The Black Lotus Villainess Only Wants To Possess Me - Chapter 10

Despite the many differences between this life and her previous one, there were still plenty of preparations she could make and plans she could set in motion ahead of time.

Li Jia met Ye Chengxing’s gaze, showing no sign in her breathing or expression that she had just returned from the torrential rain outside, arriving barely a moment after Ye Chengxing herself.

Ye Chengxing noticed the pen in Li Jia’s hand. “Were you writing something just now?”

Li Jia’s eyes curved into a gentle smile. “Mm-hmm. My tutor finished our morning session and left me a practice test.”

Ye Chengxing listened attentively, pausing a moment after Li Jia finished speaking before asking, “How’s it going?”

“It’s fine. I can keep up. The tutor is very dedicated and explains things well.” Li Jia’s smile remained unwavering. After a brief pause, she blinked, and the corners of her lips suddenly curved into an even sweeter smile. “I’m really… so grateful to you, Elder Sister.” Without the high-level access Ye Chengxing had granted her, it would have been far more difficult—and far less swift—to accomplish her goals.

Ye Chengxing clearly hadn’t realized Li Jia was referring to something else. From her perspective, she assumed Li Jia meant her current tutoring and school.

“It’s nothing…”

Just as she was speaking, Ye Chengxing seemed to notice something and suddenly said, “Wait.”

She leaned closer and gently touched the ends of Li Jia’s long hair, as if confirming something. “Did you just shower? Don’t forget to dry your hair properly.”

Li Jia’s pupils constricted slightly as Ye Chengxing suddenly leaned in, but she managed to suppress the urge to move after hearing what Ye Chengxing said.

Ye Chengxing withdrew her hand and, finding only the ends of Li Jia’s hair slightly damp, assumed she had already dried it. She felt a little relieved.

She was deeply concerned about Li Jia getting sick or having her fever relapse. During the examination, she had seen that years of continuous use of the love potion had left Li Jia’s body in a precarious state. Though she appeared outwardly normal, her internal organs were as fragile as thin paper, unable to withstand any further strain.

Seeing this, Li Jia’s gaze darkened slightly.

From this, it seemed Ye Chengxing hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

She tightened her grip on the pen in her hand, her expression betraying no change as she smoothly shifted the topic. “Did you just finish drying your hair? Have you eaten, Sister?”

Although Ye Chengxing had returned around mid-afternoon, she hadn’t actually had lunch. In this world, meals could be resolved quickly—nutrient solutions were particularly convenient. However, Ye Chengxing clearly didn’t want to drink any more of those, nor did she want to spend exorbitant prices on what she considered subpar “gourmet” food.

Li Jia’s question reminded her that the groceries and kitchenware she’d purchased hadn’t been brought in yet. She instructed the bodyguards behind her to carry them in batches, assuming they were currently stored in the smart warehouse. After confirming with Xiao Bai, she had him transfer the items—including several large appliances—from the smart warehouse to the kitchen.

It had to be said that while this world lacked culinary delights, its advanced technology was remarkably convenient.

While instructing Xiao Bai, Ye Chengxing answered Li Jia’s question in between commands, “Not yet.”

“I haven’t eaten either,” Li Jia replied with a radiant smile. “I was waiting for you to come back so we could eat together.”

After the Omega finished speaking, Ye Chengxing paused for two seconds before clearing her throat and responding softly, “Okay… let’s eat together.”

Li Jia’s smile widened instantly. “Then wait for me to put down my pen and tidy up the table. I’ll be right down.”

But the moment Li Jia turned away, her smile vanished without a trace, replaced by an icy expression.

Ye Chengxing, watching the Omega’s retreating figure, didn’t notice the sudden shift in Li Jia’s demeanor. She unconsciously ran her fingers through her hair, remembering the uncapped pen still in Li Jia’s hand. It seemed Li Jia had indeed rushed down in a hurry. Still, the feeling of returning home to find someone waiting for her to eat was undeniably pleasant, even a little embarrassing. She resolved to tell Li Jia later that she didn’t need to wait for her; eating properly and on time was most important.

By now, Xiao Bai had nearly finished setting up the kitchen. The original owner rarely ate at home, preferring to dine out with her frivolous friends. Consequently, the house had no chef, though it was stocked with high-grade nutrient solutions. Overall, the kitchen remained sparsely equipped.

But as Xiao Bai arranged the groceries she had brought back, the once-empty kitchen instantly transformed.

Ye Chengxing recalled Li Jia’s earlier words about waiting for her to return so they could eat together. She resolved to cook three meals a day from now on. She simply couldn’t stomach the nutrient solutions, especially the thought of the two of them sitting across from each other, sipping the stuff and calling it a meal. The image felt indescribably strange. In her mind, dining was something entirely different.

As she pondered this, her thoughts drifted back to the meals her family used to make before she had died and transmigrated. The whole family would gather around the table, laughing and chatting. There were no strict rules about silence during meals in her family; the atmosphere was always relaxed and cheerful. Whenever she felt drained, a simple home-cooked meal would instantly restore her energy to full capacity.

…She missed home.

She wondered what condition her body was in back in her own world. According to the System’s earlier statements, her physical form likely hadn’t perished, since she would be resurrected and returned upon completing her mission. Perhaps she was in a vegetative state?

Ye Chengxing sighed.

Suppressing the emotions stirred by her surroundings, she rolled up her sleeves and entered the kitchen. Li Jia hadn’t come down yet, so she decided to start cooking.

Perhaps because gourmet food was so difficult and expensive to prepare, the prices of ingredients and kitchenware in this world had skyrocketed.

The most common vegetables and meats, which she considered everyday staples, now cost tens of thousands of credits. The portions were small, enough for only a few meals before needing to be replenished. Even basic seasonings, pots, pans, and bowls were priced exorbitantly, let alone functional kitchen appliances.

She finally understood why everyone had grown accustomed to nutrient solutions. The cost of cooking was simply too prohibitive. Moreover, most people lacked culinary skills, and there were no recipes available. A single failed dish meant wasting real money, making nutrient solutions the more practical choice.

Ye Chengxing’s culinary skills had been honed during her time studying abroad. Back then, she hadn’t enjoyed the local cuisine and found it difficult to adapt. So, she started experimenting in the kitchen, gradually refining her techniques through practice. Over time, her skills improved rapidly.

She took out some ingredients and mentally reviewed Li Jia’s preferences as described in the original novel.

The original plot did mention Li Jia’s culinary preferences, but only in the later stages, after she had nearly fully turned to the dark side. By then, Li Jia had developed a particular fondness for sweet dishes.

However, those preferences belonged to the later-stage Li Jia. Ye Chengxing wondered if the early-stage Li Jia, the one she was dealing with now, would share the same tastes.

Ye Chengxing started steaming rice and decided to make sweet and sour pork ribs, along with two stir-fried vegetable dishes.

The kitchen equipment and utensils in this world were quite different from those in her previous world. Though the designs were unfamiliar, their basic functions remained similar, and their efficiency had been greatly improved.

After mentally reviewing the steps for making sweet and sour pork ribs, Ye Chengxing began cooking with focused concentration. She chopped the ribs, blanched them, and then prepared to make the sweet and sour sauce. As she was mixing the sauce, she realized she was missing a seasoning. She turned to grab the missing ingredient.

As she turned, Ye Chengxing noticed Li Jia standing behind her, closer than she’d realized. The Omega’s face slowly bloomed into a gentle smile as their eyes met.

Though Li Jia was smiling, Ye Chengxing felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine. The sudden appearance of someone behind her had startled her, but the shock quickly faded when she saw it was Li Jia. She chuckled, teasing, “Li Jia, you walk so quietly! I didn’t hear a thing.”

Li Jia hummed softly, subtly shifting her body as Ye Chengxing turned to grab the seasoning. With practiced ease, she folded her knife and tucked it away. “I was just curious about what you were making, but I didn’t want to disturb you, so I tried to be quiet.”

Her lashes fluttered as she continued, “Sister, did I… scare you? I’ll tell you next time. Please don’t hate me.”

Ye Chengxing immediately shook her head. “Of course not!”

Hearing Li Jia’s words, Ye Chengxing felt her heart melt.

Afraid of disturbing her, Ye Chengxing barely made a sound. How could anyone dislike her? She was practically a little angel.

After retrieving the seasoning, Ye Chengxing returned to find Li Jia standing with her hands clasped behind her back. The Omega still seemed apologetic and guilty for having startled her. Ye Chengxing’s voice softened even further as she said, “This is your home now. You can come in whenever you want. Don’t feel like you need to hesitate.”

She opened the bottle of seasoning as she replied, “I’m making sweet and sour pork ribs right now. I’ll stir-fry a couple more dishes later, but I’m not sure if they’ll suit your taste…”

Ye Chengxing paused slightly, her tone shifting to one tinged with nervousness, though what was more evident was her genuine concern. “Li Jia, what do you like to eat?”

Ye Chengxing’s question was so natural that Li Jia was momentarily caught off guard.

What do I like to eat?

Li Jia’s gaze swept over the bottles of seasonings and the ingredients laid out nearby. Suddenly, she realized what Ye Chengxing was doing.

She had initially suspected Ye Chengxing might be tampering with the food, but now it seemed… So, she’s starting to play mind games, huh?

Ye Chengxing couldn’t possibly know how to cook; she was clearly putting on a show for Li Jia’s benefit.

The Omega curved her crimson lips into a smile, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks. “I’m not picky,” she said. “I can eat anything.” She was curious to see what Ye Chengxing would produce after all this elaborate preparation.

Even years after her rebirth—which would be several years from the present—no cookbooks had yet appeared on the market. Where could a good-for-nothing second-generation heir like Ye Chengxing have learned to cook? The lunatic was truly audacious to fabricate such a story, as if Li Jia had no common sense.

Though she sneered inwardly, Li Jia’s expression remained unchanged. “But I’ve never seen the entire cooking process before, Sister,” she said. “I’d like to stay here and watch.”

Ye Chengxing was still pondering Li Jia’s earlier remark about not being picky and being able to eat anything. Worried that the Omega was simply being polite and hiding her true preferences, she resolved to observe her more closely in the future.

Hearing Li Jia’s request to watch her cook in the kitchen, she simply hummed in acknowledgment.

The smile on Li Jia’s lips grew even more pronounced.

Li Jia thought she had seen through Ye Chengxing’s act. First, Ye Chengxing had made a big show of buying expensive ingredients and kitchen equipment, then asked Li Jia what she liked to eat. Most likely, the finished dishes had already been ordered and were just waiting to be delivered. Li Jia didn’t believe for a second that Ye Chengxing would actually cook—it was all a charade.

Now that Li Jia was watching, Ye Chengxing would undoubtedly hesitate. With her observing, Ye Chengxing’s plan to merely put on a show would likely fall apart.

Li Jia was genuinely curious about how Ye Chengxing would try to cover up her lie.

Ye Chengxing did have some concerns.

Although the advanced equipment and tools in this world significantly improved cooking efficiency, it still took time. For someone accustomed to nutrient solutions, preparing meals from scratch might seem too slow.

After a moment’s pause, Ye Chengxing suggested, “It might take a while. Why don’t you sit down and watch?”

With that, she instructed Xiao Bai to bring in a chair.

As she watched the chair being placed, Ye Chengxing noticed Li Jia’s expression stiffen. After a moment’s thought, she realized: Could Li Jia be feeling a little embarrassed?

Understanding dawned on Ye Chengxing, and her tone became even more understanding. “It’s okay. Come, sit down.”