The Top talent had arranged to meet her at five in the afternoon.
She found her way to the address and was about to call him as agreed when a resident happened to open the iron gate from inside. Gu Sheng thought for a moment, put away her phone, and took advantage of the door not yet closing to simply walk in.
Actually... going up by herself was no big deal. Having someone come down to meet her when she was already at the building entrance felt a bit overly delicate, T.T.
The elevator stopped on the twenty-fourth floor. As she stepped out, she noticed the layout was excellent—only two households occupied this floor. Following the apartment number, she found the right door, took a light breath, and tried to calm her nerves.
Suddenly, laughter echoed from inside, a mix of several voices...
Great, there really were a lot of people.
She pressed the doorbell and heard someone shout, "Jue Mei, Jue Mei, go get the door!" There was also a faint sound of Jue Mei grumbling before the door suddenly swung open, revealing Jue Mei himself.
"You're so early?" Jue Mei Sha Yi gestured toward the slippers nearby. "We're playing mahjong, Mo Qingcheng is cooking in the kitchen. Make yourself at home, Sheng Sheng. I'm about to dominate the table, so I won't be able to entertain you."
Gu Sheng hummed in acknowledgment as Jue Mei unceremoniously dashed back to the balcony and took his seat at the mahjong table.
After changing into slippers, she saw six or seven people gathered around the mahjong table—some playing, some watching. They all quickly greeted Gu Sheng before returning to the game.
Everyone treated her like an old friend, which instantly put her at ease.
It was just... she hesitated for a few seconds between joining them to watch the mahjong or heading to the kitchen. And in those few seconds, she saw a figure emerge from behind the frosted glass of the kitchen.
Mo Qingcheng actually walked to the sliding kitchen door, holding a fish in his right hand, and greeted her, "Why didn't you call me first?"
His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, both hands dripping wet, and the blue apron tied around him left no doubt—the Nation-toppling Top Entertainer was cooking... Gu Sheng stared blankly for a moment before remembering he had mentioned enjoying cooking for himself. "When I got downstairs, someone happened to open the door, so I just came up..."
"This is much better," Feng Ya Song said softly, yawning. "No need to be so polite, really."
"Exactly, being polite all the time, how would we get through life?" W picked up the remote control beside him and adjusted the temperature a bit higher. "It's not like you're an outsider."
As everyone teased her, Dou Dou Dou Bing suddenly peeked out from behind the Top talent, nudging his shoulder. "Top talent, move aside." The Top talent shifted slightly, and she saw Dou Dou Dou Bing walk out carrying a plate of bright red strawberries, clearly freshly washed. Munching on one, she walked up to Sheng Sheng and offered another to her lips. "They're sweet."
Feeling awkward from the teasing, Gu Sheng took the strawberry into her mouth and hummed in agreement.
They were sweet.
Really, really sweet...
Dou Dou Dou Bing chuckled. "Want to watch us play mahjong or go see the Top talent cook?"
"I... I'll help him."
Being teased nonstop was more than she could handle... better to face the Top talent in the kitchen.
"Alright, go ahead," Dou Dou Dou Bing shrugged. "But he's the master chef—he doesn't really need any help."Gu Sheng silently placed her backpack on the living room sofa. Sensing that the Top talent was still standing at the kitchen doorway, she immediately rolled up her sleeves and walked over. "Let me help you?"
He stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly smiled. "No need."
"How about washing the vegetables? I can handle chopping too," she pleaded, looking at him. She wanted to follow him into the kitchen, unwilling to be surrounded by everyone on the balcony...
Mo Qingcheng looked at her for another two seconds before shifting his gaze to the refrigerator in the corner of the living room. "Want some water? I'm a bit thirsty too. Could you get the orange juice from the fridge? We can share it."
"Okay," she turned and opened the refrigerator door, taking out a carton.
Just then, she heard Feng Ya Song calling out from behind, joining in the fun. "Sheng Sheng, we're thirsty too~"
"There are four cartons of orange juice in the fridge. Get them yourselves," Mo Qingcheng simply dismissed the request and turned to enter the kitchen. Gu Sheng decisively chose not to hear and followed him into the kitchen.
His kitchen was spacious, as if designed for food lovers.
It was fully equipped, with white and warm orange as the main colors of the decor, looking particularly cozy under the light. She took two glass cups from the rack, poured half a cup into each, and took a sip herself.
The cool, sweet-and-sour taste was refreshing.
When she was about to hand his cup to him, she noticed he was already back at the sink, meticulously and skillfully cleaning the fish... The problem was, he had no free hands to take the cup...
But... he said... he was thirsty...
She hesitated, watching his profile, and after a moment of indecision, finally picked up the glass cup and walked to the sink. Softly, she asked him, "Do you want some orange juice?"
Just those few words made her heart flutter.
She was afraid he might say no, rejecting her, but also afraid he might say yes, which would mean she'd have to...
Mo Qingcheng looked up at the sound of her voice, glanced at her, then shifted his gaze to the glass cup. He simply hummed in agreement.
T.T...
Holding the glass cup, she slowly brought it closer, touching his lips, then carefully and attentively tilted the bottom of the cup upward, letting the orange juice flow slowly into his mouth.
She breathed slowly...
Trying her best to focus only on the glass cup, not the face so close to hers.
Her hands grew weak, almost unable to hold the cup steady T.T...
"Alright, thank you."
He stopped drinking, his lips leaving the rim of the cup.
"You're welcome."
Gu Sheng held the cup with both hands and placed it back on the marble countertop.
The Top talent began washing the fish and placed it on the wooden cutting board. From start to finish, he moved with practiced ease. Gu Sheng felt completely useless and asked somewhat sheepishly, "Can you give me something to do?"
"Really want to help?" He chuckled softly, the faint trailing tone utterly captivating.
"Yes."
While scoring the fish on one side, Mo Qingcheng first called out to the others outside, "Jue Mei, go set the table. We're about to start cooking."
Jue Mei acknowledged.
"I'll teach you how to cook," Mo Qingcheng's voice said beside her. "This dish is relatively easy—Crispy Fish with Pickled Chili."
"Okay."
"Like this, score both sides of the fish," he made diagonal cuts along the other side of the carp, evenly separating the flesh while keeping it attached to the bone. "Then take the pre-mixed egg and starch batter, add some salt, and evenly coat the fish with it."
As he spoke, Mo Qingcheng picked up a bowl nearby and began applying the mixture evenly.His technique was extremely gentle and meticulous.
This was the first time he was teaching her face-to-face, unlike before when it was only through voice... With such beautiful singing, delicious food, and... a beautiful person teaching her in person, Gu Sheng felt that even if she wanted to focus and remember, it was very difficult...
Especially since he was right beside her.
"When you're about to cook it later, put the whole fish into the oil pan, fry it until golden, then take it out and place it on a plate," Mo Qingcheng set the fish aside, washed the cutting board, and brought over the cleaned chicken leg mushrooms and cauliflower, starting to prepare the ingredients for another dish, yet still explaining the method for this fish. "Leave some oil in the pan, stir-fry minced ginger and garlic until fragrant, then add broth, salt, sugar, soy sauce, and the chili sauce bought from the supermarket. Mix well, and pour it over the fish along with chopped scallions."
"Mhm." She wasn't sure if she had remembered it all.
"Remembered?"
"Mhm... pretty much."
The top talent had already turned on the stove.
With a soft whoosh, the flame leaped up.
"I'm a doctor, you know that, right?" Mo Qingcheng suddenly changed the subject.
"Huh?" Gu Sheng's mind was still full of fish, struggling to keep up with the pace. "I know..."
She could pretty much guess anyway.
"My parents are also doctors," he poured oil into the pan and began heating it. "They're usually very busy, so we don't get many chances to see each other. That's why, when I was bored, I started voice acting."
"Oh." She slowly followed the top talent's train of thought, accepting his self-introduction-like words.
Why did she feel that she, Sheng Sheng Man, was always half a beat behind in front of the top talent...
But... it was amazing.
This top talent, who remained mysterious in the two-dimensional world, was right in front of her, cooking while talking, and about topics she had once been curious and speculated about...
"I'm not that complicated, just a simple person." He placed the fish in the pan and began frying it methodically. The sizzling sound and the noise of the range hood blended together, making everything feel so real... Gu Sheng watched him fry the fish while admiring his skillful technique.
Soon, he turned off the stove.
The fish, fried to a golden color, was placed on a white porcelain plate. "Just like this, golden, and it's about done. Don't take it out too late, or the fish meat will become tough."
"Okay." She nodded, indicating she had remembered.
"Sheng Sheng?" He poured most of the oil from the pan into a clean white porcelain bowl.
"Hmm?" She responded, recalling the method. "Time to stir-fry the ginger and garlic?"
He turned off the range hood, and the kitchen suddenly became briefly quiet. "I really like you."
Her eyes widened, still not fully emerged from the recipe.
He smiled. "Be my girlfriend."
"...We've only met a few times..."
Sheng Sheng Man, can you please not be half a beat behind T.T...
"This kind of thing has nothing to do with how many times we've met," Mo Qingcheng dismissed lightly.
"What if... we're not suitable?"
"What if we are?"
"..."
"If we don't start, we'll never know the outcome, right?"
"Mhm..."
Suddenly, another soft click was heard as the top talent turned on the range hood again, tossing the minced ginger and garlic into the pan, followed by the seasonings... Instantly, the entire kitchen was filled with a fragrant aroma. "Does it smell good?"
His voice, gentle and seductive, asked her, deliberately lowered and refined.Hard to resist, luring her in.
"Fragrant..."
"Then have a bit more later."
"Mmm..."
So... does this mean it's settled...?
Clearly, the top talent already considered the topic closed, fully immersed in the cooking atmosphere. But she... felt her entire body burning up, no different from that freshly fried carp... completely, no difference at all...
Author's note: Covering face~ Top talent, you really... know how to fry a carp well T.T...
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