The Heroines Can Read My Secret Diary

Nene on the other end of the line was slightly stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted. "Hello. Is there something you need?"

"Yes, Miss Kinokuni. I know your family comes from a line of soba noodle makers, which is also a type of pastry family. So I wanted to know if the Kinokuni Family has any aged starter dough. If so, I'd like to purchase some."

Hakuto directly stated his reason for finding Nene. Nene only hesitated for a moment before answering.

"As for aged starter dough, yes. The Kinokuni Family has a hundred-year aged starter dough."

Hakuto was overjoyed, 'Hundred-year aged starter dough was a good thing. Although it couldn't compare to thousand-year aged starter dough like Shu Han, it was still pretty good.'

"What kind of price would be needed for Miss Kinokuni to sell me some of the aged starter dough?"

"You've saved me before, so I can give you some of the aged starter dough."

Nene didn't mention any compensation, saying that since Hakuto had saved her before, she would give him the aged starter dough as thanks.

"That was just a passing act. And it wasn't just you I saved. So one thing is another. Miss Kinokuni can name her price."

Nene paused for a moment, then spoke. "In that case, consider it a gift between friends. I hope you don't mind having one more friend, Yagami-kun."

"Of course not. Then I'm happy to have Miss Kinokuni as a friend."

"Since we're friends, just call me Nene directly. And I'll call you Hakuto, okay? I actually have some aged starter dough with me. So if you need it, Hakuto, you can come find me."

Hakuto felt that things seemed to be progressing a bit too smoothly. But he didn't think much of it. It couldn't be that Nene knew he needed aged starter dough and was carrying it around waiting for him to ask, right?

Hakuto said goodbye to Kaguya and went to find Nene.

Hakuto found Nene and received a fist-sized ball of aged starter dough from her.

"I will only use this aged starter dough myself. I will never share it."

Hakuto got this ball of aged starter dough from Nene. Even if it was just hundred-year aged starter dough, it was still a very high-quality ingredient.

"I've already given you the aged starter dough. You don't need to tell me how you plan to use it."

Nene naturally knew what the aged starter dough was for, so she wasn't worried.

Aged starter dough is reusable. With proper handling, Hakuto could keep reusing this fist-sized ball of aged starter dough.

"Then I'll go back now."

Hakuto thanked Nene and said his goodbye. Since he had obtained the aged starter dough, he needed to go home and try to make the Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun.

"Wait a moment, Hakuto. Can you tell me what dish you plan to make with the hundred-year aged starter dough?"

"A pastry. If you're interested, Nene, you can come to my house. I'll make it for you on the spot."

"If I won't be too much trouble, then I'll take you up on that."

Hakuto didn't say anything. He took Nene back to his house. He asked Rem and Ram to entertain Nene, while he went directly into the kitchen.

After entering the kitchen, Hakuto took out the aged starter dough and began kneading the dough to make the Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun.

Watching Hakuto in the kitchen, Nene looked at Rem and Ram.

As diary copy holders, they naturally knew of each other's existence. This was just their first time meeting.

"Please have some, Miss Kinokuni."

Rem placed a cup of tea in front of Nene.

"Thank you."

After thanking her, Nene hesitated, looking towards the kitchen.

"Can I go watch Hakuto cook?"

Rem nodded slightly.

"Please do. Since Master invited Miss Kinokuni, he probably doesn't mind you watching."

"Thank you."

After thanking her again, Nene walked to the kitchen door and watched Hakuto kneading the dough.

Watching Hakuto knead the dough, Nene felt an inexplicable sense of peace in her heart. All the chaotic troubles in her mind instantly disappeared.

"It's amazing, isn't it? Master says it's the effect of the Soul-Calming Ultimate Meaning."

Nene nodded slightly. It was indeed amazing. The Soul-Calming Ultimate Meaning wasn't just a Heart of Cooking; it was the supreme meaning of the Bai Luo Family.

Just standing nearby, she could feel its effect.

"It's also because of the Soul-Calming Ultimate Meaning that Master can remain calm. Otherwise, in his words, the anger flowing through his body would have already laid waste to the world."

Nene's body shivered slightly, as if scared by Rem's words.

Hakuto's house always had supplies of the ingredients for the Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun. So, in less than two hours, when Hakuto removed the bamboo boat-shaped steamer, steam like white waves instantly spread out.

"Roar!"

"Howl!"

"Chirp!"

"Uooh!"

As the rolling white waves were accompanied by sounds like the cries of the Four Gods, the white waves formed images of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—the Four Spirits of the Heavens—in the four cardinal directions. But the next moment, the Four Spirits suddenly collapsed and disappeared. Hakuto's expression darkened.

If the Four Spirits disappeared, then this Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun was probably a failure.

As the white mist dissipated, Hakuto picked up a Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun and, disregarding how hot it was, ate it directly.

As soon as the bun entered his mouth, Hakuto realized that this Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun was another failure.

But Hakuto quickly identified the defect of the Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun.

The dough skin was no good. It wasn't just a problem of the aged starter dough. The kneading technique was also flawed.

Hakuto put down the bun and thought about the key to the dough skin.

'The Bai Luo Snake Coiling Chain.'

Hakuto thought of this technique.

The Bai Luo Snake Coiling Chain was both an introductory technique and the highest ultimate meaning of the Bai Luo Family.

Without the Bai Luo Snake Coiling Chain, the dough skin of the Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun simply couldn't be perfected. Even having the aged starter dough was useless.

The aged starter dough, the Bai Luo Snake Coiling Chain, the Soul-Calming Ultimate Meaning, combined with the spiritual energy of the Four Spirits of the Heavens—all were indispensable to making the true Four Gods Eight Treasures Seafood Bun.

"Although it's a failure, if you don't mind, please have a taste."

Hakuto let out a breath and handed a bun to Kinokuni Nene.

"Then I'll gladly accept."