Chapter 73: Dark Cuisine
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“Mr. Jian, what do you think I should name my livestream room to highlight its unique style?”
Jian Ningxuan expressed his inability to help.
After some thought, An Bu said, “Let’s keep it straightforward and call it ‘Dark Cuisine.'”
She swiftly registered and applied to become a streamer, opening her streaming room.
The review would probably take a day, so An Bu rearranged her kitchen with bizarre wallpapers, dining tables, and utensils, creating an indescribable eerie atmosphere—clearly a dining place intended for non-humans.
Next, An Bu took Jian Ningxuan on a shopping spree, spending the entire afternoon at the mall. That night, they experimented with several new dishes, all of which, regardless of taste, ended up in the cat master’s stomach.
The second day, the streaming room was opened. An Bu decided to do her first stream at 10 p.m., precisely the time when night owls struggled with the decision of whether to eat supper.
Around 9 p.m., Jian Ningxuan knocked on An Bu’s door and entered. He saw her sitting at the dressing table applying makeup, and in his heart, he silently said: You’re already beautiful enough; you don’t need makeup. How many people are you trying to enchant?
However, this thought shattered when An Bu turned around. Jian Ningxuan couldn’t believe his eyes. It was a… theater mask? Or commonly known as a “flower face”! Four colors—blue, red, black, and white—interwoven and distinct, extremely eye-catching.
Although An Bu was color-blind, for such a template-like application of colors, as long as she knew what colors she was using, she didn’t have to worry about creating a mess.
An Bu also put on a flower crown, stood up, and asked, “How is it? Handsome, right?”
Jian Ningxuan: …I can’t describe my feelings right now.
“Seeing your expression, I know my livestream will definitely be a hit.” An Bu twisted her smile.
Jian Ningxuan: That’s my facial muscles cramping, giving you a wrong impression. Are you really planning to livestream cooking with that face?!
An Bu checked the time. “It’s almost 10 p.m.; it’s about to start.”
Saying that, she briskly walked out of the room, going straight to the kitchen. Jian Ningxuan followed, standing outside the camera’s view, quietly watching. An Bu entered the streaming room, adjusted the camera angle, and then arranged the ingredients on the table.
After a short time, a lost lamb accidentally entered the streaming room. Upon suddenly seeing An Bu’s face, the lamb immediately exclaimed: [What the heck, let me look back at the room’s name. Indeed, it’s Dark Cuisine, not a theatrical performance!]:
An Bu: “Welcome to the Dark Cuisine live stream, I am the host ‘Little Black.'”
【Host, did you come up with this name on the spot? It’s so uninspired!】
This lost lamb decided to squat here and invited a few friends to join. After a few minutes, a dozen or so people gradually entered the quiet live stream room. Without exception, they were all captivated by An Bu’s fresh and elegant facial expressions.
An Bu: “First live stream, please forgive any deviations. If you insist on not forgiving, then use landmines to hit me hard until I reform.”
【Hahaha, host, I love watching deviations, so I won’t throw landmines at you.】
【Host, you don’t need a reform; I think you’re a good comrade getting rid of low-level tastes.】
【All the big shots in the drama world are cheering for you!】
An Bu: “Alright, enough nonsense. Today, I’ll be making a dark dish: Face Paint Rice Balls.”
【Host, do you plan to turn yourself into a rice ball?!】
【Host, don’t be too desperate! Even if you sacrifice your face, no one will eat your rice ball.】
An Bu ignored them, washed her hands, and took out pre-made rice and meat filling. Skillfully, she shaped a head with distinct facial features using her agile fingers. Then, using edible coloring pens, she carefully drew facial makeup on the rice ball. This step was relatively simple, and An Bu completed it in five to six minutes.
The people in the live stream room were initially just here for fun, not paying much attention. However, the subsequent performance caught them off guard and left them in awe.
An Bu took out a cucumber, cut off a piece from the end, and, with a carving knife, circled it a few times. Like magic, she instantly carved out a green hat. Then, she started micro-carving on the hat, creating intricate patterns with smooth lines. In just a few minutes, a crown was meticulously crafted.
【666, host, this operation is amazing!!!】
【Caught off guard by a face-carving technique.】
【Wait, host, why carve a green hat of all things?】
An Bu placed the hat on the rice ball head, fitting perfectly. Next, she picked up a cherry, and with her fingers flying, she quickly formed a delicate rose between them. The petals were layered, thin as gauze, swaying as if in the wind.
【So beautiful!!! Crazy support for the host!!!】
【To be able to carve on such a small cherry? Host, your fingers must be magical!】
【I thought I was just watching a weird face-painting person, didn’t expect her to be a master sculptor! This twist is confusing.】
Mr. Fool rewarded with a bicycle.
The rich loser, not short of money, rewarded with a motorcycle.
Braised Mermaid rewarded with a bumper car.
…
An Bu then used cherries, radishes, and papayas to carve four or five flowers of various sizes. She decorated the cucumber hat with these flowers using toothpicks, and then added some silver fish slices the size of fingernails. Finally, she took out some seaweed, wrapping it on both sides of the face to make it look more vivid and three-dimensional.
After completing everything, An Bu pushed the plate closer to the camera to give everyone a clearer view.
On the black plate lay a face with a determined expression, wearing a green cucumber hat, adorned with three-colored flowers, embellished with raw fish slices, and with seaweed attached to the face. The magical combination, strange aesthetic, and An Bu’s face complemented each other, surprisingly making many people feel hungry.
【Host, as dark cuisine, your appearance is obviously subpar.】
【Exactly, host, you didn’t do well enough; I won’t reward you.】
【The essence of dark cuisine is to make people nauseous, to take disgust as a duty.】
【Agreed!】
An Bu: “The essence of dark cuisine is not only to look nauseating but more importantly, to taste nauseating. Do you know what I put inside the rice ball?”
People immediately asked what it was.
An Bu: “Sichuan peppers marinated with steamed meat, paired with mustard sauce. One bite, and it’s absolutely refreshing.”
The screen was immediately filled with “666.”
At this point, someone suddenly asked: 【By the way, host, who do you plan to give this rice ball to?】
Jian Ningxuan was also watching the live stream. Upon hearing this question, he was ready to run away, but An Bu had already called him out: “Darling, this is the face paint rice ball I made for you, come and try it.”
【Pfft! Lighting a candle for the host’s boyfriend.】
【A real boyfriend should contribute his stomach at crucial moments for his girlfriend.】
【A true man must face dark cuisine bravely! Come on, buddy, you can do it.】
Jian Ningxuan walked over under An Bu’s gaze and reluctantly took the plate from her.
“Oh, by the way, this dish also has a name, it’s called ‘Hidden Troubles,'” An Bu added.
【Host, are you openly saying you have hidden troubles?】
【Not only hidden troubles, but also wearing a green hat. Host, you are too cruel to your boyfriend!】
【If I were the host’s boyfriend, I definitely wouldn’t eat it!】
【Host, turn the camera over; I want to see your boyfriend eat it, no, eat humble pie.】
An Bu naturally ignored them and just said, “His stomach has already suffered a lot; at least let him save face.”
The screen was filled with “Hahaha” and a row of candles.
Jian Ningxuan picked up the rice ball, tentatively took a bite. Huh? No spiciness, just a rich meaty flavor and full-bodied sauce; it was incredibly delicious!
He looked up at An Bu, and she responded with a sweet and indulgent smile.
The people in the live stream room, seeing An Bu’s twisted grimace, mourned silently for her boyfriend.
【Poor guy, a promising young man ruined by the love of hidden troubles.】
【Seeing the host’s smile, I can’t help but clench for her boyfriend.】
【Host, please make sure to be with your boyfriend forever. Don’t come out to harm other men again!】
An Bu won’t tell them the truth, waiting for them to personally experience the harm.
The cat, while nibbling on the rice ball, looked down upon these foolish humans with a cold attitude.
“Alright, today’s live stream ends here. Thank you all for the support. See you tomorrow night at 10 o’clock.” The first live stream gained 43 fans and earned 5 vitality points, which was not bad.
An Bu exited the live stream room, asking the cat master, “Was it delicious?”
Jian Ningxuan nodded. There were only a few toothpicks left on the plate, and even the green cucumber hat had been eaten.
Looking at the radiant glow on him, it was evident how much he enjoyed it.
An Bu cleaned up the kitchen, transferred the recorded live stream video to her computer, returned to her room, and started writing in her diary.
Yesterday, she took the time to review recent photo diaries, probably completing the memories she had lost recently. However, she hadn’t had a chance to recall the events at the hot spring resort, so that part remained temporarily blank.
After finishing, Jian Ningxuan walked into the room and handed An Bu a box.
An Bu opened it and found a new phone inside. It was still brand new. She glanced at him, unsure if he randomly picked it or if he had investigated the connection between Xin Qi and her before.
Turning on the phone, An Bu re-saved the phone numbers, with the cat master’s name topping the list.
At that moment, Jian Ningxuan’s phone rang suddenly. He glanced at it and decisively rejected the call. But after a moment, the phone rang again. Jian Ningxuan rejected it again, then swiped and added that person to the blacklist.
“What’s wrong? Who was calling?” An Bu curiously asked.
Jian Ningxuan showed her the call log.
“Ge Liwei?” An Bu pronounced the name, “Who is he?”
After asking, she immediately remembered the content of the diary she had read before. This man was Jian Ningxuan’s uncle.
Jian Ningxuan typed on his phone: Uncle.
An Bu thought he must be calling about the situation with Ge Tingting. Her “fake death” seemed to be related to this girl, but the specific details were unclear.
Jian Ningxuan had a serious expression, showing no intention of discussing it further.
An Bu didn’t want to touch on this matter either and changed the topic, “Mr. Jian, can you speak yet?”
Jian Ningxuan moved his lips but couldn’t produce any sound.
An Bu patted him, “It’s okay. The doctor said to relax and go out more. So, how about we go out tomorrow?”
Jian Ningxuan: Where to?
An Bu thought for a moment, “Deep-sea fishing?”
Jian Ningxuan nodded in agreement.
Even if she took him to the primitive forest to see savages, he probably wouldn’t object.
The next day, the two set out early. Arriving at the seaside, they hired a fishing boat and headed straight into the embrace of the ocean.
They rented the fishing gear from the boat captain and sat leisurely on the deck, fishing while enjoying the sea view.
At that moment, Jian Ningxuan suddenly handed his phone to her, and it said: A competition?
An Bu initially wanted to refuse, but then had a change of heart, saying, “A competition is fine, but let’s change the rules.”
Jian Ningxuan: How to change?
“Who catches fewer fish.”
Jian Ningxuan: …
“How about that?” An Bu smiled at him.
Jian Ningxuan nodded: Let’s do that.
So, under the premise of normal fishing, the two competed to see who could catch fewer fish.
In the end, Jian Ningxuan, as if possessed by the sea god, had the fish aggressively biting his hook, while An Bu, calm and composed, remained unmoved.
The boat captain was also dumbfounded, praising Jian Ningxuan’s superb fishing skills.
Jian Ningxuan, who had never fished before: …Why?
An Bu laughed, “Congratulations, Mr. Jian, you’ve acquired a new skill.”
Jian Ningxuan looked at her puzzled. They were only two or three meters apart; why was the difference so significant?
He cast his fishing line again, intending to try once more.
An Bu: It’s fortunate that he’s only using regular bait. If it were high-grade bait, he might even catch a golden octopus.
Jian Ningxuan exuded a pure and strong yang energy, attracting most living creatures. Unfortunately, his constitution was too unique, causing high temperatures that made it difficult for land creatures to approach him. However, marine creatures were not affected.
An Bu, on the contrary, emitted corpse energy, attracting only similar entities.
While pondering, An Bu’s fishing line suddenly became taut.
Jian Ningxuan’s eyes brightened, urging her to reel it in.
An Bu, confused, wondered which fish was so blind as to bite her hook?
Quickly pulling in the fishing line, the fish gradually surfaced. It was a large, gray-brown fish with a flat head and a pillar-like body, adorned with yellowish-white powder-like stripes, and it had no pectoral or pelvic fins, looking somewhat repulsive.
“Shoot, how did you catch this thing?” The boat captain, upon seeing the fish, had a slightly changed expression.
An Bu remained silent.
Jian Ningxuan, with a puzzled expression, looked at the boat captain.
The captain explained, “This fish is called ‘Oil Cone.’ It feeds on dead corpses. Where it appears, bodies are usually found. Oil Cone’s meat is tender and has a cosmetic effect, but us fishermen don’t like catching them.”
Jian Ningxuan frowned, showing a disgusted expression.
An Bu calmly lifted the fish onto the boat, placing it in a bucket, and smiled, “Tonight’s dark cuisine is sorted.”
Jian Ningxuan: … Aren’t you afraid your fans will kill you?
Wait, when the finished product comes out, he’ll be the one to taste it! Regardless of how delicious it might be, he didn’t want to eat this thing!
Jian Ningxuan began to mourn for his stomach…
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