Chapter Fifty-Six: Pure Talent

Driving the Audi he’d commandeered, Chu Dong felt entirely at ease, humming a little tune as he brought “Snowball”—the name Tan Xue had chosen for the puppy she had yet to meet—toward the Tan family home. On the way, he received over a dozen calls from Xiao Yu’er, who was even more eager to see Snowball than Tan Xue herself.

“Son, go!” Chu Dong parked and opened the car door, beckoning for Snowball, who bounded over joyfully and circled his feet in excitement.

“Keep up now, come meet your little mom.” With long strides, he led Snowball into the elevator.

“Where’s Snowball? Didn’t you say you’d bring it? Where is it?” Xiao Yu’er was the first to race over at the sound of the doorbell, more enthusiastic than anyone. Li Youlan also hurried over, grabbing Chu Dong's arm and bouncing with excitement, oblivious to the small white ball sniffing around her feet.

Chu Dong, used to hanging out with Qiangzi and Haozi, felt dizzy surrounded by this fragrant breeze. He completely forgot to answer, and couldn’t recall where the little Snowball, whom he’d doted on these past two days as if it were his own child, had gone.

“Careful, right by your feet. Don’t step on it.” Tan Xue, sharp-eyed, spotted the puppy hiding behind Chu Dong, startled by Xiao Yu’er and Li Youlan.

“So adorable!” Li Youlan recovered first, crouching down to pick up the trembling Snowball and carrying it to the sofa.

“Let me see, let me see!” Xiao Yu’er, pouting, wasn’t satisfied until she chased after them, snatching Snowball for a quick pet, finally breaking into a smile.

Tan Xue folded her arms, glaring fiercely at Chu Dong—not because he was late, but because he looked on with such envy at Snowball resting its little paws on Xiao Yu’er’s chest that he nearly drooled.

“Are Uncle Tan and Aunt Tan not home?” Feeling the temperature around him suddenly drop, Chu Dong quickly withdrew his gaze, pretending to survey the room as he casually asked.

“My mom envied Aunt Tan’s freedom, so she went out for a stroll. Dad and the others boarded a plane yesterday to visit Uncle Chu,” replied Xiao Yu’er, who was busy soothing Snowball. Her answer spared Chu Dong further embarrassment.

“Oh, well then, I’ll leave my son in your care. I’ll come visit you when I have time.” Chu Dong slipped his shoes back on, ready to leave.

Good, with the old couple gone, he lost his shield. If these three little princesses decided to mess with him, what hope was there?

“Wait.” Tan Xue spoke up, her oversized T-shirt draping casually over her petite frame. She sat on the sofa, raising her graceful arm to gesture at Chu Dong. “Come in.”

“I really have things to do…” Chu Dong couldn’t possibly enter—if not for the bet at Dahei Mountain last time, it would have been unthinkable to ask him inside. Three little lambs, he might have been able to snatch one. But now, Chu Dong felt the house was home to three tigresses, and he was the lamb.

Bracing himself, Chu Dong slipped off his shoes, donned the prepared slippers, and walked in awkwardly, nearly stumbling as he did so.

“What time is it now?” Tan Xue asked nonchalantly from the sofa.

“Beijing time, six minutes past eighteen.” Chu Dong glanced at the wall clock, unsure of her intent, but answered nonetheless.

“That’s not what I mean. What time is it now?” Tan Xue prompted, a hint of exasperation.

“Eighteen oh eight.” Chu Dong checked the clock again, replying cautiously.

“It’s dinner time, idiot!” Tan Xue gritted her teeth, cheeks flushed with anger, while Xiao Yu’er was doubled over with laughter at Chu Dong’s antics.

“Yes, yes, dinner time.” Sweat broke out on Chu Dong’s forehead; who would have thought the little girl who used to follow him everywhere now had such a commanding presence?

“Then get to it! Do you want us to starve?” Tan Xue slapped the sofa, furious at Chu Dong’s inability to catch on.

Snowball, just settling into Xiao Yu’er’s soft embrace, was startled by Tan Xue’s sudden gesture and leapt out of Xiao Yu’er’s arms.

“What’s all the fuss? You scared the baby.” Xiao Yu’er pouted, unhappy, and got up to chase after Snowball into the bedroom. Seeing Tan Xue scolding Chu Dong, Li Youlan followed suit.

“How would I know how?” Chu Dong’s head ached. The little princess clearly intended to make him the butt of her joke today.

“I don’t care. You have an hour. When the time’s up, we expect dinner.” Swaying as she walked, Tan Xue denied him any chance to shirk responsibility and left.

“Being forced onto the stage like a duck.” Chu Dong pinched his thigh, wincing at the pain. Not a dream, then—was he truly expected to cook today? He’d never done it in his life.

Helpless, Chu Dong went to the kitchen, only to find it devoid of everything except a full array of spices—not a leaf of vegetable in sight. Even if he knew how to cook, no ingredients meant he couldn’t make anything.

He went to the door, changed shoes, but before he could open it, Tan Xue, who had been listening for movement inside, called out.

Waving both hands, Chu Dong quickly explained there was nothing at home and he needed to go out shopping, finally winning Tan Xue’s permission.

Downstairs, Chu Dong didn’t head for the market. He sat on a bench, glanced up at the building, and sighed deeply. “Looks like my days of hardship are just beginning.”

He didn’t know where the market was, so Chu Dong wandered out of the community. Outside, his eyes lit up—across the street was a row of restaurants: Sichuan cuisine, Hunan cuisine, hot pot, everything imaginable.

Grinning, Chu Dong recalled from the last meal that both Tan Xue and her sister loved spicy food. As for Li Youlan, always tagging along with Tan Xue, she didn’t matter in Chu Dong’s calculations.

He strolled into a Sichuan restaurant and told the waiter he wanted takeout. He ordered eight dishes in one go, humming as he tapped a rhythm on the table, feeling smug. “With a stick, I could travel to the West for scriptures! You think dinner could stump me?”

The restaurant was busy, and at the peak of dinner hour, so the food was slow. But after some urging, everything was ready in half an hour. Chu Dong and a waiter carried a large meal box back.

At the Tan home’s entrance, Chu Dong had the waiter hide the meal box before knocking. Luckily, Xiao Yu’er answered, eager to get back to playing with Snowball and not noticing Chu Dong’s empty hands.

Once she’d gone to the bedroom, Chu Dong quickly brought the meal box inside, switched the dishes onto plates, tidied up, and handed the box to the waiter waiting outside.

Mission accomplished—at least there was food. Even if restaurant fare wasn’t delicious, it would still be edible, far better than wasting ingredients with his own incompetence.

Everything ready, Chu Dong called loudly for the three princesses to come eat.

“Brother-in-law, did you make this?” Xiao Yu’er, always wavering, changed her tune.

“Of course. No choice—just too talented.”

Seeing the three girls staring in disbelief at the eight dishes, vibrant in color, aroma, and taste, Chu Dong swelled with pride.