After successfully getting Tony Stark out of the kitchen, Kagura Hitomi finally took over.
Staring at the black, sticky, and foul-smelling mess in the pot, she let out a long sigh before turning off the induction stove and dumping everything into the trash.
Seriously, even pigs wouldn't eat this stuff!
After covering her nose and thoroughly washing the pot, she checked the ingredients in the kitchen, carefully planning what she could make with what was available.
It was already late, so slow-cooked dishes were out of the question.
Fortunately, there weren't many people to feed—just a few simple home-cooked dishes should be enough.
She hollowed out some green peppers and crushed the leftover hamburger patties Tony Stark had abandoned, planning to use them as a filling.
'Seriously, why did Tony prepare so many hamburger patties for a Christmas dinner?'
'Was he planning to make homemade cheeseburgers?'
Muttering complaints under her breath, Kagura mixed the crumbled patties into a bowl, adding minced ginger, salt, a dash of cooking wine, and other seasonings.
After thoroughly mixing, she stuffed the seasoned meat into the hollowed-out peppers.
With the stuffed peppers ready, she grabbed a frying pan, poured in some oil, and waited for it to heat up before carefully placing the stuffed peppers into the pan.
Western kitchens rarely had traditional Chinese woks since Western cooking rarely involved stir-frying.
The available options were usually flat-bottomed frying pans or soup pots.
While not ideal, the frying pan would have to do.
Skilled in the techniques she remembered from her past life, she expertly cooked the dish, adding water and soy sauce once the peppers started wrinkling.
She then switched from frying to simmering, making sure not to overcook the peppers to prevent them from becoming mushy.
Once the stuffed peppers were done, she glanced at the fridge and spotted eggs and tomatoes.
Hmm… Since it's a Chinese dinner, how could she skip the classic stir-fried tomatoes and eggs?
There was also some leftover tofu and spicy bean paste—perfect for Mapo Tofu.
And those wild boar slices, half of which had been "ruined" by Tony, could still be salvaged and stir-fried with onions, the remaining green peppers, and some dried tofu to make Twice-Cooked Pork.
With a bit of creativity, she could turn Tony's leftover ingredients into four or five delicious Chinese dishes.
Meanwhile, in the dining room, Pepper Potts finished setting the table and patted Tony Stark on the shoulder, nodding toward the kitchen where cooking sounds echoed.
"Did Hitomi kick you out?"
"What?" Tony tilted his head. "No way. She said she wanted to cook something nice for us, so I graciously let her have the kitchen."
"So, you got kicked out." Pepper smirked. "Tell me, what exactly were you doing in there for three hours?"
"Uh…" Tony's eyes darted around. "A big pot… stew…"
"A big pot stew???"
"That's right. A delicious, one-of-a-kind big pot stew." Tony continued his nonsense. "It's a flavor you've never experienced before—a true Tony Stark signature dish!"
"Tony, it's 2012. Almost 2013. We don't eat 'big pot stews' anymore."
Pepper shook her head. "You should be thanking Hitomi. Otherwise, we'd probably be eating burgers tonight."
"Exactly! That's why I let her have the kitchen." Tony doubled down on his excuse.
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As night fell, the Christmas spirit filled the city.
Homes were decorated with twinkling lights, Christmas trees, and stockings. As another Silent Night approached, people wished for peace and happiness in the coming year.
In the spacious, modern dining room, Chopin's nocturnes played softly, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
Candlelight flickered gently, illuminating the pristine dining table, where Kagura's carefully prepared Chinese dishes were arranged, creating a harmonious fusion of East and West.
The three of them sat around the table, enjoying this simple yet heartwarming moment.
Stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, stuffed green peppers, Twice-Cooked Pork, Mapo Tofu…
These were all dishes Kagura had loved in her "previous life."
The familiar aromas and sights made her heart tremble slightly.
'How long has it been since I last had authentic Chinese food?'
Overcome with emotion, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat and the urge to cry.
"Hitomi, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?"
Pepper Potts asked with concern. "Your cooking is amazing. I've never had anything this delicious before. Aren't you going to eat more?"
"I'm fine, Pepper."
Kagura smiled and shook her head gently. "I'm just happy that you both like it."
Even after living in this world for so many years, her longing for her homeland had never faded. Instead, it had only deepened with time.
"I have to say, you could open your own restaurant, Hitomi," Tony Stark commented bluntly. "Where did you learn to cook like this?"
"Well, since it's Chinese cuisine, of course, I learned it from a very faraway place."
She playfully stuck out her tongue. "Want me to teach you?"
"No thanks. Honestly, I can't even cook scrambled eggs properly."
Tony admitted, waving his hand. "But Happy's really into Chinese culture. You should teach him. That way, whenever we crave Chinese food, he can cook for us."
"Happy isn't just your driver. He's also Stark Industries' Head of Security. And now you want him to be your personal chef?"
Pepper shook her head, exasperated. "I don't know if being your employee is a blessing or a curse."
"Speaking of which, isn't Happy coming tonight?"
Kagura asked. "He usually sticks around for security."
"He has the night off," Tony replied. "The Oriental Culture Theater in L.A. is showing his favorite play, so I gave him the day off to enjoy himself."
"Wait a second…" Kagura's expression stiffened. "The theater?"
"Yeah. Why? Do you want to go, too?" Tony chuckled. "It's too late for tonight, but I'll take you next time."
"Uh… no, it's nothing…"
She forced a smile, but internally, her mind was in chaos.
'Oh no.'
'This is bad.'
'Happy Hogan—that is in danger!'