Chapter 4: Master Chef Qiuqiu

　　For those obsessed with looks, Gu Panqiu’s visage was like a long-awaited breath of spring after a cold, dreary winter.

　　Across the table, Zhang Yiming stared so intently at Gu Panqiu’s face, counting his eyelashes as if trying to memorize each one.

　　Sensing his gaze, Gu Panqiu turned to meet his eyes. “I’m looking for a family-oriented boyfriend who can help me raise my little one.”

　　After saying all that, I reckon no one would be interested in me anymore.

　　“Let me quickly introduce myself, too.” Zhang Yiming looked over at Gu Panqiu. “I’m Zhang Yiming. I did both my undergrad and master’s in law at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Now I’m a lawyer, which means loads of overtime and business trips. I hardly get time to go out, and have never been to a nightclub.”

　　He grinned, showing off his pearly whites. “If I ever get a boyfriend, I’d do everything he says and cook for him every day.”

　　“Wow! What a guy!” Yang Chen clapped his hands. “That’s almost too good to be true!”

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　　With an apron tied snugly around his waist, Gu Panqiu’s beautiful hands moved with practiced ease as he worked on the fish. His slender fingers were pale and long, with neatly trimmed nails that were softly rounded and pleasing to the eye.

　　Shen Yao found himself staring, momentarily spellbound.

　　The apron hugged his waist, accentuating its slender curve—so slim it seemed it could be wrapped with a single hand.

　　Gu Panqiu handled the fish with calm precision, his movements both graceful and practiced. His expression was serious, and he spoke little, his lips barely parting. He was not quite what the rumors made him out to be, and in truth, there was something unexpectedly pure about him.

　　Shen Yao blinked, taken aback for a moment. Gu Panqiu’s way of flirting was certainly unconventional.

　　Is Gu Panqiu trying to win me over through his cooking?

　　Yang Chen was only nineteen and had never cooked a day in his life. All he could do was hover awkwardly beside the lawyer, unsure of how to help.

　　He glanced over and remarked, “You really know your way around a kitchen.”

　　The lawyer glanced up, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah, I cook every day, but it’s a shame there’s no one to share my meals with.”

　　The steak was pan-seared to a medium-well. He cut off a bite-sized piece and offered it to Yang Chen. “Here, try it and tell me what you think.”

　　Yang Chen bobbed his head furiously. “Yummy!”

　　The lawyer turned to Gu Panqiu, who was busy preparing fish not far away. “Want a piece, Qiuqiu?”

　　Gu Panqiu covered the pot with a smile. “No thanks, I’m good.”

　　At that moment, Jiujiu had just woken up and was already on his way to find his dad.

　　He clung to Gu Panqiu’s leg and peered up. “Daddy, whatcha doing?”

　　“Finally awake, sleepyhead?” Gu Panqiu knelt down and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. “Daddy’s cooking fish.”

　　Gu Panqiu initially thought Jiujiu might get scared, but the little one just glanced at the fish who had gone to fishy heaven and cheerfully chimed, “Mhm! Fishy’s the yummiest!”

　　He reached out to squish the little one’s cheek, and the child stood there sweetly, letting him knead it like a bun.

　　“We’re going to the aquarium tomorrow to see fishies!” Jiujiu beamed, barely able to contain his glee. “Brother Yanyan’s gonna see them with me!”

　　The kindergarten had organized a Sunday trip to the aquarium. The great thing about this reality show was how relaxed the director was. If something urgent came up, you could quietly slip away without disrupting anyone’s day.

　　Gu Panqiu had obtained the director’s approval for a day off, as he planned to take Jiujiu to the aquarium the next day for an afternoon of fun.

　　“Brother Yanyan?” Gu Panqiu blinked, pondering for a moment. No way, that can’t be Fu Yue’s younger brother, right? “Is he the boy who played football that day?”

　　“Uh-huh!” Jiujiu’s big eyes sparkled. “Teacher said we can play in groups, so Brother Yanyan came to ask me!”

　　“Has Brother Yanyan been playing with you lately?”

　　“Mm-hmm.” Jiujiu gave a shy little smile. “Brother Yanyan always gives me chocolate. Daddy, I like him so much.”

　　Gu Panqiu slipped off his gloves and scooped Jiujiu up, settling him on the sofa. “Alright then, we’ll go play with Brother Yanyan tomorrow.”

　　In the living room, only the hopelessly inept at cooking—Cui Hang, Luo Siqi, and Li Zhu—remained.

　　Jiujiu sat beside Cui Hang, tilting his head up to look at him and the cat curled comfortably in his arms.

　　Cradling the cat gently, Cui Hang glanced down and murmured a soft, “Hello.”

　　Jiujiu’s cheeks flushed a soft pink as he whispered shyly, “Big Sister, your kitty is so pretty.”

　　Gu Panqiu apologized to Cui Hang, then turned to Jiujiu and explained patiently, “He may have long hair, but he’s a boy, not a girl.”

　　Jiujiu lifted his gaze to Cui Hang and nodded his head. “I’m sowwy, Big Brother. Can I play with your kitty a little bit?”

　　“Of course.” Cui Hang gently laid the cat into Jiujiu’s waiting arms. “Her name’s McGonagall.”

　　Jiujiu whispered, his eyes wide with wonder. “Can she turn into Professor McGonagall¹ She’s a character from the Harry Potter series. ?”

　　“Of course,” Cui Hang replied so convincingly it sounded like the absolute truth. “She changes at night.”

　　Jiujiu gently patted the Golden British Shorthair, his little face glowing with joy. “Hurry and change!”

　　Cui Hang added, “But muggles² A term from the Harry Potter series for someone without magical abilities. can’t see it.”

　　Tears welled up in Jiujiu’s big, round eyes as he murmured, “I’m a muggle…”

　　With a faint smile, Gu Panqiu glanced at Cui Hang. “Don’t shatter my son’s dreams.”

　　Torn between the urge to check on the fish in the pot and the worry of leaving Jiujiu alone, he was caught in a dance of indecision. Should he return to the kitchen or stay and keep the little one company?

　　“I have a little sister back home, and I take care of her most of the time,” Cui Hang reassured. “So go ahead and do what you need to. I’ve got this.”

　　Gu Panqiu nodded in thanks, leaned close to whisper a few quick reminders to Jiujiu, then tied on his apron and slipped back into the kitchen.

　　At that very moment, Shen Yao was in the middle of cooking scallops—if you could call it that.

　　The young master clearly did not know his way around a kitchen. After all, he was holding the plate high above the boiling water and was about to dump the whole thing in from above, utterly unfazed by the risk of a scalding splash.

　　Gu Panqiu thrust a strainer out to stop him. “Wait, Teacher Shen! Be careful, or you’ll splash boiling water all over yourself!”

　　“Oh,” Shen Yao uttered, still holding the plate frozen in place like a waiter who had forgotten his next move. He watched in a daze as Gu Panqiu slid the scallops into the pot, then added some scallions and ginger to the water.

　　Shen Yao’s gaze lingered on Gu Panqiu’s lowered lashes, and a smile tugged at his lips. He really is trying to seduce me. No one gets this gentle out of nowhere.

　　A faint trace of cedarwood clung to Gu Panqiu’s skin. As he leaned closer, the scent wafted into Shen Yao’s nose, stirring a whirlwind of thoughts within him.

　　Watching the scallops swirl in the boiling water, Gu Panqiu wondered aloud, “Teacher Shen, do you usually not have time to cook?”

　　Shen Yao nodded. “Yeah, that’s right.”

　　Gu Panqiu began working on yet another large fish, deftly removing its bones with practiced ease. He then sliced the tender flesh into long, braid-like strips and tossed them into a large bowl to be thoroughly coated in starch. Finally, he arranged the pieces on a plate, forming them into a hollow circle.

　　Gu Panqiu was deeply engrossed in cooking, his lips sealed in concentration. Shen Yao remained by his side, not uttering a word either.

　　The lawyer’s side was bustling with people, while the fitness coach was busy whipping up a batch of pasta. Chris flitted about, bubbling with chatter as he handed drinks to the coach. Meanwhile, Yang Chen laughed and talked animatedly with the lawyer. For a moment, the whole area buzzed with warmth and laughter.

　　It was then that Luo Siqi finally made his way over from the living room.

　　Rolling up his sleeves, he approached Shen Yao. “Teacher Shen, is there anything you need help with?”

　　“No, not really,” Shen Yao responded. “Though you might want to check with Xiao Gu. He might need a hand.”

　　Upon hearing that, Gu Panqiu could not help but sigh inwardly. Luo Siqi’s obviously here for you, so why are you passing him off to me?!

　　“The fish is just about done. Siqi, would you mind chopping up some scallions for me?” Gu Panqiu suggested.

　　Beside Shen Yao, Luo Siqi began chopping scallions, his gaze drifting toward him with doe-like eyes glistening softly. With a shy smile, he shared, “I’ve never even cooked at home before… Ah!”

　　He sucked on his finger, then looked up at Shen Yao. “It’s bleeding.”

　　Gu Panqiu froze, speechless at the sight.

　　Knowing full well this was one of Xiao Ling’s usual tricks, he nonetheless played along and asked, “How did you get hurt, Siqi?”

　　Li Zhu came rushing in from the living room, eyes immediately locking on Luo Siqi’s bleeding finger. “Are you hurt? How could you be so careless?”

　　Shen Yao remained silent, his eyes briefly drifting over the small cut on Luo Siqi’s finger before resting on Gu Panqiu’s lazy expression.

　　Noticing Shen Yao’s lack of reaction, Luo Siqi felt a pang of disappointment. “I’m okay, really.”

　　Li Zhu fetched the first aid kit from the living room and returned with quick steps. As he dressed Luo Siqi’s wound, he chided softly, “You’re not a little kid anymore. How’d you end up getting hurt like this?”

　　Luo Siqi nodded aggrievedly, lips trembling. “It hurts so much… I shouldn’t have insisted on helping when I can’t even cook.”

　　“It’s okay.” Li Zhu gave him a reassuring smile. “Come on, let me help you sit down and rest.”

　　Luo Siqi followed Li Zhu into the living room, acting as though a mere finger injury had rendered him utterly crippled. He leaned against Li Zhu’s shoulder, dramatic and boneless like a limp ragdoll.

　　Turning to Shen Yao, Gu Panqiu smiled softly. “Teacher Shen, why don’t you go to the living room? I’ll take care of things here.”

　　“Let me lend a hand,” Shen Yao offered. “You said you’re looking for someone who’s family-oriented?”

　　Gu Panqiu nodded in agreement.

　　“You seem like someone who really knows how to take care of others,” Shen Yao mused, “even if you don’t exactly look the part.”

　　“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” Gu Panqiu countered, his gaze fixed on the scallions he was slicing. “The oil is hot. Move aside.”

　　As the oil sizzled, Gu Panqiu deep-fried the fish until golden and crisp, then whipped up a tangy-sweet sauce and poured it into the pan to create the sweet and sour fish³ 糖醋鱼 (táng cù yú): It looks something like this – dish.

　　Even after all that, Gu Panqiu was still not satisfied. He went on to carve an orange flower from a carrot and set it carefully beside the plate.

　　Compared to the lively chatter of the other guests, Gu Panqiu seemed more like the chef the production crew had brought in just for the show.

　　As the scrumptious dishes were laid out, Chris and Yang Chen took their places on either side of the lawyer, while Fei Yang, the fitness coach, slid into the seat beside Chris.

　　Meanwhile, Luo Siqi claimed the spot next to Shen Yao. Right behind him, Li Zhu took his cup in hand and sank into the spot next to Luo Siqi.

　　Gu Panqiu gave it some thought, wondering where he could sit without being the third wheel. His eyes swept over Cui Hang and his cat, both looking utterly detached from worldly desires. Deciding they were the safest company, he settled himself and his son beside them.

　　But the last thing he expected was Shen Yao to switch seats and sit right beside him the moment he took his own, all under everyone’s watchful eyes.

　　In an instant, Luo Siqi fixed Gu Panqiu with a hostile glare.

　　Gu Panqiu’s chopsticks quivered in his hand. This can’t be happening.

　　The next moment, Shen Yao picked up a piece of the sweet and sour fish Gu Panqiu had prepared. After the first bite, he nodded with approval. “Mmm, this is delicious.”

　　Encouraged by his praise, everyone eagerly reached for Gu Panqiu’s two fish dishes.

　　No one had really expected Gu Panqiu, the scandal-tainted artiste, to possess such impressive cooking skills. Yang Chen exclaimed in surprise, “Damn, Brother Qiuqiu, that fish is next level!”

　　“Right? This could pass for a dish from a restaurant.”

　　“Guess we’ve got our very own chef now!”

　　After fastening a small bib around his son’s neck, Gu Panqiu deftly picked out every fish bone from the little boy’s plate. “My son loves fish,” he shared fondly, “so I make it for him often.”

　　His eyes arched in a smile as he scooped some vegetables onto his son’s plate. “Jiujiu, you have to eat more veggies if you want to grow up big and tall.”

　　While Gu Panqiu busied himself with his son, Shen Yao had already fallen under the spell of his gentle warmth. He marveled at how refreshingly original and thoughtfully considerate Gu Panqiu’s ways were, and he had to admit, he was somewhat drawn to him.