Muttering to herself, Evelyn fell silent at Andrew's words.
He heated oil in the wok, then poured in the rice that had been thoroughly mixed with egg wash. Flames roared to life beneath the pan.
With precise control and a keen eye, he ensured the egg wash evenly coated every single grain. The white rice, now enrobed in a golden sheen, remained perfectly separate.
As his hands moved without pause, Andrew continued speaking:
"So, you really don't need to overthink it so much. A blade isn't just for attacking, and the skills to wield one aren't just for fighting."
"For me, at least, hunting techniques translate perfectly to cooking. If nothing else, they're definitely good for chopping vegetables."
As the glistening, perfectly separated grains of fried rice danced in the wok, Andrew delivered his conclusion.
"So, there's nothing to worry about. If you have the will, even the skills for killing can be transformed into an art that creates warmth."
"So don't worry about who she was. The question is, who does she want to be now?"
Andrew's words plunged Evelyn into silence.
In truth, she already had the answer in her heart.
All along, the only thing Evelyn lacked was the courage to take that first step. And right now, what she needed was for someone to give her a gentle push from behind.
The rice, mixed with egg yolk, was very moist. Only by stir-frying it quickly and vigorously upon hitting the pan could one ensure every grain remained distinct.
He added diced ham, diced shiitake mushrooms, and some dried shrimp and shredded dried scallops to enhance the flavor, then tossed everything rapidly over high heat.
In the intense fire, the moisture in the ingredients was quickly cooked off.
Carried by the flames, the aroma of fried rice gradually filled the entire house.
Astra Yao, having just finished washing up and changing, opened her door to see Andrew, clad in a full suit of armor, busy in the kitchen.
The armor, with its black base and white patterns over a dark undergarment, looked cool and imposing, but the act of cooking completely shattered the stern image it projected.
Seeing Astra Yao, Evelyn, who now had her answer, felt the resolve in her heart solidify.
Meanwhile, Astra Yao, drawn in by the tempting aroma, quickly ran to the kitchen doorway.
With a final sprinkle of chopped green onions and a brief toss for a few more seconds, the fried rice was officially done.
"Wow! It smells amazing! I'm Astra Yao, nice to meet you!"
Looking at the bright-faced, somewhat childish girl, Andrew smiled and nodded, introducing himself as well:
"My name is Andrew. It'll be a pleasure to be in your care for the next two days."
"Hehe, it should be me saying that I'm in your care."
Astra Yao nodded happily at his words.
Plating the fried rice from the wok, Andrew brought two servings to the dining table, then gestured to the two women who were watching him intently.
"Come and try my cooking. I hope you like it."
Andrew had made the fried rice incredibly fast, with still about ten minutes to spare before the twenty minutes Evelyn had mentioned.
Already famished, Astra Yao eagerly sat down at the table. Seeing the plates set only for herself and Evelyn, while Andrew had nothing in front of him, she asked with some hesitation:
"But, aren't you eating, Andrew?"
"Don't worry, I've already eaten. How could someone who knows how to cook possibly let himself go hungry?"
Besides, if he were to really eat, all of this food combined wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.
Hearing Andrew say that, Astra Yao no longer hesitated and eagerly picked up her chopsticks for a bite.
The fragrance of egg yolk and rice mingled, each grain perfectly distinct after being stir-fried in the iron wok. The expert cooking made the rice fragrant and dry without losing too much moisture and becoming simply desiccated.
The various other ingredients blended perfectly into the dish.
Simple ingredients, yet utterly delicious. Astra Yao's eyes lit up, and she instinctively cupped her cheeks as she praised it:
"Mmm~ It's so good! So much better than my cooking..."
The last part was the mumbled, resentful whisper of a culinary disaster who couldn't even make decent fried rice.
But then, a warm current spread out from her stomach.
The fatigue that had accumulated in her body from constant rehearsals for the concert and participating in other activities was swept away by this warmth.
The feeling of being completely refreshed made Astra Yao let out an involuntary, soft hum.
Beside her, Evelyn silently brought a spoonful of fried rice to her mouth.
Even for someone who had never been picky about food and whose diet consisted mainly of instant noodles, she had to admit it was truly delicious.
At this thought, she couldn't help but study Andrew for a moment, beginning to believe that his earlier words were not just empty talk.
A moment later, the same sensation Astra Yao experienced washed over Evelyn as well.
The two looked at each other, a shared hint of surprise in their eyes.
Cooking could actually have this kind of effect?
Curiosity instantly surged within Astra Yao.
But some curiosities are best left unexplored. A technique that was clearly so precious was not something one could casually inquire about.
So, Astra Yao quickly suppressed the curiosity that had just surfaced.
With little time left, Astra Yao quickly finished her breakfast, patting her satisfied tummy and sighing softly.
"That was so delicious. I wish I could eat this forever."
Andrew, who was already putting the plates in the kitchen sink, didn't hear Astra Yao's unconscious sigh, but Evelyn, sitting silently at the table, heard it loud and clear.
Hearing Astra Yao's wistful remark, for some unknown reason, a flicker of irritation toward Andrew sparked in Evelyn's heart.
It had no source, no basis. Her rational mind knew perfectly well that Andrew had done nothing wrong.
If anything, by patiently answering her questions and making this meal, Andrew had only helped her.
But upon hearing Astra Yao say the word 'forever,' that tiny flicker of irritation couldn't be suppressed, sprouting like a bamboo shoot after a spring rain.
It was like a child starved for affection, unconsciously clutching their only toy when a stranger approaches, ready to view anyone who might take it away as an enemy.
But a metaphor is just a metaphor.
For Evelyn, rather than possession, she wanted to be a knight protecting her princess.
To guard from the shadows the innocent, radiant princess who had illuminated her life and now wanted to illuminate the lives of so many others.
No matter what Astra Yao decided, Evelyn would support her unconditionally.
And yet, even though her rational mind told her it was nothing, the emotions in her heart were not so easily dispelled.
_____
🔥 New content is here! 🔥
New Story: COTE: Natsuki Subaru Returns to School, but as the Purge King
✅ Jump 40 chapters ahead of the public release!
✅ Get access to special perks and news!
Help smash these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter (for everyone)
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters (for all stories)!
👻 P - Walnutchan