A Sharp Edge Emerges From The Mist Chapter 23

kitchen accident

Living together enters its third day.The superficial politeness was replaced by a more subtle, tentative understanding.They no longer need to deliberately communicate about trivial matters such as who uses which bathroom and when dinner is served, but the barriers rooted in different worlds are still like a thin layer of ice covering their daily lives.

That evening, Lin Jianfeng prepared dinner as usual.Wearing a brand-new dark blue apron left by Shen Qingwu’s housekeeping staff, she stood in front of the stove and handled the ingredients neatly.I plan to make braised pork ribs and garlic broccoli tonight. They are both home-cooked dishes, but they need a little heat.

Shen Qingwu finished a cross-border video conference and came down from the study upstairs, looking a little tired.She changed out of the strict suit skirt she wore during the day and wore a soft light gray cashmere cardigan, with her long hair hanging loosely behind her shoulders.Seeing Lin Jianfeng’s busy back in the kitchen, she paused. Instead of going directly to the living room or the island to sit down as usual, she walked to the kitchen door.

“Do you need help?” Shen Qingwu asked, her tone sounded natural, but Lin Jianfeng keenly caught a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

Lin Jianfeng turned his head in surprise.Shen Qingwu stood at the junction of light and shadow at the door of the kitchen. The warm yellow kitchen light gave her too cold face a soft edge.She put her hands in the pockets of her cardigan, and her posture seemed relaxed, but her slightly pursed lips revealed a certain… embarrassment that she was not good at in such situations.

“No, it will be fine soon.” Lin Jianfeng smiled and continued to cut the broccoli in his hand, “You can go and rest.”

Shen Qingwu said “hmm” but did not leave.She watched Lin Jianfeng’s fluid movements – the blade of the knife fell quickly and rhythmically on the chopping board, making a crisp clicking sound; the ribs had been fried to a golden color in another pot, and the aroma of fat mixed with the spicy aroma of ginger and garlic filled the air.

She suddenly took two steps forward and came to the cooking table.”How… how to cut this?” She pointed to a few washed mushrooms ready for use in the basket next to her, with a rare, almost clumsy curiosity in her voice.

Lin Jianfeng stopped the knife in his hand and glanced at her.Shen Qingwu’s expression was very serious, and his eyes fell on the round mushrooms, as if he was studying a complicated financial statement.

“Shiitake mushrooms,” Lin Jianfeng picked up one and placed it on the chopping board. “Remove the stem, then slice it into slices, or use a cross-cut knife, depending on how you want to eat it.” She said and demonstrated, raising and lowering the knife in her hand, and the mushrooms were evenly sliced ​​into thin slices.

Shen Qingwu nodded thoughtfully, reached out and picked up a mushroom from the basket, and used the other hand to pick up the knife that Lin Jianfeng had put down.

“Be careful, the knife is a bit fast.” Lin Jianfeng reminded.

“I know.” Shen Qingwu responded, imitating Lin Jianfeng, holding the mushroom with his fingertips and holding the handle of the knife with his other hand.Her movements were slow and cautious, her fingertips turned slightly white from exertion, and the lines of her wrists were a little tight.

She tried to imitate Lin Jian’s sharp knife skills, but she obviously lacked experience and feel.When the blade fell, the angle was a little off, and the thickness of the cut was uneven. She cut the first piece of shiitake mushroom crookedly, with uneven thickness.

She frowned, as if she was dissatisfied with herself, picked up another piece, and tried again.This time it was even worse. The blade slipped and almost cut the tip of his finger.

“Hey!” Lin Jianfeng had quick eyes and quick hands and grabbed her wrist that held the knife.”Don’t be anxious, the gesture of holding the knife is wrong, relax your wrist, use skillful strength, don’t use brute force.” Her voice was very close, with heat, ringing in Shen Qingwu’s ears.

Shen Qingwu stiffened slightly, but did not break away.Lin Jianfeng’s hand covered the back of her hand, dry, warm, and calloused, completely wrapping her cold and slightly stiff fingers.She guided Shen Qingwu’s hand to adjust the angle and posture of holding the knife.

“Like this,” Lin Jianfeng’s voice was low and clear, “put your index finger against the back of the knife, hold the handle firmly with your thumb and other fingers, relax your wrist, and rely on your forearm to drive. When cutting, tilt the blade slightly, and use the front or middle part of the blade to slide it down.”

She held Shen Qingwu’s hand and led her to make a cut slowly and steadily.This time, the shiitake mushroom slices are evenly thick and have neat edges.

“Do you feel it?” Lin Jianfeng asked.

“…Hmm.” Shen Qingwu’s voice was a little low, and a faint blush appeared uncontrollably at the base of his ears.It was not that she had never had physical contact with people, but being half-circled from behind and being taught hand-in-hand to do something so life-like, it felt… unusually strange, yet strangely clear.The faint smell of Lin Jianfeng’s body (the clean smell of soap, mixed with a very faint smell of oil smoke) enveloped her, and the warm and stable touch spread from the back of her hand, causing her heartbeat to become a little out of order.

Lin Jianfeng let go of his hand and took half a step back.”Try again and take your time.”

Shen Qingwu calmed down, took a deep breath, recalled the feeling just now, and cut again.This time, although I was still not very skilled, at least the sliced ​​mushrooms looked decent.

“Very good.” Lin Jianfeng nodded approvingly and turned to take care of the ribs in the pot.

Shen Qingwu breathed a sigh of relief and continued to “fight” with the remaining mushrooms.Although the speed was slow, I cut them out piece by piece and placed them on a small plate aside. Although they were different sizes, I could still see them.

“Would you like to try stir-frying?” Lin Jianfeng asked casually when he saw that the ribs were almost done and he was about to stir-fry broccoli and mushrooms.

Shen Qingwu looked at the smoking oil in the pot and the green broccoli prepared next to it, and hesitated for a moment.Stir-frying…sounds more complicated and dangerous than chopping.

“I…just watch.” She finally chose to play it safe.

Lin Jianfeng smiled and didn’t force it.She poured the broccoli and shiitake mushrooms into the pot one after another. When the hot oil met the watery vegetables, there was a violent “sting” sound and oil spots splashed everywhere!

Shen Qingwu subconsciously took a small step back and frowned.She watched Lin Jianfeng stir-fry skillfully, the spatula moving quickly in the iron pot, and the flames would occasionally shoot up from the bottom of the pot, and then be quickly controlled.The oil smoke rose up and was quickly sucked away by the powerful range hood above, but the warm smell mixed with the aroma of garlic, oil and the sweetness of vegetables still filled the entire kitchen.

It was different from the exquisite but always distant food prepared by the housekeeping staff in her kitchen.This cooking process full of “pot gas” brings with it a primitive, vibrant, and even a bit “rough” sense of life.

It was something that almost didn’t exist in her world.

The broccoli is fried quickly and is bright green and shiny.Lin Jianfeng took them out and put them on a plate.Next is the braised pork ribs, which have been stewed until they are crispy and delicious, and the soup is thick.She turned off the fire and took out the ribs.

“Okay, let’s eat.” Lin Jianfeng took off his apron and greeted.

Two dishes and one soup were put on the table, steaming hot and fragrant.A simple home-cooked dish, but because of the little episode just now, it seems to have a different meaning.

The two sat opposite each other.Shen Qingwu picked up a piece of pork ribs and put it into his mouth.The meat is soft and rotten, the sauce is rich, slightly sweet and salty, and the heat is just right.It was more than any similar dish she had ever had at a fine restaurant… it was indescribably solid and warm.

She tasted another bite of broccoli. It was crisp and refreshing, with just the right garlic flavor.

“It’s delicious,” she said sincerely.

“As long as you like it.” Lin Jianfeng also started eating, his movements neat and tidy.

The dining table was quiet, with only the occasional clink of dishes and chopsticks.But the atmosphere was much more relaxed than the previous two days.

“Do you often cook?” Shen Qingwu asked a similar question again, but this time, his tone was less probing and more chatty.

“Well, it’s a hobby, and it can relax your mind.” Lin Jianfeng nodded, “I sometimes get into trouble when investigating cases, but if I work in the kitchen for a while, I can think outside the box.”

Shen Qingwu was thoughtful.”I rarely go into the kitchen. I used to do housekeeping, but then… I even had no interest in it.”

“You can come here often in the future.” Lin Jianfeng glanced at her, “I’ll start by cutting mushrooms.”

Shen Qingwu thought of the scene where he was taught how to cut vegetables, and the blush on his ears seemed to creep up again.She lowered her eyelashes and whispered “hmm”.

It was very soft, but Lin Jianfeng heard it, and the corners of his mouth curved upward unconsciously.

After the meal, Shen Qingwu offered to wash the dishes – using the expensive and complex fully automatic dishwasher in her apartment.Lin Jianfeng didn’t object, he just watched from the side, occasionally pointing out which plate should be placed on which layer.

Under the light, the two stood side by side in the kitchen, one operating the machine and the other wiping the stove.The sound of water, the gentle hum of the machine, and the subtle sound of a rag wiping the countertop.

There is no unnecessary dialogue, but there is a strange, reassuring harmony.

On the third day of living together, a small “accident” involving vegetable cutting in the kitchen did not cause any real damage, but it was like an inconspicuous key that quietly pried open a corner of the thin ice between the two.

The details of daily life can sometimes bridge the distance and establish connections better than the thrilling battles side by side.

It’s late at night.Silence returned to the apartment.

Lin Jianfeng was lying on the bed, and before closing his eyes, the profile of Shen Qingwu holding the knife flashed in his mind, his brows slightly furrowed, and he was carefully studying how to use the knife.

A little clumsy, a little cute.

It is completely different from her usual image of the calculating and cold financial queen.

Yet… extremely real.

Lin Jianfeng turned over and laughed silently in the darkness.

Maybe living together isn’t so bad.