“Side Story: The Versatile Chef”

"Side Story: The Versatile Chef"

As a versatile chef, Han Yue was no stranger to the household chore of cooking, just like any homemaker. However, he had a strong aversion to doing the dishes.

Han Yue despised washing dishes with a passion. The reason why he always ended up with this task was purely because Chu Ci detested it even more.

Chu Ci, as a person, was more focused on interior design. He would ponder what to add or remove in each corner of their home, where to hang the newly purchased artwork, or what flowers to place in a vase...

And naturally, when it came to physically hanging the artwork, Han Yue was the one wielding the hammer and climbing up the wall.

Of course, Chu Ci did occasionally venture into the kitchen. Given ample time, he could leisurely spend an entire day there, crafting a bowl of rose dumplings, carving watermelon art, baking strawberry yogurt cheesecake, or preparing fruit-filled milk dragon beard candy...

Subsequently, the aftermath of his culinary endeavors would be left for Han Yue to clean up.

Han Yue once lodged a formal and earnest complaint. After all, he was a respected male with social standing; how was it appropriate for him to be constantly dealing with dishes, sponges, and detergent?

"...," Chu Ci fell silent for a moment before lifting his gaze to meet Han Yue's eyes. He replied calmly, "You have the choice not to take on this responsibility."

Looking into Chu Ci's eyes, a chill suddenly ran down Han Yue's spine.

"I can find someone else," Chu Ci continued.

"..."

That night, Han Yue rolled up his sleeves, put on an apron, and scrubbed a pile of dishes with great enthusiasm, setting a new record for his labor productivity.

One evening, Chu Ci informed Han Yue, "I won't be coming home for dinner tomorrow. There's a department gathering at work, and everyone in our department is attending."

Chu Ci later returned to the research institute to resume his job, which had been kept open for him. Although he had resigned before, Han Yue had forcibly stopped the resignation process, so he had never actually left the system.

He had always been a relatively low-profile figure at work, so his return didn't cause much commotion. Many people privately wondered about Engineer Chu's long sick leave, but they expressed sincere and warm welcomes when they saw him in person.

It was clear that a young engineer with some academic abilities, who didn't vie for credit or attention, worked quietly, and spoke little, would not evoke any animosity from his colleagues. Even if he had been absent for several years due to illness, it wouldn't affect their factions or interests, so they were willing to extend kindness towards him.

"Why another gathering? Didn't you just have one last month?" Han Yue grumbled. "It's fine if you have meals together, but drinking and then singing? Gathering in a group like that, with men and women mixed together, isn't that an accident waiting to happen? You're married now, so don't hang out with those young folks and make trouble. It doesn't look good."

Chu Ci looked around silently. "Family?... Where?"

Han Yue exploded, "Me! I'm here!! Do you want to deny my legitimacy?"

"You're not even willing to wash the dishes."

"Well... Aren't I doing it every night?"

"But you do it unwillingly."

With that, Chu Ci floated off to the bedroom to change, leaving Han Yue petrified in his wake.

So it turned out this ancestor not only demanded someone else to wash the dishes, but they had to do it willingly, joyfully, and with revolutionary fervor!

This was intolerable!

There was a limit to one's endurance!

With a righteous indignation, Han Yue stormed into the bedroom. Upon entering, he saw Chu Ci bare-chested, facing away from him. One hand tossed the shirt onto the bed while the other pulled on a casual T-shirt haphazardly.

"..." After getting dressed, Chu Ci turned to head for the kitchen in search of food. As he passed by Han Yue, he paused briefly and calmly reminded, "Wipe the drool."

Han Yue's stony form crumbled instantly, dispersing into dust in the air.

"How unappealing," Chu Ci sighed sympathetically.

That evening, after dinner, Chu Ci remained as steadfast as ever, like a modern-day Jiang Taigong sitting tranquilly at his fishing post, unperturbed by any winds that might howl or waves that might crash—his composure unyielding.

With the demeanor of a devoted spouse, Han Yue tidied up the dishes and wiped the table. Gazing at Chu Ci's serene (and approving) expression, a sudden surge of great revolutionary fervor ignited within him, fueling the spirit of resistance wherever oppression exists.

With a dramatic thud, he slammed the rag down and declared, as he sat at the dining table, "I'm going on strike tonight, dammit!"

Chu Ci, suffering from post-meal low blood pressure, was drifting in a drowsy state, feeling as if he was floating in the clouds. Suddenly, he jolted awake, "A strike?"

Han Yue solemnly nodded. "Yes! I think we can't continue like this anymore!"

"That's great. I'm going to sleep for ten hours tonight."

"Hey, hey, I didn't mean that kind of strike! This is a serious issue, don't get it wrong!"

"That's too bad." Chu Ci expressed genuine regret, making Han Yue feel uneasy. "Well, then what kind of strike are you on?"

"I've decided not to do the dishes tonight," Han Yue mustered his courage to say. "I've decided to uphold the dignity and status of the head of this household! I won't wash dishes tonight, unless you give me a reason that leaves me no choice but to do so. Otherwise, I'll continue my strike tomorrow!"

Chu Ci watched him calmly, about to say something when Han Yue hastily interrupted, "You can't say you'll sleep in the guest room without washing the dishes! That's cheating!"

"…Alright then." Chu Ci sighed, looking rather helpless. "How about this, let's make a fair bet. Whoever wins won't have to do the dishes, and the loser will do the kitchen work. That shouldn't be considered cheating, right?"

Han Yue hesitated for a moment. "—How do we bet?"

"How about playing cards?" Chu Ci calmly took out a deck of cards from his pocket. His calm demeanor and smooth action made Han Yue momentarily suspect that he had been prepared all along.

Playing cards was not foreign to Han Yue. In the military, they sometimes stayed in top-secret bases for months with no internet or television, and even the entertainment section of newspapers were forbidden. What could a group of people do together? Those without families could engage in gay activities, while those with families could only gather for a game of 'Fight the Landlord.'

As an expert in this area, Han Yue instantly regained confidence, certain that he would win.

…After the first round.

Han Yue scattered the cards. "I don't accept it! Absolutely not! Best of three!"

…After the second round.

Han Yue slammed the table in anger. "Coincidence! It must be a coincidence! One more round!"

...So they played their third round.

Just as Han Yue was about to roar in frustration, he found Chu Ci staring at him with a cold gaze.

"The most disgraceful thing a man can do is break his word."

"..."

Five seconds later, Han Yue entered the kitchen with a pinched nose, leaving behind a massive aura of resentment in black.

Comrade Han Yue, the omnipotent kitchen goddess, please continue your labor in suds and dirty dishes today.

To recount, after two months of playing three rounds of cards every night, one day Hou Yu went to the military base to find Han Yue. Upon seeing him, he exclaimed in shock, "Brother, you look pale with dark circles under your eyes. Have you encountered a demon?"

Veins popped instantly on Han Yue's forehead. "Master, you're spot on! I've encountered a monstrous card shark!"

He recounted the past two months to Hou Yu, emphasizing his endless losing streak with resentment. After listening, Hou Yu stroked his chin, remarking, "I realize Chu Gong is indeed quite skilled at cards. Does he often play with others?"

Han Yue shook his head. "Not really, he prefers gaming."

"Well, no one can consistently win at card games, it's inherently based on some degree of chance. Besides, you're quite skilled at it too. It's impossible that you wouldn't win even once in two consecutive months, right?" Hou Yu pondered for a moment before a thought struck him. "Could he be cheating?"

"Cheating...?"

"It's hard to say. Chu Gong's hands... tsk tsk." Hou Yu shook his head with a sigh and continued, "How about this? I'll give you a suggestion. Aren't you always obtaining those pens with hidden cameras or high-precision miniature cameras for spy equipment?"

"What do you mean?"

"Next time you play, just install one on the table. Afterward, examine it thoroughly. Watch the footage frame by frame. If Chu Gong is really cheating, there should be evidence recorded, right?"

Upon hearing this, Han Yue thought, Hmm, what a great idea! That night, he returned home early and set up a camera on the dining table before Chu Ci came back from work.

"I want to see if it's you messing with me or if I truly have terrible luck!" Han Yue clapped his hands, feeling rather pleased with himself.

As expected, Han Yue suffered another miserable defeat that night.

And as usual, he slunk away to wash the dishes.

The following day, Han Yue secretly brought the miniature precision camera, hidden in a vase, to his office. He spent a long time watching the footage alone. His poor adjutant knocked on the door several times only to find Han Yue staring at his computer with an indecent smile on his face, occasionally accompanied by a look of sudden realization...

Are you watching porn, Boss?

In broad daylight, with the sun shining bright, a high-ranking government official like you is hiding in your office to watch adult content. How shameless! How utterly devastating!

...And you didn't even invite me to join you!

When Han Yue returned home that evening, he calmly cooked dinner, calmly ate, and then calmly sat down at the card table.

It was still the same game, Spades, with the rule of winning two out of three rounds.

In the first round, Han Yue lost without any surprise.

In the second round, Han Yue lost once more without any suspense.

For the third round... well, it was evident that there was no chance for Han Yue to win!

Chu Ci placed his last card, a king, and stood up with a smile. He patted Han Yue's shoulder and said, "I'm going to play Warcraft for a while. Don't bother me unless it's important."

Instead of sulking and obediently going to wash the dishes like he usually did, Han Yue suddenly grabbed Chu Ci's hand that had just patted his shoulder. He looked up with a smile and asked, "Honey, is there something in your sleeve?"

Chu Ci abruptly tried to withdraw his hand, but Han Yue's strength was no ordinary person's match. He firmly held Chu Ci's wrist in mid-air and then calmly unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt, rolling up his sleeves bit by bit.

A Three of Diamonds and a Five of Hearts landed with a clatter on the table.

Chu Ci's face alternated between pale and flushed. Han Yue stood up with a smile, patting his shoulder.

"I'll be playing World of Warcraft in the study for a while, darling. Please take care of the dishes..."

In the Liberated Zone, the sky is clear and the people are uplifted and relieved.

Han Yue was ecstatic. Upon entering the study, he rolled around on the floor and even leaped onto the sofa, jumping fiercely several times – the poor sofa, unused to such brute force, creaked under the strain.

"I've finally turned over a new leaf today! I'm no longer just a househusband! Damn it, what does it mean to be the head of the family? I am the true head of this household! Mwahahaahaha!"

Han Yue switched on his computer, logged into the game, and eagerly reached for his headphones. Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the kitchen – the sound of multiple bowls shattering on the ground.

Han Yue instinctively rushed out, only to forcefully restrain himself at the last moment. What a joke; if he went out, he wouldn't be able to come back in, and the one washing the dishes would undoubtedly be him again! How could he let go of the hard-earned fruits of his two months of endurance due to a fleeting moment of soft-heartedness? Wouldn't that make him truly foolish!

Han Yue put on his headphones and entered the game, where a flood of messages instantly appeared. Before he could read them, there was a knock on the study door.

"Are you there, Han Yue? Can you do me a favor?"

Han Yue pretended to be oblivious: "I'm not here, I'm not here, I'm not here, I'm not here..."

"Help me find a band-aid," Chu Ci entered with a push, displaying his two bleeding fingers innocently, "I cut my hand..."

Recalling the scene later, Han Yue felt like a tailless cat that had jumped up in a flash, leaving even a rocket behind in terms of speed.

In the following ten minutes, Chu Ci was comfortably seated in a chair, calmly holding up his injured fingers as Han Yue gently wiped away the blood with a cold towel, carefully applied Yunnan Baiyao ointment, and meticulously bandaged them. Finally, he held them in his hands with immense concern, examining them for a long while...

Thus, it was Han Yue who ended up washing the dishes that day.

He washed them with profound regret and a willing heart.

That night, deep into the hours of sleep, Han Yue held Chu Ci's hand and caressed it repeatedly. He earnestly reflected on his evasion of household chores and his lazy nature, vowing to correct his mistakes. Comrade Han Yue vowed that such a tragic incident would never happen again. As the head of the family, he must lead by example, taking on the most laborious tasks, anticipating unthought-of needs, and accomplishing what others couldn't, all in the name of ensuring the stability of the family and the safety of its members...

"Indeed," Chu Ci commented, "without my safety, you wouldn't be stable."

Han Yue jolted, instantly rolling around the bed in an extravagant display of coquettishness. He pleaded persistently for another chance from the 'organization'! He vowed to behave impeccably and never disappoint the 'organization's' expectations!

"Well then," Chu Ci reluctantly agreed, "let's see how it goes."

Han Yue, determined to improve, dedicated himself that very night, putting on an impressive performance in bed. However, he was unceremoniously kicked out of bed by Chu Ci in the middle of the night and chased out of the bedroom with a flurry of punches and kicks.

Comrade Han Yue, with his warm-hearted intentions, spent the night sulking on the cold sofa – a truly pitiful sight, indeed.

The following evening, Hou Yu came over to Han Yue's place for dinner. Upon entering, he saw Han Yue clad in an apron, wielding a spatula as he vigorously stir-fried a pot of Kung Pao chicken.

Chu Ci sat comfortably on the sofa, watching TV, and greeted Hou Yu, "Come, come, sit down and have some tea. This is this year's pre-rain Longjing tea; it arrived just yesterday."

Hou Yu's temples throbbed, and after a moment, he spasmodically asked, "Don't... Don't you plan on helping in the kitchen?"

"It's a man's inherent instinct to avoid household chores," Chu Ci said calmly. "Besides, I offer eternal moral support to Han Yue."

"..."

Annoyed, Hou Yu stormed into the kitchen to help wash the vegetables. Han Yue was delighted and said, "Great! Quickly help me wash those two bags of bean sprouts. I'm making a boiled fish and spicy hot pot!"

Hou Yu was frustrated by Han Yue's lack of initiative. "Admit it, you can't handle everything by yourself, right? Deep down, as a man, you actually despise working in the kitchen, don't you?"

"No, I genuinely appreciate your tact," Han Yue replied. "Frankly, I don't care whether you help me or not. I just dislike the idea of you being alone with Chu Ci in a room I can't see."

"..."

That night, after returning from dinner, Hou Yu was deeply affected.

As he lay in bed, images involuntarily formed in his mind: Second Uncle Han wearing an apron and scrubbing dishes with great effort.

As someone who had grown up alongside Han Yue in the military compound, engaging in fights and mischief since childhood, shooting guns as teenagers, and eventually enlisting together, Hou Yu felt that Han Yue had utterly degraded.

He tossed and turned all night without sleep. The next morning, he woke up with bloodshot eyes and called his friend, spewing saliva as he spoke, "Quickly find me two beautiful women from your hotel! They must be able to cook! Skilled in steaming, stir-frying, boiling, and deep-frying! And they should be capable of handling any household chores! ...Forget it, I'm not the one who wants them. Send them over to Han Yue's place right away!"

Hou Yu slammed down the phone, gazing into the distance at a 45-degree angle while gritting his teeth.

- That Chu person is a vixen!

Second Brother Han, here comes your savior!

When Chu Ci returned home that evening, he found two long-haired beauties with hourglass figures standing in the living room. Each wore a seductive chef's outfit, holding large cooking spoons, clad in black stockings and heels. Their captivating eyes darted around, exuding charm.

One of Hou Yu's minions was still standing in the living room, smiling brightly as he introduced to Han Yue, "This is the domestic helper sent by Chief Hou to assist you. He's an excellent cook with professional culinary skills, and will do anything you ask him to. He's incredibly obedient..."

"What's going on? What's Hou Yu up to? Is he trying to disrupt my family harmony on purpose?!" Han Yue panicked. "Send them away! Get rid of them all! Two people are enough for my home; we don't need any third parties!"

"Making a fuss about what?" Chu Ci set down his bag and calmly circled around the two beauties, nodding. "I think it's fine. Let them stay."

Tears instantly welled up in Han Yue's eyes. "Darling, what are you thinking?!"

"I'm not thinking about anything. But having this young lady at home would be pleasing to the eye, like a flower." Chu Ci stroked his chin, smiling with interest. "May I ask your surname, Miss?"

When Hou Yu received Han Yue's call that day, he was furious and screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Hou Yu, listen to me carefully, damn it! Are you out of your mind? Does it upset you to see my family in harmony? Are you deliberately sending two women over to seduce Chu Ci into an extramarital affair?! Dream on, let me tell you! No matter how meticulously you plan to sabotage us, it won't work! The harmonious situation must not be disrupted! I enjoy cooking for one, so don't you worry about it!!"

There was a loud crash on the other end of the line, and Han Yue had smashed his new phone again.

Hou Yu held the receiver stiffly... In that moment, he felt a herd of a thousand f*cking horses racing across his heart.

A hero can't resist beauty, and indeed, Han Yue, you've sunk so low that you don't even recognize your own mother!

Cook, cook, cook your way to immortality!

Definitely a masochistic tendency, the psychological disorder you're referring to isn't Intermittent Explosive Disorder, but rather, it's clearly a case of a submissive masochist, don't you think?

Corruption and degradation! Surrendering rights and disgracing the nation!!! Have you forgotten all about Marxism-Leninism, huh??

...

Later that day, while Pei Zhi was having dinner, he received a call from Hou Yu, who launched into a tirade: "That Chu guy is nothing but trouble!"

"- Huh?"

"I'm backing you up, brother! You were right to give Han Yue that note back then! Whoever Chu gets involved with turns into a masochist, and Han Yue has been infected too deeply; he's doomed!"

"- Uh-huh?"

"Brother wants to commend you!" Hou Yu said fervently, "Do you need a nanny? A chef? I'll send over two hot girls with professional culinary skills right away, ensuring you'll be liberated from your suffering, achieving enlightenment instantly, never having to worry about that vixen named Chu again!"

"..." Pei Zhi replied calmly, "The idea is nice, but I don't lack a chef."

"Why?"

"Sometimes Han Yue cooks more than we need, so Chu Gong packs some for me. There were times when I couldn't finish it all," Pei Zhi smiled. "I appreciate Han Yue's selflessness in feeding the whole family."

On the other end of the line, Hou Yu heard the phone being hung up again, turning to stone once more.

Tonight's menu at Han Yue's house was stir-fried prawns with scallions, oyster sauce beef, scallop and broccoli, and winter melon ham soup.

Hou Yu hadn't expected that his "kindness" had greatly provoked Han Yue, motivating him to strive for culinary excellence and meticulous care, treating Chu Ci as lavishly as Empress Cixi, in an effort to solidify his precarious position as head of the household.

For the sake of family stability and harmonious relationships: Upon the altar of BL deities, every well-rounded and excellent top should eternally remember - to capture a bottom's heart, one must first captivate their taste buds!

Every top praised by all should be a master of social grace, a culinary genius, and a consummate lover!

Comrade Han Yue, the omnipotent kitchen maestro, strive in the kitchen today as you do every day for the sake of your legitimate partner's recognition.

Comrade Chu Ci believes in you... Do your best!

—End of Extra Chapter—