Chapter 131: These Are the Happy Times

Glancing at the tofu cubes that Krystal Jung had yet to finish processing, Chen Zhe pondered for a moment before deciding to give up on salvaging them. Instead, he pulled over some scallions that Krystal had chopped into uneven pieces.

"Watch my technique closely; this is how you mince them."

After arranging the scallion pieces, Chen Zhe gestured for Krystal to observe his movements. He picked up the kitchen knife and began to mince the scallions. At first, to ensure she could see clearly, he deliberately slowed his pace. However, as he continued, he fell into a rhythm and unconsciously sped up, finishing the scallions in no time at all.

"A-Zhe! You said you were going to teach me how to mince, but you were moving so fast, how could I possibly see what you were doing?"

Looking at the tiny, perfectly minced scallions, Krystal’s eyes went blank with a hint of bewilderment. During the brief moment she had been distracted, Chen Zhe had somehow finished the entire pile.

"I may have sped up at the end, but I made sure to go slowly at the beginning so you could see. You couldn't have missed it, right?"

Although he knew Krystal hadn't been able to follow because of his increased pace, Chen Zhe had no intention of admitting it was his fault. Instead, he used a bit of reverse psychology to challenge her.

"Of course I saw it! I’ve already learned it, don't underestimate me! Move aside, I’ll show you right now."

Just as Chen Zhe expected, his goading worked perfectly. Krystal, looking slightly annoyed, pushed him aside and snatched the kitchen knife from the cutting board. She took some of the uneven ginger pieces she had chopped earlier and, recalling Chen Zhe’s earlier movements, pressed her fingers lightly against a piece of ginger, preparing to let the knife fall in a rapid rhythm.

"Wait, wait! I said I would teach you hand-in-hand. Why are you being so reckless? I haven’t even guided your hands yet; you’re definitely going to struggle."

Seeing Krystal mimic his earlier actions, Chen Zhe’s brow furrowed involuntarily. As he watched her prepare to slice the ginger just as he had, his heart skipped a beat. He took two quick strides to her side and reached out, firmly grasping the hand she was using to hold the knife.

He spoke up to interrupt her, a helpless smile on his face. He had only goaded her to get her to try, intending it as a small punishment for her lack of focus earlier. He had planned to let her struggle, wait for her to concede, and then teach her how to mince the ginger properly. He truly hadn't expected Krystal to be so daring as to attempt high-speed mincing without any prior foundation; it had genuinely broken him out in a cold sweat.

"Hmph, didn't someone just say I couldn't understand? Are you looking down on me for being slow?"

With Chen Zhe holding her hand, Krystal didn't struggle. Instead, she turned her head away, putting on an act of being deeply offended.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it’s all my fault. You are so smart, cute, and beautiful, Krystal—how could I ever look down on you?"

Knowing he had provoked her with his little game, and unsure if her anger was real or feigned, Chen Zhe immediately chose to apologize, showering her with flattery.

"Don't think that kind of talk will work. You were looking down on me, and that's not something that's going to blow over so easily."

It seemed his sweet words had an effect. Krystal turned back to face him, though she continued to mutter with a hint of dissatisfaction, clearly still acting as if she were holding a grudge.

"Then what must I do for you to forgive me, my dear Miss Krystal?"

Hearing her tone soften, Chen Zhe knew she wasn't truly angry; she just wanted to be coaxed, or perhaps she was seizing the opportunity to get him to agree to some future demands. Realizing this, he knew exactly what to do. He bent his knees slightly to lower his height and leaned toward her bowed head with an ingratiating smile.

"Go away! You didn't do anything wrong, so what is there for me to forgive?"

Just as he leaned in, Krystal gave him a gentle shove. Despite her words, Chen Zhe caught a fleeting glimmer of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

"Then, as compensation for my slip of the tongue, how about I give you a big surprise tonight?"

He turned her to face him and took the kitchen knife from her hand to place it back on the board—for some reason, seeing her hold a knife always made him feel a bit nervous. After putting the knife away, he gave a light cough and decided to use the "big surprise" to smooth things over. To make his offer sound more convincing, he spread his arms wide, as if to illustrate just how grand this surprise would be.

"Alright, I'll take your silence as a 'yes.' No more pouting! Let’s learn how to mince these ingredients first. We can only get to the surprise once dinner is done."

Seeing that Krystal didn't answer, Chen Zhe cheekily decided for her. He turned her back to the counter and had her pick up the knife again. He then placed one hand over hers to guide the blade, while his other hand rested over hers on the ginger, helping her hold it steady.

"For Mapo Tofu, most of the ingredients besides the tofu itself need to be minced. And 'minced' doesn't mean turning them into foam—it means chopping them as finely and evenly as possible."

As he gently guided her hand to chop the ginger into tiny, precise particles, Chen Zhe explained the nuances of the technique. Because they were standing so close, they could feel each other’s breath, the warm air brushing against their faces.

Although Krystal tried to focus on his instructions, the warmth of Chen Zhe’s breath against her cheek and ear made it impossible for her to concentrate. Her face and earlobes were flushed with a visible, rosy hue, though she seemed completely unaware of it, maintaining a look of intense, furrowed-brow concentration.