Chapter 6 Treating Team Members
In the living room, Shi Yanchen was frowning at the code projected on the TV.
"Sorry for waking you up." Shi Yanchen apologized when he saw Pei Song.
"It's okay." Pei Song noticed that Shi Yanchen's voice was a little hoarse, "Do you have a cold?"
Shi Yanchen shook his head, but then coughed: "The final revision before the thesis defense must be completed tonight."
Pei Song walked into the kitchen and found the ingredients he bought in the afternoon still on the counter.
"Let me make some ginger soup," he said, "it will help relieve the sore throat."
Shi Yanchen was stunned for a moment, as if he wanted to say something, but the voices of project team members came from the other end of the computer, so he could only continue to participate in the discussion.
Half an hour later, a bowl of steaming ginger soup and a simple maocai were placed in front of Shi Yanchen.
The steaming appearance made the foreign students on the other side of the video couldn't help asking: "Leon, what is that? It looks so fragrant."
Shi Yanchen picked up the bowl and took a sip, and the discomfort in his throat was immediately relieved a lot.
He glanced in the direction of the kitchen and saw Pei Song had already tiptoed back to his room.
The next night, Pei Song was just about to go to bed when he received a message from Shi Yanchen:
"Sorry to bother you so late. The project team will come to discuss the paper tomorrow and may stay at home until late."
Pei Song thought about it and realized that when Shi Yanchen moved in, he did say that the project team would occasionally come to discuss issues.
But then came another message: "They saw the midnight snack I had yesterday and insisted on trying some Chinese food..."
Even through the screen, Pei Song could feel Shi Yanchen's embarrassment.
This roommate, who usually has a stern face, rarely uses such an apologetic tone.
"It's okay." Pei Song replied, "I can prepare some simple dishes tomorrow night."
"Then thank you for your help." Shi Yanchen paused and added, "I will ask them to keep quiet."
These words made Pei Song couldn't help laughing.
"How many people are there in the project team?" Pei Song asked and began to plan the menu in his mind.
"Five." Shi Yanchen replied quickly.
Pei Song nodded, opened Notes, and started making a list:
"Sichuan style twice-cooked pork, this is what Shi Yanchen must have;
Squirrel mandarin fish, foreigners should like this taste;
For Mapo Tofu, adjust the spiciness to a milder level;
Stir-fried green beans can be used as a side dish..."
As I was writing, my phone vibrated again.
"If that's too much trouble, I can order takeout."
"It's okay. I want to try the newly bought sauce anyway." Pei Song replied.
Shi Yanchen was silent for a while before sending a message: "Thank you."
These two simple words made Pei Song feel the other party's sincerity.
After class the next day, Pei Song went directly to the supermarket to buy food.
Although James hadn't appeared for a long time, he still habitually looked around and made sure it was safe before going out.
After buying groceries and returning to the apartment, Shi Yanchen was preparing the projector and computer in the study. After hearing the noise, he came out to help him carry things.
"They'll be here at half past six," Shi Yanchen said, "You don't have to rush."
Pei Song nodded and started busying himself in the kitchen.
The ingredients have been marinated in advance, now you just need to follow the steps.
At half past six, the doorbell rang on time, and the project team members arrived one after another, and the living room soon became lively.
"Guten
Abend! (Good evening)" A blond boy wearing glasses greeted first, "You are Spencer, right? "
Pei Song nodded politely and continued to process the ingredients in his hands.
Looking out from the glass door of the kitchen, you can see Shi Yanchen explaining an algorithm model to the team members.
His expression was serious, and he pointed out problems in the code from time to time, completely immersed in academic discussions.
While I was cutting vegetables, the kitchen door was pushed open.
"Do you need help?" It was a sunny-looking boy in the project team named Max.
"Thank you, but that's okay." Pei Song politely declined and continued to focus on the work at hand.
"Your knife skills are really professional." Max seemed to be trying to find a topic, "Which college are you from? I don't think I've seen you in Puting."
"I'm in the School of Economics and Management."
"Oh? That's close to our college. How about having lunch together someday? I know a great Italian restaurant near the school..."
"Max." Shi Yanchen's cold voice suddenly sounded at the door, "Is the test data ready?"
Max was visibly stiff: "Not yet..."
"Then just focus on your work." Shi Yanchen said calmly, "Don't disturb others."
Although his tone was calm, there was an unmistakable sense of oppression in those hazel eyes.
Max left the kitchen in embarrassment.
Pei Song continued to cut vegetables, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Shi Yanchen still standing at the door.
"They may discuss it later." Shi Yanchen spoke, his tone much more relaxed, "If it's too noisy, just say it directly."
"It's okay." Pei Song smiled, "Just work hard."
Shi Yanchen nodded and turned back to the living room.
At exactly eight o'clock, when Pei Song appeared with plates of delicious dishes, everyone was stunned.
"Oh my god, this is so professional, isn't it?" the blond man with glasses exclaimed, "Just like a Michelin restaurant!"
"No wonder Leon hasn't been eating out with us lately." Another girl said with a smile, "With such delicious food, who would want to eat hamburgers?"
"Leon, you are so lucky to have such a good roommate..."
Shi Yanchen sat in the main seat, and when the last dish of twice-cooked pork was served, his eyes lit up noticeably.
"By the way, Leon," the blond man with glasses remembered something, "did you try the innovative dumplings at that restaurant yesterday?"
Shi Yanchen answered without even looking up: "Not interested."
"It's really special, with strawberry filling!" the brown-haired girl said excitedly, "They say it's fusion
cuisine (fusion cuisine), a combination of Chinese and Western cuisine..."
"That's not dumplings." Shi Yanchen said indifferently, with a hint of disgust in his tone, "That's a misunderstanding of Chinese cuisine."
He picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork and continued, "This is the real Chinese taste."
Pei Song couldn't help laughing. It was the first time he saw Shi Yanchen defend Chinese food so much.
"What is this? It tastes amazing!" The blond man with glasses took a bite of mapo tofu and blinked in surprise.
"It's tofu, but with a special sauce added." Pei Song explained simply.
He deliberately lowered the spiciness, but the unique aroma of Sichuan bean paste still felt novel to this group of students from Country D.
"Spencer is really amazing." The brown-haired girl picked up a piece of squirrel fish with chopsticks, "This one is so beautiful, isn't it?"