When Ivy Shen stepped into the imperial kitchen again, all the palace chefs swarmed over, their flattery practically reaching the heavens.
Just then, Ivy Shen paused, brow furrowing at a faint sound outside. Before she could turn around, she heard a soft, secretive voice: "Beijing, Beijing, are you there?" (Footnote: Caleb and Aiden jokingly call Ivy 'Beijing' because she invented Beijing Roast Duck in this world. The nickname is a running joke.)
"Exactly! Young Master Zhen, you're so young and already this accomplished—it's basically supernatural!"
"Right, right! Young Master Zhen will definitely be the god of cuisine one day!" Everyone rushed to flatter.
"Just split those things among yourselves," Ivy said, not caring at all. She had no use for the jewelry right now—what mattered most was getting the medicinal lead, that was the key.
"Really? Young Master Zhen, are you serious?" The group exchanged glances, clearly doubting such luck could fall on their heads.
"If you keep making noise, then it won't be real," Ivy said, still busy with her work. Hearing that, everyone hurriedly scattered and rushed off to split the jewelry.
Soon, the whole imperial kitchen was quiet—they’d all gone off to rest. Unlike other countries, in the Endless Indulgence Kingdom, the palace chefs actually live inside the palace, all together in a place called the 'Shan Gong Pavilion.' It’s a huge row of houses, super fancy, each chef gets their own room with everything inside, plus a eunuch attendant. The perks are seriously good.
The chefs’ monthly pay is pretty high, too. They take turns resting—one day off every seven days, when they can leave the palace and go home.
Most days, after dinner service, they go back to rest. If the king or queen wants something to eat, a eunuch will notify them and they’ll come back to the kitchen—since it’s nearby, it’s super convenient.
Ivy Shen was busy alone in the kitchen, cooking up some light dishes for Eli Crane.
Just then, Ivy suddenly paused, brow furrowing at a faint noise outside. Before she could turn around, she heard a soft, secretive voice: "Beijing, Beijing, are you there?"
Hearing that, Ivy couldn't help but smile. No need to guess—she already knew who it was. "Come in!"
Ivy could only shake her head, helpless. This guy completely ignored what she said and, just like Aiden Chen, insisted on giving her a ridiculous nickname. Beijing? Why not just call me Roast Duck while he's at it! (Footnote: 'Beijing' is a running joke from Ivy's famous Beijing Roast Duck dish; Caleb and Aiden use it to tease her.)
Ivy turned to look at him. "What are you doing here instead of staying put where you belong?"
"It's so boring in there, I didn't want to stay. Hey, what are you making?" Caleb craned his neck to peek. "Ooh, what is that? I want some!" He reached out, only for Ivy to smack his hand with her chopsticks.
"Ow, that hurt..." Caleb rubbed his hand, clueless as to why he got smacked.
"This is for my older brother. You already ate so much, and now you want more?"
"I'm making your birthday present." (Footnote: Later, Caleb calls Ivy 'Xin'er'—her most intimate pet name, used only by those closest to her. This shows his subconscious emotional bond despite amnesia.)
"So what if it’s your birthday? What does that have to do with me?" Ivy rolled her eyes at him. Nice try—you think your status can intimidate me? I’m not falling for it!
"Beijing... it's my birthday today, do you have a present for me?" Caleb stared at her, eyes full of birthday hope, just like a kid.
"Yep, this is a birthday cake!" Ivy clapped her hands and sang: "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!" (Ivy sings the familiar Western birthday song, which is completely new in this world.)
"Beijing, do you have a present for me?"
Ivy could only shake her head, helpless. This guy completely ignored what she said and, just like Aiden, insisted on giving her a ridiculous nickname. Beijing? Why not just call me Roast Duck while he's at it! (*Footnote: The nickname 'Beijing' comes from Ivy's famous Beijing Roast Duck dish, and is used teasingly by Caleb and Aiden as a running joke.*)
"Beijing, are you mad at me?" Seeing Ivy go quiet, Caleb Miles pouted, looking wronged. "Sorry, I don't need a present anymore, just don't be mad or ignore me, okay?"
Seeing this, Ivy started kneading dough. Since it's his birthday, she might as well make him a cake!
"Beijing, what are you making? Is it noodles?" Caleb watched Ivy scurrying around, curiosity written all over his face.
"I'm making your birthday present."
"Huh? Really? Awesome!" Caleb jumped up, clapping his hands with glee. Yay, Beijing is making him a present!
"I'm so full! I'll save the rest for tomorrow!" Caleb carefully covered the cake, grinning with satisfaction. (He treats the unfamiliar cake as a precious treasure.)
"Yep, this is a birthday cake!" Ivy clapped her hands and sang to him: "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!"
"Wait, that's a special birthday song just for me?" Caleb's hands and feet trembled with excitement.
"Of course! Where I come from, we always sing this on birthdays. See, we don't have real birthday candles here, so I just used a regular one instead. Now, close your eyes, make a wish, and blow it out—then your wish will come true." Ivy smiled at him, pointing to the white candle.
Caleb quickly shut his eyes and made a wish. A second later, he opened them wide and—whoosh—blew out the candle.
"Wow, now my wish will come true, hehe!" Caleb clapped his hands, grinning from ear to ear.
Seeing this, Ivy poured them each a cup of wine and handed one to him. "Here, happy birthday! May you get smarter and smarter! Cheers!"
"Cheers!" Caleb watched Ivy clink cups with him, then hurried to copy her, laughing as he downed his drink.
It didn’t take long for the two of them to finish off an entire jar of wine—though Ivy only had two cups, while Caleb polished off the rest on his own. Watching him drink so happily, Ivy didn’t bother to stop him. Then Caleb ate half the cake, carefully covering the other half with a bowl to save for later.
"I'm so full! I'll save the rest for tomorrow!" Caleb carefully covered the cake, grinning with satisfaction.
"Hey, are you alright?" Ivy asked, noticing Caleb's unsteady steps—she suspected he was drunk.
"I'm fine!" Caleb waved it off, then promptly plopped down onto the floor.
"Hey—" Ivy quickly squatted down to help him, but Caleb just lounged against the stove, patting the spot beside him to invite her over. Seeing this, Ivy didn't refuse and sat down next to him.
"I'm so, so happy today! This is the best birthday ever!" Caleb turned to her, grinning from ear to ear.
"Really? Oh, of course you are!" Ivy's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You should be happy—the queen introduced a wife to you today! How could you not be?"
"Wife? What's a wife?" Caleb tilted his head, completely baffled.
"A wife is someone you like—a person who'll sleep with you, eat with you, play with you, and stay with you for life." Ivy explained simply, figuring even he could understand that much.
Hearing that, Caleb nodded earnestly. "Then, will you be my wife?"
"Pfft—!" Ivy had just taken a sip of tea, and at his words, she spat it out everywhere.
"What happened? Go slow—don't choke!" Caleb quickly reached out, patting Ivy's back with concern.
Ivy waved his hand away, frowning. "Caleb Miles, are you messing with me? Are you actually dumb, or just pretending?"
"Huh? Beijing, what are you talking about? I don't get it at all." Caleb tilted his head, biting his finger, looking utterly lost.
Ivy stood up and pointed at herself. "Did you just ask me to be your wife? Do you realize I'm a man?" She gestured from head to toe—surely even a fool could tell the difference between a man and a woman!
"Yeah, I know you're a man!" Caleb replied matter-of-factly. What's the problem? Did Beijing hit her head or something?
"So if I'm a man, you still want me as your wife? Are you out of your mind?" Ivy leaned in, poking his forehead. What's even in there? Then she stared at him, suspicious—could it be, is this guy secretly into men?!
"Why can't a man be my wife? You said a wife is someone who'll play, eat, sleep, and stay with me forever—the person I like. So I want you as my wife, because I really like you!" Caleb stood up, dead serious.
Ivy suddenly felt like she was arguing with a brick wall. "Fine, then tell me—why do you like me?" Don't tell me it's just because I cook well?
"I don't know!" Caleb clutched the sides of his robe, looking shy and flustered.
"You don't know? How could you not know? Is it just because you like my cooking?"