A Feast of Flavors and a Gambit for Victory

You’ll truly eat everything I prepare?

Aileen, clearly misinterpreting Xi Yao’s words as a playful confession, let out a dismissive snort.

“Don’t imagine for a moment that I’m unaware; do you truly believe such flattery will earn you my forgiveness?”

‘Though these were her internal thoughts, a sense of unconscious delight bubbled within her.’

‘In that case, perhaps I’ll demonstrate a little of my culinary prowess for lunch.’

Time spent immersed in gaming had a way of slipping by unnoticed.

Xi Yao, sprawled comfortably on the bed with Tuantuan serving as her plush pillow, found the gaming environment utterly relaxing.

Engaging in various activities and battling through the abyss, an hour or so vanished in a blink, leaving her stomach rumbling with hunger.

Just then, Aileen’s voice chimed in, perfectly timed: “Xi Yao, dinner’s ready.”

The young woman’s voice was naturally melodious, reminiscent of a skylark’s song by a clear mountain spring; now, to Xi Yao’s ears, it sounded like pure, ethereal music.

“I’m coming, I’m coming!”

Ai Xiaoxue was already seated primly at the dining table. Xi Yao, too, took her place, carefully lifting Tuantuan to prevent it from being squashed or appearing impolite on the tabletop.

The two girls seemed to be in a silent competition, vying for who could appear more demure.

Meanwhile, Aileen approached with a tray, gradually arranging the exquisitely fragrant dishes, one by one, upon the dining table.

Adorned in an apron with lace trimming its hem and cuffs, and a delicate white cap, she was, in that moment, the most enchanting little chef in the world.

Even Xi Yao found herself gazing for a prolonged moment… though, inevitably, her attention swiftly gravitated towards the feast before her.

Braised pork hock, steamed pork belly with preserved mustard greens, garlicky spare ribs, crucian carp meatballs, stir-fried mushrooms with sliced pork…

Xi Yao tentatively picked up a piece of the steamed pork belly with preserved mustard greens, and a gasp of surprise escaped her.

“Aileen, your cooking is truly this exceptional?”

‘In two lifetimes, she had never savored such exquisite flavors.’

“I’m well aware,” Aileen asserted, settling into her seat with an air of pride. “Did you really need to state the obvious?”

Xi Yao fell silent, picking up her chopsticks and devouring the food with an unstoppable zeal.

Ai Xiaoxue, cradling her small bowl, sat to the side, a flicker of doubt dancing in her eyes.

‘She was, of course, familiar with her sister’s culinary talents, yet the sheer number of dishes prepared for just three people far surpassed their usual meals. Moreover, each dish was executed to such a high standard that it felt like an extraordinary performance, even for someone already skilled.’

‘Then, observing Xi Yao—the beautiful, long-haired young woman with a generous bosom—who appeared to be a formidable eater (TL Note: “Ganfanren” is a Chinese internet slang term referring to someone who eats heartily and enthusiastically.), Ai Xiaoxue finally understood.’

With her stomach full and satisfied, Xi Yao leaned back contentedly in her chair, a heartfelt sigh escaping her lips. “This is truly wonderful,” she murmured, “simply wonderful.”

Aileen inquired, “What exactly is so wonderful?”

“You are truly remarkable,” she declared, her voice brimming with sincerity. “Capable of presiding over the student union with your intellect, and equally adept at cooking up a storm in the kitchen. You possess both wisdom and skill; it’s simply perfection.”

‘And even more perfect is the fact that you’re also a stunningly beautiful, blonde, large-chested woman.’

Aileen’s lips curved into a faint smile. “I’ll accept your compliments,” she stated, “but don’t for a second imagine that flattering me will make me lenient towards you.”

‘Once the student council elections conclude and the dust settles, she would definitely grant herself a short vacation, a well-deserved reward.’

‘You are my victory feast!’

Following the meal, Aileen began clearing the dishes, and Xi Yao, too, rolled up her sleeves to lend a hand. With the two young women working in concert, the kitchen was swiftly brought to a pristine state.

It was then that Aileen truly came to believe Xi Yao must have experienced such a life previously; otherwise, her proficiency with housework would have been impossible.

“Xiaoxue, go take a nap, and remember to do your homework when you wake up,” the blonde young woman instructed, making arrangements for everyone. “Xi Yao, you’ll come with me.”

In their modest dwelling, there was only one suitable place for a private conversation: Aileen’s bedroom.

The young woman’s private room was considerably more spartan than Xi Yao’s, boasting virtually no decorative items and lacking elaborate wallpaper. Instead, a few scattered hand-drawn pictures, resembling Disney princesses, adorned the walls.

There were no fluffy plush toys, only a remarkably old-fashioned Barbie doll resting on the bedside table. The dress it wore had long since faded, yet the doll itself was preserved immaculately, without a single blemish.

“That was my toy from childhood.”

Noticing Xi Yao’s gaze lingering on it, Aileen offered an explanation. “It was originally intended for Xiaoxue,” she said, “but she deemed it too childish and returned it to me.”

“…”

‘Perhaps too childish for Ai Xiaoxue, but perfectly suited for you, is that what you’re implying?’

Aileen, disinclined to dwell on the toy, placed the Barbie doll into a desk drawer before seating herself on the edge of the bed.

Xi Yao followed suit, taking a seat beside her.

“To put it succinctly, the situation is quite disadvantageous for us. While we hold an overwhelming advantage among the general student body, numerically speaking, they only account for a mere hundred votes at most. Do you grasp that?”

Xi Yao nodded. “I recall you mentioning earlier that Yun Caiyi had swayed many people…”

“Indeed, according to my reliable intelligence,” Aileen stated candidly, “she has already secured the allegiance of over 160 individuals with voting rights.”

Xi Yao quickly did the math: out of a total of 305 votes, half would be 152.5. Yun Caiyi already had over 160… “Huh?”

“Then hasn’t she already secured the victory?”

“Not necessarily. As I stated, she has only *bought* 160 of those with voting rights,” Aileen clarified, cradling Tuantuan in her clasped hands as was her habit. “The circumstances are certainly against us, but we are not entirely without a chance.”

This particular gesture of hers always instilled an inexplicable sense of reassurance.

‘And, quite alluring.’

Xi Yao refocused her attention on the crucial matter at hand. “I recall you mentioning that the role of ordinary students extends beyond mere voting?”

“Precisely,” Aileen affirmed with a slight nod. “I’ve devised a plan, and if it succeeds, our odds of victory could rise to seventy percent.”

Xi Yao paused, slightly taken aback. “Only seventy percent?”

“Seventy percent is more than favorable; in our current predicament, seventy percent already belongs to *them*,” Aileen retorted, rolling her eyes.

“Alright, then, tell me: what is this plan?”

Aileen did not respond immediately, instead speaking slowly and deliberately. “Yun Caiyi’s online trolls are ubiquitous, and she even orchestrates her cronies to bully anyone who speaks ill of her on campus. No one dares to openly oppose her. Why do you think that is?”

“Because, well, because they’re afraid,” Xi Yao responded.

Aileen suddenly posed a question: “What truly lies within that fear?”

Xi Yao pondered for a moment, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “There’s anger!”

“Precisely. Within that fear, there is anger.”

Aileen raised a finger, idly twirling a wisp of golden hair near her ear. “Ordinary students are capable of far more than just casting votes; they can accomplish so much more. Yet, few are willing to act, and most don’t even realize their own potential. Therefore…”

The young woman’s voice deepened subtly, and Xi Yao felt her own emotions stirring, her heart thumping with anticipation. “So, what then?”

“Therefore, we require one crucial element, a catalyst,” Aileen declared, her delicate hand loosely cupping the air. “I will absolutely ignite the dormant anger within their hearts!”

Xi Yao, too, found herself involuntarily clenching her small fists.

‘Despite Aileen having revealed no concrete plan, she had managed to stir Xi Yao’s blood into a fervent excitement.’

“So, what precisely *is* our plan?” she pressed, unable to contain her eagerness.

Aileen offered a soft smile, then retrieved her phone, scrolling through it for something.

“We need an external ally,” Aileen explained, “an absolute external ally—one that is, in truth, powerless to act, yet Yun Caiyi remains unaware of its impotence. This ally must be capable of influencing Yun Caiyi’s decisions, thereby guiding others on how they should proceed.”

Xi Yao blinked, utterly bewildered for a moment, then tilted her head. “What exactly does that mean?”

‘It was the first time Aileen’s elaborate sentence structure had left her utterly captivated and confused.’