Faced with this question, Chu Jinghong simply smiled and shook his head in response, "Actually, I've already explained the reason before. When a hobby becomes a means of livelihood, the joy is greatly reduced. For me, cooking is simply a pleasure, the pure joy of experiencing the delicious food I make myself."
At this point, he emphasized, "Don't worry, the second dish will be waiting for you soon—the freshest steamed fish with lemon and chives, specially made for you, Miss Lu!"
Hearing the words "lemon leek," Lu Jingyi deliberately made a nauseous expression and said jokingly, "Please don't do anything weird again! I'm really worried that I'll want to lick the plate clean by then, haha."
After hearing this, Chu Jinghong just smiled and said nothing. As expected, he soon brought a plate of fish with a strong and refreshing aroma and a juicy green soup.
Lu Jingyi frowned as she gazed at the uniquely colored dish in front of her. "Really? Of all the dishes I've ever encountered, this is definitely the first time I've lost my appetite. Even if you try to cook it in a variety of ways, I can still tolerate it, but this lush green look... is simply too unique! Are you trying to create a more forgiving version of steamed fish? Can you tweak the appearance a little to make it look better?"
"How superficial! Judging someone based solely on appearance? Have you ever imagined that someone as handsome as me could cook such a delicious dish?" Chu Jinghong spread his arms, a relaxed smile on his face. "You would never imagine, nor could you possibly imagine, that this seemingly ordinary dish of fish actually possesses a flavor that would fascinate even the most discerning gourmet. Someone once offered $100 million for this secret recipe, but I never give it away easily."
The two ladies exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion and disbelief. It's undeniable that all the food Chu Jinghong had prepared during this period had whetted one's appetite. However, while the grilled fish served today was fragrant—especially the refreshing lemon scent, which was truly mouth-watering—its appearance was indeed somewhat unsatisfactory.
"Ha, do you think we're all just gullible children? Or are you just too deeply possessed?" Lu Jingyi sneered. Faced with this, Chu Jinghong simply smiled faintly in response, "If you don't believe me, why not try it yourself? Practice is the only criterion for testing truth."
After saying this, Lu Jingyi, unconvinced, picked up a piece of fish and brought it to her lips to taste. Unexpectedly, the unprecedented deliciousness immediately astonished her, leaving her almost speechless. "How could I have been so foolish! How could I not have seen your abilities before!" she practically shouted, her tone filled with regret and self-deprecation for her own misjudgment.
Xia Yuqing, sitting nearby, was caught off guard by her companion's sudden change. Confused but also filled with curiosity, she carefully picked up a piece of tender fish with her chopsticks and tried it. Her eyes lit up instantly as her taste buds touched the delicious, layered flavors. Having tasted all sorts of fine cuisine, she had never experienced such a transformation from a bland first impression to a breathtaking one.
This transformation is like a durian: it may look odd or even have a strange smell, but once you take a bite, you will be obsessed with its unique charm until you are completely addicted to it.
"It's amazing! The skin is crispy, but the inside is smooth and tender, spicy but not dry, and just the right amount of sour and sweet." Xia Yuqing said as she couldn't wait to continue enjoying the food. She was obviously deeply attracted by this discovery.
Seeing that they seemed ready to devour everything in front of them, along with the plate, and before he even took a bite, Chu Jinghong shook his head and said with a smile, "Now you finally believe it, right? There are indeed many people who would spend a lot of money to own such a recipe."
Suddenly, Lu Jingyi had an idea. "If it's really that special, would you consider transferring the secret recipe to me? We can open a restaurant specializing in this fish dish together. The profits will be three-tenths and you will get seven-tenths. What do you think?"
After hearing this direct yet business-minded advice, Chu Jinghong smiled helplessly. "Ms. Chen, can't you think about this issue from a different perspective? It's too utilitarian to always be thinking about how to profit from delicious food. What's truly important is enjoying the pleasure that delicious food itself brings."
Even without a passion for life and the desire to share beauty, this unique skill alone is enough to create a brilliant career. Once you have enough wealth and look back at the world, your perspective on everything may become more open and relaxed—after all, to some extent, money is just a number.
If you're just looking to satisfy your appetite, there's really no difference between 100 million and 10 billion. Such a large sum of money is more than enough to squander for a lifetime.
"It's absolutely delicious! This turkey is absolutely amazing, way better than what I've had overseas. The meat is succulent and plump, and every bite is full of layers of flavor!" Lu Jingyi said, greedily sucking on her sauce-covered fingers, praising them endlessly. She was completely immersed in the delicious food before her, and all her elegance and grace had been forgotten. Who would have thought that a girl who ate so heartily like this was the unattainable dream of the boys at school?
Xia Yuqing, always a stickler for table etiquette, let go this time, no longer concerned with outsiders' opinions. She'd lost count of how many times she'd savored Chu Jinghong's own dishes. Each new creation seemed even better than the last, reaching a new level, leaving them with a new surprise every time they tasted it—even seemingly insignificant leftovers could be transformed into a stunning delicacy under his deft handling.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com