Something This Good, and You Didn't Invite Me?

Looking at the dab of Sweet and Sour Sauce on his fingertip, Zhao Hai didn't know what to say for a moment.

How had he gotten so caught up in eating that he'd forgotten to wipe his mouth?

The disciple before him was Xu Cheng. He often trained with them and had invited them to eat together more than once over the past few days, but whenever mealtime came, those three always had something to do.

Once or twice would have been one thing, but every day? Who wouldn't notice something was off?

"Come on, what did you go off to eat?"

"Nothing much. Just some meat."

Zhao Hai spoke casually, but Xu Cheng didn't believe him at all.

"What kind of meat do you have to eat behind our backs?"

"Just ordinary tenderloin."

That wasn't a lie, but after saying it, Zhao Hai swallowed first.

The Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin at lunch had been crisp outside and tender inside, coated in tangy, sweet sauce, paired with a mouthful of white rice...

He couldn't think about it. The more he thought, the more he craved it.

But his reaction only made Xu Cheng more certain of his suspicions.

"Fine. I'll come with you tonight."

"No, you can't."

Zhao Hai shook his head without even thinking, and Lu Yuan, who hadn't said a word beside him, nodded too.

Xiao An had said it was just the three of them for now. They had to ask before adding even one more person. How could they bring someone along without permission?

Seeing this, Xu Cheng was so annoyed that he laughed.

"I've helped you plenty during our usual sparring sessions, and now you won't even acknowledge me over a meal?"

"It's not that. They can't make that much food over there."

"It's just one more mouth-mine."

Zhao Hai opened his mouth to say more, but Xu Cheng beat him to it.

"How about this? I'll go along and ask. If they won't let me eat, I'll come back. That works, right?"

With him going that far, Zhao Hai couldn't very well keep stopping him. He could only exchange a glance with Lu Yuan and nod helplessly.

With that settled, the three resumed their afternoon practice, though Zhao Hai didn't forget to add a warning.

"If they say no, don't pester them."

"I know. It's just a meal. You think I'd plant myself there and refuse to leave?"

Xu Cheng replied irritably.

Zhao Hai didn't believe a word of it.

You'd better remember that.

Meanwhile, Chen An was still practicing under Chen Xin.

When Fang Ming advanced again, Chen An finally did more than retreat, circling to the other side of the tree trunk in advance.

Fang Ming's outstretched hand caught empty air, forcing him to change direction, and Chen An used that brief moment to put some more distance between them.

Although his shoulder was still touched in the end, he had at least managed a few more evasive steps than at the start.

"That was better."

Chen Xin nodded and had him repeat the movements he'd just made. Only when a fine sheen of sweat covered his forehead did he call a halt for a rest.

Chen An took the cup Ning Rongrong handed him and drank a couple of mouthfuls, feeling that cultivation really was different from cooking.

When he cut meat, the meat didn't feint at him first and then reach a hand at him from the other side.

Fang Ming had gained quite a bit from listening nearby for so long. Taking advantage of Chen An's break, he asked Chen Xin about something he hadn't understood earlier.

Chen Xin held nothing back, readily explaining it to him.

Watching Fang Ming nod repeatedly as he listened, Chen An suddenly felt that those three hadn't fought to stay at noon entirely for the sake of dinner.

Plenty of people in the sect wanted an opportunity like this.

But come evening, the moment Chen Xin said they were done training for the day, Fang Ming had already turned his head.

"Xiao An, heading back to the kitchen?"

"Yes."

"Let's go. I'll help you prep."

He agreed with remarkable enthusiasm, even picking up the cup beside the tree as he went.

Chen An glanced at him.

All right, he wanted the pointers, but he hadn't forgotten dinner either.

Gu Rong had left earlier to attend to something, but Ning Rongrong had stayed the whole time. Hearing they were going back to eat, she immediately took Chen An's hand.

"Will there be that meat again tonight?"

"Yes."

"I want more."

"I know. You said that several times at lunch."

They returned to the kitchen, where Uncle Zhou had already prepared what they needed for dinner. Chen Chuan was tending the firebox, and when he saw Chen An return, he began feeding more wood inside.

Chen An washed his hands and had just picked up the kitchen knife when Zhao Hai's voice came from the courtyard gate.

"Xiao An."

Looking up, he saw Zhao Hai and Lu Yuan standing at the gate, with a young disciple behind them.

Seeing Chen Xin there too, all three first bowed properly. Only then did Zhao Hai explain why they had come, looking rather embarrassed.

Hearing that Xu Cheng wanted to stay for a meal, Chen An didn't refuse immediately. Instead, he first asked Uncle Zhou how many ingredients they had left.

"There's still some. Enough for one more."

Uncle Zhou answered with a smile. By now, he had a fair idea of everyone's appetite and had allowed some extra when preparing the ingredients.

Chen Xin also looked at Chen An. Seeing that he wasn't tired, he spoke.

"Decide for yourself. If it's too much to handle, just say so."

Chen An nodded. He wanted more positive reviews anyway, and since they had ingredients to spare, making food for one more person wouldn't be much trouble.

"Then join us. But don't invite anyone else today."

"Thank you, Xiao An."

Xu Cheng hurriedly thanked him. Only then did Zhao Hai and Lu Yuan step aside to let him through the gate.

But as he watched Chen An lower his head and resume slicing meat, Xu Cheng was still somewhat surprised.

Naturally, he had seen this child who always accompanied the young lady, but he hadn't expected that all the food Zhao Hai and the others had been thinking about these past few days had been made by him.

How old was he? He even needed a footstool to work comfortably at the stove.

Was it really that good?

He didn't ask, though. Senior Sword Douluo was sitting right there, waiting too. What did he have to be impatient about?

Chen An had no time to pay attention to him.

He sliced and marinated the tenderloin and mixed the Sweet and Sour Sauce ahead of time. Once the oil in the wok was hot, he lowered the battered strips of meat into it in batches.

Having made it once at noon, he had an even surer hand with the heat that evening.

When the meat went into the wok, Xu Cheng was still helping set out stools, but as the aroma reached him, his hands gradually slowed.

This smell really did seem different.

He'd eaten fried meat before, but this particular meaty aroma made his heart itch, tempting him to steal a few more looks into the wok.

Once the first batch of fried meat was lifted out, Fang Ming handed over an empty plate, while Lu Yuan helped Uncle Zhou bring over the rice. Everyone did their own part without Chen An having to say a word.

Xu Cheng watched, feeling increasingly odd.

These fellows certainly knew the routine.

The twice-fried tenderloin had a golden crust. Once drained of oil, it went back into the Sweet and Sour Sauce, which had already cooked down until thick and glossy. Just a few tosses sent a sweet, tangy aroma mingling with the fragrance of meat.

This time, Xu Cheng stopped setting out stools altogether.

"Zhao Hai."

"What?"

"How much longer?"

Zhao Hai turned to look at him and suddenly grinned.

Hadn't he looked like he didn't care what he ate a moment ago? Already couldn't wait?

"Almost done. Get the bowls."

Xu Cheng immediately did as told.

Before long, several plates of Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin arrived on the table one after another. Chen An put away the Dragon-Transforming Pot and called everyone to eat.

Xu Cheng had only just picked up his bowl when the others' chopsticks shot out, so fast he barely had time to react.

As for Ning Rongrong, sitting beside Chen An, she had held out her little bowl long before, waiting for him to give her some meat.

Good grief, even the young lady was like this?

Xu Cheng picked up a strip too, blew on it twice, and put it into his mouth.

The next instant, his eyes widened, though he'd still been watching the others a moment before.

The crisp outer shell broke with a gentle bite. Sweet-and-sour sauce coated the tender meat, filling his mouth with flavor as he chewed. Despite being fried, it was wonderfully tender inside, not dry in the slightest.

Delicious. Absolutely delicious.

Swallowing that mouthful, Xu Cheng finally understood why those fellows disappeared every day at mealtime.

With cooking like this, who could bear to miss a meal?

But understanding was one thing. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

"Zhao Hai, how many days have you been eating here?"

Zhao Hai said nothing, his head down as he shoveled rice into his mouth.

"I'm talking to you."

"Not that many."

"How many is 'not that many'?"

How could Xu Cheng believe such a vague answer? Yet when he looked at Lu Yuan, that fellow was eating even faster than Zhao Hai and didn't even have time to look up.

"Something this good, and you didn't invite me?"

"Didn't I tell you? Before, only the three of us were allowed to come."

Zhao Hai finally found time to answer, then immediately took another piece of meat.

Xu Cheng couldn't argue with that reason, but the thought of himself eating out front these past few days while the three of them sneaked off for special meals made him miserable.

How many meals had he missed?

He stuffed another piece of meat into his mouth and couldn't help continuing to scold Xu Cheng as he chewed.

"And here I was inviting you to eat with me every day, while you had something this good..."

Before he could finish, Zhao Hai picked up the plate in front of him.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting more rice."

Zhao Hai tipped the last few strips of meat into his bowl, then scooped some white rice straight onto the plate and stirred it with his chopsticks, not sparing even the Sweet and Sour Sauce at the bottom.

Watching him carry off the plate, Xu Cheng swallowed every word on the tip of his tongue.

He turned to find only a few scattered pieces left on another plate.

He'd been too busy talking, but those mouths hadn't stopped for even a moment.

"Damn it, slow down!"

"Why not eat first and talk afterward?"

Fang Ming offered the kindly reminder, but his chopsticks didn't slow in the slightest.

Xu Cheng stopped wasting words too. He lifted his bowl and dug in.

Whatever he had to say could wait. Right now, every extra word meant one less bite.

But by the time he realized this, it was already a little too late.

When the last plate of tenderloin was finished, Xu Cheng looked down at his empty bowl, then at the empty plates on the table, hating that he'd talked so much earlier.

Beside him, Zhao Hai had eaten his fill. He wiped his mouth and looked at him with a smile.

"What were you saying earlier? Go on."

Xu Cheng looked at him, holding it in for a long while.

"You really aren't human."

The others burst out laughing. Listening beside them, Chen An couldn't help chuckling either.

His little courtyard probably wouldn't have much peace from now on.

After finishing his meal, Chen Xin checked on him again. Only after learning that he felt no discomfort did he relax.

"Don't forget your cultivation tonight."

"I know. I'll go after a short rest."

Chen An nodded. He also needed to give the movements he'd learned today some more careful thought.

Before leaving, he glanced at the system notification again.

This meal had earned eight positive reviews, increasing his constitution by another eight points.

[Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin positive review progress: 17/100.]

Not bad. At this rate, the next dish was within reach too.

Chen An was just about to head back when Xu Cheng sidled over, rubbing his hands, looking like an entirely different person from when he'd first entered the courtyard.

"Xiao An, can I come again tomorrow?"

Hearing this, Zhao Hai immediately looked over.

"Didn't you say it was just a meal?"

"I'm asking Xiao An."

Xu Cheng ignored him completely, waiting eagerly for Chen An to answer.

After a moment's thought, Chen An nodded and said.

"Sure. Come over at mealtimes, just like them. Don't let it interfere with your cultivation."

"Of course I won't."

With that definite answer, Xu Cheng immediately brightened. He hurriedly reached for Chen An's bowl, only for Lu Yuan to snatch it up first.

He froze for a moment, then looked at the table.

Fang Ming had already picked up a cleaning rag.

Looking over by the stove, he saw Zhao Hai bending down to tidy up the firewood.

It was one thing for these guys to eat so fast, but why wouldn't they leave him even a scrap of work?

Seeing this, Uncle Zhou spoke with a smile.

"When the vegetable delivery arrives tomorrow morning, help me carry it in. We'll have to set aside more pork loin here from now on."

"Sure, I'll be here tomorrow morning."

Xu Cheng agreed without hesitation. Inwardly, he was even beginning to plan how he would get up earlier tomorrow, finish his training first, then come help Uncle Zhou carry the vegetables.

Once the work was done, it would be just in time to eat. Neither would get in the way of the other.

Only after Chen Xin had taken Chen An away did Zhao Hai sidle up to Xu Cheng and bump his shoulder with a grin.

"Should we invite a couple more brothers over?"

"Don't."

Xu Cheng answered instinctively. Only after speaking did he realize Zhao Hai and the others were all looking at him.

His face warmed slightly, but he still braced himself and said,

"Xiao An's only so young, and he trained for so long today. Wouldn't having more people just wear him out?"

He had only eaten one meal, and already he knew to look out for Xiao An.

"So do you still blame us for not inviting you?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I?"

Xu Cheng answered with complete conviction.

"If you'd invited me two days earlier, wouldn't that have settled it?"