Pei Mingyuan wasn't having it. He said to Yan Yincheng, "Third Master Yan, there are chefs in Haicheng no less skilled than Xie Shi. My father's chef is Xie Shi's apprentice, and his cooking skills are quite good."
After saying that, he didn't forget to say to Xu Zixi, "Xiaoxi, I'll take you to my place to try Chef Chen's dishes when I get the chance."
Yan Yincheng said, "Apprentice? That eight-treasure duck of his is so tough it could break your teeth. How dare he claim to be Xie Shi's apprentice? I think he's just using Xie Shi's reputation to deceive people! And you still want to take her to your home. What, are you trying to trick her into meeting your parents?"
Caught in his thoughts, Pei Mingyuan immediately fought back, "I'm not. I just want Xiaoxi to enjoy good food. And Chef Chen has a chef's certificate personally written by Xie Shi! He's definitely not a fraud!"
Xie Shi, Xie Shi, Xie Shi!
"Enough!" Xu Zixi couldn't hold it in any longer and stopped their childish argument. "What are you arguing about? Can't we just have a nice meal?"
The two men immediately fell silent and lowered their heads, not daring to say another word.
At this time, the dishes Yan Yincheng had ordered were being served one after another.
He had ordered salmon sushi, tempura set, pan-fried foie gras, and miso soup. Besides, the waiter also brought over a dessert in a delicate box.
Pushing the dessert towards Xu Zixi, Yan Yincheng said,
"Xiaoxi, this is specially ordered for the two kids. Take it back for them. You didn't have dinner with them tonight. If you take the dessert back, they'll be really happy."
Xu Zixi was taken aback. Right, why didn't she think of ordering some desserts for the two kids just now?
Her ears instantly turned red. She glared at him fiercely and said, "Who needs your reminder? I've already thought of that."
Pei Mingyuan tried hard not to burst out laughing. He had also wanted to use her two kids to curry favor with her, but she didn't buy it. Yan had treated her so badly back then. Being irresponsible before and now trying to act like a kind father, this move was doomed to fail!
He thought Xu Zixi wouldn't accept it, but after she said that, she naturally took the dessert box and put it aside.
Pei Mingyuan: "???" Why was it different from what he had thought?!
Successfully giving away the dessert made Third Master Yan feel really good. He picked up a piece of salmon sushi and put it in his mouth. The next second ——
"Ugh!"
Wei Shu quickly took out a tissue and handed it to him.
Yan Yincheng angrily pushed the plate away. Looking up at Pei Mingyuan, he said, "This salmon is leftover from last night, and the quality is terrible. It tastes so fishy. How dare you bring her to this place to eat such disgusting food?!"
Pei Mingyuan's face turned green then white. He glanced at Xu Zixi awkwardly and said, "It's not as exaggerated as you say. I think the food here is all fresh. Xiaoxi also said the taste was okay just now, right?"
Xu Zixi: "..." She did think it was okay, but it wasn't particularly amazing either.
But at this moment, to avoid further conflict between the two of them, she could only keep a polite smile and shut up.
Every time Yan Yincheng took a bite of the food, he would criticize it mercilessly, as if what he was putting into his mouth was garbage. In the end, Pei Mingyuan also began to doubt.
Could it be that the ingredients in this Japanese restaurant were really bad? Did they really use leftover food to serve customers?
There was hardly anything edible. With Pei Mingyuan causing trouble beside him, Yan Yincheng was hungry and angry, and his stomach started to ache again. He quietly pressed his stomach, and the corners of his lips drooped aggrievedly.
When he hadn't seen her, he could still force himself to swallow the food. But now, he really couldn't stand it at all.
He missed her and the food she cooked. Even a plate of scallion oil noodles would satisfy him.
But he knew that she wouldn't and couldn't cook for him now. If he wanted to eat the dishes she cooked with her own hands, he had to take it slowly.
Wait, something wasn't right!
Yan Yincheng suddenly remembered that he had missed a very important question.
She had torn up the engagement agreement, but what about the five-million yuan food-ordering agreement he had signed with her?! He didn't seem to find that agreement in the villa, and she hadn't returned the five million to him either!
Did she forget?
Like a traveler in the desert who suddenly found water, Yan Yincheng was so excited that his whole body was trembling. He tried hard to control himself not to lose his composure on the spot.
Did this mean that their agreement could still be in effect? Did he still have a chance to eat the food she cooked?
But then he remembered that he had also used the name "Yincheng" when signing the agreement. A bucket of cold water was poured over his head, extinguishing the hope that he had just kindled.
No, he couldn't mention this agreement. Thanks to the bet, he had finally managed to get closer to her again. He couldn't let her remember the fact that he had once deceived her meanly.
He couldn't push her away again.
Xu Zixi didn't know that he had thought of so many things in an instant. But seeing his expression turn sad and dejected made her feel uncomfortable too. Looking at the time, she simply said,
"It's getting late. I have to go back."
Pei Mingyuan quickly stood up and said, "I'll see you out."
Yan Yincheng also quickly gathered his dejected mood and stood up, saying, "Don't forget to take the dessert."
Xu Zixi couldn't help but glare at him. Look, his true colors are showing! He said he came for her, but men's words are really unbelievable. He just came to compete with her for the two kids!
Grabbing the lunch box, Xu Zixi strode out angrily.
Hearing Pei Mingyuan's footsteps following her, Yan Yincheng quickly told Wei Shu to follow. But this time he didn't dare to let Wei Shu follow too closely. What he had experienced today had far exceeded his expectations. He knew the principle of knowing when to stop. Just following behind her like this, he was already satisfied.
Seeing Xu Zixi and Pei Mingyuan walking further and further away, Wei Shu was about to turn back and ask Yan Yincheng what to do next. Suddenly, he saw a figure rushing straight towards his third master. He exclaimed,
"Third Master, be careful!"
It was too late to remind him. There was a jumble of noises. The female waitress in a kimono fell to the ground. There was an overturned porcelain bowl and tray beside her. And his third master's high-quality cashmere custom-made woolen overcoat was wet and dripping. A large area of his chest was already soaked.
"Guest, I'm so sorry. I didn't do it on purpose. Your clothes are all wet. Let me wipe them for you..."
The female waitress seemed to know that she had caused trouble. She quickly got up from the ground and held up the handkerchief in her hand, wanting to wipe Yan Yincheng. But she was in such a hurry that when she got up, she "accidentally" stepped on her long hem. So, another "accident" happened, and she fell into Yan Yincheng's arms ——
The moment Xu Zixi heard Wei Shu's first warning, she instinctively turned back. What she saw was the scene of the female waitress blushing and "throwing herself" into someone's arms!