Chapter 28: Chapter 26: The Supreme Good is Like Water (Combined Part 2)_3
Everyone didn’t expect this outcome, and the atmosphere got a little awkward for a moment.
The first to speak was Young Master Zhang, whose expression clearly showed some displeasure, but he couldn’t say anything more, though the girls had no such qualms.
“So we waited for two hours and ended up with nothing, huh, alright alright…”
“Oh, Lu Jin, if you didn’t have the ability, you shouldn’t have made such a fuss. We might as well have gone to Sofitel for seafood, no waiting required. What’s the difference if it’s five-star dining?”
“Stop saying so much, it’s Ding Yi’s birthday. It’s not our place to express opinions. Of course, it seems like Young Master Lu isn’t too concerned with how Ding Yi feels…”
The girls, decked out in luxury brands, teased with smiles, but their words were biting.
...
Lu Jin had never expected that he’d be the first to endure the sharp tongues of Ding Yi’s plastic friends, and he was sweating all over.
“Alright, alright, it’s my fault for not preparing well. I apologize to everyone. Let’s just make do with a simple five-star meal for now. I’ll make it up to you another day!”
At this point, Ding Yi, having taken a deep breath, had already regained his smile, chuckling as he spoke.
“What are you talking about? It’s your birthday, you’re the boss. How could we have any complaints?”
“Yeah, it’s not like it’s your fault, Ding Yi. Even if you invited us for street food, we’d make sure to lick the plates clean!”
“He, how are we supposed to lick? Care to demonstrate?”
“Cut it out, this is a public place!”
As the group of girls laughed and joked around, the atmosphere in the room seemed to return to normal, but Lu Jin felt even more miserable.
Although it appeared that Ding Yi helped him out of a tight spot, throughout the whole process, Ding Yi didn’t glance at him, making him feel like all his efforts were in vain.
…
Inside Jinxiu Hall.
Zhou Wang sat alone at a round table laid out with a drinks menu, feeling somewhat out of place.
Was it a bit too extravagant to have such a large room for just himself to eat?
But a few minutes later, when the door to the room opened and a group of waiters followed Bella in, quickly setting up a temporary cooking station, Zhou Wang realized that the “special dinner” Bella mentioned was truly something special.
The last to enter was a middle-aged man in a chef’s uniform, with a kind face, who approached Zhou Wang with a smile, prompting Zhou Wang to stand up and shake hands with him.
“Mr. Zhou, hello, I’m Luo Wenle, the executive chef at the Wanda Mandarin Hotel. It’s an honor to serve you.”
“Chef Luo, you’re too kind. I’ve long admired your reputation. It’s my honor to taste your live cooking.”
Having just showered, Zhou Wang had searched the internet a bit. When he saw the entry on Chef Luo Wenle, Zhou Wang, who already had some expectations, was still taken aback.
These days, having a personal profile wasn’t unusual; anyone could make one. But the various honors listed couldn’t be fabricated.
Chef Luo Wenle was a legend in the culinary world. In his early twenties, he had defeated many well-known old hands to win the “National Chef Competition” and went on to win repeatedly.
Additionally, through his search, Zhou Wang corrected a misconception.
Strictly speaking, an “executive chef” was no longer just a chef but a senior management role in hotel dining, and they rarely cooked personally.
So, having such a figure prepare a meal especially for him carried more weight than it appeared, which was why Zhou Wang was so polite.
Chef Luo Wenle then carefully inquired about Zhou Wang’s dietary restrictions and culinary preferences before stepping up to the cooking station.
“Then I’ll get started.”
Chef Luo Wenle began preparing the first dish, assisted by several chefs and waiters on the side.
“Mr. Zhou, this dish is called ‘The Best Like Water,’ one of my innovative signature hotel dishes. I first won the Chef Competition with this dish.”
While handling the ingredients, Chef Luo Wenle smiled at Zhou Wang and said, “If you’re interested, you can come closer, as the essence of this dish lies in its ingredient preparation.”
Zhou Wang, intrigued, walked over to watch.
After a glance, Zhou Wang understood why the dish was called “The Best Like Water”—its main ingredient was rice eel.
As he chatted with Chef Luo Wenle and watched him cook, Zhou Wang gradually began to enjoy the experience.
For a chef of Luo Wenle’s caliber, even the simple knife skills in handling ingredients were a delight to watch.
This was more than just a dinner; it was as if Luo Wenle, with his superb culinary talent, had ushered him into an art gallery of culinary masterpieces.
Additionally, Chef Luo Wenle himself was quite talkative, weaving fascinating food-related topics into the conversation, often bringing a knowing smile to Zhou Wang’s face and broadening his horizons.
Soon, the first dish was served at the table. At Chef Luo Wenle’s suggestion, Zhou Wang ordered a bottle of fine red wine that would complement the flavors, slightly pricey at 5888 yuan.
But Zhou Wang knew full well that, in comparison to the value of the meal, this price was insignificant, so he didn’t mind. As Chef Luo Wenle continuously prepared several dishes and took a short break, Zhou Wang invited him to sit down, and the two enjoyed the wine and conversation together.
The dinner left Zhou Wang feeling mentally and physically satisfied. Chef Luo Wenle, with intentional display, ensured that though the ingredients were ample, each dish was served in small portions.
When Zhou Wang had eaten most of the dishes in front of him, Chef Luo Wenle got up to continue his work, ensuring Zhou Wang wouldn’t end up eating cold dishes.
Feeling half full, Zhou Wang decided to take a break, picking up his phone to find a slew of unread messages had accumulated in such a short period.
“Oh, I seem to have forgotten to reply to Jiang Mo…”
Zhou Wang smacked his forehead, remembering something, and unlocked his phone to find several messages were from Li Cheng, filled with his frantic complaints.