Chapter 048: The Coolness of the Night, The Fall of the King 14

Huangfu Shang looked at his master in confusion. “All I have to do is mention your name?”

“Of course. You must know that in this luxury neighborhood, the most famous person is yours truly. When they hosted their wedding banquet, I was the one cooking for them. Mentioning my name won’t go wrong.”

Huangfu Shang was even more puzzled.

What did this have to do with meeting his future father-in-law?

“Honestly, you’re so dense,” Wang Jingye rapped Huangfu Shang on the head. “Tell them I’m your master. When you and that girl hold your wedding banquet, Alice Hotel will take care of everything—and I’ll give you a discount… No, half price.”

“Is that really useful?”

“It’s useful!”

“Thank you, Master.” Huangfu Shang felt as though one thorny problem had been solved, and he grinned broadly. After resolving his issue, he asked, “Master, what’s wrong? Are you in a bad mood?”

“Don’t mention it,” Wang Jingye sighed deeply. “My best cabbage at home is about to be ruined by a pig.”

“A pig?”

“Yes, a detestable pig,” Wang Jingye said bitterly. “Think about it. My wife passed away early, and I’ve worked hard to raise my cabbage, nurturing her tenderly. Now, out of nowhere, a pig has come and claimed her. Isn’t that infuriating?”

“My daughter is beautiful and capable; there’s no man worthy of her.”

“No, today, I must make sure he doesn’t get through so easily.”

“It’s so maddening. Ever since I heard this news, I haven’t slept for days.”

So, he’s about to have a son-in-law? Huangfu Shang understood. He’d heard from other colleagues in the kitchen that his master had a daughter whom he doted on, almost wishing he could pluck stars from the sky for her.

“But Master, your daughter is bound to get married someday…” Huangfu Shang shut his mouth under the sharp glare of Wang Jingye.

Clearly, his master was losing his grip on reason.

“You’ve never been a father, so you can’t understand.” Wang Jingye spoke indignantly. “Imagine, someday you have a daughter—soft and adorable, calling you daddy in her sweet little voice. You guide her as she learns to walk, and as she grows, she becomes beautiful and thoughtful. Then, some unknown man wants to take her away. Could you accept that?”

Huangfu Shang pondered. If he married Sister Xiaoya, he would surely have a little princess someday, who’d look just like her—small, soft, and sweet.

At that thought, his heart melted into a puddle. Ah, he really wanted to have a child with Sister Xiaoya, preferably one who looked just like her.

Wang Jingye watched his apprentice who was grinning foolishly. “...What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking, I’ll definitely have a daughter one day, and she’ll be adorable, hehe.”

His apprentice looked exceptionally silly with that goofy smile, so Wang Jingye stabbed him with a metaphorical knife. “Don’t worry. When she grows up, a pig will come for her.”

“No way.” The possibility struck Huangfu Shang like a blow; he couldn’t accept it.

“Now you understand how I feel?” Wang Jingye asked.

Huangfu Shang nodded gravely. What should he do? He didn’t want to give away his cute, obedient daughter.

What if she got bullied by some jerk? That wouldn’t do.

Right, he’d work hard and earn money—his daughter wouldn’t marry; he’d just buy her everything she wanted.

“Xiao Shang, I won’t stop her from marrying if she wants to, but what if she gets deceived?” Wang Jingye worried about his grown-up daughter who now had a boyfriend.

Having already imagined his own precious daughter, Huangfu Shang was filled with anxiety as well. Yes, what if she was deceived?

“By the way,” Wang Jingye suddenly recalled, clapping his hands. “Last night I watched a drama. The protagonist’s mother gave her son’s ordinary girlfriend a sum of money to make her leave him.”

“That trick could work.” Wang Jingye’s eyes narrowed, looking like a sly old fox. “If he takes the money, it proves he doesn’t love my daughter, only the cash. If he passes the test, I’ll grudgingly let them be together.”

Huangfu Shang opened his mouth to speak, but Wang Jingye was already running off. “Xiao Shang, I’m heading to the bank for cash. Good luck meeting your father-in-law today!”

——

Good luck? Luck for what?!?

After making a special trip to the bank and withdrawing five million in cash, Wang Jingye returned home. Aunt Liu hurried up to him, saying that the pig had arrived.

“He’s here, just in time,” Wang Jingye said gruffly. “Where is he? Tell him to see me—I have something to say.”

“That boy is truly honest,” Aunt Liu said, liking the young man. “When he saw me cooking in the kitchen, he came in to help. He’s still in there now.”

He’s good at pretending, but he won’t pass this test easily, Wang Jingye thought as he made his way to the kitchen. Passing the dining room, he spotted two familiar jars of wine and felt a bad premonition. “Where did these two jars of wine come from?”

“Oh, Xiao Shang brought them over, said they were his family’s treasured collection.”

Xiao Shang?!!

Carrying his briefcase, Wang Jingye hurried into the kitchen, only to see two familiar figures, backs turned, laughing together.

The Wang family always valued their kitchen, since their ancestors had earned their living with culinary skills.

Thus, the Wang family kitchen was spacious and bright. The wall facing the garden had been knocked through and fitted with transparent floor-to-ceiling windows. The midday sun poured in, bathing most of the kitchen in warm light.

The young man and woman wore matching aprons, chatting and laughing as they worked together.

“Hey, are the meatballs cooked?”

“Mm, they’re ready. Try one, Sister Xiaoya.”

“Mmm, delicious! You try one too.”

The scene of them feeding each other stabbed Wang Jingye right in the eyes; he was trembling all over. “You… you two…”

Hearing the commotion behind them, the pair quickly turned.

“Dad!”

“Master?!”

Huangfu Shang’s heart skipped a beat when he heard his beloved call his master “Dad.” He glanced at his lover, then at his master, recalling what the older man had said earlier—his beloved was his master’s daughter?

His master’s eyes blazed as if he wanted to roast this pig alive.

“Let me introduce you,” his beloved said, offering a formal introduction. “Dad, this is my boyfriend, Huangfu Shang. Xiao Shang, this is my father, owner of Alice Hotel.”

The two men stared silently at each other.

“You…” Wang Jingye was about to explode with rage. His trembling finger pointed at Huangfu Shang. “You, come with me.”

“Dad,” Le Yixian’s brows knitted slightly; this reaction wasn’t quite what she’d expected.

The two men went out to the garden. Le Yixian brought a bowl of freshly cooked meatballs and sat nearby, watching to prevent a fight. Of course, she was more worried about her father hurting her boyfriend.

“So, you really fooled me,” Wang Jingye said, seething.

“Master, I didn’t know Sister Xiaoya was your daughter,” Huangfu Shang replied, meeting his gaze. “But even if she is, I’ll admit to being the pig—I’m going to claim her!”