Qin Guanglin had just finished washing the fish when He fang took it from him effortlessly. "Start on the potatoes," she directed without looking up.
"Oh." He obediently washed his hands, grabbed the potatoes, and scrubbed them under the faucet. Picking up a peeler, he clumsily brushed at the skin, sneaking glances at her as she worked.
He fang had placed half of the fish flat on the cutting board. One small hand pressed firmly on the fish tail while the other wielded a knife with precision, slicing thin fillets with swift, confident strokes. Qin Guanglin's heart skipped a beat. The blade was dangerously close to her fingers, moving so quickly that one slip could result in a nasty cut.
In less than a minute, she had already reduced a third of the fish into perfectly even fillets.
If it were him, he wouldn't have dared to chop like that. He'd barely trust himself to handle the fish with both hands, let alone press it down while cutting.
"Not sharp enough," He fang muttered, inspecting the knife. She grabbed a small bowl from the counter, turned it over, and expertly sharpened the blade against its base.
"You…" Qin Guanglin started to say something, but stopped when she continued slicing the fish. He didn't want to distract her and risk an accident.
"What?" He fang turned her head, her hands still moving.
"Nothing." Qin Guanglin fidgeted. "Just focus. Don't worry about me."
"This fish is too big. Half is enough for the dish. Put the rest in the freezer," she instructed, her attention returning to the cutting board. "Leave the fish head here."
"Oh." He took the leftover fish, carefully bagged it, and placed it in the freezer. It had been a hefty three-catty fish he thought would feed three people easily, yet she was using only half.
"Check the fridge for sauerkraut while you're there," she added without looking up. "Let's use the older pack first."
Qin Guanglin couldn't help himself. "Be careful with the knife," he blurted out as he rummaged through the fridge. Finding a half-used pack of sauerkraut, he brought it over and sat on a small bench in the kitchen, watching her intently.
She had tied her hair back into a tight bun, but a few loose strands swayed with her movements. Humming softly, He fang looked entirely at ease, her hands deftly moving as she worked. She transferred the fish fillets into a bowl and began seasoning them with a sprinkling of cornstarch and spices.
"What are you staring at?" she asked, catching him in the act. "Soak the dried fungus and wash the vegetables. Don't just sit there."
"How much fungus?" Qin Guanglin asked, standing up to search for the bag.
"Just a handful."
"Big handful or small handful?" He hesitated. Dried fungus swelled dramatically when soaked.
He fang sighed, walked over, and nudged him aside. "I'll do it. You handle the vegetables."
As they switched tasks, Qin Ma appeared at the kitchen door, smiling warmly at the sight of them working together. "He fang, aren't you tired? This silly boy doesn't know anything. Let me help."
"No need, Auntie." He fang waved her off with a smile. "He's learning. He's not bad at all."
"Yes, I'm doing great," Qin Guanglin chimed in, rinsing a bundle of vegetables under the tap. "Don't worry, Mom. Just relax."
Qin Ma chuckled, reassured by their teamwork. "All right, all right. Carry on." She glanced at He fang approvingly before heading back to the living room.
Back in the kitchen, He fang began shredding the potatoes with a speed and precision that left Qin Guanglin stunned. The rhythmic tapping of the knife on the cutting board echoed through the room as the potatoes transformed into long, thin strips.
"Have you worked in a kitchen before?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Guess," she replied with a teasing smirk, not slowing down.
"I can tell by your hands. Your knife skills are amazing."
"Teacher He's techniques are unparalleled," she said smugly.
"Did you… get possessed by a snail spirit or something?" he joked, marveling at her focus.
"Even if I did, you still like me, don't you?" she teased, cutting the ends off a cucumber with a single motion.
Qin Guanglin felt his cheeks warm. He turned toward the living room, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Can you not joke like that in front of my mom?"
Before he could say more, she popped a small piece of cucumber into his mouth, silencing him. "Stop fussing. Just watch and learn."
---
As the oil sizzled in the pan, Qin Guanglin hovered nervously by the kitchen door. "Be careful," he murmured.
"Stay back if you're scared," she replied with a grin, tossing vegetables into the pan with a dramatic flourish. The aroma of stir-fry quickly filled the air, making his stomach growl.
For a moment, he stood there, watching her work with a focused intensity that made his heart ache in the strangest way. He stepped back and surveyed the scene, thinking how perfect she looked with her apron on, her loose strands of hair catching the light, her confident movements making the kitchen feel alive.
He couldn't help imagining capturing the moment on paper. Finding the right angle, he began gesturing with his hands, framing an imaginary canvas in his mind.
He fang glanced at him mid-stir and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." Qin Guanglin quickly straightened up, a sheepish grin spreading across his face.
But deep down, he knew this was a picture he'd keep with him forever.
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Don't wanna update😭😭 dymn a friend of mine won't read the raw and still saying he will help haiz! I will update the other book that i tl when i can have time my brain cells is drained