"Brother Yuan's skill in the kitchen sure has improved. You prepared all the ingredients the same way as what I have mentioned before, good job."

Among the list in Shao Cheng's mind is to make Ren Yuan happy, so he doesn't mind praising him once in a while, although Ren Yuan's ego is going to raise in a dangerous level while asking for trouble but he can handle it.

After all, being annoyed and irritated is something he has already experienced and deals with.

So, Shao Cheng has finally decided to reveal his presence and has calmly walked over to Ren Yuan who only showed a normal expression of being surprised in which has quickly returned back to normal before displaying the familiar grin on his face.

Although Shao Cheng was able to quickly perceive the way the man grey pupil has shimmered in happiness after being praised, at least, at that moment, he can determine that Ren Yuan's mask of his emotions and thought was slowly loosening when facing him.

"I know right? And Little Cheng, look! I told you I can make noodles! Nothing is really capable to stop my excellent! So, what else do you need me to do? Your Brother Yuan can do it!"

"Ah, it's alright since Brother Yuan has worked extremely hard, so, I'll do the rest."

After Shao Cheng has stood before an excited Ren Yuan, he slowly raises his hand to gently wipe the flour in the man's flush cheeks while quickly noticing the feeling of smoothness and warmth skin on his thumb before his eyes have calmly observed the man's messy appearance.

"If Brother Yuan wants, you can go take a quick bath while I'm preparing the main soup and some side dish."

"...Oh…"

Habit is really terrible since Shao Cheng was utterly obviously at the ambiguous move he has just done despite finally acknowledging his certain emotion, before calmly turning around to start cooking, although he started to roll up his long sleeves, showing beautiful slender arms before retying his hair up.

"Come on, you can go."

"...mnm…"

Unaware of the man soft sound, Shao Cheng has calmly started dealing with the pig bones in the table while entirely feeling please that his little students have completed all the tools needed for the hot pot, after all, just like in the ancient novels he has read in his first life, it seemed that the hot pot doesn't exist in the world he now lives.

And although he would have loved to make the tomato hot pot soup recipe in his mind but there wasn't any tomato in the market, which wasn't caused because of the winter season but it wasn't widely known and grown in the Chang Empire.

Rather the tomato was grown in the Lau Empire, where those siblings in the previous life who declared war reside, and the tomato wasn't also known enough, only grown in a remote and distant corner of the Empire.

… Well, it's good too, I'll make sure to earn profit for my Empire, I'm definitely going to gain a lot of money.

In the previous life, as the Great Advisor that has the most power in the Chang Empire, he has started implementing on growing the high yield vegetable and fruits around the Empire in order to help lessen the trouble of famine.

… and the best place to start growing what he wants should be in his grandfather's fief.

Although it's mostly so that he could feed Ren Yuan all kinds of different food base in modern world recipes that have been stored in his mind.

Well, he should also start implementing the same plan early on, which would also help with the Empire's growth and stability, while adding more uncommon and exotic plants that the man would love to taste.

Especially, Cocoa, Ren Yuan would definitely love the taste of chocolate, he definitely needs to start looking for all the plants he wanted and needed to grow in the Chang Empire after the new year is over.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

Shao Cheng that is considering all the various aspect needed to make Ren Yuan happy, especially his stomach while making the Empire prosperous and solving future crisis that has always happen in every empire has finally noticed the still and silent Ren Yuan that remain rooted in the same place.

"...Nothing! I'll be going now!"

Letting out a cough, Ren Yuan that has his hand raised over his cheeks with a dazed look on his face while inwardly feeling confused couldn't help but swiftly leave the kitchen, causing Shao Cheng that has his attention split into different issues to inwardly shrug his shoulder while thinking that it's one of Ren Yuan strange moment.

"... ah.. there is really a lot thing to do.."

Well, money is one of the main important issues I need to quickly deal with, fortunately, Ren Yuan has unconsciously reminded me.

Ah, golds and silvers, I'll take you back...

After being busy for almost two hours in the kitchen with Ren Yuan suddenly becoming thoughtful and kind, preparing the utensil needed for dinner.

And while walking in the hallway, Shao Cheng finally saw the door where it leads another dining hall with the widest window that showed a great scenery outside a wide yard, with fake small hill along with various blooming purple magnolia trees spread around, particularly a small pond that has frozen over because of the cold weather.

Although Shao Cheng's courtyard was in a secluded place and away from the main residence but the entire courtyard was quite large and wide with various elegant and sophisticated designs that don't befit the present Shao family military standing.

Because of the original Shao Cheng's wholehearted loathe of any violence and fighting, there wasn't any military design or object displayed in the entire place, which has completely displayed how much the entire Shao Family favor and love him with all their hearts.

...really such a foolish but at the same time extremely wonderful and amazing family they are.

Anyway, for tonight's dinner, drinking alcohol is always a must when Ren Yuan is added to the mix and Shao Cheng has already taken out one of the remaining stolen wine jars that his first and the second sister has secretly taken away from their pitiful and loving Uncle Enlai.

"By the way, I don't seem to see your Little Student around."

Ren Yuan that has seen the young man couldn't help but finally remember the obedient and innocent little kid that faithfully and patiently serving them for the past few days before his eyes gaze toward the tray of side dish that the young man was carrying in his hands.

"Xiaolin? I let him returned to his relative tonight."

While carefully placing the side dishes among the hot pot ingredients upon a large table, Shao Cheng calmly glances toward the man lazily sitting upon a comfortable chair with the loose red robes slightly open in the chest area, displaying a beautiful white clavicle and well balance muscle on his chest.

… it seemed that this person's skin has always been in white color and despite staying long in the sun, the man's skin has never shown any tan color, well, he finally get the reason why there is a lot of women who envy him.

Although Shao Cheng has never bothered regarding it since his skin health has always been good, even after being stress didn't affect it.

Nonetheless, seeing such beautiful scenery has once again caused Shao Cheng's heart to flutter while he couldn't help but question and doubt the entire reason why he was attracted and charmed when looking at this person's body, especially when they are of the same gender and has even seen other people private part.

One shouldn't fault him for sometimes doubting such thought right? After all, he already knows that he liked women a long time ago, especially as a normal man, he prefers the one with a great figure, a pretty appearance, and bountiful softness in the chest area.

… I'm not bent… I just slightly like a person named Ren Yuan that happened to be a man.

Honestly, Shao Cheng has secretly tried to observe the men walking around the place they visited today, especially after seeing various appearances and temperaments among them, but, his emotions have remained indifferent and neutral, there wasn't even a single attraction at all, even if it's only for a normal and simple reaction, there was none.

"Come, let's eat."

"Finally!"

Soon, Shao Cheng has easily suppressed and clear away those chaotic thoughts in his mind before teaching Ren Yuan how to properly eat the hot pot while secretly observing the fleeting joy and delight that has genuinely shown once in a while every single time the man tried different ingredients.

"Little Cheng is really the best! Here you go! I still remember how much you like to eat meat!"

"Hmm…"

Shao Cheng has just nodded while calmly taking the piece of meat place in his bowl before gently putting it in his mouth, the entire time, his expression has remained calm, although it was warmer than usual, especially his sapphire eyes glowing in soft light.

It's really great to have such a peaceful day, something he rarely has after meeting the young Huang Ya and Chang Pei.

I was really a fool and stupid, taking the wrong path to walk while not anyone can easily remain standing by his side.

Fortunately, there is another chance to try, hopefully, a better ending and it doesn't need to be perfect.

So, for the rest of the dinner, Shao Cheng and Ren Yuan has a peaceful and wonderful time, completely quiet and friendly without a hint of their usual banter and always trying to consciously or unconsciously make the other person stunned or speechless.

A truly and genuine great time.

Shortly, when everything was clean up and put in order, a happy and flush cheeks Ren Yuan has suddenly barged into Shao Cheng's room.

"Well, Little Cheng let's go to sleep!"

Shao Cheng that was drying his long hair with the help of his internal energy after finishing bathing watch as a grinning Ren Yuan naturally and confidently walked over the large bed.

… aren't you tired of being kicked out of the room and then secretly climbing my bed in the middle of the night?

Well, it's also time to implement his plan for drugging this person to sleep.

So, Shao Cheng has obediently nodded his head causing Ren Yuan to show a surprised expression before displaying a wide smile on his face and making him feel a bit guilty inside.

Although such emotion was quickly blown away as quickly as it appeared since there is no way that Shao Cheng would tell the man his plan tonight of stealing back some of the money that corrupted officials have hidden away, either from bribing, stealing, or both.

"Purple, I already prepared to let you eat all the food you want, so make sure to thoroughly guard him like you promise alright?"

The purple dragon that has been away and was staying in one of the private rooms in his restaurant, eating numerous dishes and snacks that have been sent in one after another during dinner time, was happily flying back home.

"Of course! It's Mama bug, I'll definitely protect him! And Papa bug, I still want to eat those foods tomorrow again!"

A glutton dragon…

Shao Cheng inwardly snorts while feeling extremely unfortunate that the purple dragon couldn't get fat even after eating lots of foods, especially when he has given up with Little Chen Yu that couldn't get thin anymore, although he will let the wolf cub experience all the time.

"Don't order too much food and completely make sure to keep the identity of an eccentric martial art person that loves to eat but doesn't want to be seen carefully intact alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, and don't be stingy, especially when you are going to have more money after tonight. Make sure to give me some too. As a majestic dragon, I can't be poor! I still want some face to my bug sibling!"

"..."

So after making sure that Ren Yuan is sleeping deep and can only wake up with the help of Purple just in case of emergency, Shao Cheng dress in back clothes has lean slightly while standing on the side of the bed before gently patting the man smooth cheeks, somehow getting a bit addicted on the feeling.

Before letting out a soft sigh and straightening up, although the man guard has slightly lower down when it's in his presence but drugging the man wasn't easy as it seemed, the only reason he can do it was because of the years of dealing and handling the man in the previous life.

"Have a nice dream, I'll be back soon."