Chapter 17 Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Chapter 17

1

Looking at the pastries on the table, Second Young Miss sneered, "After a whole day of this, this is all you managed?"

As a daughter of the Chen family, she had tasted every delicacy under the sun.

A few ordinary-looking pastries had no place being on the Chen family's dining table.

Lin Chenxin shot her a glance and said, "These are for Master and Madam. There isn't any for Second Young Miss."

Second Young Miss's face fell instantly, and she glared at Lin Chenxin.

"You..."

But Lin Chenxin remained unfazed as she placed the pastries before Mr. Chen and Ms. Liang.

"I expect Master and Madam know that my Lin family built its fortune on pastries. Though my skills may not compare to masters of national and international fame, we have made a name for ourselves in H City. I don't have much to my name and have nothing truly impressive to offer. These few pastries are a token of my sincerity."

After speaking, Lin Chenxin respectfully stepped back.

Perhaps because Lin Chenxin's words sounded so genuine, Ms. Liang did not immediately order these "unpresentable" coarse treats to be removed.

Second Young Miss snorted coldly, "Silver-tongued."

Yet, she couldn't help but let her eyes be drawn toward the steaming pastries on the table.

One plate appeared to be ordinary egg yolk pastries.

However, these were baked over a wood fire, carrying a hint of smokiness. The crust was golden and crisp, without a trace of char, fragrant but not greasy. The air was filled with the baked, buttery aroma. Just by looking and smelling, one could imagine the satisfying crunch with each bite, showing perfect control of the oven.

Second Young Miss involuntarily swallowed.

Besides this plate of egg yolk pastries, there was another plate of steamed glutinous rice balls, now wafting steam. Each was no larger than a baby's fist, plump and white, with distinct grains of glutinous rice clinging together, looking incredibly tender.

Under the lamplight, upon closer inspection, one could see a darker filling inside, its flavor—sweet or savory—unknown. Yet, just the sight promised an incredibly soft, fragrant, and glutinous texture.

Second Young Miss swallowed again, but when she looked up, she saw Lin Chenxin smiling at her.

Her face flushed, and she snorted, turning her gaze away.

"Let's try them then," Mr. Chen condescended to lift his eyelids.

Seeing Mr. Chen speak, the young master, who had remained silent until now, eagerly cut into a glutinous rice ball with his knife and fork.

He had a particular weakness for such soft, sweet pastries.

With the first bite, the young master's eyes lit up, and he looked at Lin Chenxin, saying, "It's peanut paste."

Crushed peanut paste oozed from the cut glutinous rice, instantly releasing a sweet, fragrant scent.

Using his fork, the young master found the rice ball soft and sticky. The thick peanut paste dripped from the fork, emitting a sweet aroma that made him look almost pained.

If not for the table manners ingrained since childhood forbidding improper behavior, he would have wanted to lick it clean or eat it with his hands.

"Just ordinary peanut paste, how can it be made so fragrant?" the young master couldn't help but murmur.

The thick, warm peanut paste mixed with the pure white, soft glutinous rice was sweet but not cloying. In the mouth, it offered more of the peanut's sweetness and the glutinous rice's soft, sticky texture.

Those who loved sweets would adore this pastry.

And even those who didn't particularly favor sweets could appreciate its remarkable mouthfeel.

Suddenly, a loud *crunch* broke the brief silence.

Mr. Chen met everyone's eyes and, expressionless, swallowed the savory, crispy egg yolk pastry in his mouth.

The young master chewed but kept his eyes on Mr. Chen, hoping he would say something.

Yet, Mr. Chen merely maintained his unreadable expression, taking bite after bite until the entire egg yolk pastry was gone.

On the other side, Ms. Liang ate more delicately, half-covering her lips with her hand, as if unwilling to make the noticeable crunching sound Mr. Chen had. She took only a small, gentle bite.

But she underestimated the crispiness of the egg yolk pastry's crust.

A very soft *crunch* sounded from her lips. She paused, meeting the collective gaze directed at her.

Ms. Liang swallowed what was in her mouth without changing her expression, lowered her hand, and said, "Not bad."

The young master looked disappointed.

He immediately reached out to take one for himself.

Meanwhile, the prideful Second Young Miss had swallowed her saliva countless times, her eyes darting back and forth between the glutinous rice balls and the egg yolk pastries.

The young master, now eating an egg yolk pastry, widened his eyes.

So fragrant, so flaky, so crisp. The savory filling inside perfectly balanced the sweet crispness of the outer crust.

Now he understood why his father hadn't spoken. He didn't want to talk either; he just wanted to eat one after another until they were all gone.

Finishing one wasn't enough; the young master wanted a second. The fidgeting Second Young Miss beside him finally couldn't resist reaching out.

At that moment, Ms. Liang said, "One shouldn't eat too many pastries before a meal. Take them away."

The servant waiting outside the screen immediately entered, head bowed, and carried away the remaining glutinous rice ball and egg yolk pastry.

Second Young Miss's outstretched hand stiffly withdrew, her face flushed with humiliation and anger.

The young master looked regretful.

Soon, servants filed in and placed exquisite dishes on the table.

But having just tasted the sweet pastries, their minds still lingering on the flavor, looking at these daily delicacies suddenly robbed them of their appetite.

The young master practically wore his lack of interest on his face.

He didn't want to pick up his chopsticks, unusually sullen as he pulled a long face.

However, under Ms. Liang's cold glance, he immediately straightened his back, assumed proper posture, pressed his lips together, and picked up his chopsticks.

Standing behind them, Lin Chenxin's lips curved into a smile, her eyes gleaming with proud brilliance.

Even the wealthiest, most imposing families would become enamored after tasting her Lin family's pastries.

And these were just the most ordinary ones.

There were others with carved patterns and characters, made through steaming, frying, baking, roasting, and toasting—various pastries that were not only beautiful in appearance but even better in taste.

Suddenly, she remembered the message on her phone. Her expression went blank, and her eyelashes lowered once more.

—

The meal wrapped up quickly.

Perhaps owing to those pastries, Madam Liang did not make things difficult for her. She even said something unprecedented: "Not bad today."

Lin Chenxin lowered her head. "I'm glad Madam enjoyed them."

Though she said this, her face didn't show a flicker of emotion from the condescending praise.

Leaving the main hall, she encountered the Second Young Miss, who had not yet departed. Seeing her, the Second Young Miss said haughtily, "I didn't know you had it in you, but don't think you can get on people's good side with just a few pastries."

Lin Chenxin smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it. But if the Second Young Miss would like to try..."

A flicker of interest crossed the Second Young Miss's eyes. She pursed her lips, raising her chin with feigned reserve, about to say that if Lin Chenxin made them specially for her, she might deign to try one. But the next moment, she heard Lin Chenxin say, "If you go to the servants' table now, you might still get the last bite."

With that, she turned and left. The Second Young Miss's face flushed with humiliation. In a rage of humiliation, she said in a shrill voice, "Don't you dare act so arrogantly here! What do you think the Chen family is? Who do you think you are, someone from your lowly background causing trouble here!"

Lin Chenxin stopped, turned to look at her, and chuckled.

"Lowly, am I? And yet you couldn't stop eating the things made by that lowly background."

Remembering her own behavior at the table, the Second Young Miss's eyes welled up with angry tears.

Filled with hatred and rage, she lashed out without thinking: "What makes you think you're so great? You'd even sell yourself for money. You're nothing but a shameless gold-digger who would sell her body and soul!"

The Second Young Miss breathed heavily, glaring fixedly at Lin Chenxin. After this outburst, she felt immensely satisfied, eager to see Lin Chenxin's face flush with shame and fury.

Unfortunately, Lin Chenxin remained completely unruffled.

"That's right. Who'd want to set foot in this place if not for the money? You should reflect on what, besides money and status, makes your family so alluring."

Her attitude was cool and detached, utterly indifferent.

The Second Young Miss was so angry she could hardly breathe, her chest tight with resentment. Blinded by anger, she blurted out, "You think you're getting money for selling yourself, but you don't know it's money to buy your life!"

Lin Chenxin's expression changed slightly.

Seeing this, the Second Young Miss finally felt she had struck a blow. She stared intently and said, "You think it's fortunate you haven't dropped dead like the two women before you, but you don't know this is just the beginning of your true hell. Three more days. In just three more days, you'll learn what a fate worse than death means!"

The Second Young Miss's blazing eyes were filled with venom.

Sure enough, Lin Chenxin's face changed dramatically. Losing her composure, she asked, "What are you talking about?!"

The Second Young Miss sneered. "What do you think is living under the same roof with you? It's a monster. A monster that actually eats people!"

Her voice was sharp, as if she had seen it herself.

"Impossible!" Lin Chenxin retorted urgently.

"Three days from now is the last day of the month. On that day..."

"Second Young Miss."

A middle-aged woman appeared like a ghost at the corridor's corner.

The Second Young Miss shuddered as if doused with cold water, instantly regaining her senses. Her face paled.

Across from her, Lin Chenxin's panic had vanished, her demeanor now completely calm.

Clearly, she had been deliberately provoking her.

It was unclear how much the middle-aged woman had heard. She looked expressionlessly at the Second Young Miss. "Second Young Miss, Madam is looking for you."

The Second Young Miss trembled. Thinking of something, she gritted her teeth and glared venomously at Lin Chenxin.

"You..."

"How stupid you are," Lin Chenxin said with a laugh.

The Second Young Miss's face turned crimson, so angry she couldn't speak.

She stamped her foot fiercely and turned to leave unwillingly. Behind her, Lin Chenxin's voice sounded again, unhurried.

"He is your eldest brother, not a monster."

The Second Young Miss, furious, wanted to say something but met the eyes of the middle-aged woman ahead. She shuddered, pressed her lips tightly together, and swallowed her words.

As she left, the middle-aged woman gave Lin Chenxin a cold, sinister glance.

It held a profound, eerie meaning and a chilling warning.

After they had left, Lin Chenxin turned and walked away calmly.

Not coming early, not coming late, but arriving precisely at the last moment.

Tsk.