When Chu Fang usually cooks, Zhong Tingyue would help him by washing and chopping vegetables. Even if she was clumsy, she would still do it. Over time, Zhong Tingyue's vegetable-chopping skills improved significantly, and the cutting board made a loud clattering sound as she chopped.

However, his cooking skills remain as terrible as ever.

It's not that Zhong Tingyue is stupid or can't even cook.

Chu Fang once found a cookbook that meticulously recorded the cooking process and procedures, including how much salt, oil, MSG, etc., to add to each dish. Zhong Tingyue was able to make edible dishes by following the recipe.

However, she was not satisfied. She always believed that food made according to a recipe had no soul, and that the seasonings used in cooking should not be expressed in grams or spoonfuls, but in vague terms such as a little or a small amount.

That's the essence of cooking.

Zhong Tingyue insisted on cooking in small quantities, but she couldn't quite get the proportion right. She would often accidentally add too much or too little seasoning, resulting in dishes that always tasted strange.

But no matter what, she's determined to cook according to her own ideas, and nothing can change her mind.

Perhaps this is what a stubborn donkey is like.

Unable to persuade Zhong Tingyue, Chu Fang rarely let her cook anymore, to avoid causing herself trouble. Zhong Tingyue, knowing her own stubbornness, gave up her dream of becoming a chef.

It was already dark, night had fallen, and dinner was ready—a simple meal of three dishes and a soup.

Just as he finished, someone called Chu Fang. It was his friend Shao Liang calling. As soon as he answered, Shao Liang's voice came through: "Brother Chu, Brother Rong is almost drunk. It seems like something's wrong."

Where is he now?

Chu Fang asked for the address, then hung up the phone. Meeting Zhong Tingyue's gaze, he shrugged and said, "Sorry, we can't have dinner together tonight. It seems like something happened to my friend."

"Go ahead, go ahead." Zhong Tingyue walked behind him, gently pulled off her apron, patted the dust off her clothes, and tidied herself up. "I don't think I've met your friend yet. When will you introduce me to her?"

"Anytime is fine, shall we go now?"

"Let's forget about it now, let's do it another day."

"good."

As she was leaving, Zhong Tingyue handed him a piece of bread and a bottle of milk, as if afraid he might be hungry, like a wife who cares about her husband.

Chu Fang had just left when He Yi went home after get off work, followed by her best friend Yang Meina.

Zhong Tingyue raised an eyebrow: "Nana, what brings you here?"

"Can't I come? Zhong Tingyue, you heartless bastard! You've forgotten your childhood friend and our 20-plus-year friendship since you got a boyfriend." Yang Meina complained as she walked into the room. The bond of over twenty years of childhood friendship couldn't withstand a mere man. She glanced around and asked, "Hey, where's your man?"

“He had to leave, so it’s just the three of us having dinner tonight,” Zhong Tingyue replied.

After placing three dishes and a soup on the table, the three of them sat together. Yang Meina picked up a piece of food, chewed it carefully, and then gave a thumbs up: "I have to admit, your man is a great cook, he's as good as a chef in a five-star hotel."

“That’s right,” Zhong Tingyue said proudly.

Yang Meina nudged He Yi: "When your man comes back from his business trip, tell him to learn from him."

“I told him to become Chu Fang’s apprentice.”

Zhong Tingyue asked, "Is your boyfriend coming back?"

"Yes, that's right." He Yi smiled broadly. "My business trip is over."

"Infatuated." Zhong Tingyue retorted upon seeing this.

He Yi retorted, her neck stiff: "Aren't you? You'd love to crawl into Chu Fang's bed, you're despicable."

"You're vulgar."

"You are shameless."

"You're a scoundrel."

“... ..."

At this moment, Yang Meina was heartbroken.

Two best friends actually started arguing over a man.

Suddenly, Yang Meina's eyes lit up as she noticed the necklace on Zhong Tingyue's fair neck: "Where did you get this necklace?"

"It was a gift from Chu Fang's mother." Zhong Tingyue fiddled with the necklace.

She wore it every day after I gave it to her.

"It must be very expensive, right?" Yang Meina asked.

"Chu Fang's mother said it was only a few hundred yuan."

"..." Yang Meina paused for a moment, carefully examined the necklace's workmanship and material, and said, "If it's worth a few hundred yuan, I'll give you my head."

"That's several thousand yuan?" Zhong Tingyue was stunned for a moment, then said with some regret, "It's so expensive, I shouldn't have accepted it."

“... ..."

He Yi and Yang Meina could only remain speechless in response.

... ...

After leaving the residential area, Chu Fang hailed a taxi and headed to the place Shao Liang had mentioned.

It was rush hour, and the road was full of cars. After more than an hour of stopping and starting, I finally arrived at my destination.

Just as I got off the bus, by sheer coincidence, Wen Xiangbing arrived at the same time.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes. They walked together to a small restaurant and there they met Shao Liang and Rong Shunji.

When Shao Liang saw the two of them, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over: "Brother Wen, Brother Chu."

"What happened?" Wen Xiangbing asked.

“I don’t know either.” Shao Liang shook his head. “When I got home today, Rong Ge was already home. He asked me to go out for dinner together, so we went out. When we got to the restaurant, Rong Ge ordered a case of beer. He didn’t say a word and just drank by himself, looking very preoccupied.”

Shao Liang and Rong Shunji are roommates and usually take care of each other.

The three entered the restaurant. Rong Shunji stared blankly ahead, his eyes lifeless. He didn't greet them, as if he hadn't noticed them at all. He was lost in his own world, just drinking his wine in silence, his face filled with indescribable sadness and sorrow.

Chu Fang walked up to his friend and waved, but there was still no response. He nudged Rong Shunji and said, "Hey, wake up."

External forces broke Rong Shunji's immersion in his own world. His eyes focused, and he saw his friend in front of him. In a low voice, he asked, "Brother Wen, Fangzi, how did you two get here?"

"Um... we came by car." Chu Fang and Wen Xiangbing sat directly in front of Rong Shunji, and the former replied in a serious tone.

Rong Shunji took a swig of his drink and said, "At a time like this, please stop being so nonsensical."

“You haven’t told us what happened, how are we supposed to know when it happened?” Wen Xiangbing said.

Facing the intense gazes of his three friends, Rong Shunji sighed, "I'm heartbroken."

Chu Fang asked, "Did you put a hat on her?"

"No."

Wen Xiangbing asked, "Did she cheat on you?"

No, not at all.

The two looked at each other and said in unison, "You two have been cheating on each other?"

“... ....”

Rong Shunji's face was filled with indescribable anger as he glared at the two of them. Then he downed a whole bottle of beer in one gulp, as if swallowing the thought of killing his two frenemy friends: "No, you two are wearing too many hats, aren't you?"

"Then what happened? You need to explain yourself clearly," Chu Fang said.