Adrian still wore that foolish smile.
The crowd looked at him, thinking that the young master was indeed quite mad. But no one knew that behind those smiling eyes lay a sharp light.
Since they all enjoyed watching the show, he would give them a show to remember. This time, he would tear apart the label of madman with his own hands.
Revenge didn't always require a knife. Sometimes, the deepest revenge came from the heart. And his heart belonged to cooking.
He looked up, smiling innocently, and shouted to Old Mr. Jude, the man of the night who he wanted to win his favor.
"Grandfather! Today is your birthday, and you're 87! I... I want to cook for you! Let's make ReSnack!"
The crowd erupted into suppressed laughter.
What kind of a dish is that that no one has ever heard before? He must be crazy.
However, Ethan was stunned. His pupils contracted slightly.
"ReSnack..." That was his dish.
He had created the recipe, and the first time he succeeded, he had brought it to Liam Hayes to taste only to be told that it was nothing special by same Liam Hayes.
At that time, he was hurt. But now… he was saying he wanted to make that dish?
Ethan's lips tightened, and his chest felt a little tight.
Impossible. He wouldn't remember how he made it. Liam Hayes usually didn't care about his craft. Ethan sneered inwardly, forcing down the emotions that shouldn't be there.
'Ethan Forest, don't be fooled by this person again.'
At that moment, Adrian's expression turned serious, almost devout. He rolled up his sleeves and began preparing the ingredients. His movements were slow but steady.
Old Mr. Jude was taken aback. He had just heard something—"Grandfather."
This was the first time his grandson had called him "Grandfather"!
The old man's eyes welled up with warmth, and he laughed, "Good! Good! Let's see what my grandson can cook!"
The hall fell silent at his words.
Everyone's eyes were on the young man.
Under the lights, the foolish smile on his face gradually turned calm, and as he picked up the knife, it was as if he had become a different person.
The stage belonged to him.
The sound of the flame igniting was particularly clear in the silent banquet hall.
Ethan stood by the stove, still trying to process what was happening, when his father shot him a glance, signaling him to step back.
This was the Jude family's banquet, filled with high society. Yet they let a 17-year-old young master cook personally? It was absurd. Who would dare to eat? For safety reasons, King Forrest wanted his son to stay away from the flames.
Ethan frowned, preparing to retreat to the corner but...
"Don't go." Adrian suddenly looked up, his eyes shining brightly as he gazed at Ethan. "I... need you here."
Ethan was taken aback. This kid was making him choose between his father and him? Pfft!
"Hubby, don't go."
Ethan: "…."
Everyone: "…."
The hall fell silent.
Ethan's expression froze, and he instinctively raised his hand, pressing his finger to his lips, whispering, "Shh, don't be loud here."
But Adrian had already turned back, his expression innocent, humming a tune. It was as if nothing had happened.
Then, he began to cook. He wasn't just cooking; he was "singing" the dish.
"Add scallions... stir, stir... green pepper falls in… oh, no, it's yellow pepper, not green pepper….."
The soft muttering sounded like a nursery rhyme or a spell.
Old Mr. Jude's eyes gradually softened.
In that moment, he was transported back twelve years….
By the window, his daughter would sit embroidering, humming and talking to herself in the same way. She was gentle and quiet, like a spring breeze. Now, his grandson cooking looked... uncannily similar.
The aroma wafted through the air.
Ethan's heart began to race.
The dish, the technique, the small "oh, no, it's yellow pepper not green pepper"…. It was exactly like the moment he had taught Liam how to cook the dish!
Even the mistakes of calling yellow pepper green pepper were identical!
He stared at the young man, his chest tightening inexplicably. This wasn't imitation, this was... reliving his memories.
When Adrian softly said "done," Ethan snapped back to reality, his throat dry, his fingers burning.
He grabbed a bottle of water, opened it, and took a long swig.
The coolness slid down his throat, but it couldn't suppress the inexplicable restlessness.
—Was he falling in love with Liam Hayes?