“Miss Han, what a surprise? Do you need something from me?” Lu Xinyi asked the young woman after thanking her classmate for her help.

The two stood in the empty hallway. Han Yixin was holding a thin long envelope on her hands, fidgeting as she waited for Lu Xinyi to regard her.

“Miss Lu, I’m here to give you the deed for ‘Tiers of Delight’ as per our agreement.” She lifted her hands and presented the envelope to Lu Xinyi.

“Oh…” Lu Xinyi almost forgot about it. She accepted it and took the document inside, making sure it was the authentic deed.

“What happened to Wen Shufen?” she asked without breaking her gaze over the deed.

“As expected, the student council and the headmistress agreed to expel her from the academy.”

After their cooking battle, the Tang family provided all the evidence needed by the academy to deal with Wen Shufen. With her expulsion, the Tang family was assured that there would be one less irritating woman who’d dare to plot against Lu Xinyi.

Not only Wen Shufen had plotted against Lu Xinyi from the Shen family, but she also tried to defame Han Yixin’s reputation who was a relative of Headmistress Han. With the previous complaints against Wen Shufen, her expulsion didn’t have a long deliberation; and everyone came into a decision easily.

“Ahh…” Lu Xinyi glanced at Han Yixin and noticed how she fidgeted. “Is there something else, Miss Han?”

“Do you… does Miss Lu think I’m a bad person?” Han Yixin said it too softly that Lu Xinyi almost missed it.

“Why would I think of you as a bad person?” she asked back, but the young woman kept silent.

“Making a bad decision doesn’t make you a bad person, Miss Han,” Lu Xinyi said with a smile, “But stabbing the person who’d treated you like a friend is.”

When Han Yixin started sobbing, Lu Xinyi was slightly startled. She suddenly felt bad for this girl.

“It’s alright, Miss Han. You don’t have to feel bad about it. However, I do hope you learn from your mistakes.” She patted Han Yixin’s shoulder, hoping the young woman would stop crying before someone misunderstood that she was bullying the young girl.

A few moments later, Han Yixin wiped her tears; her face was brighter than earlier.

“I’m not here to deliver the deed alone, Miss Lu.” Han Yixin buried her right hand on the side pocket of her skirt, pulling out two smaller beige envelopes from it. She gave Lu Xinyi one of the envelopes.

“What is this?”

“As you know, World Patisserie Challenge takes place yearly. They usually send two invitations to all leading culinary schools around the world to participate in it. These envelopes were handed to me by Headmistress Han.”

Lu Xinyi could already roughly guess what Han Yixin wanted, but she waited for the girl to finish her explanation.

“The board of directors has chosen me as one of the representatives of Silver Leaf Academy for this year. The other one that they deemed worthy to represent the academy is you, Miss Lu.”

Han Yixin tried to gauge Lu Xinyi’s reaction, but the later remained unfazed with what she said. Didn’t she want to participate in the World Patisserie Challenge? Almost every baker and pastry chef she knew treated it as some kind of recognition.

“Miss Lu?”

“I’m sorry, Miss Han. I was just preoccupied. You say I was chosen as one of the representatives?”

Han Yixin nodded. Why didn’t Lu Xinyi seem happy with it?

“When will the competition takes place and where?” Lu Xinyi asked. If she was to leave the country, she would rather discuss it with her husband first. With the twins returning soon, her hands would be full.

“Six months from now at Country F. The competition itself will run for a month,” Han Yixin replied.

“Six months…”

Well, at least it wouldn’t be too soon, Lu Xinyi thought. The twins’ issue should have been resolved by then. If not, then she would rather choose to pass her invitation to someone else. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​

“After three months, we will have extensive training on pastries. All expenses will be shouldered by the academy so Miss Lu needed not to worry with accommodations and expenses.”

“Thanks, Miss Han. I will discuss this first with the Shen family. I’ll call you at once when everything is settled.”

As much as she would like to join the competition, she would rather discuss it first with Shen Yi.

After thanking Lu Xinyi for her help, Han Yixin left in a hurry, telling Lu Xinyi that her class was about to start.

“What is that?” Tang Lilou peeked over Lu Xinyi’s shoulder as the latter read the contents of the invitation.

“Invitation for World Patisserie Challenge,” Lu Xinyi muttered.

“What?! World Patisserie Challenge!” Ye Xieren exclaimed, making Lu Xinyi groan.

Great, now their classmates would have something to talk about her again, she thought.

Ye Xieren snatched the invitation in her hand and read it.

“Wow, you are really going international soon.” He thumbs up to Lu Xinyi.

Lu Xinyi rolled her eyes and cupped her chin.

“What’s so special about this competition anyway except for bragging rights?” she huffed.

“But Xin Jie, most amateur pastry chefs eyed this competition as a way to get a scholarship to study at Country F. Don’t you want to go to Country F and study abroad?” Lan Xiaoli asked.

Truth to be told, Lu Xinyi didn’t need the scholarship if she wanted to study abroad. With her mother’s inheritance from the Sun family and Shen Yi’s backing, money wouldn’t be a problem at all.

“Yeah, I’ll agree with Lan Xiaoli this time. Don’t you know what’s best for you, Lu Xinyi?” Ye Xieren chided.

“Amateurs! Step back and let a pro handle it!” Tang Lilou scoffed and stood in front of Lu Xinyi’s table. She crossed her arms and stared down seriously at her Xin Jie.

“Xin Jie, didn’t you say you love pastries and desserts?”

Lu Xinyi frowned, not understanding what Tang Lilou was up to. She was kinda missing the silent girl tang Lilou used to when they first met.

“Yeah, what about it?” she answered back.

“At World Patisserie Challenge, only the most promising amateur chefs will participate in it. There could be hundreds of pastry chefs waiting for you to defeat. Are you going to back down?”

“So?”

“What if I tell you that you can get unlimited free pastries during the competition?”

“…”

“All of you will have to pass the elimination round until only twenty remained. Once you reach the top 20, you will be able to get a chance to taste your competitors’ creations. Are you sure you’ll let go of that opportunity, Xin Jie?” Tang Lilou grinned mischievously.

As strange as it sounds, Lu Xinyi was tempted to give Han Yixin a call to give her a ‘go’ signal for the competition.

“Fine. You got me this time.” She conceded.

How the heck could she decline this invitation if Tang Lilou described it like a heavenly realm to a foodie like her? Heck, unlimited supply of free pastries? No need to ask questions! She’s definitely in!

Ye Xieren ran a hand in his face as he listened to the two. Geez, how come Lu Xinyi was easily bribed with food? Beside him, Tang Liang laughed at the scene.

“That’s our Xin Jie for you.”

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