As Han Tao reached the stairwell, he heard the lively chatter emanating from inside the apartment. Contrasting this with the near-silence when he usually returned home, broken only by the television, the presence of Shi Man clearly made a huge difference. Even Qi Qi’s tone of voice was noticeably higher, indicating a much better mood.

As for Qi Qi’s earlier complaint on the phone about how Shi Man and her husband’s surprise visit had disrupted her plans, Han Tao figured that while Wang Qi Qi felt Shi Man’s actions were a bit presumptuous—showing up without prior consent—she was likely secretly pleased by Shi Man’s arrival.

The scene Han Tao witnessed upon pushing the door open stunned him. Shi Man was actively cooking at the stove. This sight made Han Tao suddenly regret listening to Qi Qi about returning early to host the Feng Xuanxiang couple; perhaps he should have stayed late at the office instead. Although American fast food wasn't great, a rare meal wouldn't hurt—at least one's life safety would be guaranteed. In Han Tao's estimation, aside from the few "signature dishes" Shi Man frequently made, the risks associated with her other cooking attempts were significant.

"Chef Shi Man is on duty today?" Han Tao thought his tone was quite measured, but even he noticed a distinct tremor in his own voice.

Shi Man had intended to launch into a monologue about her arduous efforts, how Wang Qi Qi had bossed her around, and how much her culinary skills had improved. Instead, she was met with Han Tao's look of sheer distaste, which instantly infuriated her. "Han Tao, what is the meaning of that look? Are you suggesting my cooking is inedible?" After all, Feng Xuanxiang had praised her cooking before. Even though these dishes were new attempts, Shi Man felt that while her skills might not match Wang Qi Qi's, they certainly didn't warrant such disdain. Hmph, this man who never lifts a finger dared to look down on her efforts—it was infuriating. The old saying was true: birds of a feather flock together. Wang Qi Qi had taught her aggressively, her attitude crossing the line, and now Han Tao, without even tasting the food, showed open contempt, completely negating all her hard work.

If it were anyone else, Han Tao would have offered a polite platitude instead of speaking his mind. But Shi Man? She was Qi Qi’s best friend; did he need to be polite to her? Absolutely not. According to Wang Qi Qi, Shi Man’s self-regard was already inflated enough, and only the unvarnished truth would prevent her from soaring into the stratosphere. Since his wife had said so, Han Tao naturally complied. "It's not that it’s bad, it’s just that I feel..." Han Tao paused, realizing whatever he said next might deeply hurt her. Should he look for a softer term to lessen the blow?

"Feel what?" Shi Man was not pleased. This young man’s follow-up might be even more infuriating. And what was most infuriating was his hesitation. Didn't he know that suspense only built anger?

Shi Man waited, seething, for Han Tao’s explanation. Wang Qi Qi and Feng Xuanxiang also waited for his response, Wang Qi Qi especially so. Although Shi Man had cooked every dish under her watchful eye, with every single step performed under her stringent supervision, Wang Qi Qi felt a strange sense of foreboding. She was now profoundly feeling that teaching someone to cook was truly a waste of energy and resources—especially teaching someone who was only marginally less inept at housework than a complete novice but possessed an astonishingly high opinion of herself. It was exhausting.

Feng Xuanxiang hadn’t monitored Shi Man’s cooking, but he could tell from the tone of Wang Qi Qi’s voice that his wife's cooking was genuinely questionable. Right now, he was praying the meal her wife made was at least somewhat palatable, and second, that Qi Qi’s pantry was well-stocked so they could make a proper late-night snack later.

Han Tao looked at the hostile Shi Man. After creating a safe distance, he said, "I’m just worried about whether I’ll make it out of this meal intact. Manman, you know I don't have medical insurance. If something were to happen..." Well, the unsaid implications were obvious to everyone.

Shi Man exploded. Truly furious, she abandoned the food on the stove, brandishing her spatula, and started chasing Han Tao. "Han Tao, Han Tao, you are too much! I thought Wang Qi Qi was bad enough, but you're even worse..." At least Qi Qi never worried about her safety, never suggested eating her cooking might be life-threatening.

Wang Qi Qi completely agreed with Han Tao’s sentiment. She sighed dramatically and said softly, "Han Tao, you’re being far too honest. You should have just said it tasted bad so I could make you noodles and let Feng Xuanxiang eat his wife's loving, homemade meal." Wang Qi Qi punctuated this by sighing again, lamenting how sincere he was. "I was already thinking earlier that we should just have noodles tonight, and I'd make stir-fried tomatoes and eggs as a side dish."

Wang Qi Qi’s comment made Han Tao burst into laughter. He stopped running because Shi Man had ceased her pursuit of him and was now charging toward Wang Qi Qi. "Qi Qi, is that how you treat a friend and a teacher? Hmph, let me tell you, if my cooking endangers your lives because it tastes bad, it’s entirely because your teaching was inadequate." She had followed Wang Qi Qi’s instructions precisely; if it tasted bad, it was the teacher’s fault for not knowing how to instruct her student.

"By that logic, should students taught by the same teacher achieve identical results?" Wang Qi Qi inwardly scoffed at this ridiculous theory. "You have to consider the student's natural talent. If the student is an idiot, even the most brilliant teacher can’t turn them into a genius. Take, for instance, a girl who is naturally terrible at cooking—don't expect her first attempt to be delicious." She recalled how many meals she had ruined before her cooking was barely edible. Genius wasn't something that grew on trees, after all. "Enough arguing. If you have time to debate, you’d better get back to cooking. Starting today, you cook, and I'll supervise and instruct. If the food tastes good, we eat it. If it doesn't, you eat it."

What? She had to eat the bad food? Shi Man stamped her foot. "Isn't that bullying? Why should I eat food that’s no good? What if something happens? We’re in the US, medical bills are expensive." Did they think she was a garbage disposal? Her palate was highly refined.

Shi Man’s comment made the three others laugh. "Manman, I never expected you, a self-proclaimed chef, to worry about that. Then you have some nerve criticizing me," Han Tao quipped without restraint. "Qi Qi, let’s skip it today since it’s Feng Xuanxiang’s first visit and we need a decent meal. Starting tomorrow, she can cook for herself and Feng Xuanxiang. You cook for us, okay?" Although this meant some waste, Han Tao figured it was pennies compared to potential medical expenses, not to mention the loss of income if he fell ill.

"Feng Xuanxiang, I truly worry about your future diet," Wang Qi Qi said, taking the spatula from Shi Man, preparing to cook herself. Although Shi Man’s food wasn't burnt, Wang Qi Qi suspected the flavor profile was questionable. "Taste what you made. Don’t refuse to try it." Only by tasting could she gauge her skill level; otherwise, improvement was impossible.

Shi Man pouted but obediently took two small bites. "The taste is passable," she admitted honestly. "It’s slightly worse than Qi Qi’s cooking, but honestly, it’s acceptable."

Wang Qi Qi felt a strong urge to give Shi Man the middle finger to express her contempt for this self-flattering assessment. "If the taste is passable, just slightly worse than mine, then don't waste the food. Manman, you'll eat your own cooking tonight." Hmph, those who cling to their pride must accept the consequences. If Shi Man had actually swallowed the bites she tasted, Wang Qi Qi might concede that her cooking was edible. But the problem was, Shi Man looked just as disgusted and was clearly unwilling to swallow, which cast serious doubt on her claim that the food was "acceptable."

Shi Man was silenced by Wang Qi Qi’s retort and could only force a wry smile. "The skill is a bit lacking, but Qi Qi, you really aren't giving me any face." It looked presentable, but why did it taste so strange? She had followed Wang Qi Qi’s instructions diligently. Shi Man racked her brain, wondering if she had accidentally mixed up the measurements in her haste.

For the rest of the time, Shi Man stayed close to Qi Qi, watching her chop and stir-fry. Observing the identical motions, Shi Man felt her own attempts had been clumsy, whereas Wang Qi Qi made it look effortless and graceful. "Qi Qi, you’re amazing." Whenever Wang Qi Qi cooked before, Shi Man was either out or busy in the living room; she had never watched the entire process unfold before.

"It comes with practice and repetition; you’ll get there too." Regarding the envious look on Shi Man’s face, Wang Qi Qi reflected that sometimes, not having to cook for oneself was a blessing. Wang Qi Qi felt that since resuming the role of the 'housewife,' her own complexion had become duller, leaning increasingly toward that of a haggard woman.

Shi Man nodded. "I certainly will." Shi Man had noticed the look of pure admiration in Feng Xuanxiang’s eyes as Wang Qi Qi cooked. Recalling Dai Lijun’s previous criteria for a wife, Shi Man mused that perhaps, regardless of how high or low a man sets his standards, they all seem to hope their woman can cook.

"Actually, I ruined countless dishes before I finally achieved basic competence," Wang Qi Qi explained, detailing the initial awkwardness and bitterness of her learning curve. "You need to work hard starting tomorrow."

Hearing about Wang Qi Qi’s initial terrible track record, Shi Man secretly rejoiced. It seemed Qi Qi had started far worse off than she was now. If someone with such a poor foundation could eventually cook well, then Shi Man believed she definitely wasn't inferior to Wang Qi Qi. With this thought, Shi Man’s mood rapidly improved, adopting an air of determined confidence that she would surpass Wang Qi Qi.