Demanding responsibility
It was Sunday, and normally no one would be at work, but Yao Shaoqi still dutifully arrived at the apartment building fifteen minutes early and politely notified everyone via text message that the vehicle had arrived.
"...Could it be that the position of administrative secretary is actually a title rather than a job title in your country?" Xiao Fu looked at his phone in confusion. "I can't think of any job that, in addition to paperwork and communicating with clients, also has to be a driver and has no days off."
Cheng Xiangwu didn't know what the secretary's job entailed. Her fur-trimmed coat was still drying on the balcony and she couldn't wear it. Fortunately, it was a sunny day, so she didn't have to worry about catching a cold even if she went out wearing only a single layer of clothing.
“I think your disregard for dress codes for business meetings is more commendable than your concern for warmth, but please check the temperature using the weather forecast instead of leaving yourself on the balcony,” Xiao Fu urged impatiently. “Hurry up and get ready to go.”
"Okay." Cheng Xiang went back into the house, locked the balcony door, and looked at Gao Ersen. "Be careful when you're alone."
“You too!” Golson put on her hat. Her mission today was to go out and find a safe public place to stay, and also try to find out about her parents’ mental environment.
A black seven-seater minivan, hard to miss, was parked downstairs in the apartment building. At first, there was only the driver in the car, but soon the door slid open to the side, and two more passengers filled the interior seats.
"Good morning. It's an honor to take you two on a tour of our company's proud headquarters building." Yao Shaoqi said, shifting gears with great enthusiasm for her work. "But before that, I need to pick up another person on my way."
"Who?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.
The vehicle glided onto the road at a steady speed, and there weren't many people on the road.
“Our company’s chairman’s youngest child, Miss Bai Yunxian.” Yao Shaoqi was proud of the person she was working with. “She studies abroad most of the year and comes back for important holidays or events, as she did for the chairman’s birthday this time.”
Although Cheng Xiangwu didn't understand why taking a taxi would be faster than waiting for someone to pick her up, which was only a ten-minute drive from the city station to their company, she didn't intend to comment on their arrangements.
"Could you tell me when Miss Baiyunxian last appeared in public?" Xiao Fu asked.
“It should be around the time of the Lunar New Year in January,” Yao Shaoqi said. “But in my memory, Miss always only stayed for a few days before leaving, because her school didn’t have a holiday then. This time she specially took leave to come back, and she will leave again after her birthday. It’s really hard work.”
“…January.” Cheng Xiang paused. That was half a year ago. Maybe this person could provide some useful clues.
"What is Miss Baiyunxian's area of study?" Xiao Fu asked.
“Miss is studying medicine, I remember it’s neurosurgery.” Yao Shaoqi’s tone was tinged with envy. “That’s one of the most prestigious schools in the world. You’re sure to become an outstanding doctor in the future.”
In just a few words, a rather difficult-to-talk-to image slowly rose in Cheng Xiangwu's mind.
“Neurosurgery, that must be tough for her,” Little F said thoughtfully. “Was this Miss Bai Yunxian’s own choice?”
“Actually, studying medicine was the chairman’s expectation. It’s a tough path, but Miss has not disappointed that expectation. However, neurosurgery was her own choice,” Yao Shaoqi replied.
"I see..." Little F smiled and didn't ask anything more.
Yao Shaoqi parked the car in the station parking lot, turned off the engine, and prepared to get out.
"I need to go to the station to find the lady." She said, turning around. "Could you please wait a moment on the train?"
The station parking lot is never short of smoke and smokers. Even inside the car, the smell is hard to ignore. The smell of tobacco mixed with the smell of sun-dried leather attacks the brain through the nasal cavity, making people dizzy.
“I remember there was a temporary boarding and alighting area at that station,” Little Ferguson frowned.
“…It’s like this.” Yao Shaoqi cleared his throat. “Miss’s phone card had some problems. We talked to her on the train, but she should have gotten off the train by now.”
There is no public Wi-Fi available in the train station in Moriko City.
“I’ll be back soon.” She chuckled twice. “Would you two like some coffee?”
"Let's wait outside." Cheng Xiangwu shook her head and got out of the car.
"No need, but please open the window." Xiao Fu didn't intend to get out of the car.
Yao Shaoqi did as instructed and quickly ran into the station. Xiao Fu took out a spray can and swept it around the vehicle, then threw it from inside the vehicle to Cheng Xiangwu, who was standing outside. After spraying it inside and out, Cheng Xiangwu's complexion finally improved.
"Didn't you leave from here too?" Cheng Xiangwu threw the rather heavy metal can back.
“My SIM card is fine, and I don’t pick and choose drivers, so I don’t need to leave from here,” Xiao Fu said, pulling out a notebook from his pocket. “Back to the main point, although I have no appetite for the mindset of business people, I know that most families who accumulate wealth in a short period of time will not choose to recommend their children to study medicine.”
"What are your thoughts?" Cheng Xiangwu asked, leaning against the car.
“Studying medicine, especially at a top-tier university, usually has two characteristics that make the returns negligible,” Xiao Fu pondered. “First, the study period, and second, the fixed location. As long as Miss Bai Yunxian doesn’t drop out of school on her own, she will stay in a fixed area for at least another seven to ten years.”
"So you think Bai Langtao just wants to send her youngest child away?" Cheng Xiangwu thought for a moment. "That's not all. Besides, she comes back for every holiday, and this time is no exception."
“…I’ve been thinking about that too.” Little F thought for a moment. “Do you know which area of neurosurgery she’s studying?”
"Wait." Cheng Xiangwu took out her phone and flipped through the materials she had received earlier. "Clinical research..."
She didn't recognize the long string of unfamiliar words that looked like English letters, so she simply threw her phone into the car.
"Imaging analysis and channel network pathology of minimally invasive neurovascular treatment—it seems this person is more inclined towards research than clinical practice. The research direction is to use HCN channels as targets," Xiao Fu dutifully translated. "The project team has received national grants, and their clinical research results have been published in top journals. I must say, this resume is quite impressive."
"Could she be one of the targets we're looking for?" Cheng Xiangwu asked directly for the conclusion.
"You'll find out soon enough." Little F tossed the phone back.
Less than ten minutes later, a woman pushed a carry-on suitcase out of the station. She had a U-shaped pillow around her neck, her hair was loosely clipped behind her head, and she would occasionally use one hand to adjust the large round-framed glasses on her face, checking her phone screen while looking around and occasionally glancing down at the license plate.
Most young people entering the parking lot from the station do this, but this one, looking around as he walked towards Cheng Xiangwu, made her notice his slightly wrinkled zip-up hoodie and cargo pants. She stopped three meters in front of the car, pinched her glasses again to look down at the license plate number, and then glanced at her phone.
Having seemingly confirmed something, she placed her carry-on suitcase inside the parking line, breathed a sigh of relief, and finally noticed that there was someone standing next to the car. She frowned, pinched her glasses to avoid looking directly at the person's face with her squinted eyes.
"Bai Yunxian?" Cheng Xiangwu asked uncertainly. This person looked no different from a college student from head to toe.
“Scholars within a university can all be considered university students,” Xiao Fu thoughtfully explained.
Upon hearing this, the person remained silent for a moment. As if to confirm something, she took another step closer to Cheng Xiangwu, pinching her chin and scanning her face down to her shoes before looking back again. Her brows furrowed more and more tightly, then suddenly relaxed in an instant. Her expression jumped from confusion at not understanding the situation to sudden realization, and then evolved into a kind of inexplicable smugness.
Little F suddenly laughed.
"Cheng Xiangwu!" she called out in a firm and excited voice, and suddenly raised the hand holding the phone and pointed it at Cheng Xiangwu's nose. Her index finger, which still had calluses from writing, was now less than a hand's width away from the target.
The name echoed through the parking lot. The owner of the name frowned in confusion and turned his head away from where the fingertip was pointing.
“…You recognize me,” she said.
Bai Yunxian withdrew her finger and covered her mouth and nose, but she couldn't stop her grinning mouth and overflowing laughter. It was as if this sentence was a perfect joke for her, with all the right time, place, and people. If she didn't laugh this time, it wouldn't be so funny next time.
"...You've finally met your match..." She laughed as she adjusted her glasses, her previously hunched back straightening instantly. She cleared her throat with an air of triumph, gestured with her thumb to the suitcase on the ground, and grinned, "Go, put my suitcase down, and then go buy a coffee. No, wait, open the car door for me first!"
Cheng Xiangwu turned around and glanced at Xiao Fu, only to find that she was also laughing. No one explained the background of the joke to her, and she was the only one standing there, not knowing how to react, which made her seem so out of place.
"What are you standing there for?" Bai Yunxian reminded him in a deliberately sarcastic tone. "That's right, I am Bai Yunxian. Can't you at least have some service spirit, Cheng Xiangwu, since you're picking up someone?"
Cheng Xiangwu didn't remember when she took the job, but she understood what this person had misunderstood. She looked up at the station and saw that Yao Shaoqi hadn't returned yet.
"The people who were supposed to pick you up have gone inside to look for you," she said, turning around.
“…Huh?” Bai Yunxian’s lips flattened slightly.
“She came to pick us up to go to your company to discuss business, and she picked you up on the way,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
“…Uh.” A bead of cold sweat trickled down Bai Yunxian’s forehead.
"And seriously," Cheng Xiangwu asked, "who are you? How do you know me?"
Just then, Yao Shaoqi finally ran back to the car with a cup of coffee, "Hey, Miss—"
She was then startled by the stiff, pale figure standing on the concrete floor.
"...What happened while I was away?" Yao Shaoqi asked Cheng Xiangwu.
"How should I know?" Cheng Xiangwu was about to ask what had happened, "Did you tell her I would come?"
"Of course not." Yao Shaoqi handed the coffee to Bai Yunxian and reached for her suitcase. "Anyway, please get in the car first."
"Oh," Bai Yunxian replied softly, "Thank you."
In short, after everyone and everything was seated, Yao Shaoqi returned to the driver's seat, started the engine, shifted gears, and reversed.
"...So you really just happened to be in the same car as me?" Bai Yunxian climbed up from the back seat of Cheng Xiangwu's car.
It couldn't be called a coincidence. The conversation was scheduled the day before yesterday, and the train tickets were definitely booked even earlier. But Cheng Xiangwu couldn't think of anyone or any reason why she should be on the same train as this person, and—
"Who are you?" she asked again. "How do you know me?"
“…Okay.” Bai Yunxian took a deep breath and adjusted her glasses. “It’s normal that you don’t remember my face and voice. The last time we met was before I went abroad for high school.”
Once she calmed down, her gestures and movements were barely worthy of her name, but her outfit was a major turn-off.
Bai Yunxian was thirty, and it had been fourteen years since she went to high school. But Cheng Xiangwu didn't remember any of her classmates having such a powerful background, and how could someone with such a powerful background be her classmate?
"Do I need to remember?" she asked.
"What do you mean?!" Bai Yunxian asked incredulously. "So you didn't just forget, you didn't remember at all?!"
In short, I didn't remember it.
“It’s me, Xiaobai.” Bai Yunxian said the name through gritted teeth, then lowered her voice and whispered in the ear of the person in front, “The one who was an apprentice in your family when I was little.”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiangwu remembered that there was indeed such a person. Her parents discovered her abnormal sense of taste when she was very young. Not long after, a child about the same age as her would occasionally appear in the restaurant. He always looked inexplicably unhappy. He said he was there to do odd jobs, but normal children that age couldn't do much work in a restaurant.
When she was little, she never knew what this person was there for. She didn't do her work well, nor did she do her homework. She wouldn't come to play when asked. Every time she arrived, she would sit in the corner and wouldn't say her name when asked. Cheng Song would just call her Xiaobai.
"Ah." Cheng Xiangwu looked back again. She had never been able to match this name with a clear human face in her mind, so much so that she eventually assumed that the name was for some dog.
"Hahaha—" Little Fu laughed heartily.
"You remember now?" Bai Yunxian crossed her arms and sat back down. "You two were together?"
“It’s an honor to see your face. Please call me Xiao Fu.” Xiao Fu also turned to look at the person in the back seat. “I’m currently acting as this person’s intermediary. The purpose of my trip is to visit your company to discuss the cooking for your birthday banquet.”
"Xiao Fu, hello..." Bai Yunxian paused, then frowned at Cheng Xiangwu, "You're going to be in charge of cooking? Aren't you—"
"Hmm." Cheng Xiangwu pointed to the driver's seat as she spoke. "You can ask her for details. She came to me."
“Yes!” Yao Shaoqi automatically picked up the conversation, “You should also know that we will be holding a birthday banquet at Senhu Grand Restaurant soon. We will do our best to present a table of classic delicacies to commemorate this special moment, and we are also honored to invite the heir of Wuxianglou to participate in this memorable event…”
Bai Yunxian stopped listening to the latter part of the conversation. She picked up her coffee, sipped half of it in one gulp, and then put it down.
"You went to the company to talk to my older sister about this," she said, then asked, gesturing ahead, "Does my mother know about this?"
"Of course, Chairman Bai personally signed every invitation and reviewed the menu and program list," Yao Shaoqi said.
“…I see.” She said, then frowned and looked at Cheng Xiangwu.
"It seems you've tried Wuxianglou's signature dish," Xiao Fu said.
“…Of course.” Bai Yunxian said, turning her gaze behind her glasses.
"So, Miss Bai Yunxian, as the host, do you approve of it being one of the main dishes at your mother's 60th birthday banquet?" Xiao Fu asked. "That's a large gathering with hundreds of guests. As the intermediary, I also want to have a good understanding of the client's mindset beforehand."
"...Aunt Cheng's culinary skills have been recognized by many guests at Senhu Grand Restaurant, and so have mine." Bai Yunxian said after thinking for a moment. "Please discuss the details of your work with my eldest sister. As far as this banquet is concerned, I can only be considered someone who came back to eat."
"Then we can only hope that Chef Cheng will live up to expectations," Xiao Fu smiled.
Bai Yunxian didn't say anything more, but just looked at Cheng Xiangwu.
“…I’ll try my best,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
The car was parked in front of BaiBai Co., Ltd., with the door open to the side, but the driver and the passenger in the back seat did not seem to intend to get out.
"I will take Miss Bai home next. I have already spoken to the receptionist at the company. After you enter, please take the private elevator on the top floor directly to Mr. Bai's office," Yao Shaoqi said. "I wish you all a successful meeting."
"Wait a minute." Bai Yunxian pulled Cheng Xiangwu, who was about to get out of the car, from the back seat. "Give me your phone number. I'll contact you once my SIM card is fixed."
"Okay." Cheng Xiangwu took out her phone, though she didn't know why this person wanted to talk to her.
"...What's there to be unwilling about?" Bai Yunxian muttered as she wrote down the phone number, then shrank back down and sat down again. "Alright, you can go now."
The car drove away.
“Apprentice,” Little F chuckled, “Do you need me to give you time to express your opinion?”
Cheng Xiangwu had no idea what the man was laughing at. She strode up the stairs in front of the company and said, "No, I'm leaving."
After passing through the security gate, the building's lobby was empty on a non-working day. Apart from the money tree, there was only a receptionist with a face that seemed to say "I don't want to work," propping her head up and fiddling with a laptop under the counter. When she saw two customers, she didn't seem very enthusiastic. She casually handed them a key card, gave them directions, and then put her hands back on the computer screen.
The top floor houses the offices of the chairman and his secretary; above that, there is only a rooftop terrace.
The elevator that goes directly to the top floor has no windows or buttons. After swiping your card outside the elevator, there's nothing else to operate. There's not even a display showing which floor you're on, nor an alarm button, just a round monitor tucked away in the corner. The stable upward thrust under your feet dutifully reminds you that you're going up.
If the speed slows down, the guests will know that the door is about to open.
After the elevator doors opened, there was a corridor lined with landscaped plants on both sides, an intricately patterned carpet on the floor, and paintings on the walls. At the very end of the straight line ahead, a green escape route was marked. Three steps from the elevator, there was a door on the left marked "Chairman's Office," and the next door was on the right at the end of the corridor, where a person was standing.
It wasn't a person. Cheng Xiangwu squinted and saw that it was a suit of European medieval-style knight armor, all silver, with hands supporting a longsword, standing guard in front of the door, protecting the facade of the chairman's secretary's office.
"This armor is also made from that special mineral, and its purity is quite high." With his hands in his pockets, Xiao Fu walked quickly toward the armor with great interest. The cross-shaped helmet section had a horizontal tear in its facial structure, revealing an unfathomable depth inside.
Then Cheng Xiangwu approached as well. No wonder she initially mistook the armor for a person. This art exhibit had neither a display stand nor lighting, standing there as if it were waiting to be worn by someone at any moment. She shook her head and dismissed this unpleasant thought.
After knocking three times, the wooden door slid sideways into the wall.
The board secretary's office occupies nearly half of the entire floor, but its utilization rate is luxuriously low, as if deliberately showing off its attitude. Floor-to-ceiling windows take up an entire wall, bookshelves and huge paintings take up another wall, and the remaining wall is reserved for wine cabinets, refrigerators, water bars, and coffee machines, but none of them show any signs of use.
The carpet and sofa in the center, used for receiving guests, look at least ten times more valuable than those in Cheng Xiangwu's own living room. The enclosed semi-circular desk faces the floor-to-ceiling window, with the city view in front of the computer, and the person sitting in the leather chair is Bai Yuntian.
As the only person in the office and its owner, she stared intently at Moriko City outside the window as if cherishing her sightseeing time, until the two visitors stood in front of her desk, at which point she turned her head to face them.
The face did resemble Bai Yunxian's, and also the one in the mission target's photo, but Cheng Xiangwu felt there was something different about it.
"I'm glad you accepted our commission. Please have a seat," Bai Yuntian said expressionlessly, tapping lightly on the keyboard next to the computer. "Would you like something to drink?"
"Please give me some hot black tea." Little F pulled out a chair in front of the table and sat down.
"Water is fine." Cheng Xiangwu also sat down.
Upon hearing this, Bai Yuntian pressed the buttons a few more times.
A moment later, the entrance door opened again, and a small robot carrying two cups, one tall and one short, walked around the carpet and moved between the two people.
"Thank you for the project." Xiao Fu took the teacup. "Miss Bai Yuntian, wouldn't you like something to drink?"
There were no personal belongings behind the computer, not even a cell phone.
"I have other plans to make, so I won't chat with you any longer." Bai Yuntian spoke quickly, took out two sheets of paper from the lower left side, and placed them on the table in front of the two of them. "I believe Secretary Yao has already discussed the relevant information with you, and you chose to come here after understanding and accepting it. The rest is in the contract, so please feel free to ask any questions."
With no room for doubt, Cheng Xiangwu looked at the contract.
Party A, Bai Yuntian, Secretary to the Chairman of Bai Bai Co., Ltd., and Party B, Cheng Xiangwu, hereby agree that this agreement is limited to the birthday banquet project at Senhu Grand Restaurant. Party B will assist Party A in providing Wuxianglou's signature dishes for the event and ensure the dishes are faithfully reproduced from the menu. Party B's cooperation in this project is exclusive; Party B will not cooperate with any third party in any form, manner, or capacity. Otherwise, Party B will bear corresponding responsibilities.
Next comes a series of rights and obligations, confidentiality requirements and breach of contract handling. After reading the whole contract, it is very favorable to Party B. Party B does not need to participate in the tasting of the banquet, does not need to provide any proof, all materials are purchased by Party A, and there is no budget limit.
Other matters noted: Before submitting the materials, Party B needs to contact and discuss food hygiene and allergy issues with the project owner, Bai Langtao.
The client has already signed and stamped the document. The deposit alone is in the five figures, which will be paid to the contractor once the contractor signs. The total compensation is in the six figures and will be settled upon completion of the project.
Cheng Xiangwu had never heard of a chef making so much money. She looked up at Bai Yuntian, only to find that his gaze had returned to the scenery outside the window.
"I see no problem with this agency." Xiao Fu put the paper back on the table. "Sign it, Party B."
The problem might be with Party A and the contract, but Party B definitely has a problem. Looking at the contract, Cheng Xiangwu felt guilty for only finding out about this course before the exam.
But he figured he should just sign the contract anyway, since the client would likely be dead by then and he probably wouldn't get the final payment. Getting the deposit was already a bonus. With that thought in mind, Cheng Xiangwu picked up the pen and signed his name.
"Thank you." Bai Yuntian took the paper and put it back under the table. He tapped the control panel, and soon a smaller, more square robot came between the two of them. On top of it was a piece of white paper with slightly curled edges. Cheng Xiangwu took it. It was a copy of the contract, and it was still warm.
And a check, a memorandum stating a deposit, signed today.
"Please let me know as soon as possible what raw materials you need. This is my business card. I will arrange for someone to pick you up and take you to Senhu Grand Hotel the day before the banquet for the handover. There will be a rehearsal that morning. Secretary Yao will contact you then." Bai Yuntian said, folding his hands in front of him and leaning back in his chair. "Any other questions?"
"How do I contact them regarding this part of the other matters?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.
"From now until the banquet, you may choose any time to visit the Bai residence. The chairman will be waiting for you at any time," Bai Yuntian said, her gesture implying that they had no further questions.
“…I’m fine now,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
"Then you can go." Little Fer stood up and straightened his coat. "Thank you for the tea."
"I'm the one who should thank you for coming. I look forward to seeing you at the banquet." Bai Yuntian shook his head.
The two left the office, returned the way they came, and stood in front of the company building again. Less than half an hour had passed.
“That’s not Bai Yuntian,” Xiao Fu said, turning back to look at the top floor of the company. “It’s really interesting that they specifically summoned us to talk to a stand-in.”
"Mm." Cheng Xiang nodded.
Putting everything else aside, what secretary's office doesn't have a printer?
“…That’s not the point.” Little F said, taking out his phone. “But it seems that something significant did happen six months ago. Let’s ask Miss Diana about the progress of the investigation.”
"Where's Xiaobai?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.
“You can go and ask her yourself.” Little Fer paused and looked at Cheng Xiangwu. “She is indeed just here to eat, but every guest has their own identity and position. She also has her own thoughts and clues that can be explored.”
Cheng Xiangwu took out the check, and the ink on the cursive signature looked fresh in the sunlight.
“Go compare the signature on the check with the one Qin Zixi has.” She took out her phone and took a picture of the check. “Also, the serial number.”
“Send me the photos, I’ll go to the police station,” Xiao Fu said.
"If you get arrested again this time, you'd better contact a capable lawyer." Cheng Xiangwu sent the photos over.
"Isn't this already top-of-the-line?" Little Fran pulled out the commission contract from the mayor's office from his inner pocket and waved it around. "You can contact Miss Diana. I still need to investigate some other things. See you later, you have to come when I call you."
"I'll try my best," Cheng Xiangwu said.
The two split up. Cheng Xiangwu had to do everything she needed to do before Xiao Fu caused her any new trouble. For example, she contacted Diana, she tried to put together a list of materials that she herself didn't know where to get, and she went home to put on her coat.
On her way home, she had planned to stop by a supermarket in the city center, but the mall was visibly crowded on Sunday. After observing the sea of people at the entrance, she decided to come back tomorrow.
Diana replied quickly: Meet me at the bar on the first floor of the Nest Hotel at 8 pm tonight to talk.
Cheng Xiang paused for a moment, then replied, "Okay."
On her way back, she also stopped by the convenience store at the entrance of the residential area to tell Zhou Mi Da Xian her nickname.
“…I still think ‘Da Xian’ sounds better.” Zhou Mi said, pursing her lips, and looked towards the warehouse. “Right, Da Xian?”
A black cat's head peeked out from under the warehouse door, glanced at Zhou Mi, then at Cheng Xiangwu, and went back inside.
“That’s what it said.” Zhou Mi nodded in satisfaction.
"...What did it say? Did it speak?" Cheng Xiangwu asked, puzzled.
“Tell me, what is this person saying? What are they making such a racket?” Zhou Mi said matter-of-factly, “Once we’re connected to the radio waves, we won’t need language to communicate, Xiangxiang.”
Cheng Xiangwu had nothing to say; talent is truly an unreasonable thing.
"Speaking of which, how's things going with Sen Sen?" Zhou Mi asked, leaning on the counter. "Did you manage to win her back?"
“Someone said they would ask around for us, but there’s no guarantee of a result,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
“…Hmm…” Zhou Mi thought for a moment, “Although this is just my opinion, I think we probably won’t get it back if we just ask.”
This was truly outside Cheng Xiangwu's knowledge base, and pouring one's heart out was certainly not within Zhou Mi's scope of expertise. So, after racking their brains, the two of them only came up with a headache.
Professional tasks should be left to professionals, and the same applies to chefs. Along the way, Cheng Xiangwu couldn't come up with a single word for that recipe. If this continued, her career would suffer a major blow. It would be better if she could come up with something convincing, but all she could do was stand there silently.
Whether facing the client or the contractor, simply standing there wouldn't get anything done, especially since she had nothing to say. Cheng Xiangwu returned home in this brainstorming session, put on her coat, and found herself alone in the house—a rare occurrence, so quiet it seemed deliberately designed to give her space to think; even the wind was barely audible.
There was a sudden knock on the door.
The figure outside the peephole looked familiar; it was Bai Yunxian, now wearing a short-sleeved shirt. She had probably just come home and showered, as the ends of her loose hair were still wet. She raised her hand to check the time on her watch and then knocked on the door again.
Cheng Xiangwu opened the door and asked, "How did you find this place?"
"I knew you lived here, but this is the first time I've found you here." Bai Yunxian put her hands back into her pockets with satisfaction, her gaze falling on the fur-trimmed coat. "Are you dressed like that to go ice skating?"
"Keep warm," Cheng Xiangwu said. "Why didn't you call me?"
"I was just about to go find a place to get my phone card fixed," Bai Yunxian said, glancing around the apartment. "I didn't expect you to have so much stuff even though you don't come home often... Wait, you're married?!"
She jumped back a step, clearly shocked by what she had discovered. She tried to raise her hand to block something whose existence was uncertain, then turned her gaze incredulously and began a soliloquy adventure.
"Why aren't you wearing a ring? Did you just get engaged? How come you're living together so soon after getting engaged? Why do you have such a big child so soon after getting engaged? Are you a stepmother? Have so many guests come to your house? Have you met the parents?" Her barrage of questions showed no signs of stopping, and they became increasingly focused on her. "It's Sunday today, why are you home alone? Oh, are you going out to see them? Then I'll come find you another time—"
She kept backing away as she spoke, clearly convinced by her own conclusion.
"Stop." Cheng Xiangwu raised her hand. "First of all, I'm not married. Someone is just staying at my house temporarily. Secondly, what exactly do you want from me?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Yunxian paused, rearranged her hands, feet, expression, and posture, and raised her hand to adjust her glasses.
"I knew it." She nodded in satisfaction. "If you're free now, come with me to get my phone card fixed. I need to talk to you about something."
Something happened. Cheng Xiangwu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered that this person had inexplicably been an apprentice in her family's restaurant and was still quite sharp. Therefore, there was a high probability that he remembered their family's recipes and even knew how to make them.
Thinking of this, she decisively turned around and closed the door. "Let's go."
"Do you know where I can get my phone card repaired here?" Bai Yunxian didn't move.
Cheng Xiangwu actually knew.
The two walked to their destination, which was the vegetable market near the city center.
“Although I don’t come back often, it’s rare for you to be gone every time I do come back.” Bai Yunxian followed behind Cheng Xiangwu, her Crocs occasionally dragging on the ground. “What have you been doing all these years?”
"I'm going to work in a big city," Cheng Xiangwu replied.
"Why did you come back now that it's not a holiday?" Bai Yunxian took two steps forward. "Don't tell me that my mother specifically asked you to come back to be her cook."
Of course you can't find it. The company keeps personal information confidential. My colleagues aren't vegetarians.
To understand Cheng Xiangwu's initial reason for returning to Senhu at this particular time, we must go back to Qin Zixi, who had already become a corpse. Thinking of this, she turned to look at Bai Yunxian, their eyes met, and then she looked away.
"...Is there something you can't say?" Bai Yunxian asked.
Cheng Xiangwu just felt that there were some things she shouldn't tell this person. Since she had taken leave to come back for dinner, she would be leaving after the meal. Why should someone who was more like a guest than a guest take on the troubles and problems of the host?
“It’s nothing serious, I just came back to check on things, and then I got contacted,” she explained. “It’s a good thing to see you, otherwise I wouldn’t even remember you existed.”
"I don't think you ever intended to remember this," Bai Yunxian sighed softly. "Did you talk to my sister this morning?"
“…We’ve talked about it,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
"How is it?" Bai Yunxian asked.
"The contract has been signed," Cheng Xiangwu said.
“I’m asking you about the conversation,” Bai Yunxian said.
“…There’s nothing to talk about,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
The two stopped at the traffic light, and Bai Yunxian took a deep breath.
"You've always been this way since you were little, only telling half the story when asked. You haven't changed a bit as you've grown up." She sneered. "Fine, I won't ask about work. You must have something to tell me, so hurry up and say it."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiangwu glanced at her and said, "You have a slight hunchback."
"...This level of leaning forward is within the normal range. No, who asked you that?" Bai Yunxian angrily corrected the topic. "It's about the banquet, about our family, about the past. You definitely have things to say and ask. I've already opened up a Q&A session, can you please stop acting like you're not here?"
“Yes, there is.” Cheng Xiangwu said, and the pedestrian lights came on as she walked forward.
“Speak,” Bai Yunxian followed.
After crossing the zebra crossing, the dark Wuxianglou restaurant still couldn't shine even in the daytime.
“You used to be an apprentice here,” Cheng Xiangwu said.
“…Yes.” Bai Yunxian looked at the dark wreckage, her face expressionless. “When I was a child, my mother came to find me and said she would send me to learn a trade. But when I got there, I found out it was a restaurant.”
She gave a cold laugh, but the smile quickly faded into nostalgia. "When I was little, I felt like you and Xiao Mi were my servants, but I couldn't get you to do anything, so I just kept protesting with silence. Until later, when I was about to go to high school, one day I suddenly didn't have to be an apprentice anymore. My home is quite far from here, so I haven't come here since."
Then later, when she came here again, she couldn't find anything.
"Hmm." Cheng Xiang nodded five times. "What did you learn as an apprentice?"
“I learned whatever your mother taught me, but I never intended to be a chef, so I just went through the motions,” Bai Yunxian said with a laugh. “Speaking of which, do you know what your mother calls us?”
"You guys?" Cheng Xiang asked five times.
"Little White, Middle White, Big White, Old White." Bai Yunxian nodded. "We can easily find our place."
“…They, my mother and your mother are very close.” Cheng Xiangwu frowned.
"I guess so. After all, my apprenticeship was based on their knowledge of your sense of taste. Otherwise, why would an outsider like me learn your family's skills?" Bai Yunxian tapped her glasses with her index finger. "I know what you want to ask. I haven't learned it."
"Huh?" Cheng Xiangwu was disappointed.
“…What are you disappointed about…” Bai Yunxian sighed. “There are many reasons. I can’t distinguish the proportions of raw materials, I can’t control the timing and temperature of using the ingredients, and I can’t master the ignition technique. But if I haven’t learned it, I haven’t learned it. In the years I’ve been working in the kitchen, the most I’ve learned is precise cutting. After all, I can’t lift that pot in your kitchen.”
It's not her fault; even an ordinary adult couldn't lift that iron pot that Cheng Xiangwu thought could stew a person.
"You should be able to remember what the ingredients are, right?" Cheng Xiang asked.
“I did remember that…” Bai Yunxian looked at the person beside her in confusion, “But what did you mean by that? Didn’t you remember it?”
"Please write me a copy," Cheng Xiangwu said, adding, "Thank you."
“…I’m really impressed.” Bai Yunxian turned back to look at the blocked gate in front of the building. “Fine, but let’s make this clear first, my mom also has that materials list. A preliminary report like this won’t fool her.”
"Huh?" Cheng Xiangwu was disappointed.
"I don't remember you being such an irresponsible person?" Bai Yunxian asked incredulously. "Why don't you express some other attitude? Just one sentence: how do you want me to improve my answer?"
"Oh." Cheng Xiangwu thought for a moment, "Then what are the raw materials used for?"
"Wuxianglou's signature dish is wax-sealed cuisine. To be honest, the cooking principle is too strange. It's similar to oil-sealed cuisine, but the process is completely opposite. However, apart from the ingredients themselves, the most important thing is the layer of wax that enhances the aroma," Bai Yunxian said.
Cheng Xiangwu realized something.
"The basic ingredient ratio of that wax is the secret recipe of Wuxianglou," Bai Yunxian said. "It was originally created by Chef Cheng Song, developed at Senhu Grand Restaurant, and later popularized as a signature dish at Wuxianglou. It is a special oily substance."
As she spoke, she turned to look at Cheng Xiangwu, "That's also why my mother sent me to your house as an apprentice."
Having said that, she stood motionless, as if waiting for something, staring intently at Cheng Xiangwu. Cheng Xiangwu glanced at her, then turned her gaze back to Wuxianglou. No matter how beautiful the view from this spot had been back then, now it was just a pile of ruins that hadn't been demolished yet. It had been sitting here for a long time, as if it were something that would suddenly come in handy again someday—a little thing that was neither useful nor worth throwing away. Who was waiting for something, or perhaps someone was just reluctant to part with it?
"Didn't you say you hadn't learned it?" she asked.
“Yes,” Bai Yunxian said, “because I can’t light a fire.”
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