Fortunately, the kitchen was fully stocked with seasonings and other necessities, which relieved Quan Jiu. She secretly thought she would have to bring some seasonings with her tomorrow, as bland food was unpleasant.
However, before her thoughts could fully form, Chu Rong, from somewhere, found a small plastic bag and stuffed all sorts of seasonings into it. He then put it into his team's tote bag.
Quan Jiu stared in astonishment, finding it amusing that the dignified CEO would engage in such petty actions.
"You're packing everything away. What will we use later? Besides, it's unfair to the other teams," Quan Jiu reminded him.
"Survival of the fittest. Besides, they might not even remember to grab seasonings," Chu Rong said matter-of-factly. He then went to another kitchen, retrieved another set of seasonings, and placed them on the counter.
While he was getting the seasonings, Quan Jiu quietly whispered to the camera, "Is this the dream of every girl in City A? I think it's more like a nightmare. Perhaps after this show airs, the girls' dreams will be shattered."
Chu Rong heard her muttering and chuckled silently. He then took a fish from the bucket, picked up a cleaver with his right hand, and began to expertly gut the fish.
Quan Jiu turned to look and instinctively stepped forward, saying, "I'll do it."
But Chu Rong had already made a swift cut, opening the fish's belly, removing the innards, and bagging the waste.
Quan Jiu was somewhat stunned. She had never seen Chu Rong like this. At this moment, he seemed like an ordinary person, not a CEO or the dream of every girl in City A.
After a moment of daze, Quan Jiu remembered to help. However, before her hand could touch the fish's removed innards, Chu Rong stopped her, his tone threatening yet playful, "If you don't want me to get handsy with you, then go play somewhere else."
Quan Jiu furrowed her brows, annoyed, "You..." scoundrel.
"Yes, I am a scoundrel, unreasonable," Chu Rong glanced at Quan Jiu lightly.
I... Quan Jiu almost choked. She turned to the camera and complained, "Girls, see? You can't judge a book by its cover. This man is far more cunning and deceitful than you imagine."
Chu Rong straightened up and continued to the camera, "Believe her. She knows me quite well."
Quan Jiu frowned, thinking to herself, "Two years of being a gentle gentleman, was all that just an act?"
Never mind, out of sight, out of mind. She turned and walked away.
Chu Rong's lips curved into a smile, and he continued to scale the fish and clean the innards.
...
Leaving the kitchen, Quan Jiu didn't just idle. She began to look around. This was a suburban guesthouse surrounded by many farmhouses. Fish needed side dishes, and scallions, ginger, and garlic were indispensable.
Approaching a plot of land, Quan Jiu saw that garlic sprouts were planted there. She called out a few times, and soon, a woman who looked like an elder sister came out. "What is it?"
"Sister, could I pinch a few of your garlic sprouts? We're short on garlic sprouts for cooking," Quan Jiu asked with a smile.
The elder sister smiled upon hearing this and generously said, "Pinch away, there are plenty in the field. Go ahead and pinch them yourself."
"Okay," Quan Jiu replied, thanked her, pinched a small bunch of garlic sprouts from the edge of the field, and then placed two yuan on the doorstep. She called into the house, "Sister, I've left the money on the doorstep. Please remember to get it."
A voice from inside the house quickly responded, "Oh, why are you giving money? Please take it back."
Quan Jiu smiled and said, "If it were just me, I wouldn't be polite. But there are quite a few of us, and they might come to pinch some later. If one pinches and another pinches, it adds up. They should also give money later, so you can collect it all. Don't be shy."
The elder sister held the two yuan, looking somewhat flustered, "Oh, these things are not valuable in our countryside."
Quan Jiu smiled, bid farewell to the elder sister, and went to find other households. After half an hour, she had a basket full of various fruits and vegetables.
Carrying the basket back to the guesthouse, Chu Rong had already processed and cleaned all three fish, and the kitchen was spotless.
Quan Jiu quietly placed the basket by the sink, preparing to wash the vegetables. But before her hands could touch the faucet, Chu Rong took the basket.
"If you're bored, go watch some television," Chu Rong said.
Quan Jiu frowned, "Do you want me to gain a reputation for being lazy and freeloading?"
Chu Rong thought for a moment, narrowed his eyes, and looked at the camera, saying coldly, "If you don't want your account banned, don't post nonsense."
The cameraman's hand trembled. He thought wryly, "Mr. Chu, can you at least consider your image a little? Is it really appropriate to threaten the audience like this?"
Quan Jiu simply mouthed to the camera, "Demon."
...
After eleven o'clock, the other guests also gradually returned, carrying or holding ingredients they had bought from nearby farmers.
Seeing Quan Jiu sitting in the living room with her laptop, Mai Su was the first to ask, "Have you guys eaten lunch yet? It smells so good."
Quan Jiu looked up and pointed to the kitchen, "We're making it." She then pointed in another direction, "There's another kitchen over there, but it doesn't have any seasonings." She was too embarrassed to say that someone had taken the seasonings.
A group of people followed the aroma towards the kitchen and happened to see Chu Rong plating the dish. Dressed in sportswear, he no longer exuded a cold or distant aura, but rather the charm of a good man at home.
Several female guests looked infatuated. Men who can cook are always exceptionally attractive.
"I can't believe the CEO can cook. He's a powerhouse in the business world and gentle and domestic in private. Such a perfect man, I really want to marry him," Mai Su said. As she spoke, she walked into the kitchen with a bowl of flour and stood beside Chu Rong. "Your fish smells amazing. I have flour here, but I don't know what to make. Do you have any suggestions?"
Chu Rong's brows furrowed, and he said expressionlessly, "No."
He turned and carried a plate of red chili fish away.
Arriving at the dining area, Chu Rong called out to Quan Jiu, "A Jiu, time to eat."
Quan Jiu, who was engrossed in writing, instinctively replied, "Okay," and "Coming right up." She didn't notice how intimate the address sounded to others, causing the envious female guests to sigh.
Only after typing the last word did Quan Jiu put down her laptop with satisfaction and get up to go to the dining area.
Bright red chili peppers were sprinkled over the steaming golden broth, emitting a fragrant and spicy aroma that made everyone's mouths water.
Quan Jiu sat down and looked at Chu Rong with some surprise.
Chu Rong picked up a piece of fish, removed the bones, and placed it in Quan Jiu's bowl. "Try it and see how it tastes."
The male guests were more easily amused and gathered around, making playful remarks.
"That's so sweet, you're going all out. You two just met, and you're already heading for a happy ending."
Quan Jiu smiled insincerely and said to them, "Unfortunately, it's not my type."
Mai Su watched as Chu Rong placed another piece of fish in Quan Jiu's bowl, her expression finally faltering. She scoffed inwardly, "What's the use of dignity? Can it be eaten? Success always requires a thick skin."
She took a pair of bowls and chopsticks from the kitchen, walked over with a smile, and looked at Quan Jiu pitifully, "Sister Quan, this fish smells too good. I want to freeload."
"I made this fish. She doesn't have the right to decide," Chu Rong said calmly.
Mai Su continued to display her thick skin and turned to look at Chu Rong pitifully, "I'm already starving."
Chu Rong glanced at her coolly, his expression indifferent and distant, "That has nothing to do with me."