Anteiku Coffee Shop, kitchen.
The heavy wooden door blocked out the aroma of coffee and the faint chatter from the front hall, and the unique cool air of the kitchen enveloped him.
He Xi Qian Yu took off his coat, casually draped it over the back of a chair, and rolled up his shirt sleeves.
He opened the refrigerator, his gaze precisely sweeping over the stored ingredients—those human meat cuts that had been initially processed. His fingers brushed over the cold surface, and the sensation at his fingertips instantly transformed into precise information in his mind: fat distribution, muscle fiber direction, freshness… Hannibal's experience was like a precise scanner, completing the evaluation in an instant.
He selected two pieces with clear texture and even fat distribution, and then took some suitable vegetables.
"...Boring to death..." Slaughter's voice carried undisguised disappointment. It was clearly uninterested in this kind of normal cooking. "...These...dead things...can't compare to...the screams...of fresh prey..."
He Xi Qian Yu ignored it, long accustomed to Slaughter's complaints.
He picked up a sharp boning knife, its tip glinting coldly under the light. At this moment, his posture holding the knife exuded a natural confidence and sense of control.
The blade cut into the meat with incredible fluidity, the sharp edge gliding along the muscle fibers, separating fascia, trimming excess fat, making a subtle and pleasant "shush" sound.
Then, he cut the processed meat into evenly thick steaks. Next, he took olive oil, ground black pepper, rosemary, crushed garlic… His movements were quick and orderly, and the amount of each seasoning was precisely calculated.
The frying pan preheated on the stove, with a thin layer of olive oil poured in. When the oil temperature reached a certain critical point, He Xi Qian Yu flicked his wrist, and two steaks landed steadily in the pan.
"Sizzle—!"
The wonderful caramelization reaction occurred instantly, and a rich meaty aroma quickly filled the entire kitchen space, even penetrating the door crack and wafting in wisps towards the front hall.
He Xi Qian Yu did not rush to flip them. His gaze was focused on the changes at the edges of the steaks, sensing the subtle transfer of temperature in the pan.
Time passed under his precise control. A few seconds later, he deftly flipped his wrist, and the steak arced perfectly through the air, landing steadily, revealing a perfectly seared, caramel-colored surface. The entire process was smooth as flowing water, without a single drop of oil splashing out.
He picked up the tongs and gently pressed the center of the meat, feeling the change in elasticity. Hannibal's experience told him that at this moment, the internal temperature and the retention of juices had reached their optimal state.
He turned off the heat and placed the seared meat onto a preheated plate. Then, he quickly processed the vegetables, stir-frying them quickly in the hot pan, preserving their crisp texture and vibrant color.
Finally, he meticulously plated the seared steaks and accompanying vegetables, drizzling a simple sauce over them. Two exquisite-looking meals, as if from a high-end restaurant, were complete.
"...Tsk...It looks...decent enough..." Slaughter's lazy voice rang out.
"You didn't say that just now. These two are for Hinami and Jin Mu," He Xi Qian Yu rolled his eyes. "If you want to eat, I'll make you a separate portion later."
"...Forget it..."
"...I prefer...fresh ones..."
...
"Hinami, Jin Mu, it's ready." He Xi Qian Yu's voice was calm, but a hint of satisfaction gleamed in the depths of his eyes.
Hinami had long been restlessly drawn by the enticing aroma wafting through the door crack. Upon hearing the call, she immediately sat obediently at the small dining table, her big eyes sparkling as she looked at the plate brought over, unable to help but swallow: "Wow! It smells so good! Thank you, Qianyu Gege!"
Kaneki Ken, however, stood by the dining table, his face even paler than before. The rich aroma was like countless hands tearing at his sanity. He forced himself to pull out a chair and sit down, his gaze complexly fixed on the exquisite steak before him, which looked nothing like Ghoul food.
It looked…too normal, so normal that it made him feel a strange sense of detachment and guilt.
"Eat." He Xi Qian Yu handed the knife and fork to each of them respectively, while he himself leaned back relaxed against the cold counter, arms casually crossed, his gaze calmly watching them.
Hinami, already impatient, carefully cut off a small piece and put it into her mouth. Her small face instantly bloomed with a look of surprise, her eyes happily squinting: "Mmm! Delicious! Qianyu Gege made it so delicious, not…not a strange taste at all!" Her words were muffled, carrying a hint of satisfaction and surprise.
Kaneki Ken took a deep breath, the aroma, like a tangible entity, drilled into his nostrils, assaulting his brain.
The knuckles of his hands, gripping the knife and fork, were slightly white from the effort.
He laboriously cut off a small piece of meat, looking at the perfect seared brown surface and the enticing pink texture inside. He closed his eyes, as if going to the execution ground, and with great determination, put the meat into his mouth.
The intense guilt and fishy smell he had expected did not violently assault him at first. Instead, it was an unprecedented taste experience.
The outer layer of the steak was perfectly crispy, carrying the complex aroma released by the spices under high-temperature searing, instantly igniting the taste buds. The inside, however, was astonishingly tender and juicy; the muscle fibers melted the moment they entered the mouth, releasing a meaty flavor perfectly activated by the heat, incredibly delicious.
The cooking was precise to the extreme, without any fibrous residue from being overcooked, nor any uncomfortable raw taste from being undercooked. The garnish of sauce and vegetables was just right, further enhancing the inherent deliciousness of the ingredients and elevating the overall flavor profile.
"...How is it?" He Xi Qian Yu's voice broke the brief silence.
Kaneki Ken suddenly opened his eyes and looked at He Xi Qian Yu. He opened his mouth, but his throat felt as if something was blocking it. After a long moment, he finally managed to produce a voice so dry it was almost hoarse:
"...It's...very...different." Kaneki Ken's voice was squeezed out with difficulty. He couldn't say the word "delicious," but this taste indeed overturned his previous painful perception of eating. "...The taste...is incredible." He evaluated with difficulty, his gaze falling back to the steak on the plate, his expression extremely complex.
He closed his eyes resignedly, then fiercely speared the remaining steak on the plate with his fork, stuffing it all into his mouth, chewing and swallowing roughly. When he opened his eyes again, his dark eyes were filled with an inexpressibly complex emotion.
He Xi Qian Yu looked at Kaneki Ken's extremely complex expression and Hinami's pure satisfaction, a faint curve gracing his lips.
As a "chef," there was no better affirmation than the satisfaction of his diners.
"There are no vegetarians among Ghouls," he gently patted Kaneki Ken's tense shoulder, his voice deep and calm. "Take it slow, Jin Mu. Your taste buds will get used to it, and so will your stomach." His words were calm, gently tapping on Kaneki Ken's already precarious psychological defenses.