Future Pet Shop

"Wow, look at all this! Oh no, oh no, I’m filled with regret. Why did I eat such a big, late breakfast? I’m still not even hungry. How am I going to eat anything later!" Mo Xiaomo lamented, rubbing her stomach with a miserable look. Beside her, Qiao Wenqi wore an expression of shared sorrow. It seemed the two of them had eaten breakfast together that morning.

"Don’t worry. This meal will take a while to prepare. You’ll probably be hungry again by the time it’s ready. Just don’t rush me, okay?" Shen Yibin comforted her with a chuckle.

"We definitely won’t rush you! Go on, get started. Scarf and I will go out for a bit! Text me when it’s almost ready." Hearing this, Mo Xiaomo’s spirits instantly lifted. She quickly huddled with Lv Tiantian, whispering for a moment. Then, Lv Tiantian took Scarf and the two of them out. ’Is she hoping Scarf will help her pick out clothes, or is she just trying to get some exercise to aid digestion and make room for the feast?’ Shen Yibin guessed it was probably a bit of both.

"Then let’s go for a walk in the park, too!" Director Kong had the same idea as Mo Xiaomo, also looking for a way to make room in his stomach. Judging by Shen Yibin’s preparations, he was about to whip up an unprecedented feast. There was sure to be a huge variety of dishes, and it would be a shame to get full before tasting even half of them.

"Go on and do what you want. I’ll send you all a message when it’s nearly ready. I’m off to get busy in the kitchen; you’re on your own." With that, Shen Yibin headed into the kitchen with Hah’Er, carrying bags of all sizes. Soon, a symphony of sounds emerged: the THUMP-THUMP of a knife on the cutting board, the SIZZLE of ingredients hitting the hot pan, the BUBBLE-BUBBLE of simmering pots, and the CLANG of a spatula stir-frying... Accompanied by these sounds, waves of fragrance drifted from the cracks in the kitchen door, wafting all the way to the terrace.

Xu Ye couldn’t help but swallow and rub his stomach. The cacophony of sounds and the enticing aroma had thoroughly awakened his cravings. He subconsciously reached for the snacks on the coffee table, but his hand recoiled the moment it touched the edge of the plate. ’Sigh, I’d better save room.’ Sun Qian and the others wore similar expressions.

"Cheeky, come on, let’s go out for a walk. I can’t stand this smell any longer!" Sun Qian figured that if she stayed put, she might just storm the kitchen for a sneak taste.

"Wait, I’m coming with you. Sitting here is absolute torture!" Bai Yanni muttered, following Sun Qian downstairs. Xu Ye hurried right after them. In no time, the only person left on the second floor was Li, who continued to weave her handicrafts at a leisurely pace.

This winter bamboo shoot feast was indeed a laborious affair. Over two hours passed before Shen Yibin finally emerged from the kitchen. Leaning on the railing, he called out to Xia Shixuan and the others on duty, "Come on up and set the table! We’re about to eat!"

"Finally!" They immediately went up to the second floor, swiftly clearing the dining table and setting out the bowls, chopsticks, and chairs. Just as they were finishing, Lv Tiantian, Director Kong, Sun Qian, and the others, having received the message, returned to the shop.

"Here, try my first dish—Tatsoi with Winter Bamboo Shoots." Shen Yibin placed a platter of the white and green cold dish on the table. The preparation was simple: the winter bamboo shoots and tatsoi were washed, cut, and blanched in boiling water before being drained and seasoned. Despite its simplicity, the flavor was outstanding, perfectly showcasing the fresh, tender deliciousness of the winter bamboo shoots.

"This dish is usually a stir-fry, but you made it into a cold dish, Bin. It’s a cut above!" Director Kong was the first to take a bite, and after a moment his eyes narrowed in pure enjoyment.

"Let me try! Hmm, it seems there’s a pinch of sugar. It’s not for seasoning, but it really brings out the natural sweetness of the winter bamboo shoots. I never would have thought of that." Qiao Wenqi, who often cooked at home, quickly recognized the cleverness of the technique. The others all dug in, and before Shen Yibin could bring out the second dish, the platter was empty.

"Second dish: Stir-fried Shrimp with Bell Peppers and Winter Bamboo Shoots!" Shen Yibin quickly served the next course. Seeing the first platter was already empty, he smiled in satisfaction. For a chef, there was no greater praise.

"Wow, this dish is gorgeous! I’m almost reluctant to dig in!" Li Shiqing couldn’t help but exclaim. The red, yellow, and green bell peppers, paired with the pale yellow of the winter bamboo shoots and the gold of the shrimp, created a vibrant palette on the pristine white plate that was utterly captivating.

Even Scarf couldn’t help but stare at the dish for a long moment. Perhaps he, too, felt that Shen Yibin’s color combination was masterful; even a fashion expert like himself had been won over.

"Hurry and eat! The next dish is coming right up!" It wasn’t until Shen Yibin urged them again that the girls finally put down the phones they were using for photos and picked up their chopsticks to eat.

The third dish arrived quickly. "Scrambled Eggs with Shredded Winter Bamboo Shoots and Scallions." This dish was also a feast for the eyes. Tender winter bamboo shoots, coated in a layer of golden egg, were piled on the plate, with specks of chopped green onion dotting the top. The gold, white, and green combination once again earned praise from Scarf.

"Mm, this dish looks simple, but it actually requires incredible skill," Director Kong, the old gourmand, began to explain after taking a bite. "Look at the shredded winter bamboo shoots—every single strand is identical in thickness and length. The egg coating is wrapped evenly around each shred without a single tear. This shows that when they were in the wok, Bin didn’t use a spatula at all. He relied solely on tossing the wok to distribute the heat evenly. You can’t do that without masterful knife work and wok-tossing skills. There aren’t ten chefs in all of Xiangjiang who can cook to this standard!"

"You’re going to make me blush, Director Kong." Shen Yibin continued to bring out an endless stream of winter bamboo shoot dishes. There were cold appetizers, hot entrées, soups, staples, and snacks—a full-course spread. "Winter Bamboo Shoots with Cured Pork, Shiitake Mushroom and Pork Dumplings with Winter Bamboo Shoots, Velvety Fish Fillet with Winter Bamboo Shoots, Red-Braised Pork Belly with Winter Bamboo Shoots, Old Duck Soup with Fermented Rice and Winter Bamboo Shoots..."

With winter bamboo shoots as the star ingredient, Shen Yibin had prepared a grand total of thirty-six dishes. The table was soon filled to capacity. At first, the group had been laughing, commenting, and savoring the food. But by the time Shen Yibin finished serving the last dish and took a seat, all conversation had died down. Everyone’s entire focus was on the meal.

Director Kong forgot all about his Monkey Wine. Murong Li cast aside her ladylike demeanor. Xia Shixuan forgot to tease Shen Yibin... Everyone was stuffing their faces, simply unable to stop.