When Liu Ming saw Yukihira Soma, he remembered something important and pulled Tadokoro Megumi to a corner.
He quietly asked, "When you shower now, do you close the bathroom door properly?"
Tadokoro Megumi's pretty face flushed. She had thought Liu Ming was going to say something else, but it turned out to be such embarrassing matters.
She gently nodded, saying dryly, "Of course I do! Besides, Master, didn't you already remind me? Why are you repeating it now?"
Liu Ming didn't feel embarrassed. He gently ruffled Megumi's head, "I just saw that you all live in a co-ed dorm, so of course I'm afraid something might happen to you. Girls shouldn't suffer losses."
At the same time, he thought to himself, 'It's a good thing I reminded Tadokoro Megumi early; my good disciple didn't suffer any losses.'
Then the two returned to the group.
"Hello everyone, my name is Liu Ming, and I am Megumi's Master. Thank you for taking care of Megumi normally."
Liu Ming extended his hand and gently shook hands with everyone.
Everyone went from initial shock, then to numbness, and finally to acceptance.
The people of Polar Star Dormitory were generally a bit carefree. Under Liu Ming's influence, they all relaxed and returned to their usual selves.
One by one, they started chatting with Liu Ming.
Of course, there was one exception.
That was Yukihira Soma.
He came up to Liu Ming with an excited expression and said excitedly, "Since you are Megumi's Master, your cooking skills must be very strong. Let's have a match."
Liu Ming looked at Yukihira Soma strangely. As expected of the "Drug King," he immediately suggested a match.
However, Liu Ming wasn't very interested in bullying weaker opponents. He said calmly, "You must be that very arrogant transfer student Megumi mentioned, right?"
Upon hearing this, Yukihira Soma's excited expression immediately stiffened. He opened his mouth to explain but couldn't find the words.
"Pfft~~ Hahahaha," seeing the strange scene before her, Yoshino Yuuki couldn't help but burst into happy laughter.
The others, though not as exaggerated, were also trying hard to suppress their laughter, their shoulders shrugging.
She had spoken ill of him behind his back, and now her Master had revealed it. Her thin-skinned face couldn't quite handle it.
However, she couldn't be blamed; she hadn't known Yukihira Soma would move into Polar Star Dormitory.
Liu Ming was helpless and had to rephrase, "Alright, you must be that rather distinctive transfer student Megumi mentioned, right?"
"Hahahaha~~~ I can't take it, I'm going to die laughing." Yoshino Yuuki, who was easily amused, truly couldn't bear it and collapsed onto Sakaki Ryoko's shoulder, laughing.
Everyone else was also a bit speechless.
They had all heard what Liu Ming had just said. Was there still a need to rephrase it now?
And how did it feel like Liu Ming was doing it on purpose?
After recovering a little, Yoshino Yuuki pulled Megumi's hand and whispered to her, "Megumi, your Master is so funny."
"Master, really," Tadokoro Megumi's face was red with frustration. As his disciple, she even felt a bit embarrassed.
Yukihira Soma shook off the irrelevant thoughts and said with a serious expression, "None of that matters. Please have a match with me."
"Hmm~~ You…" Liu Ming looked Yukihira Soma up and down, then shook his head.
"Let's not. Wait until you defeat Megumi, then you can challenge me."
Yukihira Soma was the "Drug King," capable of activating his cheat at any time. Having him as an opponent could put considerable pressure on Megumi, which would make Megumi progress even faster.
Everyone had been a little expectant, but who knew Liu Ming would refuse?
And not only did he refuse, but he even pushed Megumi forward. Didn't they know Megumi's cooking skills?
This wasn't some important competition; it was just a friendly spar. To not even dare to do that showed a lack of a chef's resolve.
Everyone's gaze towards Liu Ming also held a hint of disdain.
Liu Ming didn't mind. He looked at Tadokoro Megumi and said, "You child, really. They are your good friends, yet you let them worry so much about your matters."
"Now is a good time for a meal. Go to the kitchen and make a dish. Let them taste it and see your current strength."
Liu Ming, as the Master, could disregard others' opinions, but Tadokoro Megumi, as the disciple, had an obligation to uphold her Master's dignity.
Tadokoro Megumi had a gentle and introverted personality and disliked showing off, so even with her greatly improved cooking skills, she had never thought of displaying anything in front of her friends.
But this time, it was an exception. To let everyone understand her Master's extraordinary nature, Tadokoro Megumi decided to go all out.
She nodded heavily, saying with an extremely serious expression, "Yes, I understand, Master."
Watching Tadokoro Megumi jog into the kitchen, Liu Ming couldn't help but stroke his chin, thinking, "Megumi seems a bit too serious."
"Is this really okay? Megumi still has a Food War with someone later. Isn't it bad to waste her energy now?" Sakaki Ryoko asked with some concern.
"Yes, shouldn't Megumi be focusing now?" Yoshino Yuuki also looked worried.
However, the usually calm Ibusaki Shun and the detail-oriented Marui Zenji noticed something different.
"Haven't you noticed? Megumi seems a bit different," Ibusaki Shun said calmly.
"That's right, I feel like Megumi is more confident than before," Marui Zenji pushed up his glasses and said seriously.
"Ah~?" Yoshino Yuuki, with her lively personality, hadn't paid attention to these things.
Seeing Tadokoro Megumi have such a group of caring friends, Liu Ming also felt very happy.
"Heh heh, you wouldn't think Megumi is still the same Megumi as before, would you? If that were truly the case, then my title as Master would be for nothing."
"What do you mean by that?" Sakaki Ryoko looked at Liu Ming in confusion.
The others were also curious, even Yukihira Soma.
"These days, you might not have tasted the dishes Megumi has made. But, don't you know Megumi's grades in class?"
Everyone first paused, then their spirits lifted.
The first to react was Marui Zenji, the academic.
That's right.
Tadokoro Megumi's grades these past few days seemed to have all been A's.
After all, Tadokoro Megumi had previously received a withdrawal notice from the school, and everyone at Polar Star Dormitory was very concerned about her grades.
Previously, they were just happy for Tadokoro Megumi when they saw them, but now, upon closer thought, it seemed incredible.
One must know, she was Tadokoro Megumi, whose admission grades were at the very bottom, a perennial underachiever.
Now she could actually get all A's, the highest evaluation.
"Oh~ Then I'd like to see what Megumi's cooking tastes like," Yukihira Soma said, crossing his arms and sitting in a chair.
He had only recently moved into Polar Star Dormitory and wasn't clear about past events.
However, judging by everyone's expressions, Megumi's cooking skills seemed very strong.
This immediately piqued his interest.