Jing Yue

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Jing Yue (景悦)
Alias(es)	Xiao Yue; Yue'er; Little Chef; Chef Jing
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Jing Family; Tingtao Academy canteen; Culinary Academy; Equality Society
Occupation/Role	Chef; practitioner of the Way of Cooking; overall manager of the Equality Society's culinary arts; headmaster of the Culinary Academy
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Grandmaster	266	Advanced to Grandmaster level through feedback from her contributions to the Equality Society, including her work directing culinary arts, supporting the retirement canteen, and leading the Culinary Academy.

Background

Jing Yue grew up alongside her elder sister Jing Zhi and Lu Mingyuan. Her father brought both daughters to Lu Mingyuan for basic literacy instruction after Lu's parents died; Yue later maintained a particularly informal, sibling-like relationship with him. 11 159

As a teenager, she struggled to identify a future path. She considered becoming a heroic wanderer, a Grandmaster, pursuing mathematics, and expanding the Jing Family Restaurant, but doubted her own ability after mathematics study left her overwhelmed. 159

Her interest in cooking proved more enduring. Having learned from her father and Uncle Liu, she developed dishes quickly and was considered close to matching them except in the range of dishes she could prepare. Lu Mingyuan encouraged her to pursue the Way of Cooking rather than force herself down the mathematical path. 160

Lu Mingyuan hired Jing Yue as chef for Tingtao Academy's planned canteen, giving her a practical place to develop her craft. 160 She later became responsible for the Equality Society's culinary arts, helped sustain its retirement canteen, led the Culinary Academy, and ultimately reached the Grandmaster realm. 266

Personality

Jing Yue is lively, mischievous, and unrestrained around her family. She frequently teases Lu Mingyuan and Jing Zhi, dramatizes complaints for sympathy, and is confident enough to agree with praise of her own charm. 4 5 185 198

Food is one of her strongest motivations; Lu Mingyuan calls her a “little glutton,” while Jing Yue openly treats delicious food as highly important. 5 46 Despite her playfulness, she is sensitive about her limits and future. Her inability to keep pace with mathematics leaves her frustrated and tearful, whereas cooking gives her a genuine sense of accomplishment. 159 160

She is curious and willing to learn, asking practical questions about new supernatural powers and becoming engaged by scientific demonstrations even when she initially does not understand them. 90 210

Appearance

Jing Yue is described as a young woman who commonly wears green or light-green clothing. 4 198

• Green dress during her early visit to Lu Mingyuan's home. 4
• Light-green figure when arriving at Lu Mingyuan and Jing Zhi's courtyard as Chef Jing. 198
• Referred to by Lu Mingyuan as lively, young, and beautiful. 185

Abilities & Skills

Cooking

Jing Yue possesses exceptional culinary aptitude and learns recipes quickly from her father and Uncle Liu. 160

• Can learn Sichuan and Lu-style dishes after only a few attempts. 160
• Is regarded by Uncle Liu as the Jing family's likely inheritor of her father's culinary skill. 160
• Believes her cooking ability will soon surpass her father's earlier level. 160
• Finds satisfaction in transforming ingredients into refined dishes and uses cooking to calm herself when upset. 160
• Applies a scientific approach to the Way of Cooking, work believed capable of improving human health and lifespan. 218

Culinary Leadership

Her culinary work expands beyond individual cooking into institutional management. 266

• Served as chef of Tingtao Academy's canteen. 160
• Became the Equality Society's overall manager of culinary arts. 266
• Supported the free retirement canteen. 266
• Became headmaster of the Culinary Academy. 266

Mathematics Study

Jing Yue studies mathematics despite finding it difficult. 46 159

• Practiced problems in an illusion realm intensely enough to become mentally exhausted. 46
• Used compass-and-straightedge constructions, progressing from an equilateral triangle through a regular hexadecagon. 159
• Became stuck on constructing a regular heptadecagon. 159
• Ultimately concluded that mathematics was not a suitable cultivation path for her due to frustration with difficult problems. 159

Relationships

• Jing Zhi — Elder sister; the two share a teasing, close relationship and later react together to scientific experiments. 4 90 210
• Lu Mingyuan — Brother-in-law and mentor-like older-brother figure. He encourages her to pursue cooking, hires her for the academy canteen, and advises her on her ambitions and relationships. 159 160 183 185
• Jing Hu — Father; taught or arranged her culinary training and is considered one of the benchmarks for her cooking ability. 160
• Cui Shi — Mother; oversees Yue's studies and later hints at passing the restaurant to her. 46 160
• Uncle Liu — Culinary teacher and supporter who praises Jing Yue as the Jing family's successor in cooking. 160

Story Role / Major Arcs

Childhood Friend and Younger Sister

Jing Yue accompanies Jing Zhi to Lu Mingyuan's home and immediately establishes her teasing dynamic with him, complaining about his preferential treatment toward her sister. 4 5 She is also shown studying while resisting pressure about homework and preferring food and leisure. 32 46

Search for a Future

At sixteen, Jing Yue speaks openly with Lu Mingyuan about her uncertainty. She rejects the dangers of becoming a roaming hero, doubts she can become a Grandmaster through mathematics, and worries that expanding the Jing Family Restaurant is unrealistic. 159

Way of Cooking

After recognizing her talent and enjoyment of cooking, Lu Mingyuan persuades Jing Yue to pursue the Way of Cooking and appoints her as Tingtao Academy's canteen chef. 160 She takes on the demanding work of the canteen while continuing to banter with her sister and brother-in-law. 162 198

Grandmaster of Culinary Arts

Jing Yue's work in the Equality Society grows into leadership over its culinary programs, including the retirement canteen and Culinary Academy. These contributions lead to her advancement into the rare Grandmaster realm. 266

Trivia

• Jing Yue once considered becoming a female hero who would eliminate evil and uphold justice, but abandoned the dream after reflecting on its dangers. 159
• Her ideal romantic partner is someone who loves only her and never changes his heart. 159 160
• She charges or approves of expensive ingredients for canteen meals, including large yellow croaker priced at twenty-three taels per jin. 162
• She remains unmarried when Jing Zhi asks Lu Mingyuan not to call her “Little Chef,” fearing others may misunderstand the nickname. 204