240: Black Crystal Kitchen Knife and Next Week's Tasks

Lin Wei meticulously checked the signature, put the document back into her briefcase, and the smile on her face became even more amiable.

"Mr. Lu, I will contact you through an encrypted channel later. Starting tomorrow, ingredients will be delivered on time to your designated location."

Once the official business was concluded, the room fell silent for a moment.

Suddenly—

"Grrrruummmble..."

A very clear, even somewhat loud, gurgling sound abruptly came from Lin Wei's stomach.

The sound was so loud that even He Jingrui, who was engrossed in eating, stopped his chopsticks and, along with Ding Xinyang, looked at her in surprise.

Lin Wei's usually professional face instantly turned crimson, all the way to her earlobes.

She subconsciously pressed her legs together and straightened her back, trying to conceal her embarrassment with a more proper sitting posture, but one hand couldn't help but secretly press her uncooperative stomach.

That forced composure mixed with overwhelming shyness created a huge contrast with her previous image of a capable and decisive female officer, revealing a rare hint of charm and cuteness.

"Uh..." Lin Wei's voice faltered for the first time, her gaze wandering, "Sorry... it's... it's just that the food here smells too... too good."

Her voice grew softer as she spoke, eventually becoming almost inaudible.

Lu Chuan was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

"Miss Lin hasn't had lunch yet, has she? It's almost mealtime. If you don't mind, would you like to eat with us? It's just home-cooked food, all ready-made."

"No, no need! This doesn't comply with regulations!"

Lin Wei immediately refused, her face even redder, as if it were about to bleed.

"Regulations didn't say liaison officers aren't allowed to have a working meal, did they?"

Lu Chuan smiled:

"Since you're here, you're a guest. Try my cooking, it'll give you a direct understanding of the meals you'll be receiving in the future. Besides, you need to eat to have the energy to work, right?"

He Jingrui nodded vigorously from the side, mumbling incoherently:

"Mmm-hmm! The food A Chuan makes is amazing! You'll definitely regret it for a lifetime if you miss it!"

Ding Xinyang also quickly chimed in.

"Yes, Miss Lin, don't be shy, Lu Chuan's cooking is really good!"

Lin Wei looked at the dishes on the table, which He Jingrui had already devoured most of but still emitted an enticing aroma, and felt the strong protest from her stomach. She hesitated for a few seconds, but ultimately couldn't resist her intense curiosity.

She nodded very slightly, her face red, and said:

"Then... then I'll trouble you."

"Please wait."

Lu Chuan smiled, tied on his apron, and re-entered the kitchen.

He opened the refrigerator, glanced at the remaining otherworldly ingredients, and began to ponder.

He Jingrui has a strong physique and can withstand the nourishing effects of these rare ingredients.

However, Ding Xinyang had only taken a few bites earlier before his face turned red, he started sweating, and ran off to drink water.

As for Lin Wei, she is a soldier. Her figure is well-proportioned and fit, suggesting she exercises diligently, so her physique must be superior to ordinary people. However, since her exact condition is unknown, it's safer to be cautious.

So, he quickly used ordinary ingredients, adding a small amount of finely chopped golden poultry meat and one or two crushed purple berries for flavor, to make stir-fried meat slices, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a purple fruit egg drop soup.

The aroma was still enticing, but the nature was much milder.

As for He Jingrui, Lu Chuan separately stir-fried a super-sized, heaped portion of fried rice for him using the remaining otherworldly ingredients, directly handing him a large bowl.

"Go, eat it on the coffee table in the living room."

He Jingrui grinned, happily trotting off with his exclusive large bowl.

The food was served: a simple three dishes and one soup, bright in color and fragrant.

Lin Wei was still a bit reserved, but at Lu Chuan and Ding Xinyang's urging, she finally picked up her chopsticks.

She first cautiously picked up a slice of stir-fried meat and put it into her mouth.

Instantly, her eyes widened slightly.

The meat slices were exceptionally tender, with an indescribable freshness and sweetness, and the faint, elusive aroma of exotic fruit was the perfect touch, perfectly bringing out the ingredients' natural flavor.

Even more wonderfully, a gentle warm current flowed into her stomach, spreading to her limbs, dispelling the fatigue from continuous work, and invigorating her spirit.

"This is... high-protein ingredients pre-treated with passion fruit and sea buckthorn juice, then stir-fried quickly to lock in freshness?"

She practically blurted it out, her tone carrying a hint of professional judgment and surprise.

Lu Chuan smiled in surprise.

"Miss Lin knows her stuff, huh?"

Lin Wei's face turned red again; realizing her lapse in composure, she quickly lowered her head.

"I know a little about nutrition."

After speaking, her chopsticks honestly reached for the plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables again.

For the rest of the time, this stern female officer was completely immersed in the world of delicious food.

She ate very gracefully but not slowly, carefully tasting each dish, her eyes sparkling with focused light.

"The seasonal vegetables are cooked to perfection, retaining maximum crispness and sweetness..."

"The egg drop soup's thickening is really well done; it's sweet and sour, appetizing, warm but not cloying..."

She occasionally whispered a comment or two, completely revealing her true nature as a gourmet.

By the time the meal was finished, the plates and bowls on the table were almost empty.

Lin Wei put down her chopsticks contentedly, subconsciously wanting to lean back in her chair, but suddenly realized she had eaten too much and her lower abdomen felt slightly distended.

She quickly sat up straight again, but the satisfied, radiant expression on her face couldn't be hidden.

"Thank you for the meal. The taste... was very... no, it should be the most delicious I've ever had."

She tried hard to make her tone return to its usual coolness, but her slightly upturned lips and satisfied eyes betrayed her.

After sitting for a while longer, Lin Wei finally got up to leave, her steps seeming lighter than when she arrived.

At the door, she hesitated for a moment, then turned back and said earnestly to Lu Chuan:

"Mr. Lu, I will notify you in advance of tomorrow's ingredient delivery time."

"Alright, no problem."

After seeing Lin Wei off, Lu Chuan closed the door, feeling quite pleased.

It seemed this liaison officer was not difficult to get along with, and she was also a fellow food connoisseur. Future cooperation should be much smoother.

He turned around, just in time to see He Jingrui hastily gobble down his last bite of rice, then he and Ding Xinyang began to clean up.

Lu Chuan watched the two of them work efficiently and realized he couldn't help, so he walked into the bedroom and locked the door behind him.

Sitting on the bed, he took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and silently thought.

"System, are you there? Can I get the reward for this week's mission now?"

【Ding dong! Your thoughtful little chef is online!】

As the system panel appeared, a lively and slightly smug voice immediately sounded in his mind.

【Host, host, that female officer just now was quite cute, but her skin is too thin!】

Lu Chuan blinked, feeling that the system seemed a little different today.

It seemed... it talked more.

"...Let's get to the point."

【Okay, okay~】

The system's voice was cheerful.

【Congratulations, Host, on brilliantly completing this week's mission! Reward has been issued!】

【Ta-da! Reward issued: A complete set of 'mystic crystal kitchen knife', with a bonus 'mystic crystal kitchen knife Sumeru space'!】

At the same time, the panel floating in front of Lu Chuan displayed next week's stall mission.