Chapter 48: Skilled Pro Part 1

That evening, it wasn’t just the viewers who found the meal a touch awkward—even the guests present could feel the undercurrents.

Ding Yingxue kept stealing glances at Pei Wan, who met her eyes a few times and signaled her to keep quiet.

Xi Xi was the type to revel in the drama, stirring the pot while she ate—specifically fanning Xuan Zhelu’s mischievous flames.

“Am I sleeping upstairs all by myself?” Xuan Zhelu asked.

She then turned to Liu Song. “Are you bunking with Sister Xi?”

Liu Song hummed in agreement. She glanced at the attic. After Yan Muyu had tidied it up, everyone had gone up to check it out and agreed it was actually nicer than the rooms downstairs.

Staying there alone might feel a bit lonely, though, so Liu Song asked considerately, “Are you scared?”

Xuan Zhelu propped her chin on her hand. The spread that night was lavish, a perfect display of the hosts’ premium hospitality toward their guest.

Even Yan Muyu had gotten hands-on in the kitchen for one dish, though its presentation was plain and unremarkable.

“Will you sleep with me?” Xuan Zhelu said.

Her hair fell to her shoulders—probably freshly styled before she arrived—with razor-sharp ends and pink highlights peeking through.

Liu Song, sitting right beside her, started to reply, but Xuan Zhelu leaned right into her.

Liu Song let out an “uh” and shot a look at Xi Xi.

“What’s the fun in sleeping with Liu Song? Go ask Yan Muyu,” Xi Xi said.

【Is this something you can just say?? Huh??】

【Xi Xi’s mouth is savage.】

【I often feel like I’m not watching a live variety show, but peeking into someone’s daily life.】

【Hahaha, look how scared Ding Yingxue is.】

【Does Yan Muyu know her cooking sucks? She looks like she’s suffering through it.】

【Xuan Zhelu… you really want to sleep with Yan Muyu that bad?】

【So sleeping with Yan Muyu is that great?】

Xuan Zhelu seemed a little shy. “Is that okay?”

Xi Xi smirked. “Why are you looking at me? Ask Boss Yan herself.”

Yan Muyu sighed. “Can you all act normal, please?”

Her tone carried an obvious exasperation. Under the warm yellow glow of the lights, the hall’s table was crowded with women, the coal stove in the center simmering braised pork that looked fall-apart tender on camera, wafting mouthwatering aromas that had viewers starving.

But Yan Muyu had zero appetite for her own dish. She set down her chopsticks and took a sip of village brew. “Sleeping alone is plenty spacious. If you’re scared, just leave the light on.”

Xuan Zhelu shot back, “Your cooking is still as bad as ever.”

The mood had been fine until she dropped that bomb out of nowhere. Ding Yingxue couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Liu Song tried to smooth things over. “It’s not that bad. Nowhere near inedible.”

Yan Muyu waved her off. “It’s about on par with Xi Xi’s stuff. I know my limits.”

Xi Xi shot her a glare. “What do you mean ‘on par’? Mine’s delicious.”

Yan Muyu snorted. “Boiled peanuts? What skill does that take? Stop bragging.”

Qiu Chao sat quietly beside Yan Muyu, sipping her village brew at a leisurely pace.

She wasn’t much of a talker at the table. Liu Song, on the other hand, was the most active, always mindful of the vibe and tossing out safe topics to keep things flowing.

She’d ask about their day, share fun anecdotes, and before long, the atmosphere warmed up. After days of sharing joys and hardships, they’d all grown comfortable with each other.

Qiu Chao rarely brought up her work at the embroidery workshop.

She mostly listened, coming across like a perfect audience in every shot, cracking a smile now and then at Yan Muyu’s exaggerated stories.

For some reason, she seemed to genuinely enjoy these moments.

Now Xuan Zhelu’s bluntness had even the off-camera staff feeling a chill run down their spines.

If this weren’t a live variety show, they could’ve edited in some real tension.

But that wasn’t Qiu Siyuan’s team’s style.

She preferred wholesome slice-of-life vibes—the personal quirks and unforced chemistry that shone through casual meals and chatter.

Like now, as Yan Muyu dragged Xi Xi into the mess, the topic shifted from “Xuan Zhelu begging Yan Muyu for a bed-share” to “Yan Muyu calling out Xi Xi’s cooking.” Online trends updated in real time, with the barrage full of exclamations.

Pei Wan asked, “Did Young Boss Yan never cook before?”

They were all the study-abroad type, and Pei Wan used to post photos of her own home cooking back in the day—probably where she’d honed her skills.

She’d just tried a bite of Yan Muyu’s stir-fried eggs with chives and wondered if this woman had a foreign palate.

Yan Muyu shook her head. “Not really.”

She sighed. “It’s not like I haven’t tried… Some people are just…”

She didn’t seem like the “trying” type at all. In the end, she shut her eyes in quiet defeat. “Whatever.”

Xuan Zhelu chimed in, “But you’ve cooked for me before.”

The room went dead silent again. Pei Wan froze, unsure what to say. Ding Yingxue kept her head down, pretending to focus on her ribs while dying of curiosity inside.

Liu Song glanced between Xuan Zhelu and Yan Muyu. The seating tonight was downright cruel—Xuan Zhelu right next to Yan Muyu, with Qiu Chao beside her, and Qiu Chao directly across from Xuan Zhelu.

It gave off serious harem drama vibes.

The comment was loaded with innuendo, especially since everyone knew these two were exes.

They couldn’t outright spill the history, though, leaving both guests and viewers stifling awkward coughs.

Qiu Chao spoke up. “But Little Yan makes amazing desserts. Did you know that?”

She’d been mostly silent, though Liu Song had checked on her several times, openly and subtly, worried her injuries might kill her appetite.

But Qiu Chao ate like nothing was wrong—just sat a bit too close to Yan Muyu, and with her injured hand, she took her bites extra slow.

Yan Muyu seemed to notice, too. While Xuan Zhelu was talking, she’d even asked Qiu Chao what she wanted and offered to serve it for her.

Liu Song chatted with Xuan Zhelu on the surface but observed keenly underneath. She snuck another glance at Xuan Zhelu, deciding this trio was downright bizarre.

That line made it even weirder!

What kind of soap opera was this? It couldn’t be that intense!

【？？？】

【Qiu Chao’s tone is getting smugger!】

【Yan Muyu actually serving Qiu Chao food? Who bought today’s ingredients? What a feast.】

【Weren’t the wild crabs what Yan Muyu picked up?】

【I saw the morning clip where Yan Muyu and Pei Wan went shopping—planned for one river delicacy, but one wanted crab, the other fish, and they argued forever.】

【Qiu Chao must like crab.】

【Yan Muyu… you…】

【I’ve followed Yan Muyu for years—never knew she made desserts. She seems like the type who’d post them everywhere.】

“Really?” Xuan Zhelu said.

She’d been leaning on Liu Song but sat up a bit straighter. “Back when Senior Qiu Chao was still her relative?”

Xuan Zhelu’s voice had a crisp edge to it, distinct from Yan Muyu’s—probably from her main vocalist days in the group, giving it a signature ring.

【Oof, shady.】

【Why are you two competing??】

【Hahaha, Yan Muyu’s reaction: choked.】

【Xuan Zhelu makes ‘senior’ sound so half-assed.】

Qiu Chao replied, “Yeah. Lived with Little Yan for four years—know a few more secrets than you.”

Xi Xi burst out laughing.

Liu Song: ……

Pei Wan tried to say something but held back, instead diligently serving Ding Yingxue a piece of tofu.

Ding Yingxue eyed Qiu Chao, then the grinning Xuan Zhelu, thinking: Are you two rivals in love or something? No way.

Yan Muyu stayed chill. “Haven’t made any in ages. Want some? I can try if you’re not scared of food poisoning.”

She served food for others between bites—Qiu Chao earlier, now a chopstick of greens for Xuan Zhelu. “Talk less, Miss Xuan.”

Xuan Zhelu smiled. “You’re so good to me.”

Yan Muyu replied, “This is good? You deserve better.”

These past few days, Yan Muyu had been out in the wind and sun nonstop—even Ding Yingxue griped about slathering on sunscreen daily yet still tanning.

Yan Muyu looked a tad darker too.

But she still had that luminous fairness overall, with her usual laid-back vibe. It lent her words a big-sister weight, reminding everyone she was indeed years older than Xuan Zhelu.

Xuan Zhelu pressed, “I think you’re pretty great.”

Yan Muyu shook her head. “That’s just you. You need someone who’s…”

She shattered the awkwardness entirely, turning the vibe into a live emotional advice hotline for viewers.

The actual players? She just topped off empty glasses around the table with village brew.

Then, with a grin, she asked, “What type do you all think suits Xuan Zhelu?”

Yan Muyu lifted her gaze, glancing at Liu Song. “What about you?”

【Here we go—matchmaking the ex-girlfriend again.】

【She’s so committed to finding her ex a happy ending lol.】

【My sister went to college with Yan Muyu and went to her ex’s wedding—she’s legit a pro matchmaker hahaha.】

【But Xuan Zhelu only has eyes for Yan Muyu, I swear…】

【Yan Muyu spreads the love evenly, but she’s different with Qiu Chao. Still, such good boundaries—using serving chopsticks and all…】

Liu Song didn’t know how to respond.

Qiu Chao jumped in. “Someone devoted and family-oriented, I suppose.”

Not a single trait that fit Yan Muyu. Yan Muyu chuckled and nodded along.

Xuan Zhelu pouted. “Gentle, caring, devoted—it’d be useless without that.”

The village brew packed a punch, and this one downed it in one go.

Yan Muyu didn’t get a chance to stop her—she watched helplessly as Xuan Zhelu finished it off.

Liu Song had taken just one sip earlier, and her face had flushed bright red. Now, she couldn’t help letting out a “wah.”

“That’s different,” Yan Muyu said.

Xi Xi snorted. “Men are all the same—they’re never loyal. They always come with an expiration date.”

The atmosphere seemed inevitably headed toward an emotional showdown.

Even talking about this still filled Xi Xi with anger. After downing a few cups, her words came flooding out.

“Xuan Zhelu, let me tell you: once you’re broken up, don’t go crawling back for seconds. Yan Muyu even told you to find someone better. Doesn’t that mean she’s admitting she’s trash?”

“I’m telling you…”

Liu Song hurriedly clapped a hand over Xi Xi’s mouth.

Her own manager actually had a solid tolerance for alcohol, but the village brew they’d bought this time was premium stuff from the mountain folk. Xi Xi was already worn out from a full day of work, and now she was thoroughly drunk and buzzing.

Liu Song’s palm nearly got scorched by Xi Xi’s lips.

But Xi Xi wasn’t having it. She yanked Liu Song’s hand away. “Why are you covering my mouth?”

She raised her cup. “Cheers to our first weekend! Cheers to the first day of taking on guests. Bottoms up!”

【Sis, that’s some seriously wild talk!】

【Liu Song’s look of utter despair, lmao.】

【Never realized Xi Xi had such a low tolerance before.】

【This booze must pack a punch.】

【Ding Yingxue barely touched hers. Pei Wan doesn’t even look fazed—does she have the best head for it?】

【Qiu Chao’s the real champ; I saw her knock back three. Yan Muyu hasn’t had a drop. Is she allergic?】