Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 554: Another Talent

Kai looked at his empty wallet and shook his head. Well, his allowance was gone now, but it would be all worth it if he managed to gain 40 XP for the night.

He entered his room once more and found the guys watching the highlights of the 2020 Global Games. However, weirdly, they were watching synchronized swimming instead of basketball.

"You’re back?" Zheng asked, his eyes not leaving the television.

"Yeah," Kai muttered. "You guys hungry?"

The four turned to him like hungry meerkats. "Did you buy us food?" Max asked.

"Sort of," Kai said. "Just continue watching the girls swim in sync. I’ll be back in half an hour."

The boys didn’t have to be told twice.

Kai went to the small kitchen. Fortunately, the hotel had some kitchen equipment—as expected from a five-star place.

He placed the ingredients he managed to gather from the convenience store just right beside their hotel.

His fingers brushed over a plump onion, and a smile tugged at his lips. It had been months—too many since he last cooked. In his past life, cooking was a necessity.

He needed to help in his aunt’s chicken shop if he wanted to eat.

Now, standing there with cruel memories rushing back, he felt oddly at peace.

"Alright," he muttered to himself, tying the apron snugly around his waist. "Let’s see if I’ve still got it."

The plan was simple.

Two dishes.

One was fried chicken—a skill he mastered during the countless hours he spent helping out at a small food stall in his past life.

The other? An onion stir-fry inspired by his grandma. He needed to pull it off. He had eaten it plenty of times since he transmigrated to this body!

Kai started with the chicken. He had managed to find a pack of drumsticks in a convenience store, and he washed them under cool running water. He patted the drumsticks dry with a kitchen towel and then seasoned them liberally with salt, pepper, and a dash of paprika.

"Key to good fried chicken," he murmured, "is the coating."

He whisked together flour, cornstarch, and a mix of spices—garlic powder, onion powder, and just a hint of cayenne for a subtle kick. In another bowl, he cracked eggs and added a splash of milk, beating the mixture until smooth. One by one, he dipped the drumsticks into the egg wash and then rolled them thoroughly in the flour mixture. The double-dipping technique ensured a crispy, golden crust.

He heated oil in a deep pan, waiting patiently until it shimmered. When he dropped the first drumstick in, it sizzled loudly. The aroma of frying chicken filled the small kitchen as Kai carefully turned the drumsticks, ensuring even cooking. The coating bubbled and browned to a perfect golden hue.

Once the chicken was done, he pulled it out and placed it on a wire rack to drain excess oil, sprinkling it with a touch of salt while it was still hot.

While waiting for the rest of the chicken to cook, Kai peeled and sliced the onions—a skill he gained from watching his grandma.

He found a small piece of pork belly in the fridge and decided to use it to elevate the dish. He sliced the pork thinly and marinated it quickly with soy sauce, sugar, and a bit of sesame oil.

In a hot pan, he rendered the pork belly until it was golden and slightly crispy. The smell was intoxicating, and the boys in the living room felt even hungrier.

"Holy crap," Max muttered. "This smells like my mom’s food."

"Same," Zheng said.

Jian turned to him with furrowed eyebrows. "I thought you don’t have a mom."

Zheng didn’t say anything.

Meanwhile, Jimmy scoffed. "It smells gross," he muttered, but his stomach growled right after, causing the others to shake their heads in amusement.

Kai added the onions next, tossing them in the rendered fat. They sizzled and softened. To finish, he poured in a mix of soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a splash of rice vinegar, creating a glossy, caramelized coating on the onions and pork. He reckoned his grandma’s was still a lot better, but hey, for someone who hadn’t cooked the dish before, it seemed pretty nice.

Kai then returned to the living room with the steaming plates of fried chicken and onion stir-fry.

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

The group turned their heads simultaneously.

"What’s that?" Max asked, his nose twitching.

"Food," Kai replied, setting the plates on the table.

Max was already leaning over, trying to grab a drumstick, but Kai slapped his hand away. "Patience."

Jian stared at the dishes, his arms crossed. "You made this? Looks…okay, I guess."

"It looks more than okay! This is what I want my mom to cook if I had one!" Zheng exclaimed.

Jimmy sat on the couch, arms folded. "I’ll pass. Hotel food’s enough for me."

Kai ignored their comments, taking a seat and grabbing a piece of fried chicken for himself. He bit into it. The sound alone made Max’s and Zheng’s eyes widen.

Max snatched a drumstick. He bit into it, and his jaw dropped. "What the freak?"

Zheng followed, taking a bite before pausing mid-chew. "Holy—this is amazing. It’s crispy, juicy…How did you do this?"

"It’s just fried chicken," Kai said, smirking.

Jian finally caved, taking a piece for himself. He was silent as he ate, but the way his chopsticks immediately reached for another drumstick said everything.

Even Jimmy, who had been adamant about not eating, found himself sneaking a glance at the table. Max noticed and shoved a plate toward him.

"Come on, don’t be a snob. Just try it."

Jimmy huffed, reluctantly picking up a piece of chicken. He took a small bite—and then another. "Okay," he said, his voice begrudging. "It’s…fried chicken."

"Just fried chicken?" Max exclaimed. "You’re on your third bite already!"

Jimmy ignored him, focusing entirely on the food.

As the group devoured the fried chicken, Kai placed the onion stir-fry in the center of the table. "Try this," he said, motioning to the dish.

Jian was the first to take a bite, and his expression softened immediately. "This…tastes like something my mom would make."

Max nodded, scooping up more onions. "The pork is perfect. Sweet, salty, and just the right amount of fat."

Zheng piled his plate with both dishes, grinning. "Kai, you’ve been holding out on us. Why aren’t you cooking every day?"

Kai leaned back, watching them with a satisfied smile. "This is the last time I’m doing this."

"Not bad," Jimmy muttered.

[4 people are impressed.]

[+40 XP]

"You know what," he muttered. "I think that’s the nicest thing you said to me."