“Baining — drinking blood every day is just too monotonous. Breakfast is this, lunch is this, and dinner is still this…”
Bai Li sat side by side with Baining at the dining table, unable to stop himself from whispering a complaint.
“There is no other way, my daughter. We Vampires are not as ingenious as you; we cannot turn blood into fragrant dishes like the humans do.”
“Is that so… Then how about this, Baining? From now on, leave all three meals to me. What do you think?”
Upon hearing this, Baining was momentarily stunned.
Her crimson eyes widened slightly before a smile slowly spread across her lips, as if she had just heard a proposal that was both heartwarming and amusing.
“Are you serious, Bai Li? Since the Royal Palace Kitchen was built, almost no one has ever truly gone inside to cook anything, aside from the servants who warm and store the blood.”
Bai Li felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze and subconsciously shrugged his shoulders, yet he still held his head high, sounding full of confidence.
“Of course I am serious. I am not just saying it. Besides, have you not eaten the things I made before?”
As he spoke, he wrinkled his nose.
Thinking about the unchanging diet of pure blood over the past week, a greasy, metallic sweetness seemed to linger on the tip of his tongue.
It was not that he disliked the food of the Vampires, but having grown accustomed to the bustling atmosphere and flavorful meals of the Human World, suddenly returning to this almost primitive way of eating was truly difficult to adapt to.
More importantly — over these past few days, Baining had been accommodating and yielding in every way.
She respected his boundaries, never forced him, and never crossed the line.
Her gentleness and favoritism were hidden in every detail, and he had seen it all and kept it in his heart.
He also wanted to use his own way to add a bit of warmth from the human realm for this child he had raised for ten years, and for this cold, magnificent, but somewhat lifeless Blood Royal Palace.
“Fine, I will listen to you.”
Baining reached out and gently ruffled his soft white hair.
“From today on, the Royal Palace Kitchen is under your full authority. If you need any ingredients or utensils, just ask. Fei Yi will arrange everything for you. No matter what you want to do, I will support you fully and will never stop you.”
Fei Yi, who was standing to the side, stepped forward at the right time.
She bowed slightly, her expression remaining as calm as still water, yet her tone was deeply respectful.
“If the Princess has any instructions — whether it is bloodline raw materials, special kitchenware, or assistance from staff — this subordinate will prepare them immediately without delay.”
Bai Li had not expected Baining to agree so readily.
The stomachful of arguments he had prepared was suddenly stuck in his throat, leaving him momentarily flustered.
His cheeks turned slightly red as he awkwardly looked away and muttered in a small voice.
“I thought you would oppose it…”
“Oppose what?”
Baining let out a light chuckle, her voice as soft as a midday breeze.
“As long as it is something you want to do, I will never oppose it. Moreover, I am more than happy to be able to eat something you made with your own hands.”
She paused, looking at Bai Li with a serious gaze, her words exceptionally sincere.
“No matter the taste, as long as you made it, I will eat every single bite.”
Bai Li’s heart trembled slightly.
He quickly lowered his head, pretending to straighten his skirt hem to hide the fluster in his eyes.
His voice was as thin as a mosquito’s hum.
“I get it. I won’t make it taste bad. Just you wait and see.”
***
After finishing breakfast, even though Baining clearly had political affairs to handle, she insisted on accompanying Bai Li to the kitchen.
She claimed it was to “familiarize him with the environment and facilitate coordination,” but in reality, she simply wanted to stay by his side and watch his serious expression a little longer.
Bai Li could not win against her, so he could only allow her to hold his small hand as they walked toward the Blood Royal Palace kitchen on the west side.
Unlike the steaming, smoke-filled kitchens of the human world, the Vampire kitchen was spacious, cold, and chilly year-round.
There were no open flames and no stoves; there were only rows of neat vessels and Warm Blood Stones, exuding the unique refinement and loneliness of the Vampires.
Bai Li looked around and raised an eyebrow — to make human-style cuisine in this place, a thorough transformation was indeed necessary.
“Fei Yi, please prepare a Heat-resistant Crystal Vessel, a Jade Grinding Mortar, and a filtering mesh. Also, prepare several portions of fresh bloodlines with different purities and textures.”
Bai Li instantly entered his working state.
His instructions were clear and concise, and his eyes were focused and bright.
The usual bashfulness and fluster were gone, replaced by the steady reliability of a mature scholar.
Fei Yi noted everything down and bowed before leaving to prepare.
Soon, only Bai Li and Baining were left in the kitchen.
Baining leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, quietly watching Bai Li touch and examine things throughout the kitchen.
His small figure moved back and forth in the empty room, and the originally lifeless, cold space suddenly felt vibrant because of his presence.
“What are you looking at?”
Sensing her gaze, Bai Li turned his head and asked in confusion.
“I am looking at my daughter; you are truly impressive.”
Baining made no attempt to hide her admiration, her tone sincere and doting.
“Whether it is handling political affairs or now making food, you always start quickly and methodically. Your serious appearance is particularly charming.”
Bai Li’s face instantly turned bright red.
He jerked his head away, not daring to look at her.
His voice was both embarrassed and annoyed, yet it was soft and lacked any momentum.
“D-Don’t talk nonsense! I am just doing something small! Also, I am not your daughter, I am… your…”
Halfway through his sentence, he silently swallowed his words.
Every time the topic of identity came up, he felt powerless.
Even though logic was on his side, he could not bring himself to be cold-hearted when faced with Baining’s gentle yet stubborn persistence.
Baining watched his distressed and flustered state and could not help but laugh.
She stopped teasing him and simply stepped forward to gently brush a stray hair from his shoulder.
“Fine, I won’t tease you anymore. Take your time preparing. I will just stay by your side and won’t disturb you.”
Not long after, Fei Yi returned with all the utensils and ingredients, arranging them neatly on the counter.
Bai Li took a deep breath and officially began his culinary experiment.
Baining stood quietly to the side, her gaze never leaving him for a moment.
She watched him carefully adjust proportions, control temperatures, and meticulously plate the food.
His small fingers moved nimbly, every movement exceptionally cute.
After half an hour, the first dish was finally finished.
Bai Li poured the warmed Frost Mist Blood Soup into a small white jade bowl and sliced the solidified Dark Moon Blood Jelly into small pieces for plating.
It was simple yet exquisite, completely stripping away the monotony of blood from previous days and adding the sense of ceremony and refinement that a meal should have.
He picked up the dishes and looked nervously at Baining.
His palms were sweating slightly, like a student waiting for a grade.
“Um… I don’t know if it tastes good. Why don’t you try it?”
Baining took the dishes.
When her fingertips touched the warm wall of the bowl, her heart felt a surge of warmth.
She first scooped a small spoonful of the blood soup and gently tasted it.
The mellow aroma of blood mixed with the refreshing sweetness of the Frost Mist Fruit.
The texture was smooth and warm, fragrant without being greasy, without even a hint of a metallic smell.
It went down smoothly, and even her blood vessels seemed to relax.
Next, she tasted a piece of the Dark Moon Blood Jelly.
It was bouncy and smooth, with a hint of bitter fragrance interlacing with the crisp taste of blood.
The layers were rich and the flavor was unique — both novel and delicious.
“How is it? Is it terrible?”
Seeing that she did not speak, Bai Li became increasingly anxious and hurriedly asked.
Baining set down the dishes and looked up at him.
Her eyes were full of amazement and tenderness.
She reached out and pulled the small body into her arms, her voice soft and satisfied.
“It is delicious. It tastes better than any fresh blood I have ever had.”
Suddenly being held, Bai Li’s entire body stiffened.
He wanted to push her away, yet he was reluctant to leave this warmth.
He could only stand there stiffly, his cheeks burning hot and his heart racing almost out of control.
The temperature of Baining’s embrace, her steady heartbeat, and the unique scent of roses mixed with blood… those boundaries he had been holding onto and the distance he had deliberately kept all became insignificant and vanished at this moment.
He gently raised his hand and hesitated for a long time before finally, slowly, wrapping his arms around Baining’s waist.
His voice was tiny, hiding a trace of tenderness he had not even noticed himself.
“As long as it’s delicious… From now on, I will make it for you every day.”
Hearing this, Baining held him even tighter.
She buried her face in the crown of his head, her lips curling into a happy and satisfied smile that was sweet to the core.