A dinner unlike any other

Charlize Theron, dressed and stepping out of her bedroom, looked at the unusual house with a hint of surprise.

The most striking feature is the steel platforms of varying heights erected along the wall. Their shapes are not uniform; the only similarity is that the edges and corners are polished to be very smooth and rounded, posing no threat whatsoever.

A sofa is placed in the very center of the living room. From a space utilization perspective, placing a sofa in this location is quite odd.

Apart from the kitchen, which was fully equipped, the rest of the walls were filled with strange and unusual machines, most of which Charlize didn't recognize. Only a record player and a CRT screen that looked like a television were recognizable to her.

However, they looked like speaker cabinets, seven or eight of them of various sizes, mounted in the corner of the room's ceiling.

The speakers are all pointed at the same spot, which is the sofa, and all speakers are at the same relative distance from the sofa.

The Tiger, known as "Tabby Cat Kitty," was eating from a metal food bowl. The smacking and chewing sounds were particularly frightening.

Surprisingly, Charlize didn't seem nervous at all. At least compared to being surrounded by a group of men that morning, this Tiger was much more adorable.

Henry, who was busy in the kitchen, saw the girl come out of the room and immediately reminded her, "Charlize, is there anything you don't like to eat? I'll just stir-fry a few dishes, it'll be ready in no time."

"Also, don't go near Kitty while she's eating. If you want to pet her, wait until she finishes eating. This little guy isn't very clingy, but she has a very good temper."

Damn it, you Krypton two-legged creature, how could I not have a good temper?

The Tiger, who had intended to yell at someone but instead buried himself in his food, magnanimously forgave the Kryptonian who couldn't speak properly.

"Is there anything I can help with?" Although she really wanted to pet the Tiger, Charlize followed Henry's advice and didn't approach it while it was eating. Instead, she walked around the Tiger and went to the edge of the kitchen.

As for her cooking skills... they're currently at the level of just getting food to Deadman, and she hasn't asked her mother for advice. Compared to the man in front of her, whose stir-frying skills resembled those of a restaurant chef, Charlize had no intention of exposing her shortcomings.

"Please put the plates and cutlery where you want to eat. There are drinks in the Fridge; take out whatever you'd like to drink."

There was no place in the room that looked like a dining table, so Charlize placed the plates and cutlery on a low table in front of the sofa.

As for the drinks in the Fridge, there was juice, milk, ice water, and bitter beer. Charlize had tried that brand of beer before because it was really cheap. But after trying it once, she vowed never to drink it again.

Although most beers brewed with hops are bitter, the bitterness varies in degree, and the taste on the palate also differs.

However, compared to those beers that claim to be bitter, that taste really can't compare. This one is genuinely bitter; one sip and your face will scrunch up.

So Charlize took out some ice water and placed it on the low table in front of the sofa.

This was also Henry's oversight. He didn't expect to have any guests at his house, and since he was not a heavy drinker, he didn't prepare many different kinds of alcohol.

Drinking isn't fun if you don't get drunk.

There wasn't a single bottle of common whiskey or wine. The bitter beer in the Fridge was just a cheap substitute for bottled water.

The only exception is the cooking rice wine kept in the kitchen. This stuff is for cooking, not for drinking.

Actually, there was something else that surprised him. The fact that there was no liquor cabinet, or that the Fridge was full of beer, made Charlize Theron like him even more.

After all, no one likes an alcoholic, especially Charlize, who has a bad history. To her, alcoholic men are usually accompanied by frightening violence and irrational behavior.

No matter how kind a man may appear in normal times, he may become violent when drunk or under stress.

While this isn't always the case, non-alcoholic men are far more trustworthy than alcoholics. That's Charlize Theron's assessment.

Henry prepared Italy spaghetti, braised fish, and a plate of scrambled eggs with chives. The key point was that the chives weren't chopped, but cut into sections. It was a taste from a long-forgotten memory.

Once dinner was ready, it was placed on the low table where Charlize had set the dishes. "Here, have a taste. If you don't like it, I'll prepare some other dishes."

In the 1990s in the United States, Chinese food wasn't as widespread, or rather, it hadn't entered most white households. Even chopsticks were not something many people could use properly. This was quite different from the situation thirty years later.

So Charlize was still using a knife and fork, while Henry got himself an extra pair of chopsticks.

When Charlize saw the dishes served, the tomato Italy was still within her comprehension, but the braised fish and scrambled eggs with chives were definitely not.

I'd probably seen the former somewhere else, but I'd never actually eaten it. I'd never eaten the latter either, but I could still recognize the ingredients at a glance. It's just that the flavor of chives was quite strong, and Charlize wasn't sure if she could get used to it.

Encouraged by Henry, she picked up a fork, first scraping off a piece of fish and putting it in her mouth.

The rich, flavorful braised fish, combined with the fresh taste of the fish, instantly captivated Charlize's taste buds. It was as if nothing else mattered, including the terrifying ordeal that morning; all she needed was this bite to eat.

After starting with the braised fish, Charlize mustered her courage, scooped up a piece of scrambled eggs with chives with a spoon, and ate it as well.

Although not as amazing as braised fish, its unique flavor was not unpleasant. Without Henry even urging her, Charlize devoured the dinner with her knife, fork, and spoon flying everywhere.

After what happened during the day, how could she possibly eat a peaceful lunch? Then came another unspeakable battle in the afternoon. She was starving, and didn't care about table manners at all.

Henry didn't follow Charlize's lead; he went to the record player first and put on John Pachelbel's Canon, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

This is the most famous Canon piece. The original version was played by three violins, accompanied by the harpsichord, cello, and lute. The version played on vinyl records is an arrangement for a symphony orchestra, performed by a world-renowned symphony orchestra.

The music wasn't turned up too loud. But almost the instant it started, Charlize felt a unique sensation, as if she were enjoying a live performance in a concert hall.

This made Charlize understand why the sofa was placed there. It was indeed the best spot in the room to listen to music.

Henry wasn't the only one who knew how to enjoy music. After finishing dinner, Kitty also ran to the low table, wanting to see what was on the table that she could eat.

If Charlize said she didn't care when such a big Tiger walked up to her, that would be a lie.

However, Henry gently pressed the back of Kitty's neck and said, "If you want to pet her, you can scratch her chin, head, or back. Try not to touch her feet, belly, or tail, or she'll get angry. Oh, and don't pull her whiskers."

"Can I really touch it?"

"Give it a try, you won't regret it."

Charlize Theron was scratching the Tiger's chin, making Kitty squint her eyes in pleasure, looking incredibly cute and innocent. Seeing the Tiger's expression gave this bold girl a feeling of discovering a new world.