Eden peers up at him, half-surprised. “Of course you’ll help.”
“I already said—”
“And I’ll help out, too!”
Li chuckles. “That’s alright, kid. We can’t ask a guest to work.”
“But it’s okay to askme?” Shang chides.
“You don’t count.”
Eden looks at Xu Hong and Li. “I really wouldn’t mind. I love working with him. And it’d go much smoother if he had a helping pair of hands.Someonehas to keep an eye on him.”
“If you’re sure,” Xu Hong says. “Well, I guess we’ll look forward to it.”
* * *
It feels good to be in command of a kitchen again, even if it’s a small one and it’s only the two of them. It doesn’t get his blood pumping quite the same way. There’s an undeniable thrill that comes when orders arrive non-stop. There’s something magical about working in a full-scale kitchen, surrounded by noise and smell and bright industrial lights overhead.
But this is still nice. Better than nice, actually. It’s comfortable and calm and…fun.
Getting to unabashedly flirt with his sous chef is definitely a bonus, too.
This is a dance he’s done a hundred thousand times. Except this time, the rhythm’s different. There’s no need for pomp and circumstance, no need for excessive flair or stress or the pressure to perform. This is a dance he enjoys. Shang and Eden waltz around one another, just as they’ve done before, but with an ease and an acceptance that this is more than enough. There’s beauty in the process.
As they put the cannoli in the oven—everything lovingly made by hand—he realizes that he starts to feel it again. This pull to something lighter, something inexplicable. Working for Sebastian had snuffed his passion out, leaving him in the dark for the longest time. Shang doesn’t understand how he didn’t see it sooner. Sebastian wasthisclose to sucking him dry, a hollow shell of himself. He’d been drifting down a dark path for so long, it was a wonder that he didn’t crash and burn sooner.
He doesn’t really know where this new path is leading him. It’s scary, really, not knowing what the future holds in store.
“Behind,” Eden announces as she moves the tray of stuffed mushrooms directly behind him.
Shang watches her work. She’s always had a hypnotizing effect on him, though he’s only just realized to what extent. Eden works with a smile, totally in her element. Shang thinks she belongs in the best kitchens out there, to own her own restaurant one day. He isn’t just being biased, either. She’s really just that good.
The path forward may be scary, but as long as he’s with her, there’s no doubt in his mind that it’s the right one.
The party’s in full swing by eight. It’s not a huge crowd, but it’s still large enough to leave his stomach unsettled. He’s not... good with people. Employees, fine. He can order them around all day long and not have to worry about them the second they punch out. But these are some of his parents’ oldest friends. Most of them knew Li before he was in the chair. Shang isn’t sure if he can handle being out there, knowing full well that everyone else knows who he is and what happened.
“I’ll go bring the crab tartar out,” Eden offers. “Are you sure you want to stay here?”
Shang nods, and that’s all Eden really needs. She understands perfectly, bless her soul.
Shang misses her the second she disappears out to the dining room.
He mills about, cleaning as he goes. He’s always been very methodical like that. A clean workspace is a safe workspace, after all.
“Shot up like a bamboo shoot, eh?” comes a gruff man’s voice from behind.
Shang freezes for a second, gathering his wits before turning to face Charlie. He’s aged. A lot. Shang has no idea why it surprises him so much. Charlie’s hair has turned gray, and his beard to match. His eyes sag with wrinkles and unspoken burden. His uncle has his hands stuffed in his pockets, appearing just as uncomfortable as Shang feels.
“I’ve always been this tall,” Shang says lamely.
“I’ll have to take your word for it.” Charlie clears his throat before jerking his thumb over his shoulder. “That's your girl?”
“Yeah. Eden.”
“She looks familiar.”
“She was a student of yours for a little while.”
