Chapter 432 - She Is the Protagonist

“You don’t have to be unhappy. All fathers are like that, as if his son was the enemy in his former life. Don’t take that to heart.” Li Wen understood this well. When his father scolded him now, he would just ignore it directly.

“Alas, but I’m still unhappy in my heart anyway.” Zhang Peng, after drinking a glass of sad wine, asked Xia Yu, “Sister Xia, it is said that a daughter is her father’s lover in his past life. I guess your father never scolds you.”

Xia Yu shook her head. “In my case, it is different and unfortunate. Although I’m a daughter, I’m the only child in my family. There is a rule made by our ancestors that the children must learn cooking skills from the father. So, do you think a master will treat the disciple as a lover?”

“You are really a little unlucky, but you won’t be in the future. Haven’t you got him a son-in-law? It will not be your turn to work hard in the future.” Li Wen said and kept casting his glance at Shen Yan. Xia Yu’s family had such a rule. He really wanted to watch Shen Yan hold a slice and cook.

“Li Wen, can’t you stop talking while eating?” Shen Yan rolled his eyes at him.

“You don’t like to cook? I’d like. Xia Yu, tell our father that I can learn cooking from him.” Li Wen showed his original desire of persuading Xia Yu to kick away Shen Yan at once.

“You just eat, and if you are full, get lost. You are not welcome here.” Shen Yan was angry. Who said this bastard changed his temperament? He was just annoying as usual. A glance at him would make one vexed.

“OK, both of you speak less.” Zhang Peng hurried to soothe them and refilled both of their bowls with his chopsticks on the side.

After the meal, Shen Yan and Zhang Peng went to the study. Li Wen offered to help Xia Yu clean the table and put the dishes in the kitchen sink to wash.

“Young Master Li, do you know how to do this?” Xia Yu’s astonishment was not out of no reason. When that time Zhang Peng cooked in person, Xia Yu was already shocked. Today the playboy, Li Wen, did some housework, which really made her think she was dreaming.

“It’s nothing strange. When we were abroad, we usually did such things. Ask Shen Yan whether he has done this.” Li Wen washed his hands with the liquid soap. Seeing that Xia Yu almost finished the cleaning, they went to the living room together.

In the living room, they talked about some details of that commercial. Xia Yu had thought Li Wen would speak again of letting Qingqing star in the commercial, but he never mentioned Qingqing till the end. Now that he didn’t mention it, Xia Yu would naturally not talk about it on her own initiative.

After talking about the business, Li Wen ate some fruit and then left. He did not stay long.

After Li Wen left, Xia Yu went to the room to do some cleaning. When she was about to finish, Shen Yan walked in and put his arms around Xia Yu’s waist. His head was put on her shoulder, and his hot breath sprayed on Xia Yu’s neck. It tickled her, and Xia Yu’s neck shrunk.

“Don’t clean up. We have more important things to do now.”

Saying this, he held Xia Yu and pushed her against the wall. As his kisses kept falling on her neck, his breath became hotter and hotter.

“Tomorrow my girl will work hard in a contest, so tonight let me, your man, give you something good.” His voice was deeper and mellower, like liquor. His lips moved from her neck to her ear, and he kissed Xia Yu’s earlobe.

Xia Yu’s ears were sensitive. Soon her body was powerless in his arms. Hearing that he would give her something good, Xia Yu’s heart shivered, and her body became even more powerless. Her calves were shaking.

“Is Zhang Peng still there?”

“He’s gone. Let’s go to the bathroom. We’ll do again that position that we did in the tub last time.” After saying this, Shen Yan lifted Xia Yu up to his chest and then headed for the bathroom.

The next morning, Shen Yan went to the competition site very early. There were quite a lot of people coming over. Although the apprentice’s challenge to the master was old-fashioned, it was still very marketable.

Li Wen came over early as well. He shook hands with Shen Mo and other judges one by one. When he came to the side of Shen Yan, he elbowed his arm. “Lad, look at your big brother. Why don’t you learn from him?”

Shen Yan gave a glance over there and said calmly, “We rely on our strength.”

“So arrogant! But I like it.” Li Wen stretched the corners of his lips upward. He knew Shen Yan would not give in easily and obediently. Guessing from his tone, he must have a secret weapon. Li Wen knew he didn’t come for nothing.

Looking around him, Li Wen asked, “Where’s Xia Yu? Did you hide her again because I’m coming over? You’re a big man but small-minded.”

Li Wen looked at Shen Yan with disdain. He had dinner at his home the night before, and he probably stayed up the whole night. It would be better that he was angered to death.

“Why are you looking at me like this? Xia Yu is the leading role today, and don’t you know the leading role will only show up in the end as usual?” Shen Yan cast a very disgusted look back at Li Wen. If you didn’t know what was going on, you should shut up. How superficial!

“Shen Yan, what’s your problem? I just raised a question, and what’s wrong with that?” Li Wen was not cool with Shen Yan’s attitude. He crossed his arms before his chest and looked as if he wanted to have a fight.

“Can you find a better place to quarrel?” Shen Mo came to them abruptly. The cameras were ready. Did they want to be filmed?

So, the two people gave each other an I-wouldn’t-quibble-with-this-low-guy eye, and then they each walked away in contrary directions.

“Big brother, are you really opening a restaurant?” Shen Yan asked with a smile.

This bastard changed his face so quickly. If he hadn’t seen it in person, he would not know that he had wanted to fight with someone just now. In this regard, Shen Mo really admired him a little.

What was wrong with opening a restaurant? Everyone knew it could make money. He must be silly if he refused money. Shen Mo said indifferently, “I plan to, and grandma agreed in principle.”

“And do you think Su Hai can be a good manager of the new restaurant?” Shen Yan looked over and saw that Su Hai was already there while cleaning his cooking knives. He turned back and stared at Shen Mo, continuing to say, “I mean that being good at cooking skills is not equal to being good at other skills.”

“Let’s talk about it after the contest. Give him a try.” Shen Mo agreed with Shen Yan on this point, but in order to win, he had to use Su Hai now. He had to offer him great benefits for the moment. After he won, if he was not competent, Shen Mo certainly would not keep him.

Big brother was the same as usual and did not change. He offered good profits at first when someone was useful, but after taking advantage of him, he would kick him off mercilessly. It seemed that Su Hai would meet his bad luck.

After the competition, if big brother didn’t achieve his aim, Su Hai would surely be abandoned mercilessly. And President Kang would not take over him as well since he had cooperated with big brother. As for his master, he would have no face to go back.

This was the sadness of a nobody. If the choice was wrong, all previous efforts would be in vain.

Seeing that Shen Yan was staring at Su Hai and absorbed in thought, Shen Mo saw that none of the representatives of Ruyi Tower had arrived yet. Shen Mo believed Shen Yan was worried, so he was a little pleased in his mind.

But he was Young Master Mo, after all. And he was used to restraining his emotion and showing no expression on his face. Standing aside, he asked indifferently, “I heard that you decided to invite a cook from Ruyi Tower to prepare Old Madame’s birthday meal. Is that cook coming to take part in the game today?”

“Sure. It’s the cook who will take part in this competition with Su Hai.” Shen Yan looked relaxed and calm.

“Oh, which apprentice of President Xia?” Shen Mo had already got the news that Xia Mingde’s major apprentices were all coming today. But Su Hai said that he had confidence in beating down the other brothers completely.

But Shen Yan seemed to be very confident as well. He couldn’t help being curious.

“The next owner of Ruyi Tower, President Xia’s daughter.” Soon Xia Yu would show up, and Shen Yan took this as an introduction to Shen Mo in advance.

Shen Mo was shocked. “Isn’t it said that President Xia’s daughter does not like to be a cook?”

Shen Yan said lightly, “It doesn’t mean that she can’t. After all, she’s the only inheritor of Ruyi Tower. Now Ruyi Tower is in danger and in the most critical time, so she certainly has to pick up the responsibility.”

“So it is. I’m really looking forward to having a taste of Miss Xia’s cooking.” Shen Mo smiled slightly. How could someone who disliked cooking make a good meal? If it was really Miss Xia, he would be more relaxed.

“You have tasted it, more than once.” Shen Yan said with a smile, “Do you remember that time when Ke’er, me, grandma, you, Zeng Mina, and Xia Yu were having a meal in Ruyi Tower? Grandma ordered the radish soup at that time and asked President Xia to cook it in person as he was just in S city as well. But President Xia’s hand was hurt by the hot oil and couldn’t cook it in person. And it was his daughter who helped him finish the soup. What do you think of the soup that she made, big brother?

“Are you sure?” Shen Mo did taste that radish soup. To be honest, Shen Mo hadn’t met many people who could cook so well with some ordinary ingredients.

“I’m sure.” Shen Yan nodded.

At this moment, the people of Ruyi Tower also entered the scene of the game, under the guidance of Xia Mingde.

After all, Ruyi Tower was very famous in the catering industry. They attracted a lot of reporters to interview as soon as they appeared. Xia Mingde answered the journalists’ questions one by one.

When a reporter asked Xia Mingde who would participate in this contest, he called for Xia Yu and a few apprentices to come over. He put his arm around Xia Yu’s shoulder and introduced her with a smile to everyone.

“This is my daughter, Xia Yu. Today, she will compete with her Eldest Brother.”

Xia Yu was Xia Mingde’s daughter? Shen Mo was shocked and turned back to Shen Yan. They stood face to face. “Does grandma know this as well?”

A cooking contest! What a great plan grandma had!

“She has no idea of it. Even I knew this only after I went to Xia Yu’s home on the first day of the New Year. I intended to tell everyone after we came back, but it was too chaotic at that time. So, it has been put off till now.” Shen Yan didn’t want his big brother to misunderstand grandma, so he explained.

“You mean that even your mother knows nothing about it?” No wonder he was called “little fox” by others. It was right indeed. He was able to hide such a big thing so long and so well.

And he was so naive to think that he could surpass Shen Yan after he married Zeng Mina and got her fortune of more than one billion yuan. Now he really thought that he was ridiculous.

How could such a small sum of fortune be compared with Xia Family? Supported by Xia Mingde with all his strength, Shen Yan would be the only choice for those snobbish guys in the company even with their eyes closed.

This time, he really lost completely. Shen Mo was usually calm at everything, but at this moment, his face was full of bare jealousy and hatred.

Shen Mo didn’t believe in fate all the time, but now he had to. He used to be very careful all the time and was afraid of taking a wrong step, so he never went against the rules. He could even sacrifice his own love.

While Shen Yan often followed his own heart and never treated himself ill. In the past, Old Madame wanted him to choose Yang Ke’er, but he refused it with a simple sentence that he didn’t like her.

When he was with Xia Yu, Second Madame gave him much pressure. But he would rather cut off the relations with his family than break off with Xia Yu. He thought he would meet with a bad future, but who knew that God played such a big joke on everyone? Shen Yan now got both love and a good career.

There was no need to watch the contest now. Shen Mo had already tasted Xia Yu’s cooking. Not to mention that she really had the ability, even though she didn’t have, he had nothing to compete with Shen Yan for the position of President. What he wanted was not the victory of this contest, but the whole Shen Group.

Shen Mo left the live scene quietly without saying a word.

The journalists here had already surrounded Xia Yu. They were all familiar with Xia Yu, the chief secretary of Young Master Yan. Since she was with Young Master Yan, she had done many things that made Shen Group surprised, and the public had been talking about it with great interest all the time.