The Transmigrated Male Lead Confessed to Me - Chapter 15 (Part 4)

She thought about it. With Xiao Yu’s experience, he had probably met all kinds of people, so he wouldn’t be easily shocked.

This question was probably redundant.

Su Zhen was about to take back her words.

“Encountered what? Someone like your master? Or someone like your senior brother?”

Xiao Yu naturally chimed in, “There are always people like that, with twisted logic, who blame everything on you and then show up to fight you without a second thought… I’ve killed plenty of people like that.”

Su Zhen understood.

She wasn’t too different herself.

In both this life and her previous one, she had killed countless people, so these words didn’t evoke much feeling in her.

It was only a shame she hadn’t killed Zhou Ziheng sooner.

Of course, due to various reasons, in her previous life, she hadn’t been keen on killing people from her sect. It would’ve only caused more trouble.

“If it weren’t for the fact that you didn’t want me to interfere, I would’ve been more than happy to crush your senior brother.”

Xiao Yu sighed. “…But it was nice, getting to admire your brilliant techniques.”

Su Zhen: “?”

Honestly, if he had killed Jiang Wang, she wouldn’t have minded.

Earlier, she’d stopped him purely out of instinct, not wanting outsiders meddling.

But now, with this compliment about “brilliant techniques,” Su Zhen wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or sincere.

“Wait.”

Xiao Yu studied her expression, then his face changed. “I’m not mocking you, you know. That combination of the Spirit-Absorbing Boundary and the Spirit-Shattering Curse was masterful. I couldn’t have pulled it off that well.”

Su Zhen was skeptical of the last part. “Senior, you say you don’t understand barrier incantations, but now you’re just teasing me.”

“I never said I didn’t understand them. I said my understanding is limited. And I didn’t figure out your barrier by deciphering the incantations. I sensed the changes in the surrounding spiritual energy…”

Xiao Yu explained seriously. “Can’t you just believe that I’m genuinely praising you?”

Su Zhen remained silent. “If it’s just praise, I can accept it without feeling undeserving, but you keep saying you’re not as good as me…”

Xiao Yu was perfectly calm. “That’s also true. Our skill sets don’t fully overlap. We each have our strengths, but in some areas, you’re more skilled than I am.”

Su Zhen didn’t fully understand part of that, but she grasped the general meaning. “I’ve learned a bit of everything. But when it comes to swordsmanship…”

She knew some obscure and unconventional techniques, and even among those thousands of years older than her, Su Zhen was confident that at least a few wouldn’t know them.

But what was the point?

There were many more things others could do that she couldn’t.

Even counting her previous life, she was still much younger than Xiao Yu. So calculating these things was a waste of time.

Su Zhen paused. “Forget it. I don’t want to go in circles. Senior’s abilities are well known, so I’ll just accept your compliment. If you think I’m arrogant… Then so be it.”

She was tired.

“Alright, alright.”

Xiao Yu nodded in full agreement. “No problem. Oh, and by the way, I wouldn’t think that. I believe anyone with real skill should have confidence.”

Su Zhen glanced at him helplessly, then remembered what she had to do. “Please wait here for a moment, Senior.”

As she said this, she unlocked the barrier on the door. “It will truly only be a moment. I’ll be back within a quarter of an hour.”

Xiao Yu smiled. “No rush. I’ll wait.”

Su Zhen stepped into the courtyard but suddenly paused. “…I always keep my word!”

She closed the door behind her, quickly stepping inside to retrieve the custard and pea cakes from the icebox.

She swiftly chopped the nuts into small pieces, then picked some blooming Thorn-Heart Flowers from the courtyard, washing and tearing the petals to scatter them carefully over the dishes.

She was about to cut the chilled pea cakes when she realized she didn’t have a suitable kitchen knife nearby.

Not wanting to use her sword for this, Su Zhen casually flicked her hand, forming several tiny spiritual energy blades. With a swift whooshing sound, the pea cakes were cut into neat strips.

She nodded with satisfaction.

—For a Soul Transformation cultivator, even a slight lack of control over spiritual energy would mean not only destroying the dish but also potentially slicing through the plate and table—or even the entire house.

However, her control over her spiritual energy was so precise that the porcelain plate didn’t bear the faintest scratch. She cut only what she intended to cut.

Su Zhen carried the food to the table and went to open the door.

Xiao Yu was still standing outside, his expression showing no impatience. He smiled as he saw her. “All done?”

Su Zhen nodded. “Please, come in, Senior.”

For some reason, Xiao Yu didn’t move right away. He stood silently at the bottom of the steps.

Su Zhen tilted her head, noticing that he seemed a little tense, and even took a small breath.

She chuckled. “It’s not like there’s a dragon’s den inside. You’ve been here before, so what’s the big deal?”

Xiao Yu snapped back to reality and immediately walked up the steps, standing beside her in an instant.

“Exactly, hmm.”

He hesitated for a moment. “Actually, I smelled it already. Sorry, does that ruin the surprise?”

Su Zhen was slightly surprised. “I’m just returning the box of pastries to you. What surprise? It’s not like—”

She didn’t want to continue the conversation, but as she turned, she caught Xiao Yu’s gaze and couldn’t help but glare at him.

He also froze for a moment, then turned his head away, coughing. “Ahem, I was just saying whatever came to mind.”

After that, he paused again, suddenly stopping in surprise.

The green paulownia branches swayed, their canopy like an imperial parasol. On the stone table below, a set of fine white porcelain dishes was neatly arranged. The porcelain was pristine, without a single flaw.

Next to them were matching spoons and chopsticks, crafted from translucent crystal stone that faintly shimmered with soft, colorful light.

The Seven-Light Crystals, worth a fortune, were found only in the spiritual veins of Biyao Mountain in the Demon Realm, a treasure countless cultivators sought but could never obtain.

Yet here it was, used as mere tableware, without the slightest attention paid to its value.

Xiao Yu’s attention was solely on the bowl of fragrant custard.

The custard was semi-solid, smooth and white, topped with raisins and crushed nuts, with vibrant red and pink flower petals scattered over it.

As he sniffed the aroma, the fragrance of flowers, fruits, dairy, and a hint of wine blended into an intoxicating scent.

Xiao Yu sat at the table and carefully picked up a spoon. “It really does look better when you arrange it.”

“Is that so? I thought the cake you made looked more unique, senior.”

Su Zhen glanced at the flourishing Thorn-Heart Flower patch in the garden. “But these flowers were grown with spiritual energy. This flavor is probably one-of-a-kind in all Nine Realms.”

Others could do the same thing.

But since everyone’s spiritual energy was different, the taste would never be identical.

Su Zhen said softly, “Even though I followed an old recipe, it might not compare to Senior’s cake…”

He had already taken a bite and, hearing Su Zhen’s words, hurriedly shook his head but didn’t rush to speak. He seemed to savor the taste carefully before swallowing and then said, “No, no, no!”

He didn’t put the spoon down. “Your skill surpasses mine a thousandfold. I think I’ll need to learn from you.”

Su Zhen laughed. “Senior, didn’t you say you don’t flatter people casually? I just watched the cooks at home make food and desserts. I’m only copying them.”

“As I mentioned before, I didn’t invent the cake either. I based it on something I had eaten before.”

Xiao Yu shook his head. “But this is amazing.”

He ate spoonful after spoonful of the custard, slowly and carefully, as if afraid to miss even a single detail.

Then he gave her a thumbs-up again.

Su Zhen, sitting beside him, watched with amusement. It seemed that everyone who cooks enjoys such feedback, so her mood improved considerably.

Xiao Yu ate half the bowl before picking up his chopsticks.

On a long white porcelain plate were stacked pieces of pea cake, arranged in layers from bottom to top, decreasing in size, with the topmost piece placed crosswise to the ones below.

“This arrangement is called ‘stacking gold and jade.’”

Su Zhen rested her chin in her hand, watching him. “Although we’re not running a business, it’s still a good omen.”

Xiao Yu agreed happily.

The pea cakes were firm but not too hard, with a delicate and soft texture. The lingering sweetness refreshed the palate without being too sticky or cloying, making it especially delicious.

Xiao Yu was generous with his compliments. “What’s the saying? ‘Such cakes should only exist in heaven; how often can mortals taste them?’”

Su Zhen: “……”

What kind of nonsense was that?

But after thinking it over, Su Zhen also found his reaction amusing. She couldn’t help teasing him in return. “Now that it’s entered the mouth of an immortal, indeed.”

Xiao Yu had been watching her, and when she made this joke, he blinked in surprise. Then he covered his face with his hand and turned his head slightly, hiding his expression from her.

Su Zhen: “?”

What kind of reaction was that?

Xiao Yu coughed lightly. “Nothing, I was just overwhelmed by the sweetness.”