Chapter 68 Steamed Sea Bass, Boiled Sliced Pork
The slices of meat quickly changed color and curled up in the boiling hot spicy soup, becoming incredibly tender.
Pour the soup and meat slices into a large bowl lined with vegetables.
Finally, sprinkle a generous amount of minced garlic, Sichuan peppercorn powder, dried chili pepper pieces, and chopped green onions on top of the mountain of meat slices.
Similarly, heat a spoonful of boiling oil and pour it over it with a splash!
"Sizzle—"
Ultimate critical strike!
The moment the hot oil comes into contact with the spices, an extremely powerful, spicy, and savory aroma explodes out!
The aroma intertwines with the delicate sweetness of the steamed sea bass, like a concerto of ice and fire, launching an indiscriminate and fierce attack on the senses of smell and taste!
Sitting in the living room, Zhao Liyue's fingers hovered above the keyboard, but she didn't type a single word for a long time.
Her nostrils twitched uncontrollably, the aroma like a living hook, constantly tantalizing her appetite.
The handwriting on the work report became blurred, and her mind uncontrollably began to imagine how spicy and delicious the boiled pork slices must be, and how tender and sweet the steamed sea bass must be... She even unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"Sister Yue, dinner's ready!" Su Xiaonuan's clear voice was like heavenly music.
Zhao Liyue closed her laptop almost instantly, her movements were so fast they seemed to fly.
She stood up and, very consciously, even somewhat eagerly, strode into the kitchen: "I'll take it!"
She carefully picked up the bowl of bright red, glistening boiled pork slices, which were still bubbling slightly. The spicy aroma filled her nostrils, making her take a deep breath.
Then she picked up the plate of perfectly shaped steamed sea bass, drizzled with glossy oil and garnished with shredded vegetables. The exquisite freshness made her feel refreshed and happy.
Su Xiaonuan was happy to have some free time. She poured herself a glass of cold water, sat on a small stool in the living room, and watched Zhao Liyue busy herself with a smile.
Seeing how enthusiastically and proactively this aloof police officer was "tamed" by delicious food, she felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
The two sat down at the dining table.
Needless to say, they started eating almost simultaneously.
Zhao Liyue first tasted a bite of the steamed sea bass.
With a gentle nudge of the chopsticks, the garlic-clove-shaped fish meat easily separates, revealing its white and delicate texture.
Dip it in the sauce at the bottom of the plate, which combines the freshness of the fish with the salty and savory flavor of soy sauce, and then put it in your mouth.
The fish is so tender that it hardly needs chewing; it seems to melt on the tongue, and the ultimate sweetness instantly fills the entire mouth. It is a pure and high-end enjoyment that comes from the ingredients themselves and the precise control of the cooking time.
She squinted her eyes contentedly.
Then, she launched her attack on the pot of bright red boiled pork slices.
The meat slices are incredibly tender, coated in a spicy and savory broth. The first taste is the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns, followed by the fiery kick of chili peppers, then the tenderness of the meat slices and the richness of the broth. The multiple flavors are distinct yet blend seamlessly, powerfully assaulting the taste buds, making you break out in a slight sweat, but you can't help but keep eating, one bite after another, unable to stop.
Paired with a mouthful of perfectly steamed, distinct grains of white rice, it's simply the most delicious thing in the world!
Zhao Liyue was completely immersed in this ocean of delicious food, and her body and mind were greatly comforted and satisfied. She was so engrossed in the fact that she didn't even notice the phone next to her that was on but had its screen lit up.
"Sister Yue, your phone is ringing." It was Su Xiaonuan who reminded her, and she was suddenly brought back to reality from her immersion in the delicious food.
When Zhao Liyue saw the words "Zhao Liming" displayed on the screen, her expression stiffened, and she immediately picked up the phone to answer: "Brother?"
On the other end of the phone, Zhao Liming's voice was brief and serious, faintly coming through the receiver: "Li Yue, based on the clues we've gathered, we're highly suspicious of the person who made the call, and any possible accomplices of the kidnappers. Their activity area is near the neighborhood where Su Xiaonuan lives. You need to be vigilant, try not to go out alone at night, and lock your doors and windows."
Zhao Liyue's expression changed instantly, and her fingers gripping the phone tightened slightly: "Understood. We'll be careful."
"Protect her, and protect yourself too," Zhao Liming instructed before hanging up the phone.
The warm atmosphere in the restaurant suddenly cooled down after that phone call.
Zhao Liyue put down her phone, her brows furrowing slightly. The relaxed mood she had just experienced because of the delicious food was replaced by her professional alertness.
Although Su Xiaonuan didn't hear the whole thing, seeing Zhao Liyue's sudden change in expression, and the keywords "suspect," "near the district," and "be on high alert," the tension she had been deliberately ignoring instantly surfaced in her heart, like a cold hand gently gripping her heart.
The shadows seem to be closing in once again on the victim who may resemble her and is in danger, and the kidnapper who is lurking in the dark with unpredictable methods.
Zhao Liyue noticed Su Xiaonuan's face turn slightly pale. She took a deep breath, suppressed her worry, and comforted her in as calm a tone as possible, "Don't be nervous. It's just a preliminary assessment, it might not be accurate. I'm here, I'll protect you." Her voice carried a reassuring and firm strength.
Looking into Zhao Liyue's calm and reliable eyes, Su Xiaonuan felt her unease strangely soothed.
A slight smile curved her lips, revealing a gentle expression of dependence and gratitude: "Yes, I know. Thank you, Sister Yue."
To dispel the sudden somber atmosphere and to express her gratitude for Zhao Liyue's protection, Su Xiaonuan stood up and said in a light tone, "Sister Yue, to thank you for protecting me, how about I make you some dessert? How about a soufflé? It has a cloud-like texture."
Soufflé?!
A look of extreme inner conflict instantly appeared on Zhao Liyue's beautiful face.
As a professional woman who has high standards for her image and physical fitness, she has always avoided high-calorie sweets.
But... but that was Su Xiaonuan's soufflé! Thinking about everything she'd made before... the taste...
The words of refusal circled around her lips twice, but her tongue seemed to already taste the fluffy, soft, and sweet flavor of eggs.
Looking at Su Xiaonuan's expectant eyes, and recalling the intoxicating spiciness of the boiled pork slices and the ultimate sweetness of the sea bass... she was torn between her inner thoughts and her own.
Ultimately, the desire for delicious food overwhelmingly triumphed over reason.
Zhao Liyue nodded silently, with an expression of heroic sacrifice, her voice a few decibels lower than usual: "...Okay."
She quickly calculated the calories in her mind, then comforted herself: It's okay, I can just change into some workout clothes later and go for a night run, add a couple more laps, no, three laps! And that's it, she happily decided!
So, Officer Zhao, feeling at ease and full of anticipation, prepared to accept Su Xiaonuan's new round of sweet "feeding".
The soufflé was ready in no time, and the tension that had just risen in the apartment seemed to be somewhat dispelled by the aroma of the freshly baked dessert.
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