The first rays of morning light pierced through the thin morning mist, as if coating this city, which had just weathered a Monster crisis, in a gentle golden border.
Birds chirped on the branches, completely unaware that this city had almost turned into a pile of rubble yesterday.
The villa was very quiet.
But inside the kitchen, things were in full swing.
Sage woke up early today.
Even though he had stayed up until past two in the morning, under the abnormal physical enhancement of the Glint-Glint Fruit, he only needed a couple of hours of sleep to feel energetic enough to fight a tiger.
He wore a simple white T-shirt and a somewhat cute light blue apron.
If his fanatical gaming fans saw this ‘gap moe’ look, they would probably scream and faint.
Today’s task was arduous.
Because the biggest boss of the house, Young Miss Tatsumaki, had personally ordered a meal last night.
Xiaolongbao—the kind with soup inside.
Thud thud thud thud— The kitchen knife on the cutting board seemed to come alive in Sage’s hand, moving so fast the blade was a blur, leaving only a mass of silver light.
Top-grade black pork was minced into a paste, mixed with ginger and scallion water to remove any gaminess, and then combined with the pork skin aspic he had specially simmered last night.
This was the secret to the Xiaolongbao’s juice explosion.
When the aspic melted from the heat, it would turn into a rich, delicious soup locked inside the thin dough skin.
Kneading the dough, rolling the skins, and wrapping the filling.
Sage’s technique was even more skilled than the old masters of century-old shops.
Before long, Xiaolongbao as exquisite as works of art, each with eighteen pleats at the top, were neatly arranged in bamboo steamers.
Onto the pot, turn on the fire.
In addition, Sage also simmered a pot of Preserved Egg and Lean Meat Porridge.
It was slow-cooked with rich broth until the rice grains bloomed, becoming so thick and silky it could coat a spoon.
He even fried a few golden, crispy dough sticks and tossed together a refreshing Smashed Cucumber Salad to cut through the richness.
For a moment, the entire first-floor hall was filled with that domineering, homely aroma of food.
The second floor.
On the luxurious king-sized bed in the master bedroom, which was large enough for five people to sleep on.
Tatsumaki held her quilt, her entire body sinking into the soft mattress like a koala that hadn’t woken up yet.
Her green curly hair was a messy nest on her head, with a few strands playfully sticking to the corner of her mouth.
She was truly exhausted from tracking clues about that Monster last night; she was even using her superpowers to throw rocks in her dreams.
“Mmm…” Tatsumaki rolled over, letting out an unconscious murmur, wanting to continue her sweet slumber.
However.
Something was attacking her nose.
That smell…
First, a faint scent of meat, then a rich aroma of wheat, and finally an indescribable savoriness.
It was as if an invisible little person was gently scratching the tip of her nose with a feather.
Seduction.
Blatant seduction.
Tatsumaki’s stomach let out an ungraceful growl, breaking the morning silence.
“Smells so good…” She opened her eyes dizzily, her gaze carrying the confusion of just waking up and a hint of desire awakened by the aroma.
Her body reacted before her brain.
She floated directly up.
Too lazy to even walk, she hovered half a meter off the ground, wrapped in her thin silk nightgown, and drifted out of the room as if being led by the nose by that scent.
She floated all the way down the stairs.
Into the dining room.
When she saw the breakfast table, which was so lavish it was almost exaggerated.
Tatsumaki’s sleepy eyes instantly widened, her drowsiness vanishing and being replaced by two bright little stars.
Steaming bamboo baskets, plump white Xiaolongbao faintly revealing the color of the soup inside.
Emerald green chopped scallions sprinkled over thick white porridge.
And those golden, crispy Fried Dough Sticks.
“This…
this is breakfast?
Is it New Year’s?” Tatsumaki couldn’t help but swallow, feeling her mouth water frantically.
“You’re awake?” Sage happened to walk out of the kitchen carrying the last two small side dishes, untying his apron.
Looking at the S-Class Rank 2 with her messy hair and eyes glued to the buns—completely lacking her usual overbearing image—he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Go wash your face and brush your teeth.
It’s just coming out of the steamer.” Tatsumaki finally snapped out of it, realizing her current image might be a bit…
unbefitting of her status.
Her cheeks instantly flushed red, like a ripe apple.
“What are you laughing at!
What’s so funny!” “I just…
I just came down to get a glass of water!
It’s not like I was attracted by this smell!” She crossed her arms, turned her head away, and gave a tsundere hmph.
But her body honestly floated toward the bathroom, her speed clearly much faster than usual.
Three minutes later.
A freshened-up Tatsumaki sat at the dining table.
Chopsticks in hand, she looked at the steaming Xiaolongbao in front of her.
“Careful, it’s hot.
There’s…” Before Sage could say the word “soup”…
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”