“No way! If this project fails, all the researchers’ bonuses will be completely deducted! Seventy million has already been invested, and now you’re telling me it can’t be completed? What were you doing earlier? Keep researching!” Outside, Hu Yuanyuan’s angry voice came through as she spoke on the phone, followed by a “click” as she pushed the door open and entered.
The living room was filled with the pungent smell of Chinese medicine. More crucially, at that moment, Li Feng was wearing only a pair of oversized shorts, hopping around on the floor like a toad.
“You, Li Feng, what are you doing?” Hu Yuanyuan covered her nose, shouted, and quickly turned on the central air conditioning and exhaust fan.
Li Feng finished his set of Xuantian Body Refining Technique, stopped, took a few deep breaths, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Hu Yuanyuan held documents in one hand and a sleek iPhone in the other, her face icy as she glared at Li Feng.
Li Feng nodded at her, saying, “You’re back. I’m exercising.” With that, he dashed into the bathroom to wash off the sweat.
“Exercising! Who are you kidding!” Hu Yuanyuan grittedファイted her teeth, then stomped off to her room.
Li Feng came out of the bathroom after his shower.
Touching his stomach, he realised no one had cooked today. In the past, a dedicated servant would come to prepare meals at mealtime, but yesterday, that servant returned to their hometown. As a result, dinner today was up in the air.
Li Feng was very hungry now, and he urgently needed a large amount of food to replenish his body.
Opening the fridge, he found it stocked with plenty of food, mostly cooked items.
Swallowing hard, Li Feng didn’t hold back. He took out the food, turned on the induction cooker, and got busy with a clatter. As an elite special forces soldier, Li Feng hadcreo had a hobby: he loved good food. From exotic delicacies to Manchu banquets, there wasn’t a dish he hadn’t tried, and he’d picked up a few cooking skills along the way.
Soon, roasted suckling pig, stir-fried tripe, steamed chicken, braised pork, and a large pot of duck soup were ready.
The aroma filled the air.
Upstairs, after finishing her work, Hu Yuanyuan’s mood improved significantly. She then remembered dinner hadn’t been sorted, so she changed into a neat house dress, slipped on flip-flops, and prepared to go downstairs to cook. Though Hu Yuanyuan was a strong career woman, deep down, she held traditional values and felt that household tasks like cooking and laundry were her responsibility.
“Come down and eat, the food’s just ready. I was about to call you,” Li Feng waved to Hu Yuanyuan on the stairs.
“Hm?” Hu Yuanyuan’s nose twitched. Though the air still carried a hint of the medicine’s stench, the aroma of the food made her mouth water instantly.
The two sat down and dug in without ceremony.
Li Feng was truly famished, needing to replenish energy due to his training.
“You’re not eating the braised pork?” Li Feng looked up at Hu Yuanyuan and asked.
She shook her head, “Too greasy. I’ve already eaten a lot of meat today.”
Her brief complaint, however, made Li Feng find her quite endearing.
“Then I’ll have it.” Li Feng took the dish of braised pork and ate heartily. A large amount of food was necessary to ensure his body had enough energy to replenish.
“Ding-a-ling…” Li Feng’s phone rang.
Chewing on the braised pork, he saw the number, frowned, but still answered, “Hey, what’s up?”
“Ha, Brother Feng, we didn’t visit you at the hospital last time. The guys feel bad about it. I just got back from Nanling, heard you’re out of the hospital, and we’re planning to celebrate for you tonight. Emperor’s Pavilion, there’s new stuff,” came a tempting voice from the other end, slightly effeminate.
Li Feng recognised the voice. It was Liu Shichao, a man largely responsible for the car racing incident that landed Li Feng in trouble.
“Hm, I’m busy lately, can’t make it. Let’s meet another day.” With that, Li Feng hung up, his brows furrowed. Once he recovered, he’d need to confront those guys and get some answers.
“Damn, Li Feng’s not coming!” Liu Shichao slammed his phone onto the sofa, startling a scantily clad woman in a low-cut skirt nearby, who shrank back and stayed silent.
“Brother Liu, what now? Brother Peng told us to get the stuff and kill him. We haven’t done either.” A skinny, powdered young man beside him said fearfully.
“Afraid of what? Dealing with a loser like Li Feng is a matter of seconds,” Liu Shichao said through gritted teeth, “When he comes in a few days, I’ll see how to deal with him.”
…
In the room, Hu Yuanyuan stared at the table full of empty plates.
“How do you eat so much?” She looked up at Li Feng.
Li Feng wiped his mouth, “A man should eat a lot.”
Hu Yuanyuan’s beautiful eyes studied Li Feng, noticing something different about him. Though he looked the same, there was a new spark in his eyes.
“Well, that’s good,” Hu Yuanyuan stood up and began clearing the dishes. After all, Li Feng was her husband, and she hoped he could change.
Li Feng thought for a moment and said, “Hu Yuanyuan, it’s almost the end of the month. Can I get my salary in advance?”
He’d spent most of his money on a car and medicine lately, and his parents weren’t giving him any. His only income was the company’s dividends and salary.
Xiangfeng Investment Company was a joint venture by the Li and Hu families, with Li Feng and Hu Yuanyuan each holding fifty percent. Hu Yuanyuan was the president, and Li Feng the vice president.
However, due to his personality, Li Feng had never gone to the company since its founding. Under Hu Yuanyuan’s management, the company had flourished, growing tenfold in less than a year, making Li Feng’s shares quite valuable. The dividends were his main source of income.
“Hm?” Hu Yuanyuan raised an eyebrow, “What do you need the money for urgently?” It was a reflexive question. Li Feng had never asked her for money before, and he used to speak to her with his head lowered.
“I need medicinal herbs,” Li Feng said.
Hu Yuanyuan straightened up, her eyes meeting Li Feng’s, as if trying to gauge the truth of his words.
“Forget it if you won’t give it,” Li Feng shrugged, “I haven’t worked many days anyway.”
With that, he headed to his bedroom.
Li Feng really needed the money. The body-refining medicine could only be used twice at most before its effectiveness would drop significantly. He estimated that continuing the training would cost at least several hundred thousand more.
Not long after, there was a knock at Li Feng’s door.
“Hm?” He opened it, eyeing Hu Yuanyuan. He had to admit, his wife was indeed very beautiful, though a bit cold.
“I’ll have finance advance the money to your salary card tomorrow, but…” Hu Yuanyuan paused, lightly brushing a strand of her hair.
