Chapter 294: tea sandwiches

LUO YAN made tea sandwiches, something small that could easily be eaten. After he's done, he made tea. Put them all on a tray and carry it easily.

"Second young master, let me carry that for you," a maid said who had been fiddling around the kitchen since he entered earlier.

The maid was probably worried that he might burn himself. Seriously, no matter how many times he made something in the kitchen, these maids always think that he would break. Like some kind of porcelain. Well, not that he blamed them. For them, his image would probably always be that of a frail child.

"It's okay. I can do it," he said, smiling kindly at the maid.

Then he walked out of the kitchen. When he reached the front of the study, he asked a passing maid to knock on the door. And so, she did.

"Come in," called his father's cold voice.

"Do you want me to carry that tray for you, second young master?" the maid who passed by asked.

Luo Yan shook his head. "No, just open the door for me."

The maid readily did so. He smiled at the maid and entered the study. He saw his father and older brother having a serious conversation, most probably because of work. 

"Dad, Brother, how about an afternoon tea?" he said, smiling at the two. 

Both looked back at him almost at the same time. Luo Ren immediately stood up and took the tray from him. 

"Yan Yan, you should have let one of the maids carry it for you," he said, putting the tray on the table.

"I want to do it myself," Luo Yan said. "Besides, I'm the one who made it so it's only right for me to deliver it to you both." He looked at the two, blinking his big peach blossom eyes. "Won't you have a taste?"

"Of course," Luo Wei Tian said quickly, standing up from his seat and walking to the tray. He picked up a piece of tea sandwich and ate it. "It seemed like Xiao Yan's craft is getting better and better as time passed."

That was not an empty compliment. Because the tea sandwich was indeed delicious. Luo Yan had been making them a few snacks like this now and then. The first time he did, they were all ready to praise him even if what he made didn't taste that great. But contrary to what they expected, it tasted good. Although it was something very simple, they were still amazed. And so, the praised they gave was even more sincere and abundant.

"This is really good, Yan Yan," Luo Ren said, eating a piece of tea sandwich whole. "You definitely have a talent to be a chef."

Luo Yan only smiled. He wouldn't go as far as saying that he had a talent to become a chef. At most, he could only call himself a talented home cook. He only learned how to cook because circumstances forced him to. He was often stationed at the orphanage's kitchen. Years of helping there made him quite proficient in cooking. 

He long wanted to cook a sumptuous meal for his family. But since, technically, he just woke up from a seven-year coma, being able to do that immediately would be just a tad bit strange. So, he had to start with something simple such as snacks. He also started spending time in the kitchen during weekends, acting like he's watching their chef cook. So that it wouldn't be too weird if he started cooking more complicated dishes.

"Then next time, I'll try to make a meal for Dad, Brother, and Ah Jin," he said.

"I'll be looking forward to that," Luo Wei Tian said, looking gently at his second son.

"Of course, me as well," Luo Ren seconded. 

"Dad and Brother shouldn't blame me if it the meals I'll make turn out not to be good," Luo Yan said, acting all coquettish. 

"That won't happen. Because I'm sure whatever Yan Yan makes will be nothing short of delicious," his older brother said, then eating another piece of tea sandwich as if to prove his point.

His father also ate another piece. "Your brother is right."

This unwavering confidence in him only reminded Luo Yan of Shen Ji Yun. Thinking of that cinnamon roll with Casanova tendencies, he couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips. 

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It was 30 minutes before Luo Yan's meeting with Bian Que – the number one Alchemist in Arcadia. He logged back into the game and appeared in front of his pavilion. This was where he logged out earlier. It didn't take long before Eclipse appeared beside him and sat on his shoulder.

[Are there still many people buying membership cards?] – he asked. Because he told Eclipse before he logged out earlier to continue watching the side courtyard.

[Yes, Mashter. There's still a long queue inside.]

He nodded in satisfaction when he heard that. He entered one of the side entrances of the pavilion, one that was away from the eyes of others. Just to be safe and make sure that no player could see him entering the pavilion.

He walked straight to his office. He already ordered Madam Ru to welcome Bian Que herself and deliver him to his office. When he arrived at his office, he immediately changed into a red robe and applied a temporary black dye to his hair. He then wore a silk veil to cover the lower half of his face.

Luo Yan knew that it was still too early before the meeting time. But it wouldn't hurt to be prepared. And he was proven to be right. Because just 10 minutes after he sat on his seat, Madam Ru already brought someone to his office. 

It was a man wearing an ancient white robe. His long black hair was tied above his head with a jade crown. He had a clean temperament, as if he was someone who couldn't be swayed by worldly temptations. But those who knew him surely knew one thing that could tempt him – money. 

This man was the current number one Alchemist in Arcadia – Bian Que.