However, Xu Qian’s wish was destined to go unfulfilled.

Lu Chengzhou had been genuinely busy lately—no time at all for idle thoughts.

Just handling Miss Meng’s teasing and Su Qiaoman, who was dead set on camping out at his place, was already exhausting.

As he neared the bus stop, Lu Chengzhou received a text from Meng Wanyu:

“Teacher Lu, don’t forget to bring the cooking ingredients, okay~”

Cooking ingredients?

Lu Chengzhou pondered blankly for a moment.

Should he start with seasonings like salt and sugar, or just grab flour and dried fruits?

Forget it.

Since he couldn’t be sure, better play it safe and buy everything.

…

At that moment, Meng Wanyu had already changed into a fresh new dress.

Clearly, she was a total dress enthusiast.

Her wardrobe overflowed with cute dresses—mostly bold, daring styles.

“A maid outfit without cat ears and a tail? That’d miss half the fun, wouldn’t it?”

She murmured to herself, gently touching her ears.

Gazing at her reflection in the mirror—a vision in a pink Lolita dress—Meng Wanyu nodded in satisfaction.

“Ah, I’m so cute.”

Everything ready, she stepped out of her bedroom.

Without warning, she locked eyes with her elder sister sitting on the sofa—a death stare.

Meng’s elder sister smiled. “Just a cooking lesson. Really need a new dress *and* makeup?”

Meng Wanyu’s face fell. “Sister! You came in without ringing the doorbell?!”

“I have a key. Why ring it?” Her sister shrugged, stood, and walked over.

Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed her sister’s tail.

Meng Wanyu flushed crimson and snatched it back.

Seeing that reaction, her sister instantly understood—*she’d even planned this detail*.

“Well, well… you little flirty cat.”

Flirty… *flirty cat*?!

What a weird nickname!

Meng Wanyu huffed and swiftly hid the tail.

“Sister, please just leave me alone.”

“I wasn’t planning to interfere,” Meng’s elder sister said, arms crossed as she sat back down. “But watching you go all out to impress a guy… I can’t just stand by.”

Her elder-sister authority sent Meng Wanyu’s nerves spiking.

If she really stepped in…

Would she have no choice but to obey?

Ugh.

Seriously.

Lu Chengzhou should be here any minute.

If Sister stayed… wouldn’t that ruin her chance for some cozy time with Teacher Lu?

*Ding-dong—*

The doorbell chimed. Meng’s elder sister’s smile deepened.

She’d only come back for clothes—but now? Showtime.

…

“Come in, Lu Chengzhou.”

Meng’s elder sister opened the door.

Lu Chengzhou’s gaze skimmed past her and landed on Meng Wanyu behind.

*So today she’s a pink catgirl?*

He instantly connected the dots.

*Miss Meng really does love cosplay.*

Meng’s elder sister wore plain casual clothes today—yet even that looked effortlessly alluring on her.

Lu Chengzhou dared not linger on her.

His gut warned: *This sister is far more dangerous than the younger one.*

First, her life experience clearly surpassed Meng Wanyu’s.

Second, it was obvious Meng Wanyu feared her.

Outwardly, the sisters seemed playful and close—but when serious matters arose, the elder sister’s words carried absolute weight.

When Meng Wanyu met Lu Chengzhou’s eyes, her gaze brightened—just a hint.

But mindful of her sister’s presence, she quickly tempered it.

“Teacher Lu, what are we cooking today?”

“Didn’t we agree on baking a cake?”

Lu Chengzhou showed the ingredients. “Enough?”

Meng Wanyu nodded without even glancing.

“That’s heavy for one person.”

She smoothly took the flour bag from him.

Small as it looked, it was surprisingly weighty.

She wobbled, nearly stumbling—

Naturally, Lu Chengzhou steadied her.

“How thoughtful, Lu Chengzhou,” Meng’s elder sister smiled. “So attentive to my little sister.”

“N-no! Just… what any gentleman would do.” He pulled his hand back fast.

Carrying the rest of the supplies, he headed to the kitchen.

Meng Wanyu’s eyes never left him.

Under that heated stare, Lu Chengzhou felt a flicker of panic—*don’t mess up*.

But once he began cooking, the nerves vanished.

Though it was his first cake, every motion felt etched into muscle memory—fluid, precise.

Even Meng’s elder sister, watching with a critic’s eye, slowly softened her expression.

*This Lu Chengzhou isn’t some lazy amateur.*

His technique, his pairings—genuine skill.

Meng Wanyu had braced to subtly rescue him if he faltered.

Never imagined he’d execute *flawlessly* from start to finish!

Zero chance for her to “save the day”!

When the cake emerged from the oven, its warm, clean wheat aroma made both sisters pause, entranced.

Lu Chengzhou sliced it, handing each a piece.

As Meng Wanyu took hers, her pinky secretly hooked his beneath the table.

Lu Chengzhou kept his face neutral.

She smiled—knowing, playful.

“Not bad,” Meng’s elder sister said after finishing her slice. “Ninety out of a hundred.”

“Sister’s just petty!” Meng Wanyu pouted. “It’s a full hundred—why dock ten?”

Her sister only smiled.

Lu Chengzhou tasted his piece.

True to the cooking mastery gifted by the system, ordinary ingredients transformed into something refined and deeply satisfying.

This skill wasn’t useless after all.

At least… no more takeout.

Homemade always tastes better.

“Next should be the lesson part, right?”

Meng’s elder sister set down her plate.

Her eyes stayed locked on Lu Chengzhou—sharp, unreadable.

“Since I’m free today… I’ll join you two in learning.”