Zhao Xiaodao was petite and slender, with an innocent little steamed-bun face that looked harmless to humans and animals alike. Having fought her way up from the bottom, she usually greeted everyone with three smiles and hardly ever spoke harshly.
This was the first time Deng Paopao had seen Zhao Xiaodao truly angry, and her words were exceptionally blunt.
“Xiaodao, don’t be upset. President Duan was only concerned, he meant nothing else,” Deng Paopao hurriedly tried to smooth things over.
“Is this how you show concern?” Zhao Xiaodao didn’t even give Deng Paopao face, merely nodding at him. “Brother Chao, sorry about this. I’ll call you later.”
Then she gestured towards the door with her hand, her tone resolute. “Everyone, please leave.”
“Miss Zhao, please think carefully. What kind of medicine was it? Only one pill? What exactly did he tell you…”
“Please!”
Zhao Xiaodao remained unmoved. “Shall I call the waiter?”
“You! I really don’t know how someone like you reached this position!” Duan Yukai was furious. He turned to Lu Zheng. “The reputation of traditional Chinese medicine has been ruined by charlatans like you!”
Lu Zheng blinked, saying nothing.
Although the man claimed to support TCM and hadn’t called it outright fraud, his arrogance was staggering. How on earth did someone with such an explosive temper become a chairman?
Lu Zheng couldn’t be bothered to argue. They were strangers anyway. Was he supposed to put on a live demonstration just to earn this man’s approval?
“Fine, let’s go.”
Duan Chengru tugged at his son, frowning as he glanced once more at the porcelain bottle on the table and sniffed the air.
Truth be told, he was a little suspicious himself. After coming in, the medicinal fragrance had grown even stronger. He sniffed carefully again and felt the scent was simply too wonderful, almost like fake medicine.
There was definitely a herbal smell, yet it seemed veiled beneath a layer of refreshing fragrance, mysterious and profound, exactly like an immortal elixir. How could ordinary Chinese medicinal pills smell sweet instead of bitter?
That was why he hadn’t immediately stopped his son’s questioning.
But now the person involved didn’t care, so there was no need for them to play the villain. This was the modern age, not ancient times, and Zhao Xiaodao was no ordinary person. At worst, the fellow had made some common health candy pills. There wouldn’t be lead or mercury in them; they certainly wouldn’t kill anyone.
“Sorry for disturbing you.”
Duan Chengru nodded to the three of them, pulled his son towards the door, then turned back to Lu Zheng. “If it’s only for detoxing and beautifying, don’t use too many cold-natured herbs, otherwise problems may arise. Of course, with just one pill, it shouldn’t be serious.”
Lu Zheng couldn’t help laughing. Was the old man advising him not to go too far when scamming people and to be careful not to harm the victim?
What an interesting old fellow.
“Thank you for the advice, sir,” Lu Zheng said with a smile. “I’ve only studied Chinese medicine by myself for a few months, but I think my level is decent. I won’t mess around.”
A few months of Chinese medicine…
“Very well. As long as you know your limits.”
Duan Chengru could only nod, sigh, and drag Duan Yukai away.
Deng Paopao and Sun Niangniang exchanged glances. Seeing that Zhao Xiaodao’s expression remained firm, they could only nod to Lu Zheng and Lin Wan in greeting before leaving.
“Xiaodao, call me later,” Sun Niangniang said as she left.
Zhao Xiaodao nodded, watched the four of them go, closed the door, then turned to Lu Zheng with a nervous face. “Great master…”
Lu Zheng waved his hand. “You still don’t treat us as friends.”
Zhao Xiaodao instantly understood, her face lighting up. “Brother Lu!”
Lu Zheng burst out laughing. Lin Wan pulled Zhao Xiaodao back to her seat. “Don’t worry, we’re not that petty.”
Zhao Xiaodao nodded repeatedly. “Brother Lu and Sister Wan are extraordinary people hiding in the city. If you didn’t have such big hearts, you could never live so quietly.”
“Tsk tsk, big stars really know how to talk. Shame you’re just too flat.” Lu Zheng shook his head.
Zhao Xiaodao: “…”
“Shall I introduce Liu Tianxian and Big Power Yang to you?” Lin Wan asked with a flowering smile, sitting down beside Lu Zheng.
“Hiss…”
Lu Zheng already felt the jade-like hand pinching his waist and hurriedly shook his head. “One has buck teeth, the other has a huge forehead. You think I’d be interested? What a joke!”
Zhao Xiaodao couldn’t help laughing. She no longer minded Lu Zheng’s earlier comment and instead said mischievously, “My relationship with them isn’t that close, but we can talk. If Brother Lu is really interested, I could call them out for a gathering one day?”
Lu Zheng stared in shock. “I never imagined that you, with those thick eyebrows and big eyes, would be a traitor?”
Zhao Xiaodao raised an eyebrow. Who made you keep saying people are flat? Don’t you know she’s a woman too?
After a few jokes, the atmosphere became much more relaxed. At that moment, the waiter finally knocked and brought in the dishes.
“The waiters were busy earlier. I only just heard what happened. I’m truly sorry. Today’s meal is on me. Please allow Miss Zhao this chance to let me apologise.”
The boss came in personally to apologise and even sent an extra dish.
“Boss Liu, you’re too polite. We’re all friends. They knocked too, and I let them in,” Zhao Xiaodao said with a wave of her hand, her expression calm, betraying no emotion.
“Thank you for understanding! Still, we failed in our service. I’ll punish myself with a drink.” The boss raised a glass, downed it in one go, then stepped back. “Please enjoy your meal.”
“Skilful in all directions, watertight!” Lu Zheng praised.
Zhao Xiaodao nodded. “Thanks to this private kitchen, his network is even wider than mine.”
Lin Wan shook her head. “All of that is superficial. Only when something real happens can you tell true connections from false ones.”
“That’s true.” Zhao Xiaodao picked up a piece of small fish and placed it in Lin Wan’s bowl. “Sister Wan, try this Yangtze knife fish. It’s rare.”
“Thank you!”
…
After that, no one disturbed them again. Although the dishes weren’t as good as the ones Lu Zheng cooked, this was after all a private gathering place for celebrity tycoons. The quality was definitely better than those so-called high-end restaurants online.
Moreover, the ingredients were clean, the preparation exquisite, and the taste more than acceptable, so Lu Zheng and Lin Wan were satisfied.
Lunch ended happily for everyone.
As they walked out, by sheer coincidence they ran into Deng Paopao’s group again.
Duan Yukai sneered with disdain, Duan Chengru gave a solemn nod, Deng Paopao and his wife nodded in greeting.
Zhao Xiaodao’s expression remained unchanged, Lin Wan didn’t care at all, and Lu Zheng even waved at Duan Chengru.
Then…
They went their separate ways!
…
“That old man was quite amusing,” Lu Zheng said with a laugh. “He’s a good person.”
Lin Wan pouted. She knew it was normal, but seeing them question Lu Zheng still made her unhappy.
Zhao Xiaodao saw right through Lin Wan’s feelings. Instead of comforting her, she changed the subject with envy. “Sister Wan, what do you two usually do? At night, do you leap over rooftops and fly through the steel forest?”
Feeling Zhao Xiaodao’s kindness, Lin Wan set aside her earlier displeasure and smiled. “The city is full of cameras. How would we dare run around? But…”
“But what?”
“But we can play freely in the uninhabited wilderness.” Lin Wan grinned, took out her phone, and showed Zhao Xiaodao photos of herself with giant pandas and Siberian tigers.
Zhao Xiaodao stared, dumbfounded, her heart sour with envy.
