40: Further refinement of culinary skills

Facing the Dark-skinned Beauty's eager gaze, Han Fei truly couldn't utter a word of refusal.

Actually, he also hoped the Dark-skinned Beauty could eat a bit more.

The more she ate, the more abilities Han Fei could replicate.

"Please wait a moment, I'll go make it now."

After Han Fei finished speaking, he turned and stepped into the kitchen under the Dark-skinned Beauty's expectant gaze.

The moment he entered the kitchen, he felt a complex gaze locking onto him.

This was an ability replicated from the Dark-skinned Beauty, allowing him to perceive others' gazes.

Han Fei looked in the direction of the perception, only to see Liu Yueer standing by the stove, her bright eyes staring blankly at him.

Her gaze was a mix of bewilderment, confusion, and a hint of imperceptible fear.

She took a deep breath and asked, "How... how exactly did you do that?"

Her voice was soft, yet it couldn't hide the tremor deep within.

Every word seemed to be shattered by doubt and shock, then reassembled, carrying an uncontrollable astonishment and questioning.

"How did I do what?" Han Fei looked at the pot not far away, seemingly understanding, "You mean the fried rice?"

Liu Yueer nodded somewhat stiffly, "Why do you know my secret fried rice recipe?"

If it were merely knowing the cooking steps, perhaps it could be brushed off with reasons like "innate talent" or "rich experience."

After all, in the gourmet world, it's not uncommon for many skilled Three-Star Gourmet Hunters to accurately replicate a dish's preparation process after just one taste.

However, what Han Fei displayed far exceeded that.

He not only successfully replicated Liu Yueer's secret fried rice, which she had poured countless efforts into developing, but the finished product tasted even better.

This point left Liu Yueer, the creator, deeply shocked and unable to accept it.

She had personally witnessed Han Fei's entire process of making the fried rice; every movement, every control of the heat, every addition of seasoning, she remembered vividly.

In her opinion, Han Fei's operations were not superior to her own in any way; in fact, in some subtle aspects, he even seemed a bit immature.

But the result was that his tasted better.

This was also the most perplexing aspect for Liu Yueer.

Facing Liu Yueer's gaze, full of inquiry and questioning, Han Fei remained calm, shrugging his shoulders lightly, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Didn't I tell you, it's a secret."

He knew that for some things, maintaining an air of mystery was the best answer, letting Liu Yueer ponder, imagine, and fill in the blanks herself.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yueer couldn't help but frown, her cherry-like lips stubbornly pouting upwards, forming a cute expression.

She understood that if Han Fei wouldn't speak, any further questioning or coercion would only be futile.

Thus, she could only helplessly glare at Han Fei, her doubts and confusion turning into a soft sigh that dissipated into the air.

Then her gaze slowly drifted towards a corner outside the kitchen.

There, the Dark-skinned Beauty was anxiously craning her neck in anticipation.

Liu Yueer retracted her gaze and murmured in an incredulous tone, "It's my first time seeing Black Tiger like that."

"Black Tiger, you mean..."

Han Fei turned to look at the Dark-skinned Beauty, who was called "Black Tiger," a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

That name was truly strange; how could someone be called Black Tiger?

He secretly guessed that this might not be her real name, and as for why she chose to present herself with such a peculiar name, the reason was probably only known to herself.

"I'm really curious how delicious you make it."

Liu Yueer's gaze leisurely returned to Han Fei, her eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity.

Han Fei smiled as he walked towards the stove, "I'll fry a portion for you to try, too."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yueer instinctively stroked her slightly bulging abdomen; the soft touch reminded her that she had consumed twice her usual amount tonight.

However, despite her stomach signaling fullness, when she recalled the deliciousness of Han Fei's previous fried rice, the taste buds on her tongue seemed to instantly awaken, greedily secreting saliva.

An irresistible urge surged within her; even if she were to burst, she absolutely had to taste that earthly delicacy one more time.

Han Fei stood in front of the pot with practiced ease.

He meticulously carried out the preparatory work, washing the pot, heating the oil, and preparing ingredients, every step appearing incredibly skilled.

Liu Yueer walked to a spot only two meters away from Han Fei.

She held her breath, concentrating intently on his every move, vowing this time to clearly see how Han Fei made fried rice more delicious than hers.

When everything was ready, Han Fei gripped the spatula and began to stir-fry with flowing movements.

The spatula in his hand seemed to come alive, flexibly moving through the steaming pot, skillfully fusing the ingredients with the rice.

Every flip was just right, neither too forceful to damage the texture of the ingredients, nor failing to ensure that every grain of rice fully absorbed the essence of the oil and seasonings.

Liu Yueer widened her eyes, not blinking once, afraid of missing any subtle movement, any crucial moment that determined the flavor of the fried rice.

Soon, Liu Yueer once again had the illusion of seeing her past self.

Every movement, every detail, and even some imperceptible habits of Han Fei, were exactly the same as Liu Yueer's from a few years ago.

The fried rice quickly took shape under Han Fei's skillful hands, and a rich aroma permeated the air, making one's mouth water.

He decisively turned off the heat and served the fried rice into a clean white ceramic plate; its golden color, rich layers, and enticing aroma all proclaimed it to be a delicious dish.

Han Fei handed Liu Yueer a small plate of fried rice.

"Have a taste of my skill," Han Fei said with a crooked smile.

Liu Yueer took the plate of rice and carefully examined the fried rice on it.

The freshly cooked fried rice steamed, carrying an enticing aroma of egg, meat, rice, and a faint hint of soy sauce.

In the plate, plump grains of rice intertwined with egg strands, like stars adorning the night sky, interspersed with scattered green scallions, bright red diced carrots, and faint traces of minced meat, creating a colorful and pleasing sight that went straight to Liu Yueer's heart.

Her stomach also unconsciously responded, letting out rumbling sounds, as if protesting its owner's indifference to this earthly delicacy.

"If I eat any more, I might burst, but I still want to eat..."

At this moment, she was as if tightly bound by the magic of food, knowing her body's limits, yet still driven by an inexpressible temptation, unable to stop.

Liu Yueer silently told herself to just take one bite.

The rice grain went into her mouth.

The moment her tongue touched the rice grain, an indescribably wonderful taste swept over her taste buds like a tide, reaching deep into her brain.

"How... how can it be this delicious?!"

Liu Yueer exclaimed.

Her face was full of disbelief, as if what she had just tasted was not earthly food, but a celestial delicacy from the heavens.

At this moment, she could absolutely swear that the fried rice Han Fei made was absolutely the most shocking and intoxicating delicacy she had ever tasted since birth.

It transcended all past memories, subverted her perception of food, and made her willing to abandon all reason for it.

"No, even if I burst, I must eat!"

Liu Yueer's eyes gleamed with determination; she picked up her chopsticks and began to swallow the fried rice in large mouthfuls, letting the deliciousness bloom freely in her mouth.

Even though she was so full she could barely breathe, her movements showed no sign of slowing down.

Han Fei handed Liu Yueer a cup of digestive tea and advised, "Hey, eat slowly, don't choke."

He hadn't expected such a wild side to Liu Yueer's quiet exterior.

Of course, while Liu Yueer was enjoying the food, Han Fei didn't forget to use Deliciousness Exchange to replicate her abilities.

Because of the improvement in his cooking skills, the Deliciousness Exchange was more than double what it was before.

In almost an instant, Han Fei replicated most of Liu Yueer's culinary essence.

The precise and agile knife skills, the subtle control of heat, the Wisdom Eye for discerning ingredients, the clever pairing of dishes... these essences, which Liu Yueer had honed for over a decade, now flowed like trickling streams into Han Fei's culinary ocean, elevating his culinary Realm in all aspects.

If he were to challenge the One-Star Gourmet Hunter certificate now, he would have at least a seventy percent chance of passing the test!

"So, so delicious..."

Liu Yueer said, almost in a tearful voice.

Seeing this, Han Fei couldn't help but laugh wryly, "No matter how delicious it is, you don't have to cry."

Liu Yueer puffed out her cheeks, her mouth still full of uneaten food, "My stomach hurts so much from being full, it really hurts, but I just still want to eat."

She pressed her hands tightly against her abdomen, her body trembling slightly, looking both pitiable and adorable, evoking sympathy.

"If your stomach hurts, don't eat anymore. Aren't you afraid of bursting?"

Han Fei decisively reached out, gently but firmly taking the plate from in front of Liu Yueer.

However, Liu Yueer did not give up because of this.

She endured the abdominal pain, tremblingly stretched out her hands, and pleaded, "Please give it back to me, okay? I still want to eat, even if it's just one bite, really, just one bite."

Her voice was tearful, and her pitiful appearance made it hard to refuse.

"Alright, stop eating for now. We'll talk about it tomorrow," Han Fei said firmly, leaving no room for doubt.

"I don't want to! Please let me eat, okay? I'll do anything you want," Liu Yueer said, her face flushed and her eyes hazy.

Liu Yueer's appearance startled Han Fei.

He looked at her flushed cheeks, moist eyes, and slightly parted cherry lips, feeling utterly confused.

"What's wrong with you?"

Just then, the Dark Tiger's voice came from outside the door.

"Hey, little brother, isn't it ready yet?"

Han Fei quickly replied, "It's ready, it's ready, I'm coming now."

Han Fei picked up the plate in his hand and walked towards the dining room with slightly hurried steps.

However, just as he was about to step out of the kitchen door, he subconsciously turned his head.

He saw Liu Yueer still maintaining her previous posture, her eyes hazy, like a delicate, tempting flower waiting to be plucked, exuding an alluring fragrance.

"What exactly is wrong with her?"

Han Fei silently asked himself in his heart, his eyes revealing deep concern.

However, the urging voice from outside the kitchen sounded again, so he could only temporarily set aside his doubts, and with a belly full of confusion, he left the kitchen.

Only Liu Yueer remained, still gazingfoolish at his retreating figure with those hazy eyes.

PS: This book is not a mindless harem novel. I will be cautious about adding female characters. I haven't decided yet whether it will be no, single, or multiple female leads. It depends on everyone's votes.