At this moment, the braised pork in Ning Meng's pot had entered the final stage of simmering over low heat. Through the gap in the lid, the rich, savory aroma of the meat blended with the distinct, sweet, and mellow scent of red dates, along with the deep, mellow fragrance of soy sauce that had been cooked down, drifting out in fine wisps. It invaded every inch of the kitchen air, both imperious and gentle. The scent was pure, alluring, and whetted the appetite.
It formed a sharp and stark contrast with the tomato and scrambled eggs in Qin Zeyu's pan, which carried a subtle, indescribable, and off-putting smell caused by the lard he had used.
Even Lu Jingchen, who had been quietly focusing on his steamed egg custard, gave a slight, almost imperceptible twitch of his nose as he adjusted the ratio of egg to water. His deep, dark eyes flickered toward Qin Zeyu, and he frowned ever so slightly. Though he regained his composure quickly, the subtle change in expression was caught by Ning Meng, who had been observing him from the corner of her eye.
Chapter 149