bioinnovel Chapter 23: Like the Taste of Love!
Chapter 23: Like the Taste of Love!
Inside the carriage, the air seemed to have solidified into amber, thick and ambiguous.
Zhang Yan could clearly hear his own heartbeat, one after another, pounding against his chest.
"How about... I get you a girlfriend instead?"
Those words, like a snake flicking its tongue, slithered into his ear, slid all the way into his heart, and stirred a shiver down his spine.
The warm breath brushed against his cheek; it was her unique scent, a blend of cool woody fragrance and a woman's body heat, that domineeringly invaded all his senses.
Zhang Yan's throat went dry. He turned his head away, his gaze falling on the rapidly receding light outside the window, not daring to look at those fox eyes so close to him, eyes that seemed capable of devouring everything.
"Mr. Nie, please stop joking."
His voice was a little hoarse.
"Oh."
A soft, pleasant chuckle reached my ears.
Nie Qingcheng sat up straight, leaning back in the soft leather seat, creating that suffocating distance between them.
She didn't say anything more.
But Zhang Yan could feel that the burning gaze never left him.
It was a scrutiny, a sizing up, and even more so, the playful look of a hunter eyeing what he had in his bag.
This feeling was even more unsettling than her direct verbal provocation.
Speechless all the way.
Zhang Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief when the Rolls-Royce Cullinan smoothly drove into Genting Highlands.
The car door opened, and the cool night breeze rushed in, dispelling the ambiguous atmosphere inside the car and clearing his feverish mind.
"I'm going back."
Zhang Yan got out of the car, said something to the woman inside, and then prepared to walk towards the annex building where he lived.
"stop."
Nie Qingcheng's voice came from behind, cold and clear, yet brooking no refusal.
She got out of the car, tossed the car keys to the waiting housekeeper, and walked step by step to Zhang Yan in her high heels.
I'm hungry.
She looked up at the boy, who was half a head taller than her, and declared confidently.
Zhang Yan: "..."
"Listening to you play the piano is very moving and physically exhausting."
Nie Qingcheng extended her index finger and gently tapped her flat stomach. "Right now, this area is empty."
This logic is impeccable.
Looking at her face, which seemed to say, "I'm hungry, you're responsible," Zhang Yan's fleeting thought of escaping vanished instantly.
Fine.
The demands of the sugar daddy are like imperial edicts.
"What would you like to eat?"
He asked resignedly.
"casual."
Nie Qingcheng posed this age-old question, then turned and gracefully walked towards the main villa. "You have half an hour."
Zhang Yan watched her retreating figure, sighed helplessly, and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
This gigolo not only has to provide enough food, but also late-night snacks.
……
The kitchen of the main villa was brightly lit, and various top-of-the-line kitchen utensils gleamed with a cold luster under the lights.
Zhang Yan skillfully tied on his apron and opened the refrigerator.
Just as he was pondering what to make for a late-night snack, that familiar mechanical voice finally arrived in his mind, albeit belatedly.
【Ding! 】
[Main Quest: First Signs of Talent, Completed!]
[Mission Rating: S (Perfect)]
[Task settlement in progress...]
A golden light curtain unfolded before Zhang Yan's eyes.
[Basic Reward: Mastery of Piano Skills (Already Awarded)]
[S-level excess reward settlement...]
[Congratulations, host, you have received bonus reward one: Charm Halo (Beginner)!]
[Charm Aura (Basic): Passive Skill. Your words and actions will be accompanied by a subtle aura, increasing your attractiveness to the opposite sex (especially those who are attracted to you) by 10%. This aura can be upgraded as you progress.]
[Congratulations, host, you have received bonus reward two: God-level dessert making!]
[God-level Dessert Making: Passive Skill. You have mastered the methods and essence of making all desserts in the world, from street food to Michelin three-star restaurants, with ease. Your desserts will have a wonderfully enhanced effect on the taste buds and emotions of those who create them.]
Two more massive streams of information, like gentle tides, flooded into Zhang Yan's brain.
Countless facts about desserts—recipes accurate to the milligram, the amazing reactions of butter and sugar at different temperatures, the optimal state for whipping egg whites, the perfect tempering curve for chocolate…
These skills and knowledge seemed to be innate to him, deeply imprinted in his mind and integrated into his muscle memory.
Zhang Yan closed his eyes, feeling this wonderful change, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.
dessert?
He glanced at the refrigerator filled with a dazzling array of premium ingredients—Valrhona chocolate, Tahitian vanilla pods, raw Lancôme eggs, President brand whipping cream…
A thought naturally arose.
He wants to make a soufflé.
French soufflé, known as the "Queen of Desserts," is famous for its light, cloud-like texture and the fleeting moment it is meant to be enjoyed.
It is extremely difficult to make and requires a high level of skill from the pastry chef.
But now, for Zhang Yan, it's as simple as breathing.
He took out a few small baking dishes, spread a thin layer of butter on his fingertips, and then sprinkled fine sugar evenly on them.
Separate the egg whites and yolks.
Egg yolks are mixed with milk and flour, and vanilla seeds are added. The mixture is then simmered over low heat to create a smooth custard sauce, instantly filling the air with its aroma.
Next comes the crucial meringue.
He poured the egg whites into a copper basin, held the whisk, and beat them at high speed with a rhythmic pace.
Soon, the egg whites transformed from a clear liquid into pure white foam, then to soft peaks, and finally, when he lifted the whisk, a straight, slightly curved peak stood firmly in place.
perfect.
Mix the meringue with the egg yolk mixture in batches, using a cutting and folding motion, gently and quickly.
The entire process was fluid and graceful, filled with an indescribable beauty.
Pour the batter into a baking dish and place it in a preheated oven.
While waiting, Zhang Yan's gaze fell on the wine cabinet again.
He took out a bottle of fine red wine, added cinnamon, cloves, and orange slices, poured it into a pot, and simmered it over low heat.
Soon, a warm and rich aroma of spices and wine mingled with the milky and eggy scent wafting from the oven, painting the entire kitchen with a romantic hue.
"bite."
The oven beeped.
Zhang Yan put on oven mitts and turned on the oven.
A miracle happened.
The soufflés in the baking dish, like fluffy, golden clouds, puffed up high, trembling as if they would break at the slightest touch.
He carefully carried them out and sprinkled them with powdered sugar.
A glass of warm spiced red wine, and a freshly baked French soufflé.
The perfect late-night snack.
……
Nie Qingcheng had changed into a silk bathrobe and was leaning back on the sofa in the living room, idly flipping through a financial magazine.
When Zhang Yan came out carrying the tray, her eyes were instantly drawn to him.
It's not because of people.
It was because of that thing on his tray.
The tall, golden-yellow, cloud-like thing exuded a sweet aroma that she couldn't resist.
"What is this?" She put down the magazine, sat up straight, and her fox-like eyes were full of curiosity.
French soufflé.
Zhang Yan placed the tray on the coffee table in front of her. "Eat it while it's hot, or it will collapse soon."
He then handed her the glass of warm red wine.
Nie Qingcheng took the wine glass; the temperature of the glass was just right, warmly seeping into her palm.
She lowered her head and took a deep sniff; the complex aroma, a blend of wine, fruit, and spices, soothed her nerves, which had been tense all night.
She went to look at the soufflé again.
Sure enough, it had already begun to sink slightly at a visible speed, as if urging her on.
Nie Qingcheng picked up a small spoon and gently scooped out a spoonful.
The spoon sank in almost no resistance; the sensation was incredibly light.
She put the spoonful of golden "clouds" into her mouth.
It melts at the entrance.
The warm, airy cake melts instantly on the tongue, leaving only a rich aroma of milk, eggs, and a hint of fresh vanilla.
sweet.
But it's not the kind of cloyingly sweet.
It's a sweetness that's just right, gentle, and seems to soothe the soul.
Nie Qingcheng was completely stunned.
She had eaten at the world's top Michelin-starred restaurants and tasted the masterpieces of countless pastry chefs, but no flavor could compare to the sensation on her tongue at this moment.
This is no longer just delicious.
This is a feeling of happiness.
A sense of happiness that brings joy and satisfaction from the bottom of one's heart.
She took another sip of mulled wine.
The slight intoxication, accompanied by the warmth of the spices, instantly spread throughout my body.
My cheeks started to feel slightly hot.
The whole world seemed to soften and slow down.
Nie Qingcheng raised her head and looked at Zhang Yan, who was sitting on the opposite sofa, quietly watching her.
The living room lights were soft, falling on his handsome face and casting a warm glow on his features.
His eyes were still so clear, like a spring that washes away all the dust.
But for some reason, this spring water today seems to possess a strange magic.
She took one look and couldn't look away.
My heart started racing uncontrollably, fueled by the alcohol and sweetness.
A strange, tingling feeling slowly spread from the deepest part of my heart.
The Charm Aura (Beginner) is working quietly and effectively.
Nie Qingcheng put down her wine glass, scooped up a large spoonful of soufflé and put it in her mouth, savoring it carefully.
She suddenly spoke, her voice slightly hoarse and languid due to the alcohol.
"How can it be so sweet..."
She looked at Zhang Yan, her eyes gradually becoming hazy, as if veiled by a layer of mist.
A tiny speck of powdered sugar adorned her red lips, shimmering alluringly under the light.
"...Like the taste of falling in love."