Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 558

"Isn't that running routine of yours a bit... excessive? To the uninitiated, it might seem like you're gearing up for a marathon or something..."

Owen Reynolds just chuckled, a hint of sheepishness hidden within his laughter.

Roseanne pressed on, "Isn't the lab keeping you busy these days?"

"Well, I've delegated some tasks to Stoddard."

Meanwhile, Stoddard, still toiling away in the lab, sneezed repeatedly. "Achoo! Achoo! Look at you, so high and mighty!"

Owen asked, "Had breakfast yet?"

Roseanne nodded, "Yes, and you?"

"Same here. Got any plans for today?"

"Just a bunch of papers to dig into," she pondered.

"Got a package from a buddy in Montana last night, full of wild mushrooms. They're all yours now."

Wild mushrooms?

That was a real treat.

"Why are you giving them to me? Don't you want any?"

Owen laughed it off, "I barely cook as it is. Mushrooms go bad if you don't use them. Better you have them."

"Alright then, I won't hold back!"

They headed upstairs together.

Upon entering Owen's place, Roseanne spotted a large Styrofoam box behind the door.

Inside were various mushrooms - morels, chanterelles, truffles, hedgehogs...

It was as if the whole of Montana's edible winter fungi had been delivered right here.

Each type of mushroom was vacuum-sealed in its own bag, still looking fresh despite the journey and a day's wait.

Roseanne was over the moon: "Professor, these are hard to find in the market. Are you sure you don't want any?"

Owen insisted she take them, "Go ahead, take them."

"Great! Then come over for a mushroom hot pot tonight!" she declared, grabbing the box and leaving no room for Owen to decline.

At five in the afternoon, Owen arrived on time to help out.

Entering the kitchen, he found Roseanne had already cleaned and prepped the mushrooms.