Why am I the one being won over?

"""..."""

A silent tension filled the air as three distinct gazes, separated by the coffee table in the middle of the living room, collided and sparked intense debate.

Yan Qing sat on one side of the living room sofa, peeling the orange, removing all the white pith, and staring intently at the Foxkin mother and daughter sitting on the other side of the sofa with a somber expression.

The silence was first broken by the soft rustling of Yan Qing's clothes. He set the peeled orange aside, crossed his arms, and looked at the brown-haired Foxkin who had caught up from behind with a slightly helpless expression. "Miss Tingyun, why are you staring at me like that?"

"Oh dear, the heroic deeds of Yan Qing 'Vanguard have already spread throughout the entire Luofu. How could I, a mere woman, dare to presume?"

Tingyun gently opened her folding fan, hiding her gentle smile behind the fan, but her tone sounded somewhat sarcastic.

"Speaking of which, Yan Qing Vanguard, have you been having trouble deciding what to eat lately? How about I give you a little suggestion? There's a new Tavern that just opened on the north side of the intersection of Aurum Alley, Daffodil Street, and the main road Yaoqing Specialty, and their vegetarian dishes are quite good. But their most famous drink is definitely 'Oblivious to Romance'! I think Yan Qing Vanguard absolutely must try it!"

"Hehe~ Thank you for your kindness, but I'm not old enough to drink yet, so I'm afraid I won't be able to experience the fun that 'Aunt Tingyun' is talking about?"

Yan Qing naturally understood Tingyun's implied meaning and retorted just as eloquently.

The topic of women's age is dangerous no matter where you go. Sure enough, after hearing Yan Qing's words, even Tingyun, who is known for her good temper, couldn't help but bulge veins on her forehead, and her smiling face showed signs of breaking down.

I could have had dinner with Bai Jun, I could have been with Lady Yukong, everything was so wonderful in my imagination... but when I got to Lady Yukong's house, I found that there was a blond brat who used to look nice, but now I just hate him no matter how I look at him!

Damn it, that annoying brat! Can't he read the room? He should just find an excuse to leave and give Bai Jun's time to me and Lady Yukong to talk to!!!

"Hey, you two, stop arguing. There's no point in saying anything now. Why don't you think about what to eat tonight?"

As if affected by the negative emotions she was radiating, Yukong, who was sitting next to her, took a small sip of tea, adopted an attitude of indifference, and then stood up to prepare to distance himself from the conflict.

"I don't have any dietary restrictions, Lady Yukong."

"Please make yourself at home, Helmsman. I'm fine with whatever I eat."

Yukong nodded. Before leaving the living room, she took one last look at the figure on the open-air balcony with the glass door closed. Bai Jun was squatting on the balcony with a worried look on his face, making phone calls to others one after another, which made her smile with emotion.

"Don't get so agitated. Your shouting is deafening! I'm just back from vacation, not Impure World Reincarnation. What's with that incredulous voice?"

This is a reply to Sushang.

"I went out to take care of some personal errands, but it's all over now. I'll be back to my usual routine soon. Work? Of course, I'll continue working at the Earth-Balance Commission... Can I come see you tomorrow? Uh, it's not that I have anything else to do, but it depends on my schedule. I'm not sure if I'll be free."

This is a reply to Fu Xuan.

"I'm fine, don't get excited. How are things on your end? That's good. You don't need to come looking for me so late at night. Besides, I'm not even home right now... Where am I? At the General's house, haha, he insisted on having a meal with me. Anyway, I'll come over to play the Imperial Jade Card Game with you when I'm free these next couple of days!"

This is in response to Qing Que.

"Ah, dinner's almost ready. That's good, nothing serious. I'll make sure you get some rest. Okay, I know. Don't work too late either, make sure you get some rest. You want me to promise? Okay, I promise."

This is in response to the Hanya.

"I'm fine, nothing's wrong, don't worry. Don't cry, you're such a big girl and you're always crying. No wonder Tail keeps complaining about you. If you keep doing this, I'll have to complain about you next time too. Okay, okay, you too, please take care of yourself. See you later."

This is in response to Huo Huo's words.

"Yes, yes, I'm perfectly healthy, I've been eating on time, and... Hello? Hello?"

Bai Jun sat on the balcony, answering calls one by one, looking weary, until Xue Yi hung up on him, at which point he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Is it because he's too popular? Ever since he told them he was back on Jade Omen, the phone has been ringing non-stop, one call after another. Bai Jun hasn't stopped talking for over half an hour, and his throat is practically parched.

When I looked up again, it was already evening. Yukong's balcony was in a great location, offering a panoramic view of nearly half of the city. The night view of Exalting Sanctum City was as bustling as ever, so beautiful that words could not describe it.

However, the thin moonlight was gradually covered by thickening clouds, and the once peaceful sky now faintly rumbled with thunder. Frequent rain is normal at this time of year, so it probably won't rain for long, right?

After quietly enjoying the view from the balcony for a while, Bai Jun returned to the living room, only to be met with two burning gazes.

"Teacher! I just peeled some oranges for you. Come sit here, and I'll tell you about my experiences on the ship."

Yan Qing moved with lightning speed, arriving first at Bai Jun's side and warmly taking his left hand.

"My benefactor, please sit here. I just bought some cherries; would you like some?"

Her soft body leaned in, not to be outdone, and gently took Bai Jun's right arm.

"Do you two always have to end up like this every time you meet? Can't you just sit down and have a proper chat?"

Bai Jun sighed softly, reached out and ruffled Yan Qing's golden hair, praising her generously, "You really worked hard, and I'm proud of you!"

"Hehehe, not at all, teacher, you flatter me."

Yan Qing's handsome face instantly showed satisfaction, as if he had been granted approval, and he grinned foolishly.

"Ugh! Master!" The fox puffed out its cheeks angrily, clearly pleased with itself.

"Tingyun was so cute this afternoon, I really mean it. I hope to see you like that more often in the future."

Bai Jun casually picked up a washed cherry from the table and stuffed it into Tingyun's mouth.

"Oh! Thank you~"

Bai Jun's clean, slender fingertips accidentally brushed against Tingyun's delicate lips, startling her into a shy smile. She instantly dropped her previous angry demeanor and became soft and quiet, though her beautiful fox tail behind her couldn't hide her joy, swaying back and forth like a happy little puppy.

After settling the two of them down, Bai Jun went to the kitchen and saw Yukong washing vegetables by the sink.

"Since you're just killing time anyway, let me help you."

"Hmm? What brings you here? You should go and rest in the living room. There's no reason for a guest to help out."

Although Yukong was somewhat surprised, she refused to let him cook with her no matter what. This was not just a matter of etiquette, but more importantly, she seemed to want to appropriately demonstrate her feminine strength.

"Alright, let's not worry about it so much. I finally managed to appease those two in the living room. If I stay there any longer, there's bound to be another argument soon. So staying here is actually the best option."

Bai Jun walked forcefully to Yukong's side and, amidst a soft gasp from the latter's slightly flushed face, snatched the unwashed vegetables from her hands.

"Honestly, if you don't mind the hassle, then I'm leaving you alone."

Unable to withstand Bai Jun's stubbornness, Yukong no choice but to loosen his sleeve, step back a few paces, and make room for Bai Jun.

After the two finished washing the vegetables in tacit agreement, Yan Qing and Tingyun, who had just recovered from their fascination in the living room, arrived at the kitchen door late at the last minute. They happened to see Bai Jun skillfully putting on his apron. Yan Qing was fine, but Tingyun was quite captivated by his stay-at-home husband appearance, and stared at Bai Jun with a flushed face.

"I'm cooking today, do you have any dietary restrictions?"

Bai Jun rolled up his sleeves, picked up a kitchen knife, and asked Yukong and the two people blocking the door if they had any dietary restrictions.

Tingyun had no objections, only saying that she would follow her benefactor's wishes. In fact, she was already full just watching Bai Jun cook; this was probably what they meant by "beauty is food for the eyes"!

"Teacher, do whatever you want, I'm fine with it!" Yan Qing wasn't picky about food, and Bai Jun's cooking suited his taste perfectly, so he would eat everything no matter what he made.

"I just bought some fish and asked the owner to prepare it for me," Yukong a gentle smile.

She would smile and offer suggestions beside Bai Jun, and the two of them together looked like an ordinary couple struggling to decide what to have for dinner.

As the season approaches the start of summer, fish are at their fattest and most delicious. While they may not be the freshest fish of the year, they are certainly tender and flavorful, making them ideal for soups or steaming.

Before long, a table full of dishes was served.

Yan Qing and Tingyun had been waiting at the kitchen door, so they washed their hands early and were just waiting for Bai Jun and Yukong to sit down.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and eat it while it's hot. But let me make it clear first, I haven't cooked in a long time, so please forgive me if it's not good."

Bai Jun washed his hands and sat down with Yukong.

Dinner was plentiful and tasted great, especially the dishes Bai Jun made; they were practically snatched up by Yan Qing and Tingyun before I could even touch them.

Their bowls were bulging, but they still stared at each other defiantly, their gazes clashing fiercely, as if each was determined to outdo the other in eating.

Yan Qing's eating habits were completely inconsistent with his handsome young appearance; he ate like a wild boar coming down from the mountain to root up a vegetable garden.

Tingyun maintained her dignified and elegant demeanor while eating. Although she ate one bite at a time, her eating speed was not much slower than Yan Qing's.

Putting aside the rivalry between the two, Bai Jun's culinary skills were indeed impressive. The dishes he made were perfect in color, aroma, and taste, with no flaws in either the cooking time or the seasoning. It wasn't a skill that could be acquired casually; it was more like a level of expertise honed in the kitchen over several years.

However, it's not actually that exaggerated. After all, cooking is all about controlling the heat, and that's also what blacksmiths excel at. After all, Bai Jun is a Hundred Refinements Master, and when it comes to controlling the flames, there are few people in the entire Xianzhou who can compare to him.

Moreover, when he was in Yaoqing, he had intentionally or unintentionally learned a few dishes from professionals. Although the dishes he knew were not suitable for grand occasions, they were more than enough for everyday meals.

"It seems like they really enjoy your cooking, while mine hardly gets any attention... Or is it just my imagination? Why do I feel like my cooking isn't bad at all?"

Yukong picked up a piece of the green vegetable he had made himself, tasted it with a troubled expression, but didn't find it particularly bad. As a result, he fell into deep worry and self-doubt.

"No, it really is delicious, Yukong skills are superb."

Bai Jun picked up several pieces of vegetables prepared by Yukong and put them into his bowl. He ate them all in one go and gave a satisfied thumbs up.

"Th-thank you..."

Whether it was a perfunctory remark or a consolation, Yukong didn't care. But whenever he saw Bai Jun's smile, his heart would pound, and he would subconsciously lower his head, not daring to look at him again.

"My benefactor, please try my cooking, it's really delicious!"

These small details were all noticed by Tingyun. She gradually slowed down her eating speed, and carefully ate the remaining food in her bowl, spreading some of it to Bai Jun, wanting him to taste the dishes she had made.

"Really? I hope you're not just flattering me..."

Bai Jun picked up a piece of fish he had prepared with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth and savored it carefully. He showed an expression that he felt it was alright, at least his cooking skills hadn't deteriorated too much.

For some reason, the dining table fell silent again. Yukong and Yan Qing followed Tingyun Yun's example and served food to Bai Jun. One served him the food he had made, while the other served him whatever he could find. Gradually, Bai Jun's bowl was piled high with food.

Bai Jun was somewhat annoyed by the three men's enthusiasm, but he had no choice but to accept it and thank them for their concern.

Just as Bai Jun breathed a sigh of relief after finally finishing the food in his bowl, he looked up and found three pairs of chopsticks holding food up to his mouth again, which made his smile freeze.

"Teacher, eat this!"

"My benefactor, this one tastes even better!"

"Bai Jun, don't you love my cooking the most?"

The three of them completely disregarded Bai Jun's actual appetite, as if they were experiencing the joy of feeding him for the first time in their lives. Yukong and Tingyun, in particular, were overflowing with maternal instincts, their cheeks flushed as if they were vying for the right to feed a pet. Before they knew it, they had stuffed all the food on the table into his mouth.

Chapter 117 The Doll Doesn't Cry, So It Started to Rain

It had devolved into a feeding frenzy, and the meal ended hastily with all the food on the table going into Bai Jun's stomach.

"Oh dear? You finished eating so quickly? That's a bit of a shame..."

"Hmm, it seems the food I prepared this time wasn't quite enough. Did Bai Jun eat his fill?"

"It's okay! I still have a few pieces of meat in my bowl. Teacher, please open your mouth, ah--"

Tingyun reluctantly put down her chopsticks, Yukong propped his cheek up with his left hand in distress, regretting that he hadn't cooked more food to prolong this warm and happy time. Meanwhile, Yan Qing revealed a smug smile and placed the three pieces of meat he had deliberately saved near Bai Jun's mouth.

"Even elephants should be fed by now, right? Please, all three of you, consider my feelings. Is this a proper dinner or just some kind of zoo treat? Why is all the food on the table ending up in my mouth?!"

With some difficulty, Bai Jun swallowed the food that was stuffed full into his mouth. He quickly gulped down a few mouthfuls of water and finally let out a long sigh of relief, pushing back the meat that Yan Qing had put on his plate.

"I ate quite a lot at lunch, so I'm not very hungry now. Besides, I ate a lot of the food the teacher made, so don't worry!"

Yan Qing dejectedly stuffed the meat into his mouth, chewed it haphazardly a few times, and swallowed it.

Tingyun and Yukong were speechless for a moment. In fact, they didn't know why things had turned out this way, but one thing was certain—feeding Bai Jun was really great!

Seeing him eat the food she had picked for him with a satisfied expression seemed to unconsciously stimulate their maternal instincts, which then overflowed.

Suddenly, Tingyun noticed two bottles of expensive liquor placed in the corner of the dining table. She had brought them specially to get Bai Jun drunk. Even if she couldn't get him drunk, seeing his adorable slightly tipsy appearance would be wonderful.

"Hmm... let's not talk about those unimportant things for now. Have you eaten, my benefactor? If you don't mind, have some more drinks. I went to great lengths to bring these from another planet. I heard that the drinks from that planet are the most famous in the nearby star system. Even our company spent a lot of money to get a partnership with them."

Tingyun picked up a bottle of red wine and looked at Bai Jun with a smile.

"I don't mind drinking... but I'm not good at judging alcohol, so giving me expensive wine might be a waste, you know?"

Bai Jun scratched his cheek, somewhat embarrassed, and said...

"That's absolutely not true! Who would say such a thing to our benefactor? There is absolutely nothing in the world that can compare to our benefactor. It is an honor for this bottle of wine to be drunk by our benefactor. If anyone dares to say that it is a waste, I will smash their head with my fan!"

Tingyun's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her emerald eyes flashed with a flame of anger. It was a rare sight to see her angry. Her usually gentle and refined face looked particularly terrifying when she was enraged, and her soft fox tail stood on end with her anger.

Even Yukong and Yan Qing, who were standing to the side, showed the same expression.

"Sorry, sorry, no one said that. It was just my wishful thinking. As punishment, I'll punish myself with a drink first."

Realizing he had misspoke, Bai Jun quickly explained, feeling a strange sense of happiness in his heart. He then took the red wine that Tingyun had poured for him and drank it down in one gulp.

"That's the right way to think, my benefactor. Everyone has witnessed your excellence, so please don't underestimate yourself! By the way, my benefactor's drinking style is truly hearty!"

Tingyun's face regained its initial smile, and she quickly took the red wine and moved closer to Bai Jun, pouring him wine like a doting wife.

Seeing this scene, Yukong felt a complex mix of emotions, a mixture of relief and envy, but mostly helplessness. As if trying to swallow this strange, unnamed feeling, she opened a bottle of wine and poured herself a full glass.

"Miss Tingyun, I'd like to drink too. Besides, you're standing so close, it's inconvenient for the teacher to drink."

Yan Qing, without a smile, offered a reminder.

"Oh dear, young man Yan Qing, aren't you still a minor? Drinking is not allowed, and it's quite impolite to disturb my Oblivious to Romance's drink, would I?"

Tingyun's bright, emerald-green eyes were still smiling, and she moved closer to Bai Jun as if to assert her dominance.