Chapter 35 He Once Had a Dream of Being a Chef

After such a ruckus, Li Zishen finally realized his brother hadn't arrived yet and was about to grab his phone to call when the corners of his mouth slightly curled up in a smile, and he shook his head lightly.

That guy, he's probably showing off.

Yeah, definitely.

He hoped that this time there would be some progress, that his wholehearted effort wouldn't be in vain.

Thinking this, Li Zishen picked up his tea and took a small sip before starting to check the new messages on his phone, which were sent by Bai Long.

[Brother Shen, Leng Lingxiao will come to Jin City in three days.]

Upon seeing this message, a trace of gloom flitted across the depths of Li Zishen's eyes as his jaw tightened, he picked up the cup again but then slowly set it down.

[Don't bother with him, business as usual.]

[Understood, Brother Shen.]

Seeing how Li Zishen didn't care about his own brother, Tang Xiaowan directly shouted at the servants, "Has anyone seen Li Zihan?"

Little did she realize, the response was that no one knew.

He hadn't been kidnapped, had he!

"Young Master Zihan is in the kitchen slicing duck," said a young man carrying dishes, who hastened to answer when he saw that nobody else knew.

"Slicing duck?"

"Yes, Lady Tang."

Having replied, the young man then left.

Right away, Li Zihan came over with a tray, followed by Nanny Chen who had just gone out to look for him.

So he really was in the kitchen!

People in the dining room all turned their heads to look.

Li Zihan's expression was as if he were a top-class chef, his head held high, his eyes bright and proud.

Step by step, he walked, brimming with satisfaction.

Turns out, after returning to Li Garden, Li Zihan didn't get out of the car right away, but instead took the duck from Immortal Restaurant to the kitchen for Bai Long.

Caught up in her rush to eat, Tang Xiaowan had charged straight inside without noticing that Li Zihan had gone to the kitchen's back door with the car.

He was not there to help.

He had no knowledge of Bai Long's aversion to duck.

He just wanted to show off his knife skills.

When Li Zihan first chose his major, Madam Lai Yuan Min felt that it was not befitting of a Leng family young master to learn cooking; it was too damaging to the family's reputation.

She strongly recommended the Medical College.

But Li Zihan was not willing and resisted his mother's dictatorship by going on a hunger strike.

The Leng family valued medicine, a tradition starting with the old patriarch.

Eldest son Li Zishen had his own views from a young age. Yuan Min could not control him, and he studied international trade at a foreign university quite far from home.

By the time it was the youngest son's turn, he could no longer be wilful and must be given long-term considerations.

In the end, to not sadden his mother, Li Zihan reluctantly gave up his years-long dream of becoming a chef and chose the university closest to home, majoring in pharmaceutical analysis.

In others' eyes, he was trouble, but in reality, he was an extremely filial child.

"Wow, I didn't expect you to be quite skilled!"

Tang Xiaowan was the first to offer praise.

The plating was exquisite, the slices of duck were properly thin and thick, and upon closer inspection, the shape was still that of a duck—it really was quite impressive.

Li Zihan beamed with joy upon hearing this, "Have a taste, see how it is?"

Tang Xiaowan glanced at Li Zishen, saw him nod, and then picked up the plumpest piece of duck slice with her chopsticks.

Unknown to her, the first piece was actually given to him, and the second one went into her own stomach.

Li Zishen felt warm inside and quickly picked up a piece of duck, imitating Tang Xiaowan, dipping just a little sauce without adding any green onion or cucumber, and did not roll it in a thin pancake.

It was rich in flavor, fatty but not greasy.

Li Zihan intently watched his brother, eagerly awaiting his comment.

Since childhood, his brother had been his role model.

If his brother thought it was good, then it really was good.

"Um, not bad, very good!"

"Is it the taste or my knife skills?"

"The knife skills are quite good, from now on when we buy roast duck, this task is yours."

Li Zihan sprang to his feet in an instant.

This was an affirmation from his brother, the praise from the business prodigy he most admired.

"Thanks, Brother. No problem."

The dining room echoed with hearty laughter and the clink of chopsticks and spoons.

The three of them then began their meal in earnest.

Lamb chops, braised pork, steamed sea bass...

Tang Xiaowan, looking at today's dishes, noted that except for the fern root, which wasn't vegetarian, everything from the soup was meat-based.

This was exactly to her taste.

To make Tang Xiaowan enjoy the lamb chops even more, Li Zishen had the kitchen prepare a special dish of top-quality chili powder.

It was something not everyone could enjoy.

Too spicy!!!

At this moment, Li Zihan looked at Tang Xiaowan sitting across from him, thinking she was incredibly fierce.

Aren't the lamb chops delicious on their own?

She had to cover them in chili!

Did she love chili more than the meat itself?

No wonder she ate a radish every day, it must be to cool down!

Her butt must be burning!

At this thought, Li Zihan couldn't help but laugh out loud, with a mix of mockery and schadenfreude.

But soon, he realized a pair of eyes were staring at him intently, like lightning that could obliterate everything.

Scared, he quickly hid his smile.

And began to gnaw on the lamb chops in a dignified manner.

Li Zishen put down his chopsticks and said indifferently, "Zihan, when you were living in the small apartment, didn't you use to run 5 kilometers every night before bed?"

As these words came out, Li Zihan nearly choked.

He hurriedly drank some soup to calm his nerves.

"Brother, actually I was just..."

Before Li Zihan could finish speaking, Li Zishen interrupted him, "Since it's an old rule that has been established before, let's continue with it."

Words from his brother, Zihan dared not disobey, otherwise he'd be sent back to Jinlin Garden.

He had finally escaped!

This semester, he didn't want to face that devilish coach anymore.

Better worn out every day than to have to face that. Better to just run at Li Garden, after all, 5 kilometers wasn't tiring.

"I got it, brother, I'll run tonight."

Li Zishen nodded in satisfaction.

"Good, let's eat."

Li Zihan obediently picked up his chopsticks and continued to eat.

He didn't voice any complaints, but in his heart, he cursed both Li Zishen and Tang Xiaowan hundreds of times.

They were so overprotective, one couldn't even make a guttural whisper.

It was truly a case of the wife singing and the husband following, the world turned upside down!

No wonder my uncle said you were bewitched by a vixen, and looking at the situation, it wasn't far from the truth.

But just as the past squall passed, a new one arrived!

"Zihan, do you run in the mornings as well?"

"No, no, mornings are rushed. The coach said, no, no, what I meant was, mom said, it's enough to just run in the evenings, no need for morning runs."

He deliberately mentioned their mother.

"Hmm, okay then, just run in the evenings."

Li Zihan broke out in a cold sweat, seriously suspecting his brother understood ventriloquism.

Perhaps he was even a hidden master at it!

This thought crossed his mind for an instant.

He became fearful, worried that some punishment might be concocted.

In the brothers' tussle, Tang Xiaowan didn't notice anything amiss, her mind and eyes were full of food at the moment.

She was too busy eating to care about anything else.

...

Nine o'clock at night in the study on the fourth floor.

Tang Xiaowan knocked three times and, hearing the reply, opened the door and entered.

This was her first time knocking, she approached in a very well-behaved manner, grinning and casually looking around while touching her nose.