Chapter 328
"That..." He reached out, pointing toward the television screen. "I’d really like to try those noodles."
The moment the words left his mouth, Liam realized he was being somewhat demanding. Just because he wanted to eat them didn’t mean Suzy actually had them. This was the apocalypse, a time of extreme scarcity—not the old days when you could simply order food delivery on a whim and have it arrive at your door. He felt he was being rather ungrateful.
As Liam spiraled into a quiet fit of self-doubt, Suzy followed his gaze to the screen, which was currently displaying a close-up of a steaming bowl of fire noodles.
She blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "Fire noodles?" she asked.
Meeting her eyes, Liam gave a sheepish, involuntary nod, the tips of his ears flushing a delicate pink. "Is it too much of a hassle?" he asked, embarrassed.
"Not at all. We actually happen to have some," Suzy said with a smile. "I’ll go whip some up for you."
Liam protested quickly, "No need to go through the trouble, I can do it myself."
Suzy looked at him, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Do you even know how?"
That single question immediately shut him down. It was true—he had absolutely no idea how to cook. On top of that, he had never even stepped foot inside this kitchen.
Gently patting his shoulder, she insisted, "Don’t be polite with me. I’ll get it."
Overhearing their conversation, Leonard grinned and piped up, "Suzy, make that two! I want a bowl as well."
She gave him a nod. "Sure thing. It’ll be ready in a jiffy."
With that, Suzy headed straight for the kitchen.
Derek, his cheeks bulging as he chomped on a piece of fried chicken, let his eyes dart between Suzy and Liam before silently turning back to his food. Whatever, he thought. Best to keep my mouth shut so I don’t annoy Senior.
Meanwhile, Thomas rose from his seat and followed Suzy into the kitchen. "Need a hand?" he asked.
"Grab me a couple of large bowls." Suzy retrieved two packages of fire noodles from her space.
Thomas pulled two large white ceramic bowls from the cupboard and set them side-by-side on the counter. He then laid out a pair of long cooking chopsticks and a pair of kitchen shears, waiting quietly.
Suzy clicked on the gas stove, and a bright blue flame leapt up, licking the bottom of the pot. She filled it halfway with fresh water, put the lid on, and waited for it to boil.
Leaning against the counter with his hands in his pockets, Thomas watched her in quiet silence. Suzy glanced up at him and smiled. "Do you want some too?"
Thomas shook his head, paused to think, and then gave a tiny nod.
"I’ll save a bite for you then," she promised.
The corners of Thomas’s mouth curved upward in a barely perceptible smile.
The water quickly came to a rolling boil, bubbling fiercely. Suzy lifted the lid, and a sudden wave of hot steam rushed up, enveloping her face. Blinking through the mist, she dropped the two blocks of noodles into the pot.
The golden, wavy noodles slowly unraveled in the boiling water, turning soft and pliable strand by strand. She used the chopsticks to give them a gentle stir, keeping them from clumping together.
Beside her, Thomas glanced at the kitchen timer. Three minutes.
Without checking the clock herself, Suzy kept her eyes on the pot, watching the noodles tumble in the water. The edges of the strands had turned translucent while the centers remained white—a sign that they were cooking perfectly. The rising steam caught the kitchen light, swirling into a soft white haze.
"They’re ready," she announced.
She cut the heat and scooped the noodles out with a strainer, shaking off the excess water. The glistening strands, dripping with hot water, slid smoothly into the large white bowls, forming two fluffy, steaming mounds.
Tearing open the sauce packets, Suzy squeezed out the thick, dark red glaze. The sauce was incredibly rich and shiny, releasing a sweet, fiery aroma. Since Liam didn’t look like someone who could handle intense heat, she only used half his packet, leaving the rest aside. For Leonard’s bowl, however, she poured in the entire packet.
She mixed them one bowl at a time. Plunging her chopsticks into the noodles, she tossed them rapidly, the bright red sauce gradually coating every golden strand until they turned a deep, fiery crimson. She made sure not a single noodle was left unglazed.
Standing beside her, Thomas prepped the shredded cheese and crumbled seaweed sheets.
Once the noodles were thoroughly mixed, Suzy scattered a generous handful of cheese over the top. The residual heat slowly softened the cheese, causing the edges to melt and stretch into gooey, delicate strings. Finally, she added a sprinkle of dark seaweed, the black-and-white flakes providing a beautiful contrast against the red and white.
"Eggs," Suzy said.
Thomas retrieved two eggs from the refrigerator and handed them over.
With a gentle tap against the rim of the pot, she cracked the shells, letting the whole eggs slide cleanly into a small pot of warm, gently simmering water. The whites cooked quickly, wrapping around the yolks as they floated intact on the surface, trembling slightly.
She kept her eyes on the poaching eggs. The moment the whites were fully set but the yolks remained beautifully soft and runny, she scooped them out with a slotted spoon. She laid the two poached eggs side-by-side on top of the noodle bowls.
Using her chopsticks, she gently pierced one of the yolks. A rich, golden liquid slowly oozed out, seeping down into the crevices of the red noodles and blending seamlessly with the spicy sauce.
"Done," she declared, handing one of the bowls to Thomas. "This one is for Uncle Leonard."
Thomas took the bowl and headed out.
Suzy picked up the second bowl and gave it a once-over. The red noodles were piled high in the pristine white bowl, crowned with melting cheese, dark seaweed flakes, and a perfectly poached egg with its yolk slowly oozing over the side. The rich aroma of sweet chili mixed with the creamy scent of melted cheese hung heavy in the air.
Carrying her own bowl, she followed Thomas out into the living room.
There, Leonard was already waiting, chopsticks in hand. The TV was still playing the food special, showing another guest tackling the fire noodles. The visuals had fully captivated him, and he was practically drooling in anticipation.
Seeing Suzy and Thomas emerge with the food, he lit up. "Finally! Let me try!"
He eagerly took the bowl, leaning down to take in the mouthwatering blend of spice and cheese. With a satisfied nod, he pinched a large nest of noodles with his chopsticks and slid them into his mouth. He chewed a few times, his brow not even twitching.
"The spice is perfect," he declared, already reaching for his next bite with calm, practiced ease.
Suzy set the other bowl in front of Liam. Since the bottom of the bowl was scalding hot, she used a small kitchen towel to cushion it, gently pushing it toward his hand. "Here’s yours. It’s only half-spicy. Give it a try."
Liam stared down at the dish. The mound of red noodles, the gooey cheese, and the gently trembling poached egg looked infinitely more appetizing than anything he had just seen on the television.
He lifted his chopsticks and picked up a cluster of noodles. The springy strands glistened with the red sauce, radiating a warm, savory steam. He blew on them gently before taking a bite.
The first note was surprisingly sweet, the sugary undertone of the sauce melting on his tongue alongside the creamy richness of the cheese. He chewed, finding the noodles incredibly firm and springy between his teeth.