Lu Xinyi contemplated what to do next. She had to do something, or else—not only would she lose this round but also her chance to attend Silver Leaf Academy. She was torn whether to report it or continue with her devil’s food cake as the other examinees had started with their cakes. It was then she decided that she needed to do something. She spotted a nearby proctor and sauntered towards him.
“Excuse me. I need to report something. I think your team had accidentally put the wrong items in my box.” Lu Xinyi calmly informed him while trying to steady her own heartbeat and eye contact.
The proctor stared at her like she grew another head on her shoulder. It made Lu Xinyi felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
“Miss Lu, I suggest you go back to your station and start making your cake. Your items were provided without any problem. If you don’t like the quality of the ingredients, you are free to request for a replacement.” The proctor dismissed her claims and turned his attention to somewhere else.
“But I received regular all-purpose flour! And the supposed buttermilk was replaced with full milk!” She insisted, but the proctor waved a hand at her.
“Does it really matter what you have in your hands? Are you sure you want to waste your time arguing and complaining, Miss Lu? All boxes were prepared and sealed at the same time. It’s impossible for you to receive the wrong ingredients.”
The proctor was clearly irritated by being questioned by Lu Xinyi. Was she planning to delay the last round to make more time to plan their tactics? This wasn’t the first time an examinee questioned Silver Leaf’s ingredients and rules. He wasn’t so naive to believe Lu Xinyi’s claims.
Lu Xinyi bit the inside of her cheeks and clenched her fists on her side. She could swear she heard an impatient sneer from the proctor. She didn’t like this. Was someone trying to sabotage her? Her eyes searched the crowd until it reached the VIP corner to where the Big 5 families were seated. Her burning eyes met Sun Feiyan’s amused one. Unlike her previous boring behavior, Sun Feiyan’s entertained again by the other Sun princess.
Was it Sun Feiyan? Lu Xinyi evaluated Sun Feiyan’s manner. She couldn’t tell exactly what this woman wanted from her. Sun Feiyan was already the Big Miss of the Sun family, and Lu Xinyi hadn’t had any interests in associating herself with her mother’s family. Her heart still wished to take back the brooch that Sun Feiyan took from her.
Lu Xinyi drew a breath and released it before speaking. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
“Fine. I’ll go make my devil’s cake now, but if concerns arise later because of the ingredients you’ve given to me, I’ll hold you responsible for it.” She bit out, the proctor caught off-guard at her cold words.
Lu Xinyi went back to her station; it didn’t matter anymore if she had the right ingredients or not. No one could stop her. She appeared to be unaffected by what others think of her now. Her hands started moving at a fast pace, picking up each ingredient she needed without hesitation.
Her husband patiently waited for her decision, knowing that this time, someone had really tried to sabotage her to make her fail this round. Her friends’ concerns didn’t fall into deaf ears. Shen Yi was just waiting for the right time to strike down Lu Xinyi’s enemies.
“Is everything alright? Why isn’t she starting her cake yet?” Xiao Lan voiced out her concerns. From the look on Lu Xinyi’s face, they could tell that something was bothering her. It was then that they saw Lu Xinyi approached a proctor near her area. She then started arguing with the proctor, her face contorted with frustration and anger. Her hands threw in the air as the proctor refused whatever request she was trying to present.
Xiao Lan and Yuan Jin’s eyes turned to Shen Yi who was still watching the scene with an unreadable expression in his face. Both of them aware that the demon beside them wouldn’t let anyone harm his wife in his presence.
“Something must have come up. Xinxin would’ve started earlier if everything was on the right track.” Lu Xiulan joined their conversation. She tilted her head on one side, curious about what her cousin was planning to solve this problem.
They watched in fascination as Lu Xinyi started her magic on her countertop. She baked with the precision of an engineer. Not once did they see her falter. Every single thing was measured and weighed with precision. No matter what she’d done, at no point did the counter seen in a mess. Her kitchen counter was as spotless as her white uniform.
Her actions reminded Shen Yi the last time he saw his wife baking his favorite cinnamon buns on their kitchen. He didn’t know if the cinnamon buns tasted better because she made it for him or the fact that his little brother was nowhere to steal his treats.
Lu Xinyi truly enjoyed baking and making desserts over a cooking meal. Her pastries and desserts were enough to send the twins into their hyperactive mode that their dogs enjoy the sudden bursts of their energies. It was like having a culinary world tour whenever Lu Xinyi stepped into their kitchen. She always had something new to surprise them. Their mouths always explode with vibrant flavors that it was almost impossible to miss her home cooking. Come to think of it, Shen Yi couldn’t remember the last time he ate takeouts or dine in a restaurant.
It was then he realized that Lu Xinyi’s dishes brought his family together, and surely, the judges would see what kind of magical hands his wife possessed. It didn’t matter if someone was trying to sabotage her; Lu Xinyi’s extreme mental focus was on her objective.
