King Crab

As the viewers egged them on, the boyfriend and girlfriend fans in Su Tingbai's livestream could no longer sit still.

[Don't believe rumors or spread them. Don't make things up about Brother Tingbai when he hasn't said anything.]

[Hard pass. Brother Tingbai has never said he was dating. Some people need to know when to stop.]

[He is dating. He's dating me. Satisfied now?]

[Shameless person upstairs. It's obviously me!]

[Neither of you. It's me!]

The viewers ignored them and kept digging for clues.

[Actually... Su Tingbai has seemed off recently. What new changes have there been lately?]

[Nothing major, except a new guest arrived.]

[Oh? Don't tell me it's what I think it is?]

The viewers' imaginations ran wild, and some people were dissatisfied.

[Is the new guest trying to ride Su Tingbai's coattails to fame? Why are they talking about him all day long?]

[Exactly. Someone who doesn't even dare show their face, yet acts so affected. I don't get why so many people like them. Could they be paid commenters?]

[I really don't know why so many people think Su Tingbai would like someone who keeps hiding their identity.]

[They're all paid commenters hired by certain people, right?]

[They already said he's only taking care of him at an elder's request. Could some of the new guest's fans please stop spreading rumors?]

[Then I can't think of why Su Tingbai has been acting strange lately. Anyway, he treats the new guest very specially.]

[+1]

[@TingbaiIsACabbage, are you really dating someone? Lately, you seem like you were rejected by your secret crush and are feeling down.]

[@TingbaiIsACabbage, Su Tingbai, say something. Are you dating? Why are you so emotionally unsettled?]

Su Tingbai finally finished grilling that batch of skewers. When he looked up, the screen was full of people asking whether he was dating.

Dating? Emotionally unsettled?

Su Tingbai froze and instinctively wiped his face. Was he? No, right?

Since ignoring it completely did not seem right, Su Tingbai said, "Who could I even date?"

After saying that, he instinctively turned to look at Shen Rui'an. Seeing him get up and prepare to come over, Su Tingbai immediately placed a handful of skewers on a plate, picked it up, and walked over.

He completely forgot about the livestream viewers. Little did he know that his words had already set them off.

[Did that mean he admitted it, or didn't admit it?]

[He didn't say he was dating, but he also didn't say he didn't want to date.]

[Could he really have a secret crush?]

[Oh, I told you he looked like someone with a crush.]

[Impossible!]

[I only became your fan because you were different from those flashy sluts out there. If you're really dating, then bye-bye.]

[If you're really dating, then stop pretending to be single, okay? Were you playing with my feelings?]

[Stop spreading rumors. Brother Tingbai already said he isn't dating!]

[Brother Tingbai, if you want to date, could you consider me first?]

[Get in line behind me. I'm first!]

[Pick me for love, I'm super sweet!]

[Another influencer pretending to be a forever-single king when he's actually a scumbag. If you're dating, then give back the gifts I sent you!]

[Brother Tingbai's response was that he isn't dating. Could you stop imagining that he wants to date? My brother has been single forever.]

The viewers could not stand some of the fans and immediately fired back.

[Su Tingbai never said he didn't want to date either. Fans, can you stop putting words in his mouth?]

[Seriously, what does whether Su Tingbai dates have to do with you? He isn't an idol. Does he need to report to you before dating?]

[I've been a fan of Su Tingbai for quite a while. Honestly, I think he just loves cooking. Why are so many people obsessed with prying into his love life? He's not some celebrity or influencer deliberately selling a single persona. So what if he dates someone?]

[I've followed Su Tingbai for a long time, and I don't remember him ever pretending to be single? Haven't you people been the ones constantly asking until he got annoyed enough to answer? Since when did he build a persona?]

[Agreed. Usually everyone watches him cook and chat about daily life, but certain people always want to steer things toward romance, then falsely accuse him of building a persona. Is answering that he's single enough to count as building one?]

[Some fans are way too controlling. If Su Tingbai wants to date, he can date. If he doesn't, he doesn't. He isn't your puppet, and he doesn't rely on you for a living. Can you let me watch the barbecue in peace?]

[Am I the only one who wants to eat Su Tingbai's barbecue? Oh my god, it looks so tempting!]

[Fate torments a glutton. I swear that once I'm rich, I'll buy a phone that can share taste sensations!]

[My kindred spirit! Every time I follow Su Tingbai's tutorials, I just don't have the talent, and what I make turns out completely different. But I'm still craving it!]

[Hehe! Luckily, I had the foresight to order barbecue!]

[I'm eating fried chicken. Not jealous.]

[Am I the only one curious what ingredients Boss Xing and President Huo brought this time?]

[If I remember correctly, didn't they say King Crab?]

[Looking forward to it...]

Shen Rui'an sat for a while after finishing his grilled sausage and finally recovered.

Catching the fragrant scent of grilled wings, he walked over while holding two wooden skewers. When he saw Su Tingbai approaching with a plate of beautifully browned grilled chicken wings, the aroma nearly made Shen Rui'an float away.

He casually tossed the skewers into the trash and ran toward Su Tingbai. "Su Tingbai, what delicious thing did you make this time? It smells so good!"

Shen Rui'an looked utterly blissful. Seeing him act like such a greedy little cat, everyone could not help smiling knowingly.

People were always especially tolerant of beautiful things.

Hearing that bright "Su Tingbai," the corners of Su Tingbai's lips unconsciously lifted. Even he did not notice that his voice had softened considerably. "I grilled some chicken wings, New Orleans flavor. Try one."

When Shen Rui'an saw the large chicken wing on the plate, he let out a wow, then looked at the others. "There's only one?"

Su Tingbai shook his head and placed the chicken wing in his hand. "Eat it. There's more than one. I saved some for them."

As he spoke, he looked back. Little Zhu, Xing Ying, and the others had each picked up a chicken wing from the plate and were carefully examining them. These wings really were wing-sized!

In the end, Little Zhu could not resist the temptation and took a bite. The meat was so tender that juice burst out, and he immediately sped up his chewing.

Shen Rui'an swallowed, tempted by the smell. Holding the chicken wing, he looked at Su Tingbai. "Are you eating?"

Su Tingbai suddenly felt gratified. It was rare for the little kitten he had raised to remember to show him filial respect. Pretending that he was about to take a bite, he saw Shen Rui'an tense up, his eyes fixed straight on the wing. It amused Su Tingbai so much that he laughed. "I'm just teasing you. Eat it. There are more over there."

Realizing that he had been tricked, Shen Rui'an huffed. "You're awful."

He fiercely bit into the chicken wing. "Now there won't be any left even if you want some!"

"It's fine. I can grill more." He raised his hand, wanting to rub Shen Rui'an's head, but seemed to realize something and stiffly lowered it. Turning away, he said, "I'll grill some vegetables too. A balanced mix of meat and vegetables."

With that, he strode back to the grill on his long legs.

Shen Rui'an tilted his head, a question mark practically rising above him. Strange. Hadn't Su Tingbai wanted to rub his head? Why had he stopped?

Shen Rui'an was perfectly comfortable with Su Tingbai rubbing his head. Maybe it was because his family liked to rub his head too, so he was used to it.

Sitting before the grill, Su Tingbai lowered his eyes and glanced at his hand. Hmm, there's a little grease on it. It wouldn't be good to rub Shen Xiaoyao's head and get his hair dirty, would it?

Thinking that, he pulled out a tissue and wiped his hand. His gaze fell on the foam cooler containing the King Crab.

He looked toward those two troublesome friends hovering around Shen Rui'an and frowned slightly. "The King Crab you brought is in there?"

Xing Ying had still been trying to chat with Shen Rui'an. Hearing that, he replied, "Yeah, it's in there. How are you planning to prepare it?"

King Crab? Shen Rui'an's eyes lit up as he walked straight to Su Tingbai's side. "King Crab? Is it in there? How are we eating it?"

Shen Rui'an was intensely curious, still holding the half-eaten chicken wing in his hand.

Su Tingbai's attention was drawn to the corner of his mouth. He naturally pulled out a tissue and wiped it. "You got some sauce on you."

Lowering his head to look at the foam cooler, he answered Shen Rui'an, "Since we're barbecuing, we'll grill it. I brought cheese. How about cheesy grilled crab legs?"

Thinking of what he had seen food streamers eat, Shen Rui'an quickly nodded. His eyes sparkled as he looked at Su Tingbai. A flicker of delight rose in Su Tingbai's heart, and he could not help straightening his back as he opened the insulated box. The King Crabs inside were still alive, their legs still moving.

There were two especially large ones. Shen Rui'an stretched his neck out. "They're bigger than my head!"

The others gathered around as well. Since Little Zhu and the others had occasionally seen Su Tingbai prepare King Crab before, they were not unfamiliar with it, but it was their first time seeing one this large!

They could not help exclaiming in amazement.

"Damn, it really is bigger than my head!"

"Wow, Boss, these two are bigger than any I've ever seen!"

"Oh my god, who knows how much crab roe is inside!"

"I remember crab meat mixed rice and crab roe fried rice have been popular in South Korea lately. Served in the crab shell, they have a special charm."

Xing Ying and Huo Heng had seen and eaten plenty of King Crab, so they did not find it particularly rare. Still, thinking of how they had personally selected these two made them especially proud. "Of course! Huo Three and I picked for ages! These two were the biggest!"

Shen Rui'an also looked expectantly at Su Tingbai. "Crab roe fried rice?"

He had never eaten it before.

Su Tingbai put on food-safe gloves, efficiently took out one King Crab, washed it, placed it on the cutting board, and chopped off its legs. "King Crab belongs to the Stone Crab family. It isn't a real crab, and physiologically, it can't produce crab roe or crab paste."

After cutting off all the legs, he continued, "So there's no crab roe or crab paste. Some food streamers in South Korea don't understand this and might eat its liver, pancreas, and other organs as crab paste or roe. Many of those parts can't be eaten, so it's best not to eat them."

Shen Rui'an looked disappointed.

Su Tingbai comforted him, "There may not be crab roe fried rice, but there can be crab meat fried rice."

Shen Rui'an perked right back up.