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What was being plotted, Lin Yuan hadn’t heard clearly. Just when she wanted to get closer to listen, the door was suddenly yanked open from the inside.

Startled, Lin Yuan looked up and met Xia Zheng’s deep eyes, so deep they seemed bottomless. Lin Yuan was a bit dazed, blinked, and when she looked again, Xia Zheng was all smiles.

For a moment, Lin Yuan thought she had seen it wrong, but something told her she hadn’t.

"So it’s you." Xia Zheng seemed to let out a sigh of relief, as if, had the person eavesdropping not been Lin Yuan but someone else, they might have been silenced by him.

Inside the room, Lao Fan had regained his usual leisurely demeanor, sitting with ease at the table, delicately holding a piece of Osmanthus Cake and bringing it to his mouth in tiny bites.

Upon seeing Lin Yuan, he quickly waved her over, urging her to come taste: "You rascal, come and try this. It’s Osmanthus Cake made by the new chef in the kitchen, and it’s really quite special.

Although it doesn’t compare to the Imperial Chef’s skill, it has a unique flavor, hmm, it’s simply moreish. "

Xia Zheng, aware that Lao Fan was purposely changing the subject, hummed in agreement, "Unique flavor? I think it’s just so-so. It’s not even as delicious as the plain steamed buns made by my Yuanyuan!"

’So-so’ was something he had learned from Xiao Linshuang, who of course had overheard it from her elder sister.

Watching the rare harmonious understanding between the old and the young, Lin Yuan also pretended as if nothing had happened, walked cheerfully to the table, picked up a piece of Osmanthus Cake, and took a light bite to savor it.

Undeniably, the taste of the Osmanthus Cake was not top-notch, but it wasn’t something a mere amateur could produce. The pastry chef must have put in considerable effort.

However, compared to her, it still fell a little short.

"The flavor is indeed good, but..."

As soon as the conversation turned to food, Lao Fan forgot all about serious matters; he leaned forward eagerly, asking, "But what? Is there something missing? Can you make an even tastier Osmanthus Cake, you rascal?"

Lin Yuan’s eyes twinkled, and with a mischievous smile, she beckoned with her finger, "Do you want to try it?"

Lao Fan nodded.