"Sorry, it's all X's fault for insisting on serving this failed dish," I said weakly as I regained consciousness from what seemed like a fainting spell. My head felt dizzy and I couldn't understand what had happened to make X cry.

"What happened? I only remember eating the fried eggs X made, and then I don't remember anything," I said, trying to recall the events.

"You... ate the breakfast X made... and then... fainted," X said, keeping their head down.

"I fainted after eating X's breakfast? I can't believe it, it seems a bit exaggerated," I said, still finding it hard to believe. However, the discomfort in my body seemed to confirm something.

"Did I really faint?" I asked to confirm once again.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," X kept apologizing, looking towards Zhiye who nodded gently.

It seemed that this incident had indeed happened. I never expected that eating a breakfast could make me faint.

"It seems like there's nothing really serious, so don't blame yourself anymore," I said to X, who was crying and blaming themselves.

"Really?" X lifted their tear-filled eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, despite feeling a bit uncomfortable. My body was still functioning and my consciousness was clear.

"I almost caused a big mistake. I was thinking I would follow you even in death if something happened to you," X said.

"It's not that serious. I just fainted, and besides, I woke up now, didn't I?" I reassured X.

"That's great then. X thought I could only meet you in the underworld," X said, tears flowing, unsure if they were tears of joy or sadness.

I smiled and comforted them, "Okay, stop crying."

X stopped crying and choked out, "It seems X's cooking skills are really terrible. X mistook sugar for salt and thought adding some cola or something would make it taste better."

I was shocked to hear that X had added some random stuff to the dish they cooked.

"But it's okay," I said.

"Compared to Sister X, X is far behind," X looked disappointed.

"Although X is far behind Zhiye, it doesn't mean X can't make delicious dishes. As long as X keeps trying, X will be able to do it," I encouraged them.

"I can't... X really can't do it," X shook their head.

"No one can make delicious dishes right from the beginning. It surely takes continuous effort and trial to succeed, so it's too early for X to deny themselves now," I said in an encouraging tone.

"Is that so?"

"X can think about why X wants to make delicious dishes," I suggested.

"I want to do it for you," X said without hesitation, leaving me speechless for a moment. To prevent X from sinking into sadness, I said, "Then make dishes that suit my taste."

"X will do their best," X replied.

"My taste is very picky, though," I warned.

"No matter how picky your taste is, X will work hard," X said determinedly, wiping away the tears and showing a radiant smile.

Finally, X regained their spirits. Although I still had doubts about X, they were not completely gone. Yet, I found myself comforting and encouraging X, perhaps because I couldn't bear to see a girl so sad and upset.

I felt relieved by this, but I couldn't bring myself to say these words to Zhiye like I did to X, considering Zhiye's sorrowful expression that flashed through my mind.

This feeling is really strange, I can't even explain why.

"Is Jie really okay?" Zhiye asked worriedly.

"I'm really fine, thanks for your concern,"

"If anything happens to Jie... I won't spare Miss Xi," Zhiye's eyes revealed a killing intent.

"But I'm fine now, so let's not investigate further."

Zhiye's words seemed to frighten Xi, making Xi almost cry.

"I'll still handle Jie's three meals a day, Miss Xi should not interfere."

Zhiye rarely speaks so sternly.

"Xi wants to cook dishes that Jie likes, it's meaningless if Jie doesn't try them."

Xi retorted.

"But I won't allow you to harm Jie anymore. If Miss Xi wants to stay here, please listen obediently and keep your distance from Jie."

"No... Only this, Xi can't do it." Xi protested.

"Then... Blame me for resolving it with force." Zhiye drew a short knife that he carried with him.

How did it suddenly turn into this? I immediately stopped them.

"Zhiye, calm down, and Xi too..."

"Xi... But Xi has a big dream... Xi won't give up."

Xi didn't expect to be so stubborn.

"Then blame me for being disrespectful." Zhiye's ice-cold face stared at Xi.

"Xi won't back down either." Xi also had a look of not caring about the consequences.

"Don't ignore me, both of you!" I said loudly, unable to understand why suddenly it felt like a war was about to break out.

"Can you explain why you are quarreling?" I asked as their confrontation slightly eased.

"Xi just wants to study hard and cook delicious dishes for Yu." Xi said defiantly.