I Am Tired Of Being A Hero-Chapter 303: Making Dinner Part 2

Ah!

Ravi lowered his head, his hands pausing as he fought and failed to hold the smile from appearing on his face.

Ash didn’t have any wishes; that means he was not doing a bad job.

He felt like his heart was so full, like it was made of ice cream rather than flesh and blood.

Perhaps this was the joy of raising a child; just one sentence could bring you so much joy and validation.

"Okay." Ravi said a little awkwardly, "But if there is anything you want, you have to tell me."

"I know." The young voice sounded from the backyard before it took a more serious tone, like an old grandpa, "But it has to be reasonable; you don’t want me becoming spoiled."

Ravi burst out laughing, "Sure. We wouldn’t want that. Are there enough cucumbers remaining?"

"Just three. You want to make a small salad. Would they be enough?"

"They would have to do."

Ash soon entered the kitchen carrying the three cucumbers.

"I will plant some this weekend." He rinsed them at the sink and took down the slicer when Ravi shook his head, signaling him to return to the backyard.

"I am certain that the vegetables would be excited to get an iota of your attention." Ash was very attentive in the garden but especially to the fruit trees. As for the carrots, peppers, potatoes, and greens, all they got was water, no whispered prayers and wishes for them to grow.

He smiled and then rolled his eyes.

When he was done with the dough, he washed the rice and put it in the rice cooker.

He took out the shrimp filling from the refrigerator. In less than twenty minutes, he was done adding half a spoon to a flattened dough and twisting it into his favored shape.

Letting the dumplings steam, he washed his hands and reached for his phone.

Arlen has not replied to his text message. He sighed; even though they had seen each other today, he missed Arlen already.

He felt her energy far before she arrived. Lana burst into the kitchen, a huge smile on her face and carrying a small glass bottle filled with a purple liquid.

"I succeeded!" She laughed happily, "Just one drop and the person is knocked out, three drops ..." She wriggled her eyebrows.

"Congratulations. Now, please get the poison out of the kitchen. You didn’t touch anything, did you?"

Lana rolled her eyes and sat on the chair opposite him. "I have been in a lab since I was eight. I have already taken several baths; there was no cross-contamination." She looked a little upset.

Ravi felt a little guilty. "Sorry. So what is the name of the poison?"

"It is not poison. Not really." Her eyes shone with that light when she was about to launch into a very lengthy, technical discussion, and Ravi thanked heavens for his new polished skill of tuning her out.

Twenty minutes later. Ravi had already started plating the dumplings.

"What do you think? Isn’t it amazing?"

"Living death? It is amazing. Have you submitted yet?"

Lana shook her head. "I think I can still perfect it some more. Perhaps if I can get..."

"Hope you are not thinking about Malik’s hair, blood, or DNA."

Ravi might not have a degree in biology or herbology, but he still knew that the poison or potion in front of him was made of the red spider lilies from Malik’s tribulation, and judging from the guilty expression in Lana’s eyes, he was probably right.

"Lana! You can do all the experiments you want; you don’t have to restrict yourself, but still you have to be careful that you don’t hurt yourself or your family. Guilt is not an easy thing to live with."

"Is it really that dangerous?"

"Yes. It is."

Lana was silent for a minute and then nodded. "Okay. I get it."

"Now, please wash your hands and make yourself useful. Cut these."

Lana washed her hands before her eyes sparkled and a green vine crept onto the table, reaching for a single dumpling.

The chicken legs have been marinated since Ravi came back. He took out a pan and poured some oil into it.

Lisa had started cutting the cucumbers when that same vine began creeping along the table.

"Just know that your plate would be missing two dumplings."

The vine paused and then disappeared.

The chicken gave a gentle sizzle, filling the kitchen with a savory-sweet aroma. Golden brown color spread slowly over the drumsticks, the skin turning crisp.

Where the honey in the marinade clung to the skin, it caramelized into a crisp, reddish-brown glaze that crackled at the edges.

Finally, Ravi poured in the sauce and reduced the heat until the sauce slowly soaked the chicken. After it was cooked through, he sliced the chicken, drizzled some extra sauce over the top, and garnished it with sesame oil.

"Damn! It smells so good. We came at the perfect moment." Malik said as he, Anouk, and Sage stepped out of the portal.

"I feel like an unpaid chauffeur. Ash!" Sage made his way to the backyard.

Ravi blinked; the two of them were wearing almost the same clothes. In the same cream polo knit, Malik wore dark denim, while Anouk had tailored trousers and similar shoes and a bracelet.

"You can just tattoo mine and be done with it." Ravi mumbled in his head while he washed his hands and walked to Anouk.

"That is not bad. Thank you. I would consider it." Malik’s gentle reply made him roll his eyes.

"Good evening, Ravi." Anouk said, his expression icy as ever even as Malik leaned on him like he had no bones.

"Good evening. Welcome." He wished Arlen was here to say something funny or witty.

Anouk was holding a cake box as he looked around, "Vanilla and chocolate. Thank you for dinner." He placed the cake box on the table and gently navigated Malik to the chair.

"What can I do to help?" Anouk asked, moving to wash his hands.

Ravi glared at Malik. "You know you could learn more from him."

Malik could not be bothered. "The two of us are one. We are a couple. If he offers to help, I am also offering to help. Isn’t that right, Dove?"

Ravi turned to look at Anouk, blinking in shock. That cold face suddenly had the pinkest blush he had ever seen.

"Mm," Anouk said quietly.

Malik raised a brow.

"Yes. We are a couple." "This time," Anouk said more loudly.

What the...

Who were these two showing off to? He also has his boyfriend, okay?

He was also a couple. Even if said half of the couple was so busy in the capital to reply to his text messages.