“Mapo… tofu?”
Wen Zhaofu repeated, thinking he had misheard.
Uncle Man grew anxious, his words speeding up: “Young Master, I think Steward Yun must be homesick. Think about it he prepared so many afternoon snacks and memories for everyone, so he must have his own memories too.”
“He’s an outsider here, unfamiliar with the place. Watching others reunite today, it’s only natural that he’d think of his own family.”
Wen Zhaofu furrowed his brows slightly. As far as he knew, Yun Fan had no family left. Seeing that he still showed no reaction, Uncle Man steeled himself: “Oh, Young Master, I know I shouldn’t be bringing this up to you, but look at how much Steward Yun has done for everyone we shouldn’t let him be sad.”
“None of us here eat Sichuan food, and I’ve never made it before, but I’ll work hard to learn!” Uncle Man nodded emphatically.
“You’re right.” Wen Zhaofu snapped back to attention, first affirming Uncle Man. “Thank you for telling me, Uncle Man. I was negligent.”
“Alright, then no need for you to trouble yourself. You’ve worked hard too; get some rest.” Wen Zhaofu mused, “I’ll handle the mapo tofu.”
After Uncle Man left, Wen Zhaofu replayed his words, as if he could see Yun Fan’s lonely figure, sending off the bustle under the moonlight, quietly tasting bitterness.
Just thinking about it made Wen Zhaofu’s heart ache. He left the bedroom outright, turned his wheelchair to Yun Fan’s door, cleared his throat, and raised his hand to knock.
The door swung open with a bang, and before Wen Zhaofu could even finish the word “Yun,” he found the old steward standing at the doorway.
“Uncle Cheng?” Wen Zhaofu called out, somewhat surprised.
Yun Fan squeezed out from beside the old steward and smiled at Wen Zhaofu. “Sir, what brings you here so late?”
Judging by that tone, Yun Fan seemed quite pleased. Wen Zhaofu smiled. “Just came to see our big hero.”
“Hehe, you flatter me.” Yun Fan rubbed the back of his head. “Steward Cheng already praised me on your behalf just now.”
The old steward looked at Wen Zhaofu with some surprise wasn’t he, the head steward, still here? Did Wen Zhaofu really need to come personally?
But Yun Fan had indeed performed well today. He chose not to say more and simply stepped aside.
This was the first time Wen Zhaofu had entered Yun Fan’s bedroom since he had woken up. It remained tidy, but now carried a bit more life. Yun Fan would pick up scattered flowers and leaves from the courtyard and casually place them on the desk and cabinets as decoration.
“Sir, this is the first time Steward Cheng has ever praised me, you know.” Yun Fan’s tone carried a hint of pride.
Seeing Yun Fan’s playful demeanor, Wen Zhaofu relaxed a little and replied, “You deserve it. You did well. Xiao Yun, I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Yun Fan blinked, glanced at Wen Zhaofu, then quickly looked away.
For some reason, when the old steward had rambled on at length earlier, Yun Fan had taken it all in stride, thinking to himself that he had no choice he’d shown just a sliver of his real ability.
But when Wen Zhaofu praised him like this, he started to wonder if he should actually work hard from now on instead of coasting.
Wen Zhaofu observed Yun Fan’s expression and noticed his cheeks were slightly flushed, though his eyes weren’t swollen he didn’t look like he’d been crying.
“Xiao Yun, are you free tomorrow?” Wen Zhaofu asked, softening his voice.
“Oh, whether I’m free or not isn’t for you to decide, boss.” Yun Fan resumed his usual grinning expression.
Wen Zhaofu also smiled and nodded. “Alright, I’ll give you the day off. Wait at home tomorrow at noon, I’ll send someone to pick you up.”
“What for?” Yun Fan asked curiously.
“To eat the mapo tofu you’ve been craving.”
Yun Fan’s eyes went wide, then he covered his face. Oh no, the fact that he’d almost cried from craving mapo tofu had already gotten back to Wen Zhaofu!
The next day at noon, when Liu Erxing came looking for Yun Fan, he found no one there. Frowning, he listened as the old butler explained that Wen Zhaofu had taken Yun Fan out.
“Is Zhaofu really that free?” Liu Erxing said in surprise. “I heard the Wen Corporation has a big project in Singapore lately he’s been busy nonstop.”
“Please, Young Master Liu, don’t say such things.” The old butler said mysteriously. “The eldest young master has his own ways he can manage both work and, and taking Steward Yun out to eat.”
“Oh…” Liu Erxing looked at the old butler meaningfully. “Heh heh.”
Liu Erxing really couldn’t figure Wen Zhaofu out. Was this CEO Wen actually serious?
He turned and walked out of Langyun Terrace, pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and made a call: “Hey, Chuanzi, which brand of mapo tofu seasoning mix is the best over there?”
“Send me a case first.”
“Shuizhu pork slices and pickled fish? Then send a case of each too stock up.”
“Ship to Harbor City, I’ll cover the shipping.”
After hanging up, Liu Erxing ran straight into Cheng Yu. After a brief moment of surprise, Liu Erxing put on his usual cynical smile. “Here to see Yun Fan?”
Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his willow-leaf eyes narrowed slightly. Cheng Yu countered, “Aren’t you?”
Liu Erxing spread his hands. “Missed him, Zhaofu already picked him up.”
Sure enough, the same look of surprise appeared on Cheng Yu’s face.
When Cheng Yu heard from Wen Haochen that Yun Fan had almost cried from craving mapo tofu, his feelings were complicated. He thought Yun Fan’s taste was too strange, how could anyone like something so heavy on oil, salt, and flavor? They’d never see eye to eye on food.
Then Cheng Yu reconsidered: Yun Fan probably wouldn’t want it every single meal it was still acceptable. So he came to Langyun Terrace, planning to ask Yun Fan when he’d like to eat it, and he could find a decent restaurant in Shanghai.
But Cheng Yu was still a step too late, ending up in the same situation as Liu Erxing.
“Hey, no way you’re actually serious too?” Liu Erxing looked at Cheng Yu in surprise. “Yun Fan and your ex aren’t even the same type at all.”
“The love of beauty is universal.” Cheng Yu adjusted his glasses. “Besides, Yun Fan has some real ability.”
Liu Erxing laughed and shook his head. “You have to calculate everything can feelings really be calculated like that?”
Cheng Yu didn’t want to deal with him. He turned to head back to Hongxuan but had only taken one step when his elbow was grabbed.
“Have you eaten yet?” Liu Erxing tilted his chin up.
Cheng Yu shook his head. Liu Erxing smiled. “Come on, let’s go grab a bite too.”
After walking a few steps, Liu Erxing made another call to Wen Haochen. Hearing they were going to eat something delicious, Wen Haochen came running out in a fluster, not even having styled his hair.
In no world had Yun Fan ever eaten at such an extravagant meal.
The place Wen Zhaofu brought him to was a small restaurant with only ten tables in total. But right now, aside from the two of them and the two owners who doubled as chefs, there were no other customers in the place.
Because Wen Zhaofu had rented out this tiny restaurant entirely.
To make it easier for Wen Zhaofu to move around, the owner had rearranged the tables, leaving plenty of space for the wheelchair.
Yun Fan’s shock had yet to fade. He opened his mouth, staring at Wen Zhaofu. “Sir… sir.”
“Don’t be nervous. It’s because of me,” Wen Zhaofu said with a smile. “There’s a university nearby, so it’s busy and crowded. You know how I am, it’s a bit inconvenient.”
Yun Fan quickly shook his head. “No, no, it’s fine. I understand. So, shall we eat?”
After all, the place was too quiet just Yun Fan and Wen Zhaofu dining together, which made Yun Fan a bit tense. After all, Wen Zhaofu was his boss, and which employee wouldn’t feel intimidated eating at the same table as their boss?
Before long, the owner brought out a table full of signature dishes. The moment Yun Fan spotted the mapo tofu, his eyes lit up. Red chili oil coated the tender tofu, topped with vibrant green scallions, and the aroma carried the numbing scent of Sichuan peppercorns and the spicy kick of doubanjiang.
“Wow, they didn’t over-thicken the sauce either it looks amazing!” Yun Fan clapped his hands, looking at Wen Zhaofu gratefully.
Wen Zhaofu lowered his head slightly, steadying his emotions before speaking. “Eat up. This meal’s on me.”
Yun Fan scratched his cheek. “Then I won’t hold back!”
Besides the mapo tofu, there was boiled fish in chili oil, shredded pork in garlic sauce, and a non-spicy sweet-skin duck. Every dish made Yun Fan’s mouth water, and he grabbed his small bowl and started digging in.
He never would have imagined that in this unremarkable little alley, there was such an authentic restaurant hidden away.
Yun Fan buried his head in his bowl partly because the food was too delicious, and partly because he couldn’t handle Wen Zhaofu’s gaze.
On ordinary days, because of his light-colored pupils, Wen Zhaofu always seemed to look at people with a hint of indifference. But today, with no one else around, Yun Fan knew Wen Zhaofu was watching him with full attention. And the emotion in that gaze, Yun Fan didn’t dare examine it too closely.
“Our braised pork flatbread is also a specialty,” the owner said, walking over with a smile as he saw Yun Fan eating so heartily. “Shall I bring you one?”
Yun Fan looked up, face full of anticipation, and was just about to speak when he heard a laugh from the doorway.
Liu Erxing tilted his head, looking at the two of them. “Braised pork flatbread? Great owner, bring us three more!”