The night before the college entrance exam results were released, I redeemed my Peking University ad

In the north, dried noodles are considered even less popular than instant noodles.

Instant noodles at least have seasoning packets, oil, salt, and some advanced technology.

What kinds of noodles are there?

It's just a dry lump of noodles that, when cooked, comes out in a thin, watery broth and is hard to swallow without some strong gravy.

Ye Lan was somewhat disappointed.

What hasn't Ye Lan eaten?

Several of the nation's top master chefs have been invited to her home to cook for her elders' birthdays.

Even if this kid is a genius, can he surpass those master chefs in culinary skills?

Besides, it's just boiled noodles.

If it were some kind of fancy meal, that would be one thing, but how delicious could a bowl of boiled noodles be?

Ye Lan, anyway, didn't believe it.

However, the boy's movements were quite skillful.

Light the fire, boil water, wash vegetables, and chop vegetables.

The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board was light and quick, with a wonderful rhythm, like some kind of wonderful percussion.

As Ye Lan watched, her initial indifference turned into a vague and inexplicable heartache.

He's still just a child.

She should be at the age where she's hitting tiles and calling for her mother!

But what about Ji Bai?

My parents are gone.

Relatives are unreliable.

A person in this city, who moved from an old, dilapidated apartment to a research institute, has no one to confide in.

Now, however, he can prepare food for himself so skillfully.

How many times must someone have cooked to become this skilled?

Ye Lan's gaze softened unconsciously.

She even started thinking that no matter how well the noodles were cooked, she shouldn't be too harsh on him.

A short while later, Ji Bai came out carrying a tray.

Two bowls of plain noodles.

The noodles were neatly arranged, the soup was clear, and a golden-brown, crispy fried egg lay on top. A few slices of ham and some green vegetables were sprinkled on top, along with a small handful of bright green scallions.

A plate of fried ham.

It is thin and even, with slightly charred edges, and the oil has an enticing sheen.

A plate of cold mixed vegetables.

The bright colors and the sweet and sour aroma of vinegar mixed with garlic make your mouth water just by smelling them.

There are also two specialty drinks.

The color was clear, and a fine layer of water vapor condensed on the cup wall; I wondered what had been added.

It is simple, yet it appears exceptionally abundant.

Ye Lan's eyes lit up.

"Did you make all of this?"

"Not only did I do it, but I did it right under your nose."

Ji Bai replied irritably, "Miss Ye, please."

Ye Lan chuckled, unusually not arguing back: "That's not what I meant. I just didn't expect you to be so capable. Putting everything else aside, you do look quite good."

She walked to the dining table, sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and took a deep breath.

"Then... I won't be polite."

"Don't be shy, try my noodles... no, try my cooking!"

Ye Lan rolled her eyes at him, her gaze filled with both shame and annoyance.

Then she picked up a few noodles, blew on them, and put them in her mouth.

"Hmm."

Ye Lan's eyes widened suddenly.

In that instant, she felt the noodles were glowing.

It's no exaggeration, it really is glowing.

The deliciousness that rushes straight to the brain from the tip of the tongue can no longer be simply described as "delicious".

Refreshing, soothing, and lingering.

The soup is soup, and the noodles are noodles, yet they blend together perfectly, offering different layers of flavor in every bite.

Ye Lan never imagined that a bowl of the most ordinary noodles could taste so good it would make her want to cry.

She picked up another slice of ham.

Frying ham is the simplest thing in the world.

But once she tasted the ham, she realized that the most difficult things are often the simplest.

Its outer layer is crispy, and you can hear a slight "crunch" when you bite into it.

The meat inside was incredibly tender, with a savory and slightly buttery aroma that made it so delicious you'd want to scream.

The cold dishes were crisp, sweet, and perfectly balanced in spiciness and sourness.

The specially blended drink is refreshing and sweet, with a hint of citrus and mint, awakening all the taste buds.

A bite of noodles, a bite of vegetables, a sip of tea—each dish is incredibly simple, yet incredibly delicious.

Ye Lan was so engrossed in eating that she couldn't even lift her head. Just moments ago, she had said, "If it's not good, I'll turn on you," but now she had completely forgotten about that.

She was left only with shock.

Is there anything this kid can't do?

They can achieve room-temperature superconductivity in scientific research, write timeless classics in songwriting, and now they can even make a simple bowl of noodles taste better than a chef at a state banquet!

"This...this is really made of noodles?"

Ye Lan looked up at Ji Bai, her expression beyond shock.

Ji Bai sat opposite him, slowly eating his own bowl of food, and casually said, "You're done talking?"

"No...it's just...it's so delicious! I never imagined noodles could be this good!"

Ye Lan is open to any kind of handmade noodles or egg noodles, no matter how fancy the preparation.

She would never normally even glance at a large bag of noodles that costs only a few yuan in the supermarket.

Ji Bai smiled.

What's wrong with noodles?

Compared to the system's +5 deliciousness, it's just a lump of... cough cough, eating.

Suddenly, Ye Lan seemed to remember something, gently stirred the contents of her bowl with her chopsticks a few times, and spoke casually:

"That woman, she was also won over by your cooking, wasn't she?"

"Who?" Ji Bai asked without looking up as he ate his noodles.

"It's...it's the one I was with you last night." Ye Lan tossed her hair, her gaze falling out the window, feigning nonchalance.

"Oh, you mean the old teacher? She's never eaten it."

"She's never eaten it before? Really?"

Ye Lan raised her head, her eyes seemingly sparkling with stars.

Ji Bai didn't even look at her, continuing to eat his noodles with his head down: "Really? You're the first person to eat my noodles."

After he finished speaking, he looked up at the woman opposite him.

However, the anticipated outbreak did not occur.

Ye Lan neither blushed nor scolded him. Instead, she pressed on, "Then... what did she eat from you?"

Ji Bai looked at Ye Lan.

Not right.

Something's off about this woman.

According to the normal script, at this point she should be furious, call him a "scoundrel," and then pick up her chopsticks and throw them at him.

Why are you asking that question?

"No, you're the first person to witness my skills," Ji Bai chose to answer honestly.

As soon as she finished speaking, Ye Lan's smile was even harder to suppress than Ji Bai's smile after eating ten oysters that morning.

She said "Oh," her voice rising slightly, "Oh, I see... Then don't tell her I ate it, it wouldn't be good if she got angry."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ji Bai slowly added:

"By the way, does eating together count?"

boom!

Ye Lan slammed her chopsticks on the table.

"I'm stuffed!"

"Where are the songs? Where are the two songs you owe me?"

"If you don't produce it today, I guarantee you won't leave this house alive!"

Ji Bai looked at the cat across from him, whose fur had stood on end, but instead of panicking, he leaned forward and looked at her lips.

"So... do you want some?"

Ye Lan froze.

What to eat?

A guzzler?

Are you kidding me!

She has remained chaste for thirty years, how could that be...?

No!

Absolutely not!