CHAPTER 644: CHAPTER 396: START THE BATTLE!

Phoenix Pavilion.

When Tang Fei received the call and hurried over, Phoenix and Sheng Xinhua had already set up the barbecue grill in the yard, surrounded by a group of maids threading meat and all sorts of vegetables onto willow skewers.

Seeing Tang Fei arrive, Phoenix cheerfully said, "Tang Fei, you’re just in time; the task of grilling is all yours. Your meat is always the tastiest."

"No problem," Tang Fei readily agreed, saying, "My old man always said, to win a woman’s heart, you have to win over her stomach first...."

"From the heart to the stomach?" Sheng Xinhua blinked her eyes and asked, "Did you win Phoenix’s heart first, or her stomach?"

Tang Fei gave Sheng Xinhua a look. He suspected this woman was teasing him, but he had no proof.

Mr. Sheng had that kind of ability; she could make every word thought-provoking.

Yet, when you thought about it carefully, it was hard to pin her down.

No wonder she was a literature professor at the Imperial First Military Academy, with a masterful command of language...

Seeing those innocently desirous eyes of Sheng Xinhua looking at him, waiting for an answer, Tang Fei dismissed the idea of questioning and explained, "Princess and I fell in love at first sight. She fainted from excitement the first time she saw me..."

"I’ve never seen such a beautiful, fair-skinned woman before; she looked like someone who bathes regularly... That’s why I took the effort to carry her back."

"Otherwise, I wouldn’t have cared about her life or death. In a place like Henshan Region, what if she encountered a predator... Having a woman on your shoulders can really slow you down."

Phoenix just giggled and did not argue with Tang Fei.

She had already fallen in love with Tang Fei; whatever he said was fine by her.

Why make the argument so clear?

Who fell in love first... Was that something to be ashamed of?

She didn’t mind falling for Tang Fei first; she hoped that was actually the case.

Instead, Sheng Xinhua rolled her eyes and said disdainfully, "She passed out because you scared her, right? Before, she used to see clean, handsome young men, and suddenly she saw a wild man... She must have thought she was encountering the Cannibal Tribe."

"Although I’ve never been to the Old Land, we’ve all heard... people there are so hungry they even eat others... With her delicate skin, what if you had eaten her?"

Tang Fei grinned at Phoenix and said, "I indeed want to eat her, but the way I want to eat her and the way you’re talking about eating are probably not the same, right?"

"Tang Fei, you rogue, I can’t believe you have such nasty thoughts about Phoenix..."

"How is that nasty? Isn’t it a normal reaction? Which normal man seeing Phoenix like this... wouldn’t want to try?"

"Just go die."

"..."

Tang Fei shrugged his shoulders.

This woman...

When she’s in the driver’s seat, she can say anything.

I’ve just thrown out a line, and she’s already calling me a rogue.

Can’t she take a joke?

"Alright, you two, stop arguing. Every time you meet, it’s like watching two kids." Phoenix pushed Tang Fei in front of the grill and said, "The charcoal is ready; get started. After all the preparation, I’m starving."

"No problem." Tang Fei grabbed a bunch of skewers and began to grill them over the fire, saying, "Not to brag, but I’m the best barbecue master in the entire Henshan Region. My grilled skewers are crispy on the outside and juicy inside; every bite sizzles with oil, even immortals wouldn’t exchange it for anything."

"Those who say ’not to brag’ are usually about to start bragging," Sheng Xinhua said.

"If you don’t believe in my words, don’t eat it."

"Of course I’ll eat. I threaded these skewers."

"You say it’s not tasty?"

"Can’t you comprehend? I just said you’re not the best barbecue master in Henshan... I didn’t say your grilled meat tastes bad."

"How do you know I’m not?"

"Do you have any proof that you are?"

"Am I supposed to hold a barbecue contest in Henshan?"

"There’s no right to speak without comparison."

"I think I am."

"I don’t care what you think; I care what I think."

"..."

Phoenix thoughtfully looked at Sheng Xinhua. She knew her best friend wasn’t one to argue with people, neither willing nor inclined.

She lived a very self-centered life, not explaining herself to others and not caring about others’ lives.

Yet, she always clashed with Tang Fei the moment they disagreed.

"This side of Mr. Sheng is really unusual."

When the skewers turned a golden brown and sizzled with oil, Tang Fei began sprinkling various spices on top.

Cumin and chili powder were essential, of course.

Tang Fei handed the grilled skewers to Phoenix, his voice tender, "Here, try it and see if it’s good."

The first skewer was naturally for his Princess.

As for Mr. Sheng, just wait...

Phoenix’s eyes curved into crescents as she accepted the skewer and took a bite, then her face lit up with bliss.

Smiling broadly at Tang Fei, she said coquettishly, "After eating the barbecue you made in that small courtyard in Henshan, I’ve been unable to forget it... It was the tastiest barbecue I ever had—no, the tastiest food I’ve ever had..."

"I always tell Mr. Sheng that when you have time, you must let her try it too; after she tastes it, she’ll know... You’re not only the best barbecue master in Henshan but also in the entire Phoenix Empire. I can vouch for you; no one in this world makes tastier barbecue than you."