Chapter 23: Magic Mapo Tofu (Part 2)
Xia Yu turned around and brought out three small porcelain plates, skillfully scooping the glowing Mapo Tofu into each one. He finished the presentation with a sprinkle of finely chopped green garlic, then handed out chopsticks and small spoons.
"This dish must be eaten while it's hot," he reminded them. "Heat is part of its essence."
Erina Nakiri found herself unable to control her hands. Her expression twisted as if fighting a battle inside herself, violet eyes flaring with hesitation and an odd shyness.
Eventually, she took the spoon Xia Yu handed her, fingers trembling slightly as she scooped a few pieces of tofu onto it.
And the moment the dish touched her lips—every bit of resistance crumbled.
A suppressed moan escaped her throat despite her best efforts. Her body tensed, then loosened as though an invisible weight had lifted. Her thighs, wrapped in dark stockings, began to squirm subconsciously beneath the table. Her cheeks flushed red, turning her into the very picture of beauty under ecstasy.
"I… I want more!"
Bracing herself on the table, she scooped another spoonful. As she swallowed, a burning sensation spread through her chest and stomach, coursing down like liquid fire.
In that moment, Erina's mind went completely blank. Her God's Tongue—her infallible gift—seemed to have vanished, no longer analyzing or dissecting flavors. Every cell in her body was now responding like an awestruck critic, shouting its approval.
She felt as though she were standing beneath a roaring waterfall—not of water, but of scalding chili oil and sesame heat. It poured over her bare skin, lighting her nerves aflame. A tingling warmth bloomed through her body, and from deep within her soul, a single word surfaced:
"Delicious…"
"This isn't just cooking… it's magic!"
Her thoughts flickered like dying embers. The world grew hazy. And just before she collapsed, she whispered it again—from the bottom of her heart.
"Magic…"
"Hey, hey—careful!"
God's Tongue was about to fall over.
Quick on his feet, Xia Yu lunged over the counter and caught her before she hit the floor.
Erina slumped against him, lost in a euphoric daze, her breath warm and heavy. Her flushed face radiated pleasure, and her lips moved, whispering words that made Xia Yu's eye twitch.
"Give it to me… I want it… Give it to me…"
She repeated the phrase like a mantra, making Xia Yu deeply uncomfortable.
Damn it! Did I go overboard with the spice?!
Of course, he hadn't added any "medicine" or strange ingredients. It was just a complaint. Still, he felt like holding up a sign: I swear, I didn't drug her!
This beautiful blonde girl, with her angelic features and seductive murmurs, clung to him like something out of a fever dream. Xia Yu prided himself on his self-control, but even he couldn't help but sneak a few extra glances.
Compared to Erina, even the two Chinese girls—who were considered beauties in their own right—faded into the background. Standing beside her felt like comparing reality to fantasy.
Still, he held firm. Expressionless, he helped Erina back into a chair and stepped away.
Meanwhile, the two Chinese girls weren't faring much better. The white rice on their plates was forgotten. They hunched over their tofu dishes, mumbling dreamily between bites, as if caught in some trance.
"You okay now?"
Xia Yu stood in front of Erina again and noticed a bit more clarity in her eyes.
Just as he reached for the spoon she'd used, a warm, slender hand suddenly grabbed his own.
"You… can't take it…"
She was staring at the red-and-white dish on her plate like a hungry animal. Her pale throat moved as she swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"I'm helping you," Xia Yu sighed, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
He scooped up a spoonful of tofu and held it in front of her lips.
"Open up."
Almost instinctively, Erina obeyed. Her luscious red lips parted, and the spoon disappeared between them.
When it came out, it was empty.
This time, she didn't gulp it down like before. She savored it—rolling it around with her tongue, attempting to dissect the flavors.
But her mind was still foggy. Even her God's Tongue couldn't deconstruct the dish. There were no flaws to find.
"Ahhh—"
Xia Yu scooped another spoonful.
Erina glared at him, flustered, but when he used that coaxing, childlike tone, she opened her mouth again.
Feeding a beauty like this was an unexpectedly satisfying experience—especially knowing that the food was his own creation. Watching her reactions, Xia Yu's heart surged with pride.
By the time he served the second plate, Erina's senses had mostly returned. She blushed and gave him a firm look, silently warning him to back off. She picked up her own spoon and resumed eating with slow, deliberate movements.
Shrugging, Xia Yu took the cue. The brief moment of blissful indulgence had passed.
Now it was his turn to eat.
He was still a growing boy, and one bowl of tofu pudding that morning hadn't been enough. Not for someone with his appetite. He grabbed a bowl of rice and a plate of the Mapo Tofu, then sat down to enjoy his lunch.
Thinking back, his own first taste of the magical Mapo Tofu had been… something else. Alone in the kitchen late at night, he had laughed and cried at the same time. Thank goodness the old man wasn't home—he'd have never lived it down.
Maybe it was because he was the chef, or maybe he'd just had it too often, but his tolerance had grown. Still, just a single spoonful of tofu was enough to down half a bowl of rice.
He even had a chilled can of soda to go with it, which made the experience even more satisfying.
Suddenly, the sound of a car engine echoed outside.
The door opened, and a purple-haired girl walked in, holding an umbrella.
"Lady Erina!"
She looked around the cramped shop. Spotting Erina's back, her eyes lit up. She folded her wet umbrella and rushed over.
"I'm so sorry, Erina-sama! I'm late!"
But Erina didn't respond.
Confused, Hisako circled around—only to freeze when she saw her mistress's condition.
Erina looked as if she'd been hit by a fever. Her cheeks were flushed, her golden hair damp with sweat and clinging to her skin.
To make matters worse, she had taken off her dark school jacket, and her white shirt was partially unbuttoned. Her tie hung loosely, revealing just enough to make Hisako panic.
"Lady Erina!"
She grabbed Erina by the shoulders and gently shook her.
The Divine Tongue stirred, her glassy eyes slowly refocusing.
"…Hisako?"
The moment she recognized the voice, her tension eased.
"You have an appointment this afternoon, Erina-sama," Hisako whispered. "If you're not feeling well, we can reschedule or cancel."
"Cancel it," Erina said flatly.
"…Should we head home now?"
"Wait a little longer."
This time, Erina hesitated.