Chapter 10: The Sisters Turn Against Each Other

"So delicious?" Xia Qianqian was taken aback. Was it really necessary to look so blissful about a soup? But then, she took up a spoon herself and tasted it. With that spoonful of soup in her mouth, Xia Qianqian felt as if she had returned to the womb. It was warm, immensely comfortable, blissfully worry-free, everything seemed so naturally perfect. Her entire body felt refreshed as though she wasn't just drinking soup but experiencing something wonderfully transcendent. "This… this…" Xia Qianqian's face flushed red, then turned pale. She was at a loss for words to describe the taste because… after drinking this soup, it seemed like there was no other delicacy left in her world. "Lin Yi, this soup, this soup…" Xia Qianqian's trembling gaze met Lin Yi's. "How does it taste?" Lin Yi watched Xia Qianqian with a smile. "It's too good…" Xia Qianqian finally comprehended the expressions of her sister and parents earlier. "Too good?" Wang Zhiwen was clearly skeptical; he refused to believe that this man had eclipsed his culinary trump card. Reluctantly, he too picked up a spoon and took a sip. After the soup touched his palate, he shuddered, stiffening in his chair, eyes bulging, face paling to an extreme. In the past, when courting women, he often showcased his cooking skills. Every girl who tasted his dishes praised them, fueling his aspiration toward culinary excellence. He was confident in his cooking skills. But today? What had he encountered today? He realized that after tasting this soup, all the food he once considered the world's most delectable now seemed like garbage... He knew he had lost - in looks, he couldn't compare to Lin Yi, and in cooking, the difference was even more pronounced. No wonder Xia Qianqian preferred him over Wang Zhiwen. Just these two points alone were enough to concede defeat. "You all… this…" Watching everyone's awestruck reactions, Lin Yi and Little Mei were left dumbfounded. Could the chicken soup really be that good? "Mom, I'm so full… I finished my bowl." The little girl looked up at Little Mei, full of satisfaction. "Did you… eat all this rice by yourself just now?" Little Mei had forgotten how long it had been since her daughter had eaten so much. She couldn't fathom that just a bowl of chicken soup had brought her daughter back from the brink. "Uh-huh…" The little girl nodded, brimming with happiness. "Good, good…" Little Mei quickly enveloped her daughter in an embrace, her eyes brimming with tears. She knew it was the soup that had saved her daughter's life. "Now that she's eating, it means there's hope." "Big sister, you should take your daughter to the hospital for a check-up now! Eating is a good sign." Lin Yi broke the mother-daughter reverie with a smile. He had learned about their predicament from Xia Qianqian and felt a hospital visit was in order now that the little girl was finally eating. "Right, right…" Gathering her daughter in her arms, Little Mei set off but paused after a few steps to bow deeply three times to Lin Yi before heading out. "Is it real or not? The little girl's anorexia has been unyielding for three years, near fatal, and now it's cured by a bowl of chicken soup." "It's a medical miracle! Countless hospitals couldn't cure her, and now a bowl of chicken soup did?" "Can this chicken soup really be that tasty?" As soon as Little Mei and her daughter left Xia's place, the neighbors started discussing among themselves. They were all aware of the Little girl's condition and had even contributed money, but nothing had helped until now, when a bowl of chicken soup seemingly cured her. Truth be told, seeing everyone's reactions, even Lin Yi himself couldn't believe the soup was that enjoyable. He had merely followed a method from eighteen superior cooking skills to prepare it, unknowingly creating such a sensation. "Dad, Mom, I have something to announce." At that moment, Xia Xiaoxiao pushed open the room door, wiping away her tears as she stepped out. "What is it?" Still savoring the taste, Xia Hongjun turned to his daughter.

"I don't care, I absolutely won't allow Lin Yi to be with my sister because... because Lin Yi is my first love, he's mine." Xia Xiaoxiao declared seriously, her voice clear and firm. Though these words might seem like a joke coming from such a young girl, they nevertheless left everyone present somewhat taken aback. Xia Hongjun and Zhang Xiu, being the wise adults, finally understood why Xiaoxiao was so determined to separate Lin Yi and Xia Qianqian. The reason lay before them. As for Wang Zhiwen, it felt like another stab to the chest. He had thought Xiaoxiao was pairing him with her sister because she admired his talents and was charmed by them. But now, learning of her true intentions, Wang Zhiwen wished he could find a place to spit out the bitterness in his mouth. This was simply too disheartening. Continuously facing setbacks like these, he felt played by this entire family. He came for a blind date, yet what did he get? Constant setbacks. No, he had to leave. If he didn't, he'd be the one who ended up dead. "Damn girl, what are you spouting? Today's the first day you've met Lin Yi, when did he become your first love? Have you no shame?" Xia Qianqian exploded in anger. That damn girl just wouldn't stop. "I don't care. He is my first love, and I'm in love..." After that bowl of soup, Xia Xiaoxiao found herself truly falling for Lin Yi. Even if he had a girlfriend, so what? Even if he had a child with her sister, what of it? She could overlook it all. "You damn girl, I'll see if I don't beat you to death…" "Who's afraid of whom…" The two sisters charged at each other, quickly ending up in a scuffle. "I say, you two…" Zhang Xiu and Xia Hongjun, seeing their two daughters like this, felt awkward. How could they not? A single bowl of chicken soup had caused the sisters to become enemies. "Uncle, Aunt! I'm full now, so I'll be heading back first. Enjoy your meal." Seizing the opportunity, Wang Zhiwen stood up, bidding farewell to Xia Hongjun. "Go ahead!" Xia Hongjun waved dismissively, showing little concern. "Sigh…" Wang Zhiwen felt another wound to his spirit. Upon arrival, he was welcomed, but now at his departure, not even a glance was spared for him. Such was the disparity… After one last look at Lin Yi, who was too handsome for words, Wang Zhiwen's heart sank. Henceforth, he could only look up to this man… "Lin Yi, don't mind them. Let's continue eating." Seeing his two daughters bickering, Xia Hongjun didn't interfere. When it came to his own flesh and blood, whom could he support? The best approach was to support neither. "Sure, Uncle!" Lin Yi gave a bitter smile and simply sat down. In the future... he'd have to keep a low profile. Just making a meal and it caused such commotion, was it really necessary?