People anywhere had staple food.
In Asia, it was noodles and rice. In Western countries, it was bread, cake or pizza.
Without staples, most people wouldn’t feel full, and maybe even uncomfortable, after a meal.
The pizza was already ready. Luke heated two pieces in the microwave for himself and Selina.
Selina was so happy that her eyes narrowed into slits when she smiled.
She liked food more than anything else.
She hadn’t realized it, until Luke started cooking for them every day after work in Houston, when Brock didn’t give them much to do.
Luke had known how to cook in his previous life, although he wasn’t exactly good at it.
Cooking prep was also tedious, so he barely cooked.
He was much stronger and faster in this world, however, so cooking became something he enjoyed doing.
He had read a lot of books on delicious food and had tried many himself in his previous life. Now, with Selina as his test subject, his culinary skills were improving by leaps and bounds.
Still, his skills were no way good enough for him to work as a chef, since chefs were concerned with much more than just taste.
Luke hadn’t spent much money in New York.
He had to thank Sergei, who had been carrying several wads of cash on him. After giving one wad to Vanessa, Luke kept two for himself, which amounted to roughly four thousand dollars.
It had covered most of his expenses in New York.
It had also been enough to cover the money that he paid for the electronic parts and secondhand goods.
He wasn’t worried that he would lose credit for taking Sergei’s money.
Based on the files he had read at NYPD, Sergei was involved in smuggling and human trafficking, and must have killed more than twenty people.
Criminals like him weren’t protected by the system.
Of course, only gangsters like Sergei would carry so much cash on them.
Luke was certainly justified in using the money to make better food for himself and Selina!
Selina was devouring her food when Luke reminded her twice, “Slow down, slow down. You’ll be full soon if you eat so fast. There’s more food to come.”
Selina had to slow down, but she couldn’t help but quickly speed up again.
In less than five minutes, she had already eaten half a cupcake, a bowl of stewed beef brisket with tomatoes, and a slice of pizza.
The pizza had fruit on it, and was sweet and sour, which was also why she had devoured it so fast.
After that, Selina reached for another cupcake.
Luke slapped her hand. “Don’t eat any more. You can save them for tomorrow.”
Selina said in frustration, “You really are like
my mom.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “You don’t want anything to happen to your stomach since you like food so much, do you?”
Selina shook her head quickly.
Luke chuckled. “The detectives that I know of in the Major Crimes Division mostly have gastric problems. Some of them can’t even have Dr. Pepper. Do you want to turn into one of them?”
Selina shook her head again.
Luke nodded in satisfaction. “That’s why I made you these. You can pack a few cupcakes and put them in your bag. When you’re hungry, you can have one.”
Selina asked, “Huh? You made all of them for me?”
Luke found that odd. “Of course. I may give some to Elsa, but the rest are yours.”
Selina was touched. “Ah, that’s so sweet of you, Luke! I love you!”
Luke was lost for words. “Do you always say that to your mom?”
Selina said, “… Well, not exactly.”
Luke chuckled. He knew that he was right when he saw how awkwardly Selina was acting.
He had made dinner because the meticulousness of the task could help dispel his negative emotions after the slaughter in New York.
Likewise, bickering with Selina was a way for him to readjust his mentality.
As they chatted, the main course was finally ready.
Luke fetched the roast chicken from the oven. Putting it on a plate, he opened the tinfoil to reveal the two chickens inside.
It wasn’t turkey, but sanhuang chicken[1].
Luke didn’t know whether he had gotten the original flavor right, but it was much tastier than turkey.
After being marinated in cooking wine and seasoning, the chicken meat was soft and smooth, and could be easily pulled apart.
The chicken had cooking wine and seasoning both on the skin and in the stomach.
It was much more delicious than a regular turkey.
Luke and Selina stopped talking. They each grabbed a chicken and gobbled it down.
Selina finished it even faster than Luke. She asked him pitifully, “Darling, is there more?”
Luke chuckled. “There’s another in the oven. You can take it out yourself.”
He had known that one chicken wouldn’t be enough for Selina.
The chickens he bought from the supermarket only weighed slightly more than half a kilogram each after they were cleaned. One definitely wasn’t enough for Selina.
Watching Selina fetch the chicken and enjoy it herself, Luke smiled and poured another bowl of stewed beef brisket with tomatoes for himself.
Everything was the same as always, except for a certain someone who was too full to stand up after that.
The next morning, Luke shook his head at Selina, who looked like a spring roll in her blanket on the couch, and he wondered why it was her head that was buried in the blanket and her butt exposed instead.
Thankfully, it was Los Angeles, where the lowest temperature was still over ten degrees warmer, even in November, or she might’ve caught a cold.
Luke washed his face first before he woke up Selina and then prepared breakfast.
The most uncomfortable thing for him in New York had been that he had to eat out every day.
By the time Selina came out, hot milk and homemade sandwiches were already on the table. She said happily, “Wow, this is too great. I’m going to throw up if I have hot dogs again. Finally, your sandwiches are back in town!”
Luke chuckled. “You’re just lazy. It doesn’t take a lot of time if you buy some of the premade ingredients and make the food yourself. You can adjust the flavor, too.”
Selina didn’t say anything. She never made food, simply because she didn’t want to.
After they finished the simple but delicious breakfast, they left for work.
Selina drove the car. Luke grabbed her bag after they got in.
Selina was shocked. “What do you want?”
Luke showed her the paper bag in his hand, lost for words. “I told you to take a few cupcakes with you last night. You were so fast just now that I couldn’t even stop you.”
[1] A breed from Southern China