"How about I make you a plate of chocolate Mapo tofu tomorrow?" Lynn shot a look at him and uttered those terrifying words.
"Ugh, that sounds terrifying..." Roselle imagined the scene and shook his head.
Chocolate dumplings, he was willing to try, but chocolate Mapo tofu? He had to decline.
"Even as part of dark cuisine, that's too much..." Klein, who was also wrapping dumplings, couldn't help but comment. As a Chinese, he clearly had certain principles.
"And you dare to talk. Don't prepare ketchup then. Dumplings with ketchup? How did you even think of that?" Lynn glanced at Mr. Fool with equal disdain.
"Ahem, I just wanted to try it out..." Klein coughed awkwardly. Normally, he would use chili sauce, but today, seeing everyone making such bizarre dumplings, he had a peculiar urge to experiment.
"You might as well dip it in wasabi..." Lynn said as he finished wrapping his dumpling. Looking at the strange shapes and fillings around him, he shook his head. "Whatever, let's boil them all together. Whoever eats what, it's just bad luck."
— That's right. After wrapping up the Augustus family conspiracy, the group decided to gather and make dumplings to celebrate the new year.
But as the scene unfolded, the variety of dumpling fillings had gone out of control—not just the usual cabbage, chives, and beef, but also chili, garlic, cheese, and other random ingredients. Lynn didn't dare to imagine what this pot of dumplings would taste like once boiled.
Moreover, Lynn's gaze landed on Adam, who was pouring alcohol into the dumpling filling, and he rubbed his temples. "Let them mess around, but why are you following along?"
"Just thought it would be fun." Adam smiled, not stopping his actions.
"Alright, fine. Everyone has to eat these dumplings. Anyone who doesn't will face my wrath!" Lynn rolled his eyes and stealthily stuffed a piece of raw ginger into one dumpling.
Since no one was taking this seriously, he had decided to play along.
If they all suffered, so be it!
"You're so wicked..." Roselle gasped dramatically, pointing at the ginger-filled dumpling in Lynn's hand.
"Sorry, that's just who I am," Lynn replied without lifting an eyelid.
"Fine, you started it!" Roselle, looking determined, grabbed a handful of Sichuan pepper and stuffed it into a dumpling.
Everyone's eyebrows twitched, but no one stopped. Instead, they began adding even stranger things into their dumplings.
And thus began the chaotic competition. After Lynn finished wrapping the dumplings and put them in the pot, the water turned murky, resembling a thick soup. Without a change in expression, he served them out, placing ten dumplings in each person's bowl.
Each dumpling was enchanted with a secret ability, making it impossible to tell the filling until after it was eaten.
"Go ahead, don't be shy." Lynn sat at his seat, looking at the hesitant group, a fake smile on his face.
"Oh..." Ouroboros was the first to respond. He clumsily picked up a dumpling, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth, his expression remaining calm.
"Brother, what's inside?" Roselle leaned over and asked quietly.
"Seems like beef?" Ouroboros thought for a moment, unsure.
"Amazing, such luck!" Roselle gave a thumbs-up. Meanwhile, Bernadette, who had been quietly watching, picked up a dumpling and took a bite. Her brows furrowed instinctively.
"Yikes, Bernadette, don't eat that. I'll take it!" Roselle gasped upon seeing the dumpling filled with Sichuan pepper.
He hadn't expected Bernadette to be the first unlucky one.
"It's fine..." Bernadette shook her head, resolutely chewing the rest of the dumpling, though her expression grew increasingly awkward.
"Mind your own business; worry about yourself..." Lynn remarked as he too ate a dumpling, chewing without a flinch.
Hmm, chili filling—not bad.
Lynn never feared spicy food.
"Ugh, ginger?" Next to him, Klein wasn't so lucky, grimacing as he chewed the ginger-filled dumpling.
"Heh..." Medici chuckled coldly, swallowing a dumpling with no reaction, though it probably had wasabi inside.
Adam, from his perch, picked up a dumpling and took a bite, detecting a faint alcohol taste.
Yes, it was the one he'd spiked with strong liquor.
One by one, the group subjected each other to odd flavors, eating the strange dumplings without complaint. As the last dumpling was swallowed, the clock struck midnight.
"Dong, dong, dong—"
The church bells rang from afar, accompanied by fireworks lighting up the sky.
Lynn set down his chopsticks and looked at the fireworks outside the window, then back at the group, all displaying subtle, pained expressions. Some were even holding their stomachs. He laughed and raised his glass, filled with alcohol, smiling brightly.
"Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!" Klein responded first, though he couldn't help but smile wryly. "I don't think I'll want dumplings for months..."
Mr. Fool's luck wasn't great—eight out of his ten dumplings had unusual fillings.
"Happy New Year!" Ouroboros followed. "I thought the dumplings were pretty good."
As the lucky one, Ouroboros had mostly gotten the normal dumplings Lynn had wrapped at the start, so he hadn't suffered much.
"Happy New Year!" Bernadette said, clutching her cheek. Nothing serious—just a bit too numb.
"Happy New Year, though it feels like I'm speaking through holes..." Roselle inhaled sharply, feeling cold all over.
His dumplings were either wasabi or mint, and now his brain felt as though it were ventilated.
"Happy New Year! Look at you all, so weak!" Medici laughed mockingly. Although he had also eaten many bizarre dumplings, his pride wouldn't let him admit defeat.
"Happy New Year!" Adam chimed in last, looking at Lynn as if deep in thought.
"Alright then, cheers!"
"Clink—"
The sound of seven glasses colliding rang out, the warm light shining on them, reflecting everyone's smiling faces.
No matter what the future held, at this moment, everyone was happy.
(End of Chapter)