Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 217 Visiting as a Guest, Offering Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed quietly.

Filming for the "Lighter" movie is progressing smoothly, thanks to the amazing chemistry and understanding between Jiang Qing and Zhang Jingyi.

The happiest person was Liu Junjie. Before filming began, he was worried about Jiang Qing's acting skills and his identity, fearing that he might make some unreasonable demands.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Qing not only had surprisingly good acting skills, but was also very approachable, often making the crew forget that he was a highly regarded tech upstart.

Moreover, thanks to Jiang Qing's special status at the University of Science and Technology of China, the school was almost always responsive to his requests and fully cooperative, which made him feel that he had truly met a benefactor this time.

In this harmonious atmosphere, the shooting process was naturally incredibly smooth.

October 4th, 6:43 PM.

After filming wrapped, Jiang Qing invited several of the main actors from the crew to his home. As he stood in front of the door, the door lock opened automatically after facial recognition.

"Welcome home. The indoor temperature is 23°C and the humidity is 52%."

The moment he pushed open the door, a mechanical female voice rang out, and Zhao Zhiwei almost dropped the fruit basket in his hand.

"Wow! Is this so sci-fi?!"

Qian Didi stood in front of the entryway mirror in her white sneakers, and the mirror suddenly lit up with an outfit rating.

"A floral jacket pairs well with jeans 89% of the time; we recommend pairing it with silver stud earrings."

She hurriedly covered her ears.

"Even the mirror knows I forgot my jewelry?"

"This is a smart fitting mirror developed by Wuwen Technology."

Jiang Qing bent down to take out slippers from the shoe cabinet and explained with a smile.

"We can recommend styles based on the weather, occasion, and individual facial features."

"Teacher Jiang's house is pretty much what I expected; it certainly has plenty of cutting-edge technology."

Zeng Keni neatly arranged the sneakers, looking as if he had expected this.

"I see your cat is wearing a smart collar!"

The orange cat, which was squatting in front of the smart feeder, suddenly meowed, and its collar flashed blue, projecting today's feeding record onto the ground.

Ma Ke's wrist twitched as he held up his phone to take a picture, and he clicked his tongue in amazement.

"This cat lives a more luxurious life than I do!"

Zhang Jingyi lagged behind, looking around curiously. Her fingertips brushed against the temperature control panel on the wall, and the blackout curtains of the entire floor-to-ceiling window automatically lowered.

The twilight and warm light intertwined on her fair cheeks, making her appear exceptionally gentle.

"Can your curtains read minds?"

"It's just human body sensing."

Before Jiang Qing could finish speaking, a "ding" sounded from the kitchen, and the freezer drawer of the smart refrigerator popped out.

"Seven guests were detected. We recommend defrosting yellow croaker and black pork."

Zhao Zhiwei stood in the center of the living room, marveling at the scene.

"This refrigerator is even more thoughtful than my mom!"

"Teacher Jiang, may we take a look around?"

Cui Yuxin looked around, like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city.

"Please feel free to wander around and don't be shy. I'll go prepare dinner. There are drinks and fruit in the refrigerator and bar, and some snacks too, but they were bought by my sister before. I don't know if you'll like them."

Jiang Qing rolled up her sleeves to her elbows and walked toward the kitchen while talking.

I never expected you to own a cat!

Zhang Jingyi followed behind him, holding the orange cat, stroking the cat's head with a look of wonder in her eyes.

"Its name is Tuanzi. It's my sister's cat. She just brought it over a few days ago, saying that it would keep me company for a while so I wouldn't miss her too much."

Jiang Qing glanced at the chubby little cat who was squinting and enjoying itself in her arms, and shook her head with a smile.

"She has some wildly imaginative ideas from time to time."

Looking at the doting in his eyes, Zhang Jingyi thought of his equally famous younger sister and felt a pang of envy.

"You're so good to your sister."

Jiang Qing took the ingredients out of the refrigerator one by one and replied when she had a moment.

"Don't you treat your younger siblings well?"

"Of course."

She answered without hesitation.

"That's it."

Jiang Qing looked up at her and casually took out the cutting board.

"That's different!"

The girl puffed out her cheeks.

"I also want a brother like you."

Jiang Qing paused in her act of putting on an apron and turned to look at her.

"Does Zhu Yun want to be my sister?"

"Ah! No! I mean..."

Zhang Jingyi immediately realized something was wrong and hurriedly tried to explain, but she stammered and couldn't get a coherent explanation.

"Okay, I get it."

Jiang Qing smiled as she looked at her flushed face.

"Go play with them, dinner is still a while away."

As they spoke, Jiang Qing had already taken out a lot of ingredients.

"Let me help you!"

Zhang Jingyi calmed down, put down the dumpling in her hand, raised her chin, and volunteered.

"You're wearing this?"

Jiang Qing looked at her attire with a doubtful expression.

What's wrong with my outfit?

Zhang Jingyi looked down following his gaze, then looked up and blinked.

Today she wore a white cotton-linen dress, with morning mist-like pleats that cascaded naturally from the waist, and a brown woven corset accentuated her slender waistline, while the skirt gently draped to the ground.

She had prepared this outfit specially. Ever since Jiang Qing mentioned that he was inviting everyone to his home today, she had started to put thought into choosing clothes.

The reason Fangfang chose this outfit is that she said it made her look like a young girl picking flowers, as if she had stepped out of a Renaissance oil painting.

When she finished filming and changed clothes and walked out of the dressing room today, Jiang Qing didn't react in any particular way to her outfit, which made her quite disappointed.

Looking at it now, it seems I wasn't completely unaffected.

Jiang Qing's gaze swept over her slightly wavy black hair. The light cut at an angle to her profile, giving her already superior bone structure a faint glow.

Her full cheekbones were adorned with shimmering blush, and her eyes seemed to hold the Milky Way flowing within them, sparkling and shimmering.

"It doesn't seem to suit the kitchen very well."

Jiang Qing concealed the amazement in her eyes and shook her head with a smile.

"now what?"

Zhang Jingyi raised her hand to gather her hair into a neat ponytail, then tilted her chin up and smiled brightly.

His breath hitched as he watched the stray hairs curl into small hooks at the back of the girl's head.

When she deftly wrapped the rubber band around her neck for the third time, Jiang Qing's heart skipped a beat.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Teacher Zhang."

He smiled casually and nodded slightly.

"Teacher Jiang, you've worked so hard."

Zhang Jingyi stared at him with a faint smile, a fleeting hint of smugness in her eyes.

"I've been envious of your cooking skills ever since I watched Peach Blossom Village, hehe~"

Two little parentheses appeared at the corners of her mouth as she smiled sweetly.

"Yeah, I didn't eat much at noon, just for this one bite tonight."

Zeng Keni, arm in arm with Qian Didi, had somehow gotten close and joined in with a grin.

"Yes, yes, I knew from watching the show that Teacher Jiang's cooking must be delicious. I'm so lucky to have some today."

Qian Didi also looked on with anticipation.

"Seconded!"

"Seconded!"

"Seconded!"

Ma Ke and his two companions were examining a uniquely shaped robot vacuum cleaner in the living room when they heard the conversation and raised their hands in agreement.

"Alright, then the three of you can assist me."

Jiang Qing smiled and said casually.

"Well, neither of us has ever been in the kitchen, so let Jingyi help you."

Zeng Keni frantically winked at Qian Didi. "Oh, right! That's it!"

"Then we won't cause you any more trouble. Let's go visit other places first. Thank you both for your hard work."

The two of them sang in unison and left before Jiang Qing and the other person could speak.

Zhang Jingyi's cheeks flushed, and when she turned her head, she met Jiang Qing's smiling eyes, and immediately looked away.

"Um, where's the apron?"

Jiang Qing smiled and watched her search around.

"Hey, I found it."

The warm light from the sterilizer shone on the girl's nose as she tiptoed to reach the apron straps hanging high up.

Jiang Qing had just put on the dark gray apron when she turned around and saw her like a white swan flapping its wings, her shoulder blades faintly visible under the thin fabric.

"Let me do it."

He reached out and took off his apron.

"Raise your left hand higher."

Zhang Jingyi obediently did as instructed, but then a warm finger brushed against the back of her neck, causing her body to immediately stiffen.

As Jiang Qing walked behind her to adjust the straps, his breath brushed against her earlobe.

"You were like a moth just now."

"You are the one!"

The girl retorted indignantly, looking down at the knot his fingers were tied around her waist.

"I was just a tiny bit short!"

Before she could finish speaking, she felt a tightness around her waist. Jiang Qing took a half step back and looked her over.

"How does it feel?"

"just."

When she turned around, she noticed that his apron straps were still hanging down behind him, and she raised an eyebrow at him with a smile.

"It's only right to reciprocate, Teacher Jiang."

Jiang Qing cooperated by opening his arms and watching the girl walk around behind him.

The faint scent of her shampoo masked the salty, fishy smell of the thawing seafood in the kitchen, causing him to unconsciously take a few deep sniffs.

Very nice smell.

As the bow took shape at her waist, Jiang Qing suddenly turned to the side.

"Your eyelashes have flour on them."

"where?"

Zhang Jingyi tilted her head back, revealing her well-defined facial features to him.

Jiang Qing gently brushed her lower eyelid with the pad of his thumb, and the flour fluttered down under the light.

"It must have splashed when I opened the flour bag earlier."

He turned around and turned on the tap. The clear stream of water washed over the countertop, also masking the throbbing in his heart.

Should celery be sliced ​​diagonally or vertically?

Zhang Jingyi held up the emerald green vegetable stem and leaned closer, lightly tapping the knife tip on the cutting board.

Jiang Qing placed the thawed black pork next to her.

"like this."

He placed his left hand over the back of her hand holding the knife and guided her to draw a forty-five-degree angle.

"Cutting the grain will allow the flavor to penetrate better."

Amidst the thud of the knife blade striking the cutting board, Zhang Jingyi felt her back brush against his shirt.

When Jiang Qing made the seventh cut, she suddenly chuckled.

"Teacher Zhang, your ears are so red."

"It's because the kitchen is too hot."

She stubbornly retorted, her hand slipping and nearly cutting her nail.

Jiang Qing quickly caught her wrist.

"If you, the female lead, hurt your hand, tomorrow's entertainment headline will be about me, the male lead, committing a crime in the kitchen."

He took the cleaver and demonstrated the correct posture, his forearm muscles undulating with the movement, making the girl's eyes widen in amazement.

"Look, use your knuckles to brace against the back of the knife."

Jiang Qing remained oblivious and continued teaching diligently.

As the range hood hummed to life, Zhang Jingyi was staring at the caramelized sugar bubbling in the pot.

Jiang Qing's movements as she tossed the ribs in the wok with one hand were fluid and graceful, the amber syrup coating the ribs as they danced.

"Want to taste it to see if it's salty enough?"

He scooped up a spoonful of soup and gestured to her.

When the girl leaned closer, Jiang Qing turned the spoon around.

"Be careful of the burn."

He blew on the spoon himself before bringing it to her lips.

"The temperature is just right now."

"Oh~"

As the sweet and sour flavor of the tomato and beef brisket exploded on her tongue, Zhang Jingyi noticed that there was some sauce on the corner of his mouth.

As if possessed, she pulled out a tissue and pressed it to his lips.

"Even chefs sneak food?"

"The job of a food taster."

Jiang Qing let her wipe it, the spatula drawing a beautiful arc in the casserole.

"Teacher Zhang, have you ever considered trying a career change?"

How much is the hourly wage?

She deliberately put on a stern face.

Jiang Qingguan put the lid on the pot and turned to look at the girl who looked like a little money-grubber.

"Lifetime contract, benefits include a complete smart home system and..."

He paused for two seconds and took the golden-brown egg tarts out of the oven.

"Unlimited desserts available."

The oven beep woke up the orange cat who was dozing on the counter.

"I'll try!"

Zhang Jingyi's eyes lit up as she bit into the crispy tart crust, the caramel pudding trembling between her teeth.

"This is cheating."

She licked the crumbs off the corner of her lips.

"No one can refuse this!"

Only a glutton can't resist.

Jiang Qing made a joke and turned around with a smile.

The girl wrinkled her nose at him from behind, clearly annoyed, and then used the tip of her tongue to wipe the crumbs from her lips.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Qing served the last dish, steamed yellow croaker, on the central island counter.

In the warm yellow light, the hem of his shirt rolled up slightly as he untied his apron.

Would you like some more osmanthus wine?

"all right."

Zhang Jingyi looked up at him with her hands behind her back.

Suddenly, Qian Didi's exclamation came from the living room. They turned around and saw Ma Ke being chased all over the house by a suddenly activated robot vacuum cleaner.

Zhang Jingyi burst out laughing, her lips curving into a wide smile.

Looking at the girl's smiling face, Jiang Qing pushed the glass in front of her and poured a cup of osmanthus wine for each of them.

"Respectfully, Teacher Zhang."

He smiled and raised his glass.

"A toast to sweet and sour pork ribs."

Zhang Jingyi winked mischievously and gently clinked glasses with him.

Jiang Qing was slightly taken aback. Looking at her reflection in the girl's clear eyes, she and the girl simultaneously raised the corners of their mouths.

The rice cooker in the kitchen beeped at just the right moment, drowning out some unseen heartbeats.

(End of this chapter)