When Han Tao knocked and entered carrying things, he immediately heard Shi Man shouting, "Don't eat mine, don't eat mine."

Han Tao hadn't even thanked Shi Man when he saw her dash toward the dining table, then suddenly leap across. He found it very strange, but then he saw Juliana and Juliana's mouth moving. Of course, knowing Shi Man as he did, only food could make her do something so impolite.

"What delicious things are cooking?" Han Tao asked casually. He knew that whatever could make Shi Man forget her manners like that had to be incredibly good food.

Shi Man pointed toward the kitchen. "Qiqi saved a portion for you." Shi Man suddenly remembered that Han Tao wasn't fond of eating much outside of regular mealtimes, and perhaps he wouldn't even want this delicious item. "Han Tao, let's make a deal: you can just let me have your portion. I doubt you'll like it much anyway."

As soon as Shi Man finished speaking, she immediately earned eye rolls from Wang Qiqi and Juliana. Shi Man chuckled sheepishly; who else but her could have suggested it first?

Han Tao was about to habitually nod and tell her to eat it, but when he saw the displeased looks on Wang Qiqi and the others (directed squarely at Shi Man), he naturally said, "It looks like I should give this a proper taste."

Hearing Han Tao say that, Shi Man’s face immediately fell. It seemed her easy gain was slipping away.

In contrast to Shi Man’s disappointment, Wang Qiqi and Juliana were unconcerned. Even if Han Tao didn't eat it, it would have gone to Shi Man anyway. Of course, they wouldn't let Shi Man devour the entire portion of mango pancakes by herself.

Han Tao noticed Shi Man’s face droop the moment he said he would eat, making him think this item must be exceptionally tasty. When he walked into the kitchen, he saw a finished item on the counter—a yellowish, square-shaped thing in a bowl. He found it odd-looking and strange. If it weren't for the previous impression Shi Man had given him as a glutton, Han Tao might have instantly regretted his decision.

When Han Tao took the first bite with his spoon, he thought, It’s just whipped cream wrapped in a pastry skin, how good can this be? It tasted a bit too sweet, making him feel a flicker of regret, but since he had started, he couldn't just stop.

Han Tao considered that if he truly stopped eating, Shi Man would probably start lecturing him about wastefulness. After a few more bites, he discovered mango inside, which struck him as very peculiar. "There's mango in this?" The combination of mango and cream made it feel less overwhelmingly rich.

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Yeah, I didn't have enough supplies today. Next time I have time, I'll make the cream myself." However, not having an automatic cream whipper made this a task that definitely required a lot of effort.

Make the cream herself? Shi Man looked at Wang Qiqi, her mouth wide open. "Qiqi, you know how to make cream?" Couldn't they just buy pre-made cream? But Shi Man felt Wang Qiqi was truly amazing. "I think your sister really doesn't know you at all."

Shi Man knew that Wang Rui used to frequently complain that Wang Qiqi was domestically incompetent and spoiled. But after getting to know her deeply over the past year, Shi Man felt Wang Rui either didn't understand Wang Qiqi well or was deliberately smearing her reputation.

Wang Qiqi had been feeling quite smug until she heard the second part of Shi Man’s comment, which made her heart skip a beat. Others might not understand her, but Wang Rui certainly understood her at least eighty to ninety percent. Wang Qiqi silently warned herself to be especially careful from now on, proceeding slowly and step by step.

Wang Qiqi stuck out her tongue. "I don't exactly know how to make it. I watched my mom make these mango pancakes. As for the cream, sorry, I’ve also only seen others do it. This recipe is something I've only heard about. I’m not clear on the exact ratios, so I’d have to try slowly and thoroughly. But I guarantee it will taste better than the store-bought cream we had today, and it certainly won't be as sweet."

Shi Man could sense this much. She remembered that when Wang Qiqi first tasted the item, she had commented that if she could make the cream herself, the dish would be exponentially better. "Qiqi, I believe you can do it. We have confidence in you, right, Lina?"

Juliana nodded. If it weren't for Han Tao being present and the concern over making a bad impression, she would have licked her lips clean. "The food is quite good, Qiqi. I’m discovering you are quite the food tinkerer." It looked like during their four years of living together, she would be eating a lot of delicious things. "Qiqi, I think receiving this gift from my family was absolutely the best decision."

"When my mom was around, she was always tinkering with food. Lina, you might not know, but I think Manman and Han Tao know, right?" As Wang Qiqi mentioned this, she realized she had become particularly fond of experimenting with food later on, probably inherited from her mother, who often fussed over cooking when she was alive. "For a foodie, you must not only know how to eat but also how to cook."

Shi Man’s eyes widened at Wang Qiqi’s theory. "Count me out. I still think eating is better than cooking." Asking her to make something delicious would be worse than killing her.

"Which is why your fate is in my hands," Wang Qiqi laughed triumphantly. "In the future, if you want good food, you absolutely have to beg me."

Shi Man snorted a few times, giving Wang Qiqi a look of disdain. "Can't you just buy good food if you have money?" Shi Man thought she wouldn't beg Wang Qiqi. If she wanted delicious food, wasn't it easy? Just go to the market, buy the ingredients, and then cajole Qiqi into cooking. Shi Man knew that even though she was a foodie, Qiqi wasn't far behind.

"Buy it?" Wang Qiqi let out a cold scoff. "Do you think you can buy what we just ate nearby?" Wang Qiqi could guarantee that even in the capital city, one shouldn't hope to find what she made today. "Some good foods are specialties of specific regions; you won't easily find them once you leave." Perhaps in a few years, when dessert shops open everywhere, finding mango pancakes might become easier.

"Having Qiqi is enough, right, Lina?" Shi Man kept showering Wang Qiqi with compliments; after all, such words cost nothing.

Han Tao also looked forward to Qiqi's homemade cream. "When are you making it? Save me a portion."

"Next week," Shi Man declared efficiently. "Qiqi, right? Make another batch of this then?" Shi Man pointed at the tiny bit left in the bowl, then licked her lips. "I really didn't eat enough."

Wang Qiqi could only shake her head. "It’s because you were too lazy to buy more mangoes." Wang Qiqi inwardly thought that it was a good thing Shi Man had gone out to buy the fruit, so it couldn't truly be blamed on her. However, Wang Qiqi wouldn't admit that for convenience and ease of eating in one go, she had put almost an entire mango in each pancake, so the quantity of fruit was generous, even if the total number of pancakes was small.

Shi Man regretted this inwardly. If she had known the food was this good, she wouldn't have wasted effort buying useless apples and oranges. Those things were incredibly heavy. "Oh, Qiqi, what do you think if we put oranges or apples inside instead?" Right, the filling was mango, but oranges and apples were also fruit; there was no reason they couldn't be used as filling. Plus, there was cream. "We can just use a bit less cream then."

Oranges or apples? Wang Qiqi was stunned by Shi Man’s theory. Honestly, she had never considered doing it that way, but it should be possible. "Then I'll try again tomorrow."

Try tomorrow? Shi Man wasn't entirely satisfied with Wang Qiqi’s answer. "Make it today. I just bought the apples today; they're definitely fresh."

Wang Qiqi ignored her, turning to head to the kitchen to prepare dinner. "Come lend a hand. There isn't any ready-made food here." She considered herself the main chef; the menial tasks were for the three of them.

Shi Man hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to be so ruthless as to ignore her plight. "Qiqi, you really won't make it?" This was too much.

"You can make it yourself," Wang Qiqi thought, didn't someone just have plenty of justifications? "Or you can go out and buy something ready-made. If you want what I make, be up early tomorrow."

Shi Man looked helplessly at Juliana and whispered, "Qiqi is being too mean."

Juliana shot Shi Man a look. "Did you forget what you just said? Alright, go get to work. I have to go back and review my materials." It wasn't that Juliana didn't want to work; it was that when Qiqi and the others moved in, they had agreed that cleaning duties would fall to the two of them. As for hiring an 'auntie,' Wang Qiqi and the others had considered it, but worried that if Juliana ever brought confidential company files home, there was a risk that an enemy firm could bribe the helper to steal the information. So, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man divided the labor: if Wang Qiqi cooked, Shi Man handled the cleanup afterward.

Just as Shi Man was about to get up, Han Tao picked up a bowl. "I'll help."

Hearing that someone would assist, Shi Man naturally had no objection. Nor was she idle; she asked, "Han Tao, are you staying here tonight?"

Han Tao confirmed with a simple "Mm."

Shi Man turned and went to help tidy up Han Tao's room. Since they hadn't known if Han Tao would stay permanently, they hadn't prepared his room earlier.

After Han Tao entered the kitchen, he found Wang Qiqi busy simmering chicken soup. "How was the military training recently?"

"Not bad." Wang Qiqi tasted the soup and found the flavor good. "How about you? How's the tutoring going?"

Han Tao nodded. "Good, I got paid last month's wages." Han Tao paused, then asked, "How are the stocks doing?"

"They’re okay, the stocks are trending up. Why, are you thinking of getting in?" Although Wang Qiqi couldn't see Han Tao’s expression, she knew that if he asked this, he was likely considering an investment. "Do you have any money on hand?"

Han Tao nodded. "I have a little over ten thousand. Do you think I can buy into any of your stocks right now?" Han Tao felt a bit crazy, talking about this even with his mother figure.

Just over ten thousand? Wang Qiqi turned to look at Han Tao. Considering the money he brought, after paying tuition, he shouldn't have much left. "Did Aunt Luo give that to you?"

Han Tao nodded. "It's the last of my family's money. So, what do you think?"

Wang Qiqi stared at Han Tao for a long moment. "Brother, don't worry. If you invest now, you'll definitely make a fortune by next year."