Does Teacher Like Black Stockings?

"Teacher, are you... making a cake?" Bibi Dong stepped closer, her eyes full of astonishment as she looked at the novel ingredients and tools on the counter.

"Yes, I promised you."

"But it's my first time making one, so it might not be perfect."

"Then I'll help." Bibi Dong looked eager to give it a try.

Watching her teacher bustle about, she wanted to join in too. It seemed like it would be fun.

Qian Xunji had wanted to say there was no need, but on second thought, making a cake together seemed like a rather nice experience.

It could deepen their bond and create an opportunity to be alone together.

His gaze swept over the fascinated crowd gathered around them, and he frowned.

Then he put down his tools, cleared his throat, and looked toward the middle-aged, plump man in the head chef's uniform.

"Head Chef."

"Y-Yes! What are your orders, Your Holiness?" The head chef jolted and immediately bowed.

"I recall that among the ingredients I asked you to prepare earlier, a few important items seemed to be missing."

"For example... Nectar Flower Frosting from the Extreme North, as well as Century-Old Royal Jelly. Also, go check whether anything else is missing from the kitchen storeroom."

The head chef said, "..."

Nectar Flower Frosting?

Century-Old Royal Jelly?

What were those supposed to be?

He had never even heard of them!

Yet, having risen to the position of head chef in Spirit Hall, he had long mastered the art of reading the room.

He instantly understood what the Pope meant.

Clear the room! Immediately! At once!

He immediately put on an expression of sudden realization mixed with deep remorse and slapped his round forehead. "Oh dear, look at this memory of mine."

"Yes, yes, yes... we really don't have those top-grade ingredients here. We'll have to go buy them."

"But it's the middle of the day, and the procurement office is taking its break... it seems I can only make the trip myself. Lads!"

Turning around, he roared at the crowd, "Don't just stand there like fools. The ingredients His Holiness needs are of utmost importance."

"You lot, come with me to the storeroom. The rest of you, bring out all those rarely used spices and let them air out."

Amid a burst of chaos, the head chef moved with agility completely at odds with his build, shoving and herding dozens of bewildered kitchen hands, as well as the nearby deacons and maids who had been watching the spectacle, out of the kitchen area.

In the blink of an eye, the kitchen that had just been bustling with people was left with only Qian Xunji, Bibi Dong, and Ling Yuan, who had not yet been cleared out.

Ling Yuan blinked and looked around at the empty surroundings.

Understanding immediately dawned on her, and she slapped her forehead.

"Oh! I just remembered, I sweated a lot while cultivating today, and I'm all sticky. I need to hurry back and take a bath and change clothes."

"You two carry on. I'll come back and help after my bath."

With that, she darted out through the side door, pulling it shut behind her.

The kitchen fell completely silent.

Bibi Dong looked at the kitchen, now suddenly so empty, then recalled her teacher's seamless operation to clear the room. At last, she could not hold it in and burst into laughter.

Realizing she had lost her composure, she quickly bit her lower lip and tried hard to suppress her laughter.

Teacher... had gone to so much trouble just to be alone with her.

The contrast with his usual dignified and holy image was simply too great.

Yet... her heart felt sweet, and she also found it a little amusing.

Seeing her struggle to hold back her laughter, Qian Xunji raised an eyebrow and deliberately put on a stern face. "What is it? What are you laughing at? Did I get flour on my face?"

"N-No, it's nothing..."

"Teacher... I never thought you were this kind of person."

"Hmm?"

"What kind of person am I? Go on, tell me."

As he drew closer, Bibi Dong's heart fluttered in panic, and her gaze began to wander again.

"You're... you're quite good at... making arrangements."

Qian Xunji chuckled and stopped teasing her.

"Alright, enough about that. Didn't you want to help?"

"Go wash your hands first, then put on an apron. Don't get your clothes dirty."

As he spoke, Qian Xunji untied his apron, intending to find one for her.

Only then did Bibi Dong notice that her teacher had prepared just one apron.

She looked around, but there truly was not a second one in sight.

"Teacher, are there any more aprons?"

Qian Xunji looked around as well. The head chef and the others had retreated too quickly; they had likely taken all the commonly used aprons with them.

His gaze fell on his own apron, and after a brief pause, he said, "Use mine for now. It's clean."

"Then what about you?"

"I'll be fine."

"Ah? Oh... alright." Bibi Dong blushed even more and obediently stood still.

Qian Xunji picked up the apron and unfolded it.

It was just the right size for him, but it was clearly a size too large for Bibi Dong.

He walked behind her and gestured for her to raise her arms.

Bibi Dong obediently lifted both arms. The apron slipped over her head and covered her entire front.

Then Qian Xunji took the ties on either side of the apron and moved behind her.

From that position, it looked as though... he were embracing her from behind.

Although there was still some distance between them, Bibi Dong's body tensed instantly.

Qian Xunji crossed the two long ties behind her waist, then brought them around to the front.

Qian Xunji bent close to her back and carefully tied a knot at her waist.

Bibi Dong held her breath and did not dare move. She only felt the places brushed by his breath grow ticklish, the sensation spreading all the way into her heart.

"There."

Qian Xunji stepped back and looked at her.

The loose apron made her appear even more slender, her long purple hair falling over her shoulders.

Her short skirt and black stockings paired with the apron made her look both alluring and capable, giving her the air of a beautiful chef.

Bibi Dong noticed Qian Xunji staring at her legs.

"H-How does it look?"

"It suits you very well."

"Then does Teacher like black stockings?"

"H-Huh?!" Qian Xunji had not yet processed what she said.

Bibi Dong softly asked again, "Teacher likes black stockings?"

"No, how could I?" Qian Xunji denied it, but the expression on his face had already betrayed him.

Bibi Dong let out an "Oh." "It seems I misunderstood Teacher."

Though she said that, she secretly thought, Since Teacher likes them, I should wear them more often in the future.

Not wanting to expose his preference and affect Bibi Dong's favorable impression of him or his lofty image, Qian Xunji picked up a tool and changed the subject. "Now, shall we start by whipping the egg yolks?"

"Alright!"

Bibi Dong walked up to the counter and looked at the unfamiliar tools and ingredients. Under her teacher's guidance, she picked up the whisk.

"Teacher, how do I do it?"

"First, we need to mix the egg yolks and sugar evenly."

"Like this. Stir slowly in one direction until the color becomes lighter and the texture thickens."

Holding the whisk, Bibi Dong imitated Qian Xunji and lowered it into the golden egg yolk mixture, slowly stirring in circles.

At first, her movements were somewhat stiff, as though she feared she might knock over the bowl.

Qian Xunji stood beside her. Seeing her tense profile, he found it rather amusing.

"Relax, Dong'er."

"This isn't cultivating a soul skill. You don't need to be so serious."

"Relax your wrist. Yes, just like that... take it slowly."

His voice was by her ear, and his gentle guidance gradually relaxed Bibi Dong.

She stared intently at the egg yolks and powdered sugar slowly blending in the bowl, watching them change from separate ingredients into a smooth, even mixture.

"It really... changed!" She looked up in delight, like a child discovering a new continent.

"Very good. Now, slowly add the milk and melted butter, then keep stirring."