-78- You must cook it deliciously
"Uh..."
Sitting not far from Kai'Sa, Linwin notes that she doesn't reject his presence by the campfire.
It's challenging to find usable branches for fuel in the vast desert, and Kai'Sa might either fear nighttime predators or simply desire conversation, especially with someone unfamiliar.
The aroma of food might be another reason. Regardless, Kai'Sa silently consumes her food, her eyes fixed on Linwin's hands.
She assumes he can't see her gaze, given the brightness of the fire. However, Linwin is fully aware of Kai'Sa's intense scrutiny and quickly surrenders.
He can't withstand the captivating allure of her striking lilac eyes, despite the peculiar appearance of her carapace.
To him, Kai'Sa embodies the perfect champion with her well-proportioned physique and athletic thighs, even if the carapace seems like an odd skintight suit.
"Uh, hello."
Linwin opens the conversation, and Kai'Sa shifts her gaze from his hands to his face, watching him warily. "What are you doing?" she asks.
"I was thinking, would you like to try some of this? You seem like you really want to eat," Linwin replies.
"."
"Look, you let me share your fire, and the desert is cold and dark at night without it—quite dangerous. So, consider this my way of repaying you. How about it?"
Kai'Sa blinks, her lilac eyes emitting a bright light. She purses her lips, remaining silent.
"."
"Just tell me if you want this meat," Linwin straightforwardly asks.
"Then I'll have it."
Kai'Sa immediately drops the scorpion meat in her hand and extends her palm towards Linwin.
He notices the carapace covering her hand, dispelling his previous assumption that her palms were hollow.
Linwin takes out a bottle of water, a large piece of snow-capped mountain beef jerky, and a soft bread roll from his backpack.
Despite the similarities with his dinner, the jerky he hands to Kai'Sa is larger and features intricate patterns with spices, making it quite appetizing.
Approaching her, Linwin hands these items to Kai'Sa, then nods and returns to his spot, waiting for something.
Ding: The Daughter of the Void favor towards you has increased.
Ding: The Daughter of the Void favor towards you has significantly increased.
Ding: The Daughter of the Void is curious about you.
Ding: The Daughter of the Void wants to know more about you.
Linwin silently watches Kai'Sa eat the jerky. Although her eating manners aren't particularly graceful, they surpass Vi's, and Linwin can't help but think she shares a habit with Powder.
"In short, saving the most delicious and anticipated food for last."
Linwin contemplates, realizing that Kai'Sa seems even more intriguing to befriend than Graves.
Originally, he thought of just becoming familiar with her, but now, activating the card, the success rate of obtaining Kai'Sa's card seems quite high!
Kai'Sa eats quickly, devouring the bread and immediately chewing on the dried meat jerky.
Though tough, her teeth prove efficient. Despite the dryness, the salty and savory flavor makes it an exceptionally delicious meat.
However, chewing has its limits, and after three minutes, Kai'Sa feels her jaw starting to ache.
"Ugh."
Staring at the jerky, she resolutely continues to chew. Not fully satisfied, she slows down, savoring the meat.
"Uh, this way of eating, it's okay for a small piece, but it's really hard to endure for a long time."
Linwin watches Kai'Sa struggle with the jerky and decides to intervene.
"What did you say?"
Holding the jerky in both hands, Kai'Sa opens her mouth and mumbles, asking Linwin.
"I mean, I have a better way of eating."
Linwin thinks for a moment, pretends to rummage in his backpack, but actually reaches for his chrono ring. He takes out a small iron pot and a triangular iron stand, approaching Kai'Sa.
Kai'Sa looks at him without a strong reaction and asks, "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing? I'm going to cook."
"Excuse me, please step aside. I need to set this up," Linwin gestures for Kai'Sa to make room.
She immediately lifts her buttocks, holding the jerky in her arms, and stands to the side.
Kai'Sa subconsciously continues to chew on the jerky, observing Linwin setting up the contraption on the campfire.
She watches as he places the small pot on the campfire. Kai'Sa doesn't say anything but quietly continues to enjoy the jerky. This is the best meal she has had in a while.
So, whatever he wants to do, she lets him. It's just a campfire, and she understands the principle of not biting the hand that feeds.
Although this person is mysterious, he is still human, and humans can't pose a threat to her. In this area, it's others who fear her actions, not the other way around.
"The way you're chewing looks tiring. Actually, using this to make soup can taste quite good."
Linwin opens another water bottle, pours water into the pot, and then casually tosses the empty bottle into the desert of Shurima.
Environmentally friendly?
For scavengers, these bottles are a form of wealth. Moreover, considering the multitude of creatures in the Shuriman desert, these items degrade in minutes. "Environmental protection" is a term that may be applicable in Zaun but definitely not in the dictionary of Shurima.
"The only pity is that there are no more vegetables and seasonings, but in this environment, resources are limited."
Linwin mutters to himself. When the water in the pot boils, he effortlessly cuts the jerky with a multi-frequency sonic knife and throws it into the boiling water.
Then, Linwin beckons to Kai'Sa.
"What are you doing?" Kai'Sa stands there, her voluptuous figure illuminated by the flickering campfire. She is blissfully unaware of how enticing she appears, completely absorbed in chewing the jerky.
"Give it to me, I'll cook it."
"This... if it were my own food, I'd refuse, but since it's something you gave me, it's yours to decide."
He has the right to decide what to do with this piece of meat. If it were Graves or someone with a more malicious nature, they would have likely swallowed it down in no time, daring to reach out for more from Linwin.
Kai'Sa, on the other hand, is straightforward and kind.
"You must cook it deliciously," Kai'Sa reluctantly hands over the jerky to Linwin.
Linwin takes the whole piece of jerky, showing a wry smile. He notices a row of clear but not neatly aligned tooth marks on the jerky. However, this doesn't imply that Kai'Sa has poorly arranged teeth; quite the opposite—her teeth are beautiful. It simply proves that Kai'Sa is genuinely putting effort into chewing the jerky.
Then, there are some glistening stains on it. No need to elaborate on what those stains might be.
"Don't worry, back home, I used to cook for my two younger sisters. I'm quite an experienced chef."
Linwin separates the pieces of jerky again, tossing them into the pot under Kai'Sa's concerned gaze. The boiling water steams, cooking the tough jerky. The water in the pot gradually turns from white to a dark brown, indicating that the seasonings on the jerky are dissolving.
"Just cook it like this, no need to add too much."
"Smell the aroma?" Linwin looks at the pot and asks.
"Oh, I can smell it."
Beside him is the girl crouching closer to Linwin. She still subconsciously hugs her knees and stares blankly at the small pot.
Linwin glances at her.
Kai'Sa is definitely much easier to please compared to Vi and Powder.