Chapter 401: Vi's Curse, Hiratsuka Shizuka is Coming
There are certain foods in this world that require no instruction. The moment they touch your tongue, your subconscious awakens, guiding you, whispering exactly how they must be eaten to unlock their most sublime flavors.
Caitlyn had never even heard of tofu before, let alone this fiery, eight-flavored variant. Yet, instinctively, she knew the precise ritual this dish demanded. She lifted a trembling piece with her spoon, its surface shimmering with crimson oil. She blew on it gently, the steam carrying a fragrant, numbing spice. She carefully placed it atop a small mound of white rice, then brought the spoonful to her lips.
An exhale. A moment of bracing for the impact. Then, the flood of sensation: the searing heat, the tingling numbness of Sichuan peppercorns, the sharp kick of chili. It was a delightful assault, a challenge she met by chewing through the soft, yielding curd and swallowing. It was pure, unthinking instinct.
Following that first bite, she scooped up a mouthful of rice now soaked in the beautiful, bright red broth. The visual alone was captivating—the stark white of the tofu against the vibrant red of the sauce, now mirrored by the white rice stained with the same crimson. The two colors swirled together, creating the irresistible magic of mapo tofu.
Caitlyn knew, with absolute certainty, that she had lost all semblance of her usual composure. She could feel the fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She could feel the burn on her lips, which she was sure were now swollen and flushed a brilliant red. She knew her every breath was a plume of hot air. But she also knew, with a deep sense of discovery, that this was how this dish—this magnificent thing called mapo tofu—was meant to be eaten.
Across from her, Vi was having a similar, if more chaotic, experience. Ever the thrill-seeker, she had gone straight for one of the whole chili peppers nestled in the sauce, chewing it with a defiant grin. The grin vanished almost instantly, her entire face flushing a deep, painful red. A series of choked coughs erupted from her as she fumbled for the glass of cold beer at her side. Forgetting all pretense of manners, she tilted the glass back and took a massive gulp directly from the rim.
The icy liquid was a godsend, quenching the fire in her mouth and tracing a cold path down her throat. Her entire body seemed to sigh in relief. In a single, shocking instant, the sweltering heat of summer gave way to the crisp coolness of autumn.
Such a clash of cold and heat, of fragrant aroma and savory depth, of numbing tingles and sharp spice. It was all contained within that single dish, within those tender, flavorful morsels of meat, all perfectly balanced by a glass of ice-cold beer and a simple bowl of red-and-white rice.
"Phew… Caitlyn," Vi gasped, her voice hoarse. "First time I've ever seen you eat like that!"
Later, with their appetites sated, Ren had set up a movie for them. "Science fiction, basically," he explained. "All kinds of high-tech stuff…"
Caitlyn considered this for a moment. "Can't we watch a romance?"
Ren sighed dramatically. "Please, you're a police officer—a sheriff, no less. You should at least watch something that might help with your job, okay!"
"Then why did you list science fiction and horror?" she countered, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"Because science fiction lets us see so-called advanced technology, which is good for Piltover's development and for my work on the car. And horror," he added with a grin, "is excellent for training one's mental fortitude!"
Caitlyn paused, weighing his logic. "Alright… then let's start with a crime film… or science fiction…"
A few minutes later, both women were completely engrossed. Any lingering thoughts of high-society concerts or formal galas were swept away, replaced by the simple, captivating glow of the screen. Caitlyn, the prim and proper Sheriff of Piltover, and Vi, the brawling Enforcer of the undercity, sat side-by-side, sharing a large bowl of fruit salad, remarkably quiet.
The night deepened, and they didn't even notice when Yuuka Kazami and Pepper Potts arrived, so lost were they in the worlds unfolding before them. They watched movie after movie. At one point, to Caitlyn's surprise, Vi even agreed to watch a romance film with her.
As the story played out, it was as if some long-dormant switch had been flipped inside the pink-haired enforcer. Her usual hardened expression softened, her posture relaxed, and a flicker of… expectation, of wistful curiosity, entered her eyes. The love portrayed on screen was nothing like the gritty, desperate connections she knew from the undercity. This was naive, youthful, and achingly pure. To her own astonishment, Vi felt a genuine yearning stir in her heart. 'I must be going crazy,' she thought.
Caitlyn, on the other hand, made no attempt to hide her emotions. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks. She felt that a love so beautiful, so untainted by hardship and betrayal, could never exist in their world. It was simply too perfect.
From a nearby table, Potts smiled softly at the scene. "It looks like our two police officers are quite sentimental," she remarked to Lucifer. "What are you looking at so intently?"
Pepper and Lucifer had developed an easy rapport. "Nothing much," he replied with a lazy drawl, not looking up from his phone. "Just double-checking the list of things I need to buy tomorrow. Hm? Potts, who eats those macarons? You or Tony?"
Pepper's smile widened. "We both do, but we also have to set a portion aside for Casey. It's absolutely fallen in love with Mr. Ren's desserts. And Tony adores Casey, treats it just like family. Its new bed just arrived today, actually. Casey's been fast asleep in it ever since, so I think it's safe to say it's a hit."
Lucifer chuckled, a low, amused sound. "Just like Pandora. Though Pandora probably isn't as clever as a fully evolved Alakazam."
"I don't know about that~" Pepper replied, her eyes twinkling.
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