Under the warm-toned lights of the kitchen, the chef’s hands moved like dancers, with the chopping board as their stage. She carefully selected a fresh piece of tuna’s belly and sliced it into thin pieces, each about one centimeter thick. Every slice resembled a crescent moon—clean, sharp, elegant, yet full of strength. Then, she gently brushed the mixture of soy sauce, sake, and honey onto the fish, like a poet delicately composing a poem.

On the side, the freshly cooked sushi rice released a tempting aroma. The chef skillfully molded the rice into sushi shapes, as though she were carving a small gem out of gold. After laying the rice, she placed the marinated tuna slices onto the preheated grill.

The flames licked at the tuna, each flicker of fire caressing it, tightening its muscle and locking in its juices. At this moment, the flavor peaked. One by one, the golden tuna slices flipped on the grill.

Once cooked, the chef expertly cut the tuna into perfectly sized pieces, delicate and graceful like the pale beauty of a flower. She then gently placed them atop the prepared sushi rice, as pure as crystal.

Finally, based on Nicole’s preferences, the chef sprinkled a pinch of sea salt, added a squirt of slightly tangy lemon juice, and topped it all with a small dab of mustard, standing like a snowy peak on the dish. Each creation was a perfect blend of the chef’s personal aesthetic and skill, filled with passion and care.

Nicole was stunned by Bai Ya's heartfelt performance. The Bai Ya she had known before was a sickly cancer patient, never having the chance to show off any culinary skills. Unable to help herself, Nicole asked, “Were you a chef before?”

Bai Ya smiled lightly. "Eat it while it's hot. Let’s talk after you’ve tasted it."

Watching Nicole enjoy every bite, Bai Ya added softly, “I used to cook, but never had the confidence to create something like this before.”

Nicole, beaming with happiness, replied, “Then I’m really lucky to be in your life.”

Bai Ya smiled. “That’s right. You’re the only person in this world qualified to eat the food I make.”

Nicole chuckled. “So, I’m the only lucky one? Does that mean your future husband won’t have the same privilege?”

Bai Ya replied, “Only a man stronger than me would be qualified to be my husband. But there’s no man in this world who’s stronger than me, so I’m destined to be a lonely, cold-hearted queen. The only person who will be my friend and family is my bestie, Nicole.”

Nicole was confused. “What? No man stronger than you? Why?”

Bai Ya explained, “Someone created a system that can pick out the elites among the elite. Your ex, Ethan Shaw, was one of them. This system needs a lot of workers, called Hunters. As long as they’re obedient and capable, that’s enough. Out of 100 Hunters, only 5% can be considered high-level Hunters, called High Hunters. Among these, only 5% become the strongest, called ‘Imitators’. Immitators have a chip implanted in their body that allows them to download knowledge systems—everything from top-tier technology to cooking skills, just like what I showed you. In just five minutes, I could master any skill in the world—killing, bodyguards, intelligence work, hacking, lock-picking, acting, disguise, poisons, or medicine. Anyone I choose to target, even High Hunters with extreme physical abilities, will be unable to stop me. Understand?”

Nicole stared in disbelief. “That... is amazing?”

Bai Ya nodded. “Yes, you saved my life. If you ever need help, just let me know. I’ll do whatever it takes. If you want a star from the sky, I’ll find a way to get it for you.”

Nicole laughed. “So you’re like Aladdin’s magic lamp, capable of granting any wish?”

Bai Ya smiled. “Not quite. I’ll grant you three wishes, just like Aladdin’s lamp. Whenever you decide what you want, just tell me.”

Nicole’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I feel like a winner already! This is amazing!”

Bai Ya nodded. “Becoming a winner just takes luck, and our luck seems pretty good.”

Nicole giggled. “I don’t really need anything right now. I’ve been making some money from my live streams lately. Lots of old perverts sending me gifts, and the private messages just keep coming in, haha!”

Bai Ya raised an eyebrow. “Wow, that’s impressive! But I can see why. You’re beautiful, so making money from streaming is well deserved.”

Nicole shrugged. “Not entirely. There’s this big spender who’s been giving me a ton of gifts. He even offered to take me out for dinner, but I’ve been avoiding him. I’m scared of weirdos. Maybe you could come with me? You can be my bodyguard.”

Bai Ya grinned. “Consider it arranged!”

...

The man who’d been showering Nicole with gifts was nicknamed “Fat Tiger” in the online world. A year ago, he had been a complete loser, but recently he had struck it rich from a niche business and now had money to spend. He gambled and searched for women, and one day, while watching a live stream, he stumbled upon Nicole. He was stunned by her beauty—it perfectly matched his idea of the ideal woman. Unable to resist, he started sending her gifts. To date, he had gifted over $70,000. Once he had sent $10,000 worth of gifts, he began asking for a dinner date. Today, he had finally managed to secure his wish. The woman who had previously ignored him was now agreeing to meet him, and he was absolutely ecstatic. He walked through the streets greeting everyone, feeling like the luckiest man alive.

He had booked a romantic couple’s dinner at a five-star Western restaurant. It was his third date at this particular place, and he couldn’t help but feel like the king of his own domain as he strutted in. He didn’t even know how to pronounce the name of the restaurant, having only attended primary school, but it didn’t matter.

When the female streamer finally arrived, 15 minutes late, she looked stunning in a brown trench coat, her long wavy hair cascading down her back. Her face was the epitome of grace, her skin soft and flawless, exuding a natural charm that was irresistible.

Fat Tiger was so excited that his voice trembled. “You look even more beautiful in person!”

The female streamer blushed, her voice soft as she called out, “Tiger Brother!”

“Please, sit, sit!” Fat Tiger was overcome with excitement, feeling unworthy of being in the presence of such beauty. His compliments flowed freely, “I’m so honored to meet you, truly!”

As the female streamer sat down, Fat Tiger couldn’t stop staring at her, his nose catching her faint scent, his heart burning with desire.

The female streamer, ever so graceful, asked, “Tiger Brother, I never got the chance to ask—what kind of business are you in? How did you make so much money?”

Fat Tiger, used to bragging about his success, replied, “Oh, I’m in the health supplements business—taking care of health and fitness.”

the female streamer smiled sweetly, revealing a perfect set of white teeth. “Ah, that’s a great business! People always want to be healthier, so it’ll never go out of style. It sounds like a solid investment.”

Fat Tiger, admiring her beauty, tried to play it cool but was clearly distracted. After a while, he shifted the conversation to a more personal topic. “So, Nicole, do you plan to keep doing live streams? I noticed you rely a lot on tips, but that doesn’t seem like a very stable source of income.”

the female streamer shrugged. “It’s true, live streaming isn’t the most stable, but honestly, I don’t know what else I’d do. I’m not really passionate about anything else.”

Fat Tiger saw an opportunity. “You should get a reliable boyfriend. If you don’t mind, I’d love to be that guy. I’ve confessed to you multiple times now. I’ve realized I don’t need many women, I just want you. I’ll give you everything. I can make several million a year. You’ll never want for anything!”

The female streamer was taken aback but kept a calm face. Fat Tiger was persistent, offering to hand over his entire fortune, including a bank card with over $500,000 in it, just for the chance to be her boyfriend.

The female streamer was caught off guard, but she wasn’t the naive type. “You really want to give me all your money?”

Fat Tiger nodded eagerly. “Absolutely! All of it. I’ll give you my bank card right now. Just be my girlfriend, and I’ll give you the password. You can spend however you want.”

The female streamer smirked. “Do you ever ask about my past? What if I’m not a good person?”

Fat Tiger laughed confidently. “I like you for who you are, all of you. If you’re a perfect lady, I love that. If you’re a bad girl, I still love you. That’s how I feel. Do you understand?”

The female streamer hesitated but eventually smiled. It seemed like Fat Tiger had truly fallen for her. She felt a strange sense of attraction to him—something she hadn’t expected, especially after everything with Ethan Shaw.

Fat Tiger, completely unaware that the female streamer wasn’t actually Nicole, was overjoyed. He had just secured the woman of his dreams.

The female streamer bit her fragrant lips, thinking it over. No man had ever treated her so well before. And although Fat Tiger was a bit on the heavy side, he looked strong and gave off a sense of emotional dependence. She had been deceived by handsome men before, and she had developed an innate aversion to young pretty boys. In contrast, she didn't feel repulsed by Fat Tiger. Ethan Shaw, with all his arrogance and domineering personality, wasn't a good match for her. With that thought, the female streamer nodded in agreement.

Fat Tiger's face was filled with happiness. It felt as though he had fallen into a honey trap. This goddess, looking like a heavenly beauty, was willing to be his girlfriend!

Of course, Fat Tiger wouldn’t be getting the goddess tonight because this goddess was a fake. As a skilled “Imitator” capable of earth-shaking transformations, Bai Ya was an expert in disguise. After some meticulous preparation, she managed to imitate Nicole so perfectly that she even outshone the real Nicole. Bai Ya had gone as far as planting individual eyebrow hairs to make her look even more flawless than the original, completely fooling Fat Tiger. At the same time, she had fully immersed herself in Nicole’s persona, setting up a “matchmaking arrangement” for her.

This was a trial for her disguise skills, and Bai Ya was pleased with her performance. She had taken Fat Tiger’s bank card, memorized the password, and then, in a polite manner, bid him farewell, promising to give him a formal response the next day. From then on, she told him she would only envy couples in love, not immortals.

Bai Ya had a hidden camera on her chest, recording the entire dinner. Once she got home, she played the footage for Nicole, who was stunned by Bai Ya's disguise and acting skills. It felt as though she herself had been on a date with Fat Tiger and had even earned $500,000 in the process.

With a smile, Bai Ya handed Nicole the bank card and said, “Take the bank card. It’s up to you if you want to stay with him. If you don’t, just think of this as a scam. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. There will be no consequences. Block him, and he won’t be able to find you.”

Nicole sighed, “Forget it, I’ve got an account on the streaming platform, and we’ve interacted a lot. I’ve tricked him plenty of times to get tips. What do you think of this guy?”

Bai Ya replied, “He’s pretty good. He gave you all his savings. I’ve checked him out. He’s selling a drug that makes people have sweet dreams, which is illegal in Wu City, so he makes a lot of money. It’s no big deal, really. In many places, it’s legal, but in Wu City, it’s not.”

Nicole looked a little disappointed, “Still, it’s illegal. Not a good match.”

Bai Ya smiled, “You don’t like men with this kind of background? It’s fine. There’s a side effect to that drug—if overused, it causes schizophrenia. I can make him go schizophrenic. He won’t remember you anymore, and you’ll keep the $500,000. No need to give it back.”