Chapter Thirty-Four: Xiao Qiao Zero Confirmed

  But stainless steel generally proves that the legendary "good memory is inferior to a rotten pen head" is extremely correct, especially for someone like me who doesn't even have good memory.

  Because I sat at the counter for nearly an hour and a half, recalling my memories, but still couldn't remember what question I wanted to ask Cheng Qiao last night.

  I should have taken notes earlier. Now I won't forget what he said that's been bothering me. I slapped my forehead in frustration, what a useless brain.

  After racking my brains to no avail, I decided to go find something else to do and shift my focus.

  Just then, Cheng Qiao walked into the kitchen and saw me sitting on a small stool with a handful of dried peach blossoms, lost in thought.

  This contemplation is about whether it's possible to use this dried peach blossom to create a type of peach dessert that leaves people wanting more, but won't land them in the hospital after digestion. Although the other two pastry chefs suggested directly searching for a tried-and-tested recipe on Baidu, I obviously wouldn't be able to enjoy the thrill of creation if I did that, so I simply replied to them with "No lazy ideas allowed".

  "You've even used the pose of an international thinker," Qiao Cheng smiled and pushed away my hand that was propping up my forehead, "A Yao, is there anywhere you need me to help?"

  I flipped through the peach blossoms in the basket in front of me and said, "There are, absolutely plenty."

  "Are you asking me to help you wash your peach blossoms?"

  "No," I looked up at him with a serious face and said, "Xiao Qiao, what did you mean by what you said to me last night?"

  He unexpectedly raised an eyebrow: "You still remember?"

  My eyes lit up immediately: "Yes, yes, go on."

  He nodded slightly: "But I said so many things to you last night, which one are you referring to?"

  "It was when you were standing in front of the elevator door."

  "It was in the elevator," he suddenly realized, then frowned at me, "But I don't remember what I said to you."

  A careless move and several peach blossoms were pinched into fragments by me: "Just one night, you said something yourself that you don't even remember?"

  "Aren't you also often forgetting what you said? Sometimes it's just half a day." He looked at me with a defiant gaze, "Then repeat it to me again, maybe I can recall what I meant back then."

  "......Very well, you win." I let out a defeated sigh and stretched out my left hand towards him, "Congratulations on getting the chance to wash the peach blossom."

  He fell silent for a moment, then reached out and gently plucked the peach blossoms from my hand, one by one. The pink petals set off his slender fingers, making them shine like jade. His cool fingertips touched the center of my palm, sending a shiver up to my brain, and I involuntarily curled my hand into a fist.

  He was still unhurriedly pinching the flowers with two fingers, staring at his movements I felt that something was wrong, but my brain was a bit slow, and I couldn't find the key. After shrinking back again, I finally reacted and flipped my palm over, slapping the peach blossoms directly into his palm, angrily saying: "How can you do it like Lin Daiyu burying flowers? This is too abrupt!"

  He paused for a moment: "A Yao, at first it was you who asked me to bury this flower."

  “……”

  Later, when Qiao was soaking peach blossoms in salt water, he suddenly said that he also wanted to show off his skills. Since my inspiration was temporarily a bit lacking, I agreed with a wave of my hand.

  Prepare the coconut milk, pure milk, pineapple and semolina he wants one by one, I watch with bated breath how he will make a Rou Jia Mo.

  Pineapple diced, peach blossoms torn into small pieces, glutinous rice cooked and cooled, coconut milk and cow's milk poured into the pot and boiled, finally pineapple and peach blossoms added in sequence.

  The steps aren't complicated, but the effect of the finished product is surprisingly good.

  In the snow-white porcelain bowl, plump and translucent sago is packed tightly, delicate pink flower petals float on the milky white coconut milk, contrasting with the yellow pineapple, the bright colors matching each other, dazzling the eyes. The sweet aroma of pineapple mixed in the coconut milk wafts out in waves with the rising heat.

  I looked at this very beautiful peach blossom sago dessert and exclaimed in shock: "Xiao Qiao, you've practiced before, right?"

  He laughed happily: "No, this is my first time making desserts."

  I was even more shocked: "You can invent a new variety for the first time? It seems that you really have talent, and I couldn't see that you were a beginner from your very skilled movements. Moreover, you even know to rinse the semolina after it's cooked until it's white, which is a step that many beginners often forget. Not bad, not bad, Little Qiao, you're so amazing!"

  "Then try it quickly and see how it tastes."

  "Want me to try?!" I dryly laughed, "That, although its appearance is indeed very beautiful... but are you sure it's safe to eat?"

  He nodded firmly: "Although I haven't eaten it either, I can guarantee that this is absolutely no problem."

  I fell silent for a moment, with a bad premonition: "May I ask... what's the reason?"

  He laughed innocently: "If there's really a problem, we can just sue Baidu."

  I let out a long sigh, and for some reason, I had a feeling of circling back to where I started.

  The two people who had been wanting to speak but hesitated beside him excitedly opened their mouths.

  "I told you so! This dessert looks so familiar, and it's exactly what we saw!"

  "Boss lady, just use this one, the taste won't be bad at all, and it's such a beautiful dessert, many customers will definitely like it!"

  "Boss lady, I also want to come here and help!"

  Just when I was considering the feasibility of their suggestion, the last sentence that didn't match the previous text suddenly shocked me: "What did you say?!"

  "Boss, during the summer vacation, I also want to drink your desserts every day, but you won't accept my money, making me feel like I'm being supported, which is a shameful thing for a man. So, in order not to make myself disgusted, I decided to help out here throughout the entire summer vacation, and only take desserts, no salary."

  Seeing that I still didn't react, his expression suddenly turned very wronged: "You just said I was awesome, now you won't accept me, Ah Yao, you really are playing with my emotions..."

  I swallowed hard and said slowly: "Are you sure? Are you willing? Are you really willing? Don't you regret it? Xiao Qiao... Zero?"

  "He stared blankly for a moment: 'Can't I be a pastry chef?'"

  "Can't," I took a deep breath, "we already have enough pastry chefs. The waiters outside are still short of one, if you really want to come, then there's only this option left. Think it over carefully, I won't force you."

  He furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then nodded resolutely: "No way can I be kept, so I'll just be a waiter!"

  I solemnly said: "Alright then, you can come to work at any time, meals are provided but accommodation is not, uniforms will be decided later."

  He forced a smile at me.

  I continued to nod solemnly as I slowly turned around, my body feeling light enough to float away.

  Meow~ My lovely lucky cat~