Nine Dishes and One Soup

"Oh? So brave. Just as expected of Ms. Xiaotao."

"None of your business!"

Ma Xiaotao's ears warmed slightly. She turned her face away and replied stiffly.

Watching how familiar the two of them seemed, Zhang Lexuan's gaze darkened imperceptibly.

Yue Ling, Yue Ling... just how many girls do you know?

Nothing showed on her face. She still wore that gentle yet distant expression.

One by one, she silently noted down everything that displeased her.

Yue Ling waved a hand, then turned to her. "All right, Senior Sister. I've been waiting for you. Come help me in the kitchen. There's so much stuff that I can't quite handle it alone."

Zhang Lexuan nodded lightly, her voice calm. "All right."

She turned her head toward Ma Xiaotao and called softly, "Xiaotao, come help."

"Okay."

Ma Xiaotao answered. She had already agreed to help, so she did not feel much resistance.

The three of them headed toward the kitchen.

Like a master chef, Yue Ling directed the two women as they began dividing up the work.

"Senior Sister, help me wash the vegetables I prepared. I'll need them in a bit."

"Got it."

She raised a hand. The piled-up vegetables on the ground slowly floated up and drifted toward the sink. Then she walked over, turned on the faucet, and began rinsing them.

Ma Xiaotao pointed at herself. "What about me?"

"You..." Yue Ling considered for a moment. "There are nine plates and one soup bowl in total. Take out the dishes we'll need first. Once Senior Sister finishes washing the vegetables, rinse the dishes again and make sure they're clean."

"Okay."

She obediently did as she was told, quickly walking over to the storage cabinet and pulling open its doors.

Her fingers deftly sorted through the stacked porcelain plates as she carefully