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On the way home from the supermarket, Gwen carried a small bag of candy, holding Mike's hand. She skipped along, not watching where she was going...
"Ahh!"
Gwen lost her balance and stumbled forward.
Mike gave a quick tug, preventing Gwen from falling and turning into a little dust-covered cat.
Seeing the reproachful look in Mike's eyes, Gwen waved her small hand and said, "I'm fine, I'm fine!"
As she spoke, she gave Mike a playful, ingratiating smile and stuck out her tongue.
Mike shook his head with a smile and simply picked Gwen up.
Tsk. Gwen's already over six years old—it won't be long before he won't be able to carry her anymore. He had to make the most of this time and carry her as much as he could.
Mike secretly thought to himself.
Holding Gwen in one arm and a large bag of groceries in the other, the pair, both strikingly good-looking, drew plenty of attention as they walked down the street.
And just as they were about to reach home, they unexpectedly ran into a familiar face.
Fox was carrying a bag and walking toward them from the opposite direction.
Mike stopped in his tracks.
"Fox?"
"Mr. Kent!"
Fox called out in surprise, quickly extinguishing the cigarette in her hand and tossing it into the bag she was holding. She flashed Mike a friendly smile.
"You live around here?"
Mike asked with a hint of curiosity.
Fox shook her head and replied, "I'm here to take care of some business."
Her gaze shifted to Gwen, who was watching her with curiosity. Completely at odds with her usual aloof demeanor, Fox made a funny face at Gwen, making the little girl giggle.
Smiling, Fox turned to Mike and asked, "Is this your daughter, Mr. Kent?"
"Yes."
Mike affectionately ruffled Gwen's hair, his face full of warmth.
Fox looked at Gwen with a trace of envy. Noticing the heavy bags in Mike's hand, she quickly said, "I won't keep you, then."
With that, she stepped aside.
"Sis, come have dinner with us!"
Suddenly, Gwen extended an invitation to Fox.
Fox froze for a moment, clearly tempted.
This was a chance to have dinner with the person she had always admired—her role model, even her idol—and to eat a meal cooked by him...
She glanced at Mike, then thought of her own situation, sighing quietly in her heart. With some hesitation, she said, "I..."
"Sis, my dad's cooking is really good!"
Gwen blinked her big eyes and repeated the invitation eagerly.
Seeing how much Gwen liked Fox, Mike had no choice but to say, "Then join us."
Fox's face lit up. "Really? I can?"
"Come on," Mike said, lifting the bag in his hand. "I bought plenty of food."
Fox beamed. "Let me help carry something."
Mike smiled. "No need."
"Daddy, put me down."
Gwen whispered in Mike's ear. Once he set her down, she took Fox's hand and said, "Let's go, sis!"
Fox looked at Mike and said with admiration, "Mr. Kent, your daughter is adorable."
Mike nodded calmly.
Of course she is.
Gwen urged, "Daddy, hurry up! I'm starving!"
With that, she pulled Fox toward home.
With an extra person, the walk home felt much livelier.
Once they arrived, Gwen handed Fox a pair of slippers.
Fox hesitated for a moment.
Mike turned and said, "Put them on—they're much more comfortable."
Fox looked down at her high heels and smiled gently.
These two are so thoughtful...
"Would you like something to drink?"
Fox, a bit nervous, replied, "Water is fine."
Mike nodded and poured her a glass. Gwen ran over, picked it up, and said, "I'll take it! Daddy, you just go cook."
Mike chuckled and tapped Gwen lightly on the head.
"Hehe!" Gwen giggled, bringing the water to Fox. Then she took off her hat and scarf and ran into her room.
Holding the warm glass of water in her hands, Fox felt a comforting warmth spreading from her palms to her heart. She couldn't help but smile.
Having always seen Mike as her idol and goal, she had never imagined she'd one day get to eat a meal made by him.
It felt just like finding a lottery ticket on the street... and discovering it was the jackpot.
After putting away her hat and scarf, Gwen washed her hands thoroughly, then ran out with her newly bought candy and brought Fox a plate of fruit.
"All right now, you don't need to look after me," Fox said, watching Gwen buzz around like a busy little bee, her eyes full of fondness.
Gwen handed over the candy and said, "Here, Sis, have some sweets!"
Fox froze for a moment.
It had been ages since she'd eaten candy.
She picked up a piece, tore off the wrapper, and bit into it gently. Then, with one slender finger, she pushed the candy into her mouth. Her alluring eyes narrowed slightly...
So sweet.
"Is it good?" Gwen's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Fox nodded.
Gwen beamed. "It's my favorite flavor!"
Fox smiled. "Your name is Gwen, right?"
"Yup!" Gwen nodded eagerly, then added, "Sis, you're really pretty!"
Fox's smile grew even brighter.
The two, one big and one small, began chatting away about who-knows-what.
Women…
Such strange creatures.
No matter how many or how old, they always seem able to talk endlessly.
Mike shook his head in amusement and closed the kitchen door behind him.
With a thought, a card appeared in his hand.
*Name*: Liu Maoxing
*Character Description*: Successor of Ju Xia Lou, possessing exceptional culinary talent. The youngest Special-Grade Chef.
*Note*: Cooking is about bringing happiness to people!
It was Christmas Day, and Mike decided they should enjoy something special.
He had created this card just the night before.
With another thought, the card dissolved into glowing particles, and a faint silhouette appeared behind Mike.
It was a righteous-looking young man wearing a red headscarf and matching vest, bowing slightly in a respectful gesture.
The figure vanished almost instantly, turning into a stream of light that entered Mike's body.
Looking at the cleaned and prepped ingredients before him, Mike grinned and gripped the kitchen knife.
In an instant, a series of recipes surfaced in his mind, and the knife began to fly through the air with precision.
Let's not go overboard—keep it simple.
Mike cooked at a brisk pace, and before long, dish after dish—each vibrant in color, rich in aroma, and mouthwateringly appetizing—was ready.
Looking at the five dishes and one soup laid out before him, Mike smacked his forehead.
To Liu Maoxing, these might be considered basic meals, but to an ordinary person, they were probably a bit excessive.
Honestly, they looked even better than what a professional chef could make.
"No wonder he's the protagonist of a culinary world," Mike muttered in admiration. Carrying the dishes out, the irresistible aroma immediately drew the attention of the two chatting in the living room.
Gwen secretly swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "Dinner looks extra delicious today!"
Fox rubbed Gwen's head and said, "I'll help."
She walked into the kitchen and took two plates from Mike's hands. As she caught the scent of the food, she couldn't help but swallow—a rare moment of lost composure.
"Gwen, dinner time!" Mike called, placing bowls of rice on the table. Then he turned to Fox and said, "It's Huaguo cuisine—hope that's okay?"
Fox nodded.
More than okay.
(End of Chapter)