Chapter 17 Chapter 17 was done by the lady.

"Butler Chen," Assistant Zong's voice came with his usual efficiency, "I'm telling you, the master won't be back for lunch. The case here has reached a critical juncture, and he can't leave."

"Okay, I understand," Butler Chen agreed. After a pause, he couldn't help but ask, "Assistant Zong, has the Patriarch... eaten yet?"

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, and Assistant Zong lowered his voice: "Not yet. I've been busy since this morning and haven't even had time to drink a sip of water. I've tried to persuade him, but it's no use. The head of the family said that he won't have the heart to eat until the finishing work is done."

Butler Chen hung up the phone, his brows unconsciously frowned. He turned around and saw Fu Xu looking at him curiously, so he explained: "It was Assistant Zong. He said that Mr. Shen would not be back for lunch at noon. He is busy."

Fu Xu said "Oh", feeling a little disappointed and a little worried. He remembered what Butler Chen had just asked Assistant Zong, and couldn't help asking: "Butler Chen, did you ask Mr. Shen if he had eaten?"

Butler Chen nodded, with a look of helplessness and worry on his face: "Yes, Mr. Shen is a person who can't take care of anything when he is busy. He was like this when he was in the old house. He was often busy until midnight and didn't eat properly. Later... later he fell ill and moved out. I'm not with him, and I don't know if he is feeling better now." He looked at Fu Xu, and suddenly his eyes lit up, as if he had thought of a good idea.

"Mr. Fu Xu," Butler Chen leaned forward, his tone slightly tentative, "You just said you can cook?"

Fu Xu nodded, not understanding why. "Yeah, I know a little."

"That's great!" Butler Chen slapped his thigh, an excited look on his face. "Look, Mr. Shen is too busy to eat right now, and there's no point in us worrying about him. But you're different. You're his..." He paused, not saying the word "omega" too clearly, and continued, "He might be very happy with the food you cook!"

Fu Xu was stunned by what he said, and his cheeks turned red instantly: "Will he like the food I cook?" He remembered the last time he cooked for Mr. Shen, and Mr. Shen seemed to... seemed to have praised him with a "not bad" word.

"Of course he'll like it!" Butler Chen said with certainty, "Mr. Shen has a picky palate, but he's never fussy about home-cooked dishes that suit his taste. Besides, this is made by you yourself, so it means something special! Look, there's still time. If you'd like, we can make something simple and have Assistant Zong come get it and send it to Mr. Shen."

Butler Chen's words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples in Fu Xu's heart.

Thinking about him? Could he really do that? Wouldn't that be too abrupt?

But he wanted to do something for Mr. Shen, not only to repay the protection, but also because... that powerful alpha seemed to have occupied a special place in his heart without him realizing it.

"I... I'll try." Fu Xu raised his head, his eyes showing a hint of nervousness, but more of a glimmer of determination, "But I don't know what he likes to eat..."

"It's okay, it's okay," Butler Chen immediately stood up and greeted enthusiastically, "Just something light will do. I'll take you to the kitchen. We have all the ingredients. Just cook what you're good at. I guarantee it'll be fine!"

Fu Xu followed Butler Chen into the kitchen, a spacious and bright space with all kinds of kitchen utensils. Butler Chen assisted him by putting on his apron and asked, "Mr. Fu Xu, what do you want to do?"

Fu Xu looked around, his eyes settling on the fresh ingredients in the refrigerator. He thought for a moment, then said softly, "Then... let's make some clear pork rib soup, stir-fry a couple of vegetables, and cook some rice. Soup warms the stomach, and he's been busy all morning; a bowl of soup should help him feel better."

"I'll do as you say!" Butler Chen agreed with a smile and started to help him get the ingredients.

Fu Xu took a deep breath, put on disposable gloves, and began to process the ribs. The water washed away the blood on the ribs. Fu Xu suddenly remembered that in that depressing home before, the only comfort was the busy time in the kitchen. The smell of oil smoke could temporarily dispel those anxieties. But now, he was cooking for Mr. Shen. This realization made his heart beat faster, and the movements of his hands gradually accelerated.

Butler Chen watched from the side, his eyes full of satisfaction. He looked at Fu Xu's focused profile, and saw him raise his hand from time to time to tuck the fallen hair behind his ears. He thought to himself: This seemingly weak omega actually has a rare toughness and meticulousness in his bones.

Soon, Fu Xu finished cooking, took off his apron, and looked at the results on the table. He felt a little nervous, but also a little expectant. He didn't know whether Chen Louchen would like it, nor did he know whether he was crossing the line by doing this.

"Okay, ma'am, do you think this is okay?" Butler Chen came over.

Fu Xu smiled sheepishly, her cheeks slightly red: "I don't know if it suits his taste..."

"It definitely fits!" Butler Chen said, taking out his phone and sending a message to Assistant Zong, "I'll have Assistant Zong come get it. He knows where the head of the family is."

Fu Xu nodded, but he felt inexplicably nervous. He walked to the living room and sat on the sofa, unconsciously stroking the mobile phone that Butler Chen had given him. He wanted to go with them and see with his own eyes the expression on Chen Louchen's face when he received lunch, but his steps felt like they were filled with lead and he couldn't move.

He still didn't dare go out. The outside world was still full of unknown fear for him.

"Mr. Fu Xu, don't be nervous," Butler Chen noticed his uneasiness and comforted him, "Assistant Zong will be here soon. He's reliable. Just wait at home. The head of the family might call you later."

Fu Xu hummed, his eyes falling out the window. The sun was shining brightly, and the flowers and plants in the garden were full of vitality. He picked up his phone, and the only phone number on the screen lay quietly in the contact list. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not click on it.

Not long after, the doorbell rang and Butler Chen went to open the door. Assistant Zong was wearing a suit similar to Shen Louchen's, but without the overwhelming aura and more capable.

Assistant Zong's eyes fell on the lunch box handed over by Butler Chen, and he was a little surprised: "This is..."

Butler Chen said there was an emergency, but in the end he was asked to deliver the meal?

"This is lunch that Mr. Fu Xu specially made for Mr. Shen." Butler Chen said with a smile, "Mr. Shen is too busy to eat, so Mr. Fu Xu felt sorry for him and made it himself. It's not right for the master of the family to work so hard on himself, so please send it over."

Assistant Zong was stunned for a moment, thinking that he had been asked to make such a trip for such a small matter. He was about to lose his temper, but then he held back. Butler Chen was an elder of the Shen family. Although he was a Beta, he had always been Mr. Shen's confidant due to his excellent management skills. The director also trusted him. Therefore, even an Alpha had to give him some face. Naturally, he didn't want to make things difficult for him, so he said, "Okay, I will definitely deliver it."

"Excuse me, Assistant Zong."

"Then I'll be leaving first, Butler Chen, Mr. Fu Xu." Assistant Zong said goodbye and turned to leave.

The moment the door closed, Fu Xu suddenly felt empty in his heart. He walked to the window and watched Assistant Zong's car drive out of his sight. The phone in his hand seemed to become heavier.

—

At this moment, on the top floor of the towering office building in the city center, Chen Louchen was standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the city below. He had just finished a two-hour meeting, with a barely perceptible trace of fatigue on his face, and his tie was a little loose.

When Assistant Zong knocked on the door and came in, he didn't even turn his head, and his voice was a little tired: "What's the matter?"

"Mr. Shen," Assistant Zong placed the lunch box on the large desk, "This is... sent from home."

Chen Louchen turned around, frowning slightly: "Home? Uncle Chen sent it? How could he..." Halfway through his words, he saw the familiar but slightly clumsy knot on the lunch box.

When Fu Xu was in the hospital, he clearly had an upset stomach and could not eat much, but he was reluctant to throw away the leftovers. He would pack up the remaining food and tie a knot to distinguish between hot and cold dishes. The small knot in front of him was exactly the same as Fu Xu's habit.

Chen Louchen walked over, picked up the thermos with a simple pattern on it, and warmed it up in his hand. A faint, familiar aroma of pork ribs came through the container, mixed with the fragrance of ginger slices and green onions, unexpectedly arousing his almost numb appetite.

“This is…” Shen Louchen looked at Assistant Zong with a puzzled look in his eyes.

Assistant Zong smiled and said truthfully, "It was my wife who did it."

He felt a little regretful when he was on the way. He should have said thank you to his wife. The minister often worked day and night. He would do more when he was not sick. He rarely had time to eat seriously. He usually had to make do with nutrient solution. Now that there was an omega in the family, it was different.

Was it done by Fu Xu?

Chen Louchen's fingers gripping the thermos tightened slightly.

He thought Fu Xu was still scared about what happened that day, and that he would stay in his room cautiously, but he didn't expect that he would take the initiative to do such a thing.

It seems that Gu Wangyan's diagnosis and treatment do have some effect.

Chen Louchen silently opened the thermos bucket, and the milky white pork rib soup was steaming, and the aroma was even more intense.

It’s a very simple home-cooked meal, without any fancy presentation, but it makes people feel inexplicably at ease.

"Minister." A man pushed the door open with an anxious look on his face and spoke breathlessly, "Minister, I found out, but..."

"Just what?" Chen Louchen asked, putting down the thermos bucket that he had not yet unscrewed.

The man took a few more breaths. "We've found the alpha you mentioned before. Based on your clues, we've also obtained evidence of his corruption, bribery, abuse of power, and mistreatment of omegas. However... his superiors won't let him go. It's..." The man gritted his teeth and said, "It's the eldest son of the Fu family, Fu Jiachi."

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