Chapter 46: The Headmistress Gets Stuffed Full
The oppressive aura of Diana, the headmistress, was overwhelming.
While soft and fragrant, Shia still preferred situations where he had the upper hand.
“Hmph~.” Diana snorted lightly, turning as if to leave.
It seemed her purpose here had only been to give Shia a lesson.
“Headmistress, leaving already? Wouldn’t it be an honor if I could host you, prepare a meal to show my gratitude?” Shia asked with a dazzling smile, his handsome face radiating charm that seemed to captivate older women like her.
Diana paused mid-step, glancing at him sideways.
“Since you’re being so polite, I suppose I’ll humor you,” she replied, her lips curving slightly. “But mind you, my tastes are very refined. If your cooking isn’t up to par, don’t blame me for scolding you.”
Without a word, Shia turned and headed to the kitchen.
His culinary skills had always been decent, but with his recently maxed-out cooking level, he had reached a new pinnacle.
Slicing, flipping, plating—it was a seamless dance.
Diana, leaning against the counter with her arms crossed under her ample chest, watched in stunned silence.
'Is he cooking or performing some kind of magical act?'
When the dish was finally served, her initial astonishment faded into skepticism.
The dish in question, a steaming plate of red and white tofu, didn’t look particularly appetizing to her.
“This is called Mapo Tofu,” Shia explained, placing a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks before her. “Care to try it?”
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Diana raised an eyebrow, poking at the tofu with her chopsticks in an almost dismissive manner.
“Doesn’t look all that impressive,” she muttered.
“Looks can be deceiving. You won’t know until you try,” Shia replied, exuding confidence.
“Please. I’ve lived for centuries. What haven’t I tasted?” Diana scoffed but ultimately took a small piece and brought it to her lips.
The moment the tofu touched her tongue, her expression changed.
The intense numbing and spicy sensation hit her like a wave. Her eyes widened as the flavor exploded in her mouth. It was fiery, addictive, and utterly irresistible. Despite the heat, she found herself taking another bite, and another, unable to stop.
Before long, Diana had finished an entire bowl of rice and moved on to a second.
Shia, leaning back with his fingers interlocked, watched her with a smirk.
'So much for “not impressive.”'
By the time Diana finished her third bowl, she finally stopped, her elegant demeanor returning. But as she looked at the empty dishes before her, a faint embarrassment flickered across her face.
'How did I eat this much?'
She had made such a show of her refined tastes earlier, only to devour the food like a ravenous beast.
Regaining her composure, she dabbed at her lips with a napkin and placed her chopsticks down gracefully.
Before she could speak, Shia slid another dish toward her.
“Red bean shaved ice,” he announced, his tone casual.
The dessert, a glossy mixture of dark red and purple hues in a crystal-clear glass bowl, looked incredibly refreshing.
Diana eyed it skeptically. “What is this? I’ve never seen it before.”
“It’s a dessert. Try it.”
Curiosity eventually got the better of her. She scooped a small bite and placed it in her mouth.
The sweetness and coolness of the shaved ice spread across her palate, completely washing away the lingering spice of the tofu. The red bean paste was soft and creamy, perfectly complementing the finely crushed ice that melted effortlessly on her tongue.
“Delicious,” Diana murmured, her eyes lighting up.
Without another word, she finished the dessert with an elegance that contrasted sharply with the enthusiasm she’d shown earlier.
When she finally looked up, her expression was conflicted.
“I must admit, your cooking is… decent,” she said, her tone begrudging.
“Decent enough to keep you coming back?” Shia teased, leaning forward slightly with a sly smile.
Diana’s crimson eyes narrowed. “Hmph. I suppose I could accompany you for meals. After all, it wouldn’t do for you to eat alone all the time.”
“So you’re just here to ‘keep me company’ and not to freeload?”
“Of course,” Diana replied haughtily, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “But… if money is an issue, I can pay for the meals.”
Shia smirked. “Oh? And what’s your currency of choice?”
Diana leaned in closer, her lips curving into a teasing smile. Twirling a strand of her hair around her finger, she whispered, “Would my body suffice?”
---
Meanwhile, back at Lilith’s house, the mood was entirely different.
Lilith, confident in her authority, was patiently waiting for Shia to come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.
Ten minutes passed. No knock came at her door.
“Hmph. Stubborn as always,” she muttered, brushing off her mild irritation as she returned to her room.
She wasn’t worried. Shia had no other options. He’d come back eventually.
The following morning, sunlight streamed through the windows, but the house remained eerily quiet.
“Did he return last night?” Lilith asked Tia.
“No, ma’am,” Tia replied.
Frowning, Lilith opened her door and stepped outside. The empty courtyard was devoid of any signs of life.
Not even a stray dog wandered by.
Lilith’s frown deepened. “Where could he have gone? He has no money and no connections.”
The thought of Shia finding shelter elsewhere seemed absurd. Who would take him in?
That left only one possibility: he had slept on the streets.
“Serves him right,” Lilith huffed, though a small part of her couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
'That idiot. Where could he have gone?'