"Huu—"
Mei scooped a spoonful of minced-meat congee, gently blew on it, and brought it to her lips under Su Ming's watchful gaze.
Su Ming had the irrational feeling that the congee got tastier just from the way she blew on it.
"Mmm…"
Mei tasted carefully, then opened her eyes—only to find Su Ming still wearing that "praise me" expression.
Why does he look like a big golden retriever?
She covered her mouth and laughed. Unfortunately, Su Ming saw it.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing. I just thought of something happy." She composed herself and delivered a deliberately serious critique. "The thickness of the congee is just right—you probably added more rice at the start, let it release starch into the water, then removed the excess, didn't you? And there's a subtle richness… a small amount of peanut oil to smooth the mouthfeel. Also, you kept stirring while it simmered, so there's no scorching at all. Su Ming—you did very well."
Even if the seasoning still had minor flaws and it wasn't as good as when she cooked herself, Mei knew what he wanted: praise. Praise was the winding key for men. Bragging about her own cooking in front of him would accomplish nothing. Complimenting her husband cost her nothing.
"Hehe. Thank you, my dear wife."
Su Ming grinned like an idiot and immediately started eating with gusto.
Men—especially anime-loving, affection-starved men—turn into smiling fools the moment the person they like praises them. Because they lack love, they remember kindness for a lifetime.
Like Su Ming now. It was easy to predict: he'd have energy for the entire day.
Mei watched him eat, her smile warm. Sometimes, the stupid side of men was pretty cute too.
"Hm? What's wrong—why aren't you eating?" Su Ming finally noticed her staring.
"Okay I'll eat, dummy"
Mei poked his forehead lightly and started eating.
…Huh?
Su Ming snapped back to himself, realizing that in the pink atmosphere, his IQ had apparently dropped.
It's over, everyone. The brother has been coddled back into an embryo.
…
Su Ming was full of motivation today.
But he didn't actually have to go to work.
Today was a "no-fish day."
He'd arranged a fishing trip with Kevin, Su, and Hua. A cat came along too, and a small artist wanted to come sketch the scenery—Kevin brought her.
The pink menace was absent.
Su Ming had chosen an auspicious date specifically to avoid the pink demon.
Fine. The real reason was that Elysia was out promoting their company's new product, and Su Ming was seizing the chance to "borrow" some peace and quiet.
"Whoever catches the least fish makes dinner!"
Su Ming declared.
"…Is that wise?" Su hesitated. Kevin's cooking was—
He wasn't questioning the rule. He was worried that if Kevin got skunked and felt bad—
"How about I do it," Hua said quickly. "I'm not a master chef, but I can manage."
She was genuinely concerned about everyone's stomachs. Adults getting sick was one thing, but there was a minor present.
"Yeah, yeah, Boss Su Ming. We can suffer, but little Griseo can't!" the cat raised a paw in agreement.
Su Ming glanced at Griseo—small, adorable, clutching her sketchbook—and finally couldn't bring himself to harm the nation's flowers for the sake of a joke.
"Fine. Hua, you do it…"
Public opinion was overwhelming. He surrendered.
Kevin shrugged. "What can I say." He wasn't offended at all. He knew his own level: he and Dr. Mei were both disasters in the kitchen, so they usually ate at the company cafeteria.
"Pardo, you chum the water."
Su Ming solemnly handed the bait bucket to the cat. Chumming was critical work, and Pardo—lucky and catlike—was obviously suited for it.
"Roger, Boss Su Ming!"
Pardo's face was fierce with determination as she took the bucket.
She didn't actually understand depth, positioning, or anything technical, but that was fine. You just go with your feelings.
She scooped a full bucket and tossed it on instinct—
Fish feed rained down in a perfectly dense spread across several deep spots. In no time, a school gathered. You could even see fish splashing as they fought for pellets.
"Pardo. Strong."
Su Ming raised his thumb and delivered the most concise praise possible, then baited his hook and cast.
"Ehehe… I don't really know what I'm doing. I just threw it." Pardo scratched her head and grinned, her ears twitching.
"Luck is also strength. There is no need for false modesty," Hua said, eyes fixed on her float.
"Pardo, aren't you fishing?" Kevin asked after he and Su cast their lines.
"Ah, Boss Kevin, you guys fish. I don't have any technique. I'll just watch~"
Pardo's tail swayed left and right. She looked tempted, but still declined.
"That won't do," Su Ming said. "If you're the only one just watching—sure, we might not mind, but Griseo's over there drawing. If she paints it and shows everyone, she might criticize us."
He helped Pardo set the line, hook the bait, and handed her the rod.
"This… okay, fine. I'll try," Pardo said, accepting it at last. She casually tossed the line out.
"Have you never fished before?" Su Ming chatted while waiting for a bite.
"Huh? I like eating fish, but I usually eat canned fish. I've jumped in water to catch fish before, but I've never fished with a rod…" She paused. "Eh! Something's on!"
Pardo yanked—
A carp flew straight up onto the shore.
Su Ming: ?
Kevin, Su, Hua: ?
The four of them, all sitting at 0, stared at each other in silence.
Sure, they expected the cat to be good at fishing.
But she had literally just cast and immediately hooked a fish—while their floats hadn't twitched for ages.
Were the fish down there lining up and hanging their mouths on her hook?
-------
My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
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