“Husband!”
At the airport, Lu Zheng happened to run into Lin Wan’s group just as they got off their flight.
Lin Wan immediately hurried over, looped her arm through his, and grinned. “When did you arrive? How long have you been waiting?”
“Less than half an hour.”
Lu Zheng patted Lin Wan’s hand and greeted Zhao Xiaodao.
“Lu ge!”
Zhao Xiaodao bounced over excitedly. “You two should stay in Beidu a few extra days. I’ll show you around everywhere!”
“You’re not busy lately?”
“Not busy at all! Nothing important!” Zhao Xiaodao waved her hands. The only things on her schedule were a few minor appearances; she could push those aside.
Lu Zheng smiled. “As long as it’s no trouble for you.”
Zhao Xiaodao nodded eagerly. “I still have a few houses in Beidu…”
“No need,” Lu Zheng interrupted with a wave. “I’ve already booked a hotel.”
“Alright then.”
Zhao Xiaodao had actually wanted them to stay at her villa, but she was worried about playing third wheel. Hearing that Lu Zheng had booked a hotel confirmed her status as the unnecessary light bulb.
She secretly let out a breath of relief. Thank goodness they hadn’t invited her along on their sightseeing trips; she still wanted more time with the two of them.
Zhao Xiaodao asked, “It’s almost lunchtime. Lu ge, did you bring luggage? We can put it in the car first and go eat.”
They got into the car. The little assistant snapped a photo of Beidu airport and posted it online to let fans and paparazzi know Zhao Xiaodao was back in Beidu; no need to chase her to the Northeast anymore.
…
Speaking of famous Beidu dishes, the first thing that comes to mind is Quanjude, which has become almost too expensive and too commercialised.
Luckily, as a top-tier celebrity, Zhao Xiaodao knew plenty of roast duck places that tasted just as good as the old Quanjude, if not better.
“So good! Delicious!”
If even Lu Zheng gave a thumbs-up, the duck master here clearly had real skill.
“I heard the chef here came from Quanjude itself,” Zhao Xiaodao said with a laugh.
“What?” Lu Zheng looked shocked.
“He studied the ancestral Quanjude roast duck notes passed down through generations, but there was no room for him to shine at the chain, so he left.”
Lu Zheng chewed slowly, savouring the duck in his mouth.
The meat was tender and juicy, rich but not greasy. The skin was crispy and fragrant, the flesh full of deep flavour.
Paired with thin hand-made pancakes, sweet bean sauce, spring onion strips, and cucumber sticks.
This was the most traditional way, and after countless trials, still the best.
“So this is what Quanjude roast duck is really supposed to taste like?” Lu Zheng said. He never thought he would taste the most authentic Quanjude in his lifetime.
Zhao Xiaodao nodded. “This place advertises itself as the authentic roast duck, and every customer who has eaten here agrees.”
Lu Zheng nodded too. “Definitely. The duck is roasted over five kinds of fruitwood charcoal, giving it that subtle fruity aroma. The ducks are specially raised, perfect fat-to-lean ratio. I’d say the texture might even surpass the old Quanjude.”
Zhao Xiaodao stared in shock. “You can taste all that?”
Lu Zheng smiled, turned to a nearby waiter, and asked, “Am I right?”
The waiter bowed slightly. “Sir is amazing. We use pure fruitwood: jujube, pear, apple, persimmon, and peach. Exactly five kinds.”
Zhao Xiaodao’s jaw dropped.
There are plenty of roast duck restaurants in Beidu, many of them excellent, but this private one stood out with its unique flavour.
The key was that although they claimed “authentic roast duck”, unlike other places that loudly advertised their craftsmanship and heritage (while still mass-producing), this place stayed extremely low-key. They never promoted themselves and actually tried to stay hidden.
So they were the ones who truly cared!
The waiter gave a reserved smile. “After all, our ducks are carefully selected, and roasting them takes a lot of time and effort, so we can only serve a limited number of guests each day. There’s no need for heavy promotion.”
That was straight-up bragging!
Zhao Xiaodao nodded. “No wonder the price is so… touching.”
Quanjude was already expensive; one duck here cost three times more.
“You get what you pay for,” the waiter explained. “Many things can’t be bought even with money.”
Zhao Xiaodao laughed. “After hearing that, I actually feel the price isn’t expensive at all. It’s practically cheap.”
The waiter smiled politely, said nothing more, and retreated to become invisible again.
Ding-dong!
Zhao Xiaodao checked her phone, then looked up at Lin Wan. “Message from Zhang Weili. She’s asking when Wan jie is free and wants to treat us all to dinner.”
“Oh? She seems pretty eager,” Lin Wan said with a smile.
Zhao Xiaodao had only replied to Zhang Weili about meeting up in Beidu after getting Lin Wan’s approval.
Zhao Xiaodao grinned. “Of course she’s eager when Wan jie is this awesome!”
Lin Wan thought for a moment. “If she’s free now, invite her over to eat with us.”
Lin Wan had a lot of respect for a woman who had stepped into the UFC cage and won a gold belt.
She knew her own limits. Although she trained hard, without Lu Zheng she could never beat Zhang Weili.
But…
Lin Wan glanced at Lu Zheng and saw the encouragement and affection in his eyes.
Her heart melted. She quietly took Lu Zheng’s hand under the table, accidentally feeding Zhao Xiaodao another mouthful of dog food.
Zhao Xiaodao looked away and rapidly typed a reply.
“She’s not far. She’ll be here in twenty minutes,” Zhao Xiaodao announced.
“That’s quick.” Lu Zheng nodded, then asked Zhao Xiaodao, “How do you two know each other?”
“We met on a variety show,” Zhao Xiaodao said. “Followed each other and added contact details.”
Although Zhang Weili was barely a newcomer in entertainment, in combat sports she was unrivalled. In terms of status, she probably ranked higher than Zou the Boxing King or Li Jingliang, since no other Chinese fighter had ever won a UFC belt.
Judging by the treatment Zou received a few years ago, once she retired or even just dipped into entertainment, she would instantly be an A-list celebrity.
That was why she and Zhao Xiaodao could interact as equals on the show and exchange contacts.
…
Less than twenty minutes later, Zhang Weili walked into the private room, guided by the waiter.
“Xiaodao jie!”
“Weili!” Zhao Xiaodao hurried to greet her. Lu Zheng and Lin Wan also stood politely.
Zhang Weili removed her sunglasses and immediately fixed her burning gaze on Lin Wan.
Lin Wan smiled. “Come sit. We can talk while we eat.”
“Yes!” Zhang Weili nodded repeatedly and took her seat.
Zhao Xiaodao ordered another roast duck and a few extra dishes, then dismissed the waiter so the four of them could talk privately.
“Let me do introductions.”
Zhao Xiaodao pulled Zhang Weili over. “This is Lu Zheng, call him Lu ge. This is Lin Wan, I call her Wan jie.”
“Lu ge! Wan jie!” Zhang Weili followed Zhao Xiaodao’s lead and used the honorifics, ignoring the fact that both were actually younger than her.
Although they had heard of each other, Zhao Xiaodao still introduced her properly to the couple. “This is our country’s first UFC gold belt winner, Zhang Weili!”
“Hello!”
“Lu ge?” Zhang Weili’s eyes flashed. “The one who wore full armour and chopped that Japanese guy to pieces with one slash last time. That was you?”
Lu Zheng nodded.
Zhang Weili glanced between Lu Zheng and Lin Wan, then said, “I see now!”
