The black Maybach slowly drove into the courtyard of the Ye family villa, and the water droplets from the fountain reflected a rainbow-like halo in the sunlight.
Ye Qingliu was the first to get off the car. He carried the heaviest shopping bag and strode towards the kitchen, his back as straight as a pine tree.
"Qingliu is in a good mood today." Duan Shuce closed the car door and smiled as he watched the young man's brisk pace.
Ning Xiwan took his arm and said, "Because he can cook now. This kid has been obsessed with cooking since he was young."
Bai Zhiye trotted after Ye Qingliu, the strawberry hairpin in her hair bouncing with her steps: "Qingliu, wait for me~"
The kitchen is Ye Qingliu's absolute domain. In the spacious open space, built-in kitchen appliances imported from Germany gleam with a cool light, and the center island is neatly arranged with freshly purchased ingredients.
Ye Qingliu had already tied on a dark blue apron and was skillfully sorting the ingredients, his slender fingers moving flexibly between the vegetables and meat.
"Do you need help?" Ning Xiwan asked while leaning against the door frame.
Ye Qingliu didn't even raise his head: "No need."
His voice was cold, but his tone was much softer than usual. He picked up the kitchen knife with the professionalism of a Michelin chef, rubbing the blade against the sharpening rod with a reassuring "swish" sound.
Bai Zhiye came closer curiously: "When did Qingliu learn to cook?"
"Nine years old." Ye Qingliu answered briefly, and the knife in his hand had already begun to cut the carrot into even thin strips. His knife skills were so fast that afterimages almost appeared.
Duan Shuce raised his eyebrows: "The young master of the Ye family has been cooking since he was six years old?"
Ning Xiwan's eyes flashed with heartache: "At that time, his parents passed away, and he refused to eat the food cooked by the chef at home."
She lowered her voice and said, "The other day I came to see him and found this little guy standing on a stool making fried rice and eggs."
The kitchen suddenly became quiet, with only the "clacking" sound of the knife blade hitting the chopping board.
Ye Qingliu's movements did not pause at all, but Bai Zhiye noticed that his fingers holding the knife tightened slightly.
"I'll deal with the lobsters." Duan Shuce changed the subject at the right time, rolled up his sleeves and walked towards the sink.
Ye Qingliu suddenly said: "I'll do it."
He put down the kitchen knife and pulled out a special seafood knife from the knife rack. "You can't handle the shrimp thread well."
Duan Shuce raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay, chef, please."
Ye Qingliu's lobster preparation is truly an art. He anesthetizes the lobster with ice water, then precisely cuts through the joints, removing the meat while leaving the shell intact.
Bai Zhiye stared intently, admiration written all over her face.
"Qingliu is so awesome!" She couldn't help but applaud.
Ye Qingliu raised the corner of his mouth slightly and cut the shrimp into even thick slices: "It's very simple."
"Then let's have a competition?" Ning Xiwan suddenly became interested and picked up another knife. "I'll cut the potatoes into shreds."
A hint of smile flashed across Ye Qingliu's gray-blue eyes: "You will lose."
"Underestimating my sister?" Ning Xiwan raised her eyebrows, her long chestnut hair neatly tied into a ponytail.
Duan Shuce smiled and took out his phone to time it: "Three minutes, let's see who can chop it finer and more evenly."
The match began. Ye Qingliu's knife was so swift it was almost invisible, and the potato was quickly reduced to a pile of silver threads as thin as hair. Ning Xiwan was not to be outdone. Although her knife skills were not as professional as Ye Qingliu's, she was more agile and varied.
Bai Zhiye nervously clutched the hem of her skirt, looking back and forth between the two of them, while Duan Shuce leaned leisurely on the cooking counter, his eyes full of doting.
"Time's up!" Duan Shuce announced.
Two piles of shredded potatoes were placed on the cutting board for comparison. Ye Qingliu's were cut as neatly and uniformly as if machine-cut, each piece almost identical in thickness. Ning Xiwan's, while slightly uneven, had a more handmade warmth.
"Draw." Duan Shuce ruled fairly.
Ye Qingliu snorted softly, but the softness in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows betrayed his good mood.
He turned around and began to prepare the cheese sauce. With a flip of his wrist, the cream, cheese and white wine blended perfectly, and the aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.
"This fragrance..." Bai Zhiye took a deep breath, and his stomach growled.
Ye Qingliu glanced at her and silently quickened his movements.
Two hours later, the table was filled with delicious dishes: the cheese-baked lobster was golden and crispy, the black pepper steak was cooked to perfection, the stir-fried seasonal vegetables were green and juicy, and there was also Ye Qingliu's special borscht, which was so rich in aroma that it made people's mouths water.
"I'm starting!" Bai Zhiye clasped his hands together, his eyes sparkling.
Ye Qingliu sat beside her and gracefully served her a bowl of soup: "Be careful, it's hot."
Ning Xiwan took a bite of the lobster and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction: "Son, it would be a waste if you didn't open a restaurant with your cooking skills."
Duan Shuce said with a smile while cutting a steak, "The head of the Ye Group opening a restaurant? Those old fogies on the board of directors are probably going to have a heart attack."
Ye Qingliu drank a sip of lemonade expressionlessly: "I can consider it."
"Really?" Bai Zhiye turned around in surprise, "Qingliu is going to open a restaurant?"
"Yes." Ye Qingliu nodded, and rarely explained a few more words, "It's a Michelin three-star restaurant, specializing in French and creative cuisine. It's located on the Bund."
Ning Xiwan and Duan Shuce exchanged surprised glances. They knew Ye Qingliu never said anything he wasn't sure of, so this was clearly something he had already planned.
"Then I'll go eat there every day!" Bai Zhiye said happily.
Ye Qingliu looked at her brilliant smile and his eyes softened: "I'll reserve a special seat for you."
"I want VIP treatment too." Ning Xiwan teased him deliberately.
Ye Qingliu glanced at her and said, "...you can get a discount if you wash the dishes."
Duan Shuce burst into laughter, and Ning Xiwan pretended to hit him. The table was filled with laughter and joy. Sunlight streamed in through the French windows, gilding the warm scene.
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