Zhang Lexuan's Jealousy, Cao Longyan's Bewilderment

At dusk, the team set up camp in a forest clearing to rest.

Cao Longyan watched as Wang Hao pulled food from his backpack—the kind that was filling but utterly unappetizing—and couldn't help but gasp inwardly.

No way, are we really going to eat this for the next few days?

Sigh, it's a good thing I came prepared.

He took out the ingredients and tools he had prepared in advance from his storage soul device, set up a grill in the clearing, and decided to treat everyone to a delicious barbecue.

"Seniors, I'll whip up some barbecue to improve our meals!"

Upon hearing Cao Longyan's words, everyone's eyes widened as they turned toward him. Li Meng and the others glanced at the food they had just taken from Wang Hao, suddenly finding it unappealing, and promptly shoved it back into Wang Hao's hands.

Staring at the growing pile of food in his arms, Wang Hao stood there blankly, watching their retreating backs.

So, love really does fade, right? You guys weren't like this before!

Junior Longyan, give them back to me!

The six members of the Inspection Group gathered around one after another, their faces full of curiosity and anticipation. Wang Hao also walked over, pouting with a dim look in his eyes.

Cao Longyan's culinary skills were already legendary; after all, the aroma often drifted into the Inner Court when he cooked, and with the promotion from Inner Court teachers and Sea God Pavilion elders, it could be said that while they hadn't tasted it or seen it, they knew everything else about it. They weren't about to let this rare opportunity slip by.

However, Xuan Zi and Zhang Lexuan did not crowd around Cao Longyan like the other seven; they simply found a spot nearby and sat down.

Zhang Lexuan even set aside a seat for Cao Longyan next to her.

Cao Longyan's technique was skillful. After marinating the ingredients, he placed them on the grill and flipped them expertly, his fingertips wreathed in a faint Ultimate Fire, precisely controlling the heat.

Before long, a rich aroma filled the air, whetting everyone's appetite.

The finished skewers were charred on the outside, tender on the inside, perfectly seasoned, and carried the lingering warmth of the Ultimate Fire—the texture was exquisite.

Everyone grabbed a skewer and began to feast, praising the food between bites.

Li Meng grabbed a skewer of grilled meat, devoured it, and shouted indistinctly.

"This is too good! Junior Longyan, your barbecue is incredible—it's tastier than any grilled meat I've ever had!"

Wang Hao held two skewers, his expression changing the moment he took the first bite, and he nodded with a wild grin.

"Yeah, yeah! With Junior Longyan around, we'll never have to eat that unappetizing food again! My stomach has finally been satisfied!"

The women in the team were especially pleased. Although Su Qingyue was introverted, she couldn't help but eat a few extra skewers, nodding slightly at Cao Longyan with a captivating tone.

"Thank you, Junior Longyan. It's delicious."

Lin Xiaoran was more lively, buzzing around Cao Longyan to ask about his cooking methods, handing him napkins one moment and ingredients the next, her eyes filled with starlight as she looked at him.

Cao Longyan responded with a patient smile, occasionally handing them freshly grilled skewers. His expression was gentle and his tone soft, creating a lively atmosphere.

Wen Wenxuan, Zhao Rui, and Chen Mo watched the scene, secretly envious of Cao Longyan's popularity.

With Junior Longyan's conditions, whether it's his appearance or his talent, he absolutely crushes his peers. He's bound to attract more attention from the opposite sex; he'll have his hands full soon enough...

After all, while Su Qingyue and Lin Xiaoran might not compare to Zhang Lexuan, they are still beauties in their own right.

"Junior Longyan, you're too amazing! This barbecue is so good. Why don't you help us in the Inner Court improve our meals too? That way we could eat your food every day..."

Zhang Lexuan suddenly stepped between the two of them, her expression somewhat displeased.

"Xiaoran, can't the skewers keep your mouth shut? Junior Longyan is gifted with extraordinary talent; how could he possibly waste his time on such things? Don't even think about it."

Lin Xiaoran was startled by Zhang Lexuan's sudden appearance. Once she recovered, she stuck out her tongue, squinted one eye, and smiled at Zhang Lexuan.

"Sister Lexuan, I was just joking, don't take it seriously."

Zhang Lexuan realized she might have been a bit over-the-top and returned to her gentle demeanor.

"Oh, is that so, Xiaoran? Then you two keep chatting and eating."

Just as Zhang Lexuan turned to leave, Cao Longyan stopped her.

"Sister Lexuan, your skewers. I grilled them specifically to your taste."

Cao Longyan smiled and handed Zhang Lexuan a skewer, lowering his voice for the last part.

"Th-thank you."

Zhang Lexuan took the skewer, her cheeks flushing slightly. She turned and walked away without looking back, returning to her previous spot.

The other six were immersed in the delicious food, but Lin Xiaoran, who was closest, noticed that something was off with Zhang Lexuan.

Sister Lexuan is acting very strange today...

She glanced at Cao Longyan again.

Could Sister Lexuan be jealous of me and Junior Longyan? That shouldn't be it, right...

Zhang Lexuan sat back down, holding the skewer Cao Longyan had made specifically for her, but she didn't take a bite for a long time.

She watched Cao Longyan surrounded by Lin Xiaoran and Su Qingyue, watched him being gentle and polite to everyone, and saw the undisguised affection in those girls' eyes.

Even though she knew they didn't mean anything by it, the irritation in her heart instantly escalated into sour jealousy.

Her chest felt tight, making it difficult to breathe; the earlier unease had now completely transformed into an inexplicable anger.

Junior Longyan—he's someone I watched grow up. How could he be this good to other girls?

She subconsciously frowned, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her gaze remained fixed on Cao Longyan, and even the roasted meat in her hand suddenly lost all its flavor.

She wanted to step forward, but after the awkward situation just now, she felt too embarrassed and could only sit where she was, sulking to herself.

This feeling was both strange and intense. She couldn't tell if it was possessiveness or something else; she only knew that seeing Cao Longyan surrounded by other girls made her uncomfortable and irritable.

Cao Longyan was busy grilling for everyone and didn't notice anything unusual about Zhang Lexuan. He continued to laugh and chat with those around him. Occasionally, when he looked up and saw Zhang Lexuan staring blankly at her skewer, he simply assumed she was tired and had no appetite, so he lowered his head and went back to work without another thought.

The rest of the Inspection Group members were also immersed in the joy of the food, and no one noticed the displeasure on Zhang Lexuan's face or the jealousy in her eyes.

Only Xuan Zi, sitting to the side, took it all in.

He watched Zhang Lexuan looking sullen and sulking, then glanced at the completely oblivious Cao Longyan. As he ate his own skewer, he couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head slightly.

Lexuan, that little girl, is afraid she's fallen for that brat Longyan...

That brat Longyan is a blockhead, though he's only eleven, so it's normal for him to be too young to understand these things.

Cao Longyan finally finished his work. He picked up a skewer of the roasted meat she liked best, walked quickly to Zhang Lexuan's side, and handed it to her with a smile.

"Sister Lexuan, try this. It's fresh off the grill and still hot. I saved it specifically for you."

"Also, I noticed you didn't seem to have much of an appetite, so I made this one with a lighter seasoning."

Zhang Lexuan looked up at Cao Longyan's innocent smile, the steaming meat in his hand, and the way he cared for her. The jealousy in her heart dissipated by more than half, yet she still couldn't help but keep a straight face, her tone carrying a hint of imperceptible coquettishness.

"Brother Longyan, thank you, but I won't eat it. I really don't have much of an appetite today. Also, when you grow up, you need to keep a proper distance from girls, you know?"

Cao Longyan froze for a moment, his face full of confusion. He scratched his head, his tone sounding quite innocent.

"Sister Lexuan, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? And what kind of distance are you talking about?"

He truly couldn't understand why Zhang Lexuan had suddenly gotten angry, or why her tone carried a hint of grievance.

He had indeed been very busy earlier, with the seniors all crowding around him, making it impossible to get away, but he hadn't forgotten about Zhang Lexuan.

Zhang Lexuan looked at his ignorant and innocent expression, and the anger in her heart vanished completely. Instead, she felt a mix of helplessness and amusement. She could only wave her hand, turn her face away, and soften her tone.

"It's nothing. I'm just a bit tired and want to rest."

After saying this, she stood up and turned toward her tent, struggling to keep herself from looking back.

What is wrong with me... why am I sulking with Brother Longyan...

Cao Longyan stood where he was, looking completely bewildered. He turned to look at Xuan Zi not far away, his eyes full of confusion, as if asking, "What is wrong with Sister Lexuan?"

Xuan Zi winked at him with a meaningful smile on his lips, but he didn't say anything, merely waving his hand to signal that he shouldn't overthink it.

Cao Longyan grew even more confused, but he didn't dwell on it. He assumed Zhang Lexuan was just exhausted from the consecutive missions, so he popped the meat into his own mouth—it wouldn't taste good if it got cold, even if it was a bit bland for his liking.

Forget it, when Sister Lexuan has an appetite again, I'll make her a special meal just for her!

Yes, that's decided!