33, Suspicion
Having returned to her room, Azhu quickly fetched some water.
“Miss, please wash up!”
Xie Zhinuan washed her hands, picked up Routuan, and went to the courtyard to watch it play.
Standing to one side, she pressed her lips together, remaining silent.
Azhu felt that Xie Zhinuan seemed unhappy, but she didn’t understand why and didn’t dare to ask.
Xie Zhinuan wasn’t unhappy, though; such trivial matters weren’t worth spoiling her mood.
When Yuan Cheng arrived at the hall, he immediately went upstairs, and upon seeing Yuanbao, he quickly paid his respects, “May I ask if you have any instructions, sir?”
“Tonight’s tofu wasn’t made by the person from this afternoon. Go and tell him to make it!” Yuanbao said in a stern voice.
“This…”
Yuan Cheng hesitated slightly, “If I may speak freely, sir, she is not Yuanji’s head chef!”
“…”
Yuanbao raised an eyebrow, “Then you go. Tell him to come see me, or let him know that if he is willing to cook for my master, he will be well rewarded!”
“…”
Yuan Cheng was troubled.
He felt that Xie Zhinuan was not the type of person to value money so highly.
“This…”
“?” Seeing Yuan Cheng’s troubled expression, Yuanbao thought for a moment and said, “Take me to meet him!”
“Young Master, please!”
Yuan Cheng knew well that if a servant could be so arrogant and overbearing, their master’s status must be extraordinary.
So he led Yuanbao to see Xie Zhinuan.
Li Hengyi sat by the window, looking out at the streets and passersby, silently seated.
Without a word.
When Xie Zhinuan saw Yuan Cheng brought a man over, she recognized him. He was the boisterous and dominating man from the tea house that day.
Her brow slightly furrowed.
“Zhinuan, this gentleman…”
Yuanbao hadn’t expected that the so-called chef would be an exceptionally beautiful woman with elegant looks, a gentle gaze, and a smile in her eyes.
Surprise filled his heart.
In such a modest establishment, there was such an extraordinary beauty.
But remembering that for the first time in three years his master had taken the initiative to come and eat, Yuanbao suppressed his belligerence and cupped his fist in greeting, “Miss, I offer you my regards!”
Xie Zhinuan was momentarily startled, “No need for such formalities!”
Out of curiosity, she thought how odd it was that this person, so arrogant only days before, was now affecting such a genial manner, which was indeed disconcerting.
“Zhinuan, the tofu you made this afternoon, could you make another serving?” Yuan Cheng whispered.
He looked at Xie Zhinuan with eyes full of hope.
“…”
Xie Zhinuan understood what was going on as she looked at Yuan Cheng.
Then she turned to Yuanbao and said softly, “I can make it, but I will be leaving early tomorrow morning, and besides, that tofu is very simple, you could learn it at a glance!”
Yuanbao didn’t believe it.
Xie Zhinuan led him to the kitchen.
She added water to the pot, crumbled the tofu into it to cook, then ladled it into a bowl and sprinkled some chopped green onions on top.
“Just like this?” Yuanbao’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Mmm, I made it just like this at noon!”
“…”
As Yuanbao left with the tofu, he gave Xie Zhinuan another look.
He found it all unbelievable.
But as he pondered the meaning behind the dish, “Scallion mixed with tofu, one clear and two white”, he suddenly seemed to understand something, suddenly narrowing his eyes and giving Xie Zhinuan a cold glance.
Could it be that she knew something?
But that couldn’t be!
Regardless, he would have to thoroughly investigate this woman.
With that one glance, Xie Zhinuan felt a chill down her spine.
Yet she remained impassive, her expression calm as she watched Yuanbao leave.
Then she turned to Yuan Cheng and said, “Uncle, I’m going back to pack my things!”
“Right!” Yuan Cheng hurriedly agreed, immediately following Yuanbao.
Yuanbao brought the tofu up to the private room on the second floor, and seeing Li Hengyi staring out of the window in a daze, he pursed his lips and said softly, “Sir, the tofu is ready!”
“…”
Li Hengyi came back to his senses.
Looking at the tray of tofu, he hesitated for a moment before taking a spoon and tasting a small bite.
Feeling that the taste was the same as at noon, he took a few more bites, then put the spoon down.
He didn’t dare to indulge too much.
Fearful that his stomach, accustomed to years of medicinal treatments, couldn’t handle it.
“Sir…” Yuanbao softly called, hesitating whether to tell his master about his suspicions.
Chapter 35