Chapter 69: Trapped by Capital Once Again!
At the mention of Gu Xingcheng, Fu Yunting’s gaze dimmed.
“What use is what I think? I’ve asked him twice, but he doesn’t want to see me.”
Gu Xinglan said, “Take it slow. It’s impossible for him to keep avoiding you forever.”
Fu Yunting looked aggrieved, resting his arms on the edge of the table and burying his head in them.
“I’m in a bad mood,” he said, looking at Gu Xinglan.
“Eh, that’s right, A-Lan. Didn’t you say before that you could go to Macau with me for a few days? How about we go these few days?”
Gu Xinglan shook his head slightly. “I’m busy with matters; I’m afraid I can’t leave lately.”
Fu Yunting frowned. “What matters? Are you just unable to leave your wife behind and making excuses?”
Gu Xinglan gave a muffled laugh. “I’m not making excuses. When I say I’m busy with matters, I mean I’m quite busy with matters concerning my wife.”
Fu Yunting’s eyes widened instantly. “Holy crap, ‘matters’? You, you… aren’t you going to be modest at all?”
Li Ye laughed. “Xinglan, you really are something!”
He thought of something and added, “However, there is an Asian Chef Championship in Macau next week. Qin Wan should be interested in going to see it. Why not take him with you?”
Hearing this, Gu Xinglan clearly became interested.
“Good. I’ll ask for A-Wan’s opinion.”
Fu Yunting pouted again. “Choosing your lover over your friends!”
Gu Xinglan laughed. “Alright, stop being dejected. A-Ye and I are leaving; you stay.”
He lifted his wrist to check his watch. “In five minutes, my Fifth Brother will be arriving.”
Fu Yunting was startled. “Huh? Xingcheng is coming?”
Gu Xinglan nodded. “I made the appointment for you.”
As he spoke, he stood up and patted Fu Yunting’s shoulder. “I can only help you this far. The rest is up to you.”
Li Ye nodded to him. “Have a good talk and clear things up. What did Qin Wan say? Respect, understanding, and tolerance.”
With that, the two left the tea room.
While walking toward the car, Li Ye said, “It’s almost lunch time. How about going to my restaurant?”
A smile curled Gu Xinglan’s lips. “I was just thinking that since A-Wan started working at your place, I haven’t gone over to take a look.”
“Perfect, let’s go together.”
The two got into their respective luxury cars and drove toward Jinghongyan one after the other.
Qin Wan was busy by the stove when the floor manager’s pleasant voice came through his headset.
“Will Chef Number Fifteen please go to the ‘Yulinling’ room; a guest wants to give a tip.”
Qin Wan’s face instantly broke into a smile.
After plating the dish in his hand, he wiped his hands and ran out happily.
He crossed the hallway and reached the door of “Yulinling.”
He knocked and entered.
When he saw the guest in the seat, he was a bit dumbfounded.
It was Gu Xinglan.
“Gege? Why are you…”
Gu Xinglan was sitting very relaxed in a luxury solid wood and leather dining chair, his long legs crossed.
A smile played on his handsome face, and his gaze landed tenderly on Qin Wan’s face.
“Chef Number Fifteen, I really like this Crab Roe Tofu you made,” he said with mock seriousness. “You’ve worked hard.”
Qin Wan smiled and also pretended to respond formally: “Thank you, guest!”
Gu Xinglan’s eyes were brilliant, and the smile on his lips deepened.
It was his first time seeing Qin Wan in a chef’s uniform.
All the employee uniforms for Jinghongyan—whether for chefs, waiters, or management—were personally designed and commissioned by Li Ye.
Li Ye was very picky about aesthetics and had a very unique eye.
Therefore, the uniforms for Jinghongyan staff were all very beautiful and handsome.
There were many well-regarded professionals in the industry who even brainstormed ways to work here just for the Jinghongyan uniforms.
It was a bit like how German military uniforms attracted young people during WWII.
Right now, Qin Wan was wearing a pure white chef’s uniform.
The tailored waist design perfectly accentuated his superior physique with a slender waist and long legs.
The fabric was of high quality and the tailoring was exquisite, making it look very neat and upright.
Combined with his sunny and pure aura, he exuded a sense of competence amidst his elegance, with a full wave of “pure desire” style coming at the observer.
Gu Xinglan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
He reached out his hand toward Qin Wan. “Come here.”
Qin Wan hesitated. “Gege, this… this isn’t good, is it? I’m still working…”
Gu Xinglan pursed his lips and laughed. “Then should I go and tell your boss that I’m borrowing his employee for a while?”
Qin Wan quickly waved his hands. “No need, no need!”
If the man said that to the boss, who knew what kind of “yellow” scenes the boss would imagine.
That would be dying of embarrassment.
Gu Xinglan laughed. “Then why aren’t you coming over?”
Qin Wan was somewhat reluctant but helpless, and he shuffled over with small steps.
Gu Xinglan took his small hand.
“Hiss—” Qin Wan felt a slight pain, and his hand retracted a bit.
Gu Xinglan’s brow furrowed. “What is it?”
As he spoke, he gently cradled the boy’s hand in his palm.
Only then did he see a small, dark red mark on it.
“How did this happen?” Gu Xinglan’s brow knitted tighter.
Qin Wan: “It’s fine; some hot oil just splattered out.”
“Have you applied burn ointment?”
“I have; there’s some in the back kitchen.”
Only then did Gu Xinglan let out a small breath of relief.
“A-Wan, if you are this careless again in the future, you won’t be allowed to work here anymore.” His voice carried a tone of warning.
However, his tone was very soft, and his eyes were full of pity and love.
Qin Wan stared into his eyes for a moment and nodded. “Mhm, I’ll be careful in the future.”
Gu Xinglan’s expression relaxed, and he pulled the boy onto his lap.
Qin Wan felt the temperature of his gaze steadily rising.
Feeling a bit panicked, he tried to change the subject: “Gege, what else do you want to eat? You order, and I’ll make it specially for you.”
Gu Xinglan’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. “You don’t know what I want to eat?”
Qin Wan: Stupid mouth, if you don’t know how to ask, then don’t!
Gu Xinglan tilted the boy’s beautiful chin up, staring into his ink-like eyes. “Just now, what did you call me?”
Qin Wan tilted his head slightly. “Gege?”
Gu Xinglan shook his head. “No, the very beginning.”
Qin Wan thought for a moment. “Guest?”
Gu Xinglan laughed, a look of unmasked wickedness curling his lips.
His voice was deep and slow, carrying a heavy tone of enticement: “Am I the Guest, or the Master?”
“…Master?” Qin Wan muttered to himself.
Gu Xinglan’s tongue licked his lips. “Say it one more time.”
Qin Wan: “…”
Was this right?
Was there any logic to this?
“Gege, you…”
Seeing him full of confusion and nervousness, Gu Xinglan laughed and kissed his forehead. “Just teasing you, Baby.”
He reached out and took off the chef’s hat on the boy’s head.
Qin Wan looked at the hat the man had placed aside, as if not understanding why he had taken it off.
Gu Xinglan saw through his thoughts and let out a muffled snort. “It’s in the way.”
As he spoke, he gripped the back of Qin Wan’s neck and kissed him.
Qin Wan’s eyes widened.
This was a restaurant private room, and the door wasn’t locked; this guy actually dared to do this in broad daylight—he was simply crazy.
He wanted to express opposition, but Gu Xinglan didn’t give him a chance.
Before long, he was kissed until his head spun and he was short of breath.
“Ge, Gege… not here…” he pleaded.
Gu Xinglan bit the side of his neck. “Then where?”
“G-Go home…”
Gu Xinglan: “Go home for what?”
Qin Wan’s face was so red it almost dripped blood, and he stammered, “D-Do… just do…”
Gu Xinglan gave a muffled laugh. “Wanwan, I just wanted to kiss you, but you want to do it with me—are you in such a hurry?”
Qin Wan: Trapped by capital once again!
Translator’s Note: “Pure desire” (純欲 – Chún yù) is a popular aesthetic style in China that combines innocence with sexiness—which perfectly describes Qin Wan! Fu Yunting is in for a surprise meeting with Gu Xingcheng—let’s see if those “Respect, Understanding, and Tolerance” tips actually work. Happy reading!
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