In the grand, sunlit kitchen of the Cross manor, the scent of fresh herbs and spices filled the air. At the center of the room stood Serena Cross, the young lady of the family, clad in a snug white chef's blouse with the sleeves neatly rolled to her elbows. A Cross family apron was tied around her waist, shaping her figure, and her skirt — a little short for the task — swayed as she moved gracefully between the counters.
The light from the high windows caught the soft sheen of sweat on her skin as the kitchen's warmth built up. Yet Serena's focus never wavered, her violet eyes sharp and intent on the ingredients laid before her.
On a polished tray rested the treasures of the Cross gardens and stores:
Mana-infused chicken, its pale flesh gleaming faintly as if lit from within.
Spirit onions and mana carrots, their colors richer than ordinary vegetables.
Sprigs of blueleaf basil, known to enhance energy flow.
A single goldenroot pepper, small but potent.
Serena picked up the chicken first, her slender fingers working with practiced precision. The kitchen filled with the soft sound of slicing — steady, confident, and precise. The blade glided through the meat, portioning it into neat pieces to ensure even distribution of mana in the broth.
As she leaned forward over the counter, concentrating on her task, her blouse stretched just slightly at the chest, the apron hugging her waist as she shifted. She seemed unaware of the subtle charm in her movements, intent only on her work.
Serena moved next to the vegetables, slicing the carrots and onions with smooth, sure strokes. The herbs were chopped finely, releasing their fresh, invigorating scent into the air.
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SYSTEM ANALYSIS
"Cross Family Mana Vitality Soup — Effect Summary"
• Mana Regeneration: Restores 10% of the consumer's mana every 15 minutes over the next hour.
• Stamina Recovery: Boosts stamina regeneration by 20% for 2 hours.
• Focus Enhancement: Supports mental clarity during combat or crafting for 30 minutes.
• Flavor Note: Mildly spicy with an herbal sweetness that refreshes the body.
"Note: Ideal for warriors, crafters, and those in rigorous training regimens."
---
The soup began to simmer, steam rising as the ingredients blended into a rich, fragrant broth. Serena wiped a bead of sweat from her temple with the back of her hand, her cheeks softly flushed from the kitchen's heat.
Her expression was calm, lips curling into a small, satisfied smile as she watched the broth bubble gently.
---
SYSTEM COMMENT
"Caution: Viewer heart rate may spike due to unintended seductive atmosphere. Cooking mastery combined with natural charm — lethal to focus!"
---
The kitchen glowed golden in the late afternoon light as the Cross family's secret dish came to life under Serena's skillful hands — a meal that would nourish not only the body, but also the future of its next heir.
The aroma of the soup wafted beyond the kitchen, irresistible to anyone within its reach. Not long after, Adrian peeked through the doorway, his hair still a bit messy from training, his eyes wide with curiosity. His nose twitched at the delicious smell, and before he could stop himself, his feet carried him toward the table.
Serena, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear, noticed him and smiled. "Oh? Adrian, you're just in time. I've finished a batch of Mana Vitality Soup. Would you like to try it?" Her voice carried a natural sweetness, though she was completely unaware that a bit of her apron had shifted, revealing the curve of her hip as she ladled the steaming broth into a bowl.
Adrian, his cheeks turning just the faintest shade of pink, nodded eagerly. "T-Thank you, Sister Serena!" he said, sitting up straight like a polite gentleman despite his rumbling stomach.
Serena set the bowl before him, the golden broth shimmering, the herbs floating like tiny emeralds on the surface. The steam carried its rich, mouthwatering scent to his face.
Adrian took the spoon and blew gently on it before tasting the first sip.
And then—his eyes lit up instantly.
"...!!!"
He froze, spoon in mid-air, his mouth still full as the flavor explosion hit him — the perfect harmony of the rich chicken, sweet mana carrots, and the tiny spark of the goldenroot pepper dancing on his tongue.
Without saying a word, Adrian's little hands shot up, both thumbs raised high, his face glowing with joy. His eyes sparkled, and his expression said it all: This is amazing!
"Mm! Mmmmmm!!" He nodded rapidly, still too focused on savoring the taste to speak properly.
---
🌟 SYSTEM COMMENT
"System evaluation: The young master has entered the state of Divine Culinary Bliss. Danger of over-eating: 99%!"
"Note: Soup effect will begin in 3 minutes. Mana and stamina restoration incoming."
---
Serena giggled softly, her cheeks coloring as she placed a hand on her hip. "I'm glad it suits your taste. Eat up — it'll help you recover from today's training."
Adrian, now spooning the soup in with a bit more haste, thought to himself, Serena's cooking is a cheat in itself!
And from deep within his mind, the system chimed in again—
---
SYSTEM TEASE
"Be warned, young master: If you keep reacting like that, you might give Miss Serena a strange misunderstanding about your affections."
After Adrian finished his soup, letting out a satisfied sigh and giving Serena an exaggerated two-thumbs-up, she smirked, placing her hands on her hips. "Hehe, as expected from your big sister's cooking!" she said, her chest puffed out with pride.
Then, with a playful glint in her violet eyes, Serena turned and grabbed a covered tray. "Okay, little brother—next up, we're grilling meat! Let's make this dinner unforgettable!"
Adrian's tiredness from training seemed to vanish as his eyes sparkled like stars. "Yay! Grilled meat!" he said, his voice full of excitement, almost bouncing beside her like a kid promised a treat.
They stepped outside into the courtyard, where a traditional Cross Family stone grill was already prepped. The gentle glow of the setting sun bathed the scene in warm orange light. The aroma of burning coals filled the air, mixing with the fresh scent of herbs growing along the edges of the garden.
Serena, in her Cross Family chef attire—an apron tied snugly over her casual clothes, with her blouse slightly loose at the top and sleeves rolled to her elbows—lifted the tray cover with a flourish. Inside lay several thick cuts of beautifully marbled meat, their quality obvious at a glance.
"This, dear little brother," Serena announced dramatically, holding up a small ornate jar, "is the secret Cross Family spice mix! Passed down for generations… and forbidden to outsiders!" She raised it high like it was a treasure, the setting sun making the golden powder shimmer in the jar.
Adrian's eyes gleamed, and he leaned forward eagerly. "Woooah! Big sis, that looks awesome!" He clutched his fists, practically vibrating with excitement, like the two of them were co-conspirators in a delicious mission.
Serena giggled at his reaction. She carefully sprinkled the spice over the meat, explaining as she did so: "This blend helps enhance blood circulation, keeps the muscles warm after training, and boosts stamina. Perfect for a growing boy like you!"
The system chimed in, visible only to Adrian:
"Cross Family Secret Spice detected. Effects: Slight increase in stamina recovery, enhanced nutrient absorption, minor muscle fatigue resistance. Ideal for warriors in training."
Adrian, eyes wide, whispered in his thoughts: That's so cool… I never knew grilled meat could be this powerful!
Serena set the meat onto the grill with a satisfying sizzle. The rich aroma of seasoned meat filled the air, making Adrian's stomach growl loudly, which made both siblings laugh.
The two stood side by side, Serena focused on perfectly flipping the meat at just the right moment, and Adrian watching her like she was a master at work. For a moment, it felt less like training and more like two siblings sharing a secret moment under the golden evening sky.
"It's doooone~!" Serena shouted cutely, her voice full of excitement. Tiny beads of sweat trickled down her face and neck, her chef apron a little loose now from all the moving around. With her blouse slightly clinging to her skin, a small peek of her lacy bra became visible beneath the thin fabric, though she didn't seem to notice at all.
Adrian stood nearby, sweating too—partly from the heat of the grill, partly from nervousness. His face was bright red. "W-wait, Serena! This is dangerous—at least let me—"
But before he could finish, Serena, still beaming, cut off a small, perfectly grilled piece of meat. With a swift motion, she pierced it onto the tip of a sharp cooking knife. "Here, say ahhh~!" she said, her voice playful as she leaned in closer toward him, holding the knife up.
Adrian took a nervous step back, waving his hands in panic. "I-I can do it myself, sister! Really, it's fine—!"
"N-no! Let me feed you this time!" Serena insisted, determined, her cheeks puffed out in mock frustration.
But as she took another step forward, the slight bend of her foot on the uneven stone patio caused her to lose balance. "Ah—!" Serena gasped, stumbling toward Adrian.
In a flash, there was a loud thud! as the two collapsed onto the ground—Serena right on top of Adrian. The force of the fall drove the knife (still holding the piece of meat) into the ground right next to Adrian's head, the blade piercing deep and leaving tiny cracks in the stone!
Adrian lay frozen, his eyes wide in terror, his heart racing. That was way too close! he thought. His gaze shifted up—to see Serena's face inches from his, her two blue eyes wide with surprise, a lock of her damp right-side bangs falling over her cheek. The fall had shifted her apron and blouse further, making her bra clearly visible through the sweaty fabric.
"S-sorry, brother…" Serena mumbled, flustered, realizing the awkward position they were in.
Then, as if she could feel the weight of all the readers' gazes, Serena glanced out as if breaking the fourth wall, cheeks burning pink. "T-that's all for today! I'll… I'll try to be more careful when explaining things next time, okay?!"
Adrian's face turned beet red, his eyes darting everywhere except at his sister. He raised a trembling finger and stammered, "B-before you start talking to someone, Sister… c-could you… uh…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "Your b-bra is peeking out… s-so could you stand up now…?"
Serena froze, realizing the position they were in—her chest pressing lightly against Adrian, their faces so close she could feel his breath. "E-eh?!" she squeaked, her entire face flushing a deep crimson. Her blue eyes widened, and she clumsily tried to push herself up, completely flustered.
But just then—
「Activating!! Super Lucky Star Skill!!」 the system's voice boomed inside Adrian's mind, full of excitement. 「I'll take the penalty wholeheartedly! This scene is a once-in-a-lifetime event!!」
Suddenly, the system screamed dramatically, 「Raaagghhh! IT'S OVER 9000!!!」
Adrian's eye twitched. What the hell are you doing?! he yelled in his mind, too shocked to speak out loud, sweat dripping from his forehead.
As if the system had flipped a switch, its tone turned eerily calm. 「Super Lucky Star Skill Activated. Have a nice evening, young master.」
And as if fate itself was playing a prank—snap! Serena's apron strings loosened on their own, the knot slipping apart. The apron fell open, revealing her entire bra beneath the thin, damp fabric of her blouse, clinging to her skin.
To make things worse, the knife she had stabbed into the ground shifted slightly, causing her to lose balance again. "Kyaa—!" Serena yelped as she tumbled forward once more.
Her chest landed squarely on Adrian's face with a soft pomf.
"Wagh—!" Adrian flailed in panic, his voice muffled. His hands waved wildly as he tried to escape the sudden soft prison that had trapped him. His entire body felt like it was overheating.
Serena froze in place, too embarrassed to move, her heart pounding. "S-sorry! S-sorry!" she stammered, trying to figure out how to get up without making things worse.
Meanwhile, the system's voice whispered in a satisfied, smug tone:
「Mission complete...」