Lin Shanyue hadn’t expected the other person to respond the moment she called. What she didn’t know was that Huo Yi had genuinely been waiting for her.
The young woman had gone out early that morning, and even Little Bao was nowhere to be seen.
Unable to do anything except watch through the mirror, Huo Yi had grown increasingly anxious. He had spent the entire morning in his antique shop, constantly glancing toward the mirror and occasionally tossing supplies through it. By now, the floor on Lin Shanyue’s side was piled high with things.
“Where did you go?” Huo Yi finally asked.
Lin Shanyue answered honestly, “I found an opportunity and did a bit of business.”
Huo Yi was surprised.
He had assumed she was some fallen noble lady—the kind who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen. Yet not only could she cook, she even knew how to make money…
“How much did you earn?” he asked.
“One tael,” Lin Shanyue replied with a smile. She was in an excellent mood and answered every question readily while putting away all the things the mirror spirit had sent her.
One tael…
Huo Yi was genuinely astonished. She had earned an entire tael in just one morning? Was she really that talented?
Thinking of his own deserted antique shop, he coughed awkwardly.
Lin Shanyue didn’t notice. Her attention had been completely captured by the bedding.
“Young Master… why did you think to send me this? What is it made of? It’s so fluffy and warm.”
She had never seen such a soft quilt before. It certainly didn’t look like cotton.
“It’s a down comforter,” Huo Yi replied casually. “I figured winter’s about to arrive where you are. Those two thin quilts of yours won’t keep you warm.”
Lin Shanyue suddenly froze.
She glanced toward her bed, and her cheeks instantly flushed pink.
He… could see everything?
“What’s wrong?” Huo Yi asked after she remained silent for a while.
“N-Nothing.”
She hurriedly turned back to organizing everything else.
“And these…? Young Master, forgive me, but I think our worlds are different. I don’t recognize any of these things…”
Huo Yi patiently explained.
“The red can is powdered milk. Just mix it with hot water. Both you and Little Bao can drink it. The bag contains white sugar. And these are canned fish and canned luncheon meat—you can open them and eat them directly.”
Lin Shanyue stared in amazement.
“Y-You’re giving all of these to me?”
“Mhm.”
“I don’t really need them. You can have them.”
He paused before adding,
“But… when will lunch be ready? I’m starving.”
Even Huo Yi felt a little embarrassed.
The reason he’d been waiting around all morning wasn’t just to see Lin Shanyue—it was also because he was waiting for a meal.
Ever since he’d discovered that he could actually taste the food from her world, no delicacy his own household prepared could tempt him anymore.
Honestly…
All he wanted was another taste of that simple bowl of rice porridge.
Last time he hadn’t gotten to try any dishes.
Today, he wanted vegetables.
Lin Shanyue suddenly understood.
“Please wait, Young Master! I’ll start cooking right away! I even bought meat today!”
Meat?
Excellent.
Huo Yi’s anticipation immediately soared.
Without wasting another moment, Lin Shanyue hurried into the kitchen.
She took out two radishes and two heads of napa cabbage.
The cabbage would still be stir-fried, but now that she finally had oil and salt, she could season it properly.
The tofu would be braised together with minced pork.
The remaining pork bones would be simmered with radish into a nourishing soup.
Two dishes and one soup.
Instead of porridge, she’d steam rice today.
She never imagined she’d be able to enjoy such a good meal so soon.
It was all thanks to the mirror spirit… though admittedly, she’d worked hard herself as well.
Smiling to herself, she quickened her pace.
She was getting hungry too.
Then she remembered the half piece of flatbread.
While the rice and soup were cooking, she returned to the bedroom.
“Little Bao, have a little flatbread first~”
She didn’t dare feed him too much.
She tore off a tiny piece first and watched carefully to make sure he could eat it without any problems before relaxing.
The untouched half remained.
After thinking for a moment, she cut it into small pieces, placed them neatly on a plate, and carefully passed it through the mirror.
“Young Master, this is the flatbread I bought in town today. Would you like to try some?”
Flatbread?
Huo Yi knew what it was.
Coincidentally, he’d been wanting to verify something.
“Mhm.”
He accepted the plate.
He wanted to know whether he could taste all food from her world—or only the food Lin Shanyue herself cooked.
Without hesitation, he picked up a piece and took a bite.
Nothing.
Completely tasteless.
That answered his question.
Strange…
But he still wasn’t ready to draw any conclusions.
Only when Lin Shanyue finally finished cooking and passed him the meal through the mirror—
Stir-fried napa cabbage.
Minced pork with tofu.
Radish pork bone soup.
The most ordinary home-cooked meal imaginable.
Yet Huo Yi was practically swallowing his own saliva.
Without another thought, he took a bite.
His taste buds exploded to life.
His eyes lit up.
Delicious.
So delicious…
He almost wanted to cry.
Without saying another word, Huo Yi devoured every last bite.
Only after finishing did he look up to realize that Lin Shanyue was still standing in front of the mirror, quietly waiting.
“Young Master?”
He steadied his emotions and wiped his mouth.
“Mhm.”
“Did it suit your taste?”
The long-forgotten feeling of being full—and the simple happiness that came from good food—washed over him.
Still, he merely answered,
“Mhm.”
Lin Shanyue let out a sigh of relief.
“Then… could you please return the bowls and chopsticks?”
She smiled awkwardly.
“To be honest… they’re rather expensive.”
It was the truth.
A single pottery bowl cost seven copper coins.
Huo Yi paused before slowly pushing them back through the mirror.
“Thank you, Young Master!”
She happily accepted them.
Then she noticed—
He had eaten everything.
Not a single grain of rice remained.
So the mirror spirit really had been starving in there.
Lin Shanyue had experienced hunger herself.
She knew exactly how miserable it felt.
“You’ve helped me so much, Young Master.”
“If you don’t mind, from now on you can order whatever you’d like to eat.”
“What would you like for dinner?”
Huo Yi’s eyes widened.
The unexpected offer nearly overwhelmed him with joy.
After a moment’s thought, he answered,
“I want braised pork.”
“Ah…”
Lin Shanyue looked troubled.
“I’m afraid I can’t make that just yet.”
“I only bought two jin of meat today, so there probably isn’t enough. Besides, braised pork requires quite a few spices.”
“I’m sorry…”
Silence came from the other side.
She grew nervous.
“Young Master?”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suddenly, the mirror began throwing things through again.
Cinnamon sticks.
Star anise.
Cloves.
Every spice imaginable for braising meat.
And then—
An entire box filled with pork ribs…
And thick slabs of pork belly.
Huo Yi’s voice came through once more.
“You cook exceptionally well.”
“I have no shortage of ingredients here.”
“You don’t need to waste your energy buying food anymore.”
“I expect to eat braised pork tonight.”
Lin Shanyue was utterly stunned.
This wasn’t just a mirror spirit anymore.
He was practically a god.
Could he actually be the Heavenly Court’s God of Cooking?
Or perhaps…
The God of Wealth himself, who granted every wish?