The setting sun cast its afterglow over the villa area.
In the kitchen, Ning Rongrong tossed her long hair back, her fair, lotus-root-like arms akimbo, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"This young lady is going to let you taste what top-tier cuisine is today," Ning Rongrong said, her face alight with excitement.
This was her first time cooking, and with her talent, the dishes she made would definitely be top-notch.
Even if it wasn't as good as Xiao Ze's cooking, it certainly wouldn't be bad.
In a clay pot, the mushroom soup was bubbling, with a half-burnt carrot and some cabbage leaves floating in the thick broth.
Especially, there was a strange oily layer on the surface.
Beside it, Ning Rongrong, holding a spatula, was vigorously stir-frying an unidentified object in an iron wok.
Inside were chili peppers, salted fish, and even honey.
A pungent smell assailed the kitchen, but Ning Rongrong seemed accustomed to it, not minding it at all.
"Ready!" Ning Rongrong triumphantly plated the dish.
She skipped to the dining table with the platter, then went to Xiao Ze's door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Coming."
When Xiao Ze opened the door, he saw Ning Rongrong, whose face was a bit oily, and then noticed the apron she was wearing, a bad premonition rising in his heart.
"Rongrong, what is it?"
"It's time to eat! I specifically cooked for you today."
Hearing this, Xiao Ze's eyes widened slightly.
My goodness! The Young Lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School actually cooked.
This is a disaster.
Xiao Ze couldn't even imagine what kind of heaven-defying dishes she could make.
Seeing Xiao Ze's incredulous gaze, Ning Rongrong patted her chest, full of confidence: "Don't worry, my cooking, while not comparable to yours, is definitely not bad."
"I hope so," Xiao Ze kept telling himself in his heart that no matter how unpalatable the dish was, he had to eat it.
It wasn't easy for the Young Lady to cook, he couldn't make her sad.
Xiao Ze followed Ning Rongrong to the dining room and, upon seeing the two dishes on the table, his features immediately scrunched up.
What were these things? A chaotic hodgepodge?
"Xiao Ze, quickly try a piece," Ning Rongrong looked at Xiao Ze expectantly.
Xiao Ze swallowed hard, suppressing the fear in his heart, and feigned composure as he picked up a dark, unidentifiable piece of food.
The moment it entered his mouth, Xiao Ze's face turned red, then green.
This… what kind of taste was this? Spicy, sweet, salty, and a strange flavor.
Xiao Ze realized that Ning Rongrong was definitely a master of dark cuisine; it was too exaggerated.
"How is it?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
Xiao Ze quickly swallowed it, struggling to squeeze out a few words: "It's not bad."
"I knew it! Although my dishes don't look very good, the taste is definitely great," Ning Rongrong laughed loudly.
Xiao Ze's eyes widened, "My Young Lady Rongrong, where do you get this confidence?"
"Did you even taste it yourself before serving?"
"Uh… Rongrong, why don't you try a bite yourself and see if there's any room for improvement?" Xiao Ze subtly suggested.
"Okay! Let me taste the top-tier cuisine made by this Young Lady."
Ning Rongrong immediately took a bite, her small face instantly scrunched up like a bun, "Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!"
She quickly spat it out, "Why does this taste completely different from what I imagined!"
"Hahaha, Rongrong, I'll do the cooking from now on," Xiao Ze rubbed Ning Rongrong's head.
Ning Rongrong puffed out her cheeks, "I tried really hard, who knew it wouldn't be tasty."
"I know," Xiao Ze said with a smile on his face.
Ning Rongrong stamped her foot, both shy and annoyed: "Next time, next time I'll definitely make truly delicious food!"
"Okay, okay," Xiao Ze dotingly pinched her cheek.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Ning Rongrong went to open it and saw Dugu Yan with Poison Douluo.
"Greetings, Poison Douluo Your Excellency."
"Isn't this the Little Witch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?" Poison Douluo was a little surprised, it seemed Xiao Ze and Ning Rongrong's relationship was quite good.
They were even spending time alone together.
"Uh," Ning Rongrong's pretty face flushed slightly, Little Witch, that was all in the past.
"Poison Douluo Your Excellency," Xiao Ze slowly approached.
Poison Douluo scrutinized Xiao Ze up and down, his appearance was not bad, but why was he so dark?
If Xiao Ze knew Poison Douluo's thoughts, he would be truly helpless; being out in the sun every day just makes one dark.
"Kid, you should know why I'm here today?" Poison Douluo said.
"Yes, please follow me, Your Excellency."
Ning Rongrong nervously grabbed Xiao Ze's arm.
Poison Douluo was naturally reclusive and always acted according to his own preferences.
What if he harmed Xiao Ze? Grandpa Sword wasn't around right now.
Xiao Ze patted Ning Rongrong's hand, giving her a reassuring look.
Dugu Yan saw their intimate demeanor and felt something strange, though she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Alright, little girl, I won't lay a hand on your little boyfriend."
"Oh," Ning Rongrong's face lit up with joy, worthy of being Senior Poison Douluo, he was really good at judging people.
Xiao Ze's mouth twitched, "You change your expression too quickly."
Poison Douluo was also a bit speechless, how had this Little Witch changed?
The two came to an open space, where no one was within a hundred meters.
"Kid, you can tell I'm poisoned?"
"Poison Douluo Your Excellency, do you experience an itching sensation in your ribs during rainy weather, and does this itching sensation intensify, lasting for an hour? And twice a day.
In the dead of night, do you feel a needle-like stinging pain in the top of your head and the soles of your feet, accompanied by full-body spasms?"
Poison Douluo's pupils contracted slightly, "It seems you know a lot, do you have a solution?"
"If you can solve the problem of me and Dugu Yan's poisoning, I can guarantee your safety for the rest of your life."
"There is a way, of course, but I want to make a deal with Your Excellency."
"Speak," Poison Douluo's face showed a hint of excitement.
After all, he had been poisoned for decades, and now he didn't even dare to continue cultivating; once his strength improved further, the poisoning would become more and more severe.
"I heard Your Excellency has a medicinal garden."
"You want to trade for my medicinal garden?"
"Yes, my Spirit needs some spiritual herbs and medicines."
"You learned this from Dugu Yan?"
Xiao Ze didn't reply.
In his opinion, this counted as an affirmative, and Poison Douluo nodded slightly.
"Alright, that medicinal garden, I can trade it with you."
"Good, in that case, I won't disappoint Your Excellency. Your and Sister Yanyan's poisoning, Sister Yanyan is still weak, so it's relatively easy to resolve.
As for your poisoning, it can be alleviated now, but it can only be completely resolved once my strength increases."
"That's not a problem, as long as you can detoxify Dugu Yan, that's enough." For Poison Douluo, Dugu Yan was the last remaining descendant of the Dugu family, so she had to be cured.
He himself had lived for so many years anyway, so if he died, he died.
He was just afraid that no one would protect Dugu Yan.
Suddenly, he looked at Xiao Ze.
(End of Chapter)
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