Love Healing Manual

Chapter 55 Lin Ze's Expectations

The small square porcelain plate contains delicacies from China, passed down for countless years. Almost every household in Lin Ze's hometown knows how to make it. Whether it's dining out or a family banquet, a plate of Mapo Tofu is a must.

It's a home-style dish that's delicious with rice, and it's also presentable enough to impress guests.

When the slightly viscous sauce was poured on, even the slightest pressure made the soft tofu wobble, demonstrating just how tender it was.

Under the light, the tofu surface glistens slightly with oil, adorned with bright red chilies, presenting an enticing reddish-brown hue. The unique numbing and spicy flavor of Sichuan peppercorns blends with the natural aroma of the tofu.

Just smell it.

It's as if the dish is already made.

Lin Ze's gaze changed slightly, because this was the most successful thing he had done in so many days.

"Quickly, try it and see how it tastes," Lin Yuning said anxiously.

"Wait, there's just one last step." Lin Ze said seriously.

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around, grabbed a handful of chopped scallions from the cutting board, and looked extremely serious. The vibrant green scallions fell from the air and sprinkled onto the surface of the tofu.

Lin Ze breathed a long sigh of relief.

Said without politeness.

The pressure of cooking these past few days has been greater than the pressure of his college entrance exams.

Lin Ze has always been very confident in his studies, which stems from his consistently excellent grades, which have cultivated his inner strength.

However, repeated failures in learning to cook can be very discouraging and demoralizing.

But once Lin Ze made up his mind about something, he wouldn't lose interest quickly, and he certainly wouldn't give up.

Each attempt and the subsequent improvements made Lin Ze feel confident that he could do even better next time.

Learning just one dish shouldn't be impossible, right?
Moreover, Lin Yuning had been teaching diligently and patiently answering his questions, which he had absolutely no knowledge of kitchens.

I've eaten burnt tofu so many times.

This time, Lin Ze sensed something was wrong when he put the tofu into the pot. He inexplicably felt that the colors in the pot were more distinct, and the degree of oil heat and the speed at which the color changed after the fermented bean paste was added were much clearer than the previous times.

Immediately afterwards, they dared not slack off and strived for perfection in every step.

Finally, this famous Chinese dish—Mapo Tofu—is finished.

"Hmm, let me try it." Lin Ze took the spoon, scooped up a small piece of tofu, and put it in his mouth.

"What does it taste like? Is it different from what I make?" Lin Yuning asked curiously.

"If I had to describe it, I think it tastes better than what you make."

He just finished speaking.

"Bullshit!" Lin Yuning glared at him with her beautiful eyes.

She desperately wanted Lin Ze to succeed, but the way he said things was just too infuriating.

Lin Yuning really didn't believe it. Could her more than ten years of kitchen experience not make a dish as delicious as Lin Ze, a novice?
That brat is way too arrogant.

She pouted, snatched the spoon from Lin Ze's hand, and unceremoniously scooped up a large mouthful, savoring it carefully.

The beautiful brows furrowed, as if they too possessed a sense of taste, savoring the moment along with the tongue.

The fresh and rich flavor bursts on the tongue, impacting the entire taste system.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Probably...maybe, maybe half my level," Lin Yuning crossed her arms, then changed the subject: "But don't get carried away. One success doesn't mean you can succeed every time. You still need to work hard...humph."

Lin Yuning slapped Lin Ze on the shoulder and snorted coldly.

As a mentor, she naturally has her own pride and arrogance.

How could they so easily admit that Lin Ze had done a good job?

"Let's eat." Lin Ze smiled.

He didn't take the underlying criticism in his aunt's words to heart.

Having known each other for so many years, he certainly understood that his aunt's stubbornness was actually a sign that she had done a very good job.

Praise, on the contrary, comes when he is disheartened.

At first.

Lin Ze was admitted to the University of Tokyo. When he received the admission notice, even though his aunt's lips were already curled up to the sky, she still said things like "keep working hard."

Back in his room, however, the barely concealed screams and the excited voices of someone immediately making a phone call rang out; he could hear them even from his bedroom. A short while later…

Two bowls of rice were placed on the coffee table.

Lin Ze didn't rush to eat. After taking off his apron and putting it aside, he thought about tomorrow.

"Gu."

"What's wrong?" Lin Yuning sat cross-legged on the sofa.

"I want to come back early tomorrow at noon and make another batch to take to school."

"Oh my... you're already so eager to bring your girlfriend a lovingly prepared bento box?"

Lin Ze did not reply; he ignored Lin Yuning's teasing.

Although it wasn't for his "girlfriend," he was really eager to bring food to Kitagawa-senpai so she wouldn't have to eat those unhealthy things anymore, and besides, he always had to complete the mission.

I've worked hard these past few days just for Wednesday.

I bring my own lunch and then go to the equipment room for treatment after school in the afternoon.

He had a subtle expectation: what would Kitagawa-senpai's reaction be after eating such a meal?
Lin Ze lowered his eyes and put the rice mixed with Mapo Tofu into his mouth.

but.

Lin Ze was unaware of this.

The dog he longed for.

She is not in Tokyo

……

At night, in the bedroom.

Lin Ze, unusually, lost focus while memorizing vocabulary. After showering and changing his clothes, when he should have been concentrating on studying, other thoughts kept popping into his head.

He glanced at his phone every now and then, mentally preparing a draft.

Lin Ze wanted to send a link to Beichuan, telling her to go to the equipment room at noon tomorrow. He had prepared food for her so she wouldn't have to go to the cafeteria.

But what tone should I use? Being too enthusiastic won't work, and being too indifferent will make the other person afraid of me and unsure of what I'm trying to do.

After getting to know her for a while, Lin Ze understood Kitagawa's personality—she was a coward, seemingly strong but not really, seemingly resilient but actually very intolerant, and most importantly, she was very weak.

Weakness lies within, not outwardly.

After a moment's hesitation.

Lin Ze put down his vocabulary notebook, knowing he couldn't concentrate without sending this link.

But the study tasks in the evening are also heavy.

Lin Ze picked up his phone, pressed his finger on the screen, and typed out a message word by word before sending it.

"Senior Kitagawa, if you have time tomorrow at noon, please come to the equipment room. I've prepared some things to help with your treatment. Please don't eat before you come, so as not to interfere with your treatment."

After sending it, he paused for a moment and then edited another message.

"I'll be there early. If I'm a little late, please be patient and wait in the equipment room."

Please reply upon receipt.

After doing all this, Lin Ze pressed the screen-off button on the side of his phone.

He was quite pleased to pick up the vocabulary book again and began to read it silently.

……

But in a faraway place.

All the lights in the hotel were turned off.

Kitagawa Ayane hugged her knees on the sofa, pressed against the wall table behind her, her whole body trembling evenly.

buzz-

The phone screen, which had been lying to the side, suddenly lit up, casting a faint glow in the pitch-black environment.

The photo also showed Kitagawa Ayane's delicate but sweaty face on the bed, her hair disheveled, and a look of confusion on her face.

(End of this chapter)