The kitchen had transformed into a lively battlefield of heat, sizzling sounds, and rich, mouthwatering aromas. Oil popped and hissed in multiple pans, flames danced beneath blackened woks, and the steady chop-chop rhythm of a knife against the cutting board filled the air like a heartbeat.
In the middle of it all stood Su Wanyan, sleeves rolled neatly to her elbows, expression calm and focused despite the controlled chaos around her.
She moved with quiet confidence. In one wok, golden-battered chunks of pork plunged into bubbling hot oil, crackling fiercely as they turned crisp and fragrant. She stirred another pan where a glossy red sauce bubbled—sweet vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and a perfect touch of tang that made the whole kitchen smell bright and inviting.
Colorful bell peppers and onions joined the mix, followed by juicy pineapple chunks that added a fresh sweetness. When the pork emerged golden and crunchy, she tossed it in, coating every piece in the shining crimson glaze. Sweet and Sour Pork sat gleaming like little treasures under the warm lights.
Beside it, flames leaped higher in a second wok. Cubes of chicken hit the screaming hot surface with a sharp sizzle, searing instantly. Fragrant garlic and dried chilies followed, releasing a smoky, spicy perfume that tickled the nose.
A generous handful of roasted peanuts scattered in at the end, clicking against the metal as they were stirred through the glossy sauce. With one powerful toss, the entire mixture flew up in a perfect arc and landed back in the wok. Kung Pao Chicken carried a bold, addictive scent—sweet, salty, and just a little dangerous.
A clay pot nearby simmered steadily on lower heat. Silken tofu quivered gently in a deep scarlet sauce laced with minced meat and chili oil, the steam rising in fragrant, spicy clouds that carried notes of fermented beans and numbing peppercorns.
Su Wanyan moved more carefully here, folding the tofu through the sauce with delicate motions so it wouldn't break. A final sprinkle of chopped green onions finished the dish. Mapo Tofu looked fiery and tempting.
Next came the noodles. Chow Mein was tossed vigorously in another wok with shredded cabbage, carrots, and strips of meat. The spatula scraped loudly against the steel as everything mixed, soaking in savory soy sauce until every strand shone with a rich bronze sheen. The comforting, warm aroma filled the space like a hug.
Finally, the largest wok welcomed a mountain of rice. Grains danced across the hot surface, separating instantly under her quick, practiced strokes. Scrambled eggs joined, followed by bright peas, carrots, spring onions, and bits of meat. A drizzle of soy sauce painted the rice with color, and each grain moved freely, fragrant and golden. Fried Rice completed the spread.
When the flames were finally turned off and the smoke began to drift lazily upward, five beautiful dishes covered the large dining table like proud trophies.
Su Wanyan exhaled softly, wiped her brow with the back of her hand, and allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. She untied her apron with gentle movements and announced warmly, "Here, let's eat."
"Wow, I almost forgot this was supposed to be a love variety show," Qin Yuran laughed loudly as she claimed a seat, already eyeing the dishes with open anticipation.
"No joke," Han Jiho added quietly, reaching over to pat Su Wanyan's shoulder in thanks. She accepted it with a small smile and patted his arm in return.
The other guests followed, settling into chairs around the table one by one. Mo Xingxue sat carefully, still cradling the now-sleeping Mo Yan in her arms. She hadn't let go of her daughter for an hour—because there was no crib or stroller here. She had left them behind at home because her hands had been full with the baby and too much luggage, and she hadn't wanted to trouble the crew.
PD Xu Cui, watching through the camera monitors, noticed and nodded to himself in understanding. He quietly signaled his assistant to arrange for a crib and stroller to be delivered. However, none of the guests noticed the small gesture.
At the table, everyone began serving themselves. The first bites brought immediate reactions—eyes widening, soft gasps of surprise.
"This is so good!" Qin Yuran exclaimed, her mouth still full of fried rice.
Su Wanyan laughed and scolded playfully, "Hey, swallow first before you speak. The rice is flying everywhere."
Qin Yuran rolled her eyes but grinned anyway.
Mo Xingxue ate more quietly, but her expression softened with genuine delight. "Qin Yuran is right," she said after a moment. "This is really good, Yanyan."
Su Wanyan's smile warmed. "Eat more, then." She reached across and placed several extra pieces of Sweet and Sour Pork onto Mo Xingxue's plate—remembering clearly from the original owner's memories that it had been one of her favorites.
Mo Xingxue's heart gave a quiet flutter. She still remembers, she thought, a small, private smile touching her lips.
The peaceful moment shattered when Lin Xuanyu's exaggerated voice cut through. "This is so good, Dr. Su! But why are you eating so little? Here, let me feed you." He picked up a piece of mapo tofu with his chopsticks and held it up toward Su Wanyan's mouth, eyes sparkling.
His gaze, however, kept flicking toward Gu Chengze, searching for any reaction.
Su Wanyan felt the manipulation instantly. Internally she rolled her eyes, but her face remained perfectly composed. "Oh, no thank you, Mr. Lin," she replied, her tone sharpening just enough to be noticeable only to a few.
Mo Xingxue caught it and thought with quiet amusement, Yanyan's annoyed.
"I can feed myself," Su Wanyan added gently, offering a polite smile.
Lin Xuanyu looked visibly taken aback. He slowly lowered his chopsticks, expression hurt.
The live barrage exploded, split between camps.
[Damn you heartless alpha!]
[How dare she hurt our Xuanyu's feelings?!]
[Does she want to die?]
[What is wrong with these people? Su Wanyan clearly just said no.]
[Exactly. Lin Xuanyu was the one overstepping.]
[She's just loyal to her wife.]
[Which is the one sitting right beside her, not you.]
[Hey, I didn't say it was me!]
[Is that so? Looks like the medicine is finally kicking in.]
[LOL these two again.]
While the comments raged, Su Wanyan simply continued eating with elegant calm. When she finished, she reached over and tapped Mo Xingxue's shoulder lightly. "I can hold her," she murmured. "You should focus on eating."
Mo Xingxue looked at her gratefully and handed Mo Yan over. "Thank you."
Su Wanyan shook her head with a gentle smile and took the baby securely into her arms.
Across the table, Gu Chengze's chopsticks snapped with a sharp crack. Everyone turned to look at him, silently questioning what was wrong. However, he merely scoffed, stood up, and went to grab a new pair without a word.
Su Wanyan watched him go, then glanced at Lin Xuanyu, who was squirming uncomfortably in his seat. A quiet laugh escaped her—soft enough that only Mo Xingxue noticed.
Mo Xingxue looked between Su Wanyan and Lin Xuanyu, a strange thought flickering through her mind. Does.. Yanyan like him? She quickly shook the idea away.
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After the meal, the guests drifted back to the living room. Zhao Yichen volunteered to handle the dishes and stayed behind in the kitchen.
In the living area, conversation flowed easily until Mo Xingxue let out a soft yawn, her head beginning to nod. The exhaustion from sleepless nights with Mo Yan was catching up.
Su Wanyan noticed immediately and stopped participating in the group talk. "Are you sleepy?" she asked gently.
Mo Xingxue blinked awake and nodded, a little embarrassed. "Yeah.. Mo Yan didn't let me sleep much last night."
Su Wanyan stretched out her arms again. "I can look after her for now. You can take a nap."
Mo Xingxue hesitated, clearly feeling like a burden. Su Wanyan reassured her softly, promising she'd take perfect care of Mo Yan and that there was nothing to worry about.
Seeing the steady determination in Su Wanyan's eyes, Mo Xingxue finally gave in. She handed her baby over carefully, then leaned her head against Su Wanyan's shoulder and closed her eyes. Her breathing soon grew slow and relaxed.
Su Wanyan stiffened at first, about to gently wake her and suggest going to the room, but guilt stopped her. Instead, she carefully adjusted Mo Xingxue's position for more comfort and continued chatting with the others, keeping her voice softer and quieter.
Qin Yuran couldn't hold back a loud laugh at the sight, which earned her a pinch from Song Meiyu and a smack on her arm by Han Jiho. Qin Yuran clapped a hand over her mouth and nodded painfully in apology.
Once she quieted, Song Meiyu returned to her usual shy demeanor. Seeing Qin Yuran looking like a scolded big puppy made Su Wanyan laugh softly too.
It would be nice if everything could just stay like this, she thought happily.