The sake bottle swayed gently as the director took a deep gulp, savoring the taste before letting out a satisfied sigh. His gaze drifted toward Zane, who was busy at the cooking counter, his mind swirling with curiosity.
As the esteemed young lady of the Nakiri family, Erina had always been held in the highest regard. At Totsuki Academy, she naturally enjoyed an unparalleled social status and immense wealth, making her a revered figure among the students. Yet, that same prestige also isolated her.
Most students either feared, admired, or envied her, making it difficult for her to form genuine friendships. Even those who did manage to get close to her often withdrew, unable to withstand her sharp tongue and overbearing pride.
In truth, Erina was lonely.
But here, in this humble tavern, something was different.
Despite teasing her at first, Zane possessed a natural charisma that somehow broke down Erina's usual defenses. His easygoing nature, the way he spoke—it all had a way of drawing her in. She found herself talking with him more freely than she had with most people in her life.
The director couldn't help but marvel at the sight.
"Could it be that this tavern owner… is the one who can truly reach Erina?"
He swirled the sake in his cup, deep in thought.
Zane moved with practiced ease, his hands preparing two different types of dough.
First, he took ordinary medium-gluten flour and poured it into a container. Adding cold water and a pinch of salt gradually, he stirred with chopsticks, then kneaded it into a soft, elastic dough with his hands. Covering it with a damp cloth, he let it rest.
Then, he turned to the second mixture—purified starch. Slowly, he poured boiling water over it, stirring until it came together.
Watching from the side, Hisako furrowed her brows. "Miss, why is he using two types of dough?"
Erina's golden eyes flickered with intrigue. "I believe he's trying to achieve different textures and visual effects."
She analyzed the ingredients carefully.
Medium-gluten flour, with a moisture content of 13.8% and over 8.55% protein, was neither as stretchy as high-gluten flour nor as delicate as low-gluten flour. It was commonly used for dumpling wrappers because it provided a balance—soft yet slightly chewy.
Purified starch, on the other hand, had a delicate texture and was prone to breaking. It wasn't a common choice for dumpling wrappers, which made Zane's method even more perplexing.
"If he only wanted a visually appealing effect, he could have just used a blend of high-gluten flour and cornstarch at a 4:1 ratio. Why go through the trouble of using purified starch?"
Her skepticism grew.
Every time Zane cooked, he challenged her expectations. His methods defied logic—yet, the end result always shattered her preconceived notions.
"This shrimp dumpling… it's going to surprise me again, isn't it?"
Even the director found himself baffled. "Two different dumpling skins? What exactly is he trying to do?"
Dumplings had a deep history.
Dating back to the Eastern Han dynasty, the physician Zhang Zhongjing had created them as a remedy for frostbitten ears during the harsh winter. Stuffed with mutton, pepper, and medicinal herbs, his dumplings not only warmed the body but also became a beloved dish throughout China.
Over time, dumplings evolved, boasting a variety of fillings and preparation methods—boiled, steamed, pan-fried, deep-fried. Each variation had its own charm, just like tofu, transforming into countless flavors.
At that moment, Zane was meticulously cleaning fresh prawns.
With a pair of scissors, he trimmed off their long whiskers and sharp points. Then, using a toothpick, he carefully removed the digestive tracts, making sure the meat remained intact.
Marinating the shrimp with cooking wine, ginger, white pepper, sugar, salt, sesame oil, and prawn brains, he set them aside for 15 minutes.
Then, he did something unexpected—he carved the peeled prawn shells into the shape of a dragon's head.
Next, he wrapped the dumplings.
He used the delicate, translucent starch skin as the base and layered a second, traditional dumpling skin on top, sealing the edges with precision.
As the dumplings went into the steamer, Erina's confusion deepened.
"Did he really just use two types of dumpling skins?"
She had no idea what to expect.
The moment the steamer lid lifted—
Whoosh!
A wave of steam burst forth, carrying with it a dazzling glow. The entire tavern was momentarily blinded by the radiant light!
"Again!?" Erina gasped, shielding her eyes.
This was the second time she had seen a dish glow, and yet, it still caught her off guard.
But that wasn't the most shocking part.
Within the swirling mist, something was moving.
At first, it was just a shadow—then, a shape emerged.
A dragon.
No… shrimp dumplings!
Yet, they weren't just dumplings anymore. The dumplings, sculpted into the form of a dragon, slowly lifted within the steamer, rising with the mist.
Graceful. Majestic.
Like a dragon soaring through the clouds, the dumplings floated, exuding an aura of nobility that silenced the entire tavern.
"Are they… flying?" Erina whispered in disbelief.
Hisako and the director were too stunned to speak.
As the mist cleared, the dumplings were finally revealed in their full splendor.
Each one was meticulously crafted, with translucent "scales" lining its body and delicate dragon whiskers extending from the head. The dual-layered skin allowed a glimpse of the vibrant red shrimp meat inside, making the entire dish look ethereal.
Erina's heart pounded.
"This… this is it!"
For years, she had pursued the pinnacle of noble cuisine.
Now, before her was a dish that truly transcended that dream.
"How did you do it?" she finally asked, unable to contain her curiosity.
Zane smirked. "Taste it, and you'll figure it out."
She didn't hesitate.
Lifting a dumpling with her chopsticks, she admired its delicate craftsmanship one last time before taking a bite.
The first sensation was softness—the purified starch layer melted on her tongue like silk.
Then—snap!—her teeth sank into the second layer, a firmer bite from the medium-gluten flour skin.
And then—boom!
A tidal wave of umami flooded her senses.
The shrimp filling, infused with prawn brain marrow, burst with an intense seafood richness. The seasonings had perfectly enhanced the natural sweetness of the shrimp, while the dual-layered skins created an unprecedented contrast in texture.
She shuddered, her body tingling with pleasure.
"This… this flavor is—!"
Her voice trembled as heat rose to her cheeks.
Her legs squeezed together involuntarily, her arms crossed tightly. She could feel herself being completely overwhelmed by the taste.
Across the table, Hisako hesitated, then took a bite as well.
The moment the dumpling entered her mouth, her eyes widened. "D-Delicious…"
Even the director, a man who had tasted the finest delicacies in the world, couldn't resist. He took a bite—
Rip!
His clothes exploded off his body.
"Ah!?" Erina nearly dropped her chopsticks.
Her grandfather, Senzaemon, had instantly succumbed to the power of Zane's cooking!
In the end, as the tavern buzzed with astonishment, only one thing was clear—
Zane's Dragon-Shaped Shrimp Dumplings had soared beyond expectations, taking everyone along for the ride.