Chapter 10 Chef Bai "Leon, if you like to eat, you can eat more...
After returning to the apartment, Qin Yonglian said that he would sleep on the sofa in the living room on the first floor and give the bedroom on the second floor to Bai Ying.
The sofa in the living room was extremely large. Seeing the man skillfully taking out the quilt and pillow, Bai Ying judged that he must have slept in the living room quite a lot.
"There was a time when I was obsessed with the tropical rainforest and was too lazy to go upstairs." Qin Yonglian saw what the girl was thinking and pointed to the conspicuous tropical rainforest wall in the living room.
Bai Ying saw this wall surrounded by green plants as soon as she entered the door. She had only seen a mini version in her grandfather's laboratory. She didn't expect that Qin Yonglian had built an entire tropical rainforest at home.
The tropical rainforest walls sold on the market are all closed landscapes, which is equivalent to buying a large glass exhibition hall and does not have much special features.
Qin Yonglian's wall is obviously not blocked by glass and is integrated with the external environment. It is also a complete closed-loop ecosystem. Financial support alone is not enough and it tests the owner's professional skills.
"What about light, moisture and temperature?" The studious girl couldn't help but ask.
Seeing that Bai Ying was knowledgeable, Qin Yonglian patiently replied, "There are equipment controls indoors. I designed a semi-automated maintenance program. The ventilation system simulates an outdoor breeze, with a humidity of 60%, and different parameters for day and night."
Bai Ying observed with great interest, carefully counting the plant species on the wall. Bai Xuan was a professor of agronomy, and having grown up surrounded by nature, Bai Ying knew more plants and animals than most people.
Qin Yonglian explained one by one, "There are currently 72 different tropical plant species, including mosses, woody ferns, vines, and dicots. I used to raise chameleons and tropical turtles, but later I went to middle school in the city and couldn't take care of them, so I gave them away."
Bai Ying's eyes lit up when she heard this. This guy is really amazing! Others have to study these plants in the laboratory, but in his living room, they grow like a pot of flowers.
"I planted figs on this wall and it was successful." Qin Yonglian raised his chin slightly, and a hint of pride flashed in his eyes, which were the same color as the wall.
"I used to grow pitcher plants at home and feed them flies." Bai Ying raised her eyebrows, unwilling to be left behind.
Just like two children in kindergarten, they share with each other some interesting experiments they have done.
Although the dialogue sounds like a battle between elementary school students, there is one obvious point:
The atmosphere between the two became much more relaxed and harmonious.
*** ***
After the conversation, Bai Ying felt indescribably relieved.
Her personality has always been to take things as they come, so now that she has come to South Cowes Island, she will treat it as a spontaneous trip, which is also a rare experience in her life.
Today I got to know Qin Yonglian again. It turns out that he, like me, also likes to study all kinds of interesting things in nature.
The incident of hitting someone on the forehead is over.
The owner suggested that she move freely in the area on the second floor and would never disturb her. After running around all day, she thanked him and went straight upstairs to rest.
Turning on the lights in the room, I found that the space on the second floor was different from the simple and spacious first floor. What caught my eye was a whole wall of books. The so-called bedroom turned out to be a bed among the books.
Bai Ying looked around and found that the owner of the book had a wide range of interests and read all kinds of books.
There are also many microscopic photography works on the wall, including a photo of a chameleon baby lying on a leaf.
When Bai Ying took off her coat casually, she realized that she had been wearing Qin Yonglian's shirt.
This man who always seems to be distant is actually quite attentive and considerate.
After washing up, Bai Ying lay on the bed wrapped in a thin quilt, with a faint scent of soapberries in her nose. She yawned and habitually stretched out one foot to press the corner of the quilt.
I picked up my phone and left a message for Zhang Caiyi: [The seafood on South Cowes Island is amazing. Let's find a chance to go camping there sometime.]
Zhang Caiyi immediately replied with an emoji of the Paw Patrol on the move.
The man's shirt was draped over the bed, and the fabric of the clothes retained his unique fragrance. The refreshing woody scent was faintly wafting. Bai Ying took a deep breath and turned over.
At first she thought this man was like Peter Pan who lived in Neverland, but after getting to know him better today, she found him to be more like a gentle beast living on a mysterious island.
Mr. Beast lives in his own castle, building his own unique kingdom.
When the two of them were discussing the tropical rainforest wall in the living room in the evening, she saw that Qin Yonglian was confident and talkative, completely different from his usual cold and aloof self.
Bai Ying's cheeks felt a little hot, and she suddenly thought of the Tagalog word Kilig. This word means that when you see a person, thousands of butterflies will flutter from your heart, bringing an indescribable joy.
Thinking of the Beast driving slowly in the hillside area in the afternoon, Bai Ying buried her head in the quilt and giggled.
*** ***
In the early morning light, Bai Ying vaguely heard the doorbell and conversation coming from downstairs.
She was so addicted to the early morning sound of the waves that she fell into a comfortable sleep amidst the wonderful natural white noise.
Only after hearing the sound of people again did Bai Ying rub her eyes and get up. This sleep was so comfortable that she almost thought she was back home in Shanghai.
After packing up and going downstairs, I found that it was Su Jiahao who came on the earliest boat in the morning.
A young man with chestnut curly hair poked his head out of the kitchen. "Hey! Yinn, good morning. If I said I was just here to drive, would you believe me?"
Bai Ying's eyebrows curved and she shook her head.
"Then I just came here to play with Hua Zai and Wei Zai. Have you replied?"
Bai Ying nodded happily.
Su Jiahao winked. She was indeed a clever and cute girl. No wonder someone got up so early in the morning to make brownies. Such high-quality hospitality was definitely not for him.
Qin Yonglian, unaware that he was being criticized, was evenly sprinkling roasted walnut pieces on the chocolate in the mold.
Su Jiahao glanced at his old friend from time to time, then turned back to look at Bai Ying, unable to suppress his suspicion. His old friend, a veteran otaku who was indifferent to the world, actually let someone live in his house for the first time in history.
The raging gossip fire finally couldn't be suppressed, and asked, "Leon, I didn't expect that you guys slept like this last night?"
"Speak nicely." Qin Yonglian raised his hand and paused, and a few walnut pieces rolled onto the table.
"But it's just as I expected, upstairs and downstairs, the Chu River and Han River." Su Jiahao looked thoughtful, as if he had foresight.
"If you have this much time, why don't you think about how to pass the CFA exam this year? This is your third time taking it." The man said calmly, with a special depth.
Speaking of the pain point, Su Jiahao covered his chest and said, "..." He suddenly wanted to break up with the junior in front of him. What should he do?
"Bai Ying, have breakfast. I'll drive back to the city with Jiahao later." Qin Yonglian put the steaming hot breakfast on the table.
Bai Ying asked, "Leon, what about you? Aren't you going back to the city with me?"
"I'm at home. I'll only go there when I have classes."
Su Jiahao knocked on the table and reminded him, "Brother Qin, don't you still have to go to work?"
"It's rare for me to come back, so I want to skip work for a day." Qin Yonglian returned to his lazy tone.
Bai Ying: “…” Can work be so casual?
Su Jiahao gave him a look that said, "I've seen it so many times, I'm not surprised."
The three of them were having breakfast when Aunt Liao came over and brought them a fresh sea bass and two full buckets of freshly caught small octopuses.
"Leon, please greet your friends who have come from afar. Yesterday, I saw that Meizi likes to eat baby octopus, so I brought two more buckets."
Hearing the word "friend", Qin Yonglian felt warm in his heart and smiled as he accepted the gift from the old man.
He turned around and asked, "We have some fresh seafood. Would you two like to stay for lunch?"
The foodies were so excited that they immediately raised their hands to indicate that they wanted to finish their seafood meal and then take the boat back to the city.
*** ***
Bai Ying has long been fond of the series of equipment in this professional kitchen. She hasn't cooked for a long time and her hands are itching.
She volunteered to handle the seafood, wanting to make a dish of steamed sea bass and blanched octopus, using vegetables from the existing vegetable patch in the backyard.
Qin Yonglian knew the girl's love for food, so he gentlemanly gave up the kitchen.
After getting the owner's permission, Bai Ying rubbed her hands excitedly, tied an apron around her, and cut off the belly fin and tail fin of the sea bass neatly and decisively. Her posture in handling the fins was smooth and skillful.
At first, Su Jiahao was curious about the novelty and leaned against the kitchen door frame to watch. However, when he saw the little girl chopping the fish head with a knife, he was frightened and ran back to Qin Yonglian.
"I didn't expect that Mr. Bai, who looks so gentle, is actually a martial artist. He's a very capable person, so impressive."
Qin Yonglian curled the corners of his mouth slightly, thinking that if it was Su Jiahao sitting in the car yesterday, he would probably be scared to death by driver Bai's aggressive driving style.
The meal was served on time two and a half hours later, with three dishes and a soup. Bai Ying carefully arranged each dish in an artistic shape.
Su Jiahao couldn't wait to take a bite, then paused, and soon revealed an expression of doubt about life. The young man tilted his head, smacked his lips, and tried another chopstick.
Bai Ying looked at Judge Su expectantly, "How is it? Please give your comments."
Su Jiahao cleared his throat a few times, searching his brain for words with difficulty. It took him a long time to give his comment: "I think... the color, fragrance, and taste are all lacking."
Huh??? Incomplete?
Bai Ying didn't believe it, and turned her burning gaze to Qin Yonglian. The man picked up the chopsticks elegantly, picked up a piece of fish and put it into his mouth.
"How? How?" Bai Ying felt like he had been chewing this piece of fish for a century.
Judge Qin looked calm and finally said, "Well, it's okay."
"Hey! Be objective! Be honest!" Su Jiahao's pupils were dizzy, and his expression clearly said, "Brother, you are too unfair."
"Just okay?" There was obvious doubt in Bai Ying's tone. Her grandfather always praised her cooking skills as being at the level of Cooking Master Boy.
As soon as the words fell, the table fell into silence.
"It's really delicious." Qin Yonglian added in a low voice.
Eh!!! Su Jiahao was absolutely certain this time. If Qin Yonglian wasn't possessed, then there was something fishy going on. He used to be the most venomous food reviewer, so why was he lying so openly today?
Because the dish made by Bai Ying tasted amazing, it was really unpalatable! Su Jiahao secretly raised his hand and swore.
Bai Ying felt a little embarrassed and took a bite of the fish for herself. After savoring it for a moment, she said seriously, "I think it's delicious too. This dish expresses my feelings about South Cowes Island."
What?! Su Jiahao’s eyes widened, thinking his sense of taste was out of whack. He took another big bite and choked, coughing for a long time.
"Jiahao, I think it's a problem with your taste." Chef Bai seemed to be thinking about something.
Su Jiahao turned to look at the two men's seriousness. Bai Ying looked satisfied, while Qin Yonglian, the scheming boy, remained calm. This time, Master Su couldn't help but give them a thumbs-up. He was truly impressed!
"Leon, if you like it, eat more." Bai Ying curled her lips at Su Jiahao and pushed the plate towards her new friend.
Qin Yonglian raised his eyebrows and twitched the corners of his mouth: "......"
Su Jiahao was gloating on the side, covering his mouth and laughing secretly.
The author has something to say:
----------------------
Su Jiahao: The question is, are Chef Bai’s cooking skills any good or not?
Bai Ying: blazing eyes.jpg
Qin Yonglian: I will eat the food made by Xifer even if it makes me wet.
【Notes】
①CFA: Chartered Financial Analyst.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
