True Love Waits

Evelyn laid bare his lie. "Joshua already has my phone number. How do you think I know you were waiting here?"

"Fine, don't give it to me. At least, let's have lunch together. If you don't want to eat out, I'll cook for you," Sheffield offered.

She wanted to continue refusing him, but seeing the pleading look in his eyes, she finally gave in. "Okay."

He was about to kiss her when she added, "Invite Joshua."

"Why? He's probably on duty now," he said in a displeased tone.

"He is my boyfriend. If I go to your house alone, he might feel uncomfortable. Besides, it's noon now. He should be off duty," Evelyn insisted.

To be with her, Sheffield reluctantly called Joshua.

Before calling his friend, Sheffield stretched out his right hand in front of her. There was a packaged plum in his palm.

He opened it for her and put it into her mouth regardless of her objection. "I bought it specially for you, so you have to eat it. If you spit it out, I will not invite Joshua, and I'll drive you to my place right away and have sex with you!"

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "How childish you are!"

The call connected in no time. Both of them could hear Joshua's voice in the quiet car. "Dude, why do you keep calling me all the time? Are you in love with me? Leave me alone. I'm taking my girl to lunch." Sheffield turned to Evelyn. "Did you hear that? Your boyfriend is such a dick. He's going on a date with another girl."

Evelyn didn't respond.

"Who is with you, Sheffield?" asked Joshua.

"Your girlfriend. I'm going to cook lunch for her. Do you want to come? If you don't come, I will sleep with your-Argh!" Evelyn pinched his waist.

"What was that pitiful cry? Are you already sleeping with my girlfriend?" With a wave to his colleagues, Joshua got in his car.

Sheffield grabbed onto Evelyn's hand and yelled into the phone, "Screw you. Are you coming or not?"

Maestro Tang is cooking a meal. How could I miss it? Tell me, when was the last time you cooked for anyone?"

the supermarket first. You go to my place and wait for us

"All right."

the cheek while she wasn't paying attention. "Let's

to the

and Sheffield started looking for the

convinced my master to accept me as his disciple by cooking just one dish

his skills, Sheffield had never cooked that dish to

felt guilty. It was time for him to pay

master?" Evelyn asked

my master out of pure coincidence." He saw a fish he liked, and grabbed the net to catch it. He continued, "Back then, although my grandfather had been in touch with my master, they hadn't seen each other in decades. Then, I met my

down once and asked, "You know

whispered, "I had access to my grandfather's secret notes and learned a lot from it. So, if something happens to yo- I mean, if you have any questions about traditional Chinese medicine, you can ask me." He was going to say, "If something happens to you," but that sounded like he was

over to take the fish that Sheffield had caught, and gut it

don't know anything about traditional Chinese medicine. So, I have no questions to ask," replied

We'll finish this

But

"What about scallops?"

head. "I

"Hairy crabs?"

"Okay."

you some choices," he said with a grin. "Do you want to eat stewed trotter with plum, raw

can cook all of those?" she asked. If that was really true, it was

Stop doubting me." He had read the recipes and had tried cooking them himself. If he hadn't practiced cooking them, he wouldn't have suggested cooking them for her. "But I don't think we can cook all three of them now. Let's have the stewed trotter with plum, and the next time, I'll cook the

"I wonder if you

sighed and said, "Okay. I'll make two dishes today-the stewed trotter with plum and the radish salad with plum. I'll cook the other one next

"Deal."