It took Su Luo two hours to finish.
Tang Xiaoguo helped serve the dishes. Su Luo packed the Immortal Tofu into a food box separately and placed it in her storage ring, keeping it as fresh as if it had just come out of the pot. Thinking there was still some time before noon, she planned to eat quickly and then deliver the Immortal Tofu to her fifth junior brother to taste.
Just then, footsteps were heard in the courtyard. The two turned their heads to look.
At some point, Li Tianjue had arrived.
He was holding a young boy, no older than ten, who was looking curiously into the house.
The boy was about six or seven years old, with a round, rosy face. He wore a small jade gourd in his hair and had a bright red mole between his eyebrows. He looked like a finely crafted porcelain doll, and Su Luo instantly liked him.
"Eldest Senior Brother, why are you here?"
Su Luo quickly put down her chopsticks and went to greet him.
She first looked at Li Tianjue, then at the little boy, and exclaimed in shock, "You have a son? You two look so alike!"
Li Tianjue almost choked on Su Luo's words. He put on a stern face and said, "Xiao Bai is not my son, he is my junior brother."
His expression was a little dark, wishing Su Luo would open her eyes wider and see how he resembled Xiao Bai at all!
Tang Xiaoguo heard this and burst into laughter, quickly covering her mouth. Su Luo then wore an expression of 'sudden realization' and said with a grin, "So that's how it is. But you both look so handsome, of course you look alike."
Tang Xiaoguo affectionately stroked the boy's soft, long hair and said, "Xiao Bai, you just finished class, right? How did you meet Eldest Senior Brother? By the way, where are Chun Hua and Qiu Yue, the sisters who look after you?"
The boy stared blankly at Tang Xiaoguo, his voice soft and sweet. "I just came out of the Hall of Virtue. As I was walking, Sister Chun Hua and Sister Qiu Yue disappeared... Then I saw Eldest Senior Brother. By the way, who are you, sister?"
Su Luo was surprised that this little handsome boy didn't recognize Xiaoguo!
Tang Xiaoguo said helplessly, "Xiao Bai, you've forgotten again. I'm your Senior Sister Guoguo!"
The boy then uttered a blank "Oh," his eyes wide. "I remember now, it's Senior Sister Guoguo. Eldest Senior Brother met me earlier and said I was lost. He was about to take me back when I smelled something."
Tang Xiaoguo poked his forehead. "You not only get lost often, but you don't even recognize your Senior Sister. Fortunately, you met Eldest Senior Brother. Never mind, Xiao Bai, let me introduce you. This new Senior Sister Su Luo is very capable and can make many delicious things."
"Really?"
The boy's eyes immediately lit up as he looked at Su Luo.
Su Luo rarely saw such a cute child. A soft, adorable boy of six or seven, not only delicate and naive, but his confused demeanor made her want to pick him up and pat him. Just looking at him, her heart melted.
Qingxu Heaven truly had exceptional people; everyone was so good-looking.
"Little brother, you can call me Senior Sister Su Luo. What's your name?" Su Luo grabbed the boy's soft little hand, not politely molesting it, before bringing him to sit beside her.
"My name is Jun Mu Bai. Sister, did you make all these dishes?"
He blinked his big eyes, looking at the dishes on the table. Although his mouth was watering, he still forced himself to hold back.
Su Luo laughed at his greedy expression and asked the servant to add two more sets of chopsticks. "Eldest Senior Brother, Xiao Bai, you've come at just the right time. I just made these. Haven't you had lunch yet? Hurry and try them."
Li Tianjue was used to Su Luo's cooking and didn't stand on ceremony, eating with great composure.
Jun Mu Bai was about to pick up his chopsticks when he suddenly remembered something.
He fumbled in the small tiger purse hanging from his waist and pulled out a round bead. He sensibly handed it to Su Luo and said, "Master said not to accept things from others casually. Sister Luoluo, I'll exchange this with you..."
Li Tianjue's chopsticks stopped. He looked slightly embarrassed and said with a stern face, "Xiao Bai, this is the peace bead Master gave you. How can you give it away so casually? Put it away immediately!"
He then said to Su Luo, "Eat quickly, and then come with me to see Fifth Junior Brother."
After that, he picked up a piece of sparerib and started eating.
Su Luo couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Finally, she gave Li Tianjue some face and didn't say in front of her junior brother that this man only liked to freeload her meals and was stingy. She picked up her pace as she ate.
Before long, the dishes on the table were all gone, and the four of them were still unsatisfied.
"I didn't know you were coming, so I made a little less. I'll make more next time and invite you to eat again," Su Luo said with a smile, then took out the food box from her storage ring, preparing to go deliver the Immortal Tofu to Bai Qi to taste.
Li Tianjue asked Tang Xiaoguo to take Xiao Bai back and followed Su Luo out of Feihong Residence.
"By the way, Eldest Senior Brother, how did Xiao Bai...?"
Su Luo hesitated for a moment, then voiced her question.
Li Tianjue immediately understood what she meant and said calmly, "Xiao Bai is fine. He is very intelligent, but sometimes he gets lost easily and can't remember people. Perhaps it's due to a young child's forgetfulness. But it's nothing, no one in Qingxu Heaven would harm him, and everyone likes Xiao Bai."
Su Luo then suddenly realized that this was not just forgetfulness due to youth, but rather severe face blindness and a terrible sense of direction.
Perhaps Xiao Bai had been injured in his youth, or due to genetic reasons, his facial recognition area function was impaired, along with poor navigation skills.
Otherwise, how could he be six or seven years old and still not remember these things?
If she had the chance, Su Luo could examine Xiao Bai to see what was going on.
The two followed the quiet path towards Yongfu Residence.
Due to last night's events, all the servants in Yongfu Residence had been replaced.
Inside the room, two servants were attending to Bai Qi as he ate. There were several dishes on the table. One was holding a bowl of porridge and urging, "Young Master, please eat something, otherwise it's bad for your health..."
Bai Qi still had a pale complexion and shook his head. "I don't want to eat. Take it away."
"Fifth Senior Brother!"
Su Luo called out and quickly entered the room, placing the food box on the table. She smiled and said, "Eldest Senior Brother and I have come to see you. Since you're eating, I made a special dish for you. I guarantee it's delicious."
Li Tianjue also saw the dishes on the table that were starting to cool. He frowned slightly and said gently, "Fifth Junior Brother, you're not well, so you must eat properly. This dish was made by Su Luo herself. Try it."
Upon hearing this, Bai Qi lowered his gaze and obediently said, "Okay, I'll listen to Eldest Senior Brother."
Bai Qi clearly didn't want to eat, but because he didn't want Li Tianjue to worry, he agreed obediently. Su Luo felt a little pained for him.
What a beautiful young man, to be tormented to this extent. Alas...
Su Luo took out the dish and brought it to Bai Qi's bedside to show him. "Fifth Senior Brother, this dish is called Immortal Tofu. It took me two hours to make. Try a bite first."
Originally, Bai Qi had no interest. His mouth was filled with the bitter taste of medicine, which had long since extinguished his appetite for food.
But when he saw the plate of 'Immortal Tofu' before him, his eyes flickered slightly.
In the plate was a piece of tofu as white as jade, slightly smaller than his palm. A meatball was placed on top, surrounded by golden broth. An indescribable aroma wafted out, and his appetite, which had been gone for many years, seemed to be returning!
"Try it, Fifth Senior Brother," Su Luo said with a smile, sensing his interest.
Bai Qi hesitated for a moment, but finally, unable to refuse the kindness of this new junior sister, he picked up a spoon, scooped a small half spoonful of tofu and a little golden broth, and put it into his mouth.
The perfectly balanced deliciousness instantly bloomed on his tongue.