Chapter 037: The Chill Sets In, The King Falls 3

No surprises there—Ouyang Zining, our original protagonist, along with her two companions, were all blacklisted by President Huangfu Lie. He solemnly stated that employees like them did not align with his company’s core values, and thus none of the three could be hired.

The trio, having left the assessment site, looked at one another in bewilderment.

“Well, I suppose it’s no shock that Xiao Ya and I weren’t chosen, but even Zining, the top student in our year, wasn’t accepted? Unbelievable.” Wei Wan’er, the protagonist’s loyal friend, took up the mantle of complaining and chattering.

“Never mind, if this place won’t keep me, somewhere else surely will,” replied Ouyang Zining, who, gifted in the culinary arts, seemed unfazed by the rejection. She glanced at her phone and said, “I saw earlier that there’s a hotel called ‘Alys’ that seems quite good.”

“Alys Hotel? I know it. It’s a six-star establishment—the only one in the country, right here in our city. I’ve heard it’s even harder to get in than Heavenly Gate, those international chains,” Wei Wan’er replied, her face troubled.

“That difficult?” Zining was genuinely surprised. “But I got their invitation letter a month ago, inviting me to join their kitchen staff.”

“Really?” Wei Wan’er’s eyes sparkled.

After several rounds of confirmation, her friends realized Zining had already been recruited by a hotel, and their feelings were a mix of envy and admiration.

“I heard they’re still hiring for the kitchen. Wan’er, Xiao Ya—you should give it a try.”

“Absolutely!” Wei Wan’er responded with glee.

A week later, Ouyang Zining and Wei Wan’er successfully began work in the Alys Hotel kitchen. Le Yixian, meanwhile, was assigned as assistant to the food and beverage manager.

Le Yixian couldn’t help but grumble inwardly about this turn of events.

The manager was a sharp-looking woman, often seen wearing gold-rimmed glasses, her demeanor refined and intelligent.

“Miss,” Manager Chang said, eyeing Le Yixian, who wore an expression of innocent compliance, with a hint of disdain lurking in her gaze.

Chang had worked at Alys Group for nearly five years and had heard plenty of stories about this young lady. Rumor had it, she loved beauty and refused to inherit her father’s renowned culinary skills, preferring instead to chase after Huangfu Lie, their rival’s president, wasting the painstaking efforts of two generations of the Wang family.

Yet, as graduation approached, the young lady had surprisingly chosen to learn at the hotel.

As a seasoned employee, Chang was determined not to let down President Wang’s expectations and planned to train her into an elite professional.

“I’ll take you on a tour of our kitchen,” Manager Chang said, leading the way and explaining as she went. “Alys Hotel began as a small eatery, but you probably know your family’s ancestors once served as imperial chefs. Business was booming even then. Later, President Wang expanded the business into a hotel and, to suit the times, chose a prestigious foreign name.”

Le Yixian followed Manager Chang around the kitchen. The kitchen at Alys was vast—nearly seven hundred square meters, occupying almost the entire first floor.

“Hmm? Did you just take on a banquet?” Le Yixian noticed the kitchen was bustling and guessed the reason.

Manager Chang glanced at her in surprise and nodded. “Yes, Z City is about to host a three-day international gastronomy conference. As the city’s oldest hotel, Alys was officially designated as the venue for guests’ accommodation and dining.”

Le Yixian nodded, a premonition stirring in her heart—her darling would surely appear at this conference.

Meanwhile, at Z City International Airport—

Huangfu Lie sat with an economic report on his lap, reading intently.

The driver parked smoothly and turned to him, “President, we’ve arrived at the airport.”

Huangfu Lie looked up, checked the luxury watch on his wrist, and nodded. “Mm. Xiao Shang’s flight should be here.”

“It’s been five years since Master Shang was last here. I wonder if he’s grown taller.” The driver, who had chauffeured Huangfu Lie since childhood, spoke with warm familiarity.

“According to the nanny abroad, he’s still a picky eater,” Huangfu Lie said, feeling a headache coming on.

His younger cousin had lost his parents early and was raised in their home. As the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father; Huangfu Lie cared deeply for his diligent, obedient, and earnest cousin.

He took charge of all his cousin’s needs—clothes, food, shelter, and schooling. The boy excelled in academics and led a disciplined life, nothing like those reckless heirs from wealthy families.

Huangfu Lie was thoroughly satisfied with his cousin.

If there was one flaw, it was his cousin’s extreme pickiness with food.

It was so severe that, even at twenty, his height hadn’t surpassed 1.7 meters.

Yet, the clever young man had obtained dual doctoral degrees in England and, upon graduating, returned home to help at Huangfu Lie’s suggestion.

Thinking of the support he would receive from his cousin, Huangfu Lie’s furrowed brows relaxed a little.

“By the way, President, the venue for the international conference this time is Alys Hotel. The authorities have arranged accommodation for you as well. Will you stay at home or at Alys?” the driver asked, recalling something.

“Home. It’s rare for Xiao Shang to come back,” Huangfu Lie replied directly.

“How did they settle on Alys?” The mention of the hotel brought to mind the chairman’s daughter—a girl whose affection for him was a mystery.

She always sought his attention whenever she could, and even turned up for the recruitment interviews. He was well acquainted with President Wang; no use pretending otherwise. He knew full well that the Wang family’s daughter was hopeless in the kitchen, had not inherited her father’s skills, and hiring her would only harm the hotel.

His impression of her was that of a frivolous, tacky woman—nothing favorable at all.

“The authorities said their hotel is a classic brand, so they decided to use Alys,” explained the driver, who, being familiar with Huangfu Lie, also knew about his persistent admirer from the Wang family. He sighed, “Better to stay at home. If you stayed at Alys, who knows, you might find a beauty sneaking into your bed at midnight.”

“Home it is,” Huangfu Lie said, the idea of staying at home growing firmer.

At that moment, the flight from England arrived.

Holding up a sign, the driver spotted the young master in the crowd.

“Brother, Uncle Chen,” Huangfu Shang called, dressed in simple jeans, a loose T-shirt, and sneakers. His hair was a mass of small curls touched with hints of blond, giving him a lively, youthful look.

The driver took his suitcase, and Huangfu Lie patted his cousin’s shoulder, then measured him—only up to his chin now, a smile touching his eyes. “You’ve grown taller.”

“Brother, what do you eat to stay so tall?” Huangfu Shang looked up at his cousin and grumbled, “Don’t stand next to me.”

“But you have to. In a few days, there’s an international gastronomy conference; you’ll need to attend with me.”