The hotpot gathering was scheduled for Sunday, but Su Bin had been busy since Saturday afternoon.
When it comes to hotpot, the most crucial part is the broth. As the saying goes, it’s not aromatic without chicken and not fresh without duck. Although there are pre-made broth seasoning packets available at Chinese supermarkets, Su Bin always felt they were made with too much MSG and chicken essence, not very sanitary. So he decided to make his own.
He had ordered a “Made in China” dual-flavor hotpot from Amazon early on. Although only Sun Yujie could handle spicy food among the guests, Su Bin planned to make two types of broth: spicy pork bone broth and clear chicken broth.
He could get pre-made pork bone broth from “Boss Su’s,” saving him a step, but the chicken broth had to be stewed in advance.
From washing the chicken to boiling, skimming off the fat, filtering, cooling, and removing the oil… Su Bin spent the whole afternoon stewing a pot of fragrant chicken broth.
This made Jin Fei almost run to the kitchen every half hour, but every time he went, Su Bin would chase him out. He thought they’d be able to eat in the evening, but the guy finished stewing the broth and put it directly in the refrigerator.
Jin Fei went crazy, saying, “I’ve been enduring it all afternoon, and you want me to endure it all night? Be careful I drink up all your broth in the middle of the night!”
Su Bin replied, “Are you crazy? This is hotpot broth! Without salt, are you going to drink water? And it’s cold, doesn’t it disgust you?”
Jin Fei: “…” Damn it, it smells so good, why did this guy have to ruin my appetite?
The next morning, Su Bin enlisted Jin Fei as the driver to pick up Li Meihan at the train station.
“Didn’t you just see her last week? Why is she coming again? Is that girl still into you?” Jin Fei was very sharp.
Su Bin scratched his nose. “Just this one time, I’ll decline next time.” He had already touched Allen’s sore spot; he couldn’t afford a second time!
Jin Fei teased him, “You’ve been single for several months now, aren’t you planning to find someone else? I think that girl suits you pretty well.”
Su Bin hesitated. “Let’s talk about it later…” He really didn’t want to bring up that topic again!
Li Meihan was once again meticulously dressed today, bringing a bottle of wine and some homemade snacks as a gift.
At nearly eleven o’clock, Yang Chengzhe was sitting on the sofa watching TV when they arrived home. Su Bin gave a brief introduction.
“Wow, your friend is very beautiful,” Yang Chengzhe praised.
“Hello, senior.” Li Meihan was polite and smiled sweetly, appearing poised and generous.
Yang Chengzhe smiled and invited Li Meihan to sit on the sofa, starting a conversation with her. “Studying at L University?”
Li Meihan nodded. “Yes, studying education.”
Yang Chengzhe said, “Oh? That’s a great major. Do you plan to become a teacher in the future?”
Li Meihan replied, “Yes, my parents said that after graduating from this major, I can go back and become an English teacher…”
Su Bin watched the two of them, suddenly hearing a “ding” in his mind…
Weren’t they both single? Didn’t Chengzhe mention finding a girlfriend a few days ago? Shouldn’t he introduce Li Meihan to him? (⊙v⊙)
Su Bin went to the kitchen to fetch the induction cooker and the dual-flavor hotpot, feeling more and more confident about this match as he looked at them chatting. He felt inexplicably excited!
He laid out beer, beverages, and some snacks on the dining table, then went upstairs to find Allen…
Allen was alone in his room reading a book, not even turning his head when Su Bin entered.
“Why aren’t you coming down?” Su Bin leaned over, seeing Allen flipping through documents expressionlessly, not responding to him.
Hmm, he doesn’t seem happy. Is he still upset about Li Meihan? Su Bin nervously reached out to touch Allen’s face… This person, he’s completely different from a soft and sweet girl, handsome, tall, arrogant, and sometimes even cold… but for some reason, Su Bin cared more and more about him, not wanting him to be unhappy. Seeing his stern face, Su Bin felt uneasy too.
Allen’s hand paused as he held the book, finally giving a response, “Hmm?”
“What’s wrong with you?” Su Bin asked cautiously, reaching out to touch Allen’s face, but he was grabbed by Allen and pulled over in one swift motion.
“What are you doing?” Allen looked at him with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile—this guy was getting bolder, daring to tease him physically now, huh?
Su Bin climbed onto his lap, supporting himself, “Are you angry?”
Allen asked, “And if I am?”
“…Is it really okay to admit that I’m angry?” QAQ
Su Bin leaned over and kissed Allen’s lips, whispering softly, “Don’t be angry… I’m yours.”
Allen: “…”
The next moment, Su Bin, who was being daring, was bitten on the lip and then pulled onto the bed, embraced for a deep kiss.
…Uh oh, Allen’s actions are so bold, will they be found out in a moment?
Su Bin nervously pushed him away, but this action only prompted Allen to be more domineering…
“Su Bin?” Jin Fei’s voice came faintly from downstairs, and Su Bin was finally let go.
“…Coming!” Su Bin quickly sat up and straightened out his slightly disheveled clothes, then glanced at Allen with embarrassment before rushing out to rinse his lips with cold water… Seriously, they’re so red now!
After he finished tidying up, Allen also came out. The guy was still squinting, licking his lips as if he hadn’t eaten enough, like an unsatisfied cat…
“What were you doing upstairs? Xiaojie and the others will be here soon, hurry and bring everything out, I’m starving!” Jin Fei stood at the foot of the stairs, looking up at Su Bin and Allen.
“I’ll go prepare, and you help with the reception later.” Su Bin rushed to the kitchen—blame it on Allen, a kiss that lasted for about twenty minutes was enough! He was almost late for making salad and pancakes!
Allen walked over to the sofa himself, sitting down under Li Meihan’s surprised gaze.
“This is…” Li Meihan stuttered, unsure whether to speak in English or Chinese.
Yang Chengzhe introduced in English, “This is Allen, our other roommate. Didn’t Su Bin mention him to you?”
Li Meihan glanced at Allen, blushing, then quickly looked away and shook her head.
Sun Yujie and Andy arrived soon after. The house had never hosted a party before, so it was the first time in years that it was this lively.
Li Meihan took the opportunity when nobody was paying attention to sneak into the kitchen. “Su Bin, do you need any help?”
“Huh? No need, you’re a guest!” Su Bin replied while stirring the salad.
Li Meihan stayed by Su Bin’s side and said, “But I only know you.”
“Don’t you remember seeing Jin Fei? I just saw you getting along well with Yang Ge, why don’t you chat with him? He’s very knowledgeable and interesting,” Su Bin tried to promote Yang Chengzhe to Li Meihan.
“I can feel it, Dr. Yang is very impressive~” However, Li Meihan’s thoughts weren’t on Yang Chengzhe. She leaned closer to Su Bin and whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me you have such a handsome foreign roommate?” When Allen appeared, Li Meihan instantly fell into a state of rapid heartbeat, unable to say a word!
“Uh, really?” Su Bin chuckled awkwardly. It seemed that very few people were immune to Allen’s charm.
Blushing, Li Meihan asked, “He has a strong presence. How old is he?”
“He’s one year older than us…”
“Is he also a student? Is he a local in Country B? He looks a bit mixed!”
“Well… he has some Chinese heritage.” Although Su Bin answered truthfully, he felt a bit annoyed… (=_=)
Li Meihan seemed to want to ask more, but Su Bin didn’t want to answer anymore. Why was this girl suddenly gossiping about Allen when it seemed like she had a crush on me?
Just then, Allen appeared at the kitchen door! He walked over quietly, and Li Meihan immediately stiffened, her heart pounding nervously.
Allen smiled at her, his expression and gaze so bewitching that Li Meihan was dumbfounded.
Allen approached Su Bin and suddenly leaned down, adopting a very ambiguous posture close to his ear, asking, “Is it ready yet?”
Su Bin felt a jolt like an electric shock through his body. Damn, Allen’s lips just touched his ear. What was he trying to do?
“It’s, it’s ready!” Su Bin quickly poured the mixed salad into a glass bowl and handed it to Allen, gesturing for him to take it out.
But Allen casually placed the glass bowl on the other side of the stove, “What else needs to be done?”
“I’m going to fry… pancakes…” Why is he getting so close to me? Can’t he see there’s someone else here? Li Meihan’s eyes widened in shock! QAQ
Unconcerned, Allen asked, “What pancakes?”
Su Bin heated up a flat-bottomed pan, brushed it with oil, and poured the batter he prepared last night into the pan…
“This is called a scallion pancake in China. But I’ve added cheese and milk to it, a new invention. Today, I’ll let you guys be guinea pigs. If it’s good, I’ll sell it at ‘Boss Su’s’.” Su Bin explained meticulously.
“It smells great,” Allen observed silently, watching Su Bin’s movements. He almost treated Li Meihan standing next to him as air.
Li Meihan also stayed, completely dumbfounded… Allen’s gaze towards Su Bin was so strange! It was so different from the way he looked at her just now. Although the previous look was charming, it felt more like… a challenge?
Li Meihan didn’t know how to describe it in words, just based on her woman’s intuition.
But looking at Allen’s gaze towards Su Bin, it was as if he wanted to completely melt him. Even Li Meihan, the bystander, felt a bit breathless and feverish.
Between them… was so strange… >////<
This awkward situation continued until Su Bin finished frying the pancakes. He handed the plate to Allen with a proud face, “You should be able to eat this, right?”
Allen stubbornly continued eating his salad, refusing, “But these vegetables were cooked with that strange red cube just now.”
“…” Compared to Allen, who was hard to persuade, Andy’s acceptance level was quite high. Seeing everyone else eating, he didn’t hesitate. He grabbed whatever he could find, his first pick being the “beef tripe” – “Wow! Oh my god! What is this thing? It tastes amazing! Is it a combination of meat and squid? Oh, do you have more? I want to eat more!”
Allen stared at his expression, as if trying to discern if he was lying. Unfortunately, Andy was now excited as if he had taken drugs, grabbing a spoonful of frozen tofu and some beef brisket. Andy picked up the tofu with a fork and dipped it into the sesame sauce…
“Oh fuck yeah~!” Andy’s face instantly lit up with a climax-like, hazy smile. “What is this? It’s so tender, so fragrant, I feel like I’ve tasted the taste of happiness… it’s amazing!”
Allen: “…”
Su Bin was very proud. He was about to persuade Allen to try it when he saw Allen already picking up the fork and poking the frozen tofu that Su Bin had just scooped for him…
“Try this sauce~” Su Bin pushed a stack of sauce he had specially prepared for Allen over.
Allen continued expressionless, dipped a little bit of sauce, then stared at the tofu block for a while before bringing it to his lips and licking it…
Su Bin: “…” Damn, are you a cat!?
Seemingly unable to escape the thorn, Allen finally started eating, but his expression changed after just a few bites.
Su Bin didn’t need to ask the meaningless question “Is it good?”, because Allen immediately reached for another bowl of something in the bowl, giving Su Bin a definite answer (=_=)…
Su Bin could already foresee the next development. The half-bowl of salad that was rejected earlier was pitifully placed on the corner of the table, and Allen tried one strange food after another as if digging for treasure. Every time he finished a bowl, he silently pushed it to Su Bin’s hand, indicating him to scoop another bowl.
Su Bin was very cooperative, laughing inside… who was the one so disdainful at first?
Allen was indeed a bit wary of some of the foods, but seeing everyone else enjoying them without reservation, he was also influenced and let down his guard.
At one point, Su Bin even handed the spoon to Allen, encouraging him to scoop for himself.
So Allen cautiously scooped up a bowl of almost overcooked scraps, then carefully used his fork to select the edible parts.
Su Bin watched the mishmash of food in the bowl, holding back laughter so much that his stomach hurt. He wondered if Allen’s cleanliness obsession would make him vomit when he recalled this scene in the future…
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