Porridge and Steamed Buns
1020 Words
Nina didn't dare touch the expensive-looking drinks and food in the refrigerator, so she just made a bowl of noodles with vegetables. However, she noticed that even the CEO's vegetables tasted much better than those outside...
By nine o'clock, Eugene still hadn't returned home, and Nina didn't dare sleep, remembering the clause about being available at any time. But she didn't know where she should wait for him—if she waited in her room, she might not have heard when the CEO called for her. Should she have left the lights on if she waited in the living room?
After some thought, Nina brought a small stool to the kitchen. She studied her textbook while waiting for the CEO's return, ensuring she could attend to him immediately and provide the best service.
She comforted herself, thinking this was how butlers acted in TV shows.
Nina was studyingLiterature. A University'sLiterature department was top-tier nationally, producing many great talents since its establishment in the Republican era. Numerous famous writers and scholars taught there.
The first semester had few courses, just a few general education classes besides her major courses. Except for Wednesday evenings, she only needed to stay at school until the afternoon on other days.
Nina was reading her Ancient Literature textbook. Two months into the semester, they had finished studying the "Book of Songs" and were starting on the "Zuo Commentary" and other pre-Qin narrative prose.
The literary characteristics of the "Zuo Commentary" narrative are mainly reflected in two aspects: its skillful literary arrangement and its use of omniscient narration.
At this point, she suddenly heard the door opening, and her heart jumped at the sound. She quickly stood up, put down her book, and asked what he needed.
When Eugene came in and saw the lights on, he was surprised for a moment, then remembered his assistant telling him earlier that day that the maid had moved in.
"Get me some water," he said, loosening his tie.
"Yes, CEO." Though Nina was terrified inside, her movements were efficient as she poured him warm water.
"That's all, you can go to bed."
"Um... what would you like for breakfast tomorrow? The assistant said I should prepare breakfast." Nina's hands were twisted together behind her back.
"Porridge and steamed buns."
"Ah, okay, please rest well." Fearing she might be scolded if she stayed even a second longer, Nina kept her head down and ran upstairs.
She let out a long breath only after closing her door, her heart still pounding. She had been terrified.
After calming down, Nina suddenly realized something and dropped her head in frustration—she had left her textbook in the kitchen.
She absolutely didn't dare go back down to get the book now, but she would need to wake up early tomorrow to make steamed buns and cook porridge anyway, so she just needed to remember to put the book in her backpack then.
After finishing his water, the germaphobic Eugene habitually went to the kitchen to wash his glass and found a small stool and a book there.
He glanced at it—"History of Ancient Literature." The new little maid had been sitting here reading before he came home.
Eugene put down the washed glass, realizing he wouldn't need to come to the kitchen anymore. For things like washing glasses, he should have her stay to clean up before going upstairs next time.
...
Nina set her alarm for five o'clock and got up immediately after the first ring—people with low incomes have no right to sleep in, and she and her mother had been getting up early for many years.
After washing up, she went downstairs to prepare breakfast. The refrigerator had fresh, high-quality pork, chicken, mushrooms, and more. Since Eugene hadn't specified what kind of steamed buns he wanted yesterday, she decided to make three different kinds, two of each—he could eat whichever he liked, and she would eat the rest or save them for lunch.
As for the porridge, she made preserved egg and lean pork porridge. She simmered it for a full hour, bringing out all the flavors of the rice, preserved egg, and lean pork until it was glossy and thick, bubbling away in the pot with a gentle "glug-glug."
She had learned this skill while working at a breakfast shop.
At seven o'clock, she placed the steaming breakfast on the dining table right on time.
The porridge was served in a classical-style ceramic bowl placed at the front, with the steamed buns arranged two by two according to their fillings on rectangular plates. The three elegant plates were arranged in a fan shape, achieving maximum aesthetic appeal—it looked beautiful enough to be photographed for a breakfast restaurant's promotional materials.
When Eugene came downstairs, his attention was immediately drawn to the food on the table.
The CEO's appetite seemed good - he had a bowl of porridge, one mushroom vegetable bun, one meat bun, and two mushroom chicken buns. She wondered if the CEO particularly liked that flavor.
After he finished breakfast, Nina quickly washed the dishes and rode her bicycle to school. Fortunately, their department didn't require early morning self-study. Otherwise, she definitely wouldn't have made it.
Today's first two classes were English, held in a small classroom. Isolde had already saved her a seat.
As soon as she saw her, Isolde waved: "Niannian, over here!"
Nina grabbed her hand, whispering: "Everyone's looking at you."
"What does that matter? Let them look if they want to," Isolde said dismissively.
Coming from a good family and being pretty, she was very confident and didn't care what others thought. Instead, she couldn't understand why Nina, who was even prettier than her, wanted to keep such a low profile.
Nina put her backpack in the drawer and took out her English book. She planned to review the vocabulary again before the teacher arrived, as they had a dictation today.
"Ah, the teacher assigned exercises last time, too. Did you do them? Let me copy quickly!" Isolde remembered when she saw her open the textbook.
- Writer
