Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard-Chapter 798 - 475: Buying Vegetables, Character Design for Illustrators

Chapter 798: Chapter 475: Buying Vegetables, Character Design for Illustrators

"Hanabi-chan~ Hanabi-chan~~"

They hadn’t even returned home yet, and Uesugi Sakura was already buzzing incessantly around Hanamaru Hanabi’s side.

In the supermarket, Hanamaru Hanabi held a broccoli in her hand, glanced at him, and said, "Sakura-kun, if you have something to say, just say it. As long as it’s not something intimate, Hanabi can help."

Uesugi Sakura paused for a moment: "Is my goodwill score still -5?"

"Yes, that’s right."

"Why hasn’t it increased recently?"

"It just went up by ten points, okay?" Hanamaru Hanabi put the green broccoli into the supermarket cart he was pushing.

"I don’t feel it, did I forget?"

"Sakura-kun, let’s not talk about this. This morning Hanabi just gave you a hug."

"Just one, not enough."

"Sakura-kun, you should be content with what you have."

"Alright then."

Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times. His wife always dressed elegantly, so much so that just looking at her, you could vaguely smell the fragrance on her.

It seemed like her scent clung to her beauty, and his body instinctively reacted.

Although exaggerated, Uesugi Sakura indeed felt this way.

Seeing her slightly flushed cheeks, he wanted to reach out and pinch them.

Sigh...

Uesugi Sakura regretted not taking the opportunity to pinch them a little longer before, as he had no chance now.

But thinking from another perspective, maybe it was precisely this feeling of distance that made the brief moments of interaction all the more precious?

Wanting something because you can’t have it.

Because he could touch her anytime, he took her presence for granted.

She was so good to him, always willing to accept his gestures... thinking of him...

Uesugi Sakura pushed the cart, following behind her, watching her slowly walk and select fresh vegetables...

At this moment, she seemed more like a virtuous wife.

Hmm, a youthful wife.

She was so good to him; if he ever felt indifferent or casually despised her, wouldn’t the heavens punish him for being ungrateful?

Uesugi Sakura finally understood why the protagonist in that movie "Flower Bridge" ended up with nothing.

Because he didn’t cherish the ones close to him, be it his faithful wife or his new love, he failed to learn to cherish them and ended up with nothing.

"Sakura-kun, what were you trying to ask Hanabi earlier?" Hanamaru Hanabi turned back.

"Light novel illustrations, the character designs, and cover art need to be done."

"Oh, is that what it was?"

Seeing her gaze drift towards the ceiling, Uesugi Sakura grew anxious, "Hanabi, you haven’t agreed yet, have you?"

"Hanabi never said that," Hanamaru Hanabi turned her gaze back to him and smiled.

"That’s good." Uesugi Sakura relaxed, thinking she might refuse him based on goodwill points.

Actually, his wife should really get back to drawing illustrations; she’s been resting for quite some time, and fans have been passionately lamenting on Twitter, asking where Teacher Hanamaru has gone.

For those days she was absent, she hadn’t tweeted anything about what she was up to.

Even after getting married, she hadn’t posted a single update.

Uesugi Sakura felt that Hanabi didn’t seem too concerned with managing her Twitter.

It seemed someone had secretly taken photos of her out recently... which made her upset.

Hanamaru Hanabi said, "When we get home, tell Hanabi about the character settings and such."

"Okay."

"By the way, what’s the name of the female protagonist?"

"Hanabi Chiwa."

After Uesugi Sakura said the name, Hanamaru Hanabi tilted her head slightly and blinked at him.

"Is the female protagonist really based on Hanabi?"

"Of course, I always keep my promises." Uesugi Sakura hesitated for a second, then smiled at her adorably cute face, "It’s a pity, though, that the female protagonist in the book isn’t a princess, so it won’t fulfill Hanabi-chan’s princess dream."

"Princess..."

Hanamaru Hanabi suddenly blushed, turned around in a fluster, and mumbled softly with her back to him:

"That’s, that’s not true at all."

"Really?"

"Of course it’s true! Sakura-kun... stop asking..."

Uesugi Sakura smiled as he watched her flustered avoidance, becoming even more certain that Hanabi-chan really liked the idea of being a princess.

In the past, when things got a little spicy and he called her Princess, she would——

She really was a little girl at heart.

...

Carrying bags full of vegetables home, Uesugi Sakura started helping Hanabi make dinner.

Breaking the broccoli into small pieces, slicing the pork, and preparing scallions, ginger, cooking wine, soy sauce, light soy sauce, star anise, and dried chili.

Then, after preparing everything, Uesugi Sakura watched Hanamaru Hanabi heat the wok and oil.

Today they were making stir-fried broccoli with pork, a classic Chinese dish.

When the oil began to smoke, Hanamaru Hanabi added the scallions and ginger, releasing their fragrance.

Then she added dried chili and star anise, stir-frying till aromatic.

At this point, she turned the gas stove to medium, stir-frying the pork belly until it turned white and slightly curled.

Next, she added a spoonful of soy sauce and a spoonful of cooking wine, continuing to stir-fry until the sauce boiled, and finally added the drained broccoli.

She mixed the broccoli and pork thoroughly on high heat.

One spoonful of light soy sauce, one spoonful of sugar, and then she took it off the heat.

Uesugi Sakura watched as she skillfully plated the dish with one hand holding the iron wok and the other holding the spatula, actions already familiar to him.

Then she prepared two simple side dishes, and the two of them carried the plates to the living room together.

Uesugi Sakura picked up a piece of pork and broccoli, eating it with a mouthful of warm rice.

Hanamaru Hanabi looked expectant: "How is it?"

"Mmm..."

Uesugi Sakura savored it carefully, the aroma of meat and the tenderness of the vegetables mingling with the smoky flavor, along with a slight sweetness blending in his mouth, bursting with scent.