The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 267 Another Legendary Scholar

"Eat, eat~"

Bai Qi, who had just found a seat, couldn't wait to take out the still-steaming chicken leg. After testing the temperature briefly, she took a big bite.

The next moment, her eyes widened involuntarily.

This…

What is this smell?!
The rich smoky flavor and savory cheese aroma intertwine in the tender and juicy chicken, while the addition of potatoes gives it a slightly soft and chewy texture, along with fresh and flavorful chopped vegetables.

She had eaten many different flavors of fried chicken, but never had fried chicken that tasted so good and surprised her so much!
Bai Qi couldn't resist taking another big bite, but then her expression changed, and she covered her mouth, making a muffled "hot hot hot" sound.

Although the outer layer had cooled down considerably, the scalding hot cheese inside still caught her off guard and delivered a devastating blow.

However, after being scalded, the rich salty and milky aromas intertwined and spread in the mouth, bringing a sensation that made Bai Qi's eyes widen again.

"Good times, good times!"

She carefully blew on it, then couldn't wait to take a bite. When it got too hot, she hissed a few times to cool it down in her mouth before chewing. Soon, only the clean chicken leg bone remained.

"Wow, wow, it's so delicious!"

Sucking on the chicken leg bone in her hand, Bai Qi's eyes were already a little red, whether from the heat or from being moved.

She almost instinctively picked up the second chicken drumstick, but resisted the urge to eat it and wrapped it up again.

"I promised to bring Fatima some good food, so I can't break my promise." Bai Qi carefully tucked the chicken leg into her bosom. "I really envy Fatima for having a good friend like me."

“But then again, I can probably already imagine what Fatima will say after she takes the food.” As she spoke, Bai Qi adopted a serious expression and tone, mimicking someone else’s manner of speaking.

"Food intake is merely a necessary process to maintain basic human survival needs. As long as one ingests a nutrient solution prepared with appropriate proportions of protein, fat, vitamins, and carbohydrates, one can maintain the energy for research."

As soon as she finished learning, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

"Pfft-"

"I really don't know how someone like her became a Spirit Chef. I'm sure her opinion on food will change after she's tried the Bangbang Chicken Leg!"

As she spoke, Bai Qi's steps suddenly became lighter, and she left the food exhibition area on the top floor of the cruise ship against the flow of people, quickly walking into a luxurious room.

"Dangdangdangdang~"

"Fatima, look what good things I've brought you!"

Inside the room, a girl with short silver hair was writing and drawing on a thick stack of documents in front of her. Upon hearing this, she looked up, revealing a pair of glasses large enough to cover half of her face. "Information on the Azure Silver Nightingale?"

"I have made new progress in my research on the ancient ruins involving the Silver Nightingale. If there is any new information, we may be able to pinpoint the location quickly."

"Please, where am I supposed to find something like this for you!" Bai Qi rolled her eyes, walked briskly to Fatima's side, and pulled out the chicken leg she had hidden behind her back. "It's a hidden gem from the food expo!"

"Just one bite, and you'll understand the true meaning of delicious food!"

“There’s no need.” Fatima lowered her head again. “Nutritional fluids are more efficient than eating regular food, and they’re tasteless, so you don’t have to waste your brainpower analyzing the taste of food.”

“I’ve already prepared the nutrient solution you’ll be drinking later.” Fatima said, picking up a test tube containing a light green liquid from the table and shaking it. “You can eat the food yourself.”

"You rascal!" Bai Qi said with a helpless expression, "Don't you get tired of drinking nutrient solution every day? That stuff tastes awful!"

“It won’t get boring,” Fatima said calmly. “I’ve prepared two flavors and will change them every three days. This frequency will allow my brain to secrete enough dopamine to reduce the boredom caused by a monotonous diet.” “If you look closely, you can see that I’m drinking aloe vera flavored nutrient solution today, which is different from the lime flavored one yesterday.”

"You're really something..." Bai Qi took a deep breath and suddenly opened the box containing the chicken drumsticks. "You're completely stubborn!"

“Fat and minerals are essential nutrients for the human body, and I will pay attention to my intake,” Fatima said calmly, but after sniffing, her gaze unconsciously fell on the chicken drumsticks.

The rich and complex aroma, like a burly man, forcefully invaded Fatima's sense of smell, making her almost instinctively swallow.

Seeing Fatima's little trick, Bai Qi's eyes flashed with a hint of smugness. After clearing her throat, she slowly said, "Fatima, our Dongyun region is a little different from your Feli region."

There's an old saying here, "work-life balance," which means that you need to rest and relax after working for a period of time. This can improve work efficiency and is more effective than working non-stop.

“You’ve been studying these materials for days. You wouldn’t even get off the ship and come with me to explore Rosemary City before. It’s time for you to take a break.”

"An old saying..."

Fatima swallowed hard again. "An old saying that has been passed down to this day must have some truth to it. In that case, perhaps I can give it a try."

Seeing that the stubborn guy had finally climbed down the ladder, Bai Qi breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the chicken leg in front of him.

"Have a taste."

"Let me tell you, these chicken drumsticks are so delicious! I only managed to keep them with superhuman perseverance. I really envy you for having a friend like me."

Fatima ignored Bai Qi's rambling, picked up the chicken leg and examined it carefully for a moment before finally taking a bite.

“Crack—”

A crisp sound rang out softly, bringing a strange sense of ease and stress relief, like an electric current running through the scalp.

Feeling the warmth and rich texture and taste that the nutrient solution in her mouth lacked, Fatima sat there blankly, muttering unconsciously.

"Ingredients: potatoes, chicken thigh meat, bacon, tomatoes, and onions."

"Cooking method: boil the chicken thighs and chop them... No, that's not right, something's missing. I know, it's deep-frying. First fry, then boil, and then..."

"Stop, stop, stop!" Bai Qi called out to Fatima, looking helpless. "All you need to do is tell me if it's delicious or not."

“…It’s delicious.” Fatima nodded slowly. “If you can, please buy me another one tonight.”

"That won't work."

Bai Qi chuckled, "The chicken drumsticks I bought and brought back have lost some of their flavor. Fried food tastes best when eaten fresh!"

"So Fatima, how about we go to the food expo tonight?"

Fatima adjusted her glasses, finished her chicken leg, and continued her calculations and research.

Just as Bai Qi was about to show disappointment, Fatima spoke calmly.

"Then I need to speed up my research."

"Great!"

(End of this chapter)