Yu Zhizhi smiled proudly and scooped a mushroom pork meatball from the pot into his bowl. “This is hotpot. I brought all the ingredients myself. What do you think? Pretty impressive, right?”
He Yang played along enthusiastically. “Super impressive!”
“Looks like Manager Luo won’t be able to cheat you out of a single coin this time.”
Bringing all the ingredients herself had completely refreshed his understanding.
As expected, Boss always had the best ideas!
He Yang looked at the round meatball in his bowl, puzzled. “What is this?”
“Mushroom pork meatball. It’s delicious—and I made it myself. Hurry and try it.”
As she spoke, Yu Zhizhi also scooped up a fish ball for herself, blew on it lightly, and took a bite.
The moment it entered her mouth, she felt its springy texture and fresh flavor—smooth and without any fishy taste.
Paired with her special dipping sauce—
It was absolutely amazing!
He Yang was deeply moved. “Waaah! Boss, you actually cooked this yourself!”
He copied her, dipping the meatball in sauce before putting it into his mouth.
He froze.
Yu Zhizhi smiled. “How is it?”
After finishing the whole meatball, he looked completely satisfied. “It’s perfect for my taste! It’s chewy and springy, and the spicy flavor blends with the aroma of mushrooms and pork.”
So Boss’s cooking skills were this incredible!
While Yu Zhizhi started cooking fatty beef slices, she explained the two types of broth and how to eat the ingredients.
“This fatty beef is very tender—take it out as soon as it changes color.”
“And this beef tripe—you have to cook it like I do. If you leave it too long, it won’t stay crispy.”
He Yang followed her instructions, dipping the tripe up and down.
“Mmm! So crunchy and delicious! What is this? I’ve never seen it before.”
Yu Zhizhi looked satisfied. “Of course you haven’t. It’s beef offal.”
Seeing his face change drastically as he was about to spit it out, she quickly stopped him.
“Don’t waste food! I cleaned it thoroughly. Can you taste any odor?”
He Yang shook his head.
“And these—duck intestines, pig blood, yellow throat—they’re all great. Only people who know how to eat can truly appreciate them.”
He Yang grinned. “I’m definitely someone who knows how to eat!”
If Boss could eat it, what was he afraid of? Especially when cooked in the spicy red broth, the offal tasted amazing.
The rich and powerful aroma of hotpot began to spread.
It drifted throughout the entire Fuju Restaurant, like a grand feast for the senses.
It was peak dinner time, and the hall downstairs was bustling with noise.
Every diner was drawn to the irresistible fragrance. They paused their chopsticks, sniffing the air, trying to locate the source.
Many couldn’t hold back their curiosity and grabbed passing waiters.
“Did your restaurant launch a new dish? This smells incredible—bring me a serving!”
“The aroma is spicy but mixed with medicinal herbs—it’s addictive!”
“It seems to be coming from upstairs! I can’t take it anymore—just smelling it makes me hungry. Waiter, bring me one too!”
…
The waiters looked completely confused. They had no idea what this dish was.
Even though they worked in the kitchen daily, they had never smelled anything this enticing.
Meanwhile, Zhao Yunjin and Qi Yize also arrived at the restaurant and caught the scent.
Qi Yize grinned. “Looks like we didn’t come for nothing today. There’s definitely a new dish—it smells amazing.”
They stopped outside Yu Zhizhi’s private room, where the aroma was even stronger.
“Boss, I toast to you. Thank you for personally cooking this hotpot for me. I’ll never forget this birthday gift.”
Yu Zhizhi was slightly tipsy and patted her chest. “Didn’t I say I’d treat you to good food and drink? Did I lie?”
He Yang chuckled. “Hotpot is both fragrant and spicy—no lie there. Boss, I’m sticking with you from now on. If you tell me to go east, I won’t dare go west.”
Both Zhao Yunjin and Qi Yize were martial artists with sharp hearing. Even though the room was somewhat soundproof, they could still hear everything clearly.
Qi Yize teased, “Yu Zhizhi is really clever. She knew you wouldn’t come, so she called He Yang instead. Only that fool would think this meal was specially for his birthday.”
Zhao Yunjin’s face darkened, but he said nothing.
He had to admit—her move of offering borrowed flowers to Buddha was quite clever.
Qi Yize continued muttering, “But He Yang is really lucky. Thinking about it, he should thank you properly!”
At that, the cold aura around Zhao Yunjin intensified.
Clearly, it was a jab at him—missing out on such a feast and watching someone else enjoy it instead.
“I’m going back to the residence. Don’t follow me.”
His voice was icy. After saying that, he turned and walked downstairs.
Qi Yize stood there, confused. “Did I say something wrong? I was just telling the truth…”
Inside the private room, the two enjoying their meal had no idea what had just happened outside.
“Uh… Boss, are you sure pig brain isn’t disgusting?” He Yang asked, staring at the pot with hesitation.
Among all the ingredients, pig brain was the only one he didn’t dare to try. He simply couldn’t get past the mental barrier.
“It’s just like tofu—soft and smooth. You sure you don’t want to try?”
Yu Zhizhi smiled, trying to persuade him.
But He Yang firmly shook his head. “Nope. Boss, you enjoy it yourself!”
At that moment, a voice came from the door:
“Miss Yun, may I come in?”
Manager Luo stood outside, pacing back and forth as he asked.