A red Maserati GT stopped before the entrance of the Empress Restaurant.
CEO of Empress Restaurant, Chen Zhengzhong rushed towards the red car. He was over 130 kg, 1,70 meters tall, and running jiggled his fat.
Qin Menglu stepped out of the Maserati Gt.
Chen Zhengzhong had a smile plastered on his face, lowered his head and bowed to welcome Qin Menglu to his restaurant.
Feng City Empress Restaurant’s CEO was Chen Zhengzhong, but its true owner was Qin Corporation. To be clear, Chen Zhengzhong was a mere employee to the Qin Corporation.
“Director Qin, please notify me the next time you come so I could make ample preparations. You came in such a rush…”
Qin Menglu shook her hand, cutting Chen Zhengzhong’s greeting short.
“What of the task I gave you?”
“There’s still no news. But rest assured, once I hear anything of it, I will notify you at once.”
Qin Menglu slightly frowned.
Over the past few days Qin Zhen’s wound aggravated. No medicine besides the spring water could help alleviate his illness now.
Qin Zhen was the pillar of the Qin Corporation. Once he toppled, the consequences would be dire.
“Prepare me a room. I will carry the investigation myself for the days that follow. Also, make me some dishes, but don’t exaggerate with them. Remember my words, keep them simple.”
“Yes, of course, right away.”
He watched Qin Menglu get into the elevator and, when she was gone, he breathed easier.
In the Empress Restaurant, what Chen Zhengzhong said was law, but before any member of the Qin clan, he was meek as a lamb. Two years ago, Chen Zhengzhong was a chef in this restaurant and because he made the octennial exquisite duck which pleased master Qin, and since the previous CEO pocketed the restaurant’s money, master Qin made Chen Zhengzhong CEO in a fit of anger.
In his two years as CEO, Chen Zhengzhong sometimes felt he was living a dream. The Qin clan was his benefactor and his boss. They were someone he didn’t dare to offend.
The lobby manager, Xiao Liang walked over, “Manager Chen, blood swallow nest soup, caviar, 70 year-old wild ginseng soup, are ready. The ingredients for the octennial exquisite duck are also prepared, awaiting your personal touch.”
“There’s no need for the octennial exquisite duck, nor the rest. Take them all to my room and give Director Qin some simple dishes.”
Qin Menglu and Chen Zhengzhong had interacted many times and the latter fully understood this young miss’ temper. If she said simple dishes, then that was what she would have. If young miss’ temper flared, it would be a disaster.
“Dad!”
Just as Chen Zhengzhong was about to return to his room and enjoy the best dishes, Chen Hai skipped over in joy.
“These are my classmates, Huang Yao and Wang Lin. They are my good friends.”
Chen Hai introduced Huang Yao and Wang Lin, but left out Li Mo.
Chen Zhengzhong squinted a few times at Huang Yao and Wang Lin, and understood his son’s intention.
Wang Lin looked too coquettish with her thick makeup. By comparison, Huang Yao was far better.
“Since you are little Hai’s classmates, then of course you are my honored guests. Xiao Liang, take them to our best and most respected VIP lounge. Everything they order is free.”
“Understood, Manager Chen.”
“This way, sirs and ladies.” The lobby manager Xiao Liang gestured.
Chen Hai was filled with pride as he showed off in front of Li Mo, but when he looked at him, he saw Li Mo was cool as a cucumber.
Wang Lin asked, “Does your family own this restaurant?”
Wang Lin was asking Chen Hai in a loud voice. She and Chen Hai had known each other for a long time and knew, of course, of Chen Zhengzhong’s status. She was asking this for his benefit.
“But of course. My dad is the CEO.”
Chen Hai responded as he looked at Huang Yao. The later, as expected, showed an astonished expression.
‘A 5 star restaurant’s CEO!’
Huang Yao halted, waiting for Li Mo to get near and whispered, “Don’t think a purse can change my mind. Nothing will come between us.”
“It never worked between us from the start. I gave you the purse for Teacher Huang’s sake. Teacher Huang wishes to see you living a happy and honorable life. I hope that you can understand this.”
“I am perfectly clear. You’ve always been unwilling to let me go, and use this as an excuse.”
Li Mo shook his head helplessly.
Some things just couldn’t be explained no matter how hard one tried.
‘I will have to pay more attention next time, to avoid any further misunderstandings.’
Li Mo considere.
Entering the number one VIP lounge, the two girls were amazed by the decorations.
The furniture was all made from sandalwood, the lights’ housings from crystals, the floor was white jade, and the walls were lined with famous paintings. Up ahead was a long liquor cabinet housing many alcoholic beverages. One look was enough to tell they were all expensive.
Seeing the two girls even more astonished, Chen Hai was full of himself, “Xiao Liang, bring out the best dishes. You know, the ones that money can’t buy!”
The lobby manager Xiao hesitated then nodded with a chuckle as he left.
He phoned Chen Zhengzhong.
“Do it, there’s no problem. I’ll make the octennial exquisite duck right now to beef up my son’s face.”
If it were any other time, Chen Zhengzhong wouldn’t allow Chen Hai to occupy the number one VIP lounge, but today wasn’t any other day. He had dishes that money couldn’t buy ready to receive young miss Qin Menglu, but she wasn’t interested. She wanted to eat whatever. But the cost of them would of course had to be reimbursed.
A myriad of dishes were displayed that even Chen Hai was shocked silly.
His dad was the CEO, but it didn’t mean his son could eat such delicacies, let alone see them.
”Chen Hai was struck by inspiration, “Waiter, describe these dishes for my friends.”
“This is blood swallow nest soup, an ancient recipe that the emperor of old used to eat. It is a dish that money can’t buy.
“This is russian black caviar…
“Over here we have…”
The waiter introduced them to the shock and awe of Huang Yao and Wang Lin, and immense pride of Chen Hai.
“This is 70-year-old wild ginseng soup used in boosting a male’s yang and enriching a woman’s yin. It is a rare commodity.”
“70-year-old.”
Once the wooden Li Mo saw the 70-year-old wild ginseng soup, his eyes lit up.
Li Mo didn’t much care for these gourmet dishes you couldn’t buy. In his past life, he moved unhinged across the universe for six hundred years. Let alone Earth’s dishes, he even got to taste the rare recipes of thousands of races. So how could he be moved by a slightly more expensive foods?
But the 70 year old wild ginseng soup was something else entirely. After Foundation came Body Tempering, and what one needed most were miraculous ingredients, wondrous pills and elixirs.
But with Earth’s environment, there was no need to mention a millennium ginseng when even a century ginseng was rarest of rare. Before the game opened, such treasures were impossible to find.
Since the best were out of the question, he’d settle for the next best thing. If he found an aged ginseng and used the Verdant Tree Art to grow it, it would save him time while also replacing the millennium ginseng.
Chen Hai laughed, he was waiting all this time for Li Mo to react. Finding Li Mo piqued by the ginseng soup, he had to taunt and jeer of course, “Ha-ha-ha, have a taste. If you miss this chance you might not get it in your lifetime.”
Li Mo brought the spoon for a taste and frowned slightly in disappointment.
“Not even four years old, yet dare say it’s 70-year-old wild ginseng soup.”
Chen Hai’s face sank, “Li Mo, keep it to yourself if you don’t understand its value. Empress Restaurant is a 5 star establishment, Feng City’s largest restaurant. Everything here is real, even that bowl of ginseng soup. Since you can’t buy it, you must be jealous.”
Huang Yao lightly kicked Li Mo and spoke in a low tone just for him to hear, “Mind your words and eat your soup.”
“Whether it’s wild ginseng soup or not, the taste doesn’t lie. This soup is thin and bitter. This tells me the ginseng hasn’t reached the proper age. It’s highly likely it was grown. If you don’t believe me, tell them to bring the roots of the ginseng and you’ll know the difference after a careful inspection.”
“What a load of bull! You’re clearly jealous!”
“Not just jealous, but his mind is evil, filled with vicious thoughts!”
The waiter was just bringing the octennial exquisite duck with Chen Zhengzhong trailing behind him sporting an ugly expression.
“Little Hai, is he your classmate?”
“Yes, but there’s no love lost between us.”
“Humph, it’s best to keep your distance from these kinds of people, even if you’re friends.”
”Chen Zhengzhong called a waiter and pointed at Li Mo, “Have this man escorted outside!”
Chen Hai couldn’t be more happy this happened that he even wanted to jump and clap. He had the idea of humiliating Li Mo with vicious mockery and jeering, but his father went a step further and wanted to throw him out.
‘This is even better. Punk, I’ll throw your face into the dirt!’
‘First thing Monday at school, I will let everyone know. Ha-ha-ha, let’s see how you’ll pose in front of me then!’
Li Mo stood and asked Huang Yao, “You coming?”
Huang Yao shook her head.
Li Mo chuckled then left.
“Waiter, put him on the restaurant’s blacklist. Don’t let him enter ever again.”
“Also, make the two ladies VIP guests. Let them enjoy a 20% discount.”
Just as Chen Zhengzhong was making use of the authority invested in him, a cold voice came from outside the door, “Who dares blacklist my honored guest?”
Chen Zhengzhong’s face sank as he snapped, “Who dares speak to me in such way?”
Qin Menglu’s walked in with a stone-cold face.
