novelraw Chapter 307 - 286: Savoring the Aroma While Eating (Part 2)
Chapter 307 - 286: Savoring the Aroma While Eating (Part 2)
Lin Weijian: "(￣┏Д┓￣°*)"
Are all the cats at this kindergarten so perceptive? So theatrical?
He’s utterly speechless. To avoid being relentlessly "criticized" by a cat with sharp eyes, he decides to turn his back and walk towards the dining area of the kitchen to find a corner and sit quietly.
Just as he steps into the dining area...
He sees Dong Yuantao quietly dining in a corner, and walks over with a smile to greet him: "Assistant Dong, you’re here too..."
Dong Yuantao looks up to see Lin Weijian, showing a warm smile on his face: "Oh, Master Lin, how come you’re here as well?"
This question leaves Lin Weijian momentarily speechless.
He feels embarrassed to admit he’s here to "smell the food."
He quickly comes up with a seemingly reasonable excuse: "Today’s weather is too hot, I came to enjoy the air-conditioning!"
Dong Yuantao: "∑(´△｀)?!"
Is it really hot?
Today’s temperature is just around twenty-something degrees...
Moreover, there’s no air conditioning in the kitchen...
Where exactly are you enjoying air-conditioning?
Though puzzled, Dong Yuantao doesn’t press further, just points to a seat with a smile: "Oh, take a seat..."
And continues to eat the remaining bit of his meal.
Lin Weijian sits at the table across the aisle from Dong Yuantao, his eyes unconsciously scanning Dong Yuantao’s plate.
Though Dong Yuantao’s meal has been poked around, appearing somewhat disordered, the aroma...
Still alluring indeed!
Seeing Dong Yuantao gently sipping a spoonful of tomato dory fish soup, the rich aroma instantly permeates the air.
Lin Weijian, drawn by the smell, hastens to grab his spoon and ladles out a spoonful of tomato egg flower soup from his plastic bowl.
He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, trying to blend the aroma of Dong Yuantao’s tomato dory fish soup into his own senses.
He gradually brings the spoon of tomato egg flower soup to his mouth, imagining he is tasting the delicious tomato dory fish soup.
Witnessing Dong Yuantao take a bite of the honey-glazed chicken leg, the sweet and savory juices and tender meat make Lin Weijian’s mouth water.
He swiftly places his spoon down and also picks up the braised chicken leg from his plate, taking a bite.
Trying hard to conjure the taste of Dong Yuantao’s honey-glazed chicken leg in his mind, imagining he is savoring the same deliciousness...
Initially!
Everyone is immersed in the world of food, the dining area is so quiet that only faint chewing sounds and the clatter of utensils are audible; nobody pays attention to others, so at first, no one notices Lin Weijian’s unusual behavior.
However...
As more and more people finish their meals and get up to leave, they gradually observe Lin Weijian’s peculiar actions, all curiously looking at him.
Curious as to why he is so focused on Dong Yuantao’s plate, even mimicking Dong Yuantao’s dining style?
Perhaps the real reason is simply one thing — he’s craving Dong Yuantao’s meal?!
No, to be more accurate, he should be craving the meals at their kindergarten?!
Then... "smelling the aroma to eat"?
If this guess is correct, then Lin Weijian’s quirky behavior becomes quite reasonable.
The moment this thought occurred, Huang Jun and his colleagues were stunned.
This fellow, he’s really something...
However, seeing his satisfied expression, he might actually be under the illusion of enjoying the kindergarten’s meals?
But why does this make people feel an inexplicable sense of pity?
Meanwhile, Lin Weilin remains immersed in his self-fashioned "smelling the aroma to eat" fantasy, indifferent to everything external.
Actually.
His heart is not happy at all.
Looking at others’ dishes full of color, aroma, and flavor, while the meals in his box lunch, in terms of appearance, aroma, or taste, are worlds apart.
It truly aligns with the saying "No comparison, no harm"!
Lin Weijian is suffering inwardly, but he doesn’t express it and continuously hypnotizes himself into imagining he is enjoying the Dorami Kindergarten’s lunch...
At this point, Dong Yuantao also belatedly notices this peculiar situation.
He turns his head puzzledly towards Lin Weijian and asks, "Master Lin, why do you keep staring at me? Is there something on my face?"
Only then does Lin Weijian come to his senses, giving an awkward smile, and responds: "Um... there’s indeed something very eye-catching on your face! And that is... my gaze of admiration!"
Dong Yuantao: "(¬_¬)ﾉ"
Gaze of admiration?
He doesn’t know if others believe it or not, but he certainly doesn’t!
In Dong Yuantao’s mind, this evokes nothing but a "Hehe", he had intended to ask further; however, considering the other’s unwillingness to speak directly, he refrains from interrogating more.
Just at this moment.
Huang Jun approaches holding a small bowl of fragrant tomato dory fish soup and a porcelain plate with an enticing honey-glazed chicken leg, smiling as he comes beside Lin Weijian.
He softly says: "This is our kindergarten’s lunch, have a taste."
This unexpected surprise leaves Lin Weijian showing an expression of astonishment — "I can eat this without paying?"
Seeing Lin Weijian stunned, Huang Jun places the bowl of soup on the table, then transfers the honey-glazed chicken leg into Lin Weijian’s plate.
Just as he’s about to leave, Lin Weijian suddenly calls out to him...
"Excuse me, thank you..." Lin Weijian says gratefully, looking at Huang Jun.
"You’re welcome!" Huang Jun responds with a smile.
Lin Weijian, staring at the sauce on the porcelain plate, says somewhat embarrassedly: "Well... could you leave the porcelain plate?"
Huang Jun is taken aback for a moment, looking puzzled.
Lin Weijian quickly explains: "There’s still some sauce left on the plate, I’d like to use it to mix with my rice."
Upon hearing this, Huang Jun and the others are astounded.
No way?
Even the sauce on the plate isn’t spared?
After a moment of awe, Huang Jun hands the porcelain plate to Lin Weijian with a smile: "Sure, here!"
"Thank you!"
Lin Weijian takes the porcelain plate.
The sauce on the plate is a deep brown color, glistening enticingly, emitting a rich sweet fragrance with hints of meat aroma.
When mixed with rice, every grain seems to be gently coated by the sauce, gleaming with an enticing shine.
The sweetness of the sauce is just right, not overly sweet but perfectly complements the softness of the rice...
Delicious ~
Even the rice mixed with sauce is so delicious, just imagine the honey-glazed chicken leg!
He impatiently picks up his chopsticks to grab the tempting honey-glazed chicken leg.
The chicken leg is tender, its skin baked to a slight golden brown by the honey glaze, crispy and delicious, while the interior meat is tender and juicy, offering a rich, delightful taste.
Then trying the tomato dory fish soup...
The fish is silky, melting upon a gentle bite, the tomato cooked till soft and flavorful, its sweet and sour essence perfectly blending with the fish soup...
Oh my...
This utmost enjoyment of taste sensation and fulfillment, this is the true way to relish food!
At this moment...
His perspective on food is completely overturned!
And he realizes profoundly that those days in the past, focusing solely on filling his stomach, never truly captured the essence of fine dining.
Turns out...
Dining isn’t just for survival, but is a form of enjoyment and pursuit...
Thinking of how he used to eat merely to stay alive, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for himself.