16: Chapter 16 A Sweet Lunch

The next day, sunlight filtered through the bedroom's floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow that gently wrapped around the lingering, intimate warmth of the room.

The passion of the previous night had exhausted Lin Wanqing's energy, leaving her in a deep slumber.

Qin Yi woke up first; opening his eyes, he saw the clock had already ticked past ten in the morning, and the bright sun was already high outside the window.

He shifted his body slightly and turned his head to see Lin Wanqing sleeping soundly beside him.

Thinking of the madness of the night before and Lin Wanqing's pleas for mercy at the end, Qin Yi couldn't help but smile.

As a Land Immortal, he possessed a powerful body and abundant energy; the intimacy of last night was negligible in terms of the toll it took on him.

The young girl was sleeping deeply; her long eyelashes hung like small fans beneath her eyelids, and her cheeks still held a lingering flush. Her usually lively brows and eyes were relaxed now, adding a touch of delicate, lazy softness. Her hair was scattered messily across the pillow, and her lotus-white arm rested lightly on the quilt, her skin glowing with the luster of fine mutton-fat jade.

Just as Qin Yi was quietly watching her, a crisp system notification suddenly rang out in his mind:

[Ding! Detected that the host has completely captured the heart of the destiny heroine Lin Wanqing and claimed the destiny heroine's first time. Reward: God-level Culinary Skills (Proficient in the techniques of all global cuisines; prepared dishes possess both excellent taste and nourishing effects, able to warm the meridians and regulate the body and mind, with flavors reaching the pinnacle of perfection.)]

[God-level Culinary Skills have been automatically integrated; the host may utilize them at any time.]

As the system notification faded, countless techniques for cooking, ingredient pairing, and heat control flooded into Qin Yi's mind. A trace of a smile flashed in his eyes as he looked back at Lin Wanqing, inadvertently catching sight of that striking and moving splash of crimson on the white bedsheets, and his heart was instantly filled with tenderness.

He looked at Lin Wanqing again.

[Name: Lin Wanqing]

[Gender: Female]

[Height: 175cm]

[Weight: 51kg]

[Appearance: 97]

[Realm: Peak of Houtian]

[Affection: 100 (Life and Death Companionship)]

[Fate: Heroine of Expert Descends the Mountain (Original), Mysterious Yin Physique (Top-tier Cauldron)]

Last night's encounter had allowed Lin Wanqing to absorb his primordial yang, nourishing her body and allowing her physique to transcend the mortal realm, reaching the Peak of Houtian directly.

Qin Yi moved her hand, which was resting on him, with extreme care, afraid of waking the sleeping girl. He carefully got up, got dressed, and after washing up, went straight downstairs to the villa's kitchen.

Usually, there was a private chef in the house, but at this moment, he wanted to cook a meal for Lin Wanqing himself to reward her for giving him her heart.

Possessing God-level Culinary Skills, Qin Yi's control over ingredients and heat had reached a state of pure perfection. He casually took fresh ingredients from the refrigerator, handling and cooking them with fluid, skillful movements. In less than half an hour, a lunch full of color, aroma, and taste was laid out on the dining table.

The honey-glazed ribs, with their glistening red color and tender, melt-in-the-mouth meat; the steamed sea bass, fresh, juicy, and exuding a faint savory aroma; the broccoli with minced garlic, crisp, emerald green, and fragrant with garlic; the rich, sweet-and-sour tomato egg soup with soft egg ribbons; and a pot of millet porridge, boiled until thick and creamy, nourishing and warming—every dish was rich in aroma and enticing in color, enough to whet anyone's appetite just by the smell.

Qin Yi had just placed the last dish on the table when he heard light footsteps on the stairs. He turned his head and immediately saw Lin Wanqing coming down.

At this moment, Lin Wanqing was completely different from the lively, pretty, and slightly aloof eldest miss of the Lin Family she had been in the past.

After experiencing womanhood for the first time, her aura had quietly transformed. The youthful innocence and restlessness had diminished, replaced by a touch of gentleness and allure unique to a woman. Her brows and eyes were wrapped in an indescribable charm, and her cheeks were flushed with a faint pink.

Her long hair was casually tied in a low bun, with a few stray strands hanging by the side of her neck. She wore loose, light-colored loungewear, yet it could not hide her exquisite figure. Her steps trembled slightly as she walked, appearing a bit unsteady, and she could only lightly hold the stair railing, taking one step at a time. She looked delicate, soft, and pitiable.

Seeing Qin Yi in the dining room, Lin Wanqing's initially shy face instantly blossomed with a brilliant smile. Her eyes shone as if they held starlight. Forgetting the discomfort in her steps, she quickened her pace toward him. Her voice was soft, sweet, and carried a hint of playful, naive charm as she called out directly: "Husband!"

This "Husband" was called out naturally and affectionately, full of a young girl's devotion and reliance. Qin Yi felt his heart warm upon hearing it, and a joyful smile instantly spread across his face. He quickly stepped forward to gently steady her, fearing she might not be stable, his tone so gentle it could melt: "Walk slowly, don't rush. Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

"I couldn't sleep. I woke up and didn't see you, so I came down to find you." Lin Wanqing leaned into his arms, the scent of the food filling her nose. Only then did she notice the table full of delicacies. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she looked up at Qin Yi, her eyes full of disbelief.

"Brother Qin Yi, are these dishes… all made by you? I never knew you could cook before. This is too amazing!"

In her impression, as the heir of the Qin Family, Qin Yi had always been the center of attention and had never touched the trivial matters of the kitchen. She hadn't expected him to be able to make such a table of food that looked incredibly delicious, and the admiration and love in her heart grew even more.

"I just learned it. Sit down and try it, see if it suits your taste." Qin Yi helped her sit by the dining table, thoughtfully ladled a bowl of millet porridge for her, and pushed it in front of her.

Lin Wanqing picked up her chopsticks and first placed a piece of honey-glazed rib into her mouth. With a gentle chew, the tenderness of the rib and the sweetness of the honey sauce melted on her tongue. The taste was delicious to the extreme, far surpassing any Michelin-starred meal she had ever eaten.

Her eyes instantly widened, as if she had discovered a treasure. She looked at Qin Yi with starry eyes, praising him repeatedly: "It's so delicious! Brother Qin Yi, your cooking is absolutely superb, a hundred times better than what my family's chef makes!"

Looking at her satisfied and happy appearance, Qin Yi's eyes were full of doting. He reached out and rubbed the top of her head: "If it's delicious, eat more. Don't go hungry."

Lin Wanqing nodded vigorously, then picked up her chopsticks, picked up a piece of tender sea bass belly meat, carefully picked out the fish bones, and placed it into Qin Yi's bowl. Her eyes curved, and her tone was full of tenderness: "Husband, you've worked hard. You should eat more too, to replenish your energy."

Qin Yi looked at the fish meat in his bowl, the smile on his lips never fading. He didn't say much, just silently picked out the dishes she liked and put them in her bowl as well.

The two of them snuggled together, you feeding me a bite, I picking a piece for you. A warm atmosphere lingered in the dining room, and the sunlight shone on the two of them, creating a sweet and joyous ambiance.