Li Xiqing went back to the kitchen, took out a wine opener and started to work on the bottle. Yan Yan had been too stressed out and tired from travelling back to the painful past. He was hoping the wine would help her to feel more relaxed, fading away that gruesome memory for some time.
He glanced at the clock on the wall, and mentally calculated the time that she needed to shower. He put on his ap.r.o.n, and started to roam around the kitchen. He also started to prepare the ingredients that he would need: b.u.t.ter, pearl onions, garlic, thyme, olive oil, Himalayan pink salt and fresh cracked peppers. And now, he was ready to start to cook, implementing his expertise in this regard.
When Shao Yan came out of the bedroom, a hint of peppery meat hit her nostrils. She reflexively hunted down the source, and saw Li Xiqing was basting the steak with the fragrant garlic b.u.t.ter.
She saw that tall, enigmatic man, stood there towering over the sizzling pan. With ap.r.o.n tied around his waist, holding a spoon in his hand, he oozed an intense expertise that scaled up high beyond charming.
A foolish gentle grin escaped her lips.
Crackle of the charred meat and the smooth aromatic thyme and garlic b.u.t.ter filled the room. Shao Yan leaned on the door frame by the kitchen and decided to watch that bewitching man who was cooking for her.
Smiling from time to time, he kept basting the meat until he covered the whole meat. After two minutes on each side of the meat, he turned off the heat off and removed the pan away.
With a pursed smile, he took a pair of tongs and transferred the meat onto the chopping board to let it rest. He looked over the charred and leaned in closer to inhale the savory flavor. Satisfied with the result, he grinned and straightened back up while wiping his hands with a sea blue kitchen towel. He folded the kitchen towel and put it on top of the counter. He walked to the cabinet and took out two clean, white ceramic plates.
A piece of slow, hypnotizing jazz music was playing in the background. His every move, every gesture, was so captivating. Shao Yan could not tear her sight away.
While waiting for the steak to rest, the grilled vegetables were also done. He took them out and started to plate them carefully. Each vegetables were scooped with the utmost attention.
Shao Yan watched him wiped the kitchen knife with the blue towel, and started to slice the steak. Every slice was done so meticulously, as if he was a professional chef hired to prepare a meal for the queen.
She suddenly remembered of the famous foul-mouthed British chef from a cooking show that she often watched on TV.
She let out soft, tiny giggles.
Li Xiqing turned around and saw her leaning by the door frame, smiling at him. He returned her smile and asked her, "Share the joke, love."
Shao Yan blushed from being caught, she strode over to his side, and stared on the two plates.
"Well, when you were slicing the meat just now, I just suddenly remember the famous chef." she looked up at him, and grinned again while standing next to him.
Li Xiqing saw her glittering eyes, and he could smell her soap. He suddenly closed in and stole a peck on her lips.
"Are you saying that I like to curse, Missus?" He pecked her once more, "Or are you saying that I am as great of a chef as him?" he slowly raised the corner of his lips, and smirked at her.
Shao Yan burst out a laugh and returned his kisses with a couple more pecks. She quickly separated herself from him before he took things further. She was really hungry.
For steak. Not for him.
Li Xiqing continued to plate their meals, and Shao Yan decided to pour the wine for them. She carried the two gla.s.ses outside, and helped him to set up the dining table.
When he was done with the meat, he cleaned his knife with the towel. Satisfied with the perfect looking plate, he smiled proudly at himself and flung the towel over his shoulder. He picked up the two plates and walked out.
Shao Yan kept the jazz music in the background as it helped to calm her down. It was also the perfect music for tonight.
Li Xiqing placed the plates in front of them before he went back to the kitchen to take off his ap.r.o.n and the towel.
Shao Yan stared at her perfect looking plate. The steak was cooked medium rare, just what she liked. The meat was sliced evenly on each slice and displayed neatly next to the grilled vegetables. The grilled vegetables on the side had a balanced ratio between carrots and asparagus.
When Li Xiqing came out again, he saw that she had a blank look on her face, her pretty pink lips were slightly opened as she looked at him stunned.
"Xiqing, this..this is amazing!" she looked down at her plate again, "I felt like I"m in a professional steakhouse now." she gave him a bright smile, lighting up her whole aura.
Li Xiqing smiled back at him, while he sat down on his chair. He picked up his wine gla.s.s, and gestured it to her direction. "Yan Yan, here is for our new chapter. Thank you, for allowing me to stay by your side"
Shao Yan looked at him foolishly, and swiftly picked up her gla.s.s. She opened her mouth to say something, but she did not know what to say, she closed it in again. She could feel tears started to pool in her eyes again, and she quickly looked up.
She hurriedly clinked her gla.s.s to his, "En. Me too" she was gnawing her bottom lip, she wanted to say more. But nothing else could come out of her, so she repeated, "Me too, Xiqing. Thank you" and a single tear dropped from the corner of her eyes, trickled down her blus.h.i.+ng cheek.
She quickly swiped the tear away with her other hand, and brought the gla.s.s to her lips and started sipping on her wine.
Li Xiqing who was sitting next to her, held out his palm to cup her tear stained cheek. He gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb while giving her a warm, rea.s.suring smile.
edited by: DKQ ll Aysel_Inara