As Gu Qingcheng finished her bath and changed into clean clothes, Kele and Wangcai hesitated for a moment before succumbing to their instinct to please their owner and began circling her again.
Seeing that they no longer looked like they would vomit, Gu Qingcheng felt relieved, sure that she no longer carried any unpleasant odor.
Cats and dogs had the keenest sense of smell. If they didn't mind her, then Mother certainly wouldn't either.
Hu Lanfang, still shaken, took a bottle of Dior perfume and sprayed it on Gu Qingcheng liberally, feigning, "Qingcheng, try this new perfume Mom likes. The scent is lovely."
Alas, she was still unmistakably being rejected.
After a bath, one feels refreshed, but also hungry. Gu Qingcheng's stomach rumbled audibly.
"Sister, are you hungry?"
Upon hearing Gu Qingcheng's stomach growl like a drum, Mi Guo naturally knew she was hungry.
Gu Qingcheng hadn't eaten properly since they were down the mountain.
Although she had plenty of hot dishes from various restaurants stored in her cabinet, she and her father hadn't had the leisure to eat them slowly down the mountain.
They either hastily scarfed down a few bites or stuffed themselves until full, without truly savoring the taste of the food.
"Sister, what do you want to eat? I'll make it."
Mi Guo looked eager to prove himself.
Hu Lanfang chuckled, "Mi Guo learned different seafood recipes while you two were away. He's impatient to show off now."
"Oh? What seafood?"
Gu Qingcheng asked.
"I'll handle the arrangements."
Mi Guo said with full confidence.
Mi Guo intended to prepare top-tier ingredients, and the Mountain Cat Supermarket had no shortage of them.
After all, the Mountain Cat Supermarket had boasted upon its opening that it was tailored for high-end customers, stocking everything from delicacies of the mountains and seas to giant abalone and top-grade caviar from the Great Bear Country. They had all sorts of extravagant ingredients.
"Sister, your complexion looks sallow, and your eyes are dark. You need to nourish yourself well."
Mi Guo had now also learned to read people.
Gu Qingcheng said with a smile, "Okay, I'll leave it to your arrangements."
Gu Qingcheng felt that anticipating a delicious meal was like opening a blind box; the surprise came when you finally knew what you were going to eat.
Ever since she tasted that bowl of six-shrimp noodles, Gu Qingcheng's confidence in Mi Guo's cooking had soared.
"Mi Guo, do you need Mom's help?" Hu Lanfang asked.
"No need. You and Sister just wait to eat." Mi Guo glanced at his electronic watch and said, "It's only 10 o'clock. We can eat in an hour. Sister, have some fruit first."
The electronic watch was a gift Hu Lanfang had taken from her storage cabinet for him.
Hu Lanfang had told Mi Guo it was a magical artifact from the Immortal Realm that could tell time and should not be revealed to outsiders. Mi Guo naturally treasured it and promised not to expose it.
Mi Guo worked with great efficiency, preparing everything for about an hour.
Once everything was ready, he set up a charcoal grill in the kitchen and began barbecuing, then brought the grilled ingredients to the side room for his mother and sister to enjoy.
There were grilled wagyu beef, black tiger prawn skewers, gizzard skewers, charcoal-grilled abalone, and charcoal-grilled oysters. The abalone and oysters were drenched in sauce and minced garlic, making them mouth-watering.
There was also a basin of grilled fish, its skin perfectly golden-brown, offering a crisp texture and the succulent flavor of the fish.
Gu Qingcheng ate with great relish, savoring a skewer of barbecue and a sip of osmanthus wine. This was the life a person should live.
"Mi Guo, you understand us so well."
Gu Qingcheng closed her eyes contentedly.
"Sister, Mom, what else do you want to eat? I'll grill some more."
Mi Guo was practically floating after Gu Qingcheng's praise.
"No, this will be enough for tonight. It's too much, and I'm full."
Gu Qingcheng let out a satisfied burp.
Mi Guo's cooking skills were exceptional. These top-tier ingredients, combined with his superb culinary talent, made them endlessly enjoyable.
Gu Qingcheng's eyes were half-closed in bliss, her heart filled with happiness.
At home, she truly felt alive. Every pore of her being exuded contentment.
Kele suddenly jumped onto the chair where they were sitting, its front paws resting on the table, its eyes fixed longingly on the grilled meat. Attracted by the aroma, it reached out a paw to nudge the plate of barbecue.
"Kele, you can't eat this. It has salt and seasoning. It will cause kidney failure," Gu Qingcheng said, having gained some common sense about pet care from years of feeding stray cats.
"Meow meow." Kele looked up at Qingcheng with its large, expressive eyes, its gaze clearly conveying, "Mom, I want to eat."
Unable to resist, Gu Qingcheng relented, "Okay, I'll cut some fresh raw meat for you to eat."
Mi Guo stood up and said, "Sister, I'll rest. I'll cut it for them."
Before Qingcheng could respond, Mi Guo had already gotten up to cut the meat.
"Mi Guo is such a thoughtful child; it makes one's heart ache."
Hu Lanfang looked at Mi Guo as he left the room with the tender gaze of a mother.
In a short while, Mi Guo returned with two basins of raw meat, one larger for Wangcai, given its size, and one for Kele.
The cat and dog ate with their heads buried in their bowls, completely engrossed.
After eating their fill, Gu Qingcheng picked up her iPad to watch a drama.
Mi Guo was still engrossed in his food channel.
Hu Lanfang gazed at the twinkling lights of the town below, thinking of her husband, wondering if he had eaten enough and was resting well.
"Your father is an honest man. He gives his all. He might not have eaten yet."
"Mom, it's alright."
Gu Qingcheng told Hu Lanfang about the black chocolate. Hearing this, she finally relaxed and said,
"I was worried he wouldn't eat on time or rest properly, damaging his health. If the black chocolate has such benefits, then I can rest easy."
Hu Lanfang was genuinely reassured. She happily searched for a cultivation novel and began reading with delight.
The underground heating system burned 24 hours a day, and with the electric heater indoors, the room temperature was maintained at around 23 degrees Celsius, a comfortable spring-like warmth. They only needed to wear warm pajamas, allowing for free and easy movement. Compared to the frigid outdoors, it was like comparing heaven and earth.
Gu Qingcheng watched her drama for a while and then wanted some juice. She casually took out the juicer and asked Mi Guo and her mother what kind of juice they wanted before starting.
First, she made herself a dragon fruit and watermelon juice.
Ingredients: one dragon fruit, two slices of watermelon.
Peel and cut the dragon fruit into chunks. Peel and cut the watermelon into chunks. Put both fruits into the juicer and blend. This juice can clear heat, promote urination, and detoxify the intestines.
The second was passion fruit and lemon juice.
Ingredients: 7UP soda, passion fruit juice, lemon juice, and an appropriate amount of crushed ice.
Preparation: Combine passion fruit juice, lemon juice, and 7UP in the juicer, then add crushed ice. After juicing, it is ready to drink. This juice is beneficial for skin and beauty.
The third was watermelon and banana juice.
Ingredients: watermelon and banana.
Preparation: Take 100 grams of watermelon pulp, remove seeds. Peel one banana and cut it into small pieces. Put the watermelon pulp and banana into the juicer and blend into juice. This juice clears heat, detoxifies, and promotes intestinal movement.
These three juices were suitable for them, having been in a heated environment for a prolonged period. Although not visible to the naked eye, their bodies were silently losing moisture due to the underground heating. Therefore, it was essential to rehydrate with fruit juice.