Paranoid Alpha Chapter 39: “Chef”

Chapter 39: “Chef”

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: CaiCai

After finishing her shower and tidying up, Lin Lang hummed a song as she walked out of the bathroom, only to find a few bright lights emanating from the usually closed room door.

The little girl hesitated for a moment before cautiously stepping forward. “Mom?”

There was a significant sound behind the door, but it quickly returned to calm. Lyss gently pulled open the door. “Done showering? No other issues?”

“No,” Lin Lang shook her head, concerned as she looked at the reddened corners of Lyss’s eyes. “Mom, did you cry?”

Lyss didn’t want her daughter to worry. He subconsciously shook his head, unable to deny it.

The girl, who never liked crying, suddenly teared up at the sight. She tiptoed and wiped the corners of Lyss’s eyes, the small bells on her wrist ringing softly. “Mom, don’t be sad, okay? When you’re sad… it makes me want to cry too.”

Lyss couldn’t hold back anymore. He lowered his head and hugged his daughter, holding back the warmth in his eyes. “Alright… I promise, baby.”

He held his daughter firmly, and although Lin Lang felt the strength, she didn’t complain. Instead, she tried in various ways to cheer him up. “Mom… I want to eat Serica food.”

She didn’t know why her mom was so upset, only that diverting his attention to her might help him feel better.

True to her assumption, Lyss immediately agreed upon hearing that. “Eat out or at home?”

Lin Lang frowned in thought for a moment. “I want to eat at home, just like last time.”

Lyss nodded. “I’ll call the chef tomorrow.”

In the interstellar era, people gradually discovered new ways to satisfy their appetites beyond just eating. Many disliked dining out but also weren’t fond of the taste or unpredictability of takeaway food. Thus, being a personal chef for hire became a novel but not-so-new profession.

Lyss couldn’t cook himself but wanted to treat his daughter to something special on holidays. Lin Lang was too young, only five years old, and the food outside might not always suit her.

Hence, Lyss often invited chefs to prepare some home-cooked meals. He provided the ingredients, and having the chef cook under his supervision was more reassuring than ordering from outside.

The next day was a day off, and Lyss had placed an order directly through the booking platform, specifically mentioning a chef skilled in Serica cuisine. He thought it might be challenging to find one, as last time he’d booked, it took nearly ten days to barely secure a chef.

Chefs skilled in Serica cuisine were rare, and even rarer were those willing to make home visits. Plus, the reputation of Serica delicacies made demand high for such platform bookings. What surprised Lyss was that the chef he invited arrived early in the morning.

The timing of the arrival surprised even Lyss, who went to open the door. He was even more surprised by who arrived.

“Ch… Chief, sir!” The new chef was a seemingly young alpha with white ears and bright green eyes. He looked youthful and energetic, but his eyes were too excited while looking at Lyss. He stuttered a bit as he spoke. “I’m Pelé… I’m sorry to disturb you.” 

Lyss responded, “It’s me disturbing you. Please come in.”

Normally, a single omega raising a daughter shouldn’t let an alpha in casually. But this was Lyss; ten alphas might not be enough against him alone. The gender of unimportant people had no significance to him.

Pelé cautiously and excitedly stepped inside after Lyss led the way to the kitchen.

Lyss noticed that this was the case with most chefs he’d hired previously. Anyone receiving an order and discovering it was for Triss’s chief would likely not remain calm, including the young person who had arrived this time.

Lyss seemed subconsciously oblivious, although there was indeed once a young person who was impudent in front of the chief.

After guiding Pelé to the kitchen, Lyss casually asked, “How many years have you been a chef?”

Pelé promptly replied, “I started learning cooking at sixteen, and it’s been seven years till now.”

“Only twenty-three, and already so capable at such a young age,” Lyss remarked sincerely but couldn’t help calculating time in his mind. The small dog should also be twenty-three now.

“It’s not too much trouble, really. Being a chef is just a hobby of mine,” Pelé blushed from the praise. “I’m still studying. This is just my part-time job.”

Lyss complimented genuinely, “Mastering Serica cuisine while studying is remarkable.”

Pelé’s heart raced. He wanted to say he learned Serica cuisine just for Lyss, but ultimately restrained himself. “What would you like to eat today?”

Lyss handed him a prepared menu. “If there’s something you can’t make, just let me know. List the ingredients for the rest of the dishes, and I’ll place the order now. It should arrive shortly.”

At that moment, Lin Lang, who had just woken up, rubbed her eyes and peeked her head in from outside the kitchen door. “Can I come in?”

Lyss turned and asked, “Did you wash your face?”

“No.” The girl was quite honest, adding a bit of a whine. “I don’t want to move a muscle on the weekend… Mom, will you wash it for me?”

Lyss felt a little helpless. After putting the menu down, he said to Pelé, “Sorry, I’ll take my daughter to wash her face. Please look at the menu.”

He then walked to the door and lifted the complaining little girl. “We have a visitor at home. Do you want Dad to know?”

Lin Lang cuddled his neck affectionately. “Okay… Mom, you’re so sweet. I want peaches.”

Lyss found her unable to move because she smelled something delicious, amusing and adorable. He rubbed her ears and said, “I’ll get them in a bit.”

Inside the bathroom, Lyss placed the little bundle of joy on the sink counter.

Lin Lang sat obediently there, tilting her head. “Who was that just now?”

Lyss replied, “The chef.”

“Oh.” The little girl frowned and thought for a moment. “Should I call him uncle?”

Lyss paused, shook his head, “He’s only twenty-three, still in school, and cooking is just a part-time job. Unmarried guys should be called “big brother’.”

Unexpectedly, this sentence planted a significant precedent. The little girl, unperturbed, obediently nodded. “Okay.”

With a freshly washed face, Lyss went out, and Pelé had just finished listing the ingredients.

Lyss took the list, and Pelé turned to the nearby Lin Lang. “Miss Lin Lang, right? Hello.”

“Hello, big brother,” Lin Lang held Lyss’s hand generously. “Thank you for cooking for Dad and me.”

Pelé was pleasantly surprised. “You’re welcome. How old are you this year?”

“I’m five years old!” Kids always like to show off what they’ve learned. Lin Lang, with her good temper and extroverted nature, rattled on, “I’ll be going to school next year when I’m a year older!”

Transitioning from kindergarten to elementary school, she made it sound like getting into a prestigious university. Pelé found her incredibly adorable. “What a talented little one.”

He had done his homework before coming. With a few words, he made the little girl laugh, then she grabbed Lyss’s hand and hid behind him.

After Lyss finished reading the list, he chuckled, “What’s going on here?”

Lin Lang snuggled into his embrace, looking a bit embarrassed by the praise.

Lyss apologized while holding his daughter, “She’s always like this, sorry. She gets all shy when someone praises her.”

Lin Lang indeed took after her mother, loving to look at beautiful men and women. Of course, she loved looking at Lyss the most. Sometimes, when Lyss got busy and lost track of time, he’d look up to see his daughter eagerly watching him, almost drooling.

Lyss chuckled, “What are you looking at, sweetie?”

After returning to her senses, Lin Lang honestly replied, “Looking at mommy.”

Puzzled, Lyss asked, “Why are you looking at me?”

“Because you’re handsome,” the little girl leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek with a milky scent. “Mommy is the most beautiful person in the world!”

Whenever this happened, Lyss couldn’t help but lift her up and plant a kiss on her forehead. “And Lin Lang is the most adorable baby in the world.”

Seeing his daughter’s smiling eyes, Lyss felt a mixture of comfort and swelling emotion. Just like her dad, he couldn’t walk away when he saw someone attractive.

Honestly, Pelé was quite good-looking, but coming from Lyss, it surprised him. He quickly waved his hands, “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Miss Lin Lang is very cute. I can’t be considered good-looking. You’re exaggerating.”

Without further words, after ordering the dishes, Lyss turned and asked, “It might take a while for the food to be delivered.”

“It’s okay. I’ve already tested various kitchen utensils,” Pelé said, evidently prepared. “Once the food arrives, we can start cooking right away.”

“In that case, thank you for your hard work,” Lyss bent down and lifted his daughter. “Could you please rest on the sofa for a while? Would you like something to drink?”

Pelé hastily said, “Just plain water.”

Lyss nodded and gently placed his daughter on the nearby sofa. “What would my baby like to drink?”

Lin Lang blinked. “Can I have tea?”

Lyss responded gently but firmly, “No, you’re too young. You can have it when you’re older.”

Lin Lang didn’t seem disappointed. Instead, she obediently nodded. “Okay… Then I’ll have milk.”

Turning towards the kitchen, Lyss left, while Pelé cautiously spoke to Lin Lang, “Miss Lin Lang…”

Lin Lang looked up, confused. “What’s wrong?”

Pelé felt a bit embarrassed but still asked, “Have you ever thought… of having another dad?”

Lin Lang’s face was full of confusion, “But I already have a dad.”

“No, no, that’s not what I mean,” Pelé hurriedly shook his head. “What I meant is, you can have two dads.”

In the little girl’s world, she had a mom who deeply loved her and was waiting for a dad who would love her just as much but would appear when she was a little older. She didn’t want a second dad.

“No, thanks,” Lin Lang shook her head very honestly. “I’m fine with just one dad.”

Not discouraged by this, Pelé looked towards the figure in the kitchen and cautiously sought a different topic, “Your dad is indeed very good to you… I thought Mr. Lyss would be strict with you in private, but I didn’t expect him to be so gentle.”

This statement was a bit complicated for the little girl. She vigorously nodded at first, affirming the latter part of the sentence, “He has always been gentle with Lin Lang, he’s the best mommy in the world.”

Hearing the little girl’s unhesitating praise, Pelé was a bit absent-minded and remained silent for a moment.

Since Lyss took office, Triss hadn’t changed its chief for six years. For most people in Triss, Lyss seemed like an eternally rational and calm deity.

Lin Lang was five this year, yet five years hadn’t left any traces on Lyss. His beauty remained stunning, not like an ordinary person. Occasionally, he would attend some events with his daughter. The media sometimes caught glimpses of his expression as he looked at his daughter. His eyes were filled with a moonlit tenderness, different from his usual seriousness, wrapping him in an inexplicable aura.

Many citizens had grown fonder of Lyss since then. The once-every-five-years council elections seemed like a mere formality, with the total votes of the remaining candidates not even coming close to Lyss’s count.

After the turbulence five years ago, Triss’s political landscape miraculously calmed down. People didn’t know anything specific, only that the peaceful days were getting better, and their Chief deserved credit for that.

No one knew who Lin Lang’s other parent was besides Lyss. Looking at her slightly curly silver hair and furry ears, no one doubted her lineage. Triss citizens didn’t care about her elusive other parent. Or more accurately, many preferred not to acknowledge that person’s existence, and Pelé was one of them.

No one knew Lyss’s exact age, but that didn’t stop a continuous stream of alpha candidates from emptying their hearts out and serving the Federation. Serving the Federation didn’t necessarily require going to headquarters, but every year, tens of thousands of alphas applied to the headquarters, and most people understood why.

Pelé clearly didn’t intend to take that route. Instead of being an almost unnoticed clerk at the headquarters, he chose to forge a different path and leverage his strengths.

Generally, culinary institutions wouldn’t assign an alpha chef to a single omega, but there were exceptions. For instance, Lyss specifically requested a Serica chef for lunch today, regardless of gender.

Serica cuisine was the most popular, and other beta and omega chefs had already been booked. Only Pelé was left. People doubted his abilities because he looked too young. Thankfully, Lyss, for some reason, didn’t have biases against younger alphas and even unintentionally gave them credit, hence giving Pelé this chance.

Upon receiving this news, Pelé was ecstatic, as if he had just been accepted to school. His roommate thought he had gone crazy.

He had fantasized countless times about his first meeting with the Chief, but he never expected it to be at the latter’s home.

Different from what was shown in the media, Lyss didn’t seem that cold. Instead, he seemed… like a reserved and beautiful single father.

His overly excited emotions made him overlook Lin Lang’s address for Lyss and instead, unable to contain his excitement, he asked in a low voice, “Can I ask quietly, what kind of person does your dad like?”

Author’s note: 

Puppy: Sorry, he likes someone like me. Can you please scram quickly?

Next chapter will take the puppy out for a walk.