Cui's Private Kitchen
When they paid the bill and left, the owner smiled and saw them to the door.
“Mr. Cui looks very well today. It’s nice to go for a walk with your friends.” Cui Yu replied with a smile. He naturally placed his hand on Meng Yihe’s lower back, making a very brief gesture to guide him out the door, and then removed it immediately.
Meng Yihe's body stiffened again, but this time the reaction was much milder than before. She simply quickened her pace and stepped out the door first. That fleeting touch was like a small cluster of static electricity, bringing a slightly tingling sensation that lingered for a long time.
As Cui Yu had said, the art museum was indeed small in scale, hidden in a cultural district, and had few visitors.
The current exhibition features experimental ink paintings by a contemporary artist, combining traditional ink painting with abstract imagery in a unique and serene style.
The interior is softly lit and has a tranquil atmosphere.
The two strolled through the exhibition hall, looking at the paintings on the walls, some bold and colorful, others ethereal and blank, without saying a word.
Although Meng Yihe is not an art major, his aesthetic sense and logical ability allow him to quickly grasp the emotions and ideas in the works. He looks at them very attentively, and occasionally he will pause for a moment in front of a certain painting.
Cui Yu stayed half a step away from him, neither disturbing him nor too far away. Occasionally, he would follow Meng Yihe's gaze to the same painting, and then whisper his opinion, or just a simple interjection to indicate that he had also noticed it.
I walked up to a huge painting with deep blue and black as the main colors, which seemed to contain an endless starry sky or an abyss.
Meng Yihe stopped and looked up, her gaze calm.
Cui Yu also stopped and stood beside him, looking at the painting as well.
"Doesn't it look like the night sky I saw in the Linan mining area?" Cui Yu suddenly asked, his voice low, barely audible to the two of them. "It's an endless darkness, but if you look closely, there's light."
Meng Yihe paused slightly, then looked at the painting again.
Upon Cui Yu's suggestion, the starry sky seen from the arduous mining area, free from any light pollution, seemed to instantly overlap with the painting before them.
That feeling of being both insignificant and magnificent washed over me again.
He didn't expect Cui Yu to remember that moment, and he certainly didn't expect him to bring it up now.
"Um."
After visiting all the exhibition halls, the two sat down to rest in a corner of the café attached to the art museum.
Cui Yu ordered a cup of hot milk for Meng Yihe as usual, and a cup of black coffee for herself.
Holding a warm cup of milk, Meng Yihe looked out the window at a ginkgo tree in the courtyard whose leaves had almost all fallen, the golden leaves carpeting the ground. A sense of weariness washed over her again. It wasn't the tense kind of weariness, but a languid languor after relaxation.
He sipped his milk, feeling his eyelids grow heavy.
Cui Yu didn't disturb him, but quietly drank her coffee, occasionally glancing at her phone to handle some unimportant messages. Most of the time, her gaze was fixed on the person opposite her, who was holding a glass of milk and seemed to be about to fall asleep.
After an unknown amount of time, Meng Yihe's head tilted slightly, and he suddenly woke up with a start, realizing that he had almost actually fallen asleep. He sat up a little embarrassedly and subconsciously looked at the person opposite him.
Cui Yu was looking at him with a slight smile on his lips.
"Are you tired?" Cui Yu asked softly. "Let's go back."
Meng Yihe glanced at the time and realized that they had been outside for almost a whole day.
He nodded, admitting he was indeed tired.
The atmosphere was even quieter in the car on the way back.
Meng Yihe leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the street scenes rushing past the window, the hustle and bustle of the city gradually replacing the tranquility of the suburbs.
The scenes of the day slowly replayed in my mind.
A stroll by the lake, a quiet lunch, paintings in the art museum, and that ever-warm glass of milk... a strange sense of fulfillment intertwined with a slight weariness.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of the apartment building.
"Get some rest." Cui Yu turned her head to look at him.
"Tomorrow... if there are no plans, we'll talk about it later?" He didn't insist on making a promise for another time, but left an open-ended option.
Meng Yihe unbuckled her seatbelt and whispered, "Thank you for today."
Thank you for breakfast, thank you for being with me, thank you for this special day.
"You're welcome." Cui Yu smiled. "Have a nice holiday, Director Meng."
The next morning, Meng Yihe woke up to overly bright sunlight. The sunlight, so glaringly bright, streamed through the gaps in the curtains, clearly indicated that it was already quite late. He reached for his phone on the bedside table and glanced at it; it was almost 10 a.m. His body still felt the lingering languor of a deep sleep, but his spirits were much higher; the heavy fatigue that had accumulated over the past few days seemed to have been largely washed away.
He lay in bed, not getting up immediately.
The apartment was so quiet that you could hear the distant sounds of traffic outside the window, and yesterday's scenes kept flashing through my mind again and again.
The phone screen suddenly lit up with a new message notification from Cui Yu.
Are you awake?
Those three simple words seemed to have predicted exactly when he woke up.
Meng Yihe stared at the message. He hesitated for a few seconds before typing a reply: "Just woke up."
The message was replied to almost instantly: "Yeah, as long as you got enough rest. What are your plans for today?"
Looking at the question, Meng Yihe felt as if he were witnessing a replay of yesterday's phone call. He could almost picture Cui Yu holding his phone, calmly awaiting his reply.
He instinctively wanted to reply "rest at home," but his finger hovered above the screen, hesitant to drop it.
The warmth of yesterday's glass of milk still seems to linger on my fingertips.
He found that he didn't actually dislike yesterday's arrangements; in fact, it was a relaxing and pleasant day in his memory.
This realization made him feel a little flustered.
Just as he was hesitating, Cui Yu's next message came in:
[Or, could you give me a chance to showcase "Cui's Private Kitchen"? I guarantee it's healthier than takeout and cleaner than a restaurant.]
Xuyue went to Grandpa's and hasn't come back yet; I'm home alone.
It was followed by a smiling emoticon.
Go to Cui Yu's house?
This suggestion was completely beyond Meng Yihe's expectations, and he almost immediately wanted to refuse it, as it crossed that invisible line even further than going out for a stroll.
But Cui Yu seemed to sense his hesitation from afar, and immediately sent another message: 【How about we celebrate the crisis being over? I don't get many chances to cook.】
Meng Yihe's fingers froze.
I typed and then deleted the message in the dialog box to refuse.
He found himself developing an undeniable curiosity about the scene of "Cui Yu cooking"—what would that man, who strategizes at the negotiating table, look like wearing an apron?
Moreover, he couldn't refute the reason of "celebrating the end of the crisis," since they had indeed just won a tough battle together.
Just as he was struggling internally, Cui Yu's last message arrived:
If it's inconvenient, then forget it.
【Then you should get some rest and remember to eat on time.】
Meng Yihe stared at the screen, finally making up her mind, and quickly typed a single word: 【Okay.】
Sent successfully.
His heart suddenly raced, and he even felt a pang of regret, wanting to turn back immediately.
But Cui Yu's reply arrived with lightning speed: "[I'll send you the address. Come anytime, no rush.]" He then attached a detailed address located in a well-known villa district in the city.
Meng Yihe looked at the address and took a deep breath.
Things seemed to be going completely off track. Not only did he agree to the holiday trip, but now he also agreed to have dinner at the home of an Alpha colleague he liked, and it would just be the two of them there.
Meng Yihe slowly got up, washed up, and changed into slightly more casual but still presentable clothes. His movements were much slower than usual, as if he was stalling for time. After dawdling for almost an hour, he finally picked up his phone and keys and went out.
Following the address, he drove into the quiet villa area. He found the house number; it was a modern yet cozy two-story villa with a well-maintained little garden.
He parked his car, stood in front of the openwork wrought iron gate, took another deep breath, and then rang the doorbell.
The door opened quickly from the inside.
Cui Yu stood behind the door, wearing a light gray loungewear set with a dark apron that looked quite new over it, and his hands seemed to have a few water droplets on them.
"You've come at the perfect time." He stepped aside, his tone natural and familiar. "Come in quickly, I just started simmering the soup."
Meng Yihe walked in somewhat stiffly.
The entryway is spacious and bright, the interior has a warm modern style, the living room is large and connects to the open kitchen and dining room, and the huge floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a lush garden. The house is very clean, but you can feel the warmth of life everywhere.
Several soft cushions were casually tossed on the sofa, and there were many books and photo frames on the bookshelf. The air was filled with the aroma of stewed food.
"Sit anywhere, just like you're at home."
Cui Yu greeted him naturally, then turned and went back into the kitchen to check on his soup pot.
Meng Yihe sat down on the living room sofa somewhat awkwardly, but his gaze involuntarily followed the figure in the kitchen. He saw Cui Yu skillfully handling the ingredients, chopping vegetables, seasoning, checking the heat... every step was orderly and without any disorder.
There's a sense of warmth and homeliness that belongs to a family.
This scene strangely blends the images of "Director Cui" and "stay-at-home man" together.
This gave Meng Yihe a huge shock and an indescribable feeling of excitement. He forced himself to look away and gaze at the garden under the sunlight outside the window, trying to calm his somewhat abnormal heartbeat.
After a while, Cui Yu brought out the last dish and placed it on the table.
Three or four dishes were already laid out on the table. They looked quite good, with a good mix of meat and vegetables, and fresh colors. They looked refreshing and delicious.
"Alright, let's eat." Cui Yu took off his apron, casually draped it over the back of the chair, and beckoned to Meng Yihe.
The two sat down at the dining table.
"Try it and see if it suits your taste." Cui Yu handed him the chopsticks, her eyes filled with an almost imperceptible expectation.
Meng Yihe picked up a piece of stir-fried seasonal vegetables with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. The texture was crisp, the seasoning was just right, and it preserved the original flavor of the ingredients.
“…Very good.” He commented objectively, noting that it had indeed exceeded his expectations for Cui Yu’s cooking.
Cui Yu smiled, seemingly relieved, and began to eat: "That's good. It seems I haven't lost my cooking skills."
The meal was still quiet, but it felt more casual and warm than it had been at the restaurant yesterday.
Meng Yihe even temporarily forgot about those entanglements and boundaries, and was simply immersed in this unexpected lunch that Cui Yu had personally prepared at his home.
After the meal, Cui Yu brewed a pot of herbal tea to aid digestion and relieve the greasiness.
The two moved to the sofa in the living room.
The languid feeling after a full meal made her reluctant to move. Holding a warm teacup, Meng Yihe looked out at the clear sky and lush green garden and suddenly felt that time seemed to slow down again.
"This afternoon..." Cui Yu leaned back on the other side of the sofa, holding his teacup, "Want to watch a movie? There's a small home theater in the basement, the sound quality is pretty good."
It's another incredibly tempting offer that doesn't require you to go out.
"Okay," Meng Yihe heard herself reply.
Cui Yu's lips curved into a satisfied smile as he stood up. "I'll go choose. You can look around however you like; there are some books in the study, or you can just daydream." With that, he walked towards the basement.
Meng Yihe didn't move, still sitting on the sofa, holding the cup of flower tea.
The aroma of tea wafted through the air, and the sunlight was warm and inviting. The room still held the lingering scent of food, and beside him sat the man who had just cooked for him and was now choosing a movie for him.
Everything was so warm and peaceful.
The calmness gave Meng Yihe a dangerous illusion—that this was how they were supposed to be.
Cui Yu quickly came up from the basement, carrying two DVDs. "One is an old movie, a suspenseful mystery, and the other is a newer sci-fi visual novel. Which one do you prefer?" He handed the choice to Meng Yihe.
Meng Yihe's gaze swept over the covers of the two discs, and almost without hesitation, his fingertip pointed to the suspenseful mystery film. For a logic-driven mind like his, the process of solving the mystery was far more captivating than dazzling special effects.
“Good choice.” Cui Yu smiled, as if he had expected this. “Let’s go down then, the media room is more comfortable.”
Meng Yihe followed Cui Yu down the stairs.
The basement has been meticulously transformed into a professional home theater, with excellent sound insulation, soft lighting, and comfortable leather sofas that seem to invite you to completely sink into them.
Cui Yu skillfully operated the equipment. The huge screen lit up, and the surround sound emitted a slight warm-up sound effect. After adjusting everything, he naturally sat down on the largest sofa chair in the middle and patted the seat next to him.
"This is the best view."
Meng Yihe hesitated for a moment. The sofa chair was larger, but if they sat side by side, the distance would undoubtedly be closer than in the living room.
He eventually went over and sat down in the spot Cui Yu had indicated.
The lights dimmed, and the movie began.
As the opening music begins, the scene shifts to a small town shrouded in continuous rain. The film's pace is slow, but the atmosphere is exceptionally well-crafted, with solid attention to detail, quickly drawing the viewer into the story.
Meng Yihe was initially a little uncomfortable and couldn't fully concentrate. But soon, the excellent plot and ingenious suspense captivated him. He became more and more focused, his body unconsciously relaxing, and he even forgot about the people around him.
Cui Yu seemed to be engrossed in watching, only getting up once to take two bottles of mineral water from the mini-fridge next to him and silently handing one to Meng Yihe.
Midway through the film, a crucial clue emerges, plunging the protagonist into a predicament. Meng Yihe unconsciously leans forward slightly, her brow furrowed, intently analyzing every detail in the scene.
"Do you think there's anything wrong with that postman?" Cui Yu suddenly asked in a low voice, his eyes still on the screen.
Meng Yihe was interrupted and paused for a moment before subconsciously replying, "His timeline doesn't match. He said he would deliver the letter at three o'clock, but the intersection surveillance footage shows that he passed by there at two-fifty, and in the wrong direction." His tone was as calm and analytical as ever.
“Yes.” Cui Yu agreed, adding, “And he wasn’t wearing gloves when he handed over the letter, but he was wearing them in the previous shots.”
The two exchanged a few words in hushed tones about their thoughts on the plot and clues. Their thought processes were surprisingly in sync, as if they had returned to the tacit understanding they had when working side by side, only now the environment had changed from a cold office to a dimly lit and comfortable home theater.
However, as the plot became more and more intense and the atmosphere became more and more immersive, Meng Yihe's body unconsciously relaxed completely.
Prolonged concentration and a dimly lit environment induce fatigue.
As the film nears its end, just before the truth is about to be revealed, the pace of the scene slows down slightly.
Just then, Cui Yu suddenly felt a slight weight on his shoulder. He stiffened for a moment, then slowly turned his head. Meng Yihe's head had somehow turned to his side, her forehead gently resting on his shoulder, her eyes closed, her breathing even and long.
She actually fell asleep.
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