"Xi, come and help..."

As evening approached, Zhiye started preparing dinner and went into the kitchen. Yexie followed her, raising her hand as if to show her enthusiasm to help. Not being able to sit still in the living room, I got up and went to the kitchen as well.

"I'll help too..."

I didn't want to be someone who just enjoyed the results without putting in any effort.

"Jie... there's no need for you to come. Cooking in the kitchen is a girl's job."

After hearing my offer to help, Zhiye politely refused.

"I hope Zhiye can allow me this. I feel bad for always relying on you. Let me help occasionally to share the burden."

I voiced my thoughts.

"Yexie is very willing to help. Especially in making Zhiye's favorite dishes."

Yexie said with excitement.

"Then... Jie, could you help peel the potatoes?"

"Sure."

Hearing Zhiye's request made me happy. Without hesitation, I picked up a special tool for peeling potatoes and began peeling the plump and chubby potatoes in the basin.

"Yexie, where are you?" Yexie, who was standing by, shouted.

"Miss Yexie, just watch."

"Why? Yexie also wants to cook delicious dishes. Isn't there a saying that if you want to capture a man's heart, you must satisfy his stomach?"

Yexie said discontentedly.

"Miss Yexie is a guest... naturally, guests shouldn't be doing these kinds of things."

"But Yexie won't be able to succeed this way..." Yexie said dejectedly.

"Then, could you please help wash the pot?"

Zhiye seemed unable to bear seeing Yexie so down and assigned her a task.

"Yexie wants to cut vegetables and cook..." Yexie seemed reluctant to accept this arrangement.

"Then... Miss Yexie, just stand aside and watch. But I want to say that when you learn cooking, apprentices don't have the chance to be in charge. They can only watch from the side."

This seemed to explain the painstaking process of Zhiye learning cooking.

"Yexie's cooking skills are not bad..."

"At what level?"

"At a level where it's... edible." Yexie answered with a lack of confidence.

"Since Miss Yexie is still at this level where she can't make dishes that satisfy Jie, she should practice more."

Yexie made a frustrated "Hmm" sound and obediently went to wash the pot.

Zhiye had the determination not to lose to anyone in this aspect. The dishes she made were really great, not giving people any reason to criticize.

"Ah..."

Because I was focusing my attention on them and accidentally became distracted, I cut my finger with the tool and blood began to flow uncontrollably.

"Jie... I cut my finger."

"Um... I was a bit distracted just now." I said apologetically.

But for some reason, Zhiye picked up my hand without hesitation and put my bleeding finger in her mouth.

"Zhiye..." I froze for a moment, just staring at the situation in front of me.

After a few seconds, Zhiye let go of my finger.

"This can stop the bleeding, but it's only a temporary solution... You should wipe it with some medicine or put on a band-aid."

"Oh..." My face felt like it was on fire.

Zhiye then rushed out of the kitchen to get a band-aid and helped me cover the wound.

"It's fine... Jie,"

"Ah...hmm...Thank you." I continued to gaze at Zhiye's careful actions, feeling the warmth on my face still lingering.

"Sister... the pot is washed," Xiaxi's face wore an unhappy expression.

"Thank you, Miss Xiaxi... I'll take over from here."

"Xiaxi also wanted to feed Youhan with her fingers... but Sister beat her to it. Xiaxi needs to pay more attention next time," Xiaxi muttered.

"Leave the remaining potatoes that haven't been peeled to me."

"It's okay... I can do it."

I didn't want to give up on what I should've done just because I got hurt, and let someone else do it instead.

"Well then... please be careful and don't get injured again," Zhiye admonished.

"Yes... I'll be careful."

So I continued with the last task of peeling the potatoes, while Zhiye skillfully sliced the ones I had already peeled.

After that task was done, I could only watch Zhiye stir-fry the vegetables.

"Jie, go rest in the living room," I was still asked to do so, and I didn't refuse since the kitchen had limited space and having more people would be an obstacle.

But Xiaxi had no intention of coming out at all and strongly insisted on taking charge of cooking.

"Xiaxi also wants to make one or two dishes."

Unable to resist, Zhiye reluctantly agreed to Xiaxi's plea.

Then I heard a series of chaotic screams coming from the kitchen.

"This... this... the oil splashed out."

"Oh no, it's... it's burnt to a crisp."

No matter how I put it, as those uncontrollable sounds reached my ears, all I could do was pray for her well-being.