That evening, Miss Chi Yu sighed with a bitter expression.
Zhu Zi asked, "What's wrong?"
Miss Chi Yu slumped on the table. "I don't want to go back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
Everyone looked at her. "Huh?"
Miss Chi Yu looked utterly defeated. "Hu Tao keeps making Sunsettia soup every night and forces me to drink it with her. I really can't take it anymore."
Ying'er was curious. "Is the Sunsettia soup that bad?"
Miss Chi Yu's expression became conflicted. "It's not about whether it's good or bad. It's that Hu Tao's cooking is… strange. She uses the same pot, the same ingredients, and the same steps every time, but the soup tastes completely different each time!"
Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
That was terrifying.
Xia Ci thought for a moment and asked, "Could she be secretly adding Rainbow Juice to it?"
Miss Chi Yu quickly shook her head. "No! I stood right next to her last night and watched her make the soup! I saw that she didn't add anything strange to the pot. It was just a normal soup, but I have no idea why it ended up tasting so weird. The thought of her making it again tonight makes me not want to go back."
Everyone looked at her with sympathy.
Having a sister like that must be tough.
Xia Zhi walked out of the kitchen and noticed the strange atmosphere. "What's going on?"
Miss Chi Yu gave him a resentful look. "It's all your fault, Boss."
"Huh?"
"You shouldn't have taught Hu Tao that Sunsettia soup recipe."
"Oh… After drinking it for so many days, has Hu Tao's figure changed at all?"
"Well, there's been some effect."
Miss Chi Yu thought to herself, otherwise Hu Tao wouldn't be so enthusiastic about it.
"Then it's working."
"But it's working on me too!"
"…"
Everyone fell silent.
Especially Diona, who stared wide-eyed at Miss Chi Yu's figure.
It really did seem bigger!
The cat was shocked!
"So, why don't you just refuse Hu Tao?"
"She's just trying to be kind. As her senior, how could I outright reject her?"
"Doesn't Hu Tao notice the strange taste?"
"She doesn't care about the taste at all."
"Hmm, if it were me, I probably wouldn't mind something like that either."
"You could help Hu Tao make the soup."
"She won't let me! She says she feels more at ease making it herself."
"…"
"Boss, help me! If my tongue gets ruined from drinking that soup, I won't be able to taste-test your dishes anymore!"
"I think having one less taster might be fine."
"Zhu Zi!"
"Hehe."
Xia Zhi watched the commotion and smiled.
"There is a way, though."
"What is it?"
"Making soup isn't that troublesome. I can make it for you while I'm cooking."
"Oh! If it's made by the Boss, Hu Tao will definitely trust it."
"And once we go on our trip later, you won't have to worry about this anymore."
Miss Chi Yu was overjoyed. "Boss, I love you!"
As soon as she said that, several ambiguous gazes turned toward her.
Miss Chi Yu blushed and quickly got up to leave.
"I'll go get the Sunsettias."
Just as Xia Zhi was about to say something, he noticed Diona quietly sneaking up to his side and tugging on his sleeve.
The cat whispered softly, "Boss."
"Hmm?"
"Can you make a little extra soup later? I want to try it too."
"Sure."
The cat's heart leapt with joy.
Boss, I love you!
-----
Sunsettia itself doesn't have any particularly special effects.
In the medicinal formula that Xia Zhi provided, it was just one of the ingredients.
But its shape is perfect, and according to the idea of "like cures like," it easily gives patients strong confidence.
So naming the recipe after it is a very reasonable approach.
Miss Chi Yu watched with anticipation as Hu Tao picked up the bowl and drank the creamy white soup inside.
"How is it?"
"Delicious!!"
"Our boss made it himself!"
"Mr. Xia's cooking is amazing."
"He also said he'll make it for me every day from now on. I had to beg him for a long time before he agreed, and it's all for you."
"Chi Yu, I love you!"
"Right?"
"But Mr. Xia is so gentle too."
"Yeah! The boss is really gentle!"
Hu Tao seemed to suddenly remember something and looked at Chi Yu curiously.
"By the way, Chi Yu, didn't you used to always try to set me up with Mr. Xia? Why haven't you mentioned it lately?"
"Did I?"
"I'm not an idiot. You always made it so obvious, telling me to visit Mr. Xia's shop more often and chat with him."
"So you knew all along."
Miss Chi Yu's face turned red.
"I just thought you're getting older, so I was a bit worried for you."
"Come on, Chi Yu, you're way older than me. Shouldn't I be the one worrying about you?"
"…"
"Ouch! Stop hitting my head! I'm sorry, Chi Yu, you'll always be eighteen!"