If You're Not Eager to Eat, There's Something Wrong with You

Dumbledore looked at the smile, which rivaled the sweetest, most cloying candy at Honeydukes. For some reason, a slight chill crept up the back of his neck. The corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, and he swallowed without thinking.

A familiar sense of foreboding rose in his heart again, like the one he felt whenever he saw the "list of students requiring special attention" that Filch submitted before the start of each term.

(Dumbledore's inner monologue: Merlin's beard... why does that smile remind me of the look on Gellert's face before he caused trouble when we were young? Cooperating with the East to bring in exchange students... is this really a purely "good thing"? Do the Hogwarts Kitchen and Hospital Wing need to be reinforced and expanded in advance?)

He hurriedly shook his head, casting off that terrible sense of déjà vu, and decided to break the inexplicably strange atmosphere with the eternal topic of food.

He cleared his throat, a kindly smile returning to his face, and said expectantly, "Ah, I've heard that the food at your sect is exceptionally famous. Even the House-elves at Hogwarts have heard of it. I wonder if an old wizard who has come from so far away might be fortunate enough to have a taste?"

The word "food" was like a spell that broke some kind of seal!

"Whoosh!"

Chu Yao's already large eyes instantly burst with a light as bright as Lumos, their dazzling gaze fixed firmly on her master, Chu Kuangren. The longing in her eyes was almost palpable, as if she were saying, Food! Food! Food! Master, say yes! If you don't, I'll... I'll faint from hunger right here in the reception hall!

Chu Kuangren was so exasperated by his disciple's undisguised impression of a reincarnated hungry ghost that he puffed out his beard and muttered, "You good-for-nothing little brat!"

His voice was quiet, but everyone present had sharp ears and keen eyes.

(Chu Kuangren's inner monologue: Disgraceful! Utterly disgraceful! I, Chu Kuangren, have been renowned all my life, so how did I end up teaching a disciple whose eyes light up at the mention of food? What happened to the bearing of a sword cultivator?!)

Still, despite his scolding, the old man's affection for her won out.

After all, he had raised the child himself. She had only just returned from a journey spent braving the elements (?), and had been dragged over before she could even drink a sip of water. She was probably starving by now.

He sighed helplessly and said to Dumbledore, "Of course. Everything was prepared long ago. I can't speak for anything else about my junior brother Zhang, but his cooking is absolutely masterful. Knowing you have a sweet tooth, he specially prepared a few dishes that are sure to suit your taste."

At those words, the smile on Chu Yao's face grew even brighter, almost enough to blind someone.

(Chu Yao's inner monologue: Sweets! Dumbledore loves sweets! Hehehe... here's my chance!

Her mental food catalog flipped rapidly: crystal-clear candied hawthorns! Sweet-and-sour pork, crispy on the outside and tender inside, sweet but not cloying! Candied sweet potatoes with sugar strands three meters long! And honey-glazed ham, sweet osmanthus lotus root, sweet fermented rice...

Slurp!

Martial Uncle Zhang! You're the GOAT! Nobody had better stop me from digging in today!)

The more she thought about it, the happier she became. It was as though she could already smell that tempting sweetness. Her mouth began watering uncontrollably, and drool nearly escaped from the corner of her mouth. She hurriedly and discreetly slurped it back.

Chu Kuangren took in every bit of his youngest disciple's embarrassing behavior and shook his head furiously in his heart. Once again, he lamented, "This girl is completely hopeless when it comes to food! She doesn't have an ounce of the gravitas someone with an Innate Sword Physique should have!"

(Chu Kuangren's inner monologue: Sigh! What a sin! Why did I ever pick up such a foodie and bring her home?)

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