After being scolded by Jin’s Father, the third son of the Jin family, Jin Wenzhi, arrived at the Cheng household in a fit of rage.

He slammed the invitation onto the tea table as soon as he entered. “Mr. Cheng, is this your decision or your father’s?”

Currently, the person in charge of the Cheng family is Cheng Zhen, the eldest son of the elderly Cheng.

When confronted, he merely smiled indifferently. “Uncle Jin, what exactly do you mean?”

“This event you’re holding—why choose the same day as Mingde’s anniversary?!” Jin Wenzhi recalled the shock he felt when he first saw the invitation and couldn’t control his anger. “Tell your father to come out. I need to ask him whether he still wants to cooperate.”

Cheng Zhen motioned for the maid to serve tea, his smile widening. “Uncle Jin, why bother with my father? I’m in charge of the Cheng family now, and I’m the one you’re cooperating with.”

Jin Wenzhi realized something and asked incredulously, “Your father just lets you act this recklessly?”

“You’re mistaken.” Cheng Zhen replied. “Uncle Jin, if my actions upset you so much, it shows that I’m not being reckless.”

Jin Wen Zhi stared at him in disbelief. “Your father promised me that I would help you establish Yun Ding in Linjiang…”

“Yun Ding’s success is all thanks to our own efforts,” Cheng Zhen said with a smile. “Look, our performance is even better than Mingde’s now.”

Jin Wen Zhi fumed. “Are you trying to burn the bridge after crossing it?! Don’t forget how we helped you establish your first few stores in Linjiang! I provided you with locations and project plans!”

“And we gave you shares in return,” Cheng Zhen replied, pouring tea. “Uncle Jin, I bet the Jin family doesn’t even know how much you’ve been earning from the dividends these years.”

Jin Wenzhi was left speechless, trembling with anger. “Are you threatening me?”

Cheng Zhen offered him the tea with a polite smile. “Of course not, Uncle Jin. We’re grateful for all your help.”

“But!” He paused, then changed his tone to a more businesslike manner. “In business, there are too many mouths to feed. We can’t stop growing just because of this, can we?”

Seeing Jin Wen Zhi’s face turn pale with fury, Cheng Zhen softened his tone to try and calm him. “Uncle Jin, the Cheng family’s next step is to enter the high-end restaurant market. It’s bound to happen sooner or later. You have no reason to be so upset. The decision-makers at Mingde aren’t you anymore. The Xunxiang banquet has been running for years with little to show for it. The business is cold. Giving us some space at Muhe Mansion won’t cause any harm, will it?”

Jin Wen Zhi was on the verge of tears. “What do you mean by ‘some space’? The Xunxiang banquet was built up by my father, step by step! It’s the foundation of the Jin family!”

Cheng Zhen shook his head without a hint of concern. “What kind of old-fashioned thinking is this? Uncle Jin, that kind of mentality isn’t in demand anymore. Besides, we agreed that when your son needs help, we’ll cooperate to make achievements for Mingde. Isn’t that enough sincerity?”

After the confrontation, Jin Wen Zhi, feeling completely defeated, walked out into the cold wind, his face streaked with tears.

He had wanted to take control of the Jin family and secure a future for his son.

Over the years, he had done many questionable things behind his older brother’s back, but he never wanted to ruin the family’s reputation.

“Trying to bargain with a tiger! Bargaining with a tiger…” He felt like he had aged ten years in an instant and almost stumbled in his tracks.

Back inside, after Jin Wen Zhi left, Cheng Zhen let out a cold laugh and turned to his assistant. “How did the invitations go?”

“They’ve all been delivered,” the assistant replied.

“And what’s Mingde’s move?”

The assistant nodded before shaking his head. “Nothing too big. However, over the last few days, many of Mingde’s restaurants suddenly started adding stewing pots. They say they’ll be offering new dishes to customers on the anniversary day.”

Cheng Zhen sneered. “What a gimmick. They probably think the old Mr. Jin, who attended the national banquet, is still around.”

He waved his hand dismissively. “Has everything been arranged with Mr. Meng?”

The assistant became more serious. “We’ve confirmed Mr. Meng’s return flight with his assistant. We’ll be following up closely in the next few days.”

He added with some pride, “Mr. Meng is such a famous food critic. Many people would pay anything to have him work with them, but you, Mr. Cheng, have managed it.”

Cheng Zhen shook his head. “His return won’t be a quiet matter. Stay alert. We’ll meet him at the airport half a day before his flight lands. No mistakes. No loopholes.”

---

At Mingde, everyone was suddenly busy with a task given by Jin Yaotiao, a new responsibility that had never been as hectic before.

Ingredients and spices kept flowing into the restaurant, while Jin Yaotiao oversaw the work distribution for Master Tu and his apprentices.

Stewed beef steak was one of her specialties, though it was difficult to perfect.

The spices needed to be mixed with precision; a tiny mistake could ruin the whole dish.

But once the ingredients were prepared by her, others just needed to focus on controlling the heat.

In the past, Master Tu, known for his bad temper, tasted one of his apprentice’s stews and smiled like a fresh cabbage just pulled from the earth. “Not bad, kid!”

Wang Sheng scratched his head and smiled foolishly. “I just followed Ms. Jin’s instructions and took it out on time. She handled the ingredients.”

Master Tu cast a curious glance at the prepared ingredients, noticing many of them were ground into powder and mixed together, making it difficult to figure out what had been added.

Not wanting to ask, he looked over at Jin Yaotiao, who was pulling a large dish out of the oven.

“Is that Beggar’s Chicken?” he asked.

Jin Yaotiao paused and said, “Modified.”

At the top floor of Mingde Company, Father Jin hesitated slightly. “Are you sure you don’t need me to go with you?”

Jin Yaotiao, having packed up and placed the invitation to the business association into her handbag, turned to look at her father. “No, I’ve already said it, you should rest at home. No sneaky smoking, okay?”

Without waiting for a reply, she briskly walked out the door. Father Jin sat back at his desk, lost in thought for a moment before breaking into a wry smile.

Truly…

This girl, getting more and more impressive. That glare just now had scared him, the father, into not daring to speak back.

---

The elevator descended all the way down. Jin Yaotiao went back to her office to grab her business cards.

When she left the office, countless employees greeted her along the way—

“Supervisor Jin, you’re here?”

“Supervisor Jin, you look so beautiful today. Are you going to an event?”

Jin Yaotiao glanced at Jin Jiarui, who was sitting far off, his head lowered in concentration. She straightened her hair and smiled. “Yes.”

She was about to tell everyone in the Linjiang business circle that she, Jin Yaotiao, was the confirmed heir of Mingde.

---

The Linjiang Chamber of Commerce held an annual event, and this year, it was hosted at a hotel under the vice president’s name.

By the time Jin Yaotiao arrived, many people were already there, and the parking lot was full of luxury cars.

Uncle Huang opened the door for her, and as she stepped into the world of wealth and power, her gaze took in the extravagant scene.

Jin Yaotiao stood still for a moment, observing like an outsider, completely clear-headed.

Two young men in suits got out of a car nearby, each holding a beautiful woman.

They glanced at her, their eyes lighting up. One of them eagerly spoke, “Excuse me, miss, are you…”

Jin Yaotiao looked at them, her back straight, lips curling into a smile. “I’m Jin Yaotiao, representing Mingde and my father, Jin Wencheng, at the business association. And you are?”

Upon hearing her introduction, the two young men immediately retracted their flirtatious gazes.

The name of Mingde’s Jin family was quite well-known in Linjiang, and the fact that this young woman was representing the company, not being brought by her father, said a lot.

Even in circles of the second generation, those poised to take over the family business held a different status than those destined to stay home and do nothing.

The two young men exchanged glances, their tone much more respectful. “Hello, Miss Jin. It’s a pleasure to meet you. We didn’t expect the future boss of Mingde to be so beautiful. Apologies for our earlier behavior.”

Shen Qiming arrived early, and every now and then, people came up to greet him.

He held a glass of wine, though rarely drank. Simply standing there made him the center of attention.

The men in the venue often tried to chat with him, the future honorary president, while the women, no matter where they were, would glance in his direction from time to time.

Only a few daring ones would carefully approach him to speak, but in the end, the ones who got to converse would always find themselves talking to Jiang Sen, who accompanied Shen Qiming.

Jiang Sen knew that his childhood friend didn’t enjoy drinking or chatting, or else he wouldn’t have to bring an assistant who could handle the drinks to these events.

But this time, for some reason, the assistant who had a good tolerance for alcohol didn’t come, and the male assistant who was sent, perhaps underestimated the socializing Shen Qiming, ended up running to the restroom to vomit after just a short while.

Jiang Sen sighed, finding it boring standing there.

He suggested, “Let’s walk around. Staying here is dull.”

Shen Qiming wasn’t interested. “What’s there to walk around for?”

Jiang Sen grinned. “There are more beautiful women outside.”

Shen Qiming’s disinterest grew. “You go ahead.”

“You said it!” Jiang Sen took a step forward. “Wow, there’s a woman in a dark green dress, her figure is amazing! Look, look!”

Shen Qiming was irritated by him and glanced symbolically at the woman, then froze.

Jin Yaotiao stood by the door from afar, standing with a man and a woman.

“She’s stunning!” Jiang Sen eagerly turned to Shen Qiming. “She looks a bit familiar… Never mind, I’ll go check her out!”

He was about to approach when he stopped.

Where had “Gege” gone?

---

The business association circle wasn’t that big. Although Jin Yaotiao didn’t know many people, she would still encounter one or two familiar faces at such events.

Her name was called, and when she turned around, a young man approached, his face filled with surprise. “Is it really you?”

Jin Yaotiao couldn’t recall who he was. “Hello?”

The man looked her up and down, the admiration and interest in his eyes clear. “You don’t remember? We met before at K Salon, you were with your friends. Are you here alone today?”

Jin Yaotiao remembered then. “You’re Hu Wanyue’s boyfriend.”

Not long ago, Hu Wanyue had been arguing fiercely with Luna at K Salon.

The man froze, then awkwardly smiled. “You look so beautiful today, I was stunned.”

“Beauty has nothing to do with you,” Jin Yaotiao raised her glass. “If you have a girlfriend, don’t flirt with other girls.”

Her blunt words were spoken so effortlessly that it was hard to argue with her beauty. The man was stunned but didn’t give up. Just then, Hu Wanyue’s voice came from afar. “Sheng Rui! Why did you suddenly leave?”

Hu Wanyue rushed over, and before she could complain, she saw Jin Yaotiao. Her eyes widened. “Jin Yaotiao! What are you doing here?”

“Why can’t I be here?” Jin Yaotiao smiled, amused by her overly possessive gesture of grabbing her boyfriend’s arm. She thought Hu Wanyue was overthinking. Why would she be interested in trash? “I’m here representing Mingde.”

Hu Wanyue was stunned, but then, realizing the implications of Jin Yaotiao’s words, she felt a twinge of discomfort. Today, her father had brought her brother, while she came with her boyfriend.

Her mind drifted back to how her boyfriend couldn’t take his eyes off Jin Yaotiao just now.

Hu Wanyue pursed her lips, then suddenly smiled. “Really? I thought you came with Mr. Shen. Oh wait!”

She covered her mouth, pretending to have misspoken. “I heard you broke up with him. Is that true?”

Jin Yaotiao raised an eyebrow, smiling. “News travels fast.”

Hu Wanyue stared at her, thinking she had hit a sore spot, eyes full of schadenfreude. “Did Mr. Shen dump you?”

She happily grabbed two glasses of wine and handed one to Jin Yaotiao. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up. Come, let’s drink together.”

Before Jin Yaotiao could speak, a hand suddenly reached out, taking the glass from Hu Wanyue’s hand.

Jin Yaotiao instinctively turned around. Shen Qiming stood next to her, holding the wine glass, his silver wristwatch gleaming.

His voice was low and cold. “She doesn’t drink. I’ll drink on her behalf.”

With that, he downed the wine in one go.

Hu Wanyue stared at his handsome face, her breath almost stopping. After a moment, she finally spoke, stunned. “Shen, Shen, Shen Qiming… Mr. Shen?”

Shen Qiming put the glass down. “Hello.”

Her boyfriend, clearly knowing Shen Qiming, was also shocked by his intervention. He asked in confusion, “Mr. Shen, you and Yaotiao… you two?”

Both Shen Qiming and Jin Yaotiao spoke at the same time—

“I’m her fiancé.”

“We’re friends.”

Hu Wanyue and her boyfriend were left speechless.

Jin Yaotiao: “…”

Shen Qiming glanced at her, then lowered his gaze, silent.

Jin Yaotiao stayed quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say. Finally, she asked, “… Mr. Shen, why are you here?”

Wasn’t he supposed to be dealing with business affairs?

Shen Qiming stood tall, looking down at the floor, and after a while, he replied, “I was passing by.”