My Demon Friends

How do you make Sweet Osmanthus Cake?

Zhou Li stared at the computer screen.

After looking around, he couldn't help but take a deep breath—

The first step actually required buying an oven?

And kneading dough?

But he only knew how to boil noodles.

Turning his head, he met Huai Xu's expectant gaze. Zhou Li fell silent for a moment. Perhaps an oven wasn't too expensive after all?

"Sigh..."

Zhou Li picked up his phone and keys.

「Two hours later.」

He had bought an oven and all the potentially necessary ingredients for the Sweet Osmanthus Cake. After finding several online tutorials, each listing different ingredients, he bought everything to be safe.

Then, Zhou Li started following the tutorials, deciding to begin with the simplest one.

Huai Xu assisted him, while Tuanzi sat a good distance away, squatting quietly on the floor, looking up as they worked.

Once he actually started, Zhou Li found that it wasn't as difficult as he had imagined, perhaps thanks to the detailed tutorials. Each step, featuring several pictures and explanations, was very beginner-friendly.

All in all, it wouldn't result in an explosion.

「In the blink of an eye, it was past noon.」

Zhou Li suspected he might be a genius—he had made an edible pastry on his first try. To think, any single small step of making Sweet Osmanthus Cake, when considered individually, was completely new to him.

"Try it!"

Zhou Li gave the first piece to Huai Xu.

Huai Xu, having also been involved, still felt a surge of pride. He took the cake and, unafraid of the heat, stuffed it into his mouth.

Chewing and swallowing, his eyes squinted slightly—

"Delicious!"

By then, Zhou Li had walked over to Tuanzi with the second Sweet Osmanthus Cake, knelt down, and offered it to her.

Tuanzi stared at him intently and then turned her head away.

"Don't want to eat!" she said firmly.

"Why? I've been working on this all day, and Huai Xu said it was delicious. It looks… well, not bad either!"

"Still not eating!"

"You're going to crush my confidence."

"...Lord Dumpling wants fish soup rice."

"Okay!"

"Really, meow?"

"Really!"

"Hmm…"

So Tuanzi cautiously approached and took a small bite from the Sweet Osmanthus Cake, immediately saying, "Lord Dumpling is full now!"

"Is it good?" Zhou Li asked with concern.

Tuanzi: …

Zhou Li thought for a moment and concluded that Tuanzi was just too picky. But that was understandable since she was used to luxury.

So he stood up and tried a piece himself.

"Mmmm…"

Zhou Li and Huai Xu looked at each other. After pondering for a moment, Zhou Li nodded and said, "It's definitely delicious!"

Huai Xu blinked.

But it was their first time, after all. Having some room for improvement was normal. Otherwise, if they reached the peak right at the start, there would be no room left to grow!

Soon, Zhou Li convinced both himself and Huai Xu.

So they started a second time.

Tuanzi complained a bit, and Zhou Li, having no choice amidst his busy schedule, ordered some takeout for her.

Then Tuanzi quieted down and continued to sit on the floor watching them struggle, looking well-behaved.

"I think kneading the dough a bit more would be better."

"I think using less oil would also be better."

"Use less sugar."

"Add more sugar!"

"..."

「An hour later.」

Tuanzi quietly lay on the floor eating her fish soup rice, occasionally looking up at Zhou Li and Huai Xu as if watching a dinner show.

The day had somehow passed just like that.

「As dusk fell.」

Having not eaten all day, Zhou Li didn't feel hungry, but his stomach was a bit uncomfortable, probably from being empty.

Facing his latest achievement, Zhou Li couldn't help but feel a strong sense of pride. Especially after he fed some to Tuanzi, and she managed to eat half a piece, he felt he was ready to open a shop.

He took out his phone and opened QQ.

Zhou Li was just about to message Brother Nan when he saw that she had sent him a message in the afternoon, which he hadn't noticed.

Li Daimao: Where are you? I have something tasty. Want some?

Zhou Li: Sorry, Brother Nan, I just saw this.

Zhou Li: What tasty thing?

Zhou Li: I've been making Sweet Osmanthus Cake all day, and it tastes pretty good. Do you want to try some, Brother Nan?

Zhou Li: [Picture]

Brother Nan took a while to reply.

Li Daimao: Looks pretty good. Are you at your rented house?

Zhou Li: Yes.

A little later, Brother Nan sent a video. In it, she was riding a bicycle while holding up her phone to record. Baozi was sitting sideways on the rear rack in a white little dress, holding onto Brother Nan's waist with an unfazed expression.

"I'm coming, and I brought your little cousin!"

About twenty minutes later, Brother Nan and Baozi arrived.

Zhou Li went to the community entrance to meet them. He noticed Baozi holding a thermal container. It looked familiar—seemingly the same one he had used to bring grilled matsutake mushrooms to Brother Nan.

"Have you eaten?" Brother Nan asked.

"Not yet."

"I brought you something too!" Brother Nan chuckled. "I made it myself, and it took a long time. Baozi can vouch for that."

"Quick! Vouch for it!" Brother Nan turned to urge Baozi.

"Hmm." Baozi nodded.

"What did you bring?"

"That's a secret for now!"

"It's so dangerous to ride a bike and film simultaneously, especially with a passenger on the back," Zhou Li said.

"Nag, nag..."

Brother Nan walked into Zhou Li's house, looked around, and said, "It's much livelier than the last time I came. All these things... Wow, there's even a hanging chair and a little swing on the balcony! Did you buy them all yourself?"

"Yes."

"Nice, nice. It feels like a home now." Brother Nan was about to check out the sunset from the balcony when she suddenly spotted the pastries on the coffee table. "Is this the Sweet Osmanthus Cake you made? It looks even better than in the picture."

"Go ahead and try!" Zhou Li said, unable to wait.

"Okay!"

Brother Nan picked one up and popped it into her mouth.

Zhou Li, trying to appear calm, hurriedly invited Baozi to try some too, then quietly watched their reactions.

Tuanzi jumped onto the coffee table, looked at Brother Nan, then at Baozi. Finally, it climbed in front of Brother Nan and started tugging at her sleeve with its little paws.

"Delicious!" Brother Nan said.

"Delicious!" Baozi said, turning to Zhou Li. "Did you just learn how to make these?"

"Yes," Zhou Li said.

"To be doing so well after just learning is pretty good. Next time you could try making milk tea; I like drinking milk tea," Baozi said. "When I'm bored on weekends, I'll have Brother Nan bring me over to get some free drinks."

"Sure!"

Afterward, Baozi ate a few more Sweet Osmanthus Cakes. She then picked up Tuanzi, who had been playing with Brother Nan, and silently played with the cat. She didn't mind even when Tuanzi struggled out of her arms and escaped. Wherever Tuanzi fled, Baozi just followed quietly.

Meanwhile, Brother Nan opened the lid of the thermal container, looking mysterious.

Zhou Li stared closely. It looked like some kind of cold dish or pickled vegetable, somewhat resembling tender ginger, cut into chunks. There was really no need for a thermal container. She probably couldn't find another one.

"What's this?"

"Try it and see!"

So Zhou Li fetched a pair of chopsticks and tried a piece.

It was refreshingly crisp and tender, well-marinated yet not too salty. Zhou Li raised an eyebrow. "Did you really make this yourself?"

"Hehe! I asked my old man for detailed instructions, then had him guide me over a video call. It was super troublesome. Just buying the seasonings and making the chili oil took a lot of effort," Brother Nan said proudly. "It's not as good eaten like this; it's much better with rice."

"Is this what's called 'foreign ginger'?"

"Wow, you guessed it?"

"Where did you get it?"

"Bought it, I bought it."

"I went for a run this morning and saw that the patch of foreign ginger near the back school gate had been dug up." Zhou Li carefully put the lid back on, planning to cook a pot of rice to eat with it tomorrow.

"Ahem!" Brother Nan said guiltily. "Remember to return the thermal container to me when you're done. I'm not giving it to you!"

"..."

Zhou Li wanted to keep a straight face, but he couldn't help but laugh—

His mind quickly conjured an image: Brother Nan, on a dark and windy night, hoe on her shoulder, sneaking around the back school gate, up to no good. Or perhaps an afternoon scene: Brother Nan, brazenly digging up foreign ginger with a small shovel. If anyone gathered to watch, she'd put her hands on her hips and fiercely yell, "What are you looking at?!" scaring them all away.

Meanwhile, Brother Nan was also giggling foolishly.

Only Little Cousin was squatting in the corner, intently trying to clip her hairclip onto Tuanzi's forehead.