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"Cook it?"

Li Jianguo stared at Zhang Yan as if he were looking at a liar spouting nonsense.

The male PhD student couldn't help but sneer: "Zhang, aren't you exaggerating a bit? The synthesis of polymer composites requires precise temperature control equipment and catalyst ratios. You think you can just boil them like that?"

Zhang Yan ignored him and just looked at Li Jianguo: "Academician Li, give me a laboratory for three hours."

"If I can't do it, I'll quit the project."

These words were spoken with absolute certainty.

Li Jianguo hesitated for a few seconds, then gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! Lao Yan, take him to Laboratory 3 in the Chemistry Building. It has the most complete equipment there."

Yan Zhenghua patted Zhang Yan on the shoulder, his eyes full of trust: "Come on, Xiao Zhang, let's show them what real skills are."

……

Three hours later.

The door to Laboratory No. 3 in the Chemistry Building was pushed open.

Zhang Yan came out carrying a stainless steel tray with a dozen or so thumb-sized, silver-gray ring-shaped objects on it.

Li Jianguo and the two PhDs were already waiting at the door. As soon as he came out, they surrounded him.

"Is this the material you were talking about?"

The male PhD student took the sealing ring, examined it closely, and asked with a tone full of doubt, "It looks like ordinary rubber. Are you sure it can withstand a temperature of 400 degrees Celsius?"

Zhang Yan didn't say anything, but picked up an alcohol torch from the side and started burning the sealing ring.

Flames licked the silvery-gray surface, and the numbers on the thermometer climbed rapidly.

100 degrees, 200 degrees, 300 degrees...

It burned for a full five minutes until the temperature stabilized at 420 degrees.

Zhang Yan turned off the blowtorch, picked up the sealing ring with tweezers, and threw it into the basin of cold water next to him.

"laugh--"

With a crisp sound, white steam rose up.

The male PhD student, with trembling hands, fished the sealing ring out of the water and examined it carefully.

There was no deformation, no cracks, and not even the surface gloss remained unchanged!

"This...how is this possible..."

Li Jianguo snatched the sealing ring, kneaded it repeatedly in his hand, and found its elasticity and resilience to be simply perfect.

"Xiao Zhang... no, Teacher Zhang!"

Li Jianguo's voice trembled, "Could the formula for this material...?"

"You can have it."

Zhang Yan interrupted him, his tone indifferent, "However, there's a condition."

"Go ahead! Don't just say one, ten will do!"

"The mass production process for this material must be handed over to Qingcheng Group."

Li Jianguo paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Deal!"

……

When I came out of the chemistry building, it was already completely dark.

Zhang Yan took out his phone, and there were more than a dozen unread messages on the screen, all sent by Nie Qingcheng.

The latest message was posted five minutes ago: "You little rascal, if you don't reply soon, I'm going to drag you out of school."

Zhang Yan was about to reply when his phone suddenly vibrated.

Caller ID: Qingcheng.

As soon as he pressed the answer button, Nie Qingcheng's somewhat resentful voice came through the receiver.

"Zhang Yan, you've grown wings, haven't you? You haven't replied to my messages all afternoon, are you seeing someone else?"

Zhang Yan chuckled: "I was doing an experiment in the lab, so my phone was on silent."

"Hmph, you're good to be honest."

Nie Qingcheng's tone softened, "Are you free tomorrow night?"

"What's wrong?"

"My best friend is back from abroad and insists on meeting you, this 'legendary pretty boy'."

When Nie Qingcheng said the words "pretty boy," there was a hint of smugness in her tone. "She specifically asked for your cooking, so you'd better make me proud."

Zhang Yan raised an eyebrow: "Your best friend? Who's she?"

"Su Qingyue, the eldest daughter of the Su family, is my sister whom I've known since childhood."

Nie Qingcheng paused, her voice carrying a hint of warning, "This girl has a sharp tongue, so don't let her anger you."

"Okay, what time tomorrow?"

"At 7 p.m., at Cloud Top Manor, I asked Uncle Fu to prepare the ingredients."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yan looked at the dark night sky and a smile appeared on his lips.

Best friend?

I'll just have to try out that new dish.

……

The next day, in the evening, at Genting Manor.

Zhang Yan, wearing an apron, was busy in the kitchen.

On the cutting board were abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and fish maw, along with more than a dozen kinds of expensive dried goods and seasonings.

Uncle Fu stood aside, watching Zhang Yan's smooth and skillful knife work, his eyes full of admiration.

"Young master's skills are probably unmatched even by Michelin three-star chefs."

Zhang Yan didn't say anything, but focused on processing the ingredients in his hands.

With his god-like culinary skills, this legendary "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" was just a piece of cake for him.

Just then, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor came from the living room.

Immediately afterwards, a clear and melodious female voice, yet with a hint of cynicism, rang out.

"Oh, Qingcheng, you're living a really comfortable life! You don't even have to open the door yourself anymore?"

Nie Qingcheng's lazy voice came: "Stop talking nonsense, change your shoes, don't get my carpet dirty."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The footsteps grew closer.

Zhang Yan looked up and saw a tall woman wearing a beige trench coat walk in.

The woman looked to be in her mid-twenties, with delicate features and a capable demeanor. Her fox-like eyes bore a resemblance to Nie Qingcheng's, but with a touch of roguish arrogance in them.

She leaned against the kitchen doorway, looking Zhang Yan up and down, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Qingcheng, you have good taste."

Su Qingyue whistled, "He's quite handsome, and has a good physique too, but I wonder how his cooking skills are?"

Nie Qingcheng walked over from behind and naturally took Zhang Yan's arm, her tone revealing a hint of pride.

"You'll see how good my husband's cooking is in a minute."

"Okay, then I'll have to give it a good try."

Su Qingyue pulled out a chair and sat down, crossing her legs. Her fox-like eyes stared at Zhang Yan, and she smiled mischievously.

"Zhang Yan, right? I heard from Qingcheng that you're an excellent cook."

"I specifically ordered this dish for today's meal—Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Do you know how to make it?"

The kitchen was quiet for a moment.

Uncle Fu looked somewhat troubled.

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is a dish made with precious ingredients. Just simmering the broth takes more than ten hours, and controlling the heat is even more difficult.

This is clearly a deliberate attempt to make things difficult.

Nie Qingcheng frowned, just about to speak.

Zhang Yan laughed.

"Buddha Jumps Over the Wall."

He turned and glanced at the clay pot simmering on the stove, his tone indifferent.

"Perfect timing, just started stewing."

"It will be ready to eat in half an hour."

Su Qingyue was stunned.

She stared wide-eyed at the steaming clay pot, then at Zhang Yan's calm and collected face.

"You...you knew I was going to order this dish?"

"Just a guess."

Zhang Yan wiped his hands, walked up to Su Qingyue, and extended his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Zhang Yan."

Su Qingyue subconsciously reached out and shook his hand, her mind still a little dazed.

This kid... he's got some skills.

Half an hour later.

On the dining table, the lid of the casserole was lifted.

In an instant, an extremely rich aroma, like a flood bursting its banks, filled the entire restaurant.

It's the fresh sweetness of seafood, the richness of broth, and the ultimate deliciousness that comes from the fusion of more than a dozen precious ingredients, simmered for a long time.

Su Qingyue's nostrils twitched.

She swallowed hard, her eyes, which had previously held a hint of nonchalance, now fixed intently on the golden, translucent broth in the clay pot.

"This...this fragrance..."

Nie Qingcheng smiled smugly and personally served Su Qingyue a bowl.

"Try it, don't be shy."

Su Qingyue picked up the bowl, scooped up a piece of abalone with a spoon, and put it in her mouth.

next second.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

The abalone was soft, chewy, and bouncy, fully absorbing the essence of the broth. With a gentle bite, the rich juices exploded in your mouth.

Next comes the smoothness of the sea cucumber and the gelatinous texture of the fish maw. Each ingredient retains its own characteristics, yet they blend together perfectly.

This isn't a meal at all.

This is practically eating a work of art!

Su Qingyue ate one bite after another, completely disregarding her image, her eyes crinkling with delight.

After finishing the entire bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, she put down the bowl and let out a long sigh.

Then, she suddenly stood up, walked around the dining table, and grabbed Zhang Yan's hand.

"Zhang Yan!"

Su Qingyue's eyes shone with an alarming light. "Take me as your disciple!"

"I'll learn to cook from you from now on, name your tuition!"

Nie Qingcheng almost spat out the soup in her mouth.

"Su Qingyue, have you gone mad?"

"I'm not crazy, I'm serious!"

Su Qingyue gripped Zhang Yan's hand tightly, her face sincere. "Qingcheng, I accept you as my man! From now on, if anyone dares to say he's a gigolo, I'll be the first to object!"

Zhang Yan pulled his hand back, feeling both amused and exasperated.

"Miss Su, you're exaggerating."

"Not an exaggeration, not at all."

Su Qingyue sat back down, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and finally recovered.