Chapter 54 Sea Urchin Beef Roll, Roasted Bone Marrow, Raw…

Chapter 54: Beef and Sea Urchin Rolls, Roasted Beef Bone Marrow, Raw...

Xu Qing didn't plan to eat dinner again tonight.

She was 22 years old, living on a planet that is neither developed nor remote, grew up in a family that is neither wealthy nor poor, graduated from an ordinary college, and found a job with a salary that is neither high nor low.

She hadn't achieved anything particularly remarkable, but she could still support herself.

Like countless other ordinary girls, Xu Qing had her own troubles. Recently, the most troubling issue for her was that she felt she was a bit overweight.

She had a delicate and pleasant appearance, which matched her gentle personality. Though not particularly tall, her figure was well-proportioned, at most slightly plump.

Xu Qing never really thought of herself as overweight before. In the Interstellar Age, aesthetic preferences are diverse, with appreciation for all body types. She used to really like her slightly fleshy limbs and waist—they felt nice to the touch.

But her boyfriend thought she was fat.

Xu Qing's boyfriend is her senior from college. His family background is slightly better than hers, and after graduation, he found a job with a higher income than Xu Qing's. Xu Qing's mother was very satisfied with this son-in-law and always reminded Xu Qing to get along well with her boyfriend.

At some point, Xu Qing began to feel like she was always a step below her boyfriend. She was the one sending more messages, initiating conversations, but it was always her boyfriend who ended them.

The first time Xu Qing felt overweight was when, on a whim, she bought a short skirt she had almost never worn before—it ended above her knees, making her calves look especially slender.

Excited, she took a photo and sent it to her boyfriend. He didn't reply immediately. It wasn't until Xu Qing finished her work that he sent a message: "Are you okay? Look how thick your thighs are. Why are you wearing a short skirt?"

Xu Qing was stunned. She never expected that kind of reaction from him.

It felt like that a bucket of ice water had been poured over her heart. She wanted to call him and ask what he meant, but when her finger hovered over the communication request on her terminal, she ultimately didn't press it.

...Never mind, she thought. Maybe he was just tired from work and in a bad mood, not paying attention to his tone.

But deep down, Xu Qing knew very well—this wasn't the first time. Her boyfriend always subtly put her down, making her feel inadequate over trivial things.

Xu Qing had seen the browsing history on her boyfriend's terminal. He liked idol girl groups—girls in tight tops and short skirts, with slender waists and long legs. It definitely wasn't her body type.

Once or twice, Xu Qing told herself it was nothing. But then it happened three, four times. Later, her boyfriend increasingly mentioned her weight casually. Once, when they went on a date to a restaurant Xu Qing loved, she was so happy she almost finished everything on her plate. Her boyfriend looked at her with disbelief and said, "You're still eating so much? Don't you have any sense of your weight?"

Xu Qing was speechless. Her good mood for the day was completely ruined.

After that, she started trying to lose weight. But with work and no interest in exercise, the most effective method left was dieting.

So Xu Qing stopped eating dinner.

She also ate very little for breakfast and lunch, barely enough to meet her basic nutritional needs. After a while, she did lose weight, but she also lost her energy and spirit.

Her best friend was the first to notice something was wrong. After finding out the reason, her friend was incredulous: "Qingqing, don't listen to him. You're not fat at all! Even if you were, what right does he have to criticize your body?"

Xu Qing smiled, knowing her friend meant well. But her friend wasn't in her shoes and couldn't truly understand. She continued dieting, but soon hit a plateau—her weight stopped dropping. Anxious, she decided to restrict her eating even more.

Another day without dinner. She habitually scrolled through her terminal to distract herself, trying not to think about her empty stomach.

Her best friend sent her a link, along with a long message urging her to watch it. She clicked—it was a live stream of a variety show.

Xu Qing had heard of this show before but never watched it herself. Her boyfriend always said watching such boring shows was a waste of life, and that she should spend her time learning and improving herself instead.

But since her friend specifically asked her to watch, Xu Qing decided to see what was so special about this show.

The live stream started with a group of people gathered around a simple stone grill, happily eating barbecue.

Xu Qing recognized one of them—Sheng Xingyao, her younger cousin's idol.

But Xu Qing was confused. In the videos her cousin had shown her, he always wore elaborate stage makeup, with a cold, cool and handsome appearance.

But who was this person in front of her, using his hands to grab meat, wrapping it in vegetables, and shoving it into his mouth while staring greedily at the other meat on the grill?

Had it been so long since she followed celebrities? Were idols now adopting a "return to simplicity" persona?

Soon, she recognized another one—her grandmother's favorite actor, known in the industry as the veteran artist, the low-key and graceful Best Actor Qin.

Though he didn't eat as messily as Sheng Xingyao, his pace was equally rapid, his chopsticks moving rapidly between the grill and his mouth.

Each of them, despite being big stars accustomed to luxury and fine dining, looked exceptionally satisfied.

Did this barbecue have some kind of happiness-boosting buff??

But gradually, her attention could no longer stay on the guests. Instead, it was involuntarily captured entirely by the food they were eating.

What—what is this!

She had joined the live stream just as Yu Xin started grilling beef tongue.

A whole beef tongue, sliced into pieces—some thick, some thin—neatly arranged on a plate. The slices were sprinkled with finely chopped green scallions and garnished with a small mint leaf.

The beef tongue had been marinated in advance, its surface showing beautiful texture, with white tendons interlaced with red meat. The thick-cut slices, about two to three centimeters thick, were scored on both sides to ensure even cooking. When placed on the wire grill, the tender beef tongue immediately sizzled, releasing a puff of white smoke. The dark red surface caramelized from the Maillard reaction, turning into an appealing caramelized color, with grill marks forming a grid pattern where it touched the rack.

Yu Xin squeezed lemon juice over the beef tongue, then lightly sprinkled salt and black pepper. The aroma of the beef tongue instantly became complex and delightful, drawing everyone's attention.

When the edges curled slightly and charred, Yu Xin cut a slice. The outer layer had completely changed color, while the inside remained tender and pink.

The beef tongue was long, but the best part only filled a small plate, with each person getting just a few slices.

Everyone cherished this precious beef tongue. Dipped in lemon juice, they ate it almost reverently.

"The beef tongue is thick—one bite and the juices flow directly into your mouth. The texture is soft yet springy, the outer skin carries a smoky aroma, and the tendons inside are chewy. The roasted meat flavor paired with the refreshing, slightly sour lemon juice is truly indescribably delicious."

So blissful—there were no words to describe it.

The thin-cut beef tongue needed even less time on the grill, making it chewier. Yu Xin creatively scored the cross-section of the beef tongue and stuffed it with chopped onions. Once grilled, the onion became sweet and delicious. When eaten hot, it was so delightful it made taste buds dance.

Xu Qing gulped hard.

So—so hungry!

Her empty stomach had never been so demanding, almost urging her to find something to eat immediately.

Since starting her diet, Xu Qing had developed mild anorexia symptoms. Her enthusiasm for food was nothing like before. It had been so long since she last felt such intense cravings for something.

At this moment, her body seemed to have a mind of its own. Her hands involuntarily opened the food delivery app on her terminal and ordered from her favorite restaurant.

She had never felt waiting feel so long. Watching the guests in the projection continuously grill and eat meat, she lost count of how many times she swallowed. Finally, when her terminal notified her that her order had arrived, she rushed to get the food like it was her salvation.

She opened the box as quickly as possible. The food was still steaming hot, as if just prepared. She scooped a large spoonful, put it in her mouth, and swallowed it almost without chewing.

Since starting her diet, she had gotten used to chewing slowly—each bite chewed forty or fifty times. Xu Qing had almost forgotten how good it felt to eat generously.

She kept putting food in her mouth. The familiar, delicious flavor filled her mind completely, and the feeling of warm food filling her stomach was so satisfying she almost cried.

Her face suddenly felt itchy. Xu Qing reached up to wipe her face and realized she was crying.

Tears kept falling, as if all the built-up frustration from this period had finally found release, all pouring out at once. Xu Qing wiped her face dismissively and continued to eat.

This was once her favorite restaurant, yet she hadn't been back since that incident.

She never used to think she was overweight, but she grew increasingly concerned about her boyfriend's opinions, throwing herself into disarray in the process, affecting both her mental and physical well-being. Had she really lost nothing more than her favorite restaurant during this time?

Now, thinking back, was it really worth it—for a man?

Screw him.

From now on, no one could easily sway her thoughts. If her boyfriend wasn't satisfied with her figure? Then she'd just get a new one.

She had figured it out, in a mix of tears and laughter, all while her hands kept moving with her utensils. In what felt like no time, she'd already eaten nearly half of it.

Ding-dong. Her device chimed with another notification—it was from her best friend, with just one line:

"No matter what, always remember to eat well."

…

Back on the show, the program continued.

Amid the eager gazes of the guests, Yu Xin finally placed the beef marrow onto the grill.

The small sections of beef bone served as natural containers, holding pools of marrow that looked like rich, fatty marrow.

Yu Xin sprinkled cumin, salt and pepper, and chili powder over the marrow, then poured a mix of minced garlic, chopped scallions, and chili-infused hot oil over it. He set it over the fire until the surface formed a crispy crust, while the marrow inside melted under the high heat, turning into a creamy, milky-white pool that wobbled slightly within the bone when moved. That was how you knew it was ready.

Each person received a small piece. Too much would be cloying, but a small portion was just perfect.

"The rest!! What about all that's left?!"

"Give it to me, give it to me, give it to me!"

"Guess they'll share it with the crew again. Aww... is it too late to apply for a job now?"

"What kind of show is this? The perks are amazing. I'd do it for free just for this."

"I was lucky enough to try grilled beef marrow at a specialty restaurant once. That flavor is unforgettable—so rich, truly incredible."

As expected, the guests packed up the remaining grilled beef marrow and gave it to the crew, who were incredibly grateful. After smelling it for so long, they finally got to taste something Yu Xin made himself!

Aww... it was just as delicious as they had imagined.

"Yu Xin is the god of cooking! No arguments accepted!"

Meanwhile, Yu Xin pulled the director aside and whispered something mysteriously.

After a while, the director seemed to agree, and Yu Xin brought over a large plate of his freshly grilled meat and fruit, exchanging it for a small bag from the director.

Contrary to the crew's hopes of getting a small share each, the cunning director took the entire plate back to his own quarters, enjoying a full grilled feast all by himself. This left the whole crew green with envy, and the director's credibility took a nosedive.

On the other side, Yu Xin returned to the campsite with the small bag he had obtained in exchange for the grilled meat.

He sat down next to Ji Yixing, who glanced curiously at the bag and asked, "What's this? What good stuff did you trade with the director for?"

"Swapped it just for you," Yu Xin shook the small bag lightly. "You'll find out soon."

"Alright." The thought that he was special to Yu Xin pleased Ji Yixing immensely. He chuckled softly, "Then I'll start looking forward to it now."

Yu Xin gave him an odd look. "Ahem, no need to get too excited. It's not some extraordinary surprise."

"No," Ji Yixing said meaningfully, his drowningly deep eyes fixed on Yu Xin with a smile. "The fact that it's 'special' is already a surprise in itself."

Faced with that look, Yu Xin always felt somewhat uneasy and quickly changed the subject. "Wait, let me make something else for you first."

He called out to Sheng Xingyao, "I remember we still have some sea urchins from yesterday. Where are they?"

"Hold on, I'll go find them," Sheng Xingyao responded eagerly and soon returned with their bucket of sea urchins. There were still a few left, alive and bubbling in the water.

"Here they are, Yu Xin! Are you going to make something else delicious?"

"Yes, let's all help prep the sea urchins," Yu Xin said.

He had already taught the others how to handle sea urchins: using a knife or scissors to carefully cut open the sea urchin from its mouth, creating an opening for easy access, then removing the internal organs and cleaning out the inside. Only the golden sea urchin roe was kept, scooped out with a spoon, washed, and set aside.

He took the finest cut of beef, sliced it paper-thin, and carefully wrapped the sea urchin roe in the beef slices. These were placed on a plate filled with crushed ice, drizzled with a bit of lemon juice, and sprinkled with crushed mint leaves and herbs.

The dipping sauce was made from lemon juice, shredded ginger, vinegar, and mustard, with perilla leaves added to neutralize any fishy taste.

Beef and sea urchin rolls—two incredibly delicious ingredients combined—were far more than the sum of their parts.

Yu Xin's fair fingers nimbly handled the delicate, pale pink beef slices. He picked up a piece of sea urchin roe, wrapped it, dipped it into the sauce himself, and placed it on the plate in front of Ji Yixing amid everyone's expectant gazes.

"Brother Ji," he said softly, "The help you've given me is something I can't repay fully with my current abilities. The least I can do is make something for you to eat."

He was the only one who knew about Ji Yixing's anorexia. After much thought, since Ji Yixing seemed to have an appetite for his cooking, the only thing he could do for him was to take care of Ji Yixing's stomach.

Ji Yixing watched Yu Xin's artistically slender fingers, finding the process visually pleasing—a true feast for the eyes.

He placed the beef and sea urchin roll made by Yu Xin into his mouth, savoring it slowly. The beef was tender and smooth, the sea urchin sweet and exquisite. Any slight fishiness was masked by the perilla, while the vinegar, lemon juice, and shredded ginger enhanced the freshness. The mustard was the finishing touch, elevating the dish to another level.

With both beautiful scenery and delicious food, his visual and taste senses were immensely satisfied.

"It's delicious, even more impressive than I imagined. If full marks are 100, I'd give it 1,000," Ji Yixing said, still relishing the taste after finishing. His eyes unconsciously drifted back to Yu Xin's long, pale hands.

He had eaten similar dishes before his anorexia, but none had been as remarkable as this—likely because the person preparing it was different.

"You're too kind," Yu Xin said, blushing at the unreserved praise. He knew someone of Ji Yixing's status must have tasted far more exquisite cuisine. He was just benefiting from the fact that Ji Yixing's anorexia had recently improved.

Sheng Xingyao watched their interaction, feeling a bit sour. "Yu Xin, I want a beef roll made by you too."

Yu Xin shot him a sidelong glance. "Don't you have hands?"

"It feels like the ones you make taste better!"

"No."

Rejected outright, Sheng Xingyao pouted and grumbled, "It's not fair. Why do you actively make them for Mr. Ji…"

"Help, how old is Sheng Xingyao? He's like a kindergarten kid fighting for the teacher's attention."

"And he's jealous of Mr. Ji? Does Mr. Ji even pay him any mind?"

"Ahem, I'm sensing a hint of a showdown…?"

"Ah, actually, I kind of am too… teetering on the edge of shipping them."

"Let me indulge my shipper brain for a sec. It's not that Mr. Ji ignores him completely—it's just that compared to him, Sheng Xingyao is way out of his league, so he's not even seen as a threat (secretly observing)."

"Mr. Ji gives off such a vibe… who gets it? I'm so worried little Yu Xin will be unknowingly swept off his feet, wuwuwuwuwu."

"Exactly!! Yu Xin is clearly the type—extremely capable in other areas but turns into a total innocent when it comes to matters of love and romance. How could he possibly outplay someone like that?"

"Aw, Xin baby, keep your eyes wide open! Don't let yourself be fooled by just any man!"

The others didn’t get the same special treatment as Ji Yixing and had to make their own rolls. They followed Yu Xin’s method, wrapping the raw beef slices around sea urchin, dipping them in the sauce, and popping them whole into their mouths. In that instant, the fresh sweetness and silky tenderness, combined with the kick of wasabi rushing to their heads, was incredibly refreshing—far less greasy than grilled meat. After eating too much barbecue, this was a pure delight.

As Yu Xin rolled the beef, he remarked, "Actually, the authentic way to make this is to add some caviar on top of the beef roll, but we don’t have that available right now. I’ll make it the proper way for you all another time when I get the chance."

"I’m holding you to that! Next time I’ll prepare the ingredients and invite you over—you can’t say no!" Sheng Xingyao immediately jumped at the chance.

He’d been wanting to meet up with Yu Xin privately since the last show ended. He wasn’t even sure why, but he just wanted to see what Yu Xin was like off-camera, in his private life.

But back then, his schedule was packed—constantly traveling between planets—and his agent kept blocking him, so he never found the time to meet up with Yu Xin.

This time, nothing could stop him. He was determined to spend a whole day alone with Yu Xin, even if it meant rescheduling work to make it happen!

"That’s a great idea! Since we’re all based on Capital Star, we can totally find a time to hang out after the show wraps up." Shen Tong’s eyes lit up; she loves gatherings.

"Everyone’s free, right?"

"Of course, feel free to invite me anytime," Qin Shizhen said with a smile.

"I’m free anytime too—I’ll have plenty of free time after the show," Ruan Qing added.

After two full seasons together, the guests had grown close and were all looking forward to a casual get-together without the film crew around.

"What about Yu Xin and Mr. Ji?" Shen Tong specifically asked Yu Xin, worried he might disappear right after the show ended.

"If all you busy people have time, of course I’m free," Yu Xin agreed.

After hearing Yu Xin’s response, Ji Yixing said, "I can make it too."

The gathering proposal was unanimously agreed, and Shen Tong was thrilled: "That’s perfect! I’ll find a time as soon as we’re back and make sure everything is perfectly arranged!"

"You’re planning a gathering behind our backs!! What is it that we esteemed fans aren’t allowed to see?!"

"I second that! Can you livestream the gathering? Just think of it as a special episode in a different setting."

"I don’t ask for much, just one thing: can you all post lots of group photos on the day of the gathering? I don’t want to see someone vanish right after the show ends."

"Aw, agreed! Who was it last time who completely disappeared except for a few random sightings? (I'm pointing at you!) I’ve been missing them so much I can’t eat or sleep—even my favorite foods tasted bland!"

"I’ll just name names: Yu Xin!! No more vanishing acts!!"

Everyone was excited—except for Sheng Xingyao. The moment Shen Tong started inviting everyone to the gathering, he was dumbfounded.

How… how did it turn into a group gathering? He only wanted to invite Yu Xin alone!!

His dreamed-of alone time!

As they chatted and ate, they, without realizing it, consumed quite a bit. Sheng Xingyao was leisurely preparing to make another sea urchin and beef roll when a hand reached over and stopped his chopsticks just as he was about to pick up another slice of raw beef.

He turned in surprise—Yu Xin was still holding his hand, speaking to him earnestly: "That’s enough. You’ve already had quite a bit. Raw beef and sea urchin can be hard on your stomach—you shouldn’t have too much right now."

He’d been watching out for Ji Yixing from the start. Ji Yixing seemed to genuinely enjoy this dish, eating much more enthusiastically than usual, with no sign of his usual lack of appetite.

But eating too much of these ingredients really wasn’t good for his health. He couldn’t just let him indulge himself just because he liked it.

Still… he wasn’t sure if this kind of intervention would feel like overstepping boundaries to Ji Yixing.

After all, they weren’t family or close friends, and Ji Yixing was usually the one in charge. He probably wasn’t used to someone interfering with his daily life like this.

Yu Xin had little social experience in this area and didn’t know if his actions might make him uncomfortable.

If it were anyone else, he wouldn’t bother caring about their health. But this was Ji Yixing, who had always been kind to him and helped him out.

As he spoke, he subtly observed Ji Yixing’s expression. To his surprise, Ji Yixing first seemed visibly taken aback, then broke into a genuinely delighted smile.

He even laughed out loud, his voice low and warm, making anyone's ears tingle.

Yu Xin was a bit startled. Ji Yixing’s reaction was unexpected. He didn’t understand—why was Ji Yixing so happy just because he’d intervened?

Ji Yixing cleared his throat, the laughter still lingering in his eyes. He obediently set down his utensils and said, "I’ll listen to you, Little Yu Teacher. If you say not to eat, I definitely won’t."

Well, at least the goal was achieved.

Yu Xin pulled out a small bag he’d gotten from the director and opened it—inside were plain white rice.

"Wait a moment, I’ll make you a porridge. It’ll be good for your stomach."

"Is this just for me?" Ji Yixing was surprised, but even more so, he felt an unexpected joy, as if something inside him had cracked open, letting sweet syrup flow out and soak his entire heart.

He never expected Yu Xin to care so much about his stomach.

He’d only mentioned it once, and Yu Xin had taken it to heart.

This feeling was really…

Yu Xin gave him a puzzled look. "Of course. Their stomachs are fine—they’re full from eating other things."

"I’m really happy. Thank you, Little Yu Teacher."

"Mm, just wait a bit. I’ll go make it for you." Yu Xin awkwardly avoided his gaze. Damn, it felt like his face was about to burn two holes through.

He planned to make Ji Yixing a quick-cooked beef congee.

This congee wasn’t difficult to make, but it required patience.

He cooked the white rice with oil, salt, and a bit of pepper until it thickened over low heat, ideally until every grain bloomed. Then he added slices of beef shank—not too thick, not too thin—quickly separated them, and stirred slowly until the beef changed color. Finally, he added scallions and a bit of cilantro.

Before serving, Yu Xin also stirred in the leftover sea urchin, letting it blend completely into the congee to enhance the flavor with its sweetness.

By the time Yu Xin took the pot off the heat, the beef congee was perfectly cooked. A thick layer of congee had formed on the surface. A gentle stir revealed creamy white congee, bright green scallions and cilantro leaves, large pieces of beef, and occasional flecks of golden sea urchin. The thick congee flowed off the spoon, almost dissolving the rice grains entirely.

He served a bowl and handed it to Ji Yixing. "Let it cool a bit before eating."

Ji Yixing obediently stirred the congee with his spoon. The aroma of beef and rice wafted up, and he lowered his head to take a deep breath.

So fragrant. The raw beef and sea urchin rolls were delicious, but after eating too much, his stomach felt cold and uncomfortable. Nothing compared to the soothing comfort of this bowl of congee.

He took a sip with his spoon. The congee was still a bit hot, but it felt incredibly comforting the moment it entered his mouth. The rice was so soft it barely needed chewing—it dissolved with a gentle touch. The beef slices were still tender and fresh, a testament to the cook’s perfect timing.

None of the delicious food Ji Yixing had eaten tonight surprised him as much as this bowl of congee.

It was so good it rendered him speechless, unable to find words to express how he felt. He could only lower his head and take spoonful after spoonful.

He was afraid that if he spoke, he might say something that overstepped for now.

But his reaction made Yu Xin happy. There was nothing more rewarding for a cook than seeing someone enjoy their food so much they were left speechless.

"What is this..."

Sheng Xingyao spotted Ji Yixing's exclusive beef congee, and he was about to make a scene!!

"Yu Xin, you actually made special food just for Mr. Ji, you're biased!!!"

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Author's Note: I did it!! Hands on my hips!!

Thank you all so much for your support, I will keep working hard!