Chapter 200: Chopped Chili Fish Head
Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Chopped Chili Fish Head
A determined flame burned in Lei Li’s brown eyes. "Xue Can, you have to be mine."
It had been a long time since someone had managed to anger Xue Can with just a few words.
"Then let me be clear. That’s impossible."
"Don’t be so absolute," Lei Li said, her lips a vibrant red. "Who can say for certain what the future holds?"
"You should tell yourself that."
This was not a pleasant dinner. Xue Can was fuming, and Lei Li was barely suppressing her own temper.
No matter how delicious the food was or how well it could soothe their Spiritual Seas, it did nothing to defuse their anger.
Lei Li was adept at reading people. She knew she had pushed Xue Can to his limit today. If she continued to pester him, there would be no turning back.
She stood up. "Fine, don’t be mad. I’m leaving."
After taking a few steps, Lei Li turned back. "Xue Can, I’m serious about pursuing you. I’m not just playing around."
In the past, she would never have acted so humbly. But after investing so much time and energy into Xue Can, she had genuinely fallen in love with him.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have anxiously come here to scout out a rival.
After all, with her standing, she wouldn’t normally lack such confidence.
Xue Can didn’t even spare her a glance. He kept his arms crossed, his eyes half-lidded, looking as cold as ice.
Lei Li pouted, but ultimately left.
Shen Lu finished clearing the dishes and came downstairs. Before heading into the kitchen, she glanced at the booth area. She didn’t see Lei Li, only Xue Can sitting there all alone.
"What happened?" Shen Lu whispered to Cai Su, figuring that since they were eating in the fast-food section, they might have seen something.
Cai Su shook her head. She didn’t really know.
Shen Lu had no choice but to suppress her curiosity.
Xue Can had a poor appetite and had only taken a bite of most dishes. He asked Shen Lu for some takeout containers and packed up all the leftovers.
"Um... was my cooking not good today?" Shen Lu was bothered that a customer had left so much food. ’If it were really delicious, he wouldn’t have left this much behind.’
"No." Xue Can’s face was cold and stiff. "It has nothing to do with your food. It was delicious."
Shen Lu was speechless. ’Dude, with an expression like that, you look like someone’s holding a knife to your back, forcing you to lie.’
"Alright then. If there’s anything you think needs improvement, please be sure to tell me."
"There is," Xue Can said, lowering his gaze. "I want to eat your home cooking every day."
Xue Can’s words had a double meaning.
Before this, Xue Can had thought his interest in Shen Lu was purely because of her food.
But just now, Lei Li’s words had exposed the feelings he had been subconsciously hiding.
Even if his affection for Shen Lu was entangled with various other interests, it was undeniable that when Lei Li accused him of pursuing Shen Lu, he had no desire to deny it.
But a man like him, even when he liked someone, could never be as reckless in his pursuit as Lei Li.
Besides, Shen Lu already had a fiancé.
A fiancé who was severely injured and bedridden, yet Shen Lu remained devotedly by his side. His own feelings, then, were destined to remain unspoken.
Unfortunately, Shen Lu only caught the surface-level meaning, her expression one of sudden understanding.
’It’s only been a few days, and he already can’t stand eating food that doesn’t soothe his Spiritual Sea?’
’I’ve done my research. Generally, Superpower Users only go to the hospital for Spiritual Sea soothing treatments once or twice a month, barring special circumstances.’
’So why does he need to eat my food every day?’
’This guy, Xue Can, is way too greedy.’
"Mr. Xue, if I can’t get the ingredients, there’s nothing I can do."
Xue Can carefully studied Shen Lu’s expression. The young woman’s eyes were clear; she obviously hadn’t considered any deeper meaning.
He felt a mix of disappointment and relief.
"Did the supplier from the Upper City District turn you down? I can help."
Shen Lu raised an eyebrow. "And the conditions are?"
"I get to come here for dinner every day. The staff meal is fine. It doesn’t have to be a special spread like today."
Shen Lu did some quick mental calculations, then asked, "Our staff meals aren’t this lavish. It’s usually just one meat dish and one vegetable dish."
"No problem."
"Alright. If you can solve my supply problem, I’ll agree. But there’s a time limit—only for three months."
"Deal."
Xue Can picked up the containers of food. "I’ll have news for you tomorrow."
"Take care, Mr. Xue." Shen Lu walked with him for a few steps before stopping at the entrance.
Once Xue Can was gone, Shen Lu closed up the shop, preventing anyone else from coming or going.
The busy day was finally over. Shen Lu rolled her neck and headed upstairs for a shower.
After her shower, she blow-dried her hair until it was damp, then sat on the sofa to go over the day’s accounts. Once she finished the bookkeeping, it was time for the lottery draw.
[Congratulations, Host, you have drawn Prize #339 from the blind box: 50 packets of sunflower seeds.]
Shen Lu sighed, resting her forehead in her hand. ’The prizes I’m getting are becoming more and more useless.’
’Sunflower seeds?’
’What am I supposed to do with these? Does it think I can actually grow anything in that barren patch of land out back?’
’Or am I just supposed to roast them into a snack?’
’Can’t it just stop teasing me and give me the shop defenses I need?’
Shen Lu was miserable.
「The next day was gloomy and overcast.」
The temperature hovered around a comfortable 73 degrees.
After breakfast, Shen Lu announced to her employees that they would be adding a new main course to the menu today.
That’s right—today, she was introducing Steamed Fish Head with Diced Hot Peppers.
In addition to launching the new dish, Shen Lu also planned to change the existing set menus.
Previously, the set menus had fixed side dishes. The Braised Pork Belly came with stir-fried baby bok choy and cold-dressed radish skin, while the Kung Pao Chicken was served with shredded potatoes and stir-fried cabbage.
If she added Steamed Fish Head with Diced Hot Peppers, she would have to come up with two side dishes for it as well.
Shen Lu felt that making six different side dishes was too much. So, she decided to change the system: she would prepare four side dishes each day, and customers could choose two. This would not only offer more variety in pairings but also give customers more freedom.
This would also mean making two fewer dishes, which would lighten her workload a bit.
Naturally, a new dish called for a promotional video.
However, the recipe for the dish wasn’t particularly complex—in fact, it was a bit boring to watch.
It required neither fancy knife work nor flashy wok tossing.
But that wasn’t a problem for Shen Lu. She could get creative.
And so, Lin Zhou was conscripted once again.
Lin Zhou looked completely dead inside. He, a respectable Third-level Superpower User, was being asked to help Shen Lu control fish, ginger, green onions, and whatnot.
Shen Lu had Lin Zhou use telekinesis. At her signal—a slap on the table—the fish on the plate leaped into the air.
With two swift slashes, Shen Lu separated the head from the tail. The tail fell obediently back onto the plate, while the head floated gently down into a large basin.
Shen Lu focused her concentration, tossing bottles of cooking wine, salt, and pepper into the air. The seasonings rained down in a graceful shower.
At the same time, the ginger and green onions leaped into the basin in a similar fashion. Shen Lu then briskly rubbed and mixed everything together, concluding the first stage of the fish head’s preparation.
Cai Su, Song Zhigao, and the others stared in a daze. During the prep time for the next scene, Xin Yu voiced the question on everyone’s mind.
"Boss, are we going to have to prep the fish heads like this from now on?"