In the end, the title of God of Cooking went to Panhua, the owner of Panhua Restaurant. Rover Girl took second place, while Mahe from the general store narrowly beat the girl in white robes to claim third.
The girl stood among the crowd, staring unblinkingly at the three people stepping onto the award stage. Her red lips pressed lightly together.
The cheers ringing beside her drew her attention, and when she turned to look, all she saw was peace and quiet beneath the passing years. The corners of her lips slowly lifted into a smile again.
"This is enough... yes, this... is enough..."
She murmured softly, lowering the brim of her hat before turning to leave.
Perhaps she still couldn't step beyond that final...
"Miss, you're quite lovely. Care to take a stroll with me?"
That carefree voice dropped lightly into the lake of her heart, shattering the still surface and sending ripples spreading outward.
"Zane!?"
"Hehe, long time no see, Sis Jinhsi." Zane waved at the girl before him, but halfway through smiling, he froze at the sight in front of him.
Reflected within Jinhsi's silver eyes framed by white lashes were mountains and rivers, the winter snow of all Jinzhou resting upon her shoulders.
But now, the great disaster of the Tacet Discords had passed, and the Sentinel remained safe and sound. Winter had gone, spring had arrived, and all things were renewed.
Her eyes no longer held frozen coldness, but peach blossoms touching water beneath ten miles of spring breeze.
"Sis Jinhsi, you..."
Seeing the usually lively and talkative Zane suddenly unable to speak, Jinhsi instead found the courage to reach out and grab his hand, pulling him as she ran toward the Moon Tree House.
Only, hidden in corners the two never noticed, several others were quietly following behind them.
Once they were away from the crowd, the girl slowed her pace. The cool evening breeze gently lifted her cloak, and she simply took it off and set it aside.
Looking at the Jinhsi before him, Zane actually blushed for once.
Her new outfit had shed the solemn dignity of the Magistrate, weaving a young girl's sweetness together with the brilliance of spring into every fold of the fabric.
The faint pink eye makeup looked like peach nectar lightly spilling out, like sunset clouds reflecting upon snow.
Her lips resembled freshly blooming peach buds, full and glistening. It felt as though a single taste would leave a faint sweetness lingering on the tongue.
Her snow-white hair had been styled into twin buns, adding a touch of sugary charm to her cuteness.
The bangs resting neatly above her brows were tipped with pink, bringing a playful softness to her usual elegance.
She wore a short ruqun dress, its layered skirt resembling blooming peach blossoms. The peach-pink gradient spread downward from her waist into deep crimson at the hem, as though morning dew had soaked into flower petals, bright and tender enough to drip.
The little dragon maiden who once stood at the highest point, carrying the lives of all people upon her back, had now descended into the mortal world, becoming a lovestruck girl next door.
Noticing that he had gone completely still staring at her, the girl's cheeks flushed faintly pink. Proud yet shy, she gave a light cough.
"Zane, do you remember this place?" Jinhsi pointed toward the wishing stall buried beneath fallen blossoms.
"I remember."
Zane nodded blankly. How could he not remember?
Every year during the Moon-Chasing Festival, there would always be people unable to reunite with their families for one reason or another.
When they were little, the two of them had promised they would fulfill every wish made by the citizens.
Tiny wishes piled together into the tiny Moon Tree House, wrapping around the tiny dreams of two tiny children.
"Back then, we swore we'd drive away the Tacet Discords so everyone could wear new clothes and eat their fill."
Jinhsi pulled Zane to the mountainside and looked down below.
The chefs who had won the crown were busily preparing food for every visitor who came by, bustling with energy. The various stalls shouted loudly as they promoted their goods.
Yangyang, Chixia, and Baizhi were helping distribute food. Yinlin, who still hadn't lost her position as a patrol officer, was maintaining order alongside Danjin and a squad of guards. Taoqi, finally enjoying a rare vacation, leaned against a wine stall nearby...
At this moment, it was just like back then.
"So... our wish came true, didn't it?"
Zane nodded. Even if things weren't perfect, this was already enough.
"When frozen years sealed Mt. Firmament, the goddess walked through endless snow and storm~"
"?" Zane turned around, only to witness a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life.
The peach-like girl parted her lips softly, and her flowing singing voice echoed through the tiny world that belonged only to the two of them.
"Then my beloved crossed the Reed River, one sword of heavenly light calling spring anew~"
Using her right foot as the pivot, Jinhsi spread her sleeves gracefully. Her delicate body danced amidst the countless petals swirling through the sky, flower petals drifting endlessly around her.
The newly grown pink dragon horns atop her head looked carved from crystal, yet carried a gentle warmth.
The once-majestic azure dragon had become transparent and blush pink. Zane absolutely refused to believe Jue had nothing to do with that.
Her slender body leapt high into the air. Moonlight, flower petals, the festival, and the Sentinel all fused together completely at that moment, reflecting the girl's soft and beautiful smile, one warm enough to melt all of Jinzhou's winter snow.
"Among peach paths and willow lanes in Jinzhou, they say the spring breeze came for me as well~"
As the dance ended, Jinhsi's eyes curved with laughter. The tenderness within them seemed almost ready to spill over. She gently caught a peach blossom petal drifting from the air and handed it to Zane.
Unfortunately, Zane lacked literary talent. One "damn, that's amazing" was enough to carry him through the world.
Seeing Zane standing there blankly with the flower petal in hand, Jinhsi suddenly felt a sense of triumph. But right after that came frustration.
She'd already been this obvious, yet this blockhead still...
"Zane, there's something else I want to tell you..." The girl pulled him through the sea of peach blossoms until they arrived once more beneath the peach tree where they had once made their wishes together.
"Back when first light shattered winter's frost, without you, my lord, the turning seasons could never have returned."
"As spring comes and years pass, who shall remain beside me? Peach blossoms blaze brightly, tugging at entwined heartstrings."
Under Master Changli's guidance, Zane had gradually come to understand many things. Yet he had never once managed to see through the meaning hidden behind her smiling eyes.
And now, within every smile and glance from Jinhsi, he saw traces of Changli as well.
"Uh... Sis Jinhsi, you know I sucked at literature class... I have no idea what you're saying."
Jinhsi puffed up her cheeks at that, but this was exactly her Zane.
At the same time, she vaguely caught a flash of smugness crossing his face. Before she could think further, Zane unfolded a sheet of paper beneath the moonlight and, under her puzzled gaze, wrote down the verse she had just spoken.
"Zane, you..."
Looking at the girl whose cheeks were dyed red like sunset clouds, Zane gently took her hand. He drew a deep breath, then suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Her soft little hand stirred his thoughts. Even though they held hands often, never before had his heartbeat raced like it did now.
"Back when first light shattered winter's frost, without you, my lord, the turning seasons could never have returned."
"As spring comes and years pass, who shall remain beside me? Peach blossoms blaze brightly, tugging at entwined heartstrings."
"Flowers bloom and gather once more along the roadsides. Childhood sweethearts, planting dreams of love ever deeper. Through winter and summer, this heart remains unchanged. In this life, I will never betray the threads of our love."
Right before Jinhsi's astonished eyes, Zane completed the second half of the poem.
"Hehe, Sis Jinhsi, did you forget? We were taught by the same master."
Of course, in truth, his skill was nowhere near Jinhsi's level.
Their bodies pressed close together, faces only inches apart. At this distance, he could clearly see the fine soft hairs on her skin and catch the faint fragrance lingering around her.
Their breathing grew warmer. Words had become unnecessary. Their lips slowly met, and he couldn't help trembling slightly. When he opened his eyes, he saw the misty moisture gathering within hers.
Her lashes, dusted lightly with makeup, trembled faintly, scattering the spring water pooled in her eyes along with the soft sound caught in her throat.
Golden stamens within jade chambers, fit only for a beauty's slender hands. Beneath the hazy moonlight, sleeves stirred gently in the breeze.
Warm fragrance and ripened beauty, drunk enough for loosened cloudlike hair to fall beside her ears.
Many thanks to spring itself, for one can no longer tell whether the redness belongs to flowers or jade.