Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1086 Request

Contracted Lovers Under the Starlight: An Accident (Extended Edition) It was a late autumn morning in Xinggang City, the sky still shrouded in a pale gray-blue. Su Wan woke at 5:30 AM. It wasn't the alarm clock that woke her, but rather her worries that kept her awake—today was her first day on the job, and she had to be absolutely perfect, without a single mistake. She lived in the servants' quarters on the west side of the villa. The room was small, but immaculately kept. Uncle Zhang had specially ordered new sheets and quilt covers yesterday. The light pink fabric was printed with delicate cherry blossom patterns. A small stuffed bunny sat by the bedside. Uncle Zhang had the purchasing department buy it specifically, saying "girls would love it." Su Wan looked at the bunny, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. It seemed this cold villa wasn't completely devoid of warmth. She got out of bed quietly, afraid to wake anyone in the other rooms. After washing up, she retrieved the maid's uniform Uncle Zhang had prepared from the closet: a soft white shirt with delicate lace trim at the collar, paired with a knee-length black skirt, a black bow belt at the waist, and a pair of black low-heeled leather shoes. Su Wan carefully adjusted her outfit in the mirror, ensuring the shirt's collar was wrinkle-free, the skirt's length reached just below her knees, and the bow was neatly tied. She also tied her hair into a low ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and looking clean and neat. At 7:50 a.m., Su Wan stood at the door of the villa's kitchen. The kitchen, located on the east side of the villa's first floor, was twice the size of her maid's quarters. The kitchen was filled with the latest smart appliances: a built-in oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, and various food processors she couldn't name, neatly arranged in the cabinets. The marble countertops shone brightly, and even the faucet in the sink was gilded, gleaming brightly. Su Wan took a deep breath and pushed open the kitchen door and stepped inside. She spent ten minutes familiarizing herself with the kitchen equipment. The oven's control panel was entirely in English, and she checked the functions one by one, referring to the manual. The coffee maker was a pour-over model, with a digital scale and thermometer next to it, clearly for precise control of the coffee's strength and temperature. The refrigerator's ingredients were neatly organized: fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, and a variety of imported spices. The dazzling array dazzled Su Wan. "Ms. Su, this is Mr. Lu's breakfast recipe. Please prepare it accordingly." Uncle Zhang's voice echoed from the doorway, holding a printed sheet of paper with Lu Chengyuan's breakfast requirements detailed on it. Su Wan quickly took the recipe and carefully read it. The recipe's requirements were incredibly precise: wake up at 7:30 every morning and be at the table for breakfast by 8:30; breakfast should be light, with absolutely no sweets allowed; main courses typically consisted of toast or oatmeal, toasted to a golden brown with no burn marks on the edges, and oatmeal cooked until thick and free of lumps; protein options typically included sunny-side-up or hard-boiled eggs, with the yolk semi-fluid; and hard-boiled eggs cooked medium-rare, with the yolk set on the outside and slightly fluid on the inside; and hand-poured Blue Mountain coffee, with beans ground freshly, water kept at 65 degrees Celsius, and two tablespoons of sugar and one tablespoon of milk. Both sugar and milk had to be specific brands, and no other brands could be substituted. Su Wan was amazed by the densely packed recipe—this Mr. Lu was even more rigid than a textbook. When she'd worked as a kitchen helper at a restaurant, the head chef, while demanding, wasn't nearly as precise. But she didn't complain. Instead, she took every detail of the recipe to heart. For her, this job wasn't just a livelihood; it was her hope of saving her mother, and she had to do her best. At 7:55, Su Wan began preparing breakfast. She first pulled two fresh free-range eggs from the refrigerator. Uncle Zhang had specifically requested this; Mr. Lu only ate free-range eggs of this kind. She placed a frying pan on the stovetop over low heat, then poured in a little olive oil. Once the oil was barely smoking, she gently cracked the eggs and carefully placed them in the pan. As the eggs hit the hot oil, they sizzled softly, the whites slowly setting while the yolks retained their round shape. Su Wan gently swirled the pan with a spatula, ensuring the eggs heated evenly and didn't burn the edges. Then, she started making toast. She pulled two slices of whole-wheat bread from the bread box, placed them in the toaster, and set the time and temperature. While waiting for the toast to finish, she prepared her pour-over coffee. She first took out a digital scale, accurately weighed out 15 grams of coffee beans, and then ground them into a fine powder using a grinder. The grinder whirred softly, and fine coffee grounds fell into the porcelain bowl, emitting a rich aroma. She placed the grounds in the filter cup and gently moistened them with hot water to allow them to expand fully. This step, known as "steaming," is a crucial part of pour-over coffee. After steaming, she picked up the kettle, set the water temperature to 65 degrees Celsius, and then slowly poured the hot water into the filter cup using a circular pouring technique. The water flow should be even, neither too fast nor too slow, otherwise it will affect the taste of the coffee. The hot water seeped through the coffee grounds and dripped into the coffee cup below, gradually forming a dark brown liquid. The rich aroma of coffee filled the kitchen. Once the coffee was ready, Su Wan added two tablespoons of a specific brand of white sugar and one tablespoon of fresh milk, following the recipe. Gently stirring with a spoon, she then measured the temperature with a thermometer—it was exactly 65 degrees Celsius, not a fraction off. Just then, the toaster beeped, signaling the toast was done. Su Wan took the toast out and placed it on a plate. With a knife, she gently spread a thin layer of unsalted butter on it. The butter melted quickly on the warm toast, creating a light sheen and emitting an alluring aroma. Finally, she placed the fried sunny-side-up egg, toast, and pour-over coffee on the silver plate. The sunny-side-up egg, with its slightly raised yolk and a rim sprinkled with fine salt, looked particularly appetizing. The toast was golden and crispy, fragrant with the butter. The coffee was rich in color, with a light layer of milk foam on the surface. Su Wan looked over the breakfast she had prepared, feeling a sense of satisfaction. She checked it carefully to make sure it was all right before carrying the tray out of the kitchen. At 8:25, breakfast was served on the dining table. The dining room was located on the east side of the living room, adjacent to the kitchen. The dining room had a long, solid wooden table, large enough to accommodate ten people, but usually Lu Chengyuan was the only one who ate there. In the center of the dining table sat a crystal vase filled with fresh white roses, freshly changed yesterday, their petals still shimmering with dew. Su Wan was about to turn and leave the restaurant when she heard footsteps on the stairs. Her heart tightened, and she quickly stopped and turned to look toward the stairwell. Lu Chengyuan was wearing a light gray casual loungewear. The fabric looked soft and comfortable, and the collar was slightly open, revealing a white cotton lining underneath.