“White-haired Wenwen”

Vroom vroom~

The range hood roared with a heavy hum.

Mu Yue and Lin Yuxuan scrambled around the cooking club’s kitchen,
desperately trying to make lunch.

They’d been so caught up in filming the video,
they completely forgot the meal wasn’t ready yet.

“We only have time for something simple now.
Xuanxuan, check what’s left in the fridge?”

The cooking club was built for just this purpose—
not only were all the cooking tools available,
but there was also a large double-door refrigerator.

“There’s a box of cream, a bag of mushrooms, and a bowl of leftover rice.”

“Perfect. We can make cream of mushroom soup—quick, easy, and it goes great with rice.”

Mu Yue poured water and cream into the pot,
where the ingredients were already simmering.

With Lin Yuxuan’s help,
a fragrant dish was ready in no time.

After the rush, both girls were flushed and lightly sweating.

Mu Yue wiped Lin Yuxuan’s forehead first,
then used the same towel—now carrying Xuanxuan’s sweet scent—to wipe her own face.

Lin Yuxuan, seizing the moment,
fed Mu Yue a bite while eating herself—
sharing the same pair of chopsticks.

They’d compressed both “wiping sweat” and “eating” into one efficient act.

Neither minded the chopsticks touched by the other’s lips.
They’d already gotten used to each other’s taste during that time they shared a spoon.
Now, they didn’t just tolerate it—
they enjoyed it.
Their rhythm was perfect, and the food tasted even better.

“This is the first time I’ve had this dish.
Just from the name, it sounded kind of weird.
But the mushrooms in the soup are so flavorful—
rich, creamy, so delicious.”

“Told you it’s good~”

“Mm-hmm~ Definitely. I’ll try making it myself when I get home.”

After hastily finishing their meal,
they rushed off to class.
Thanks to their smooth teamwork,
they barely made it on time.

****

The day passed in a blink.

That evening, Lin Yuxuan decided to buy some good food
and visit Tang Yawen at her place.

“Wenwen-sensei~ I’m here again~”

Lin Yuxuan knocked on Tang Yawen’s door.

The door cracked open—just enough for one large blue eye to peek out nervously.

Then, the sound of the safety chain being unhooked.

Tang Yawen didn’t know why, but her first instinct upon hearing Xuanxuan’s voice
was to check if anyone else—especially a red-haired girl—was behind her.

Could it be because of that dream?

Now, every time Tang Yawen saw a red-haired girl,
her heart pounded with fear.

She had developed full-blown “redhead PTSD.”

“Wenwen-sensei~ What’s wrong with you?”

Lin Yuxuan handed over the groceries,
then slipped into her slippers like she owned the place.

“Nothing… still not feeling great from the fever.”

Tang Yawen couldn’t bring herself to explain the real reason.
It was too embarrassing.

After all, Xuanxuan hadn’t even agreed to be her girlfriend yet,
and she was already dreaming about being cheated on?
That was just rude.

“Haven’t eaten yet, right? Let me cook you something.”

“No, Xuanxuan, I’ll just have some snacks later.”

“No way. You’re still sick.
You can’t just treat yourself like that—your recovery will take longer.
Unless… you want to order ‘Hua Chang Shi’ again?”

“Please no…”

At the mere thought of that “soul-crushing” experience,
Wenwen’s slender legs trembled.

Lin Yuxuan tied on an apron,
pulled her snow-white shoulder-length hair into a single ponytail,
draped it over her shoulder,
and began skillfully prepping ingredients.
Soon, the kitchen filled with the sizzle of stir-frying,
and delicious aromas flooded Tang Yawen’s nose.

She wanted to help, but she knew nothing about cooking—
her skills barely extended to instant noodles or ramen.
Lin Yuxuan gently shooed her away with, “The patient needs to rest.”

Watching Lin Yuxuan take care of her,
Tang Yawen felt like they were married.
Like Xuanxuan was her sweet, devoted “newlywed wife.”

This shameful thought made her face burn red.

“All done! Sit down, Wenwen. Try my stir-fried veggies.”

“Aaah~”

Wenwen took a big bite.
The fresh, savory taste made her—someone who usually hated vegetables—
fall in love with the flavor.

“How… how can plain cabbage taste this good?”

“Hehe~ That’s my secret technique~”

A dash of fish sauce enhanced the umami,
but the real magic was Lin Yuxuan’s skill.
Even a simple stir-fry had perfect wok hei—
flavor that couldn’t be faked.

****

After dinner,
Lin Yuxuan and Tang Yawen began their evening work—
now a regular part of their routine.

“Wenwen, you’re still not fully recovered.
Are you sure you should be working now?”

“I’m fine~ Really, I’m okay~”

“Alright.”

Lin Yuxuan quickly started on her commission.
This one was a 400-yuan page—
a higher-tier job requiring more skill.
She worked carefully,
but could feel her proficiency with “Painting Level 2” gradually improving.

Doing commissions for others won’t earn as much as publishing my own work.
Maybe I should start my own comic and upload it?

She had the idea,
but wasn’t sure about the submission process.

So she decided to consult a “professional.”
Wenwen was an ecchi manga artist—
she’d know exactly what to do.

“You want to start your own manga?
Great idea—I support you.
Your skill is definitely there.
But you haven’t been tested by the market yet.
I’d suggest trying to publish something first.”

“So Wenwen-sensei, how do I submit?
Should I just post online, or go straight to a publisher?”

“I’d recommend starting with sites like Comic Paradise or Pixiv.
Test if the audience likes your work.
Once you’ve built some popularity and found your niche,
then you can approach publishers.”

“Got it.”

Wenwen-sensei truly lived up to her title as a “professional ecchi mangaka.”

“Wenwen-sensei, I don’t see your comics much…
Are you still in the serializing phase?
Haven’t submitted to a publisher yet?”

“N-no… I don’t have plans yet…
My comics aren’t good enough…”
Tang Yawen’s eyes darted away.

Since she said that, she clearly didn’t want to continue.
Lin Yuxuan, ever perceptive, knew when to back off.
Knowing how to retreat gracefully was a virtue—
one that earned others’ respect.

Besides, Wenwen-sensei was like a “golden-haired little mole”—
shy and easily scared.
You had to be gentle.

Hehehe~ Even if Wenwen-sensei didn’t tell me,
do you really think I can’t find your artist name?
The simulator mentioned it earlier.
Let’s see how accurate that info really is.

Lin Yuxuan searched the name from her memory on her phone.

In the simulator’s story, Tang Yawen’s Pixiv ID was “White-Haired Wenwen.”
Why she chose such a strange name, no one knew.

“Wow~ This art style is awesome~”

Lin Yuxuan commented after glancing at the artist’s work.