Chapter 66

“In Country B, Christmas is similar to New Year’s, so the holiday lasts from about a week before Christmas until mid-January of the next year. It’s generally staggered from the timing of the Chinese Spring Festival. Like Chinese people during Spring Festival, all the locals rush back home to reunite with their families before the holiday. Consequently, what’s seen as a day of romantic dates and shopping bonanzas in the eyes of the Chinese is quite different abroad.

Around Christmas, all the local supermarkets and stores would close for a day or two. International students had to stock up on supplies ahead of time. Amidst the background of others gathering, singing Christmas carols, international students seemed like dandelions drifting, homeless, and quite lonely. Because of this, many international students who had experienced such solitude would choose to travel together during Christmas or even book early flights to return to their home countries for an early new year.

During Su Bin’s first year in Country B, he was unaware of this sense of loneliness and hadn’t made any prior arrangements for Christmas. He had simply imagined fireworks lighting up the sky across the entire country, creating a festive and lively atmosphere.

It wasn’t until the day before the holiday break that Su Bin found out that both Jin Fei and Yang Chengzhe planned to return to their home countries.

Jin Fei had dramatically purchased a midnight flight for the night after the holiday began. Su Bin was shocked, “Why are you in such a rush to go back?”

Jin Fei casually packed his things while saying, “To have fun, of course!”

“What’s there to have fun about? Everyone’s still in school during that time…” Su Bin’s perspective of the school term was still rooted in the Chinese academic calendar. While they were on Christmas break here, their Chinese counterparts were busy with final exams. Even if they went back, they’d be alone with nothing to do.

Jin Fei shook his index finger, “You just don’t get it. Let me give you some advice, buy a ticket back home as soon as possible. Christmas in B Country is a bore. Christmas, Christmas—boring enough to make you lay eggs!”

Su Bin was speechless, “It’s only a few days of vacation. Round-trip tickets cost seven to eight thousand yuan. Isn’t that a waste of money? Besides, both Chengzhe and Allen are here…” He glanced at Yang Chengzhe, who was walking in, “You mean Chengzhe?”

Yang Chengzhe said, “I’ll be heading home next week too.”

Su Bin exclaimed, “Ah? You’re going back as well?”

Yang Chengzhe nodded, “It’s the only time of the year I can be with my parents.”

Su Bin suddenly realized that Yang Chengzhe was working and didn’t have a summer break, only a Christmas holiday, which was a time he should spend with his family. Wait a minute! If both of them were going back, then it would be just Su Bin and Allen left here, right?

“Here, this is my number in China. Remember to contact me when you’re back home!” Jin Fei sent a message with the number to Su Bin.

Su Bin silently saved it, and suddenly felt a bit reluctant. Even though Jin Fei often acted exaggerated, egotistical, and picked fights, he was the roommate Su Bin got along best with among the three. Su Bin could talk to him about anything, and even if he said something wrong, he didn’t have to worry that the other would get angry. Su Bin always felt at ease around him. Now that Jin Fei was leaving, Su Bin couldn’t help but feel a bit lonely.

“Haha! Look at that expression on your face!” Jin Fei finished packing and turned around, catching Su Bin looking at him with a deeply affectionate yet reluctant expression. He laughed wholeheartedly, “Are you reluctant? How about warming my bed for me tonight? Hurry up and wash yourself, then come over…”

Su Bin retorted, “…Warming your sister!”

Jin Fei widened his eyes, “Are you interested in my sister now? (⊙o⊙)”

Su Bin, “…”(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

On the last day of classes the next day, Su Bin asked Sun Yujie about his plans for Christmas. With a sweet smile, he mentioned that he and Cheng Ang were going to Greece for their honeymoon.

… Honeymoon? Su Bin was stunned for a moment, then flipped the table again!”

On the first day of the break, the club’s staff called Su Bin to confirm the ingredients he would need for the event. Su Bin had also researched the recipe for “hot dry noodles” online and made some modifications, creating a dish he called “Sesame Oil Tossed Noodles”.

That evening, he used spaghetti as the main ingredient and tried making the dish at home. He invited Yang Chengzhe and Allen to be his taste-testers…

“Su Bin, with your cooking skills, why bother studying? You should open a restaurant!” Yang Chengzhe praised enthusiastically.

Su Bin responded, “That’s not practical. I’ve spent so many years studying, finally got into university, and now I’m even studying abroad. If I end up opening a restaurant in the end, I might as well have gone to a culinary school after middle school graduation.”

Yang Chengzhe shook his head, “Don’t think being a chef is easy. In Country B, chefs have a respectable social status, especially the good ones. They’re part of the high-income group.”

Su Bin tilted his head and thought for a moment, “Even so, I won’t stay in Country B forever. I have to go back next June.”

While Su Bin was saying this, Yang Chengzhe cast a glance at Allen and noticed him staring into space while holding his fork. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

The next day, Su Bin was set to go to Taylor’s club.

Before he left, Allen confirmed the end time of the event once again. Finishing at 9:00 pm wasn’t considered early, and if he had to rush back from Trafford Stadium, he estimated he wouldn’t be home before 10:00 pm.

Su Bin suddenly remembered the case he read about in that guide where a student was assaulted. Just as he was feeling apprehensive, he heard Allen say, “Tonight, I’ll have Robert pick you up.”

“Ah, really?” Su Bin looked at Allen with gratitude.

Allen couldn’t help but smile, “Yes, I’ll have him call you when the time comes.”

Su Bin was puzzled, “You have my phone number?”

Allen replied, “Did you forget? I have your rental contract here.”

Su Bin exclaimed, “Ah,” realizing it was true! He didn’t sign his lease with an agency but with Allen…

On the night he moved in, he saw Allen for the first time. Because he was so nervous, Su Bin only remembered Allen handing him a contract to sign, and then he completely forgot about it!

…Speaking of which, he did need to sign with Allen, after all, he was living in what used to be a part of Allen’s suite.

At this moment, Su Bin recalled Allen’s words in anger, “From the day you moved in, he’s in charge.” Suddenly, he seemed to understand – Allen was his landlord!

Strangely, in over three months in Country B, Allen had never called him. So, Su Bin still didn’t know Allen’s phone number…

On his way there, Su Bin took a taxi himself, as the club would reimburse his transportation expenses. As a result, he felt quite extravagant.

When he arrived at his destination, Taylor was already waiting at the door. Seeing Su Bin carrying a large bag, Taylor excitedly asked, “Bin, did you bring me a gift?”

Su Bin replied, “…No, it’s seasonings.”

When Taylor heard it wasn’t a gift, he looked a bit disappointed, causing Su Bin to feel a bit guilty. “I’ll cook something delicious for you all later!” That was the best comfort he could offer.

Inside the club, Su Bin found himself surrounded by tall and strong athletes. His fight or flight instinct started to kick in.

These foreign players were curious when they saw him, looking him up and down as if saying, “Hey, where’s this kid from? Is he a different breed of kid?”

Su Bin had originally thought he could hide in the kitchen and not come out, but Taylor led him to a huge open space, pointing to a series of cooking equipment that had already been set up in the center, saying, “Right there!”

Damn it! An open area? Su Bin was astonished! Wouldn’t he be treated like a monkey on display?
— That’s right! The moment Su Bin appeared in the cooking area, many people noticed him. Clearly, he was a unique presence here…
Su Bin was not used to being watched by so many people. He lowered his head like a thief, taking out the bottles of seasoning one by one and arranging them neatly. Then, he secretly glanced at the others, only to find them all staring at him. Startled, he quickly lowered his head… Oh my, he saw several soccer stars!

While Su Bin was nervously handling the bottles and jars, he suddenly heard a sigh from beside him, “Awwww…”

He turned his head and saw a plump middle-aged woman looking at him with a face full of affectionate expression, “Cutie~~~ What are you doing here? Are you here to be a chef too?”

Su Bin: “…” Cu-cutie… Am I a small cat or dog? QAQ

Su Bin explained with a face full of embarrassment, and he was asked this question not just once. Everyone was quite friendly, perhaps even finding him adorable, so they were eager to help.

Su Bin wasn’t very skilled at rolling out the dough, so he requested that the club provide ready-made noodles, saving himself some trouble.

The most time-consuming part of making the noodles was the ingredients. Su Bin planned to make two types: one with celery and minced beef. After cutting up all the ingredients, he blanched the meat in water, drained it, then stir-fried it with the other ingredients and thickened the sauce, methodically and unhurriedly.

Initially, many people thought this kid was here to “make salad dressing,” but after Su Bin’s demonstration, many of them were astonished…

After finishing the first dish of celery and minced beef noodles, Su Bin took out his secret weapon from under the workbench – sesame oil!

He drizzled it over the noodles, quickly stirred the hot noodles, and immediately a fragrant aroma filled the air. The appetites of almost everyone present were triggered by this wonderful smell!

Several foreigners came up to Su Bin, asking for a taste of his noodles. After trying them, they were all amazed. The macho men who had initially tried to act gentlemanly now revealed their true nature, wolfing down the noodles and shouting things like, “Wow~~! It’s so delicious!” “So fragrant! I might cry!” “…Incredible flavor!” “I think I’m getting addicted…” “Is there more? What? The pot is empty? Damn it!”

Su Bin breathed a sigh of relief and felt secretly pleased. Sesame oil was indeed a magical ingredient!

Soon, he made the second dish, mushroom and minced pork noodles!

A queue had already formed for his second pot of noodles. Su Bin decided to give these foreigners a big surprise. He carefully took out another bottle of seasoning from under the workbench – he decided to use you, Lao Gan Ma chili sauce!

Five minutes later…

“Damn~~~~~ So delicious!!!” “Incredible taste! My God!” “I know this seasoning! My Chinese friend recommended it. Oh~ so awesome!” “This taste is weird… Am I by myself?” “Yes, you’re by yourself…” “Oh~ my god, if they had this kind of noodles in the team’s nutrition meals during training, I could play soccer for twelve hours a day!”…

Listening to the continuous stream of (mostly) excessive praises, Su Bin felt secretly satisfied. Hehe… What to do, as a Chinese person, he suddenly felt so proud! ( ̄v ̄)

 

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