EBE Chapter 126 Retreating to Advance
Chapter 126 Retreating to Advance
"Boss Ji, if you can agree to this, the first meal from the stall every day will be delivered to you first, and you will be the first to taste it."
"No matter when, you are the most important guest here." Cheng Yuntao's tone was sincere and firm, with expectation flashing in her eyes, hoping that this extra "sweetness" could touch Ji Yanchuan's heart.
She knew in her heart that she was just an ordinary citizen. Talking about money in front of a powerful person like Boss Ji was simply beyond her ability. Even if she lost everything, she might not even be able to buy a piece of clothing he wore every day. Fortunately, her carefully prepared dishes had won Ji Yanchuan's favor, so why not use food as a "stepping stone" to see if she could open his heart?
Those in high positions often particularly enjoy the feeling of being uniquely superior to others. She had carefully chosen her words and spoken them so eloquently that Ji Yanchuan truly felt that in her eyes, he was no ordinary dignitary, but a highly respected and unique guest of honor. Perhaps if he was happy, the matter would be settled.
After hearing this, Ji Yanchuan hesitated a little, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the armrest, making a rhythmic sound, as if he was weighing something.
For a moment, the room was completely silent, with only the faint sound of breathing for the other's voices. The atmosphere was as tense as a fully drawn bowstring. Cheng Yuntao's nails unconsciously dug into her palms. She tilted her head slightly, trying to catch even the slightest change in Ji Yanchuan's mood through the cracks in the screen, but apart from the occasional rustle of clothing, she still found nothing.
Faced with Ji Yanchuan's deliberate delay, Cheng Yuntao couldn't help feeling a little annoyed.
She thought to herself, even if she couldn't set up a stall in front of the theater, with her excellent cooking skills, she could probably make a good living anywhere. Since the other party was so controlling and unwilling to give in easily, why should she continue to struggle here, trying to get in the way? With this thought in mind, she began to think about leaving, and her feet unconsciously shifted a little.
Cheng Yuntao's mind worked quickly and she soon realized that Ji Yanchuan had changed so many chefs coming and going, and it was rare for him to meet one who caught his eye and suited his taste. Would he let go so easily?
In contrast, she was the one who took the initiative at the moment. Thinking of this, Cheng Yuntao's mouth curled up slightly, outlining an imperceptible arc. She planned to use a tactic of retreating to advance.
Cheng Yuntao straightened her clothes, put on just the right smile on her face, and said in a calm and polite tone: "Boss Ji, this matter is of great importance. I know you are very busy and it will take some time to consider it carefully. I'll trouble you to think about it again. I will come to your house in a few days to pay you a sincere visit." After that, she bowed lightly, turned around gracefully, and walked steadily towards the door, her steps light and resolute.
Mu Qingfeng, watching this scene from the side, couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Based on his years of experience following his master, he knew that the master had clearly softened his heart and was about to agree, but this girl just left without any hesitation. This was truly unusual.
He stared wide-eyed as he watched Cheng Yuntao leave. When the figure was about to disappear at the door, he suddenly came to his senses and turned to look at Ji Yanchuan. After a moment's hesitation, he whispered, "Master, do you want to detain this girl?"
Ji Yanchuan was originally leaning back in his chair, staring thoughtfully at the direction Cheng Yuntao had left. When he heard Mu Qingfeng's words, he seemed to be amused by something. The corners of his mouth curled up and he smiled and said, "No need. Let her go. Didn't she say that she would come to visit again in a few days? I'll be waiting for her at the mansion."
After saying that, Ji Yanchuan slowly stood up, his posture as straight as a pine tree, his ink-black brocade robe hanging down neatly, the smooth folds of the robe seemed to be carefully outlined, rising and falling slightly with his movements, making him look even more majestic. He walked out from behind the screen with steady and calm steps.
Sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting a delicate halo over him, making him appear like a god descended to earth. He was tall yet not unwieldy, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He exuded a natural air of dignity as he walked. His dark hair was neatly tied up, secured with a single jade hairpin. A few strands of hair fell casually on the side of his fair neck, adding a touch of languid indifference.
Ji Yanchuan tilted his head slightly, his gaze gazing through the window lattice into the distance. His gaze seemed to penetrate the dense buildings, and a flicker of interest flashed in his deep eyes, making it hard to fathom what he was contemplating. After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and continued walking outside. His sleeves fluttered lightly, stirring a breeze. Wherever he passed, the attendants bowed their heads and held their breath, paying respectful obeisance. No one dared to look him in the face.
After hearing what Ji Yanchuan said, Mu Qingfeng stood there in a daze for a while.
After Ji Yanchuan's figure completely disappeared around the corner of the corridor, he frowned slightly and muttered to himself, "This girl is really unusual. She's completely different from the usual timid and submissive girls I see. She's very bold. She dares to deal with the master like this, and she has a lot of ideas."
He scratched his head subconsciously, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Our master is usually decisive and unwavering, but today, when he met Miss Cheng, his attitude was completely different. He was a little more patient and let her coax him here. This is really strange."
He shook his head slightly, a helpless, wry smile playing across his face, as if trying to shake these chaotic thoughts from his head. After a moment, he let out a long sigh, straightened his back, and muttered to himself, "Never mind, never mind. I'm just a servant who follows orders. My master has his own plans. I'm just running errands. Why should I bother with so much?" With that, he straightened his clothes and quickly walked towards the backyard, ready to take care of the unfinished chores.
Because Ji Yanchuan did not order to stop them, Cheng Yuntao had a smooth journey. As soon as she arrived at the gate of the mansion, she saw the chefs who had previously exchanged cooking skills together gathered in groups of three or five, holding tightly in their hands the reward money they had just received, and were about to leave the mansion together.
The sharp-eyed cook was the first to spot Cheng Yuntao, and instantly, everyone's gazes were focused on her, their eyes a mingled mess of envy, jealousy, and resentment. Someone in the crowd snorted first, and then, like a hornet's nest, discussions erupted one after another.
"Humph, what kind of luck does this girl have? Why does she catch the eye of Boss Ji? We have worked so hard in the kitchen for so long, but Boss Ji has never looked upon us with much respect." The fat chef said indignantly with his face flushed and veins bulging on his forehead.
"I think he might have used some unconventional methods to make Boss Ji happy." The tall and thin chef quickly agreed. As he spoke, he glanced at Cheng Yuntao with undisguised disdain in his eyes.