What It's Like Being a Vampire

Chapter 154 Cooking meals and naming

Leaving Tang Baona in the living room to play with the canary, Xiang Kun returned to the kitchen to continue cooking.

Although he had not been learning to cook for very long, he always prepared thoroughly before officially cooking each time. He would research and adjust the recipe in advance and even try cooking it several times to meet his gastronomic expectations.

And with his ultra-strong senses, memory power, and flexible fingers and wrists, he carried out a detailed process and plan in advance. His efficiency and fluency were quite considerable. To suggest he could rival a top chef might seem exaggerated, but anyone who saw him would not believe he was a novice who had only been learning to cook for one or two months.

After playing with the canary for a while, Tang Baona casually strolled around Xiang Kun’s house. Compared to the last time she, Yang Zhen’er, and Xia Libing came over, there were hardly any changes.

Oh, that’s not entirely true. There was an additional bird cage and canary, along with some special food and other things prepared for the canary.

The bedroom door wasn’t closed, and one could see some used timber stacked in the corner, along with a defective Saber that was obviously a failed attempt. Next to it were several failed attempts that were only roughly shaped. It was clear from this that Xiang Kun had put a lot of effort and time into preparing that Saber wood carving, furthermore proving that the carving indeed came from Xiang Kun’s hands.

Tang Baona was somewhat moved. Although she had been very happy with the gift that Xiang Kun had given her before, and knew that he had carved it himself, with a lot of thought put into it, now seeing those failed attempts gave her the feeling that she was watching Xiang Kun gradually create the wooden carving. It was as if she had witnessed the birth process of the carving, giving her a more comprehensive and three-dimensional appreciation of the gift, like giving it memory.

Especially that wooden carving that has roughly the Saber shape, with a bit of an Evil God Saber temperament, Tang Baona couldn’t help but love it more and more as she looked at it.

“Xiang Kun, can you give me the unfinished Saber wood carving in your room?” Tang Baona ran to the kitchen door and asked as Xiang Kun was busying himself.

“No problem,” Xiang Kun replied, albeit a bit surprised. “But let me do some refining on it first. Many parts haven’t been polished, it looks too rough. Well, actually I think I could carve a better one now.”

Tang Baona laughed and said, “No need, it’s perfect as it is now! That’s the kind of unfinished look I want!”

As she spoke, she thought of something else and asked, “By the way, does that canary have a name?”

“No.”

“Are you planning to give it one?”

Xiang Kun considered, answering, “I haven’t thought of what to call it yet. Do you have any suggestions?”

Tang Baona immediately said, “How about ‘Gold Sparkle’?” Xiang Kun wondered, “That sounds a bit odd… Does it have any implications?” “No, it’s just because of its gorgeous plumage!” Tang Baona said.

“Alright, ‘Gold Sparkle’ it is then,” he replied. Xiang Kun had always avoided focusing too much on the animals he brought home from an emotional perspective, because they would either become food or the target of experiments. Too much interaction would either affect eating and experimenting, or easily lead to mental disorder.

However, after some time, the canary had shifted from an experimental target to a companion he spent day and night with. After all, being able to “communicate” with a bird was a given, especially when it’s just the two of you.

Giving it a name was appropriate.

Just after six o’clock, Xiang Kun started serving dishes on time. Tang Baona also came over to help carry the dishes very diligently. However, she apparently didn’t do much housework ordinarily and almost spilled the soup because it was too hot. Fortunately, Xiang Kun, who kept his ears open and eyes peeled, spotted the risk early and firmly took over the soup basin.

“Aren’t you afraid of getting burned?” Tang Baona was amazed at Xiang Kun’s action of directly using his hand to take over the bottom of the soup basin.

Xiang Kun casually said, “Didn’t you all accuse me of secretly practicing martial arts? The Heartless Iron Hand…

Six dishes and one soup, apart from one green vegetable dish, the rest were all made with rabbit meat as the main ingredient.

Before dining, Tang Baona, of course, still wanted to take pictures and then post them in the group chat, @ Yang Zhen Er and Xia Libing, showing off a bit.

Yang Zhen Er immediately replied with an angry face emoji: “Tang Baona! You’re going to get fat! Your clothes will burst! Winter is coming, and you won’t be able to fit into your favorite skirt!!!”

Tang Baona responded with a ‘tongue sticking out’ emoji to show her indifference.

Xia Libing: “Research suggests that females who consume too much rabbit meat may experience a decrease in body fat, an increase in muscle mass, smaller breasts, and harder buttocks.”

Tang Baona posted a facial twitching emoji: “Old Xia! Are you trying to make a bad joke? Are you really you? Have you been possessed by someone?!”

After messing around on Wechat for a bit, Tang Baona sat down at the dining table to start eating at the behest of Xiang Kun.

Thanks to the electric rice cooker given by Shiling’s mom before moving houses, Xiang Kun didn’t need to prepare rice somewhere else this time.

Compared to the previous two times, there were several new dishes. Even the old dishes were adjusted to Tang Baona’s taste, so she had different feelings when eating.

“Hmm! Delicious! Xiang Kun, Chef Xiang, your cooking skills are improving every time! It’s amazing, these dishes, are even better than the last time!” Tang Baona, burnt by the hot food, could not help but exclaim, while taking in breaths.

Xiang Kun smiled modestly while feeling quite smug inside. Of course, she would find it tastier, as all dishes had been fine-tuned according to her preferences.

The earlier dishes, such as dry pot rabbit meat, were catered to Yang Zhen Er’s taste, which was relatively strong. So Tang Baona found it fine but not perfectly suitable. Now, after the adjustments, the spiciness and saltiness were just right, stimulating without being overdone. He even added the onion flavor she liked, naturally, she would find it even tastier than before.

Tang Baona was sweating profusely as she ate, Xiang Kun symbolically ate a few bites, suppressed his nausea with the two associated stone cores in his stomach, observed her reactions to the food, analysed the outcomes of his improved dishes, and further concluded based on the newly added dishes and flavors, to better understanding of Tang Baona’s food preferences.

Though he hadn’t known Tang Baona for long, all of their interactions had occurred after his mutation.

Since his senses had greatly improved, the people he interacted with most were Tang Baona, Yang Zhen Er, and Xia Libing. Thus, he was very familiar with their body language, facial expressions, habits, and physical reactions.

Now, in determining Tang Baona’s preference for a dish, Xiang Kun’s judgment based on her reactions was likely even more detailed and accurate than her own descriptions.

“Phew-I. I am so full!” After taking a sip of soup, Tang Baona, with no heed to her image, rubbed her belly and took a deep breath. Then she looked at Xiang Kun with confusion: “Why are you eating so less? It seems… I ate all of it?”

Xiang Kun pointed to his biceps: “Eat less, more often. Discipline of a fitness enthusiast. ”

“Hey! Saying that makes me feel guilty!” Tang Baona complained.

Xiang Kun suddenly felt a bit contemplative. Both of them were single, and they had met through a blind date. Typically, a single male and a female having dinner in one’s home would be considered a “date”.

But here they were: one intensely focused on the food, and the other engrossed in the diner’s reactions to the food. Continuously brainstorming about how to cook dishes to suit the diner’s taste.

Their main focus was truly all about eating and cooking….