Chapter 165: It Doesnât Matter
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He Zhou felt as if all the nerves in his brain had received a violent jolt. He could not move. He gripped the phone tightly and gritted his teeth. âWhat do you mean?â
âIt is what it is, exactly as I say it.â He Jing spoke with halt-lidded eyes, shadows dancing under long eyelashes. She had an ethereal beauty, a subtle nonchalance that bespoke her confidence. âDonât you think so, Third Brother?â
âOf course!â He Zhou thought. He wanted to surpass her in cooking; the urge was irresistible, and his body trembled while his heart ached with longing. However, the gap between them was too big; he felt inferior and hopeless. As much as he despised He Jing, He Zhou would be the first to admit how much he admired her cooking.
âAlthough I may have some skill, Iâm far from the best,â He Jing said, the words rolling off her tongue. âNo matter what you do, if you donât put in a hundred percent of your effort, you wonât get far because youâd be sailing against the current. Those who start strong may also fall from grace and vice-versa. It may take a year, two months, or even a day. The only constant thatâll ensure you never stray is love.â
âNow thereâs someone more passionate about cooking than me; his drive and zealous spirit of improvement are an invisible force weighing on me. I feel a great crisis looming over the horizon; it is something I can only overcome through sheer effort. As long as I live, as long as Iâm motivated⦠one day, Iâll become the greatest chef in the world. Isnât such a rival more inspiring than being a nominal brotherly figure?â
âWhy should I be bothered whether or not this brother loves me? Itâs completely unimportant. â
He Zhouâs pupils constricted, and he did not know what to say.
So that was what she thought.
It turned out that she was not as unflappable as she seemed.
She feared others would surpass her, so she identified a worthy rival to motivate herself. He just so happened to be the rival she had chosen. Whether or not she recognized his ability was beside the point â she had already embarked on the right path toward self-improvement, becoming more and more outstanding.
Meanwhile, he was still wallowing in despair, unwilling to believe he could be inferior to anyone.
What a joke!
Wasnât he the brother in He Jingâs analogy? How could he have been so arrogant? He Zhou had thought she had to gain his recognition before she could live in the He family when she could do so, whether or not he gave her his approval!
The truth was clear, even if he didnât want to admit it. They had the same bloodline and right to live together as members of the He family.
âAlright, I understand.â He Zhou closed his eyes, and the anger that had swelled up in his chest dissipated. It was replaced by a crazy desire to succeed. When he opened his eyes again, they had a dangerous gleam. He smiled slightly, returning to his gentle, almost refined posture. âIt was a pleasure talking to you. Letâs wait and see who will become the best chef!â
He Jing giggled. âThat would be me. Third Brother still has a long way off before being able to compete with me.â
He Zhou hung up, setting his phone to âbusy mode.â
He had his whole life ahead of him. Those who were arrogant now might not get the last laugh.
He Jing put away her phone. She met Yan Hanxiâs eyes and said angrily, âPlease use your brain. Donât waste your time here.â
Yan Hanxi found it funny and could not help but say, âYou have a really interesting way of comforting people; itâs unique.â
He Jing was speechless.. âWho said I was comforting anyone?â