“Qin Yan, you’re working here as a waiter just to survive, right? I’ll give you a chance to make a living. There’s still a vacancy for a chef in the Princess’s residence. I know your cooking skills are excellent, so why don’t you come and take that position? I’ll pay you fifty taels of silver a month. What do you think?”
Seeing Qin Yan dressed like a waiter, Xiao Wanyu couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him, even though they were already divorced. After all, he used to be her Prince Consort, and now he was working out in public like this. It didn’t sound good if word got out.
She remembered how she hadn’t been able to eat well for several days after Qin Yan left the Princess’s residence. So, she made a decision—she would hire Qin Yan to be the chef of her residence.
“You… want me to be your chef?” Qin Yan looked at her in disbelief, pointing at himself, unsure if he’d heard her wrong.
“This woman… what is she thinking? I was her ex-husband, and now she wants me to go back and cook for her and her new lover?” Qin Yan was completely speechless. He felt like Xiao Wanyu’s brain must be missing a few screws. No one with a normal mind would come up with something this bizarre.
Sure enough, the moment Xiao Wanyu said this, Ji Yuanyi’s expression turned visibly dark. He glanced coldly at Qin Yan, probably cursing him to death in his heart.
“What’s wrong with that? As a waiter here, you make what, two taels of silver a month at best? I’m offering you fifty—enough to cover years of your current income. What, you’re not happy with that?” Xiao Wanyu didn’t feel there was anything wrong with her proposal. In fact, she thought it was rather clever—solving her meal problem while also saving Qin Yan from the humiliation of being a waiter. It was a win-win.
“Heh, Your Highness, why don’t you ask Young Master Ji if he’s okay with that?” Qin Yan sneered coldly. Xiao Wanyu might not have noticed the flash of cold hatred in Ji Yuanyi’s eyes earlier, but Qin Yan had seen it clearly. So he tossed the question back at her.
“Why would Brother Yuanyi be unhappy? He’s broad-minded and generous. I’m hiring you only because of your cooking, and because I want to give you a job. He wouldn’t overthink it, right, Brother Yuanyi?” Xiao Wanyu laughed and looked back at Ji Yuanyi.
In Ji Yuanyi’s eyes, a flash of resentment quickly disappeared. Deep inside, he was already furious. He was infuriated by Xiao Wanyu’s actions. But he knew he couldn’t lash out—not now. Although Xiao Wanyu and Qin Yan had divorced, the Emperor hadn’t yet issued a marriage decree between him and Xiao Wanyu. If he upset her now, that imperial marriage might never happen. Get faster updates on novelping.com.
Ji Yuanyi had endured humiliation for years, and now he was one step away. He couldn’t afford to mess it up now. Taking a deep breath, he forced a calm and respectful smile.
“Of course, Princess. You’re someone who values loyalty and affection. Why would I object?”
“Fake!” Qin Yan sneered in his heart. He hadn’t expected Ji Yuanyi to be so good at pretending. Clearly seething inside, yet still able to put on such a gentlemanly facade.
“You see? Brother Yuanyi agreed.” Xiao Wanyu turned back to Qin Yan, delighted by Ji Yuanyi’s ‘graciousness.’ She truly believed he was a man of great character.
“So, Qin Yan, come back to the Princess’s residence and be my chef.”
But what she didn’t expect was for Qin Yan to flatly reject her in front of everyone.
“Sorry, Princess. I refuse.”
“What?” Xiao Wanyu stared at him in disbelief, stunned by his answer.
“You don’t want to?” she asked.
“Why should I?” Qin Yan found it ridiculous. He had finally escaped from the Princess’s residence, and now he was enjoying life, wealthy and free. And she wanted him to come back and cook? Did she still think he was her Prince Consort?
“You—Qin Yan, don’t be ungrateful! I’m giving you this chance out of pity. Being my chef is a hundred times better than being bossed around as a lowly waiter!” Xiao Wanyu was angry now, pointing at him and scolding. Get faster updates on NovelPing.
“Then thank you for your kindness, Princess. But I’m a low-born man—I can’t bear such a great favor. I’d rather continue working here as a waiter. I’m not worthy of enjoying Your Highness’s grace,” Qin Yan said casually, rejecting her again.
“You…” Xiao Wanyu was speechless. “Unreasonable!”
“Oh, I get it now,” she suddenly said as if enlightened. “You’re afraid that if I marry Brother Yuanyi in the future, it’ll be awkward for you to stay in the Princess’s residence, right?”
“Qin Yan, I told you long ago—don’t have any illusions. Those three years were nothing but a dream. You should know your place by now. I only asked you to come back because your cooking suits my taste. It has nothing to do with emotions.”
Xiao Wanyu thought she had figured him out and spoke with certainty. She assumed he was still hung up on her and couldn’t bear to see her with Ji Yuanyi.
“Xiao Wanyu… how can you be so ordinary yet so confident at the same time?” Qin Yan was both amused and annoyed. But he also understood—Xiao Wanyu had been pampered all her life. It wasn’t surprising that she would think like this.
“Forget it, Princess. I don’t want to explain anything anymore. Think whatever you want.”
“I’m not going back to the Princess’s residence. Please, if you ever see me again, pretend you don’t know me.”
“I have work to do. Feel free to do as you wish, Princess.” With that, Qin Yan didn’t want to waste another word. He turned and headed downstairs, wanting to end the entanglement with her once and for all. If this dragged on any longer, he might really die of a heart attack from sheer frustration.
“You—Qin Yan! Where do you think you’re going? Stop right there!”