Chapter 46 - Unceasing Setbacks

“Go to hell!” Chef Wu rarely cursed, but now, driven to frustration by Su Xuan, he swore and, grabbing a metal spoon from the table, hurled it at Su Xuan’s head.

Su Xuan sneered inwardly, “Idiots are always so numerous.

A mere cook dares to lay a hand on me?”

The bustling atmosphere of the kitchen suddenly turned awkward.

Many cooks and helpers paused their work, and countless curious and astonished eyes fell on Su Xuan and Chef Wu.

A few drops of oil splattered from the flying spoon onto Su Xuan’s clothes.

With a dark and angry look in his eye, Su Xuan’s left hand found a cucumber.

Perfect.

A true master can make a weapon out of anything.

Channeling the power of his wrist, Su Xuan tossed the cucumber, which rapidly spun and knocked the metal spoon away.

“You’ve really got a filthy mouth.

Let me rinse it out for you.” Seizing a ladle from the table, he scooped up a ladle of steaming hot water from the pot and in a blink, gripped Chef Wu’s cheek, forcing him to open his mouth, which was already agape with shock and fear, but it was too late.

The entire process was smooth as flowing water, and within less than two seconds, Chef Wu’s tongue was nearly scalded raw, and he choked on the boiling water that filled his throat, tears streaming from his eyes.

The onlookers were petrified with fear, as Su Xuan put down the ladle and released Chef Wu, who spat out a mouthful of hot water mixed with streaks of blood.

“What the hell are you guys doing?!” Su Xuan’s face was stormy as he heard the familiar voice.

He glanced to the side and saw Chen Wanqing walking in.

With only a little over two hours until the banquet officially began, Chen Wanqing wasn’t really concerned about Su Xuan’s cooking skills, but wanted to see how the other dishes were coming along, which was why she had come to the kitchen again.

She hadn’t expected to walk into a confrontation between Su Xuan and Chef Wu.

Chen Wanqing felt a twinge of guilt, blaming herself for an oversight: she had ignored the past grudges between Chef Wu and Su Xuan.

Everyone in Bright Moon Building knew about Chef Wu’s fiery temper which was quite infamous, but that was to be expected.

After all, talented and proud individuals could be found in any industry.

Facing the approaching Chen Wanqing, Su Xuan spoke with a relaxed tone, “Nothing much.

As you saw, Chef Wu wanted to teach me a lesson, so I helped him rinse his mouth.”

With his mouth so scalded he could not close it, Chef Wu’s face was beet red.

Had it not been for others holding him back, he would have fought Su Xuan to the death.

Chen Wanqing was stunned, not wanting the situation to escalate further, and gave Su Xuan a meaningful glance.

Su Xuan immediately understood and followed Chen Wanqing a few meters away.

“I’m sorry about this; I didn’t consider him, making things difficult for you.” Chen Wanqing apologized, her gaze locking on Su Xuan.

Chen Wanqing was full of concern: What should she do now?!

If Chef Wu left, it would be a great loss for Bright Moon Building!

“I’m not the one having a hard time.

People like him should’ve been fired long ago, one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.” After saying that, Su Xuan went back to the crowd.

“Tonight’s seven main dishes are all my own creation.

The guests will judge their quality.” After addressing everyone with these words, Su Xuan looked at Chef Wu again.

Chef Wu’s throat felt like it was on fire, so painful he couldn’t speak, probably scalded by the hot water.

His eyes filled with rage, Chef Wu looked like he was about to explode with humiliation.

With a vicious smile, Su Xuan said, “And as for you, Chef Wu, I was brought here by President Chen, and it’s not your place to order me around.

If you don’t want to work, you can get lost right now.”

“Mr.

Su, please don’t be angry, calm down.

Chef Wu didn’t mean it like that.” Master Qin changed his tune, trying to play the peacemaker.

“Then why don’t you get lost for him?” Su Xuan’s retort left Master Qin pale as death.

Who in their right mind would want to lose their job?

“Now, listen to my suggestion,” said Su Xuan, clapping his hands lightly, “I’ve cooked the dishes.

If the guests tonight find them delicious, then Chef Wu doesn’t deserve to stay here.

He was the one who started the fight.

You all saw it.

I can’t swallow this insult.”

Nobody dared to utter a word for fear of offending Chef Wu.

Su Xuan surveyed everyone’s expressions and said indifferently, “If the guests tonight say my dishes aren’t tasty, I promise I’ll never set foot in Bright Moon Building again.

Is that fair?”

“Fair!” Someone took the lead in agreeing, and then murmurs spread through the crowd.

Almost everyone thought Su Xuan’s proposal was just and reasonable.

Chef Wu’s cheeks burned fiercely, even more unbearable than his scalded throat.

“You can go about your business; I’ve got everything under control here.” Su Xuan reassured Chen Wanqing with a soothing smile.

Torn with anxiety, she didn’t want to lose such an outstanding chef, yet she felt that Su Xuan had handled the situation well and had won over the crowd.

After Chen Wanqing left, Master Qin helped Chef Wu to the rest room, while under Su Xuan’s direction, the kitchen staff resumed their busy work.

Just five minutes past five o’clock, seven signature dishes were displayed on the serving counter, complete with appealing colors, aromas, and flavors, drawing the curious gaze of the other chefs.

Su Xuan said calmly, “Do me a favor, take a little of each of these seven dishes and deliver them to Chef Wu.”

The chefs quickly set to work, and one clever young cook, seizing the moment when Su Xuan was not paying attention, stealthily tasted two of the dishes.

“This is so delicious!” Saliva seemed to flow incessantly as the chef’s taste buds climaxed, his expression stunned as he widened his eyes, having never tasted such delicious sea cucumber and cod.

Too busy to bother with Chef Wu, let alone pay attention to any “battle” between them, Su Xuan was all too aware of his own culinary skills.

He was busy coordinating the staff and cooks.

The banquet was about to begin, and one by one, gourmet dishes were placed in exquisitely designed dishware.

Su Xuan glanced over everything, wiped the sweat beads from his forehead, and smiled with satisfaction.

“President Zhang, welcome to Bright Moon Building,” Chen Wanqing said with a smile to the man getting out of the Mercedes, extending her polite greetings at the door.

There were six hostesses standing behind Chen Wanqing, responsible for guiding the guests of honor into the building that evening.

Everything was very well prepared.

As both the company’s president and the “face” of the company, the stunning beauty Chen Wanqing stood at the door to welcome guests, which was enough to show great respect.

Hongyue Hall on the third floor was a private room not open to the public at Bright Moon Building, luxuriously decorated, with two private rooms on each side, which would only be open according to circumstances when entertaining extremely important guests.

One by one, dozens of guests arrived, escorted into the Bright Moon Building by the hostesses.

In the private room of Hongyue Hall, Chen Wanqing was accompanying the last guest, Vice President He from Qiteng Group.

With eighteen seats, there were no vacancies.

The pleasantries at the event were second nature to Chen Wanqing, her smile radiant and tender as she initiated conversations, and the table of successful businesspeople soon became lively with chatter.

Dish after dish was brought into Hongyue Hall and Chen Wanqing naturally felt a twinge of concern, but then she thought to herself: I believe he can do it!

“President He, this dish is really good.

I’ve never tasted this style of cooking before.

The sea cucumber is so tender and fragrant, and there’s an indescribable sensation upon tasting it—you should try it!” a female president said to President He with a laugh.

“This dish is great!

The cod is delicious!”

“I’m very satisfied with this lobster!”

…

Amid the clinking of glasses, there were praises and affirmations of the dishes.

The palates of these presidents were very discerning, and hearing these comments, Chen Wanqing felt an indescribable excitement, picturing Su Xuan in her mind.

As the host of the evening’s banquet, Chen Wanqing was generous and straightforward, her demeanor as a strong businesswoman earning the admiration of the other presidents.

As they drank and chatted, Chen Wanqing handled the socializing with ease.

Drinking and enjoying herself, Chen Wanqing’s face turned red, unaware of just how many glasses of red wine she had consumed.

Meanwhile, outside the Bright Moon Building, the night was blurry.

Having been busy till now without even a chance to have dinner, Su Xuan had changed out of his uniform and put on his own clothes.

He walked outside to the Bright Moon Building and sat leisurely by the flowerbed.

By chance, Chen Wanqing’s assistant came downstairs and saw Su Xuan.

He had seen Su Xuan when he accompanied Chen Wanqing to the police station, and the handsome face was clearly remembered.

“Mr.

Su, what are you doing here?” the male assistant asked with a puzzled tone.

Looking up, Su Xuan responded with a surprised smile, “Where should I be, then?”

“President Chen is drunk; I came down to buy her some hangover medicine,” the male assistant paused, revealing the purpose of coming downstairs.

Though the speaker meant little by it, the listener took great interest.

Upon hearing that Chen Wanqing was intoxicated, Su Xuan’s expression became much more solemn, and after a brief moment of thought, he asked, “Is she still entertaining clients?”

“I think it’s about over.

President Chen said she wasn’t feeling well and asked me to get her medicine,” the male assistant replied blankly.

“No need, I’ll take care of it.”

Without waiting for the male assistant to react, Su Xuan got up and dashed into the lobby of the Bright Moon Building, his heart full of concern for Chen Wanqing.

At the entrance to Hongyue Hall, guests were gradually leaving.

Just as Su Xuan rushed to the corridor and slowed down, the three leading presidents were ahead, and Chen Wanqing was being supported by a man in his thirties.

From a distance, Su Xuan could not hear the conversation between Chen Wanqing and the man, but seeing her staggering and leaning to one side, with flushed cheeks, and the man beside her smiling and touching her with great familiarity, acid rose in his heart.

A wave of anger surged through Su Xuan: Making a move on my woman?

You’re tired of living!