My older sister is a villainous rich girl.

Tasia loves pastries so much that she feels she can do anything in the world just by immersing herself in their aroma.

However, she didn't like it from the very beginning.

Her father was said to be a very skilled pastry chef who had even participated in the once-a-decade cooking competition in the capital and won a silver medal in the pastry category.

However, after that competition, he resolutely gave up the lucrative job he could have had in the capital and chose to leave the capital to travel around.

Eventually, he met his mother in a picturesque town, they fell in love, and settled down there.

Then came me, and the three of us spent what should have been the happiest period of our lives.

My memories of that time are now hazy; they are mostly recounted to me by my mother in a nostalgic tone.

But the good times didn't last long; my father fell seriously ill and passed away in agony.

Tasia's family also lost a major source of income.

In order to make a living and to inherit her father's skills, her mother made Tasia knead dough with her when she was very young, shaping the dough into various shapes.

At that time, Tasia viewed this matter as a heavy task.

However, being sensible, she didn't feel resentful because she couldn't go out to play; she only felt frustrated.

Cookies that I make myself can never taste as good as the ones my dad and mom make.

Regular customers of their bakery can tell the difference just by taking a bite.

"Oh dear, did Tasia make today's cookies? She still needs to work harder."

That's what those people always say.

Little Tasia was very sad.

Even though we followed the same steps, used the same temperature, and set the same baking time, why is there such a big difference in taste?

She even began to doubt her own abilities.

Could it be because I didn't inherit my father's outstanding talent at all?

Could it be that I'm just too stupid to do it well?

These jumbled thoughts lingered in her mind every day, making her unable to resist hiding away and secretly shedding tears.

Later, it was his mother who discovered him sitting on the stairs, silently sobbing late at night.

After listening to her troubles, she smiled gently.

"Tasia... the secret to cooking is the feeling of happiness you experience during the process," her mother said.

"Thinking back to every step and detail of making it with my beloved family; imagining the joy and anticipation of sharing my creation with loved ones once it's finished... One day, you too will be able to make your most satisfying pastry..."

With her mother's gentle words of comfort, little Tasia fell asleep in her arms.

Many, many years have passed since then, and Tasia has put the secrets her mother taught her into practice in baking, and her cooking skills have indeed gradually improved.

And now, she has made new friends—Chris and Wayne.

She only now understands what it feels like to have friends.

When you are being bullied and feeling miserable, your friends will stand up for you.

Even when facing someone of higher status, a friend will stand up for them without reservation.

It's really...reliable.

To her delight, her two friends also really liked the cookies she made.

So, on the day of her first visit, Tasia made a lot of cookies again as a gift.

With a desire to share this experience with them, Tasia felt that her performance this time was smoother than ever before.

With the box of cookies in her hands, she happily said goodbye to her mother and boarded the carriage sent by the Winchester family to pick her up.

……

When Tasia arrived by carriage, Wayne and Chris were standing at the gate to greet her.

For some reason, Chris looked somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, and kept glaring at Wayne from time to time.

Wayne, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease.

"Tasia, welcome to our home." He greeted Tasia warmly as she stepped down from the carriage.

Besides the two of them, there was also a small white dog that was jumping around excitedly, circling around Tasia.

"Wow...what an adorable dog." Tasia crouched down and patted its head.

Xiao Bai tilted its chin up, looking completely blissful.

"It's the prototype for Poppy," Chris said with a smile.

"Huh? Really?!" Tasia exclaimed in surprise.

"Woof! Woof!" Little White barked softly twice, as if in response.

Without making a sound, Wayne picked up Little White and hugged it tightly, tugging at it all over.

How old is it?

Tasia stared at it intently, unwilling to look away.

"Hmm..." Chris thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "She should be about five years old, right?"

"Oh, then you're almost middle-aged!" Tasia asked curiously. "Do you have a baby yet?"

Wayne couldn't help but chuckle. "It's not born with that ability."

I wonder if it's because of what it claims—that its own body is merely an object of observation and, strictly speaking, has no gender.

Therefore, Xiaobai never went into heat, and there was no need to bother breeding it.

Several years ago, Wayne once had a sudden whim and introduced him to another female dog, all white, who almost tore his clothes to shreds.

Upon hearing Wayne's answer, Tasia was momentarily surprised.

Then, looking at Xiaobai with a very pitying expression, she said, "It has no family, it must be very lonely~"

"No way, we're its family. It has so much fun every day!" Chris turned to look at the white dog in Wayne's arms. "Right, Little White?"

"Woof!" Little White couldn't break free from Wayne's clutches and could only bark.

After a brief, polite exchange of pleasantries, Chris enthusiastically pulled Tasia into the house.

In the kitchen, they tried making Hong Kong-style milk tea together.

After a little time, Tasia made a serving under Chris's guidance and took a small bite.

"What a unique flavor!"

"How about it? If we sell this, it's sure to be a huge hit!"

Chris said confidently.

"But...is it really alright to just give me such a precious formula like this so easily?"

Tasia's eyes were glistening with tears; she was clearly deeply shaken.

"It's okay," Chris said to her with a smile.

"My friendship with Tasia is more precious to me than these inanimate objects."

Under that radiant smile, Tasia felt as if she were melting.

In the presence of two such noble friends, there was so little I could do for them…