C30 The Most Perfect Lie(2)

Upon closer examination, one could see that the noodles he carved were interconnected, each strand linking to the next, reminiscent of meteors chasing the moon.

As the noodles cascaded into the pot, they danced like silverfish in water, exuding an explosive artistic flair.

Bai Wenling, off to the side, had already whipped out her phone to capture the entire spectacle on video.

Through her lens, each of Su Hao's strokes seemed to slice through the air, cleave the horizon, and carve out the very essence of his soul.

With each leaf of noodle that hit the pot, another would flutter out; with each leaf that separated from the dough, his knife was already poised for the next. Silverfish plunged into the broth, stirring up white foam, while willow leaves rode the breeze, descending from the treetops.

Such knife skills could only be honed with at least seven or eight years of diligent practice.

Reflecting on this, Bai Wenling's gaze grew complex once more.

Indeed, her understanding of Su Hao had been far too superficial, always taking things at face value without delving into the depths of his talents.

With his mastery of the knife alone, Su Hao had carved out a unique niche for himself in the culinary world. The outside world's dismissal of him as worthless was utterly ludicrous.

Five minutes ticked by slowly, and two bowls of knife-cut noodles emerged from the kitchen, their aroma wafting on the breeze, weaving gently through the sunlit dust, irresistibly drawing people in.

Su Hao retrieved two pairs of chopsticks from the sterilizer and offered one to Bai Wenling. "Here, give them a try and see how they taste."

Already captivated by the scent of the noodles, Bai Wenling didn't hesitate. She accepted the chopsticks, lifted a bite to her lips, blew on it gently, and took a taste.

In that moment, a transcendent sensation spread through her, as if she were immersed in paradise.

The springy noodles, infused with the savory broth, released a unique and delectable flavor.

As the noodles slipped between her lips, they unfolded in layers of texture and taste, revealing a flavor that was nothing short of sublime.

The sensation in her mouth was like a soft, cottony delight, so pleasurable that she almost wanted to swallow her tongue.

It made her mouth water, leaving an endless aftertaste.

That was the only way she could describe these knife-cut noodles!

"How do they taste? My knife-cut noodles are good, aren't they?" Su Hao asked, grinning as he wielded his chopsticks.

"They're excellent. It'd really be a waste if you didn't pursue a career as a chef," Bai Wenling complimented, giving a thumbs-up as she eagerly scooped up more noodles.

The aroma of Su Hao's knife-cut noodles wafted through the air, rich and inviting, enough to make anyone's mouth water and whet their appetite. He had truly captured a symphony of flavors in his cooking.

Even more remarkable was that the noodles' scent was free of any smokiness or greasiness, offering only the enticing aroma of the dough, setting them apart from any ordinary knife-cut noodles.

Watching Bai Wenling savor the noodles with relish, Su Hao smiled slightly and said, "Being a chef for a crowd would be exhausting, but being your personal chef is quite manageable."

No sooner had he spoken than the white clouds parted, allowing sunlight to stream through the window and bathe half of Su Hao's face in a captivating glow.

In that moment, Bai Wenling was spellbound.

She had often dreamed of sharing a meal with her beloved in a home where the sky was a clear blue, the clouds were fluffy white, and the warm sunshine was just a reach away—a vision of warmth and bliss.

But now, as the fantasy unfolded before her, she was gripped by a profound fear of loss.

She feared it was all just a dream, and even more so, she feared that Su Hao might vanish from her world in the blink of an eye.

After a lengthy pause, Bai Wenling finally asked, "Su Hao, you've seemed so different these past few days. I want to know, what is the real you like?"

"The real me?" Su Hao paused, gazing thoughtfully at the setting sun before smiling. "The real me is who you see right now."

Bai Wenling shivered, her gaze filled with bewilderment as she looked at Su Hao. "Then... why did you play that role before?"

Su Hao hesitated, his mouth opening but no words coming out. Had it not been for the upheaval in his previous life and the subsequent cleansing of time and life's harsh lessons, he would still be the same disreputable and infamous good-for-nothing.

But fate had granted him the "act cool" system, a second chance to reinvent himself and atone for his past. He couldn't reveal this to Bai Wenling, nor did he have the heart to.

With a deep breath, he chose to weave a lie—one he considered his most flawless yet. "The reason I played that role was to ensure my own light didn't dim your radiance. I didn't want to smother your individuality, to have you lose yourself under my shadow. The truest joy in life, I believe, is to chase and confront everything on your own, to achieve a sense of fulfillment. Others' interference, even with the best intentions, can sometimes be a cruel kindness, cloaked in the guise of your happiness."

His words lingered in the hall long after they were spoken. Bai Wenling's beautiful eyes brimmed with tears, deeply touched by his sentiment. All this time, Su Hao's actions had been for her sake.

"Then... are your feelings for me real?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Su Hao fell silent. In this second chance at life, he had gained clarity on many things. He and Bai Wenling... they simply weren't meant to be in the same world. And the one he truly loved... was not Bai Wenling. In her world, he might be everything, but in his, Bai Wenling was merely a transient figure in his journey.

It was a harsh truth, but undeniable. This life, his dealings with Bai Wenling were more about righting wrongs and repaying a debt of gratitude than about love.

To Su Hao, feelings were precious—if they existed at all, that was enough. Like cherished memories, they could be preserved and treasured forever. And so, he resolved to carry this lie to the end.

"Wenling, life's road is long. Whether it's for this lifetime or many more to come, those bound by fate will always find a stretch of that road to walk together," he said, his voice soft but resolute.

Upon hearing these words, Bai Wenling's face lit up with joy, like a white orchid in full bloom, her smile radiating contentment and pleasure.

"Su Hao, don't you think today's sunlight is exceptionally warm?" she asked, basking in the glow of the moment.

"It's really warm," Su Hao said, reaching out to touch the sunlight and nodding in agreement.

"Yet, I think your smile... it's even warmer than the sunlight!"

Bai Wenling paused, her lips suddenly curving into a radiant smile.

It was a heartwarming smile, so perfectly shaped that it seemed to etch itself into one's memory, impossible to erase.

Watching Bai Wenling's joyous smile, Su Hao gazed at the sunlight with a mix of emotions in his beautiful eyes.

Fireworks fade quickly, and people inevitably part ways. Even the most vibrant and festive moments eventually settle into the quiet everyday.

Bai Wenling, I regret deceiving you.

I believe that in life, some paths are walked with companions, while others involve goodbyes. Maybe at the next crossroads, the one who left will be there waiting.

But the one waiting... it won't be me anymore.