Yu Zhizhi smiled proudly and scooped a mushroom pork meatball from the pot into his bowl.
“This is hot pot. I brought all the ingredients myself. So? Pretty amazing, right?”
He Yang immediately played along.
“Super amazing!”
“Looks like Shopkeeper Luo won’t be able to scam a single coin from you this time.”
She had even brought her own ingredients. It completely refreshed his understanding of what was possible.
As expected, the Boss always had the best ideas!
Looking at the round meatball in his bowl, He Yang asked curiously,
“What is this?”
“Mushroom pork meatballs. They’re delicious, and I made them myself. Hurry and try one.”
As she spoke, Yu Zhizhi fished out a fish ball for herself. She blew on it lightly before eagerly taking a bite.
The moment it entered her mouth, she felt the fish ball’s springy texture and fresh flavor. It was tender and smooth, with no fishy taste at all.
Paired with the special dipping sauce—
It was simply perfect!
He Yang was so touched that he nearly cried.
“Waaah! Boss, you actually cooked it yourself!”
Following her example, he dipped the meatball into the sauce before putting it into his mouth.
He froze instantly.
Yu Zhizhi smiled.
“How does it taste?”
After finishing the entire meatball, He Yang still looked unsatisfied.
“It suits my taste perfectly. The meatball is bouncy and chewy, and the spicy flavor blends with the fragrance of mushrooms and pork.”
So the Boss’s cooking skills were this incredible!
Yu Zhizhi had already begun cooking slices of fatty beef while introducing the two different soup bases and explaining how to eat the various ingredients.
“This fatty beef is very tender. Take it out as soon as it changes color.”
“And this tripe has a specific way of being cooked. Follow what I do. If you leave it in too long, it won’t stay crispy.”
He Yang followed her lead, dipping the tripe in and out of the broth several times.
“Mmm! It really is crispy and delicious. What is this? I’ve never seen it before.”
Yu Zhizhi looked thoroughly satisfied as she ate.
“Of course you haven’t. It’s beef offal.”
Seeing his expression change drastically and that he was about to spit it out, Yu Zhizhi immediately stopped him.
“Don’t waste food! Even though it’s offal, I cleaned it thoroughly. You can’t taste any foul smell, can you?”
He Yang nodded.
“And there’s duck intestine, pig’s blood, and aorta. They’re all good things. Only people who truly know how to eat can appreciate their deliciousness.”
He Yang grinned flatteringly.
“I’m definitely someone who knows how to eat!”
Since the Boss was eating it herself, what was there to fear?
Especially the offal cooked in the spicy red broth—it was exceptionally delicious.
The aroma of the hot pot was rich and overpowering.
It drifted and spread—
Through every corner of Fuju Restaurant, as though a grand feast for the senses was underway.
It happened to be the restaurant’s busiest dinner hour.
The main hall was packed and noisy.
Every customer who came for dinner was captivated by the irresistible fragrance.
Many stopped eating altogether and sniffed the air, trying to locate the source of the aroma.
Unable to suppress their curiosity and cravings, numerous diners grabbed passing waiters and eagerly asked:
“Has your restaurant launched a new dish? This smell is incredible! Bring me a serving right now!”
“The aroma is spicy, but there’s also a unique medicinal fragrance mixed in. The more I smell it, the more addictive it becomes.”
“It seems to be coming from the second floor. I can’t take it anymore. Just smelling it has already whetted my appetite. Waiter, bring me one too!”
…
Faced with the barrage of questions, the waiters looked completely confused.
They had no idea what dish it was either.
Even though they worked in the kitchen every day, they had never smelled anything so enticing.
Zhao Yunjin and Qi Yize arrived at the restaurant and also caught the irresistible scent.
Qi Yize grinned.
“Looks like this trip wasn’t a waste. The restaurant must have introduced a new dish. The smell is addictively good.”
The two men walked outside the private room where Yu Zhizhi was dining. Here, the aroma was even stronger.
“Boss, let me toast you. Thank you so much for personally preparing this hot pot for me. This birthday gift is something I’ll never forget.”
Yu Zhizhi was already slightly tipsy.
Patting her chest, she declared,
“Didn’t I tell you before? I’d make sure you eat well and live well. Did I ever lie to you?”
He Yang chuckled.
“The hot pot is both fragrant and spicy, so you definitely didn’t lie. Boss, I’m following you for life. If you tell me to run east, I’ll never dare run west.”
As skilled martial artists, Zhao Yunjin and Qi Yize had exceptionally sharp hearing.
Even though the private room had soundproofing, they could still hear every word clearly.
Qi Yize teased,
“Yu Zhizhi really is clever. Since she knew you weren’t coming, she simply invited He Yang instead. And only a fool like He Yang would think this hot pot was specially prepared for his birthday.”
Zhao Yunjin’s face darkened, but he said nothing.
He had to admit that her method of borrowing flowers to present to Buddha was indeed ingenious.
Qi Yize continued muttering,
“But He Yang is pretty lucky. Come to think of it, he really should thank you.”
The cold aura around Zhao Yunjin intensified.
The remark was clearly mocking him for lacking the fortune to enjoy the meal and having to watch the feast he was meant to attend end up in someone else’s hands.
“I’m returning to the manor. Don’t follow me.”
His voice was icy.
After saying that, Zhao Yunjin turned and headed downstairs.
Qi Yize looked utterly confused.
“Did I say something wrong? I was only telling the truth!”
Meanwhile, the two people happily enjoying themselves inside the private room had no idea any of this had happened.
“Boss, are you sure eating pig brain isn’t disgusting?”
He Yang stared at the pig brain floating in the hot pot and asked with obvious reluctance.
Among all the ingredients on the table, pig brain was the only thing he dared not try.
He simply couldn’t overcome the psychological barrier.
“It’s just like eating tofu—soft and silky. Are you sure you don’t want to try it?”
Yu Zhizhi smiled as she attempted to persuade him.
However, He Yang firmly shook his head.
“No, Boss. You can enjoy that all by yourself!”
Just then, a voice came from outside the door.
“Miss Yun, may this old man come in?”
Shopkeeper Luo stood outside the room, pacing back and forth as he called out.