Chapter 3 – Accidentally getting serious

Let's just make some fried rice...

Even though basically anyone can make this, Sadao planned to just casually make fried rice for Utaha Kasumigaoka.

Egg fried rice is a pretty interesting dish. The reason I say that is because this simple egg fried rice always sparks countless debates among online amateur chefs. Comments like "That's not how you make egg fried rice" or "(the uploader) can't cook at all" always pop up on the screen from time to time, making it quite annoying.

Sadao also dislikes these kinds of people. In his eyes, as a former chef, as long as the dish tastes good, uses legal ingredients, and ensures hygiene, who cares how the chef cooks it!

After heating the iron pan, he casually added peanut oil, even though he wanted to just go through the motions... but tragically, he would unconsciously stop his actions at the most appropriate times. It's like the soul of the chef in his heart is preventing him, saying, "You can't do it like this."

Although he could force himself to ruin a dish, under the condition of having the ability, deliberately wasting a dish gives a sense of wasting food.

Listening to the sizzling sound of the oil, Sadao entered a mode of self-pity.

Why is my heart always so contradictory?

At this moment, Sadao seemed to transform into an old literary, starting useless melancholy. But even that melancholy couldn't stop the chef's soul hidden deep within him. The fragrance rushed towards him the moment the egg mixture fell into the pan.

What a seductive appetite... truly the eggs I love the most!

The literary youth mode instantly faded away, and Sadao, whose appetite was aroused, finally started to take it seriously.

As a pseudo-foodie with miraculously amazing cooking skills, life is just too blissful!

With this thought, Sadao, with full firepower, saw the perfect timing and sent the prepared overnight rice into the pan.

Sizzle—

What a delightful sound!

Sadao couldn't help but exclaim. One can imagine, this is definitely an egg fried rice that can awe the soul.

With each stir, he picked up the seasonings. Like possessed by Li Bai himself, he generously sprinkled the seasonings onto the gradually forming egg fried rice.

Sizzle—

The pleasant sound echoed again, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face once more.

When everything came to an end, Sadao's rationality returned to his mind.

Looking at the masterpiece in front of him, smelling the enticing aroma, Sadao was amazed. So much so that he even had the thought, what have I done?

Undoubtedly, this egg fried rice in front of him is among the best of the best, but does this egg fried rice have anything to do with "casual"?

If it's really served, then things will be troublesome!

Sadao was in agony, but the fragrance doesn't lie.

Attracted by the aroma, Utaha Kasumigaoka stood at the kitchen door with eager anticipation.

Watching her with an appetite-opening appearance, Sadao even suspected that if he tried to snatch the food, she might come up and fight him.

In Sadao's mind, the image of a eunuch named Little Li appeared involuntarily. But the current situation is beyond describing with just the three words "too painful."

"Is it done?" Unable to bear his motionless state, Utaha couldn't help but speak. She really wanted to know when she could taste this egg fried rice.

"It's done." Sadao believed that at this moment, he must have shown a smile even uglier than crying, but telling a white lie is something he can't do.

Utaha's eyes instantly lit up. "Oh, okay. Don't bother, Manager, I'll take this egg fried rice out myself!"

After saying that, she took the egg fried rice away from under his nose.

"Ah..." Sadao subconsciously wanted to stop her, but Utaha didn't pay any attention to him and simply left with the egg fried rice.

Watching her disappearing figure, he couldn't help but think, girl, I'm hungry too!

Sadao let out a soft sigh, ultimately giving up on the idea of snatching back the egg fried rice from her hands. However, the overnight rice originally intended for lunch had already been used up. Now, even if he wanted to make another egg fried rice, it wasn't practical. After thinking for a while, he decided to use the ingredients for dinner and make some congee in advance.

Although it would give him a headache figuring out what to eat for dinner later, that's a problem for the nighttime him, not the current him. One month might not be long, but there were many things he could do. Hoarding some unusual and rare ingredients seemed necessary to him. And now, it was coming in handy.

After rummaging in the storage room for a while, he had two dark eggs in his hand. Those were the preserved eggs made from duck eggs!

Indeed, I'm a true Chinese person—

Looking at these familiar ingredients, influenced by homesickness, Sadao once again transformed into an old literary, starting another round of sentimental reflections. However, the progress of cooking wouldn't stagnate because of his sentimental journey, just like the Yellow River water that flows ceaselessly to the sea.

...

That Kohai is truly a strange person! As Utaha Kasumigaoka returned to her seat with the egg fried rice, thoughts of that strange kohai surfaced in her mind. Although most of her attention had been captured by the delicious food, the mixed expression of joy and sorrow on his face was truly too unforgettable.

She had never thought that cooking could reveal so many complex expressions, especially his expression when she took the plate of egg fried rice away from him—it was like he had lost a precious toy.

Thinking about it, she couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth. Am I enjoying his misfortune?

However, this egg fried rice... it's just too delicious. Even if he makes that pitiful expression, I'm definitely not giving it back.

Thinking of this, she couldn't wait and scooped up a spoonful of the irresistibly fragrant egg fried rice and brought it to her mouth.

Mmm—

As soon as the rice entered her mouth, Utaha experienced what a flavor bomb was. The deliciousness that continuously exploded in her mouth made her freeze.

A flavor bomb... Even though she had heard food experts on programs describe delicious dishes as flavor bombs, causing a soul-shaking experience, she used to think it was just an exaggerated description. In reality, there couldn't be dishes like that. But now, it was clear that it was no exaggeration.

Who is this kohai of mine? Where did he come from? To possess such culinary skills... Is he really just the manager of this restaurant?

As she pondered the identity of this kohai, a completely different aroma from the egg fried rice wafted from the kitchen. Smelling this fragrance, Utaha was a bit dumbfounded. What has my Kohai cooked up this time!?

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