Chapter 22

After half an hour, Kate saw a table full of exquisite food and her eyes nearly popped out. "Did you make all of this? Oh my God, are you a professional chef? There's really too much. Do you think I'm a big eater, or are there other guests? Never mind, I'm really hungry. Can we start eating?" She swallowed hard, and her stomach suddenly made a very ungraceful growling sound, making her blush.

Chen Tiandu grinned mischievously, "Hahaha, I've never heard a woman's stomach make such a loud noise. Listen, it sounds like it's saying 'Hunger'..."

Kate, who was trying to maintain her elegance, couldn't keep it up anymore. Her face turned dark, and she grabbed a piece of steak and started chewing vigorously.

Chen Tiandu laughed, "Looks like you're really hungry. I'll reheat the food. But reheating it won't be as delicious."

"It's already great. Do you need any help?" She was eager to try.

"Come on."

Chen Tiandu coolly nodded and handed her an apron.

A moment later, the kitchen was filled with the sounds of clattering and clanging. A knife fell to the ground, nearly piercing Chen Tiandu's foot. "Oh, shit, I messed up again."

Kate even swore.

Chen Tiandu shuddered, grateful he had pulled his foot back in time. He glared at her, "Are you here to cause trouble? Get out and wait outside." He gave her a light kick on her bouncy behind, and she screamed and ran out, laughing, "Sorry, Christmas. Christmas, Christmas, why do I always feel like I want to tease you when I say your name?"

Chen Tiandu disagreed, "That's just your personal opinion. Plenty of people love my name."

"Alright, everyone loves Christmas... How much longer, Christmas? My stomach is saying 'Hunger' again."

"Right away, right away. Can you stop rushing me?"

Chen Tiandu was also a beginner. The first time, his grandmother had guided him step by step, but now he was a bit flustered. "If you're really bored, go set the table. I remember buying a bottle of champagne. Open it for me."

"OK."

Finally, they could start eating. Chen Tiandu tore off his apron and went to the bathroom to wash the sweat off his face.

Kate watched him, feeling a bit touched. Here, she felt very relaxed. Although they had only known each other for a short time, they were already like friends who could joke around freely. It felt great. "Thank you."

"What for?" Chen Tiandu came to the table and rolled up a napkin. "You don't need to say 'thank you' all the time. Chinese people don't usually say 'thank you' to true friends."

"Why?"

"Because we're friends! Isn't that what friends do, without needing to say it?"

"Friendship among men, I get it, it's cool! Since that's the case, I won't hold back. Let me try your cooking."

"Wait." Chen Tiandu stopped her, "I recently learned a magic trick. I'll show it to you."

Kate made a face, "New magicians are the worst. Can we do this later?"

"Please, help me out."

Chen Tiandu bowed, looking hopeful, "I spent a long time learning this trick. You're my first audience."

"OK, I'll watch. Don't worry, even if I figure it out, I won't expose you." Kate leaned on the table, giving him a serious look.

Chen Tiandu felt a bit uncomfortable under her bright eyes. He continued rolling the napkin and cleared his throat, "Do you know, there's a painter in Italy named Caravaggio. He had a unique view of beauty. He said that different parts, when put together, fit perfectly without needing to add, remove, or change anything..."

"I know your trick, verbal distraction. Don't try to divert my attention." Kate blinked, thinking she was being clever.

Chen Tiandu rolled his eyes and ignored her, "Art has many similarities. In ancient China, during the Warring States period, a scholar named Song Yu said, 'A beauty should be neither too fat nor too thin, neither too red nor too white. Her eyebrows should be like green feathers, her skin like snow, her waist like a silk thread, her teeth like pearls. A smile can captivate everyone.' That's you!"

Kate was taken aback, her face turning a bit unnatural, but her heart was pounding, "Thank you."

Suddenly, the napkin in Chen Tiandu's hand ignited, burning into a flash of sparks, and a beautiful rose appeared, with a few drops of water on it. "For you."

Kate was stunned, and after a while, she exclaimed, "Wow... I thought you were just a beginner. Thank you for the flower, it's beautiful. Did you get it when you washed your face? There are water droplets on the petals."

"Ha~~"

Chen Tiandu laughed, raised his glass, and clinked it with hers, "To world peace, cheers."

Kate smiled and took a sip, then pressed on, "I thought you were going to toast to my survival from the car accident?"

"Let the past be the past. We always have to look forward. How does the champagne taste? The salesperson said it was a rich and fragrant type. I don't know much about champagne, what do you think?"

"You might have been fooled. It's a sweet style of champagne."

"Fooled, huh." Chen Tiandu wasn't angry, laughing, "It's all the salesperson's fault. I couldn't resist buying it."

"I think it tastes good, and the aroma is pure. Strange, let me see the brand." She grabbed the bottle and looked at it, then was surprised, "It's Bollinger La Grande Année. No wonder it tastes so good. Do you know the nickname for this champagne? '007's Elixir,' one of the best champagnes in the world!"

"Good to know I didn't buy the wrong thing. '007's Elixir,' what a great name. To 007, let's have a drink."

"Clank~!"

Kate raised her glass, "This time it's 007, what will the next toast be?"

"Too many. Look at this fish. It started as a tiny egg, went through many hardships, and finally grew up only to become a dish. If the fish had a spirit, it would look at us and say, 'Hey, make my meat delicious, or Kate will be unhappy, and I'll have lived in vain.' For the fish's hard work, shouldn't we have another drink?"

"Where is Mr. Fish?" Kate laughed, "Alright, you always find reasons. Cheers."

As they ate and chatted, laughter filled the room. After a satisfying meal, Kate leaned back in her chair, "I never knew I could eat so much. If my taste gets spoiled, where will I find such a good chef?"

Ding dong, the room suddenly filled with the clear sound of a piano.

"Beethoven, 'Für Elise'?"

Chen Tiandu pulled her up from the chair, "Famous star, can I have this dance?"

"You've already pulled me up."

"Yes, I think you'll say yes."

"So confident." Kate raised an eyebrow, "For the sake of this dinner, I'll reluctantly agree."

Kate, a model, was 170 cm tall, and Chen Tiandu, not very tall, was just over 181 cm. Holding her soft body, he felt a bit distracted. Maybe it was the champagne, but both of their faces were a bit red.

"Ouch." Kate suddenly cried out, bumping into the furniture.

The space was too small, and dancing wasn't satisfying. He suddenly had an idea and pulled Kate straight to the rooftop, "I have a plan, follow me."

He pulled up 'Für Elise' on his phone and set it to loop, then turned on the camera function. The flashlight from his phone cast a beam of light in the center of the rooftop, like a spotlight.

A gentle evening breeze blew, the sky was a canopy, and the ground was a stage, with a full moon in the sky, creating a perfect dance floor.

No furniture could block their steps. To the music, he held Kate's hand and they spun around and around. Kate's posture was incredibly graceful, not to mention her alluring curves and perfect figure. Just the slight trembling of her slender waist made his heart race. Occasionally, as she gently turned, Chen Tiandu felt like he was about to lose himself.

To suppress the allure in his heart, Chen Tiandu deliberately thought about the Buddhist teachings: form is emptiness, emptiness is form. After a hundred years, a beautiful woman becomes a skeleton, and a city of beauty turns to bones.

Kate smiled, "Such a beautiful stage, I've lived here for over a year and never noticed. We might be the first to dance here."

"Maybe. No matter how beautiful the stage, it can't compare to you."

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