"This is a black card!"
Zachary lowered his voice to remind Danielle.
Danielle was still a little confused. "So what? I'm not colorblind, I can clearly see the color."
The others...
Jin Shan quickly calmed down after thinking of Danielle's past identity.
Someone from one of the Eight Great Families—even if kicked out—was still far from ordinary.
He became even more respectful. "I know 50 million isn't much, but I'd still shamelessly like to ask Miss Duo to teach me cooking. This is just a deposit—there's more to come after."
"Fifty million?!"
Danielle gasped and snatched the black card, pretending to cough a couple of times.
"Ahem... It's not a lot, but I'm not greedy, so... alright, I'll accept it."
Jin Shan finally let out a sigh of relief.
But Danielle winked at him. "When are you giving me the rest? Don't try to say you didn't learn anything and then not pay me."
Jin Shan had a line of black lines across his forehead. "Miss Duo, I don't think I'm that dumb."
Danielle pouted. "Your cooking is awful, and you still say you're not dumb?"
She had only muttered it, but Jin Shan still blushed.
Danielle waved her hand. "Fine, whatever. But let's make a deal. I'll teach you everything I know, but when I say I've taught you everything, that's when you pay the rest, deal?"
Jin Shan needed her help, so he quickly agreed.
Danielle, being cautious, even made him sign a contract.
Looking at the contract in her bracelet, Danielle couldn't stop smiling.
"I won't call you Master Jin anymore. Let's just use names. Tonight, I'll teach you a few dishes: roast meat and braised bear paw."
Jin Shan was so excited his face turned red. He threw his suit jacket on the chair right away.
"Great, I'm ready!"
Danielle looked at him with curiosity. He really did love cooking.
As soon as he heard about learning to cook, his eyes lit up with passion—completely different from his usual calm self.
Next to them, Zachary pressed his lips tightly together and chopped meat even louder.
Fei Yang quickly led the little girl to back away several steps and hid near the door, shaking in fear.
Oh no...
Danielle...
Why don't you stop looking at that man and look back at your own man?
If you don't, he's going to start chopping people soon!
Maybe Danielle finally picked up on Fei Yang's silent cries.
She finally looked away and handed the bear paw that Zachary had chopped to Jin Shan.
"You know how to clean this, right? I don't need to teach this part. There's water in the kitchen, go handle it yourself."
With that, she ignored Jin Shan and happily squatted next to Zachary.
Yes, having a helper made things easier.
"Zachary, let me help you."
Zachary's expression visibly softened. He awkwardly made space for Danielle.
Fei Yang could finally breathe again. Just then, the little girl beside him suddenly asked:
"Brother, is that Uncle Jin trying to chase after that sister? He's giving money and working for her."
"Oh no, my dear sister, please just stop talking!"
Fei Yang didn't even dare look at Zachary's face. He scooped up Fei Qingqing and ran out.
Danielle's mouth twitched. "The little girl looks cute, but her judgment isn't the best."
"Hmph."
Zachary let out a strong snort.
Danielle blinked. "Why are you snorting? Don't tell me you think the same?"
Zachary turned his head away without saying a word.
Danielle took a deep breath and gently turned Zachary's handsome face back toward her.
She looked directly into his eyes, wanting him to see her reflection in them.
"I'm only teaching him to cook because of the money. We need to buy crystal stones for cultivation, upgrade weapons and gear—everything takes money."
Zachary understood that. Otherwise, he wouldn't have reminded her earlier.
Still, he and Jin Shan were both men.
Even though Jin Shan hid it well, Zachary could still see the strong interest in Danielle.
Feeling awkward, he turned away. "I didn't say anything."
Danielle comforted him patiently. "Alright, you didn't say anything. I'm the one who insisted on explaining."
"I've already said it. This life, just one person for the rest of my days. Having you is enough."
When Danielle saw his clenched fists and how hard he was trying to suppress a smile, she gave a small smile herself.
See?
It's not that hard to coax someone—you just have to be willing.
At the doorway, Jin Shan stood frozen with the bear paw in his hands. So it wasn't impossible after all.
There really were women who would choose to be with just one person for life?
Then what was he chasing all those years?
His eyes darkened slightly. He quietly stepped back and returned to the kitchen.
Zachary subtly glanced back over his shoulder and gave a cold snort. No matter who it was, nobody was going to steal his woman.
"Daddy, look! I have a pretty big sister now!"
Rain ran in holding Fei Qingqing's hand, followed by Leng and Fei Yang.
As soon as they saw Zachary's face, everyone froze.
Fei Yang pointed at Zachary and burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Zachary, what is this? Are you doing a face mask or something?"
Zachary?
Rain tilted his head, very seriously shaking it.
"Daddy, you don't look good like this. You look really ugly."
Zachary looked confused and turned to Danielle. She was slicing meat with a small knife and looked up—then froze too.
One look at her blood-covered hands and she instantly understood.
She awkwardly wiped Zachary's face. "It's nothing, just a little dust."
But the more she wiped, the redder it got—until Zachary's whole face was bright red.
Fei Yang laughed so hard he collapsed into a chair.
"Oh wow, you two are too much. Is this some kind of new couple's bonding ritual?"
Even someone as cold as Leng couldn't help the corners of her mouth from twitching.
Ever since she met Danielle, she found herself smiling more often.
Seeing everyone's reaction, Zachary vanished with a soft "poof."
Not long after, angry yelling came from the room.
"Danielle!"
Danielle twitched and glared hard at Fei Yang.
She slammed the kitchen knife in front of him.
"You laughed, didn't you? Now look what you've done—go slice the meat."
She forced a smile and headed into the room to calm him down.
Fei Yang's grin disappeared instantly. "Hey—how is this my fault?"
"I didn't smear anything on him! I'm innocent!"
Leng rolled her eyes. "Shut up. Get to work. Do you want to eat or not?"
"Hehe, I'm working, I'm working. Don't worry, Leng, I'll do my best."