The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat

The local cuisine in Fu’an County leaned sweet. The cooks liked to add a dash of sugar to every dish they made.

After several days of this, Hua Manman was starting to find it unbearable.

She said to Prince Zhao.

"I’m heading out for a bit."

Li Ji was reading a secret letter from an unknown source. Hearing her, he glanced up.

"Where are you going?"

Hua Manman: "I’m going to the kitchen to grill some fish and meat."

Li Ji: "Didn’t you just have dinner?"

Hua Manman chuckled.

"Ah, this is something you wouldn’t understand. We have a rule in the world of foodies—

It’s recommended to eat until you’re seventy percent full, leaving the other thirty percent for barbecue.

And I’m about to fill that remaining thirty percent with barbecue."

Li Ji sneered. "Go on and eat your heart out. Once you’ve eaten yourself into a little fatty, this prince will double your martial arts lessons."

Hua Manman: "..."

’You’re the worst!’

Despite the threat from that rotten man, Hua Manman resolutely chose to make herself an extra meal.

What was the most important thing in life?

’Money, of course!’

’Because with money, you could buy lots of delicious food and beautiful clothes!’

Hua Manman happily scampered off to the kitchen.

At this late hour, the servants in the kitchen had already gone to rest.

Hua Manman didn’t want to wake everyone just to satisfy a small craving.

More importantly.

What if the cook made the barbecue sweet, too?

’The very thought is terrifying!’

Hua Manman decided to make this late-night snack herself.

There was no fresh meat in the kitchen, but several fish were being kept in the water tank.

Hua Manman scooped out the largest carp and also found a number of spices.

She tossed the cleaned carp onto the cutting board.

The large carp thrashed its head and tail in a desperate, dying struggle, as if letting out an indignant cry against its fate.

But at this moment, Hua Manman was like a heartless executioner.

With a swift fall of her knife, she knocked the large carp unconscious in one blow.

The carp lay stiff on the cutting board, its eyes wide and round. It clearly couldn’t rest in peace.

Hua Manman lovingly patted its large head.

"Don’t blame me for being cruel. Blame yourself for being so plump and delicious that my mouth waters just looking at you."

Next, she began humming "Blame You For Being Too Beautiful" while deftly gutting the fish.

Just then, there was a knock on the kitchen door.

KNOCK KNOCK.

Hua Manman looked up to see Lin Qingzhi standing at the entrance.

She wore a moon-white, cinched-waist long dress, her dark, cloud-like hair simply adorned with a few pearls. She held a lantern in her hand.

In the dim yellow glow of the lantern, her features appeared softer and more graceful than usual, giving off the impression that she was easy to get along with.

She raised a hand to tuck away a stray strand of hair at her temple and smiled gently.

"Lady Hua, I came to prepare a late-night snack for the Crown Prince. I didn’t expect to see you here. Are you also making a late-night snack?"

Hua Manman said she was.

Lin Qingzhi stepped over the threshold and walked toward her.

Seeing the bloody carp on the cutting board, Lin Qingzhi turned away, looking uncomfortable, and covered her nose and mouth with her sleeve.

"Is Lady Hua preparing fish soup for Prince Zhao to drink?"

Hua Manman continued her grand undertaking of gutting the fish and replied casually.

"I’m planning to grill this fish."

Lin Qingzhi reminded her in a soft voice.

"Eating something with such strong flavors as grilled fish so late at night probably isn’t a good idea, is it? It’s better for your health to eat something light."

Hua Manman thought about it seriously. "You’re right."

Lin Qingzhi thought she had changed her mind and was about to seize the opportunity to suggest they make fish soup together.

But before the words could leave her mouth, she heard Hua Manman continue.

"But I really want to eat barbecue, too!

Why don’t I just grab another fish?

One fish for grilling, one for soup.

That way, I can satisfy my cravings *and* be healthy. Perfect!"

Lin Qingzhi: "..."

’Aren’t you afraid you’ll eat until you burst?’

True to her word, Hua Manman immediately ran to the water tank and scooped out another carp.

She planned to make a carp and tofu soup—a simple and delicious dish.

Hua Manman tossed the flopping carp onto the cutting board.

The carp immediately performed a "carp flip," flicking its tail and splattering all the residual blood from the cutting board onto Lin Qingzhi, who was standing nearby.

Lin Qingzhi was wearing a moon-white dress tonight. She had looked ethereal and fairy-like, but now, with a row of wild, wanton bloodstains, she instantly went from the heroine of a fantasy drama to the female ghost in a horror film.

Lin Qingzhi: "..."

’So infuriating!’

Hua Manman held down the still-struggling carp with one hand and said with an apologetic smile.

"I’m so sorry! This carp is too mischievous; it got your pretty dress dirty. But don’t be angry, I’ll help you get revenge right now!"

With that, she picked up the kitchen knife and slammed it onto the carp’s head.

The carp’s eyes immediately rolled back, and it passed out.

What followed was a bloody and brutal fish-gutting scene.

Lin Qingzhi felt a little nauseous watching it.

She took two steps back, putting distance between herself and the counter, and said with a frown.

"This sort of rough work, gutting fish, should be left to the servants."

Hua Manman said nonchalantly, "It’s fine. Gutting a fish is simple. You just have to rip it open."

Lin Qingzhi stood there for a moment.

Seeing that Hua Manman was ignoring her, she switched tactics. A pitiful expression appeared on her face as she pleaded.

"My clothes are dirty. I have to go back and change. It’s so dark outside, and it’s raining. I’m a little scared. Can you walk me back?"

Hua Manman held out the bloody kitchen knife in her hand.

"You won’t be scared if you take this.

Whether it’s a person or a ghost, they’ll be scared to death when they see you like this, hahaha!"

Lin Qingzhi: "..."

’I suspect you’re throwing shade at me, and I have proof.’

She managed to refuse.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but there’s no need.

I don’t know how to use a knife. If I go out with it, I might not scare anyone else and end up hurting myself instead."

Hua Manman hesitated for a long time, but finally gave in to the other’s desperate pleading.

"Alright, I can walk you back."

Lin Qingzhi was secretly delighted.

As long as she could trick Hua Manman into going back, the Crown Prince’s plan could be put into motion immediately.

But Lin Qingzhi’s joy didn’t last long, as she heard Hua Manman add.

"But I’ve already killed the fish, and I can’t leave a job half-done. I have to finish grilling the fish and making the soup before I can take you back."

Lin Qingzhi didn’t think this was a big deal and agreed without hesitation.

"Okay."

Hua Manman then said, "Gutting the fish by myself is too slow. You should help me."

Lin Qingzhi hesitated. "But I don’t know how to gut a fish."

Hua Manman patted her chest and promised.

"I can teach you! Put down your lantern and come over here. I’ll teach you step-by-step. I guarantee you’ll get the hang of it!"

When Lin Qingzhi walked over, Hua Manman shoved the kitchen knife into her hand, pointed at the carp she had just knocked out, and said.

"Here, make a cut right here. A little slower... yes, just like that. You’re doing great, keep it up!"