Chapter 593: I Am Yours
Ren and his companion indulged in an exceptionally high-quality feast. The table was adorned with perfectly seared Scallops Saint-Jacques, a steaming pot of Mussels in White Wine, a rich and savory Mashed Potato Gratin with Minced Beef, and a tender Blanquette de Veau, all preceded by a vibrant vegetable and seafood salad.
Ren deliberately ignored the traditional progression of courses. He knew Ichihara Yuko's bottomless appetite perfectly well; adhering to formal dining etiquette would only leave her hungry later. Kojiro Shinomiya, the chef, was more than pleased with this unorthodox ordering, as it provided him the rare opportunity to receive feedback on a wider array of his main and side dishes.
Kojiro had initially assumed that even if he cooked until he dropped, Ren would only offer critiques on one or two main courses. The reality of the feast far exceeded his expectations.
Ren's own aperitif was elegantly simple: a crisp glass of champagne paired with a few olives. Earlier that afternoon, Yuko had fully expected to be dragging Ren to street vendors for crepes, right up until she watched him effortlessly order half the menu's main courses.
Ren's offhand comment at the time had left her in exceptionally high spirits. "There is no need to follow the strict order of appetizers and sides," he had told the waiter. "Just bring out a few more main courses so this idiot does not start complaining about being hungry again in a few hours."
Yuko had simply smiled. Even wrapped in an insult, his careful thoughtfulness warmed her. Main courses at a restaurant of this caliber were far from cheap, though money meant nothing to either of them.
Now, watching her happily savor a piece of tender beef, Ren offered a dry, amused smile. "What is it? Did the beef offend your palate?"
"Of course not," Yuko replied, her voice carrying that signature airy grace. "Am I not allowed to simply be in a good mood? Honestly, how did you manage to trick so many good women into falling for you?"
Ren paused, swirling his champagne. "So, by your logic, all the girls I have pursued are good women, and the ones I have not are bad? Are you openly admitting to being a bad woman?"
"I am certainly not a bad woman," she retorted smoothly. "And you are changing the subject again."
Ren chuckled softly, shaking his head. He raised his glass, gently tapping the rim against hers. "Cheers."
Yuko rolled her eyes playfully, but the gesture lacked any real bite. She met his glass with a delicate clink, her tone shifting into a lazy, magnetic drawl. "Cheers."
Taking a slow sip of the ruby-red wine, she let out a breath of pure contentment. Her dark eyes locked onto his, the playful veneer melting into something deeply deep. "You know, you are the first man who has ever made me feel that every single day is something to look forward to. You are the only one. And you will be the last."
"Then I am truly honored," Ren replied, his voice a calm, steady anchor.
A teasing smile curved her lips. "Are you jealous?"
"Hm? Jealous of whom?"
"Alright, alright, you are not the jealous type, but..."
Ren watched her with mild curiosity. Without warning, Yuko stood from her chair. She leaned across the pristine tablecloth, her movements fluid and deliberate, and hooked a slender arm around his neck. The scent of her perfume mingled with the rich aroma of the wine as she leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear.
"But," she whispered, her voice trembling with a raw, possessive heat, "I am yours now. And I will be yours in the future. Until the very end of our lives, I am yours. Even if I were to disappear from existence... I am yours."
Ren studied the intense vulnerability in her eyes. A faint smile touched his lips. "If that is the case, why do you still insist on rebelling against me?"
Yuko let out a soft, breathy laugh. "That does not change how I feel. Besides, causing you a little trouble is a personal hobby of mine."
Ren shook his head, thoroughly amused.
Her smile faded slightly, replaced by a haunting sincerity. "Do you know... I actually died once in that world. But because of our contract, I was revived as if nothing had ever happened. It was the first time I had ever experienced such a sensation. Do you know what was going through my mind in that dark void?"
She traced the collar of his shirt. "I thought of home. I thought of Lucifer and the others. But in the end... every single image faded away until all that remained was you, the head of our household. It was a truly wondrous experience."
Ren's expression softened. He reached up, gently resting his hand over hers. "So you, you absolute idiot, decided to tough it out all on your own."
"I like that answer," Yuko murmured, her eyes half-closed. "Here is your reward."
She pressed a tender, lingering kiss to his cheek. Pulling back just enough to look into his eyes, she whispered, "I am back."
Ren tilted his head up, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Welcome back, Yuko."
A sudden flush of heat rushed to Yuko's cheeks. A heavy lump formed in her throat, and the overwhelming urge to cry threatened to shatter her composure. Heaven only knew the sheer, paralyzing terror she had felt when her life force drained away, forcing the contract's resurrection to trigger. It was a cold, desolate abyss she never wanted to face again.
She gave a delicate sniffle. She had not cried when she returned to life, nor when she first felt the warmth of his embrace again. She had been so certain she could hold it all back now, but the faint redness rimming her eyes betrayed her completely.
Ren chuckled, his thumb gently brushing her cheek. "What is wrong?"
"I am perfectly fine, Ren," she said, forcing a radiant smile to mask the tremor in her voice. She quickly glanced down at the table. "Do you know the proper way to eat these white wine mussels?"
"Would you like me to teach you?"
"I have a feeling you know a much better way."
Ren calmly picked up one of the shells. "Break off the empty half of the shell. Use it as a spoon to scoop out the meat, gather a little of the seasoned broth, and open your mouth."
Yuko paused, captivated by his steady movements, then obediently parted her lips. As the rich, wine-infused broth and tender meat hit her tongue, her eyes widened in genuine delight. She chewed slowly, savoring the burst of flavor, before offering a brilliant smile. "I am never leaving your side again."
"Sit down and eat properly," Ren instructed dryly.
Yuko settled back into her seat, her playful demeanor fully restored. "Have you ever heard a certain saying? A very famous quote."
"Enlighten me."
"A successful man should carefully prepare mussels for the woman sitting across from him who harbors deep feelings for him, and then personally feed them to her."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "And which historic visionary said that?"
"Ichihara Yuko."
Ren sighed softly, picking up another shell. "Open your mouth."
By the time the two finally concluded their meal, the afternoon sun was already casting long shadows. It was nearly two o'clock. They had lingered over the table, talking about countless trivial and deep things. During this quiet lull, Kojiro Shinomiya's restaurant had seen no new customers, allowing the chef to approach their table undisturbed.
Kojiro wiped his hands on a pristine towel, a confident yet expectant smile on his face. "How was everything?"
"Your willingness to deviate from your rigid, original cooking methods is a massive step forward," Ren evaluated calmly. "However, there are still areas requiring refinement. You are hailed as the Magician of Legumes, but you must remember that vegetables possess a strict shelf life. Meat is exactly the same; every ingredient carries its own inherent, fleeting flavor profile."
Kojiro frowned slightly, absorbing the words. "Are you referring to the meat juice?"
"Precisely. The skin, the internal juices, the texture of the meat itself—you need to clearly distinguish the boundaries between those three elements. As for the seafood... it was a solid improvement, but you need to be bolder next time. A touch of Tahitian vanilla would elevate the dish immensely."
Kojiro nodded slowly. "I had actually considered that, but during the prep, it felt like something vital was still missing."
"The missing element you were searching for is kaffir lime leaves," Ren explained. "And the missing technique is temperature control. You need to incorporate ice cubes to shock the ingredients and lock in the crispness."
Kojiro froze. He stood in absolute silence for a long moment, his mind racing through the chemical reactions and flavor pairings. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with fierce clarity. "Yes! That is exactly it! You truly are on another level."
"How much is the bill?" Ren asked, pulling out his wallet.
"Two thousand four hundred," Kojiro replied.
"That cheap?"
"That is simply the standard price for this establishment."
Ren smiled faintly, shaking his head. He handed over the payment without another word.
Stepping out of the restaurant and into the bustling afternoon streets, Yuko immediately looped her arm through Ren's, pressing close to his side. She looked up at him, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Ren, do you happen to know another famous quote?"
"Let me guess. A successful man should carry all the bags when his woman goes shopping?"
"Did Ichihara Yuko say that one too?"
"Yuko," Ren said, his tone perfectly flat. "I seem to recall you mentioning earlier that you merely wanted to 'test out' our contract, which directly led to you courting death. Do you know a famous saying about that?"
Yuko blinked innocently. "I do not."
"A successful woman should kneel on a washboard after confessing her reckless mistakes. That is how she earns her wine."
Yuko gasped, her aristocratic composure breaking into a theatrical pout. "Ah?! No way! I was just testing the waters!"
"It appears your famous quotes are not always applicable," Ren noted dryly.
"Hmph! You are just forcing me to rebel against you!"
"My deepest apologies," Ren said, entirely unapologetic. "Now hurry up and buy what you want."
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