However, the fantasy was beautiful, but the reality was harsh.
Murong Beichen had been trying to get the charcoal burning for nearly an hour, but there was still no sign of progress. The others had already gotten their charcoal lit with Yan Heng's help and had started grilling their food. The air was filled with the mouth-watering aromas of various foods and spices, accompanied by the crackling of burning charcoal and the sizzling of fat dripping from the grill.
Eventually, Xu Chun really could not wait any longer. She simply took matters into her own hands and successfully lit the charcoal herself.
Murong Beichen looked at her with deep affection. "Chun~, you truly are worthy of being the woman of the world's number one, Murong Beichen! To think you managed to get the charcoal burning so quickly!"
Xu Chun's eyes held a hint of sorrow as she replied with a calm face, "After all, I am someone who frequently does household chores."
A look of heartache immediately surfaced on Murong Beichen's face.
Not far away, Ling Yiming wore the exact same expression.
Zhu Yaya was speechless.
Time to slip away, she thought. There was nothing worth watching here, and since she didn't have any tasks to complete, she might as well go back and make herself some barbecue!
As a child from a divorced family, Zhu Yaya naturally knew how to cook and stir-fry. It was just that after transmigrating into this book, she hadn't cooked much at all; Zhu Jianjun and Zhao Jing would always have the meals prepared. At most, she only ever heated up leftovers.
She started by taking two hotdogs. Mimicking the classmates next to her, she brushed a thin layer of oil onto the sausages before placing them on the grill. She turned them over every now and then, picking up the chili powder and cumin from the side of the rack and sprinkling them over the hotdogs.
The weather was already starting to warm up, and staying right next to the barbecue grill quickly made Zhu Yaya break a sweat.
By the time Yan Heng finished helping the other classmates and returned, Zhu Yaya's hotdogs were just about done.
This was her first time barbecuing all by herself.
Zhu Yaya's face was flushed red from the heat of the charcoal fire, bringing out her two little pear-shaped dimples. She held up the two hotdogs, showing them off to Yan Heng, and proudly said, "Impressive, right? I grilled these all by myself! One for you, and one for me."
Yan Heng took one of the hotdogs. Under Zhu Yaya's expectant gaze, he brought it to his lips, took a bite, and chewed slowly.
"How is it?" Zhu Yaya looked at Yan Heng, her eyes sparkling.
Yan Heng didn't rush to answer; instead, he took another bite.
Because Zhu Yaya was a novice, there were still many flaws. For instance, the seasoning was sprinkled unevenly, making some parts of the hotdog too salty and others too bland. Also, she hadn't paid enough attention to the heat, so parts of the hotdog were slightly burnt.
Yan Heng slowly opened his mouth and said, "It's delicious."
"Really?"
Yan Heng watched as Zhu Yaya's eyes grew even brighter.
He nodded and finished the rest of the hotdog.
Zhu Yaya was so dizzy with delight from Yan Heng's "It's delicious" that she ate the other hotdog herself and felt absolutely nothing wrong with it. Bursting with enthusiasm, she brought over several more skewers of hotdogs, chicken wings, and lamb.
She confidently instructed him, "Yan Heng, just stand to the side and watch! Let me do the grilling."
That was, until Yan Heng took a bite of a chicken wing and discovered that the meat inside was completely raw.
Yan Heng was speechless.
He patted Zhu Yaya on the shoulder. "Let me do it."
Yan Heng had experience working in a barbecue shop. Just his posture while grilling the food looked incredibly professional.
The lamb and chicken wing skewers roasted over the charcoal fire, giving off a rich, mouth-watering aroma. Enhanced by seasonings like salt and pepper, chili sauce, and cumin, they became even more flavorful. They turned a beautiful, oily golden-brown, tasting spicy yet incredibly savory.
Zhu Yaya only had to take one bite to realize the massive gap in skill between her and Yan Heng. It was even better than the barbecue she had eaten in the past.
Forgetting everything else, Zhu Yaya went on an absolute eating spree, her cheeks stuffed to the brim. Her mouth was entirely covered in grease smudges and bits of seasoning.
