Chapter 24: Continuing the Intermediate Nutritionist Assessment

The five examiners looked at each other with varied expressions. Three chose to taste the spicy dish first, while two opted for the honey-glazed one.

The three who started with the spicy dish were soon sweating profusely. When they took a bite of the honey-glazed dish, they felt instantly redeemed, filled with immense satisfaction.

Conversely, the two who began with the honey-glazed dish felt little at first, dismissing her efforts as mere grandstanding. However, when they moved on to the spicy dish, they didn't slow down, only to find the heat intensifying until their faces were flushed red and their sweat flowed uncontrollably.

The first three examiners, having recovered, couldn't help but stifle their laughter at the sight.

"You have all passed. Congratulations on becoming junior nutritionists," the leading three announced before the other two could even react.

The ten candidates were overjoyed, and were promptly waved away by the examiners. Once they had left, the two silent examiners immediately reached for their nutrient solutions to soothe the heat in their mouths.

"Sss, things like flame-peppers shouldn't be used in seasonings!"

"Go tell that to the president! He’s a fanatic for flame-peppers!"

"How could that little girl even come up with something like this? And she has no supernatural abilities, too! What a pity!"

"Never mind that. The military academy issued a new notice requiring intermediate nutritionists for special admissions, so there are three times as many people here for the junior exam as before. Except for that little girl, the other nine were just shoved in to take the test."

"Tsk, with their level, will they even be able to pass the intermediate nutritionist exam in two years?"

"That’s not our concern."

The training room activated its self-cleaning function, dispersing the lingering odors to avoid affecting the next batch of candidates.

Qiao Xin followed the instructions and exchanged her number tag for a junior nutritionist badge. While generally useless, it could be handy in specific situations. She casually signed up for the intermediate nutritionist exam on the Star Network, and to her surprise, it was approved immediately—she could take the test that afternoon!

She hurriedly collected her new tag and went to inform her parents.

"What? You can take the intermediate exam right away?" Xiao Linshuang quickly searched for information, but found nothing relevant, and couldn't help but worry. "Sweetheart, do we need to be in such a rush?"

"Mom, since we’re already here, might as well give it a try," Qiao Xin countered, eager to proceed. She had originally planned to wait until next month, but since she could continue now, she didn't want to delay.

"Let her take it, there’s nothing to worry about." Lin Yifeng seemed to know something, as he supported her decision. "I’ll act as Xin’s assistant this afternoon."

Qiao Xin then remembered that for intermediate ingredients, one could bring an assistant. Because most nutritionists had low supernatural aptitude or none at all, they often found it difficult to process ingredients themselves and were permitted to bring help.

"Alright, that would be a trouble for you."

"Me!" Hua Qinmo immediately protested, his vines wrapping around Qiao Xin’s waist.

"You stay outside!" Qiao Xin refused flatly. He wasn't as stable as Lin Yifeng, and she didn't want to manage his moods while she was being evaluated.

Hua Qinmo insisted stubbornly, "No!"

"Are you being disobedient again?" Qiao Xin frowned.

Lei Wuxie instantly unleashed a bolt of thunder-fire, burning away the vines wrapped around Qiao Xin’s waist. Qiao Xin simultaneously activated a protective barrier to isolate her aura. Hua Qinmo was stunned.

"With a face as pretty as yours, don't force me to slap you in public!" Qiao Xin touched his delicate face, then pinched it fiercely as she glared at him.

"If I get slapped, can you take me?" Hua Qinmo leaned his face closer to her.

"Behave, and I'll take you next time." Qiao Xin was at her wit's end. With him making such remarks while wearing that face, she could feel many disdainful gazes directed at them.

Hua Qinmo was displeased and stood in a pouty standoff with her.

"Shall I send you back to the research institute then?" Qiao Xin found this high-maintenance man too difficult to handle. Lin Yifeng was much more obedient.

Hua Qinmo’s eyes widened in disbelief. Finally, he lowered his gaze. "I’ll be good." He would rather do anything than return to the research institute. Being by her side was his only remaining freedom; he didn't want to go back to facing those cold, clinical instruments.

The alarm was cleared, and Qiao Xin retracted her protective barrier, checking the time. "It’s lunchtime. Let's find a place to eat."

She had brought her own lunch, but they needed a suitable place to sit.

"There are outdoor tables and chairs nearby; we can go there," Lin Yifeng said, smiling at Hua Qinmo before gesturing to the outside for Qiao Xin.

Qiao Xin looked at her parents, who had no objections, and the group headed out.

"Lin Yifeng! You’re still alive?" Just as they found a quiet spot, a man and a woman walked toward them. The man was the one who spoke. The woman beside him tugged at him awkwardly, but he ignored her, his eyes flashing with greed when he caught sight of Hua Qinmo.

Lin Yifeng had no intention of engaging him. The three Qiaos sat on one side, and the three of them sat on the other.

Qiao Xin took out the food she had prepared, ready to eat. However, the man refused to give up and gave Lin Yifeng a shove. "I'm talking to you! Didn't you hear me?"

Lin Yifeng flicked his hand, blowing the man away with a gust of air, and said coldly, "Are you blind? I don't want to deal with you, yet you keep pushing?"

"Oh! The sickly weakling is acting tough, eh? I heard you were about to die, and I was just wondering when I’d get to burn incense for your funeral!" the man taunted arrogantly.

The Qiao family looked at the man in bewilderment. Did he not know what kind of family the Lins were to dare speak like that? Or was he so certain of Lin Yifeng's impending death that he felt free to run his mouth?

Indeed, trouble caused by one's tongue was no joke.

"Let’s eat first." She didn't feel that Lin Yifeng, who had already recovered his health, had anything to worry about. It was better to finish lunch; she had an exam in the afternoon and little time to spare.

They all began to eat their favorite dishes. The woman who had come with the man was stunned. "Aren't you going to do something about this?"

"Do what? They aren't in kindergarten; they can take responsibility for their own actions. Would you like some?" Qiao Xin offered her a portion of food.

The woman had already smelled the fragrance and swallowed her saliva. She glanced at the two men fighting fiercely, accepted the food, and thanked her politely. Qiao Xin found her quite open-minded and smiled as she continued eating.

Surprisingly, the foul-mouthed man was quite capable. He fought with Lin Yifeng for half an hour until a patrol robot arrived to issue a warning, forcing them to stop.

As they returned, they saw the others having finished their meal. Lin Yifeng immediately whined, "You didn't wait for me!"

When the man saw the woman eating someone else's food, his face darkened. "You're here to take the intermediate nutritionist exam; how can you eat food made by others?"

Qiao Xin pointed to the table. "I saved some for you. Eat quickly, there is only one hour of rest left."

The woman wiped her mouth and said timidly, "I didn't make anything, and the food they made is really delicious..."

"Let's go! What bad luck!" The man pulled the woman away. The woman hurriedly waved at Qiao Xin. "My name is Wen Zhiliu, see you next time!"

"I’m Qiao Xin, see you next time," Qiao Xin waved back.