

Upon seeing Luo Yun and Li Chen enter, they immediately stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully.

"lady."

"You guys go out first."

Luo Yun waved his hand.

"Yes."

The head chef and his entourage quietly slipped out and considerately closed the door behind them.

Only Luo Yun and Li Chen remained in the huge kitchen.

Li Chen's heart was in his throat.

He was prepared to face any tricky questions.

However, Luo Yun did not speak immediately.

She walked up to a huge soup bowl and lifted the lid.

An incredibly rich and intensely fresh aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.

"Come on, try Auntie's cooking."

She picked up a small bowl, ladled out some soup, and handed it to Li Chen.

Li Chen accepted it, somewhat flattered.

The broth was golden and thick, and he carefully took a sip.

The essence of various top-quality ingredients is perfectly blended together, resulting in a fresh, rich, and unforgettable flavor.

"Is it good?"

Luo Yun asked with a smile.

"It tastes very good."

Li Chen sincerely praised.

"You've got a sweet tongue, kid."

Luo Yun smiled, and then she finally got to the "main topic".

"Xixi told me you're studying computer science?"

"Yes, Auntie."

"Yes, that's good, it has potential."

Luo Yun nodded and then asked.

"Where are you from? What do your parents do?"

Here comes the two deadly questions.

Li Chen took a deep breath and answered with neither arrogance nor servility about his ordinary family background.

He thought that Luo Yun's expression would change slightly.

However, no.

Luo Yun's smile remained as gentle as ever.

"It's good to come from an ordinary family; the children are honest and sensible."

She looked at Li Chen with sincere eyes.

"Xiao Chen, Auntie didn't mean anything by it."

she says.

"I just wanted to tell you that my daughter Xixi has been spoiled by her father since she was little. She has a cold personality and a bad temper."

"If she bullies you, don't take it to heart, just be more accommodating."

"If...if she really does something awful, please...don't give up on her so easily, okay?"

As he finished speaking, Luo Yun's eyes even became slightly red.

Li Chen was completely stunned.

He envisioned ten thousand possible scenarios for a "Feast at Hongmen".

But I never expected it to turn out like this.

There was no harassment, no scrutiny, and no interrogation.

Yes, it is simply a mother's deepest love and most sincere entrustment to her daughter.

His heart was deeply touched.

"Auntie, don't worry."

He looked at Luo Yun and made a solemn promise.

"I will not bully her, and I will never abandon her."

"As long as she doesn't kick me out, I'll stay with her."

Looking into his clear and determined eyes, Luo Yun smiled with satisfaction.

"Good boy."

She patted Li Chen on the shoulder.

"Auntie believes in you."

Just then, Li Chen's gaze inadvertently swept over the kitchen counter to the side.

He saw some chopped side dishes on the cutting board.

One of the dishes contained fish fillets cut into diamond shapes, which were prepared to be used to make "Squirrel Mandarin Fish".

Next to it was a pile of unprocessed carrots and green peppers, ready to be used as garnish.

He suddenly remembered something.

"Auntie, do you have squirrel-shaped mandarin fish for dinner tonight?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

Luo Yun was somewhat curious.

"It's nothing, I just noticed that the side dishes haven't been cut yet."

Li Chen smiled. "How about I lend you a hand?"

"you?"

Luo Yun was stunned. "You can cook?"

"I know a little."

Li Chen said modestly.

He walked to the kitchen counter and picked up a Chinese cleaver.

The moment his hand gripped the hilt of the knife.

His entire demeanor changed instantly.

That youthful naiveté and optimism that belonged to students has vanished.

Instead, there is an extreme focus and composure, like that of a precision instrument.

He picked up a carrot.

"Tap tap tap tap tap..."

From the kitchen came a rapid, rhythmic sound of chopping vegetables, like raindrops pattering on banana leaves.

Luo Yun's eyes widened little by little.

She noticed that Li Chen's wrist barely moved.

Only the gleaming kitchen knife, in his fingers, transformed into a series of dazzling phantoms.

It only took a dozen seconds.

A whole carrot was transformed in his hands into a pile of carrot shreds as thin as hair and of uniform length.

This is not over yet.

He picked up another piece.

This time, his swordsmanship changed again.

It is no longer a rapid slicing, but a dexterous, carving-like process of slicing, dicing, chiseling, and engraving.

In the blink of an eye, an ordinary carrot was transformed in his hands into a lifelike rosebud.

The layers of the petals and the texture of the veins are clearly visible, a masterpiece of nature.

Luo Yun was completely stunned.

She stared at Li Chen with her mouth agape, as if she were looking at a monster.

She had only ever seen this level of knife skill from imperial chefs who served at state banquets!

But Li Chen, after doing all this, acted as if nothing had happened.

He put down the knife, picked up the carrot flower, and handed it to Luo Yun, his sunny smile returning to his face.

"Auntie, I'm sorry for making a fool of myself."

Luo Yun looked at the incredibly realistic carrot flower, then at Li Chen's excessively young face.

She took a deep breath and finally came to her senses from the extreme shock.

The look in her eyes when she looked at Li Chen was no longer simply one of liking and admiration.

It was a kind of ecstatic joy, like discovering an unparalleled treasure!

She suddenly realized that her arrogant daughter had really... struck gold this time.