The table was loaded with a generous spread of fifteen dishes, but the star of the show was a soup in the center, blossoming like a flower.
Brielle, trying to keep things low-key, gently tugged at King's sleeve and whispered, "Do you think we'll actually get to eat, or are we just here to admire the decor? Dustin really outdid himself this time."
Dustin's cooking was known for its light and subtle flavors, except for the braised pork belly, which packed a bit more punch.
Brielle gracefully took her seat at the table, accepting a pair of chopsticks from Dustin.
King followed suit, but found himself chopstick-less.
Without missing a beat, Dustin handed a pair to Isaac and Brielle but skipped King.
Unfazed, King got up and fetched himself a new pair from the kitchen.
Dustin stayed silent.
Once seated next to Brielle, King attentively ladled soup into her bowl.
Isaac, seated close to Dustin, tasted the soup and his eyes lit up with hearts as he looked at Dustin with admiration.
"Uncle, this is amazing. I love it."
The word "uncle" caught King off guard, nearly making him choke on his soup.
Dustin, on the other hand, beamed with pride.
This kid's way with words was miles ahead of King's.
He quickly served Isaac a piece of squirrel fish.
"Little cicada, eat up. You're still growing."
Isaac nodded and dove into his meal, completely at ease among family, no longer hiding his feelings.
Brielle was thoroughly enjoying the meal, giving Dustin a thumbs up with every new dish she tried.
"Bro, you're a culinary genius."
Dustin chuckled and glanced at King with a hint of rivalry in his eyes.
From the moment Dustin arrived, he had won over both Brielle and Isaac, turning them into his biggest fans.
Isaac, usually so quiet, was already planning the next meal with Dustin.
Dustin patted him on the head, his eyes soft.
"I'll be staying around for a bit longer, so I'll come over and cook whenever I can, okay?"
Isaac nodded vigorously and eagerly served Dustin a piece of the braised pork belly.
"Uncle, try this."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)
New chapters please. Story is really interesting and i love both the ML and FL....
The rest???...