Chapter 368: The Delight of Summer Rolls and a Tale of Fermented Fish
No one ever found out what Kurayoshi Rino and Hiyama Shunka discussed on the boat that day. The only visible result was that afterward, Hiyama Shunka began to follow Kurayoshi Rino like a loyal shadow. Of course, she remained the student council president in her public life; this new, deferential behavior only manifested when the two of them were alone.
Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, Sōryūin Shion was finally about to indulge in Ren's cooking once more. It was painfully obvious how famished she was. A woman of her poise and caliber would never normally attack a plate of spring rolls by practically inhaling three at once just to quell the hunger pangs before she could even begin to savor them properly.
But then, these were no ordinary spring rolls. The common variety, wrapped in flour skins and deep-fried to a golden crisp, was a glorious, guilty pleasure—a single bite an explosion of satisfying calories.
The half-dozen rolls arranged artfully on the plate before Sōryūin Shion, however, were an entirely different creation. At first glance, they resembled a delicate bundle of fresh vegetables sheathed in a thin, almost invisible film, showing no signs of having been cooked at all.
And in essence, that was the truth. An assortment of vibrant vegetables, paired with either plump, sweet shrimp or tender pork, was all snugly encased in soft, translucent rice paper. These were Vietnamese summer rolls.
Even within this category, there were subtle distinctions. Some were purely vegetarian, while others, like these, incorporated meat. Yet, through some culinary alchemy of temperature control, any hint of greasiness had been utterly vanquished, allowing the natural, clean flavors of the ingredients to shine through with a light, refreshing quality.
The rolls themselves were not particularly large, which meant the filling was everything, defining the taste and texture of each bite. These were so generously stuffed that the delicate wrappers seemed strained to their very limit, promising an immensely satisfying mouthful.
Fresh vegetables threatened to burst from their confines. The brilliant orange-red of fresh shrimp nestled against the emerald green of okra and the jewel-like crimson of cherry tomatoes. Crisp cucumber, still clinging tightly to its dark green skin, looked as cool and lustrous as jade. One combination featured a savory blend of finely minced pork and vegetables; another paired the delightful, springy texture of shrimp with the same verdant crunch.
Still, the dish felt elegantly simple, almost incomplete on its own. The full experience required an additional step: wrapping a roll in a crisp lettuce leaf along with a sprig or two of fresh mint, then dipping it into a specially prepared sauce—a perfect balance of fish sauce, sugar, lemon juice, white vinegar, and a splash of warm water. With this final touch, the dish transcended mere freshness and refreshment, gaining a deep layer of umami.
Shion took a bite. The textures were a revelation. A crisp, clean crunch echoed as her teeth met the vegetables. The incredibly savory-sweet tang of the dipping sauce bloomed on her tongue for a mere instant before being swept away by the cool, invigorating wave of mint. It was a mouthful of pure, vibrant nutrition, and the overwhelming sensation was one of absolute, clean satisfaction.
Small and exquisite, each bite left the lingering, pleasant aroma of mint in its wake. It was enough to completely captivate the palate, prompting a cascade of surprised thoughts. 'Am I really eating pork? How is it completely devoid of grease and so wonderfully refreshing? Is this really just a mouthful of vegetables? How can they be this fulfilling?'
For any fitness enthusiast, this dish was a godsend: perfectly balanced nutrition, low in calories, and unbelievably delicious. Even the inclusion of minced meat was a non-issue, its richness having been carefully polished away, leaving only pure flavor.
And so, Sōryūin Shion ate with the focused intensity of a hamster that had just discovered a hidden cache of seeds, her cheeks puffing out adorably with each bite. As a dedicated fitness advocate and one of the few in her circle of friends who had crossed the threshold of her mid-twenties, she was constantly handling business dinners and social functions.
Maintaining her figure and complexion was a top priority. The thought of finally getting to see Ren after a long absence, only to appear out of shape or with tired skin, was unbearable. She refused to be so careless.
Consequently, her daily diet was a model of healthy living. Perhaps, aside from the occasional cigarette, she had no other vices left. All her other bad habits had been gradually resolved and eliminated, partly through Ren's gentle nudging and partly through her own desire for self-improvement.
A grilled fillet steak for high-quality protein and healthy fats. Vietnamese summer rolls for a wealth of vitamins, dietary fiber, and trace elements. A cool, refreshing Mojito to complete the meal. This dinner was a perfect study in contrasts, both hot and cold, and nutritionally impeccable. For someone dedicated to fitness, it was undeniably one of the best possible choices.
"It's always the same..." Shion murmured, a soft sigh of contentment escaping her lips after she finished the last roll. "I'm truly in awe... How do you make simple vegetables taste this incredible?"
Ren, his eyes still fixed on the notes in his lap, answered with his usual casualness. "It's probably because vegetables themselves taste pretty good."
His non-answer earned him a playful eye-roll from Shion. "You said the same thing about those grilled chicken wings back then. You seem to have a different line for everyone. What did you tell Lucifer when she asked you that?"
Lucifer, who had been listening quietly, paused to think for a moment. "He didn't say much. Just that it was decent, no different from the food you can buy outside. I'm used to his act, anyway. Yuko, on the other hand, still can't accept it."
Shion blinked, her gaze sweeping the room. She suddenly realized someone was missing. "Eh? Where's Yuko? Isn't she the ultimate homebody?"
"She went back home to take care of something," Lucifer explained. "She'll be back in a few days. You miss her?"
Shion nodded slightly. "It's not that I miss her, exactly; it's not like she's gone for good, and I travel for work all the time. It's just... a little strange without Yuko around. Normally, she'd be the first one over here, demanding a drink."
"That idiot is probably eating some greasy takeout right now," Lucifer mused with a shake of her head. "She really is a troublesome fool."
"I agree," Shion chuckled. "But what did you mean earlier? Why can't Yuko accept his cooking?"
At this, Lucifer shot a pointed glare at Ren, who remained engrossed in his notes. "It's all his fault. Ren tricked her once, telling her that the food from restaurants outside was amazing. So Yuko went on an expedition to test his claim and ended up eating until she was sick, finally realizing she'd been had."
"And then?" Shion prompted, leaning forward with interest.
"Then she stormed back here, shouting that Ren had deceived her and demanding compensation. That afternoon, after her stomach finally settled, she started drinking to drown her sorrows. Ren said he was going out to buy some books and would bring her back something delicious to go with her drink. Yuko, being the tsundere she is, grumbled and told him not to bother... but the moment he left, she stopped drinking and just sat there, waiting..."
A corner of Sōryūin Shion's mouth twitched. "I think I can guess the outcome... So, what 'delicious' snack did Ren bring back for her?"
Lucifer covered her face with one hand as if reliving a traumatic memory. "Surströmming," she said, her voice muffled. "He told her to take it back to her room and enjoy it slowly. That day marked the single most rebellious moment in Yuko's entire life. The rumor is, the second she cracked open the can, she was just... stunned. Frozen. In the end, Cerberus was the one who had to take care of that... thing."
A burst of unrestrained laughter erupted from Sōryūin Shion. She could perfectly picture the entire scene. Wiping a tear from her eye, she managed to ask, "And then? Her rebellion must have failed. What happened after?"
"After that, I have no idea how Ren managed to coax her. He just took her out for a walk, and when they came back, Yuko was completely back to normal, watching a movie with him like nothing had happened. I swear, Ren has some outrageous talent in that department..."
The two women turned their gazes to the man sitting quietly nearby, lost in his reading. Sōryūin Shion let out a soft sigh. She was all too familiar with Ren's uncanny ability to play people's emotions, to grasp them with an unnerving, unshakable firmness.
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