Chapter 53

Early morning on New Year's Eve.

Outside the window, the Eiffel Tower revealed its outline in the dawn light.

The apartment was quiet.

Only the sound of "thump-thump" came from the direction of the kitchen.

Mo Wansheng woke up groggily and yawned.

She turned over, intending to sleep a little longer, but the noises coming from the kitchen made it impossible for her to fall asleep.

She knew that Huo Yuzheng was preparing the ingredients.

Mo Wansheng walked barefoot to the kitchen entrance, leaned against the door frame, and admired the flowing movements.

Huo Yuzheng changed into a white cotton sweatshirt and gray trousers, with a dark apron tied around his neck, looking like he was at home.

He was slicing a grouper into paper-thin fillets, his arm steady and strong.

"Awake?" He turned to look at Mo Wansheng. "The millet porridge is in the pot, and the sweet fermented rice balls will take another ten minutes."

"Hmm." Mo Wansheng walked closer and looked at the dazzling array of ingredients on the kitchen counter.

She couldn't help but exclaim in genuine admiration, "Chef Huo, you've started preparing this early this morning!"

Huo Yuzheng placed the last slice of fish into the prepared ice to keep it fresh.

"During the Chinese New Year, there should always be some sense of ritual. First, I'll wash up and prepare for breakfast."

Unintentionally, his gaze swept over Mo Wansheng's bare feet.

"Mrs. Huo, have you forgotten to put on your shoes again?"

Mo Wansheng followed his gaze and looked down, her toes curling nervously.

Some "unpleasant" memories flashed through my mind; last time I was barefoot, I received quite a bit of "punishment".

She didn't want to experience that again so early in the morning during the Lunar New Year.

"I'm going right now!" Before she could finish speaking, Mo Wansheng dashed off.

His back view betrayed his guilty conscience.

Huo Yuzheng watched her hastily fleeing figure, a slight smile playing on his lips, and continued preparing breakfast.

Breakfast was served quickly.

It was thick and delicious millet porridge, and sweet fermented rice balls made by Huo Yuzheng himself.

The glutinous rice balls are soft and chewy to the perfect degree, and the aroma of the fermented rice wine is just right, without being overly sweet.

Mo Wansheng ate in small bites, secretly glancing at Huo Yuzheng across from her as he slowly and methodically drank his porridge.

Unable to contain her curiosity, she put down her spoon, leaned forward slightly, and stared with wide-eyed wonder.

"How much food did you prepare?"

I'm really curious about Mo Wansheng's stomach.

The soup is still simmering in the kitchen, and just smelling the various aromas wafting over, she's already looking forward to the New Year's Eve dinner tonight.

Huo Yuzheng looked up and met her inquisitive gaze.

Instead of answering directly, he picked up the tablet next to him, unlocked it, brought up a document, and then pushed it in front of her.

"This is..." Mo Wansheng took it with a puzzled look, then looked down and her eyes widened instantly.

On the screen was a beautifully produced menu for a New Year's Eve dinner in Paris.

The menu is formatted in elegant Chinese calligraphy fonts and even features simple border designs.

Four cold dishes, eight main courses, staple food...

That's too much.

The last line reads, "Dessert: Presented by Ms. Mo Wansheng."

Mo Wansheng stared blankly at the outrageously detailed menu for a long time.

This is no longer a question of "how many dishes were prepared".

Even the dishes have auspicious names, making the ceremony feel very special.

She looked up at Huo Yuzheng, her face filled with disbelief.

"Huo Yuzheng... there are only two of us."

"This portion size feels like enough for a whole platoon."

"Each item is served in small portions, just enough to taste and for good luck."

Mo Wansheng chuckled, "I didn't expect Mr. Huo to be so superstitious."

"Yes, a little," Huo Yuzheng admitted readily.

"Therefore, in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly in the new year, there are some 'rituals'..."

His gaze swept over her feet, which were clad in fluffy slippers, seemingly casually, with a hidden meaning.

"Mrs. Huo had better cooperate actively."

Mo Wansheng's face flushed instantly, and the memory of the "punishment" that had just faded returned.

She instinctively pulled her feet back, trying to hide them under the chair.

However, he refused to admit defeat verbally: "Mr. Huo, you are abusing your power for personal gain!"

"Oh?" Huo Yuzheng raised an eyebrow. "So, Mrs. Huo, are you going to start preparing for the 'private' part now? After all, it's my 'business'..."

His gaze swept over the dazzling array of ingredients in the kitchen, "It seems to be more arduous than I expected."

Mo Wansheng looked at his calm and collected demeanor, feeling both annoyed and amused.

In verbal exchanges, he never gained the upper hand against Huo Yuzheng.

She stood up and picked up her empty bowl and chopsticks.

Mo Wansheng deliberately put on a stern face, "I understand, Chef Huo."

"I'll go prepare for my 'heartfelt performance' right away, and I definitely won't hold you back, okay?"

Watching her figure disappear through the kitchen doorway, Huo Yuzheng could no longer suppress the urge to smile.

Is it superstition?

Maybe.

But he prefers to believe that it is because she is by his side that he wants to take every ceremony seriously together.

They are some special beings.

These seemingly trivial details suddenly become incredibly meaningful.

Huo Yuzheng put down the tablet, got up and walked towards the kitchen.

At this moment, Mo Wansheng was rummaging through the refrigerator looking for what she needed.

Huo Yuzheng: "Is there anything you need me to prepare?"

“No need,” Mo Wansheng shook her head confidently.

"I'll do it myself."

The ingredients she needed were delivered quickly.

The kitchen was transformed into two parallel, highly efficient workshops.

On Huo Yuzheng's side, it was a symphony of Chinese cooking.

The oil is heated and the oil is stir-fried with a spatula, creating a fragrant aroma. Steam rises from the pan.

He moved between the stoves with an air of nonchalance.

On Mo Wansheng's side, there was a laboratory for exquisite desserts.

A rich, milky aroma filled the air.

When she needed to sieve the bouillon, a large, bony hand handed her a fine sieve.

Huo Yuzheng had just adjusted the heat for steaming the fish and washed his hands.

"Give."

"Thanks." Mo Wansheng took it, smiled at him, and continued with her work.

The two were busy with their own things, and occasionally they would have such brief moments of interaction and silent cooperation.

With the main dishes prepared, we moved on to the final cooking stage.

Huo Yuzheng walked over to Mo Wansheng and saw her putting the finishing touches on "Golden Jade Hall".

She is using melted white chocolate to outline a delicate wheat pattern on the translucent mochi skin.

Inside are fresh mango chunks and special coconut milk jelly, crystal clear.

Huo Yuzheng: "What do you need me to do?"

"Help me hold this mold?" Mo Wansheng pointed to a special small mold used to shape chocolate decorations.

"I have to sprinkle the last bit of gold dust on."

Huo Yuzheng did as instructed, and Mo Wansheng used a small brush to dip into edible gold powder and gently brushed it onto the cooled and set white chocolate decorations.

Instantly, the ordinary pattern turned into a dazzling golden light, truly living up to its name, "A House Full of Gold and Jade".

The two worked together seamlessly, requiring almost no words.

After finishing, Huo Yuzheng lowered his head and placed a light kiss on the top of her head.

"Mrs. Huo, your cooking skills are truly exceptional."

...

The Parisian sky was painted with a magnificent crimson hue, and the New Year's Eve dinner in the apartment officially began.

The dining table was carefully set.

On the pristine white tablecloth, the dishes prepared by Huo Yuzheng and the desserts prepared by Mo Wansheng were arranged in a pleasingly staggered manner.

Steamed grouper is perfectly shaped, braised prawns are bright red, braised lion's head meatballs are plump and round, and boiled cabbage in clear broth is delicate and translucent...

Each dish exudes an enticing aroma.

Mo Wansheng's "Golden Jade Abundance" mango sticky rice balls and caramel crème brûlée added extra sweetness.

They sat down facing each other, and Huo Yuzheng poured white wine into their glasses.

It's what Mo Wansheng likes.

Happy New Year, Mrs. Huo.

"Happy New Year, Mr. Huo."

Midway through the meal, both of their phones rang almost simultaneously with video call invitations.

They came from different elders.

Mo Wansheng answered the phone, and Mo Ningchuan's kind face appeared on the screen.

She excitedly switched the camera to show off the table full of dishes, "Dad, look! Yuzheng made all of this! My dessert is over there!"

Huo Yuzheng entered the frame at the opportune moment, politely greeting his father-in-law in a gentle tone.

Immediately afterwards, a video call from Huo's parents also came in.

Huo Yuzheng switched the screen to show his parents their New Year's Eve dinner.

Mo Wansheng leaned in front of the camera and greeted them politely.

"Happy New Year, Dad and Mom!"

"Hey, Wansheng! Happy New Year! Happy New Year!"

Mrs. Huo smiled kindly, her gaze drawn to the exquisite and dazzling dessert.

"Hey, that golden thing, was it made by Wansheng? It's so beautiful!"

“Yes, Mom, it’s called ‘Abundant Wealth’.” Mo Wansheng’s tone was a little proud as she zoomed in on the camera so that Huo’s mother could see the details.

"Good, good! The meaning is good, and the food is well made! Our Yuzheng is in for a treat." Huo's mother's praise made Mo Wansheng feel sweet inside.

Although Mr. Huo didn't say much, he smiled and nodded from the side.

After hanging up the video call, Mo Wansheng focused all her attention on the delicious food in front of her.

She picked up her chopsticks and eagerly reached for the plate of braised prawns.

Enjoy a hearty meal.

Sure enough, Huo Yuzheng's cooking was delicious.

Each dish was perfectly suited to her taste buds, a level of perfection that even high-end restaurants would find difficult to replicate.

She ate with a beaming smile, completely oblivious to her image.

Huo Yuzheng looked at her with a smile in his eyes.

I unconsciously slowed down my eating speed and would occasionally push her favorite dishes closer to her.

"Eat slowly," he said, handing her a tissue. "No one's going to take it from you."

Mo Wansheng took the tissue, wiped her mouth, and took a sip of white wine.

"Huo Yuzheng, I'll say it again, it's a waste that you're not running a restaurant with your skills!"

She pointed to the plate of braised prawns that she had almost devoured by herself.

"If you cook this every day, I could eat it every single day and never get tired of it!"

Huo Yuzheng looked up at her with a half-smile, "Eat like this every day? Mrs. Huo, hiring a private chef is very expensive."

"Oh? Is it very expensive? Mr. Huo has cooked for me many meals before." Mo Wansheng mimicked his manner, deliberately making things difficult. "I wonder what the price is for hiring Chef Huo now?"

Huo Yuzheng put down his knife and fork and leaned forward slightly.

"The past is the past."

"As for the price now..." he drawled, "perhaps... Mrs. Huo will have to pay it in another way."

He gently touched her foot under the table.

Dinner is over.

After clearing the table, the two did not choose to watch a movie, but instead sat in front of the huge screen in the living room.

"Go online?" Huo Yuzheng picked up the game controller.

“Of course!” Mo Wansheng responded immediately, her eyes sparkling with eagerness.

I haven't played video games in a long time.

When she returns to China, she wants to find "Blueberry Cake" to play games together.

What do you want to play?

Mo Wansheng looked at the game library and a sly smile appeared on her lips: "How about playing Overcooked 2? Let's see if Chef Huo can still strategize and command in the virtual kitchen."

She had heard of the famous game "Overcooked" and wanted to see how flustered he was.

Huo Yuzheng chuckled, "Alright. The loser..."

"The loser gives the winner a half-hour massage!" Mo Wansheng immediately raised the stakes.

"make a deal."

The game begins with light and cheerful music playing, and the cartoon-style kitchen looks harmless.

The first level was relatively simple. The two had a clear division of labor: Huo Yuzheng chopped vegetables, and Mo Wansheng cooked soup. Their cooperation was quite good, and they easily got three stars.

Mo Wansheng said with a hint of smugness, "Looks like he's nothing special, Mr. Huo."

"Don't rush, Mrs. Huo," Huo Yuzheng said calmly.

Starting from the second level, the scene changes to a moving truck and a split kitchen, and the difficulty increases sharply.

The little chef controlled by Mo Wansheng was pacing anxiously on the left side of the screen, shouting, "Raw meat! Give me raw meat now!"

"Chopping! Chopping! Don't block my way!" Huo Yuzheng had just handed over the cut meat when he turned around and bumped into Mo Wansheng, who was running over to get vegetables.

The two little figures were stuck in the aisle, unable to move.

"Oh no, my soup is going to burn!"

"Fire! Fire! The kitchen is on fire! Quick, grab a fire extinguisher!"

"The fire extinguisher is with you!"

"I can't see! The floor is covered with plates and food!"

Mo Wansheng sat up straight with nervousness, her fingers flying across the controller.

"Huo Yuzheng! Where did you throw my vegetables?!"

"That's what the order requires! Pick it up quickly!"

"Oh no! I've fallen into the river!"

Mo Wansheng let out a wail, so angry that she wanted to snatch the controller from him.

Huo Yuzheng looked at her puffed-up profile and couldn't help but chuckle.

The next second, the chef he was controlling slipped and threw the perfect finished product he had just received directly into the fire.

Mo Wansheng burst out laughing, "Pfft!"

The two looked at each other.

Due to timeouts and mistakes, points were constantly deducted, resulting in a dismal one-star finish.

Finally, unable to hold back any longer, they both collapsed onto the sofa, laughing so hard they were doubled over.

"It seems so." Huo Yuzheng stopped laughing, rubbed his slightly sore fingers, and looked at Mo Wansheng beside him, who was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes.

"The depths of the virtual kitchen are still beyond Huo's full grasp."

Mo Wansheng wiped her eyes, panting, and said, "Same here. Chef Huo, give me a massage. Looks like you can't escape."

"Of course, I accept the consequences of my bet."

The two raised their glasses and gently clinked them together.

Huo Yuzheng said in a low voice, "In the next round, the winner will choose the area to be massaged."