Sebastian didn't wake up for dinner, though Violet brought him some porridge that the house owner had shared. She sat alone by the yard, enjoying the porridge, when the owner came.
"Young lady… The young man isn't awake?" The owner asked.
"Yes, Auntie Lan. The porridge is delicious. Thank you for sharing!" Violet said as Auntie Lan smiled.
"There's more in the pot… Now, where is the soup you had been making the whole day with that young man?" She asked as Violet was embarrassed to give it to her.
"It's definitely not as good as your cooking… Don't bother about it." Violet waved, trying to tell her to forget about it.
"Young lady, that's not right. The chicken died for you as food. The vegetables could have grown more, but died for you as food. Even if the cooking wasn't good, it's still food. If it's too salty or sweet, add some water or potatoes. If it's too spicy, add some vinegar to balance it out. Anything can be saved in the kitchen. If it's burnt, then have it become fertiliser." Auntie Lan said while eating another mouthful of porridge as Violet laughed.
"You make everything sound so easy in the kitchen, Auntie Lan!" Violet praised.
"Of course! We villagers aren't as smart as city people like you. We only know how to live by doing the basic chores. That's our way of survival…" Auntie Lan said as Violet smiled, knowing how to fix Sebastian's problem now.
"Thanks, Auntie Lan…" Violet said. "Thank me by sharing the soup you both had worked hard on first!" She requested as Violet quickly went to fetch a bowl for Auntie Lan.
"Hmm… It's not bad, really. Young lady, you have learnt well." Auntie Lan praised.
"No… this isn't good. It's so bland." Violet lamented.
"Young lady, there's always salt to add. Soy sauce for fragrance. Vinegar for a better flavour if you want." Auntie Lan reminded her as the ladies laughed while Auntie Lan added some soy sauce and vinegar.
The next day, Violet woke Sebastian at the same time as the day before to the market but this round they went to buy a different poultry. "Vi, what's this?" He asked with a grimace.
"Pork!" Violet cheered as she went to make her order for a kilogram of it.
"Why doesn't it look pink like the pigs?" Sebastian questioned.
"Sebby…" Violet accidentally called. "Shhhh…" Sebastian hushed her. "Oops, Phor Tat, that's the version inside their body. After they dissect the pig and cure the meat to be sold. This is lean pork and we…" She held his shoulder and turned him around to head towards the vegetable section.
"... are going to make stir-fried pork noodles!" She cheered as Sebastian was shocked.
"Since when? Wasn't it chicken soup?" He clarified.
"Don't worry, I will speak to the director for you. It's genuinely your favorite and after today, you will surely be an expert in cooking it." Violet dragged him to buy some broccoli, pod peas, and baby corn before adding some spring onions, garlic, and onions for fragrance into the bag.
Back in the kitchen she showed him how to prepare the vegetables and slicing the lean pork. He was instantly accustomed to it.
"How did you pick up such skills so quickly?" Violet praised.
"I did help my mother out in the kitchen when I was young, briefly…" He said while skillfully chopping the onions and garlics.
"You will do just fine during the filming. Remember to add that line while cooking during the filming." She comforted as he smiled before her phone rang.
She excused herself to pick up the call while he was chopping the broccoli.
"Vi, my friend, needs your help…" Maliwei said over the line.
"Alright, what is it?" Violet asked while pacing in the corridor, listening to Sebastian steadily chopping.
"It's a product launching event in Lagospool. Just one day, and they need a replacement for that one day due to some circumstances." Maliwei explained
"When is it?" Violet asked.
"In two days… It's good money…" Maliwei said as Violet thought for a bit.
"I don't think it's a good idea… I'm with Sebastian in a rural village for his cooking show. And tomorrow is the filming."
"Aww, come on, Vi! It's just one day!" Maliwei begged as Violet contemplated. Before she could think further, she heard a loud exclamation from Sebastian in the kitchen, who dropped the knife.
"Maliwei, I've got to go. Send me the details. I will have a look." Violet instructed hastily before hanging up the call.
"Sebby!" She ran back into the kitchen to find him running his finger under the tap water. She studied the situation to figure he had cut his finger.
"Oh dear… just a second. I will be back with the ointment." Violet said as she picked up the knife and ran to look for a first aid kit from Auntie Lan.
Sebastian stood quietly with a tissue pressing on his finger thereafter by the sink. He overheard her conversation earlier. A part of him felt confident about this job because he knew she was by his side. He was trying to tell himself to let her go for her job since it was only one day, but his anxiety threatened him.
The rush of Violet returning with the ointment and bandages from Auntie Lan stirred him back to reality. The sting on his finger made him grimace.
"Alright. It's all done. Does it still hurt?" She asked gently as he forced a smile.
"Slowly, Sebby. It was an accident." She comforted him.
"You have a job offer?" He asked as she kept quiet for a moment before nodding.
"You should go…" He urged against his will.
"But… the filming tomorrow…" She reminded him.
"It's alright. I will be fine making my favourite stir-fried pork noodles. I will discuss with the director since variety shows are very candid usually." Sebastian smiled as she pouted guiltily.
"I haven't taught you how to marinate the pork slices." She said as he gently patted her head.
"Teach me now. When we get the chance, we head to Lai On, and I will bring you to try the beef stir-fried noodles instead." She met his gaze as they both smiled, agreeing to the deal.
"I will get Sam to drop by just for a day or two." Violet decided as Sebastian nodded, trying to suppress his anxiety, knowing someone familiar would still be with him.
Meanwhile, Jade woke to Sam by her side in bed as she hugged him. Sam groaned in his sleep as he opened his eyes to a moment he wished could stop. However, reality hits back at him.
"Morning…" Jade chirped as Sam smiled.
"Jade…" He may have held her closer to him, but his tone was hinting to Jade that he was pestering for answers. Her smile grew into a frown.
"Why are you here? What's going on?" He pestered as she shifted away from him, but his arms were tightly locked around her.
"To marry you…" She tried to escape answering truthfully.
"No, Jade… Not until you tell me what exactly happened…" Sam pestered as Jade sat up in bed.
"What happened, Jade? What's going on?" Sam knew something was amiss, and she was not ready to tell. His phone rang as he dropped his shoulders. Sam frowned at Violet's bad timing.
"Yes, what?!" Sam asked furiously. "Wo,w bro! What's going on?" Violet was a little shocked at his reaction in the morning as Sebastian interrupted.
"Why is my assistant even busier than my manager?" Sebastian asked him.
Sam panicked a little. "What do you mean?"
"I have a job in Lagospool in two days from Maliwei. I need to leave tomorrow. Could you come over to manage Sebby for a couple of days? Like today?" Violet asked as Sam thought for a while that it was a good chance to safely send Jade back, too.
"I will be there by noon. Prepare the details for this job before I arrive." Sam said before hanging up.
"Pack your stuff and come along," Sam instructed Jade sternly before forcing himself to get out of bed. The couple stayed silent for the two and a half drive to the rural area. By the time they arrived, it was nearly noon. Jade was a little dizzy from skipping breakfast in a rush that she nearly wobbled when she alighted from the car.
Sam ran over to quickly support her as Violet was surprised to caught them together.
"Jade!" Violet ran towards her and hugged her as Sam frowned.
"Hello, little munchkin." Jade greeted her as she smiled. "What are you doing here?" Violet asked as Sam and Sebastian exchanged nods quietly.
"She is heading back with you later to Lagospool. Drive carefully to the airport. I will get Lucky Clover's assistant, Ying Chao, to pick up the car from the airport. Send me the details once you have settled." Sam coldly instructed, which took the ladies by surprise. It was Violet's first time knowing about their new assistant. The name sounded like a girl's name which made Jade a little jealous.
Sebastian noticed the changed in their expression but remain silent as Sam walked up to him.
"Show me my room," Sam instructed as Sebastian, though panicked a little that he might be caught sleeping in the same room, remembered there was a curtain divider between their beds, which they didn't use. He led the way while Jade didn't realise she was tearing up involuntarily.
"Jade… Don't cry. What happened?" Violet asked gently as she wiped her tears away.
"Is there something wrong with work?" Violet tried to prompt as Jade tried to calm down.
"If you know you're being sent into a swimming pool but you don't know how to swim, what would you do?" Jade asked Violet.
Violet gave it a thought before answering her carefully. "Without knowing the details, I would do all I can to survive. It would be a waste to just die in the pool cause I don't know how to swim."
Jade then had a realisation that Violet was right. She shouldn't run away each time she is thrown into the pool. Instead, she should persevere and find ways to survive. Only then will she be worthy to stand by Sam who had always been protecting her. After all, she had already achieved so far.
"Thank you, little munchkin. I'm ready to leave as you are." Jade's sudden change made Violet swirl even deeper into confusion.
"You really don't want to talk it out with Sam first?" Violet gave her one last chance as Jade pondered that she shouldn't. She didn't want to worry him cause knowing Sam, he would definitely fight for her but she wanted to stand up for herself for once.
"No, let's go whenever you're ready," Jade concluded. It hurts, but she endured as Violet sighed in defeat while collecting her stuff to leave.