"It's so crisp and sweet, just like almonds! What an exquisite taste!"
Without hesitation, she concluded that this must be one of the finest ingredients in the world.
"Can you sell it to me? Don't worry about the price."
Erina was nothing if not direct.
Sui found it amusing. It truly was in keeping with the style of the eldest daughter.
"Forget it, I'll just give you one."
He said casually.
"You... want to give it to me?"
For the first time, Erina felt a bit awkward.
"That's right. Consider it rent for your bathroom and kitchen."
Sui waved his hand dismissively.
"Well, thank you."
Erina hesitated for a moment but finally accepted it.
"Just so you know, you're the one offering it. I'm only accepting it reluctantly."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked away, her voice a little awkward. After all, this was the first time she had accepted a gift from a boy.
"Not very honest, are you?"
Sui shook his head, amused.
"What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Erina, embarrassed, snapped back, "Who's not being honest?"
"Okay, okay, I get it."
Sui replied impatiently.
Seeing him like this made Erina even more upset.
"By the way, Erina, how about tasting my dish?" Sui asked suddenly. If he could get feedback from two culinary elites, his progress would improve even faster.
"I already told you, I'm not that familiar with you! Stop calling me by my first name!"
Her voice was tinged with dissatisfaction, but not as stern as before.
"Got it, Erina."
Sui's casual reply further annoyed her.
"You can call me whatever you want, but if I'm tasting your dish, you'll have to taste mine too."
"Deal."
Erina nodded, then picked up an almond cabbage and headed toward the kitchen counter. She had long been eager to try this unique ingredient.
On the other side, Sui chose some regular cabbage and other ingredients from the pantry to practice his cooking. He couldn't afford to waste almond cabbage on practice, so he settled for the usual kind.
After heating the pan, he added lard, onions, garlic, and ginger, sautéing them until fragrant. Then he added dried chili peppers and peppercorns, followed by slices of pork belly. After a few moments, the pork belly was golden and crispy, releasing an enticing aroma.
...
Half an hour later, Sui plated his stir-fried shredded cabbage.
"Taste yours first."
Erina, who had already prepared her dish, had been waiting for Sui.
"Sure."
They each took a pair of chopsticks and began tasting.
Erina took a small bite, then quickly set her chopsticks down with a hint of disdain. "Too much oil—makes it greasy. And you haven't controlled the spice well. Plus..."
Her critical nature kicked in as she listed several other shortcomings. "This dish is far from perfect. There's still a long way to go."
Sui nodded in agreement. The system had only given him a score of twelve points. "True, and the pork belly isn't crispy enough."
Next, it was time to taste Erina's dish. She had prepared a simple cabbage salad, washing the almond cabbage and adding a light dressing. Her main focus was on testing the unique ingredient.
The almond cabbage was indeed delicious—sweet, crisp, and with a texture reminiscent of almonds. Before long, both Sui and Erina had finished the entire plate.
"As expected, it's a high-quality ingredient. Much better than regular cabbage in terms of sweetness and texture. Perfect for eating raw."
Erina was visibly excited. "Do you have any more of this cabbage?"
"No, I got this from a special source. It's quite rare."
Sui shook his head.
Although Erina was disappointed, she understood. Such a precious ingredient couldn't be easy to come by.
Afterward, they both returned to their respective dishes. Sui continued to practice his shredded cabbage, while Erina experimented further with the almond cabbage.
Soon, three hours had passed.
"Here, this is my fourth attempt at shredded cabbage."
Sui handed her the dish.
"Hmph! No matter how many times you try, it won't be easy to satisfy me."
Erina's face was proud, but she picked up the chopsticks and placed a small piece in her mouth.
But this time...
"Huh?"
Her eyes lit up with a flicker of surprise. The dish was spicy yet balanced by the crisp sweetness of the cabbage, and the pork belly was crispy and chewy.
"Well? What do you think?"
Sui asked.
"Hmph, this time it's... passable."
Erina sniffed, trying to hide her satisfaction. "The heat control is still a bit off, though. It could be perfect with just a little more adjustment."
But inside, she wasn't as composed as she let on.
Because his progress was astonishing. While the first dish was full of flaws, by the fourth, it had reached the same level of proficiency.
Eishi senpai, she thought, it may not be long before someone challenges you for the top seat.
"Indeed," Sui agreed. His system had awarded him a score of seventy-two, marking a significant improvement.
Next, they tasted Erina's French country-style cabbage stew.
"This time, the heat was off, and the beef lacks depth of flavor," Sui noted.
"Yes, I didn't pay enough attention this time," Erina Nakiri admitted, nodding.
Previously, when testing dishes, she always relied on Hisako to taste them, but having Sui's input helped her quickly identify weaknesses. Through this experience, Erina realized the benefits of cooking together. They could point out each other's flaws in real time, leading to quicker improvement.
This realization made her excited; she was confident her skills would improve rapidly if this continued.
Afterward, the two retreated to their rooms to rest.
Suddenly, Sui remembered that he hadn't requested leave from school yet. He sent a quick text to Yuzuki, asking for help with the leave request. They had exchanged contact information earlier.
To Sui's surprise, Yuzuki responded quickly, saying it was no problem.
Still awake this late? Maybe experimenting with new dishes? Sui mused to himself.