Chapter 289: What Is Evaporated Milk?
There was still some time before dinner, and the two of them tried many things with Flying Tiger.
From bugs to all sorts of junk that Flying Tiger somehow found, the scene was simply unbearable to watch.
At first, every single item placed in front of Xiong Jie and Zhou Ang was a huge challenge.
Those writhing bugs and foul-smelling unknown substances, just taking a glance would churn their stomachs, not to mention putting it in their mouths to chew.
But under Flying Tiger’s stern gaze and constant encouragement, they braced themselves and persisted.
Attempt after attempt, they repeatedly overcame their inner fear and physical aversion.
Gradually, their bodies seemed to acclimate to this extreme situation.
From struggling to chew and swallow, with each bite feeling like torture, to later being able to force themselves to swallow, and finally to eating without changing their expression.
Their expressions transformed from initial extreme pain and resistance to becoming determined and composed.
The process was fraught with agony, but they compelled themselves to complete this difficult transformation for the potential situation they would face at night.
"Great!" Flying Tiger gave a thumbs-up to the two, his eyes full of appreciation.
The two maintained an unchanged expression, pretending to be relaxed, saying, "It’s nothing, really. The taste is okay; it’s just the texture and mental resistance."
They realized that it was largely their psychological resistance causing trouble, along with the unpleasant smell being off-putting.
Actually, most of it was merely a bit bitter when put in the mouth, and not too hard to accept.
"Looks like there will be no problem tonight." Flying Tiger nodded with satisfaction, a relieved smile on his face.
Xiong Jie sighed, "I don’t actually care what I eat; I’m just afraid I won’t be able to control myself."
After hearing that Lord would be cooking, the food mattered little, and he could even act nonchalant to a great extent. But resistance was a reflex, and he truly couldn’t guarantee he could completely hide his genuine feelings.
He feared that he would not perform well, leading Lord to feel negatively, which might affect their relationship.
Zhou Ang nodded solemnly and said, "I feel the same way, I can eat anything."
The time was still early, as they watched the daylight, the atmosphere became rare, tranquil, and peaceful.
The three of them sat side by side, gazing at the clouds on the horizon, with different thoughts, yet all enjoying the moment of leisure, waiting quietly for the night.
Jiang Che sent Xiong Jie a message, informing them to arrive at his house by six o’clock.
After receiving the message, their moods became somewhat complex.
They dared not arrive too early, fearing awkward silence when interacting;
nor dared they arrive too late, worrying that Jiang Che would be displeased after waiting long.
Thus, in a mix of tension and anticipation, time slowly passed.
When the clock’s hands pointed to five forty, they took a deep breath, exchanged a glance, then knocked on the door right on time.
The moment the door opened, a fresh aroma of food eagerly rushed into their noses.
The fragrance was rich and enchanting, instantly wrapping around them tightly.
The scent held the sweetness of vegetables, the richness of meat, and the perfect blend of various spices, layered and delicate.
The three were astonished; this was the aroma of proper cuisine?
The aroma continued to tease their olfactory nerves, making their mouths involuntarily begin to water.
Lord or another entity managed to cook food like this?
The three exchanged a glance filled with disbelief and a mix of surprise.
Unconsciously, they swallowed, and the sound of their throats moving echoed clearly amidst the silence.
At that moment, they forgot all about previous worries and nervousness, with their hearts and eyes fully occupied by the irresistible aroma.
Completely captivated!
This aroma overturned all their previous imaginations.
"Come in, what are you doing at the door?" Jiang Che waved with a smile, his tone full of warmth.
The three awoke as if from a dream, quickly entering, their steps even seeming somewhat hurried.
They followed the scent with curiosity, as they had been to Jiang Che’s house a few times during its renovation.
They had been involved in the renovation here.
They knew which room was the dining area, so they looked in that direction,
and immediately felt that both bloodiness and deliciousness swelled within the room, even the aroma turned eerie.
What should have been a warm and delightful food scent seemed entangled by an inexplicable bloody smell at this moment.
It seemed as if the dining room was preparing a bloody gourmet feast.
"Arrived just in time." Jiang Che chuckled, his smile full of warmth and anticipation.
He looked at the full table of dishes and deeply glanced at Xiong Jie.
Before cooking, Ding Ning noticed only a small bag of salt in the kitchen at home and went alone to the warehouse Xiong Jie had mentioned. The warehouse key was kept at home, and he had informed Ding Ning before leaving.
He went empty-handed, but when returning Ding Ning carried a box of salt.
Xiong Jie was stunned for a moment; he couldn’t decipher the meaning behind Jiang Che’s ambiguous glance.
That gaze seemed to contain endless words, yet seemed like a casual glance, causing Xiong Jie’s heart to stir in speculation about its meaning, but he failed to grasp its context.
Although Jiang Che said to come at six, the host always prepares food in advance to ensure a perfect dining experience for guests.
At this time, Ding Ning was just finishing the last dish.
As they walked into the dining room, they saw Ding Ning coming out of the kitchen, carrying a bowl of soup. The milky white broth shimmered under the light, looking very appetizing.
The dishes on the table were normal human food, full of color and aroma.
The vibrant colors and exquisite presentation made one’s mouth water.
"Sister-in-law, this smells amazing!" Zhou Ang was the first to speak, staring fixedly at the soup in Ding Ning’s hands.
Probably because the food seemed so warm and cozy, they momentarily forgot about the differences in identity, not minding about the boundaries between entities and humans, or the distance between Lord and subordinate.
A cozy home can easily shorten the distance between people.
Their eyes were glued!
This culinary skill was remarkable!
The soup was brewn to a milky white!
"This soup looks even fresher than the ones made with Sanhua light cream!" Zhou Ang praised heartily with a thumbs-up.
"What is Sanhua light cream?" Ding Ning paused for a moment; he had never seen it in any recipe.
"Sister-in-law, it’s human technology used to freshen dishes, something that can make one’s cooking look more appealing." Flying Tiger quickly explained, staring at the dishes on the table.
The dishes made by Lord were not at all what she imagined...
"Your food looks fresher than what professional chefs make!" Xiong Jie nodded vigorously; this food was too normal!
It looked better than what many restaurant chefs cooked!
Was all his suffering this afternoon in vain?