Hearts System: 1000 Ways to Tell CEO I Love You-Chapter 16: Beckett’s Chicken Parmi (2)

Beckette shook his head. "No. I’ll go to the hospital later... on my way back. I have to hide my movements from Andy. Do you know? Our mother got sick after giving birth to me. She gradually lost her energy and patience. We couldn’t see her without her trying to hurt any of us. We can only watch her when she’s half-awake from treatment."

He took a deep breath and slouched to relieve pressure on his abdomen. His hands cupped his wound. "She died when I was three. I barely remembered her. Andy, however, grew up with that. Every time Dad’s heart grows weak, it worries him so much. I actually asked him to care for Sydney to distract him from me.

"So, no... I can’t allow myself to stay in the hospital and have him grow crazy alone. I live with him for a reason." Beckett smiled at Luellen. "There’s nothing you can do about this. However, that parmi won’t cook itself. Can you slice the chicken for me?"

"Okay..." Luellen only nodded off. She wanted to do more, but was it better for her to assert her morals on this considerate brother?

The maiden stared at the man in the chair. She tightly pressed her lips into a line.

’System, can you sense his health or something? Can you tell me if he’ll pass away soon? Please let me know.’

[Request denied!]

[Pro tip! Health items can be bought in the Yellow Hearts shop! Check for new items today!]

Luellen turned away to attend to the chicken breasts. However, she was busy checking items sold in her system shop. For 100 Yellow Hearts, she could buy a Minor Healing Perfume. It could raise her HP to a passable state. The only downside was that... it would leave an aroma that would attract the Love Interest’s attention.

The warning label made Luellen frown. She glanced at Beckett before washing the chicken breasts.

’System, will this item’s side effect... make Mr Leander interested in his brother? That sounds so awful.’

[Pro tip! Some items’ adverse effects can only affect the Diarist!]

"That’s not reassuring," Luellen said under her breath. She bought the healing perfume and caught the small 10 ml bottle materialized in her breast pocket. It was good that the healing perfume had an ’Instant’ tag.

She walked back to Beckett. "Uhm, Mr Beckett, maybe you shouldn’t faint here? Here, convenient smelling salts."

Beckette opened his sunken eyes and took the perfume. "Oh... they come in a clear bottle now? Women are so good at hiding..."

He sprayed the perfume on his wrist and smelled it. His body visibly jerked, and Luellen gasped in shock. Beckett sat up properly before hiding his face with his other hand. He laughed for a few seconds before looking up.

"This better not be some drug. Why am I feeling more energized now? My wound also feels less painful." The man scrutinized the bottle with a few yellow hearts on it. "What is this?"

"It’s smelling salts." Luellen stuck to her lie. She only took the bottle from Beckett, the perfume vanishing in her pocket.

Beckett pressed on his wound before chuckling. "I still feel like I can fall over, though. How about this? Please do the work for me. I’ll help you with the sauce. Can you cut the chicken for me? It’s okay if you made it too thick."

Luellen nodded and helped him to his feet. He leaned a hip on the counter, letting it take his weight instead. The maiden had to concentrate on preparing the other ingredients. She washed the knife and dried it before laying a chicken breast on the small cutting board. Before her hand could move, she put her wrist down.

’System, is there a skill that helps me with cooking? I don’t want to mess it up, especially when I have to make Mr Leander believe Mr Beckett cooked.’

[Unlocking (Chef’s Kiss 1) requires you to unlock the previous Tier-1 skill (Mother Nature 1)! Would you like to spend 17 Proficiency Points?]

’Wow, that’s so big!’

Luellen could only cry within her. She had to unlock expensive Charisma and Wisdom skills. Then again, she figured she could still earn more points if she needed them. She just sighed within her.

’I already have so many points. I should just use them when I need them.’

The [Chef’s Kiss 1] skill soon activated. Luellen prepared the chicken by slicing them thin enough to cook fast. It even made Beckett whistle.

It didn’t take them more than an hour to prepare today’s lunch. When the clock struck twelve, everyone was called to the pantry next to the outer office. Luellen could simply bring the dishes since a trolley sat in the kitchen’s corner. She put the dishes on the table, and even Galaxy took in a deep breath.

Beckett’s Chicken Parmi looked the most appetizing!

It was just that... not everyone was happy about it. Yesterday, Shirley wanted the same food. However, Luellen taunted her by buying takeaway for only her and Madam Henny. Seeing Chicken Parmi today made her mood plummet. She even hated the fact that everyone enjoyed every bite of that rich and cheesy sauce. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

At the floor’s restroom, Luellen just finished flushing all that juice she had. She opened the stall’s door, only to find Shirley retouching her makeup. The maiden only met Shirley’s gaze for a second before looking away.

"How distasteful," Shirley commented as the water hit Luellen’s hands. "You just found a dish to spite me, and you tried to do it twice? That worked once, but your brain is too dull to come up with a new one. You’re so small. I don’t even want to bother with you. You’re not worth anything."

"I didn’t make that dish for you." Luellen didn’t even want to remember yesterday’s stunt. They only made Chicken Parmigiana today because Leander asked for it.

"Keep telling yourself that." Shirley huffed and shook her head. "Why else would that guy make the same dish you had yesterday? Wait... don’t tell me it’s your new favorite now? Oh, my God! You just had it yesterday! You’re so pathetic!"

Shirley’s laughter was like screeching tires against Luellen’s ears. The maiden’s lips closed tightly, and she glared at her reflection. She wondered if her eyes looked watery.

Knocks then came to the door. Shirley and Luellen faced the doorway and found Madam Henny. The old woman’s frown was so deep that the ladies almost folded within themselves. If she wore higher heels, she would have towered over them just from her aura.

"Is that what you think, Ms Hower?" Madam Henny’s nose flared. "That someone, who tasted delicious food they’d never had before, is pathetic for wanting it the next day?"

Shirley glanced at Luellen and laughed lightly. "Don’t be like this, Madam! There’s no way Luellen here hasn’t even eaten Chicken Parmigiana before! Is she that poor?"

"The main dish is for Leander." Madam Henny huffed. "Why don’t I share what you think with him, then?"