The kitchen was a sanctuary of heat and aromatic steam until the heavy oak doors swung open with a dramatic flair. Tang Yuze stepped in, his designer jacket draped over his arm, his face still holding the sharp, powdered perfection of a studio shoot. He stopped dead, his eyes widening as they landed on Meilin, who was adjusting the heat on the clay pot, her sleeves rolled up and a stray lock of hair falling over her brow.
"The world is ending," Yuze proclaimed, his voice dripping with dramatic flair. "The Ice Queen of the Tang family is… sweating? Over a stove? Meilin, did the high-altitude air on the mountain finally scramble your circuits?"
"Sit down, Yuze," Meilin replied, her voice calm but carrying that dry, sisterly bite. "Before I decide the dog deserves your portion more than you do."
They moved to the formal dining hall, where the General was already waiting, his eyes gleaming with rare approval at the sight of the Sanbeiji. The dark, glossy glaze of the chicken caught the light of the chandelier, the scent of Thai basil and toasted sesame oil filling the room.
Yuze didn't wait. He pulled out his phone, snapping three high-definition photos from different angles. Within seconds, the Tang family's private encrypted group chat—a digital fortress reserved for the direct bloodline—lit up.
Yuze: [Photo 1] [Photo 2] Look at this masterpiece. Meilin actually cooked. Only for her favorite brother. Sorry, losers. 🥢🔥
The response was almost instantaneous. A message popped up from Tang Yichen, the eldest brother, currently stationed in Geneva. As the head of TSG's International Unit, Yichen was the family's iron fist abroad, a man whose business tactics were respected by world leaders and feared by rival conglomerates. He was the only one whose shadow loomed as large as the General's.
Yichen: Wow. Looks delicious. I actually miss your cooking, Meilin. You'll have to prepare this for me the moment I touch down. Don't let Yuze eat it all; he'll ruin his 'actor's physique.'
Meilin: Of course, Brother Yichen. It'll be waiting for you. Stay safe in Switzerland.
As they ate, even Meilin was quietly stunned. The chicken was tender, the flavors of the rice wine and ginger perfectly balanced, cutting through the richness of the sesame oil. The General nodded in silent appreciation, a gesture that meant more than a thousand words of praise.
After dinner, the house settled into a heavy, peaceful quiet. Meilin and Yuze stepped out into the sprawling rear gardens, where the moon hung like a silver coin over the manicured hedges. The scent of night-blooming jasmine trailed behind them.
"Thank you, Yuze," Meilin said softly, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "For the stream. You're the number one trending topic on Weibo. Your fan count jumped by three million in two hours. You didn't just help the game; you became the face of a new era."
Yuze leaned against a stone pillar, a genuine, relaxed smile breaking through his star-persona. "It was a good game, Meilin. Truly. But..." He turned, his gaze sharpening, sliding into that protective, older-brother mode. He glared at her suspiciously. "Is something going on between you guys? You don't just cook Sanbeiji for the ambassador out of the goodness of your heart."
Meilin stopped walking. The silence of the garden felt heavy, the wind rustling through the maples. She looked at her brother, her mask of the 'Cool Heiress' finally slipping.
"Brother... I like him," she whispered.
The silence that followed was deafening. Yuze stared at her, the teasing light in his eyes vanishing. "Meilin... you're still young. You haven't seen enough of the world to be tying yourself to a ghost like Zihan."
"I'm eighteen, Yuze," she countered, her voice firm. "I've seen enough of the world to know when I've found someone who doesn't look at me and see a 'Tang.' He just sees... me."
Yuze sighed, the weight of his protection clashing with the reality of his sister's resolve. "Does he know?"
"No," Meilin looked down at her hands. "Not yet. He has enough wars to fight right now."
"Keep it a secret from Grandpa for now," meilin said,
"I know," Yuze murmured. "Thank you, Brother."
As they returned to the house to retire for the night, Meilin looked toward the northern cliffs where the Moonlit Sanctuary lay hidden. The secret was out, but the war had only just begun.