Chapter 125: A Surprise for You, Part Two

Hearing Chen Zhe say that this was merely the first little surprise, Krystal Jung couldn't help but arch an eyebrow, the sense of anticipation that had begun to fade suddenly surging back.

"Then what other surprises have you been secretly preparing for me?"

Squinting her eyes, she looked quietly at the smiling Chen Zhe, tilting her head slightly to the right. Although she knew Chen Zhe wouldn't tell her the truth, she still wanted to see if she could coax some information out of him.

"That's a secret. If I tell you, it won't be a surprise anymore. Anyway, let’s not stand at the door; let’s go inside first!"

He raised his index finger to his lips to signal that it was a secret, then reached out and tapped the tip of Krystal’s delicate, petite nose. Seeing her lower her head in a shy manner, Chen Zhe couldn't help but nod with a smile. He took the key that Bai Fan had specifically given him yesterday out of his pocket and unlocked the front door.

"Now, I shall lead you on the final leg of tonight's journey."

Gently pushing the door open and keeping a firm hold on Krystal’s hand, Chen Zhe led her slowly into the first floor of JK Haven Restaurant, having first received her silent consent.

"What are these? Why are there so many paintings on this floor? Sketches, oil paintings, and ink washes—there are three different styles here. Isn't this a restaurant?"

After Chen Zhe turned on the lights, what greeted Krystal’s eyes were various artworks separated by folding screens. Although the styles seemed vastly different, after observing them closely, her eyes lit up. As she gazed at the pieces, her mind felt inexplicably calmed.

The tension she had felt since arriving with Chen Zhe began to dissipate, and she felt herself relax in an instant. Yet, once she felt at ease, she couldn't help but feel puzzled. After all, she had seen the large plaque at the entrance when they arrived, which clearly read "JK Haven Restaurant," but this floor didn't look like a restaurant at all.

"It is indeed a restaurant, but not an ordinary one. It’s a creative restaurant. The small gallery on the first floor serves as a waiting area, allowing guests to escape the hustle and bustle outside and enjoy the peace of mind brought by art."

Watching Krystal’s cute, inquisitive expression as she tilted her head, Chen Zhe nodded with a smile, recalling how Bai Fan had explained the purpose of the gallery when he had first visited. Summarizing the essence of that explanation, Chen Zhe shared it with her.

"Indeed, after looking at these paintings carefully, I feel as if my soul has been calmed, as if I’ve been uplifted."

***

"My skills are still quite far from the old man's level. I went home to challenge him earlier this year, and I was soundly defeated. Whether it was knife work or culinary technique, I lost miserably!"

Hearing Chen Zhe’s sigh, Bai Fan’s hands paused for a moment before returning to their rhythm, continuing to prepare the food for Chen Zhe. He reignited the burner under the small pan, and once the oil was hot, he plucked the marinated prawns from a bowl one by one, placing them into the garlic-infused olive oil to sauté over medium heat.

"The Gambas al Ajillo is ready. Try it and see if it suits your taste."

Once the prawns were cooked, Bai Fan turned off the heat, scooped them onto a plate, and sprinkled them with a dash of parsley, crushed black pepper, smoked paprika, and the sautéed garlic slices. Finally, he drizzled a spoonful of olive oil over the top and placed it before Chen Zhe with a gesture for him to enjoy.

As Chen Zhe leaned in to taste the prawns, Bai Fan began preparing the next course: clam chowder. After all, according to Western dining etiquette, soup follows the appetizer. He set aside the small pan and pulled another from beneath the bar. He poured in an appropriate amount of water, brought it to a boil, and added twelve fresh clams, cooking them until they opened. He then lowered the heat and simmered them for another three minutes.

Removing the cooked clams, he added a clam bouillon cube to the water, stirring until it melted, then turned the heat back to high for three minutes before setting the clam broth aside. He took a new pan, heated it without oil, and added chopped bacon, rendering the fat until the bacon was crispy and fragrant before setting it aside. Using the rendered bacon fat, he sautéed diced onions, carrots, and celery until soft, then added scallions, garlic, and butter.

Once the butter melted, he added 30 grams of flour, stirring gently with a wooden spatula to coat the vegetables evenly. Satisfied, Bai Fan added the previously cooked clam meat along with extra prepared clams, tossed them briefly, and poured in the clam broth.

After simmering for a while, he added diced potatoes, stirred, and poured in milk and heavy cream. He stirred it until uniform, added two bay leaves and a pinch of thyme, and covered the pan to steam for 15 to 20 seconds. Once finished, he removed the bay leaves, poured the chowder into a blender to break down the ingredients, and seasoned it with salt and pepper. After a brief pause, he grabbed a bottle of white wine from the rack, opened it, and added two tablespoons to brighten the flavors.

Finally, he served the chowder in a bread bowl, topped it with the crispy bacon, and it was officially complete. Seeing that Chen Zhe had finished the prawns, Bai Fan placed the chowder on the bar, took away the empty plate, and began washing the pans.

Looking at the round bread bowl filled with the rich, yellow soup, Chen Zhe found it strangely cute and felt his appetite piqued. The unique aroma had been irresistible while Bai Fan was cooking, and it had nearly made his mouth water as he sat facing the kitchen.

Picking up his spoon, Chen Zhe took a small taste. The moment the broth touched his tongue, his taste buds seemed to dance with joy; the dense, smooth texture made him want to lick the spoon. As he pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth, the intense flavor of the clam chowder swirled around—it felt as if every enchanting flavor had been concentrated into this one small bowl.

"Chef Bai, this clam chowder is truly excellent!"

After a few more sips, Chen Zhe gave Bai Fan a thumbs-up. Whether before or after his rebirth, this was truly one of the best clam chowders he had ever tasted.