Chapter 98: Making a Mystery

Bai Renzong much preferred the way Han Jiayi interacted with him now. After all, they were peers, and Han Jiayi’s timidity in his presence had only hindered her expression, making Bai Renzong hesitant to speak as well. Things were easier for both of them now.

The following morning, after Han Jiayi left for the restaurant, Bai Renzong stayed home to plan the content for his upcoming video series. With the topics outlined, he could pinpoint which episodes would be suitable for business collaborations or restaurant reviews. The schedule for the month was quite full.

“Xiaobei, starting this month, let’s do a follow-up visit once a month—go back to restaurants we’ve reviewed before,” Bai Renzong instructed Wang Bei, who was busy organizing information.

“Alright,” Wang Bei nodded, nibbling on a dried fish snack. “Are we visiting restaurants out of town this month?”

“Not this month,” Bai Renzong replied. “For one, our public funds are a bit tight. For another, I want to help Jiayi earn her second star. We’ll consider going out of town next month.”

“Got it. I’ll reply to these private messages now,” Wang Bei said, still munching her dried fish.

“What are you eating?” Bai Renzong frowned.

“Samples from the pantry—deep-sea dried fish sent by vendors,” Wang Bei explained, handing one to Bai Renzong. “You should try more of these, so we know which products to promote. Some of them are actually quite good.”

“That makes sense…” Bai Renzong sighed, opened a packet, and took a bite. Instantly, his mouth felt as if a bomb had exploded, his tongue ablaze. “You rascal, you didn’t warn me about the heat! Where’s the water?!”

“Is it that spicy?” Wang Bei looked at her snack in confusion, frowning. “Ah, men who can’t handle spice should be left to Jiayi. I can’t take care of them.”

With nothing pressing to do today, Bai Renzong went to the gym for a bit. He kept to a routine of boxing practice every three days—not to develop bulging muscles, but at least to avoid gaining more weight.

After his workout, he showered, changed, and, as usual, headed to Yi Jia Xuan for lunch. Today, Han Jiayi herself was hosting him.

“Hmm hmm,” Han Jiayi smiled brightly at him, evidently in high spirits.

“?” Bai Renzong glanced at her in confusion, then pointed at the menu. “Today I’ll have…”

“I recommend the French duck confit set,” Han Jiayi interrupted with a cheerful laugh, cutting off his attempt to order for himself.

Bai Renzong frowned and glared, but Han Jiayi widened her eyes and earnestly insisted, “It’s really delicious!”

Her sincere expression nearly broke his composure; he struggled to keep a straight face and set down the menu. “Alright, I’ll take your suggestion.”

“Great, coming right up!” Han Jiayi chirped, turning toward the kitchen.

“This girl…” Bai Renzong shook his head with a smile. “Such energy.”

French duck confit—Confit de canard—is a famed French dish, typically made with duck or goose leg. “Confit” refers to an age-old method of preserving food: the meat is salted, then slow-cooked at low temperature in fat, allowing it to be stored for up to a year. When ready to eat, it’s briefly pan-fried.

But…

Bai Renzong had his concerns: after simmering in oil and then frying, wouldn’t the dish be too greasy? For such a main course, the accompanying sides were crucial; if poorly matched, the whole meal could feel overwhelmingly rich.

Soon, Han Jiayi brought out the set—a duck leg about the size of a pistol grip, perfectly seared to a golden hue with just the right char. It came with pan-fried potatoes, salt-roasted carrots, and cooked beans, garnished with a sprig of cilantro and a leaf of chicory. Sides included salad, bread, and a dish of garlic mushroom soup.

The aroma of garlic filled the air, bringing a trace of joy to Bai Renzong’s face. Han Jiayi watched him with a mischievous smile.

He eyed her suspiciously—he couldn’t shake the feeling she was up to something.

“Eat while it’s hot,” Han Jiayi urged sweetly. “It’s delicious.”

Without hurry, Bai Renzong first tasted the garlic mushroom soup. The garlicky fragrance was intense; the mushrooms snapped cleanly but retained a crisp freshness, their caps soaked in broth. One bite unleashed a burst of garlicky flavor, whetting his appetite.

He grabbed a slice of baguette, dipped it into the soup, and ate…

A perfect match.

Next, he sliced off a piece of duck confit and tasted it, nodding in satisfaction.

“It’s not as salty as I expected. You can tell the duck was cured with rock salt, which imparts a unique mineral aroma. The spices—garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, thyme—are well chosen. The fat used for confit hasn’t masked the duck’s flavor; it’s probably duck fat. The meat is firm from curing, and the exterior is crisp from frying.” Bai Renzong nodded approvingly. “A dish with both texture and depth—a fine meal.”

“Hehe,” Han Jiayi grinned with delight. “Quick, eat while it’s hot.”

Yet Bai Renzong’s concern remained unresolved.

After finishing, he wiped his mouth and frowned. “Honestly… The duck confit itself is excellent, but the whole set—with all the garlic and oil—is a bit intense. The salad helps offset the richness, but it’s still a bit greasy at the end. I think the set could use something to cleanse the palate—maybe some pickled vegetables.”

“Then let me treat you to another dish,” Han Jiayi replied with a mysterious smile. “A trial creation, free of charge.”

Now Bai Renzong understood: this girl had been scheming all along, recommending the heavier dish just to set the stage for her “trial creation.”

“I’ll leave it to you,” Bai Renzong chuckled, cupping his chin in both hands.

“Alright, just a moment please,” Han Jiayi sang out, turning back to the kitchen and getting busy.

Han Jiayi had discovered that as long as she didn’t interrupt Bai Renzong during serious work, he rarely got angry. Realizing this, she looked back on countless small moments and saw that Bai Renzong, the notorious critic, actually pampered her most of the time.

…And with that knowledge, she let herself be even more unrestrained.

“Heave-ho!” Han Jiayi danced gracefully in the kitchen, efficiently handling seven or eight types of vegetables, freezing and heating as needed, everything proceeding in perfect order. The surrounding chefs were awestruck: “The boss is amazing.” “She’s so inspired cooking for her boyfriend.” “Well… this must be the power of love.”

Soon, Han Jiayi returned to Bai Renzong with a tray.

Seeing her confident expression, Bai Renzong smiled.

“Come, astonish me,” he said elegantly, raising his hand.

“Please savor this…” Han Jiayi said, setting the tray before him and slowly lifting the stainless steel lid.

“You’ve mastered all of Yang Hua’s tricks, haven’t you?” Bai Renzong teased.

“Oh, don’t spoil the mood! I’m really invested in this moment!” Han Jiayi protested sweetly, slowly raising the lid and laughing, “Ta-da! Please try this appetizer—I call it… ‘Rainbow.’”

(Thanks to Shishiyi, AlovE, Bu Song Jiu Shi Gan, 11110+, and Reader 20180917232728978 for two monthly votes, and thanks to Xiao Xiao Xuan Yi, F Sheng, Is the Mermaid Beautiful, Changsha, dhfbhdghb, ppppy1, and Shi You Zhi for their monthly votes.)