Chapter 252: Dad, You Can’t Eat That!

"Bianca, my student, don't let me down." Otto took out a handkerchief, wiped away the fog on the research chamber's mirror, and smirked as he looked at the golden-haired, green-eyed soulium girl inside.

"Hopefully, I won't need to use this. I'd rather not face that man again."

Fu Lin, Don't disgust me!

Back to a few minutes ago...

Mei looked at Fu Lin in front of the TV, pouted, put down her work, and blocked the screen with her body. Hands on her hips, she said, "Mr. Fu Lin~ Won't you come help me in the kitchen?"

Fu Lin lifted his head, pointed at himself, and looked utterly baffled, "Huh?"

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Fu Lin's eyelids trembled slightly as he shakily picked up the small bowl of cheese in his hands. "Are you really sure you want my help?"

Mei nodded. "I am."

"You really, really want my help?" Fu Lin swallowed nervously, regretting coming so early. If he could do it over again, he would have waited for Mei to finish making it first.

Seeing Fu Lin still hesitating, Mei grabbed his wrist and guided his hand to stir the mixture, her eyes flickering slightly. "Really, really. Stop nagging!"

"Alright, you said it..." If it tastes bad, it's not my fault...

Fu Lin took a deep breath and started stirring the cheese in the bowl. Once he felt it was about right, he instinctively scooped a spoonful of sugar and poured it in.

Mei watched Fu Lin busying himself, her eyes glimmering. She turned around, took out a small paper-wrapped bag of white powder from her chest, and poured it into the beaten eggs.

After shaking it gently to ensure the white powder was no longer visible, she brought it to Fu Lin and slowly poured it into the cheese mixture.

Fu Lin looked at the already beaten eggs and asked in confusion, "Huh? I thought you were supposed to add the eggs one by one while stirring?"

Mei pursed her lips and watched as the eggs were fully mixed with the cheese before putting down the bowl in her hand. "This way works too."

Fu Lin nodded, then looked at Mei with fiery eyes. "I've learned something new. Why don't you teach me how to cook, Teacher Mei~?"

"Of course!" Mei's eyes lit up, agreeing without hesitation. She even felt a secret joy inside, but she would soon regret this decision deeply.

Time flew by in the blink of an eye...

On the dining table, a nearly perfect Basque cheesecake sat between Fu Lin and Mei. The two stared at each other without moving, both harboring their own thoughts.

Outside, Bianca, who was crouching in a tree, couldn't stand it anymore. She rubbed her stomach in confusion.

"It looks so delicious. I'll definitely ask Rita to make it for me later. But why aren't they eating it?"

As the two remained at an impasse, Fu Lin picked up a knife and fork, looking at Mei across the table with an unusually serious expression. He was the first to speak.

"Mei, in my hometown, the rule is that the host eats first. You're the host, so you should eat first."

Mei looked at the cake she had drugged. Eating it was out of the question. She averted her gaze and refuted,

"Oh? But here in the Far East the guest eats firs and only then the host eats." Did he see me drug it?

Fu Lin's eyes flickered slightly. He cut a piece of cake for Mei and then another for himself. "I'll count to three, and we'll eat together?"

"Okay."

Mei nodded, raising the cake to signal Fu Lin to start.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

"..."

Fu Lin put down his plate. "Why aren't you eating?"

"You didn't eat either." Did he really see it?

Mei pressed her lips together, nervously watching Fu Lin's expressionless face. Unable to bear the tense atmosphere, she suddenly slammed the table and forced a laugh.

"Oh, right! You said Little Li wanted to eat this too! I'll go find him. He was just playing in the hall earlier, haha..."

Fu Lin watched Mei rummaging around the sofa, his mouth twitching. He glanced at the cake on the table, narrowed his eyes slightly, and gently waved his hand, channeling purification energy over it. He muttered,

"Bad taste is also a negative effect. This should make it taste better."

Even after using purification, Fu Lin still hesitated to take a bite. If purification didn't work, eating it could be fatal.

Just as Fu Lin struggled with his decision, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Excited, Fu Lin stood up. At this moment, the chime at the entrance was like a symphony of salvation—so melodious, so moving.

"Mei, I'll step away for a bit." Mei looked confused at first. Then her gaze landed on the untouched cake on the table. Clenching her fists, she turned to look at the door with a complicated expression.

At the entrance, Raiden Ryoma adjusted his clothes and smiled, imagining Mei's excitement when she saw him.

"I came back so suddenly. Mei must be overjoyed to see me." However, when Mei peered through the peephole and recognized the visitor, she was stunned. She opened the door just a crack, poking her head out to stare at Raiden Ryoma.

"Dad..." Raiden Ryoma's fantasies shattered in an instant. The disappointment in his eyes flashed briefly before he pulled the door open and stepped inside.

Mei silently followed behind her father. She should have been happy to see him, yet she felt no joy at all.

Raiden Ryoma reached the dining table, his eyes lighting up when he saw the already cut cake. He rubbed Mei's head with a pleased expression.

"I originally planned to surprise you, but you already knew I was coming and even prepared a cake to celebrate."

"Dad, you can't eat that!" Mei snapped back to her senses, exclaiming when she saw Raiden Ryoma already holding the cake in his hands.

Raiden Ryoma paused and looked at Mei in confusion.

Mei quickly grabbed the cake from his hands, avoiding his gaze. "This is my first time making this cake... I haven't had anyone taste it yet."

"If Mei made it herself, then I have to try it. No matter how bad it is, I'll finish it all." Raiden Ryoma scratched his head, snatching the cake back and taking a small bite. As he chewed, an indescribable taste exploded on his tongue.

Hiding behind the curtains, Fu Lin grinned meaningfully, feeling a newfound respect for Raiden Ryoma. He then silently counted to three...