Chapter Fourteen: Could It Be Drugged?

At the moment she confirmed her choice, Jiang Suisui received a slew of new tasks.

[The “Training Plan for Jiang Yueyi” has been activated. Host, please complete the following tasks to reach Stage One within one month.

Task One: Prepare a nutritious meal daily for student Jiang Yueyi. Remember to finish all food to avoid waste. Current progress: 0/10.

Task Two: Take student Jiang Yueyi jogging at least twice a week, with each session lasting no less than twenty minutes. Current progress: 0/6.

Task Three: Accompany student Jiang Yueyi to read at least three times a week, each session lasting one hour. Current progress: 0/6.

Task Four: Help student Jiang Yueyi gain at least three pounds within one month.]

There was indeed much to do, but fortunately, none of it seemed difficult to accomplish.

Jiang Suisui thought quietly to herself.

She opened the holographic screen again and happened to receive a new message.

Her application to set up a stall with the Qingshan District Urban Management Department had been approved, and she was given six stalls meeting her criteria to choose from.

After careful comparison, she selected a stall located inside Qingshan District’s Red Maple Park.

She then submitted a deposit of three thousand star coins and a rental fee of eighteen hundred star coins, securing the stall for the next three months.

The stall permit would take two more hours to process, so she browsed the supermarket on the Star Network in the meantime.

After carefully picking items and maximizing discounts, she purchased a batch of goods needed for the stall, which would be delivered that very evening.

Once everything was settled, Jiang Suisui estimated the time was right and leisurely returned to the kitchen of Group Four.

Wu Chenchen was sealing the last batch of meals to hand over to the delivery robot.

Seeing Jiang Suisui return, she snapped irritably, “So you do know how to come back. Slacking off during work hours violates who-knows-which rule in the employee manual. You’re breaking the rules—I’m going to report you!”

She spoke with a certain smugness.

Jiang Suisui remained calm and replied, “Yes, I was resting in the hallway just now, but I completed all the tasks assigned to me. According to Article 20 of the employee manual, as long as work is finished early, early rest is allowed. You want to report me? Go ahead.”

Wu Chenchen, expecting Jiang Suisui to panic, was stunned into silence.

After a long moment, she couldn’t utter a word and stormed out of the kitchen in anger.

Liu Song, quietly observing nearby, was utterly speechless. He thought Wu Chenchen was nothing but a paper tiger—far less formidable than he had imagined.

It seemed he would have to devise other methods to deal with Jiang Suisui.

---

Unaware of Liu Song’s schemes, Jiang Suisui had the robot bring her some leftover ingredients and began preparing extra meals for Jiang Xingran and Jiang Yueyi.

Though the task only required her to make nutritious meals for Jiang Yueyi, she treated them both equally; preparing two portions was simply more convenient.

Half an hour passed.

Wu Chenchen returned to the kitchen, a satisfied smile on her face.

But soon, that smile faded.

A strong, domineering aroma of meat stirred her appetite, forcing her to swallow hard and sniff around to find the source.

After searching, she realized the enticing smell was coming from Jiang Suisui’s freshly uncovered braised lion’s head meatballs.

The meatballs, roughly the size of a fist and plump and round, looked irresistibly tender.

Pale yellow broth soaked the ivory-colored meatballs, with a few vibrant green, crisp baby vegetables floating around.

Wu Chenchen swallowed repeatedly, her mind clouded by the aroma, temporarily forgetting her earlier displeasure.

Curious, she asked, “Is this braised lion’s head? Why does it smell so good? I’ve eaten it at five-star restaurants, and none smelled this fragrant. Could it be you used some kind of flavor enhancer?”

Jiang Suisui wasn’t offended and pointed to the two remaining braising pots in the cooker. “One portion’s for you. Try it and see.”

Wu Chenchen stepped forward to grab a pot but was so eager she forgot to wear heat-resistant gloves and got burned.

That slight burn sobered her up immediately. She fixed Jiang Suisui with a wary glare. “Did you slip something in it to harm me?”

Jiang Suisui smirked, packed the braised lion’s head meals for Jiang Xingran and Jiang Yueyi, then replied, “Eat it if you want, don’t if you don’t.”

She then carried the insulated bag out of the kitchen to deliver the meals.

Wu Chenchen glanced at Jiang Suisui’s retreating figure, then at the two braising pots still in the cooker.

Though the aroma had faded somewhat, it still tantalized her senses like a mischievous little demon.

“Damn… using such a sinister trick against me,” Wu Chenchen muttered, taking a deep breath, donning heat-resistant gloves, and carrying a braising pot out.

“I’m no coward! If she really put something in it, then my uncle will have her fired!”

With that thought, she headed toward the dining hall.

---

Sitting down, Wu Chenchen uncovered the pot, and the rich aroma exploded anew.

Not only was she addicted, but other employees dining nearby also perked up their noses, curious.

One employee spotted the source and asked, “Chenchen, where did you get this? Did Chef Liu make this for you?”

Wu Chenchen’s mind was solely on eating quickly, forgetting her feud with Jiang Suisui. She answered bluntly, “Chef Liu doesn’t have skills like this. This was made by Jiang Suisui. Now go on, don’t disturb my tasting.”

She took a deep breath of the fragrance before eagerly picking up her chopsticks.

Looking at the smooth, nearly spherical meatball, she hesitated for a moment. Truthfully, it was the most beautiful lion’s head she’d ever seen—like something out of an animation, perfectly round with almost no unevenness.

But as beautiful as it was, it still had to be eaten!

Finally, Wu Chenchen brought her chopsticks down. To her surprise, although the meatball looked firm, the chopsticks pierced it easily, as if there were no resistance.

She picked up a piece, anticipation mounting, and placed it in her mouth.

It was excellent—her risk of being drugged was worth it!

The tender, springy texture stunned her instantly. The meat filling was soft, yet the outer layer retained a slight chewiness.

It was neither overly soft nor tough, like tofu cooked to perfection.

The rich, delicious aroma burst on her tongue, but upon closer tasting, hints of the baby vegetables’ fresh sweetness surfaced. The more she ate, the more satisfying it became—never greasy or cloying.

Before long, Wu Chenchen had finished the entire meatball. Even the baby vegetables—which she usually disliked—were silently eaten along with it.

The vegetables soaked in the broth were a revelation; one chew released savory soup splashing in her mouth, masking any bitterness and leaving only a faint, refreshing aroma.

Just as she was about to sip the broth, the employee who had asked earlier suddenly exclaimed.

“Chenchen, please, let me have a sip! If I don’t drink this broth, my looks, figure, social etiquette, noble character—even my soul—will be ruined!”

Remembering a small favor that employee had done for her, Wu Chenchen pursed her lips, took a clean spoon, and ladled some broth over.

The employee gratefully accepted and drank slowly.

The clear broth was free of any oil or artificial additives, offering only the perfect fusion of flavors from the ingredients.

Wu Chenchen finished the last sip of broth, feeling as relaxed as if she had just soaked in a hot spring.

After a moment, she licked her lips, her mind consumed by a single thought:

Could she have another serving?