After a brief chat, the group got into the car and headed towards the Tanhua residential area.

The dinner after the college entrance exam was simple: hot pot. The broth in the pot was boiling and steaming, and the bright red chili oil and the fresh and fragrant soup base were intertwined, giving off an enticing aroma.

After finishing the meal, Zhong Tingyue took out a large cake she had specially made, a coffee Basque cake.

Considering her two younger sisters' tastes, she didn't try anything innovative, such as replacing coffee with tea.

As soon as the cake was served, Chu Fang and Zhong Rou looked at each other and silently took a few steps back. Zhou Qiong saw their actions and also took a few steps back. Only Chu Yi looked on happily at the exquisite cake in front of him.

"Sister-in-law, you're amazing! Not only are you incredibly capable at work, but you can also bake cakes. You're my goddess! Did Chu Lao Er save the galaxy in his past life to actually win you over..."

Zhong Tingyue smiled and said, "Try it."

"I know it must be delicious without even tasting it." Chu Yi chuckled, scooping a spoonful into her mouth and chewing as she spoke, "I just love the bitterness of coffee... ...ugh..."

Halfway through his sentence, Chu Yi's face contorted, and he made a vomiting sound.

This is too much suffering!!!

Zhong Tingyue's expectant expression froze. Without asking, she knew Chu Yi's true feelings.

Another failed cooking attempt.

Seeing her sister-in-law's pained expression, feeling like she was going to vomit but also considering her feelings and wanting to force herself to swallow it down, Zhong Tingyue sighed: "You should throw up."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yi could no longer hold back and started vomiting into the trash can. Chu Fang and Zhong Rou, who were next to him, patted their chests in relief.

Thank goodness, we escaped another disaster.

"Sister-in-law, what did you add? Why does it taste so bitter?"

Zhong Tingyue said casually, "I figured the cake was meant to be bitter, and the coffee wasn't very bitter, so I added some bitter melon juice."

This sentence silenced the people in the room.

How should I put it?

genius!

"It tastes good." Just then, Zhou Qiong's soft voice rang out as she sipped the cake.

"Qiongqiong, don't try to comfort me. I already know what my cooking tastes like." Zhong Tingyue patted the back of Zhou Qiong's head.

This little girl is an angel.

"Sister-in-law, I'm not lying to you, it's really good. The flavor of milk and bitter melon juice blend together, creating a unique taste." Zhou Qiong said earnestly.

"Really?" Zhong Tingyue's pupils dilated. Seeing that Zhou Qiong not only chewed slowly but also swallowed the food without any pain on her face, she immediately hugged Zhou Qiong's shoulders: "Qiongqiong, only you understand the secret of my cake."

At this moment, Zhong Tingyue's heart was breaking.

These past few days, every cake she's made has tasted awful, but today someone finally appreciates it.

Chu Fang and Zhong Rou looked at each other, their eyes meeting.

Is it really delicious?

Try it.

Why should I taste it?

You are my brother-in-law.

You're still my sister-in-law.

We'll try it together.

The two scooped up a small spoonful of cake, and moments later, their faces contorted in pain as they vomited into a trash can, prompting Zhong Tingyue to frown: "Are you two deliberately trying to antagonize me?"

While vomiting, Chu Fang said, "Why don't you try it yourself and see?"

Zhong Tingyue took a bite and immediately started fighting with Chu Fang over the trash can.

After vomiting for a while and calming down, the four looked at Zhou Qiong, who was still eating cake in small bites. They all gave her a thumbs up: "Amazing!"

Zhou Qiong asked, "Sister-in-law, can I pack it up and take it home?"

Zhong Tingyue didn't know whether to be happy or sad for a moment.

... ...

After having dinner and doing a quick clean-up, Chu Yi and Zhong Rou left the Tanhua residential area without lingering, as they needed to go back to school the next day to tidy up their dorm rooms and move their books.

Looking at the cake that Zhou Qiong packed up and took away, Zhong Tingyue felt happy. She turned to look at Chu Fang and said, "See? My cake is appreciated by someone."

"Only Zhou Qiong appreciates it."

That was a good start.

"Then find a few more unfortunate people, and your coffee Basque cake will have an even better start."

Only someone like Zhou Qiong, who has deeply experienced the hardships of life, can truly appreciate the 'deliciousness' of Zhong Tingyue's cake.

"You're just jealous of my talent!"

"Ah, yes, yes, you're right!"

This woman's brain has been fried!

“... ..."

Chu Yi and Zhou Qiong returned to Zhonghai Mingyuan. The former threw away his shoes and slumped onto the sofa, while the latter neatly arranged his shoes.

Chu Yi rolled around on the sofa, sobbing, "Waaah... The college entrance exam is over, that's great! Qiongqiong, what are you planning to do next? Shall we go on a trip?"

“Hmm… …” Zhou Qiong thought for a moment and replied, “I want to go back to my hometown.”

She hasn't been home for a year, and she misses her grandparents.

"That's what I was thinking too. I haven't seen my parents in a long time." Just then, a phone rang. Chu Yi looked at his phone and saw that it was his mother calling. He smiled and said, "Speak of the devil."

"Hey Mom, the exam's over. As long as the examiners aren't completely irrational, just wait for my good news..." Chu Yi reported to Qian Liyan, then suddenly frowned, sat up, and asked, "What? You said Zhuo Xia came to Shanghai to work?"

She looked serious, chatted for a while, then hung up the phone, lay down again, and covered her head.

Zhou Qiong said softly, "Zhuo Xia finished her college entrance exam, didn't do well, and didn't want to retake it, so she came to Shanghai without Aunt Liu Jia's permission?"

"Hmm." Chu Yi felt a sharp pain in his head.

At this moment, she sensed the helplessness and speechlessness that Chu Fang felt last year.

Qian Liyan called just now, hoping that she would pick up Zhuo Xia and persuade her childhood friend to go back to her hometown to repeat her studies.

Running away from home is not something a normal person would do!

The current Zhuo Xia is not normal, and she wasn't normal back then either!