Rebirth: Spoiling the Obsessive Film Emperor Chapter 101 Part 1

Chapter 101: Learning to Cook

After finishing their laughter, Yin Chengjue finally realized that the posture the two of them were in was somewhat ambiguous.

After all the playful struggling, Rong Yu had a light sheen of sweat on the tip of his nose, his chest was heaving, his breathing was slightly panting, one hand was pinned by Yin Chengjue on the tabletop, while the other was resting on Yin Chengjue's shoulder, unclear whether it was meant to push him away or pull him closer.

Noticing that Yin Chengjue had suddenly stopped moving, Rong Yu felt a bit strange and looked up, their eyes meeting.

Meeting Yin Chengjue's deep, dark eyes, Rong Yu showed no intention of avoiding them. Instead, he looked back boldly, and the hand on Yin Chengjue's shoulder shifted to hook around his neck.

"Yin Chengjue, what are you looking at?" The corners of Rong Yu's lips curved up, his peach-blossom eyes naturally forming two shallow crescents.

Yin Chengjue used his free hand to tap Rong Yu's chest. "I want to see how much sincerity you have, and what position I hold in your heart."

Rong Yu lifted a long leg and hooked it around Yin Chengjue's narrow waist, laughing. "The place you're in is a bit narrow and a bit uncomfortable."

Yin Chengjue frowned slightly, his mood instantly turning somewhat sour.

Before Yin Chengjue could say anything, Rong Yu had already hooked his arms around Yin Chengjue's neck and pulled himself up, leaning close to Yin Chengjue's ear, breathing softly. "Because that place is the very tip of my heart."

Yin Chengjue chuckled and took the opportunity to tighten his arms around Rong Yu's waist, pressing him close. "Why would you put me in such a dangerous place? What if I lose my footing and fall?"

Rong Yu didn't even think before replying, "I'll pick you back up."

Yin Chengjue: "What if I fall to pieces?"

Rong Yu: "I'll put the bones back together, stitch the skin up, and pour the flesh and blood back in."

Yin Chengjue: "..." Is my vitality too tenacious, or is your medical skill too superb?

Yin Chengjue pinched Rong Yu's waist lightly. "Nonsensical thoughts."

But Rong Yu's expression was very serious, his moist lips parting as he spoke. "I mean it."

Yin Chengjue lowered his head and gently captured Rong Yu's lips.

This was the best meal Yin Chengjue had today. Although Rong Yu was a master of kitchen disasters, this one dish of minced fish patty with garlic was exceptionally delicious and very much to Yin Chengjue's liking.

So Yin Chengjue very humbly asked Rong Yu to teach him how to make it.

Rong Yu had always been very accommodating to Yin Chengjue, so he explained without reservation.

To make a good minced fish patty with garlic, they first needed to prepare one fish, a small amount of chopped scallions, an appropriate amount of minced garlic, a little pepper, an appropriate amount of thirteen-spice powder, about 20 grams of cooking wine, and one spoon of salt.

First, the fish had to be washed with clean water. Rong Yu instructed him to use his fingertips to gently knead the fish, giving its entire body a massage. He emphasized the need to cover every part, especially the soft belly.

Rong Yu taught carefully, and Yin Chengjue learned diligently. His large hands kneaded and caressed the white, tender fish, not missing a single inch.

After what seemed like a very long time, Rong Yu suddenly grabbed Yin Chengjue’s hand, the roots of his ears turning red. "Brother, that's enough," he said. "You don't need to massage it for so long, you'll ruin the fish's texture."

"Is that so?" Yin Chengjue's voice held a hint of laughter. "Weren't you the one who said just now to knead the entire body carefully?"

"Mmm..."

Yin Chengjue laughed softly and stopped teasing him. He turned the massaged fish over, sprinkled the prepared minced ginger, garlic, scallions, and salt onto the fish, poured in an appropriate amount of cooking wine, and gently kneaded it. This step was to help it absorb the flavors better, improving the taste.

After this, the marinated fish was placed into the prepared mortar, added the remaining seasonings, and then gently placed the pestle at the mouth of the mortar.

This pestle was obviously a bit too big. Despite some effort, it couldn't be successfully put in.

Rong Yu's face, which had been flushed pink, began to turn pale. There really was a gap between ideal and reality. The one who had been so enthusiastic just moments ago, determined to pass on his culinary skills to Yin Chengjue, was now starting to regret it.

"How about... let's just forget it..." Rong Yu pushed at Yin Chengjue's shoulder.

Yin Chengjue said, "Why did you stop calling me brother?"

Rong Yu: "Brother... dear brother, let's not make this dish today. I'll teach you another day, another day... okay, brother~"

Yin Chengjue licked his slightly dry lips. "But I've followed the method you taught up to this most critical step. Giving up now would waste all the effort from before, wouldn't it?"

"No, it won't. We can... we can try a different way. I'll just help you directly..."

Yin Chengjue interrupted him, "If you help me, then I still won't know how to do it myself. How about you teach me hand-in-hand, little chef?"

Yin Chengjue whispered these last three words against Rong Yu's ear.

Rong Yu reluctantly grabbed Yin Chengjue's hand and guided it to hold the pestle, which still hadn't managed to fit into the mortar.

As if thinking of something, a faint blush reappeared on Rong Yu's face. "Um... brother, how about... how about we wet the pestle a bit more and try again?"