Shen Lingqing already knew that her Grandpa He wouldn’t waste such an opportunity to feed her. It seemed to her that her mother and this grandpa had made a life out of ensuring that she was well-fed whenever she came home or paid them a visit. As she looked at the amount served at the table, she briefly wondered if she—along with Liu Jinfei and Lin Xiao—would be able to finish all of it.
“Qingqing, what are you doing? Do you not have an appetite to eat?” Chef He looked at her with pleading eyes.
Shen Lingqing rubbed her temple and sighed. “No, Grandpa. I’m fine.”
“Ah, then please enjoy your meal.” He laughed as he slumped at the seat next to her, eyeing the two chefs she brought along on this trip.
One was an older chef, while the other looked like he was in his early thirties. As He Haotian looked at Liu Jinfei’s face, he wondered where he had seen this man before.
“Grandpa, that’s Liu Jinfei. Don’t tell me you forgot about him already,” Shen Lingqing said as if she could see the gears in his mind working.
“Ah! That young pal who wanted to be Xinxin’s apprentice!” Chef He’s eyes widened in recognition.
Aside from that, wasn’t this man the outcast heir of the Liu family? It had been a huge scandal back then, and he briefly remembered hearing from Lu Xinyi that she and Shen Yi considered taking the boy under their custody… until the said boy disappeared from the capital without a trace.
Liu Jinfei’s lips curled up. “Yes, Chef He. That’s me.”
At least they didn’t bring up the fact that he was the exiled prince of the Liu family. He really hated it when people gave him a pitiful look because of it. He didn’t need their sympathy.
“You looked manlier now than the last time I saw you. I hope you weren’t upset when our Xinxin turned you down,” the older chef commented.
“Oh, no.” Liu Jinfei shook his head. “I understand why Madam Shen had to turn down my request and that Chef Tian was too busy handling Oriental Bliss back then. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have enough time to teach me even if he wanted to.”
He Haotian bit his inner cheek in an attempt to stop himself from revealing the reason why Lu Xinyi turned him down. He coughed behind his hand and cleared his throat, aware that Shen Lingqing’s eyes were boring on him. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
Why was this girl so cold to him anyway? It was really such a shame that Shen Lingqing wasn’t as bubbly and sweet as her mother.
Shen Lingqing shook her head and started to eat. She wasn’t good at striking up a conversation anyway. By now, Fu Shuren and Zhang Qing must have arrived at Peach Blossom Resort to drop off their luggage.
“You came all the way here just to train? Qingqing, does your mother know you are here?” He Haotian asked. He had no doubt Lu Xinyi would have accompanied her daughter if she knew Qingqing was going to this place with these two chefs.
“Dad knows, and she should know it by now,” Shen Lingqing said nonchalantly as she placed a piece of savory meat on her mouth.
Even if her mother wanted to accompany her on this trip, Shen Lingqing knew that her mother wouldn’t be able to leave the capital on a whim due to the several businesses she was running. Anyway, they were only planning to stay here for five days, so they could return over the weekend to prepare for the reopening of Savory Alley.
“And here I thought you finally changed your mind and decided to become a chef like us.” The old man sighed dejectedly.
“I thought I already made it clear, Grandpa. Being a chef isn’t a career I want to pursue.” She gave him a pointed look, while the other chefs across them watched with awkward expressions on their faces.
“Well, it’s still not too late for you to change your mind, Qingqing. Aren’t you only twenty-three by now? Your mother decided to pursue her passion for cooking when she was twenty-five.” He Haotian pointed out.
Shen Lingqing sighed and placed down her chopsticks. This time, she didn’t hide her annoyance over their conversation. She didn’t want to be disrespectful towards her Grandpa He, but she would rather not talk about her being a chef like her mother and her uncle.
“Grandpa, if you are telling me this because you still think I’m putting my ability to discern a dish to waste, you are mistaken.” She reminded him. “Now, could we please drop the issue already? I already made up my mind, and I plan to stick to it.”
He Haotian crossed his arms and huffed. It was really hard to convince Shen Lingqing when she had already decided. It was easier to sway her when she was a toddler, and it was hard for him to accept that the little ball of sunshine he used to adore had grown up into an ice-cold woman.
“Fine. You really don’t know how heartbroken I am with your decision, Qingqing.”
‘Sibai, just like you… your daughter and your granddaughter really knew how to worry me to death,’ he thought.
Ah, he should have known by now that any progeny of his friend, Lu Sibai, was able to get him on the edge like this. If only Shen Lingtian also inherited the same absolute tongue, He Haotian wouldn’t be desperate like this.
“I’ve already asked to prepare the kitchen for your afternoon activity. You were supposed to train at Blue Haven, but I think Shenghao said the kitchen is still under renovation and only half of it could be used at the moment. ” He then eyed the two chefs. “Please feel free to ask if there’s something you couldn’t understand. Qingqing wouldn’t be able to join us later, so I would oversee your tests today.”
