Chapter 40: Sharing a Hotpot Meal
"Mr. Nan, how about I serve it on the balcony?" the housekeeper suggested.
The afternoon haze had lifted a bit. Though the sun wasn't visible, there was a warm golden hue in the air.
The housekeeper was aware that young folks nowadays cherished outdoor dining for its relaxed ambiance.
Nan Yi's eyes sparkled, his nod more vigorous than usual.
"It's ready."
"Mr. Nan, you may head upstairs. I'll bring everything up shortly."
Nan Yi remained seated, reaching for the sliced beef and tripe beside him. With so many dishes, it would take the housekeeper a while to serve everything. But with his help, the process would be expedited.
"Sir, please go ahead. I'll handle this."
The plate was lifted from his hands. When Nan Yi glanced over, it was the new butler.
With assistance available, Nan Yi took his bowl and ascended.
A conspicuous black umbrella, seemingly out of place, now occupied the open-air balcony.
Holding his bowl, Nan Yi paused. Thanks to this addition, even a drizzle wouldn't dampen the mood.
Beneath the umbrella stood a table and chairs. In no time, the housekeeper and the butler had arranged all the dishes and the broth. Connected to an indoor power source, an induction cooktop sat on the table, allowing for continuous cooking and eating.
The wooden condiment rack was laden with a myriad of dipping sauces – the essential accompaniment to hotpot.
[Auntie, you're so impressive.]
Instead of reaching for the condiments first, Nan Yi genuinely admired the housekeeper's handiwork.
"Haha, thank you for the compliment, Mr. Nan." The housekeeper chuckled, glancing at Nan Yi's phone.
[Why don't you both join in?]
Hotpot is always more delectable when shared. Plus, the housekeeper had prepared such an abundance of ingredients that Nan Yi couldn't possibly finish it all by himself.
Nan Yi showed the message on his phone to the standing housekeeper and the new butler, then gestured towards the simmering pot.
"Oh no, I couldn't! And I can't handle spicy," the housekeeper said, declining in haste.
[There's too much here for just me.] Nan Yi was hoping to persuade them by invoking their sense of waste, aiming to share the meal with them.
"The young master will be back shortly," the butler remarked.
Nan Yi's hand, holding the phone, paused momentarily.
He Yushen is returning this early today?
Is he joining for hotpot as well?
Nan Yi was utterly puzzled.
Before he could type out a question asking if He Yushen was joining them, the housekeeper and butler had already exited the balcony.
Nan Yi: ???
No matter.
Regardless of He Yushen's participation, Nan Yi was determined to indulge.
Merely inhaling the aromas, Nan Yi felt his mouth watering.
He started with a slice of fatty beef, then swished some tripe, dipping it into his homemade sesame sauce.
Just after savoring a couple of pieces, the sound of a car pulling in reached his ears.
Has He Yushen arrived?
Holding his bowl, Nan Yi curiously approached the balcony edge, and his gaze met with someone alighting from the car below.
"Sister-in-law! It's been ages!"
There stood Yan An, who he hadn't seen for a while, and He Yushen.
He Yushen merely glanced up toward the balcony. As Nan Yi met that intense gaze, his heart skipped a beat.
It's so peculiar—just one glance at him, and my heart races, my cheeks burning.
Yan An and He Yushen moved swiftly; Nan Yi had only savored a slice of fatty beef before they ascended the stairs.
"Hotpot in winter—it's the perfect match!"
Without hesitation, Yan An seated himself opposite Nan Yi, smoothly handing his bowl to the person behind him.
Once again, Nan Yi's eyes met those enigmatic ones. His heartbeat quickened, and he lowered his gaze, his face aflame—perhaps the heat from the hotpot was just too intense.
Alpha caught the rapid blush on Nan Yi's face, a playful smirk forming on his lips. Was Nan Yi so smitten that a mere exchange of glances made him shy?
Bowl in hand, He Yushen sat down beside the flushed individual, who by now resembled a ripe tomato.
"Wow, you can really handle the spice!"
The fiery-red broth, with its enticing aroma, was also rich in spiciness. As the soup bubbled away, Yan An's mouth watered, and he dropped some pork belly slices in.
The Alpha seated next to him frowned, his chopsticks hovering, undecided.
Nan Yi pulled out his phone, showing a message to He Yushen.
[Should we ask Auntie to prepare another broth?]
He Yushen, noticing the considerate text, arched an eyebrow.
"No need. I can handle it."
Nan Yi looked surprised. Didn't he recall that He Yushen avoided spicy food?
"Come on, dig in. Ah... it smells divine."
Yan An stuffed a large chunk of meat into his mouth, grimacing as the hot bite scalded him.
"Were you reincarnated from a starving ghost?" He Yushen cast a disdainful glance his way.
As he prepared his dipping sauce, He Yushen glanced at Nan Yi's bowl and proceeded to mix a similar concoction.
"I made a special trip to your house for hotpot. Of course, I have to make the most of it."
Yan An gloated. Had he not overheard He Yushen's call, he wouldn't have had the chance to enjoy this meal.
"Your balcony is quite fitting for this. Next spring, let's have a barbecue."
Yan An continued to add ingredients to the bubbling pot.
"Do you think this is a buffet?" He Yushen murmured, a slight crease forming on his forehead, as he picked up a dripping lettuce leaf.
"What do you think, sister-in-law?"
Nanyi was so engrossed in cooking that he didn't catch a word of the conversation between the two. Hearing his name called, he looked up in confusion.
"My sister-in-law said she agrees."
Nanyi: ?
Heyu Shen gave Yan An a cool glance without uttering a word.
This meal took a long time. Nanyi, having been hungry for a while, was deeply immersed in his food. After eating and drinking to his heart's content, an idea regarding a room for his comic drawings suddenly struck him.
Thinking of the room, Nanyi believed it best to get into Heyu Shen's good graces, making his next move easier.
He swished some tripe in the hotpot for a few moments and then placed it invitingly in Heyu Shen's bowl.
With his head slightly bowed, Nanyi waited a few seconds. The person next to him hadn't made a move with his chopsticks. Just as he was about to look up, he caught a glimpse of the nearly empty transparent teapot on the table nearby, which had previously been brimming with tea.
He paused for a moment, then slowly looked up to find Heyu's lips incredibly rosy, and his usually expressionless cheeks were also tinged with a soft blush.
A pair of chopsticks reached across Heyu Shen's bowl, and there was now tripe in it. He turned his gaze to the head beside him.
Even though it felt like a fire was burning inside his stomach, Heyu Shen still stuffed the tripe from the bowl into his mouth.
"I can't eat any more."
Yan An leaned back in his chair, rubbing his distended stomach, his eyes fixed on the two.
"Damn, Heyu! You just ate it with that sauce?"
Yan An watched in disbelief as he picked up the tripe from the bowl and shoved it straight into his mouth, without even an extra bowl in front of him.
Alpha frowned slightly.
"Didn't you rinse it with the tea before eating?!" He was still taken aback, even he, who could handle some spiciness, had struggled halfway through. Especially considering Heyu Shen was not one for spicy food.
Seeing the bowl of tea used for rinsing in front of Yan An, Alpha's expression began to falter.
"It's fine, not too spicy."
"Really?" Yan An looked incredulous.
"What do you think?"
Yan An: ...He thinks it's a lie.