This Guy, His Cooking Skills Are Actually This Good

On the deck, the wild red amberjack weighing more than sixty pounds was still occasionally flicking its tail.

Two sailors fetched specialized bleeding knives and prepared to haul the fish to the refrigerated processing area in the stern.

“Boss Su, a fish this size is incredibly rare.”

The chief sailor rubbed his hands together and asked with a grin, “Should we bleed it and refrigerate it to take back to the marina, or would you like us to cut out the fillets here on the boat?”

“If we take it back, it won’t have that same just-caught freshness.”

Su Bai walked over and examined the fish’s gills and the fullness of its body.

“We’ll eat it on the boat.”

Yu Ou froze for a moment.

“Eat it now?”

She glanced at the fish, which was more than four feet long.

“Boss Su, this red amberjack weighs at least sixty pounds. There are only four of us. Even with the crew, we won’t be able to finish it.”

“Cook however much we’ll eat. Cut up the rest, freeze it, vacuum-seal it, and take it ashore to divide among everyone.”

Su Bai rolled up his sleeves and said casually, “The kitchen can be used, right?”

“It can, yes.”

Yu Ou eyed him suspiciously.

“The induction cooktop, gas stove, and oven on the boat are all top of the line. Mr. Zhang also stocked plenty of seasonings and vegetables.”

“But Boss Su, you’re not actually planning to cook it yourself, are you?”

In Yu Ou’s mind, someone like Su Bai—a young, top-tier heir who refused to fly anything but first class and could casually book a yacht worth hundreds of millions—probably didn’t even know which way a kitchen door opened.

One could chalk his success at fishing up to beginner’s luck.

But cooking was a meticulous, hands-on skill. There was no luck involved.

Su Bai merely smiled without offering an explanation. He directly instructed the sailors to carry the fish into the main kitchen on the middle deck.

The yacht’s open-plan kitchen was exceptionally spacious.

The stainless-steel counters were spotless. A side-by-side refrigerator, built-in oven, and every kind of knife imaginable were all available.

The two sailors worked together to lift the enormous fish onto the central preparation table, then stood awkwardly to one side.

“Boss Su, why don’t we gut it and remove the scales for you?” one of the sailors suggested quietly.

“The dorsal fin of a sea fish like this is hard, and the bones are thick. If you aren’t careful, you could easily cut your hand.”

“No need. I’ll do it.”

Su Bai took a heavy cleaver from the knife rack, then selected a long, narrow, razor-sharp sashimi knife.

With a casual flick of his slender fingers, he spun the two knives in a graceful flourish before catching them securely in his palms.

Yu Ou leaned against the kitchen doorframe, originally intending to watch for a bit of amusement.

But the moment Su Bai brought the knife down, her expression changed.

Su Bai remained completely composed. Pinning the slippery fish in place with his left hand, he held the sashimi knife in his right and drew it lightly along the contours behind the gills.

“Shhk—”

The sound of the blade slicing through the fish skin was exceptionally crisp.

Then his wrist dipped slightly, and the heavy cleaver slid into the gap along the backbone.

There was no hesitation, no snagging—not even the unnecessary rasp of flesh against bone.

With a soft crack, the enormous head separated cleanly and completely from the body.

He removed the scales, gutted the fish, discarded the entrails, and scraped away the dark membrane.

Su Bai’s movements were so fast they were almost dazzling.

His master-level culinary skills, combined with a nonhuman physique of 170 points, gave him an extraordinarily precise command of his strength.

He pressed the sashimi knife flat against the main backbone and pushed it smoothly along the length of the fish. The blade trembled faintly as an entire side of evenly thick meat was shaved away in one clean motion.

The snow-white flesh, tinged with pale pink, came away perfectly clean. Almost no scraps of meat remained on the skeleton.

“This…”

Yu Ou’s mouth fell slightly open. She was completely stunned.

She had seen plenty of master chefs processing tuna and giant groupers at coastal food stalls and high-end Japanese restaurants.

But even those veteran chefs, who had spent decades honing their knife skills, did not move with the effortless ease of the young man before her, who was barely in his twenties.

From gutting the fish to separating the flesh from the bones, Su Bai had needed less than three minutes to process the entire sixty-plus-pound fish.

“Boss Su, did you study to be a chef before?” Yu Ou blurted out despite herself.

Standing nearby, Zhou Jialu covered her lips and laughed softly.

Wearing a fitted knit sweater, she leaned lazily against the counter. Her eyes shimmered with amusement, and undisguised pride filled her expression.

“Coach Yu, you really are inexperienced,” Zhou Jialu said, lifting her chin with a bright smile. “Our boss’s cooking is better than anything those so-called head chefs outside can make.”

Ke Yujia also came over, clasping her little hands behind her back as she raised her pretty face and chimed in sweetly, “Brother Su Bai’s cooking is super delicious.”

“At home, everyone’s favorite thing is eating the dishes Brother Su Bai makes.”

The two women’s matter-of-fact pride—almost as though they considered it perfectly natural—completely piqued Yu Ou’s curiosity.

This young tycoon could casually spend several hundred million on a yacht. Not only was he astonishingly fit and an incredible fisherman, but the two breathtaking beauties around him were also so impressed by his cooking that they practically worshiped it.

Yu Ou folded her arms and fixed her gaze on Su Bai.

She wanted to see exactly what kind of magic this young Boss Su could work.

By then, Su Bai had already divided the fish into several sections.

“Let’s make several dishes from one fish today.”

As he rinsed his knives, Su Bai gave his instructions. “Pan-fry the head and main bones until they’re thoroughly browned, then simmer them into soup. Cut the fattest and most tender belly meat into thick slices for sashimi. Use the center loin for quickly cooked fish slices and pan-seared fish steaks. As for the remaining skin, blanch it and make a chilled crispy fish-skin salad.”

“Junior, is there anything I can help with?”

Zhou Jialu stepped forward and naturally rolled up her sleeves.

“Slice the ginger and garlic, and tie the scallions into knots.”

“Got it.”

Zhou Jialu answered and skillfully began assisting him at the side.

Ke Yujia washed her hands as well and obediently helped rinse the lettuce and cilantro.

Su Bai turned on the gas stove.

Blue flames leapt up at once.

He heated an extra-large, deep-bottomed stockpot, poured in a little cold oil to coat the bottom, and then slid the large chunks of fish head and broken fish bones into the pot.

Sizzle!

A rich, roasted aroma surged upward with the smoke.

Su Bai tossed the pot one-handed. The heavy stockpot seemed as light as a feather in his grasp, and the fish bones rolled evenly inside, quickly browning to a crisp golden color on both sides.

Then he lifted a kettle of already-boiling water and poured it forcefully along the side of the pot.

Whoosh!

Steam billowed upward. Amid the violent boiling and emulsification, the once-clear water turned into a rich, creamy white broth almost before their eyes.

Su Bai dropped in several slices of old ginger and a handful of knotted scallions, covered the pot, and turned the heat up high to keep it at a vigorous boil.

At the same time, a cast-iron skillet began heating on the other side.

The thick, evenly cut fish-belly steaks were rubbed with a little coarse salt and black pepper before being laid against the pan. As the fat slowly rendered under the heat, it hissed and crackled, and an assertive, mouthwatering seafood aroma instantly filled the yacht’s kitchen.

Meanwhile, the sashimi knife in Su Bai’s hand began to dance once more.

Under his rapid blade work, the most prized section of the giant amberjack’s belly was cut into thick, translucent slices of sashimi, each with clearly defined marbling.

The pale pink flesh glistened with its natural oily sheen. Arranged on a porcelain plate covered with crushed ice, it resembled a blooming snow lotus.

The aroma drifted from the kitchen into the living room, then continued through the sliding doors toward the aft deck.

Yu Ou drew in a deep breath through her nose.

It was the pure, ocean-fresh sweetness brought out by the finest ingredients, mingled with the fragrant char of scallions and ginger and the rich aroma of milky fish broth. It made her mouth water.

Before she realized it, her stomach let out an extremely faint rumble.

A little embarrassed, she touched her stomach, though the anticipation in her eyes only grew stronger.

Before long, several dishes were carried out one after another and arranged on the long solid-wood dining table.

One plate held thick-cut greater amberjack sashimi, its firm flesh gleaming with a rich sheen, accompanied by freshly grated wasabi and sashimi soy sauce.

Another held golden-brown pan-seared fish steaks, their crisp surfaces sprinkled with fine sea salt and chopped herbs.

There was also a small dish of crystal-clear fish skin, tossed with chili oil and lemon juice for a spicy, tangy flavor.

At the very center sat a large bowl of piping-hot fish soup, still bubbling with delicate foam, its color as white as milk.

A few bright-red goji berries and a handful of vivid green scallions were scattered across the surface. The aroma was irresistible, without the slightest trace of the fishy smell that ocean fish often carried.

“Dinner’s ready.”

Su Bai untied his apron, washed his hands, and took the seat at the head of the table.

“Come on. Have a taste of the ocean, fresh from the sea.”

Zhou Jialu and Ke Yujia had already served themselves rice and taken their seats on either side of Su Bai.

Yu Ou no longer held back. She pulled out a chair and sat down across from him.

Looking at the sumptuous fish feast laid out before her, she eagerly picked up a ladle and first scooped herself half a bowl of the milky-white soup.

Steam curled upward.

Yu Ou lowered her head and blew gently on it before bringing the spoon to her lips and taking a small sip.

The moment the warm, rich broth slipped into her mouth, an exquisite freshness and delicate flavor exploded across her taste buds.

There was not the slightest hint of greasiness—only the deep richness and natural sweetness released by the collagen and marrow of a wild-caught fish simmered until they melted into the broth.

Yu Ou’s eyes lit up at once.