Because I simply love you

He looked at Nana who was also cutting some veggies over at her station. But he couldn't figure out anything because she was like a complete chef ninja. In just a blink of an eye, all of those vegetables were neatly and finely chopped.

What sorcery did she use? How did she do that so fast?

In the end, he didn't learn anything. He stared at the mushrooms for a second and started chopping them however his gut feeling was telling him to do.

He then took the cutting board with the *cough* "chopped" mushrooms and placed it in front of her.

"Ah thank- ...you", Nana's voice got lower and lower as she spoke. She blinked her eyes rapidly.

What…is this? The poor mushrooms died the most horrific death. They were cut in literally any angle, in any size and in any shape. It was brutal.

She raised her head to look and widened her eyes.

"Mr. Liu. It's you. What are you doing here?", she looked down and then up and seemed to realize something.

"Did you chop them?"

He hesitated. He figured out by watching her expressions that he had not done a very good job.

"…Yes."

She saw how pitiful he looked. Clearly, he was feeling sad over his failed attempt.

Nana wanted to hold back her chuckle but ended up laughing out loud.

"Ahaha haha haha."

He kept quiet.

Nana quickly said, "Oh no, I did not laugh because of how you chopped but how cute you looked just now. Just like a dog who has done something wrong and waiting to be scolded."

She was still laughing silently.

His mouth twitched. The analogy...

"But why did you do it?"

"You told to dice and give them to you."

"Huh? Oh, that! It was not for you. I thought it was Bo or Zhemin who came. I asked thinking you are either of them. You should have cleared yourself." She shook her head.

"Don't worry. I will fix it." She took the cutting board and chopped them into her standards in just ten seconds.

He blinked. "I'm sorry I increased your work."

"Ah, it's no problem, Mr. Liu. That reminds me. Why did you come here?"

"Well, I got the report and read how much my employees are praising and loving your food and all the changes you have done. I just wanted to personally congratulate you."

She felt shy. "Ah. Thank you so much."

He nodded.

The curry started to boil.

"Ah."

He observed her cooking. It seemed like she had much to do.

"Can I help?"

She was surprised. "Help?" Looking at those mushrooms condition she figured out he was not much of a cook.

"En."

He looked pretty sincere, and it was not bad to learn.

"Um okay. Let's start with chopping only. There is fried rice so we have to cut the bell peppers. I will teach you."

"Take the bell peppers and- No no stop! You are holding the knife the wrong way.", she quickly snatched the knife away from him.

She got scared. The way he held the knife felt like he was out to butcher someone. No wonder those mushrooms suffered that fate.

I see. I have to start from the beginning.

"Let's start with the correct way of holding the knife okay?"

He nodded.

"Curl your fingers around its handle aligned with your index finger. That will give you a proper grip on it."

He did as told.

"En. Now first watch me doing." She very slowly started cutting the bell pepper for him to see clearly.

"This is your first time. So be very careful. Watch your fingers. You don't want to be cut. It's okay even if you are slow. There is no rush."

"En."

He tried chopping them but it was nowhere like how Nana did.

"It's okay. Things are difficult in the beginning. Just do slowly."

He didn't leave any bell pepper.

"Keep the knife straight."

"Cut it into thin stripes like this."

"Careful! The knife will slip."

At every turn, Nana was really patient in teaching him. She did not show even an ounce of annoyance.

Finally, he learned to chop decently. Along with bell peppers, they cut other vegetables too needed for curry and other dishes.

"Now stir curry for three minutes. It will start to have a thicker texture."

He started stirring while she took care of the fried rice.

After a while, she checked on it and took a spoonful of curry.

"Here. Taste it.", she said and brought the spoon near his mouth.

Jinhai also quickly ducked and she fed him.

Both suddenly froze. They realized it seemed a bit intimate to do that. But it felt very natural.

Nana's face reddened. Jinhai gulped the bite.

"Ah that…", she tried to say something.

"En. The curry is very good."

"Nana! I have come for the taste testing again.", Father Liu's cheerful voice came.

He entered and was shocked.

"Son? You are here? What is the CEO doing in the kitchen?"

Jinhai's mouth twitched. Why did everybody have the same confusion today? And dad. You are also the ex-CEO. Your presence can also be questioned.

"Nothing. I just came to congratulate her."

"Of course you should! It's a great success. Everybody has loved it. It's all because of me. Praise me. I gave such a brilliant idea.", Father Liu said ecstatically.

Jinhai simply shook his head. He doesn't leave any chance to glorify himself.