“Not eating.” Liang Ling did not fall for it at all. Wen Ming let out a “heh” and looked at him with amusement, asking, “I am spending money to treat you to good food, and you are still unhappy?”
Liang Ling curled his lips. “I am not hungry.”
“Alright then.” Wen Ming respected his wishes. Since he was coming straight from business social engagements, he was not particularly hungry either, so he brought up official business: “Let us go, then. I will take you to my place and brief you on your future work tasks.”
Only then did Liang Ling’s expression ease up as he nodded.
The car turned into the familiar river-view residential compound once again. Upon seeing that soft, spacious bed, both of them tacitly chose to look away.
“Your first task is to water these plants.” Wen Ming pointed to the neatly arranged succulents, baby’s breath, and spring orchids lined up on the balcony. It was obvious that Wen Ming cherished them greatly, as every single plant grew with vibrant vitality. “I will make a list for you detailing how to water them and their sunlight exposure times. You must strictly follow it every day, otherwise these grandpas will easily die of neglect if you are not careful.”
Liang Ling nodded. Although it was a bit troublesome, at least it was not difficult. “What else?”
Wen Ming smiled slightly, leading him into the kitchen to show off his well-decorated, semi-open kitchen and a complete set of imported foreign cookware. “I personally do not like eating outside, because after all, only food you cook yourself is truly clean. Therefore, aside from necessary social obligations, I cook at home myself.”
Liang Ling had an inexplicable sense of impending doom, stealing a quiet glance at him. “You do not mean to make me cook, do you?”
Wen Ming frowned, seeming somewhat surprised. “Can you not?”
Accustomed to a life of luxury where he never had to lift a finger since childhood, Liang Ling could only offer an awkward smile.
Wen Ming simply could not believe it. “Then what do you usually eat?”
Liang Ling scratched his head. “Can we not eat outside or order takeout?” He noticed that young people nowadays all did that.
Three lines dropped down Wen Ming’s forehead as he said with a deadpan expression, “No, at least I cannot accept that. Food from outside pursues heavy flavors with excessive oil and salt, which conflicts with my lifestyle philosophy.”
Liang Ling let out a disappointed “oh.”
Wen Ming paused for a moment, still compromising slightly: “Of course, if you do not know how to cook, you can learn. I have many books related to culinary arts in my room, and I will give you time.”
Liang Ling sighed helplessly. This person was truly difficult to please.
“Alright then, but I am only responsible for cooking. I cannot guarantee how it will taste.”
Wen Ming smiled confidently. “It is fine, I am not picky.”
The scene shifted. When Liang Ling served him burnt cola chicken wings and undercooked seaweed and meatball soup, Wen Ming still could not bring himself to say that final word.
Wen Ming: “Did you poison the food? Why is it so black?”
Looking thoroughly guilty, Liang Ling picked up a pitch-black chicken wing and tasted it, immediately spitting it out with a look of agony.
“Sorry, burnt on the outside and raw on the inside.”
Sighing heavily, Wen Ming looked at him with a mix of exasperation and disappointment, dragged him into the kitchen, deftly put on an apron, grabbed a spatula, and glared back at him. “Watch carefully!”
And so, Liang Ling watched eagerly as the great President Wen worked his magic in the kitchen. Before long, several dishes of wonderful color, aroma, and taste were served on the table: sauteed pork slices, steamed sea bass, Chinese cabbage and tofu soup, and a refreshing, appetizing smashed cucumber.
Looking at Wen Ming with eyes full of reverence, Liang Ling picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of sea bass. The tender fish melted in his mouth, leaving a lingering fragrance on his teeth and lips. He could not help giving Wen Ming a thumbs-up: “President Wen, you are so amazing!”
Having been complimented, Wen Ming felt an inexplicable surge of pride. Yet, putting on a stern face, he crossed his arms and said blandly, “What is so special about this? I know how to make plenty of things, and I will slowly show them to you in the future.”
Liang Ling practically transformed into a devoted fanboy, nodding like a chick pecking at rice. “Wow! Thank you, President Wen. I am so lucky to have this treat!”
Thus, under the sugar-coated bombardment of the little sycophant Liang, praising how President Wen looks so handsome cooking, it tastes almost better than restaurants, and even Michelin chefs have to bow in defeat, Wen Ming completely lost himself, serving up different three-course meals every single day. Within less than a month, he had fattened Liang Ling up by a full circle.
Finally, one day, as he watched Liang Ling happily devouring the nougat he had made and polishing off an entire plate in no time, a trace of doubt arose in Wen Ming’s mind.
What was it that he had originally asked him to learn again?
“President Wen,” Liang Ling said after finishing the nougat, taking a sip of the fruit tea Wen Ming had brewed, and letting out a gentle, satisfied burp. “Do you have any social engagements tonight?”
Checking the memo on his phone, Wen Ming nodded. “I need to discuss business with a client later. Do you know how to drink alcohol?”
Liang Ling flashed him an OK sign and smiled. “Yes, my alcohol tolerance is great. Helping President Wen block drinks will be no problem at all.”
Wen Ming nodded with a sense of relief. Ever since Liang Ling came to work as his assistant, he basically could not do a single task right while ranking number one in devouring food. Aside from solving computer technical issues for company staff, his living skills, roughly equivalent to a third-class disabled person, only added frost to the snow of Wen Ming’s already busy life.
However, since he was the one who hired him, Wen Ming could not bear to put on a cold face and fire him. Besides, although this little fellow was clumsy, he had a great temper and a pure heart. In the treacherous, undercurrent-filled vanity fair of Mingqi, Wen Ming increasingly felt that having such a person around was truly precious.
Perhaps he was just too lonely, wondering why even an immature kid like this did not annoy him. Wen Ming sometimes thought with quiet amusement.
The appointment with the client was set for seven o’clock in the evening. To prevent Liang Ling, this little foodie who never stopped eating once he started, from filling up too much beforehand, he deliberately skipped making dinner and drove Liang Ling to the booked restaurant.
This order was extremely important to Wen Ming. Although he was the nominal president of Mingqi, only he knew that the majority of Mingqi’s actual shares were held in the hands of his father and Ye Wanqing’s father. He was merely a puppet who could be discarded at any moment. To establish a firm footing, he could not afford to give up a single client willing to cooperate with him.
Clearly, Wen Qi understood this as well. Over the years, how many obstacles he had secretly thrown in his way and how many of his projects he had sabotaged, only Wen Ming himself knew.
“This client tonight is from Jiangnan and cannot handle spicy food. Go order some sweet-flavored dishes, and also bring over that ten-year jar of Huadiao wine I brought,” Wen Ming instructed Liang Ling softly while communicating with the client.
Liang Ling nodded, following the waiter to order the food, while Wen Ming went personally to the parking lot to pick up the guests.
“One portion of crab roe soup dumplings, double-boiled bird’s nest in clear broth, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, plus an order of beef soup hotpot, make sure it is non-spicy, and also…” Strictly following Wen Ming’s instructions, Liang Ling ordered many non-spicy dishes and asked the waiter to pour the wine they brought and serve it after the dishes were finished.
Having completed all this, Liang Ling nodded confidently and went upstairs to the private dining room to find Wen Ming, completely unaware of the few stealthy figures lurking behind him.
At the dining table, Wen Ming was engaged in a lively conversation with the client. Well-read and articulate, he possessed an elegant maturity in his gestures that easily captured the client’s preferences. Seeing that the timing was about right, Wen Ming signaled Liang Ling to tell the waiter to serve the food.
The dishes were quickly brought out by the waiter. With a faint smile, Wen Ming intended to introduce each dish to the client just as he had before, highlighting his respect and sincerity for the cooperation. To his utter surprise, before he could even start, he watched the waiter place a plate of spicy diced chicken right in the middle of the table.
Wen Ming: “Oh no.”
Did they not say the client was from Jiangnan and could not eat spicy food? Wen Ming gave Liang Ling a reproachful glare. The latter was also staring in utter shock, hurriedly checking the menu, only to find no trace of this dish anywhere after searching for a long time.
“I did not order this!” Liang Ling mouthed anxiously toward Wen Ming.
Wen Ming was stunned, and before he could react, he saw the waiter bring out another large basin of boiled sliced fish in hot chili oil.
Wen Ming, Liang Ling, and the client: “What is the meaning of this?”
The pot-bellied client frowned and smiled diplomatically. “President Wen must have forgotten. I am a southerner and cannot really handle spicy food.”
Looking at Liang Ling, who looked ready to cry, Wen Ming felt an immediate sense of foreboding. Oh no, someone must have tampered with this.
Just as he was racking his brain to think of a countermeasure, the waiter served a few more dishes, every single one of them swimming in spice and chili oil, leaving even the cold appetizers spared. Finally, a jar of wine with an antique design, the Huadiao wine, was brought out.
Wishing to avoid making the awkward situation worse, the client forced a chuckle and opened the jar of Huadiao wine. “President Wen is truly too polite, still remembering my favorite drink. Tonight, let us get thoroughly drunk together!”
“Be careful!” Wen Ming cried out in alarm. Just as he tried to stop him, the client poured the liquid from the jar directly into a goblet.
And thus, everyone fell into a deep contemplation as they looked at the bubbling, carbonated cola inside the goblet.