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Having realized this, the tone in today's comment section was especially different.

Little Fish: No, I don't believe it! That had to be dark cuisine! It only looked a little prettier, that's all! It was actually disgustingly awful! Just like that bastard Madam Qin—I was fooled by her appearance! [The confession of a shallow looks-lover!] Mom, I'm Fighting Monsters: Oh my god, I was actually fooled by her! I clearly wasn't such a shallow person—someone please rewind my life! Take me back three days so I can slap awake that idiot who was moved to tears by [Poor Little Madam Qin]!

Mr. Ferocious: [Smoking] Fine, I admit I was fooled. Now I'm kneeling on the floor, begging you to tell me exactly how to make that plate of meatmeatmeatmeatmeat and that pot of white, soft, unknown stuff. After watching that poisonous video, I'm actually dissatisfied with my beloved nutrient supplements. This can't be real, save me!

Mecha, My Love: I think that if Madam Qin put in some effort, she might become an incredibly badass mecha manufacturer? Look at those hand movements! Those hands... oh, those hands... [Wait, why am I getting a nosebleed?!] A Whale Lives in My Belly: The reason my reply came so late was because I went to try it out... The meat dish had too many complicated steps, so I set it aside for now. But there was plenty of nutrient powder at home! Even if I couldn't shape it prettily—no problem, I'm not a shallow person. As long as it tastes good! But look what I made [Photo]!! Why did Madam Qin's come out white, plump, and soft, while mine came out as a plate of iron balls that could be used as weapons? There had to be some unknown secret behind this. I refuse to believe that even food discriminates against ugly people! [Crying] Chemistry PhD: I guess Madam Qin must have added something crucial at some point, changing the molecular structure of the nutrient powder and making it expand... Could eating it be harmful to the body? I remain skeptical.

A Dog Next Door: I remembered that in the video from the day before yesterday, I caught just a fleeting glimpse of a plate of offerings on the table, yet I couldn't stop thinking about it... Back then, I innocently wondered whose mold could be so uniquely designed that it made people want to eat it at first sight... Looking back, that must have been food too! Please share the guide, aaaah!!!

Although the screenful of "Madam Qin" lowered Jing Xiaoyi's happiness by just a tiny bit, he had successfully gotten his revenge and laid the groundwork for his image as a "master of the culinary world." Jing Yi was already more than satisfied.

That afternoon, a man calling himself Fan Qiao contacted Jing Yi.

Fan Qiao also happened to live in this military families' residential area, though he lived in Building 23, some distance from Jing Yi's Building 7.

He was also a man who had "married someone." Fan Qiao had studied economics in university and possessed a keen business mind. After marrying a lieutenant colonel named Sun Fang, he followed Sun Fang wherever he was stationed. Later, when Sun Fang became a lieutenant colonel and was promoted to military district headquarters, Fan Qiao finally settled down with him. He had lived in this military families' residential area for more than three years.

In many people's eyes, for Lieutenant Colonel Sun to have a partner like Fan Qiao was a blessing earned through good deeds in a past life. Fan Qiao was truly capable—wherever he went, he could handle things with ease. He had a career without losing his way, had built up a considerable nest egg, and knew how to enjoy life. Lieutenant Colonel Sun lived comfortably, never needing to worry about the home front and able to focus entirely on charging ahead. Over the years, people once widely acknowledged to have far greater potential than Lieutenant Colonel Sun were now doing worse than he was... Having a spouse like that was enough to make anyone envious, jealous, and bitter.

The moment Jing Yi met Fan Qiao, he took a liking to him—Fan Qiao had the same type of looks Jing Yi once had: gentle and refined, with almost no aggression to him. Yet beneath the brocade lay needles, and he had principles he insisted on. He felt so familiar!

"I heard from Yang Chun that you wanted to split up and restructure your assets, discard the bad ones, consolidate what remained, and then move here?" After meeting Jing Yi, Fan Qiao also felt rather favorably toward him. Beneath that dazzling appearance, he somehow felt that Jing Yi was actually quite similar to himself.

"Yes. Here is a list of all my assets, along with the documents." After handing them over, Jing Yi went to the kitchen and brought out two plates of small pastries, placing them on the coffee table. Smiling, he said, "I'm not very good at this sort of thing, and I don't want to go back to Mi Star... so I wanted to find someone to help me deal with it. I was just worrying over whom to choose, so thankfully Yang Chun introduced you to me. By the way, what would you like to drink?"

The two plates of pastries that had just been served drew away some of Fan Qiao's attention. Slightly absentmindedly, he replied, "Plain water is fine. I don't like drinks, thank you."

Both plates of pastries were exceptionally beautiful.

One type was shaped like flowers, with five petals and two layers. The petals were bright yellow, the stamens vivid red, and five of them were arranged in a pleasingly staggered pattern. They carried a sweet, clean scent of mixed grains.

The other had white wrappers gathered closed in the middle, with four flaps spread open at the top to reveal red, green, and yellow fillings within. Their fragrance was even more tempting, enticing in a completely different way from the other plate.

Jing Yi smiled. "Then let me have you try a new beverage I made. I call it 'tea.'"

The tea leaves in his possession had also been collected by chance. That tea tree grew on a small hill not far behind Admiral Mansion. Since it was not in the way, it had escaped targeted clearing and had continued growing tenaciously. Jing Yi had stumbled across it and been overjoyed. He picked some tender shoots, carefully roasted them, and after much effort managed to save up a small fist-sized clump. Of course, its flavor could not compare with famous teas, but it had a wild charm of its own, and Jing Yi treasured it greatly. If he had not taken a liking to Fan Qiao, he would never have been willing to bring it out for a guest!