Chapter 240: So Delicious
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Back at home, Rose asked earnestly, "What do you plan to do? What will you prepare for dinner?"
Mr. Li shrugged and said, "There’s no hurry—I got you a gift—"
"Is it something edible?" the lady cop asked, interrupting him impatiently. "What delicious food have you specially prepared?"
Whenever Mr. Li spoke with her he always felt exhausted because this lady did not follow the flow of conversation accordingly.
He let Ah Meow and Crispy Noodles out—the two fellas had been confined in the backpack all afternoon and were bored. They started to jump around and chase each other.
Rose tapped on her gun holster—Ah Meow and Crispy Noodles then became quieter, less excitable—even their ears drooped.
Li Du opened his backpack and retrieved a rolled-up poster.
He opened it up carefully, and said, "Stop thinking about food—this is the gift I got for you."
Rose instantly looked disappointed, and muttered, "Oh? What did you give me? A drawing? I’d rather have a plate of fried rice…"
The poster was opened up slowly; a lady cop in a police uniform appeared on it, both of her hands were holding a pistol, her gaze was alert and decisive. It was definitely the cold-blooded female lead, Sergeant Margot Gunderson.
On the blank area of the poster, was a row of fancy prose: "Persevere in what you have persisted, defend what you have guarded, no matter what you are facing, no matter what you have encountered. May courage and determination be with you! May your wishes will come true!"
Finally was the signature: "Your colleague, Margot Gunderson (Frances McDormand)."
Rose was stunned. She stared at it in surprise, snatched it over, then turned on the table lamp to illuminate the poster so that she could scrutinize it.
Then, she turned her head in astonishment, and said, "Li, this is authentic!"
Li Du was confused by her, and asked, "What’s authentic?"
"This signature, this is real. It’s Frances’s signature! Her autograph!"
Li Du nodded. "Of course. I got my hands on a prop vehicle in LA this time around, and happened to sell it to Frances, so I got you her autograph and dedication—"
He had not finished speaking when Rose dashed over to hug him.
Li Du, who was caught off-guard, slowly returned the hug. But he was gentlemanly and only hugged her back—there was no movement from his hands or body.
It was not that he wasn’t interested, but he did not dare to. This lady had a gun with her all the time!
Of course, he also had a gun, but the gun this lady carried was cast from steel!
Although Rose had a sharp goddess-like jawline, a slender waist, and long legs, she was a tough girl.
The hug was a very forceful one. After a short two seconds, she let go, looked at Li Du and said, "Thank you! Really, thank you!"
Li Du touched his nose, and said, "Do you like this gift?"
Rose nodded. "Are these words by Frances?"
Li Du’s mouth quivered, as he said, "Well, I actually told her to write them because she doesn’t know you well, and so she didn’t know what to say."
Rose gave him a bright smile. "I understand. Thank you, Li. This is the happiest day I’ve had in a long time, and the best present I‘ve received since I became an adult!"
Li Du said, "I’m glad that you like it. I’ll give you another present. Tonight, I shall make fried rice with eggs for you—also some fried rice with soy sauce and fried rice with ham!"
"Wow, that’s delicious!" Rose was very excited.
Li Du opened the fridge, looked inside, and saw Lao Gan Ma inside. He laughed, "How about making it more delicious? I’ll add a plate of fried rice with Lao Gan Ma then!"
Rose rolled up the poster carefully and brought it to the office.
Li Du had originally wanted to steam the rice himself for the fried rice, but cool rice was more suitable for frying, and it would have taken too much time.
He saw that Rose had brought back takeaway rice and used that instead.
That one box of rice was not sufficient, and definitely not enough for two. After some thought, he diced even more carrot, onion slices, ham, and fried about a dozen eggs.
All the ingredients combined should have been more than sufficient for the preparation of fried rice with eggs.
Li Du took two big plates, and plated the four types of fried rice with eggs on them.
The fried rice with ham, with diced cucumber added, green; the fried rice with soya sauce was brown; the fried rice with eggs was yellow; the fried rice with Lao Gan Ma was red. The four types of fried rice were displayed in the shape of flower petals.
Finally, the plates became blooming flowers.
Li Du placed the plates on the dining table, while Rose took two cans of beer. He said, "This evening has suddenly become less gloomy, with something radiant appearing."
He saw that there was asparagus in the refrigerator, and boiled it quickly with hot water. Then he chopped it up, added chili oil and soya sauce, before mixing them to be served as an exquisite cold appetizer.
Looking at him arranging the dishes, Rose said, "I’m not sure which lady will marry you in the future. No matter who she is, she must have saved mankind in her past life."
Mr. Li chuckled and said, "I just realized that your mouth can become very sweet."
Rose frowned, looked at him, said, "Meaning?"
As she said that, she stretched her hand to touch her thigh.
Li Du quickly raised his hands. "Can stop whipping out your gun?"
"Haha, are you afraid?" Rose laughed. "I was only scaring you."
Li Du felt embarrassed, and said helplessly, "You’re just like a child, but I was also teasing you. I know that you don’t have the gun with you when you eat…"
Hearing this, Rose lifted up her nightgown—attached to her slender and beautiful leg was a pitch-black holster exuding a murderous aura!
Li Du did not say anything more, and passively ate his rice.
After renting together these past few months, he had developed some understanding of Rose.
This lady cop always carried her pistol, and must have even when she showered. It might have seemed extreme, but in fact, he sensed that something bad might have previously happened to her.
Rose was extremely sensitive toward any change in her surroundings. She was alert at all the times—no matter when or where, she would carry a weapon.
Considering this, it could be said that she was extremely insecure.
If delved deeper, and could be analyzed as something scarier: she had no confidence in her surroundings, as well as her own ability to protect herself.
Therefore, whenever she showed any inclination to make a move, Li Du would cave in, and admit defeat. To a certain extent, he was helping Rose regain her confidence.
After dinner, Rose cleared the dishes, and said, "Can you help me tidy the office later? I want to find a suitable place for hanging the poster."
Li Du nodded and said, "Sure, no problem."
There were eight bookshelves in the office, and they had been placed against the wall. Filled with books, they were extremely heavy.
These books were probably not Rose’s; Li Du had never seen Rose read. The book titles were profound: "Classical Criminology," Forensic Theory,""Anatomy,""Histology."
There were some photos on the desk: group photos of families, a Chinese couple, some of Rose, and some of a little boy.