45: Chapter 45 Seafood Congee Hot Pot

Su Bai drove his newly acquired panamera to the supermarket first, found a parking spot in a corner, parked, and went inside to shop.

He pushed a shopping cart around the fresh produce section, tossing everything that caught his eye into the cart.

King crab, black tiger prawns, abalone, sea cucumber, and a pile of side dishes.

Since the sisters had exams today, as their younger brother, shouldn't he treat them to a good meal?

When checking out, the cashier's eyes widened at the pile of seafood.

"Sir, are you... throwing a party?"

Su Bai smiled but didn't say anything.

He swiped his card, signed the receipt, and walked out of the supermarket carrying two large bags.

When the car drove into Lanyuan Residential Area, the young security guard at the gate was playing on his phone in the guard post.

Hearing the engine, he looked up and saw a gleaming panamera slowly approaching.

The black jade-colored car body shimmered in the setting sun.

The young security guard was stunned for a moment, then stood up abruptly.

He straightened his cap, stood at attention, and as the car reached him, gave a crisp salute.

Just as Su Bai was about to roll down the window to tell him which building he lived in, the young guard had already pressed the gate button, nodding at him with a beaming smile.

"Please, go ahead!"

Su Bai looked at his enthusiastic face and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

Forget it.

He nodded, stepped on the gas, and drove into the residential area.

In the rearview mirror, the young security guard was still standing there, watching his car disappear around the corner.

Su Bai shook his head.

This car is more useful than a person.

The car parked downstairs, and Su Bai took two large bags out of the trunk and went upstairs.

The elevator door opened, and Su Bai walked into the apartment.

The living room was very quiet; on the shoe rack in the entryway, only a few pairs of slippers were neatly arranged.

He checked the time: 4:30 PM. The university students should still be taking their exams.

He carried the items into the kitchen and began to prepare.

First, he handled the king crab.

These live creatures were difficult to deal with, but Su Bai had eaten plenty and was quite experienced.

He skillfully held down the crab shell, flipped it over, and with one clean, swift cut, finished the job.

He cut open the crab legs, chopped the crab body into pieces, and plated them, ready for use.

He deveined the black tiger prawns, scrubbed the abalone clean, shucked the oysters, and prepared the minced garlic.

He placed the clay pot on the stove, added water, put in the rice, and turned on the heat.

For seafood porridge hot pot, the soup base is key.

The soup base was made from a broth simmered with seafood, making it incredibly delicious.

Paired with some vegetables and mushrooms, it was perfect.

After working for nearly an hour, the ingredients were almost ready.

The broth in the clay pot bubbled away, and the aroma slowly began to waft through the air.

It was about ready.

Just as he was thinking that, the sound of keys turning in the lock came from the door.

Su Bai poked his head out of the kitchen and saw Song Qian and Lin Qiaoyou walking in one after another.

Song Qian was wearing a gray coat over a black turtleneck sweater, her silhouette elegant, her hair tied in a low ponytail, and her face showing the relaxation that comes after finishing exams.

Lin Qiaoyou was still dressed in her usual homebody style: an oversized hoodie, loose sweatpants, a hat pulled over her head, and her whole body tucked into her clothes.

"You're back?" Su Bai greeted them.

Song Qian looked up, saw him, and paused.

She smelled the aroma wafting from the kitchen.

"You cooked?"

"Yeah," Su Bai said. "Seafood porridge hot pot, it's almost ready."

Song Qian changed her shoes and walked to the kitchen door to look inside.

The stove was covered in prepared ingredients: the red of the king crab, the green of the black tiger prawns, the yellow of the abalone, and various side dishes, all neatly arranged on plates.

The clay pot bubbled and steamed, the scent of rice mixing with the freshness of the seafood, drifting straight into her nose.

A flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

"It smells so good. There's so much?"

"To treat you all," Su Bai said. "You've worked hard on your exams."

Song Qian looked at him, silent for two seconds.

Then she rolled up her sleeves and walked into the kitchen.

"I'll help."

She washed her hands and began plating the side dishes.

Her movements were deft; one could tell she was someone who cooked often.

Lin Qiaoyou stood at the kitchen door and looked inside.

Her gaze rested on Su Bai for a moment before shifting away.

Then she turned silently and went back to her room.

Su Bai glanced at her retreating figure but didn't say anything.

Only he and Song Qian were left in the kitchen.

The faucet was running, and Song Qian was washing greens with her head down. After a while, she suddenly spoke:

"Su Bai."

"Yeah?"

"You... didn't need to go to such expense," she said softly. "Everyone would have been fine just eating something simple."

Su Bai arranged the crab legs on the plate.

"As long as everyone enjoys the meal."

Song Qian didn't say anything more.

After a while, she spoke again.

"Um..."

Su Bai turned to look at her.

Song Qian kept her head down, staring at the greens in her hands, as if weighing her words.

"When you first arrived," she said, "I wasn't very nice. I'm sorry."

Su Bai was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.

"It's fine."

Song Qian looked up at him.

Her eyes were dark and deep, holding something unreadable.

"You're not angry?"

"Why would I be angry?" Su Bai said.

"You beautiful ladies are living together; it's perfectly normal to be wary when a man suddenly moves in."

Song Qian looked at him for several seconds.

Then she averted her gaze and continued washing the vegetables.

"You're certainly open-minded."

Su Bai smiled but didn't respond.

After a while, he asked, "Sister Qian, what are you planning to do during winter break?"

Song Qian's hand paused.

"Work," she said, her tone flat.

"My hometown is far from here, and I don't want to go back. I found a tutoring job here in Jingzhou."

Su Bai glanced at her.

Her expression was neutral, as if she were talking about something very ordinary.

But Su Bai saw something else in those eyes: exhaustion, loneliness, and a hint of stubbornness.

Su Bai watched her lowered eyelashes and didn't ask further.

"That sounds tough."

Song Qian shook her head.

"I'm used to it."

The two continued their work.

Around six o'clock, the others returned one by one.

Chu Yi was the first to rush through the door.

"It smells so good!" She didn't even change her shoes, running straight to the kitchen.

"Sister Qian, what did you make that's so—"

She ran to the kitchen door, saw Su Bai, and froze.

"Su Bai?"

"Yeah."

"You're cooking?!"

"Yeah."

Chu Yi's eyes lit up instantly.

She grabbed the doorframe to look inside, and seeing the plates of neatly arranged seafood, her mouth formed an 'O' shape.

"Wow!"

She turned back and shouted into the room,

"Chu Xiang! Sister Luo Ying! Come quick! Su Bai made a big feast again!"

Chu Xiang and Luo Ying had just finished changing their shoes, and upon hearing this, they also crowded over to look.

"This... isn't this too extravagant?"

Luo Ying said, looking at the pile of ingredients.

"Su Bai! You are my own dear brother!" Chu Yi was so excited she wanted to jump up and kiss him.

Su Bai hurriedly dodged, laughing helplessly.

"Don't just claim relatives randomly."

Chu Yi chuckled twice.

"I don't want to be your sister at all," she thought to herself secretly.

The perks of being a sister would cease once Su Bai found a girlfriend!

How could she not understand that?

Su Bai served the last dish.

"The porridge is ready, sisters, let's eat."