Ao Chen smiled silently and took him to the kitchen, which was a spacious island layout. Ao Chen placed the ingredients on the countertop, "Let’s start, I guess they’ll be here soon. Do you need to help with sothing? Just tell ."
Huo Qi looked at him skeptically, "Do you really know how?"
"Of course, I do."
"Then help wash the scallions, and those too." He pointed to the corner where the side dishes were, "I’ll handle the rest. Take it slow, there’s no rush after the al. The bone broth needs to simr longer to taste fresh and delicious, and the flavor is richer."
Seeing that Huo Qi really wasn’t shy about giving orders, Ao Chen raised an eyebrow, "You seem to know a lot about food?"
"Not really, but give a nu and I can mostly make everything on it myself."
"Impressive," Ao Chen genuinely praised. "When I first started out here, I was a complete novice at cooking. It took about a year to go from learning how to boil noodles to cooking als that looked good. Only when I achieved sothing did cooking lose its fun. It was a al with these friends, a hot pot incident, that reignited my passion for cooking."
"So, you don’t like it?"
Ao Chen shook his head, "Not really, I find it a waste of ti, too complicated."
Huo Qi nodded, "For soone like you, that makes sense. But for , cooking is fun and very fulfilling."
"Then your food must be delicious."
"You’ll know once you try it later, won’t you?"
While Huo Qi was preparing the base ingredients, Ao Chen stood by, watching intently. The process was not just complicated; it was intricately complex, dazzlingly so. Ao Chen took a video and shared it in the group chat.
The group chat exploded instantly.
Jessica: Shaless, Ao Chen, you’re too shaless.
Allen; Ao Chen, what is Huo Qi making? It looks really good. Is it just for show?
Ao Chen sent a scornful emoji in reply: "This is what you lose out on for being culturally ignorant. This is a homade hotpot base. Impressed?
Jessica: If I were you, I’d reflect on why he can make his own hotpot base and you can only use premade ones, yet claim it’s homade. Shaless.
Ao Chen: ...You have a way with words.
Jessica smiled silently. After a while, when new ssages had covered the previous ones, she replied, "Ao Chen, you really should learn from Huo Qi. This al doesn’t count as your treat. Don’t just pretend."
Allen chipped in, not holding back: "Exactly. Admit it, aren’t you ashad?"
Ao Chen, speechless: "Have I actually caused such a public outrage?"
Davis: "Good that you know. Don’t be so arrogant all the ti. It’s off-putting."
Everyone: ...
As the butter lted, the fragrance of green onions and onions filled the air, then dozens of spices such as chili, Sichuan peppercorn, beer, and rock sugar were added. The color of the hotpot base started to show, a vibrant red, igniting everyone’s appetite.
When the others arrived, they slled the tantalizing aroma as soon as they entered the house. Davis took off his shoes and walked over in socks. Seeing the bright red pot, he felt his mouth water uncontrollably, "This is too delicious, Huo Qi. Compared to you, Ao Chen’s cooking skills really are amateur. With so many ingredients in this hotpot base, it must be difficult to make."
Huo Qi paused, then smiled, "Not really, it’s quite simple. If you’d like, I can teach you."
Davis eagerly nodded, "Then you must find ti to co here and help learn to make hotpot, so I can cook it for my parents."
"Sure."
Jessica and the others, "And us too. When you hold the class, make sure to let us all know. How about this, Huo Qi, I’ll add you to our group for easier communication."
Before Huo Qi could respond, Jessica brought her phone closer, "What’s your social dia ID? Give one so I can add you first."
"Oh, okay."
After they successfully added each other as friends, Jessica directly added Huo Qi to their group chat. Of course, Davis and others felt Jessica was being too hasty, given that they had just t. What right did he have to enter their circle so quickly?
Normally, Ao Chen would have imdiately jumped in to argue.
But this ti, oddly, he just silently raised an eyebrow, saying nothing. Allen, although big-bodied, was quick-witted. He glanced between Ao Chen and Huo Qi, understanding the situation, and grimaced at Jessica, who ignored him.
Allen was really annoyed.
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