Chapter 60: Soufflé – A Light Touch, Like a Dragonfly on Water
Yihuan’s heart trembled slightly, and before she could stop herself, she looked up and met Liu Hexiao’s eyes.
In a soft voice, Liu Hexiao said, “Give me a chance to face everything with you… would you?”
A mist rose in Yihuan’s eyes.
Ever since she transmigrated into this world, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t afraid.
Every day brought new challenges, and she had to tackle them all alone. She thought of her younger brother, so innocent and dependent on her, and her father and brother, exiled and disgraced. She was not without exhaustion.
Liu Hexiao gazed at Yihuan, his expression earnest, patiently waiting for her answer.
Looking into his eyes, Yihuan felt a piece of the wall around her heart soften.
She wasn’t someone who easily let her guard down, but in this moment, she suddenly felt an urge to cry.
“Liu Hexiao,” Yihuan called softly.
“Yes?” Liu Hexiao responded warmly.
“…Alright,” she whispered.
Liu Hexiao froze for a moment, then smiled gently, his expression clear as the wind and bright as the moon.
He reached out and pulled Yihuan into his arms.
The faint fragrance of her hair lingered at the tip of his nose, making him smile softly.
Yihuan’s delicate brows arched as she leaned against his shoulder. Her slender fingers slowly crept to his waist, gently clutching the fabric of his robe.
“Ehh…”
A childlike voice suddenly rang out, causing both of them to jolt. Yihuan immediately pushed him away.
Caught off guard, Liu Hexiao stumbled back a step, looking thoroughly wronged.
Happiness truly only lasts three seconds…
With a helpless expression, Liu Hexiao turned to see Lin Yiran peeking from the doorway.
Lin Yiran grinned mischievously. “What are you two doing?”
Blushing, Yihuan didn’t say a word, instead shooting a glare at Liu Hexiao.
Liu Hexiao coughed lightly and said, “I was… comforting your sister. She wasn’t feeling well.”
Lin Yiran’s expression shifted to concern. “What’s wrong with my sister?”
Flustered, Yihuan stammered, “N-nothing!” She shot another glare at Liu Hexiao. Why is he making things up?!
Liu Hexiao added casually, “Don’t worry—she’s fine now.”
Not wanting to linger on the awkwardness, Yihuan quickly said, “Oh! My soufflé isn’t finished yet!” She spun around and busied herself with her ingredients.
Watching her scurry off, Liu Hexiao chuckled. Squatting down, he looked Lin Yiran in the eye and said seriously, “Remember this—only I am allowed to comfort your sister like that. No one else can.”
Lin Yiran blinked in confusion. “Why is it only you, Master?”
Raising a brow, Liu Hexiao corrected him, “Stop calling me Master.”
Lin Yiran tilted his head in puzzlement. “Then what should I call you?”
Liu Hexiao’s lips curled into a sly grin. “Think it over yourself… If you guess right, I’ll teach you how to master light-footed martial arts.”
With that, he stole a glance at Yihuan, who was focused on her work and pretending not to hear.
Lin Yiran’s eyes lit up with excitement at the promise of martial arts training. He grinned widely and blurted, “Brother-in-law!”
Liu Hexiao smirked triumphantly.
Hearing this, Yihuan turned sharply, her cheeks flushing with anger. “Liu Hexiao!”
Seeing that she was about to explode, Liu Hexiao quickly scooped up Lin Yiran and jumped out the window. Lin Yiran’s voice echoed in the air, filled with awe, “Ahhh!!! Light-footed techniques are so cool!!!”
Yihuan bowed her head slightly and examined the egg whites and yolks she had just prepared.
The egg whites had been whipped into a texture as creamy and airy as clouds, while the yolks had been beaten into a smooth, buttery consistency—rich and vibrant.
Although the two parts were so close, they had been deliberately separated.
Picking up a spoon, Yihuan carefully scooped some of the whipped egg whites and added them to the bowl of yolks. Using a spatula, she gently folded them together, her motions precise and methodical.
The pure white foam and the golden yolk gradually merged into a harmonious blend, forming a silky, unified mixture.
After a few moments of stirring, the mixture transformed into a pale yellow batter, soft and luscious like custard, almost too tempting to resist.
Yihuan poured this custard-like mixture back into the remaining egg whites, folding everything together once more until the two were completely integrated.
Separated, combined, and then merged again—until there was no distinction between one and the other.
The soufflé batter was delicate, almost temperamental, much like the sensitive heart of a woman. Even the tiniest impurity would ruin its texture and dull its flavor.
Carefully, Yihuan poured the batter into her cake molds and placed them into the oven to bake.
She had never used a traditional stove to bake soufflé before, and her heart filled with anticipation as she waited to see how it would turn out.
As the stove worked its magic, Yihuan sat to the side, momentarily lost in thought.
She recalled the first time she had met Liu Hexiao… when she had tricked him into handing over his jade whistle. The memory made her laugh quietly to herself.
And those words he said earlier… were they real? Could that have been a confession?
The thought made her cheeks flush again.
“What are you smiling foolishly about?” Liu Hexiao’s voice startled her. He had clearly finished settling Lin Yiran somewhere and returned to find her.
Startled, Yihuan quickly replied, “Nothing!”
She denied it outright. “When was I smiling foolishly?”
Unable to contain his laughter, Liu Hexiao teased, “Oh, really? Your drool is practically dripping.”
Yihuan shot him a sidelong glance. “As if!”
With that, she stood up and walked over to check on the stove.
Inside the oven, the soufflé had puffed up slightly.
Yihuan carefully took the cake out, using chopsticks to pinch off a small piece for a taste.
It was about 70% cooked. As expected, the heat distribution in the traditional oven wasn’t as consistent as that of a proper baking oven. It needed more time.
She placed the half-baked soufflé back into the oven and continued to wait.
Liu Hexiao, sitting nearby, watched her every move with a smile. His expression was filled with an unspoken joy, as if he could spend eternity simply watching her.
Sometimes, relationships between people can be quite simple. When two people never tire of looking at one another, that’s the first step.
After a while, the soufflé was finally done.
Yihuan carefully removed the soufflé from the oven. It had risen to twice its original size, its surface soft and springy. With a gentle poke of her chopsticks, it bounced back with elasticity.
Tearing off a piece with her chopsticks, she turned to Liu Hexiao and asked, “Want to try it?”
Liu Hexiao’s lips curved into a faint smile. Without saying a word, he stepped forward, took her hand, and directly guided the piece of soufflé into his mouth.
Yihuan froze, her face flushing slightly. In a low voice, she asked, “How is it?”
The soufflé, soft and fluffy, melted on contact with his tongue. The texture was airy, almost weightless, and it slipped down his throat as if it were nothing but a sweet breeze.
With a radiant smile, Liu Hexiao said, “It’s delicious. Everything you make is delicious.”
Yihuan’s lips pressed into a small smile. “Good… then can you help me promote this to the noble ladies?”
Liu Hexiao raised his chin confidently. “That’s not a problem.”
Without hesitation, he wrote a letter and sent it off with Qing Nu to deliver to the households of Cao Shixun and He Ye.
The next morning, before the shop had even opened, Yihuan was jolted awake by a loud knocking at her door.
“Miss! Miss!”
Recognizing Ah-Miao’s voice, Yihuan called out sleepily, “What’s wrong?”
Ah-Miao replied anxiously, “Miss, there’s a crowd of people outside saying they want to buy soufflé!”
Yihuan blinked in confusion. “What? But… the soufflé was just an experiment. We haven’t even started production yet…”
Outside, Ah-Miao’s voice grew more urgent. “I told them that, but they won’t listen! Miss, please come take a look!”
When Yihuan hurried to the shop, she was greeted by a surprising sight.
Liu Hexiao was already sitting inside, his posture relaxed as if he owned the place. Surrounding him was a group of women—more precisely, a circle of maids dressed in fine attire.
These weren’t just customers; they were clearly servants sent by wealthy noble families.
Liu Hexiao, looking every bit the picture of authority, announced calmly, “As I’ve just explained, the soufflé is limited to ten servings per day. Today’s batch is already sold out. Please come earlier tomorrow.”
A maid in pink spoke up anxiously, “Your Lordship, can’t you make more? My mistress heard about the soufflé’s reputation and ordered me to buy some. If I return empty-handed, I’ll surely be punished!”
With a helpless expression, Liu Hexiao replied, “But soufflé is incredibly delicate. Each one takes hours to make. I can only sympathize with you.”
Another maid, dressed in yellow, asked, “Then… can we place an order for tomorrow? I’ll pay upfront!”
Liu Hexiao pretended to consider it before shaking his head. “For now, we’re not accepting reservations.”
In reality, this was all part of his strategy—to create demand by limiting supply. The rarer the soufflé seemed, the more people would desire it. Scarcity was key to elevating its status among the elite.
The rest of the maids groaned in disappointment but began muttering amongst themselves.
“So we’ll just have to line up early tomorrow?”
“Yes, that seems to be the only way.”
Liu Hexiao’s expression remained sympathetic. “I’m afraid so.”
What he wanted was exactly this: long lines outside the shop to give the impression of a booming business. For nobles, the harder something was to obtain, the more they craved it. Conversely, if something was easily available, it would lose its allure.
Determined, the maids vowed to arrive even earlier tomorrow. “I will get the soufflé next time!”
After the maids had dispersed, Yihuan approached Liu Hexiao, her curiosity piqued.
“What trick did you use to gather so many noble ladies’ maids? These women must have been sent by their mistresses to buy the soufflé, right?”
Liu Hexiao nodded casually. “Of course.” Smiling, he added, “It wasn’t anything special. I simply sent letters to Cao Shixun and He Ye.”
“What kind of letters?” Yihuan asked, intrigued.
Liu Hexiao smirked. “I just asked them to recommend Shengjing Dessert Shop to any noble ladies they know. Who knew… they actually know that many ladies?”
Learning from his past mistakes, he quickly added, “Not that it matters to me—I don’t know many noblewomen myself. To me, they’re no different from a flock of ducks.”
Yihuan burst into laughter, amused by his obvious attempt at self-preservation. Her eyes curved into a crescent shape as she teased, “You’re learning quickly.”
Liu Hexiao chuckled. “Progressing at lightning speed. Satisfied?”
Yihuan smiled and shot him a sidelong glance. “What’s the plan now?”
Without hesitation, Liu Hexiao replied, “First, we build the soufflé’s reputation among the noble ladies. Once they’re hooked, their love for desserts will naturally reach the ears of the young noblemen.”
Yihuan’s eyes lit up with understanding. “I see… that way, the young men can use the soufflé to win favor with the women they like, right?”
Liu Hexiao nodded approvingly. “Exactly. You catch on quickly. So why are you so slow when it comes to me?”
Yihuan blinked, confused. “What do you mean I’m slow?”
With a pitiful expression, Liu Hexiao looked at her and said, “I’ve done so much, and I’ve even improved… Don’t you think I deserve a reward?”
Stifling her laughter, Yihuan asked, “What kind of reward do you want?”
Without a hint of shame, Liu Hexiao pointed to his cheek with a playful smile.
His grin was open and bright, showing no hesitation in expressing his affection for her.
Yihuan’s face turned crimson. “No, no… pick something else…”
With so many people around, how could she let him do such a thing? What if someone saw?
Standing up, Liu Hexiao tilted his head and asked seriously, “Really? You want me to pick something else?”
Yihuan nodded ever so slightly, her face still red.
Liu Hexiao’s lips curved into a mischievous smile. Without warning, he reached out, pulling Yihuan into his arms.
His cool lips brushed against her cheek, fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the surface of water.
Before she could react, he had already let go.
Her heart fluttered wildly as she touched her cheek in a daze, quickly glancing around to ensure no one had noticed.
She glared at him. “You… you’re impossible…”
Liu Hexiao, satisfied, flashed a grin and turned towards the counter to start tallying accounts.
How did this man, out of nowhere, begin acting like the real owner of Shengjing Dessert Shop!?
Translator’s Note:- I am extremely sorry guys for the very late update but something urgent came up and i was busy whole week working on the stuff. I am uploading all the remaining chapters of this novel now as promised this novel will end today. Stay tuned and enjoy your weekend. Thank you for your patience !!❤️❤️
