With no alternative, Cao Ying had to explain. She poured out the herbal medicine she had brewed for Lin Feng, brought it to him, and said with a forced smile, "Lin Feng got a little hurt saving me last night. I came today to brew his medicine. Since it was lunchtime, I also made a quick meal. Don't read too much into it."

Cao Ying hadn't wanted to explain, but she was afraid that if she didn't, the things Lin Feng and Su Zi were saying would become increasingly inappropriate, so she had to step in and interrupt them.

"Lin Feng, you're injured?" Su Zi looked Lin Feng up and down. Seeing he wasn't missing any limbs, a mocking expression crossed her face. "Didn't you say you were really strong? How could you get injured so easily? How are you going to protect Aoxue and me?"

"Hey, watch it, Miss Su Zi. My responsibility is Ning Aoxue's personal safety. I never said I'd protect you as a side job!" Lin Feng raised his hand in protest, retorting, "Right now, you're just enjoying the free trial version of peripheral services. If you want this handsome fellow to protect you 24/7, you'll have to pay extra. After payment, I'll show you what true strength means!"

"Spare me! Useless is useless. I'm not even satisfied with the free version, and you want to charge me!" Although Su Zi was being blunt, she still showed concern for Lin Feng. "Where are you hurt? Is it serious? Aoxue is coming over tonight; she might need you to accompany her to rehearsal!"

"No problem, I told you it's nothing serious. Teach... Esteemed Teacher, can we eat now?" Lin Feng, eager to change the subject, had almost blurted out "My Dear Wife" in front of Su Zi. He startled himself; joking around like that was fine when he and Cao Ying were alone, but if he called her that in front of others, Cao Ying definitely wouldn't be able to stand it. Especially since she wasn't familiar with Su Zi, it would be a miracle if she didn't get upset.

"'Esteemed Teacher'? What a strange way to address her," Su Zi muttered to herself. She just thought Lin Feng's term of address was odd but didn't think too much about it.

Cao Ying was also quite startled by Lin Feng. Usually, when Lin Feng called her "Wifey," she just treated it as a joke from a Little Brat. But seeing him almost call her that in front of an outsider, she naturally couldn't bear it.

"The other dishes are ready; the lamb soup is still simmering. Drink your medicine first!" Cao Ying's face was slightly flushed. She pointed to the bowl of dark herbal medicine in front of Lin Feng and said casually.

"Teacher, isn't medicine usually taken after meals?" Lin Feng frowned, a wry smile on his face. Looks like my dear is angry!

"This is a tonic. Taking it after a meal will affect absorption. Drink it now!" Cao Ying said in a tone that brooked no argument, apparently determined to make Lin Feng behave for once.

Lin Feng sighed helplessly. It seemed Cao Ying wouldn't calm down unless he obliged her. So, putting on a pained expression, he picked up the medicine bowl and, as Su Zi watched with a frown, GULP, GULP, downed the large bowl of bitter herbal medicine.

Hmm, there was even a faint sweet aftertaste. Much better than drinking urine while trying to survive in the wild. It was still within his range of tolerance.

Internally, Lin Feng could handle it, but he still put on a performance. He pursed his lips, squinted, and made a pained face, as if holding his breath for a long time. Finally, he opened his eyes and sighed faintly, "So bitter."

Cao Ying even thought she saw something glistening in the corner of Lin Feng's eyes, and a wave of sympathy washed over her.

"Just bear with it a little longer; the delicious food will be ready soon!" Cao Ying was quite pleased that Lin Feng had obediently drunk the bowl of medicine. Her mood finally improved a bit, and she went into the kitchen to get the meal ready.

"HM, HM, HM... Lin Feng, it seems you're hiding something from me!" Su Zi glanced at Cao Ying's graceful back, her suspicions deepening. She intuitively sensed that there was more between Lin Feng and Cao Ying than met the eye.

"You're not my mother. Why should I report everything to you? Besides, even with my own mom, I don't tell her everything," Lin Feng said nonchalantly, completely unbothered by Su Zi's opinion.

"Hey, hey! I'm a beauty, you know! Can't you even pretend to be interested? Don't you want to make a good impression on me?!" Su Zi was quite stung by Lin Feng's indifferent attitude. It wasn't that she was interested in Lin Feng; she just felt that this guy was way too dismissive of her!

"Nope." Lin Feng shook his head decisively.

"Then aren't you afraid Aoxue will get jealous? Don't try to hide it from me; I know you're interested in Aoxue. Your eyes can't lie!" Su Zi pointed a delicate finger at Lin Feng and said with a smile, "What if I tell Aoxue that Teacher Cao visited? Don't you think she'll get a bad impression of you?"

"What are you talking about? When did I ever show any interest in that Ice Mountain girl?" Lin Feng flatly denied it and added nonchalantly, "I couldn't care less what she thinks of me. Say whatever you want."

Lin Feng sounded nonchalant, but inwardly he was a little uneasy. If Ning Aoxue finds out Cao Ying came to the villa, her impression of me will probably get even worse. Things between us will become more strained, and it'll likely be hard to carry out my protection duties smoothly in the future.

"HEH HEH..." Su Zi smiled mysteriously, as if she had seen right through Lin Feng's thoughts. She said no more, hummed a little tune as she took her numerous bags to her room, and then sat down at the dining table to wait for the meal.

When Cao Ying brought out the dishes, Su Zi practically shrieked and lunged for the food. Even though most of what Cao Ying had made were meat dishes, they tasted so incredibly good that Su Zi, completely disregarding the risk to her figure, began to wolf them down, mumbling praises between mouthfuls, "Delicious... Mmm, so good..."

With every dish Su Zi tasted, her eyes lit up. She filled a bowl with rice but forced herself to eat only half, saving all the remaining room in her stomach for the meat dishes. After adding two bowls of delicious lamb soup on top of that, her little belly was stuffed perfectly round.

With the addition of Su Zi as a formidable competitor, the feast Cao Ying had prepared for Lin Feng seemed a little insufficient. Under Cao Ying's watchful eyes, Lin Feng and Su Zi practically raced to finish all the food. In the end, Lin Feng patted his stomach, still not quite satisfied, and said with a regretful expression, "Only eighty percent full..."

After the meal, Cao Ying's image in Su Zi's mind had improved dramatically. She had transformed from merely an elegant and beautiful teacher into a perfect, home-oriented woman comparable to a master chef. As the saying goes, "favors received make one hesitant to offend." Su Zi silently wondered whether she should hide Teacher Cao's visit to the villa from Ning Aoxue. It's like choosing between the palm and the back of my hand; both are precious!

But just as Su Zi was thinking this, she suddenly heard the main door being pushed open, and Ning Aoxue's weary voice abruptly echoed through the entire villa.

"Su Zi, are you here? Let's go get some lunch together. I'm starving!"

Ning Aoxue had actually arrived at the villa at this very moment!

Hearing Ning Aoxue's voice, Cao Ying became slightly flustered. Lin Feng, however, acted as if nothing was amiss, casually rubbing his stomach as he digested his meal.

Only Su Zi, who had just been contemplating "betraying" Ning Aoxue, felt a surge of nervousness. Why is Aoxue here so early? Didn't she say she'd arrive tonight?!

Su Zi knew that if Ning Aoxue saw Cao Ying, she would undoubtedly pepper them with questions, and it would be difficult to concoct a believable lie to smooth things over. Moreover, Ning Aoxue wanted to have lunch with her. I can barely walk straight as it is; how could I possibly eat more?

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