Tang Yazhu finally reached her destination. Getting out of her car, she immediately headed towards the main entrance in order to enter the restaurant. Although she did not live the life of Ren Bao, having inherited all of her memories, she felt weird to not enter through the back door as a staff but to enter through the front entrance like a customer or guest.
Just when Tang Yazhu was about to head straight to the office of the boss, someone called out her name - making her stop in her tracks.
"Xiao Bao!" a feminine voice called out.
Turning around, Tang Yazhu saw that it was a middle-aged woman who seemed to just have finished her meal. From the memories, she recalled that this middle-aged woman was called Meng Qiao, a regular customer of this restaurant and also quite close with the original body owner.
"Mrs. Meng," Tang Yazhu greeted back with a slight bow.
"Oh, dear! Where have you been?! I've missed all the dishes you can cook. I heard that you're planning to retire. Are you really not going to come here anymore, dear?" Mrs. Meng asked in a depressed tone.
Mrs. Meng found out about a month ago that Tang Yazhu had resigned from her job as a chef in this restaurant. Due to that, the boss had to hire some other well-known chefs to replace her.
"I've been quite busy. Sorry, I actually came here because I had a matter to discuss with the boss. I'll have to leave first," Tang Yazhu apologetically told Mrs. Meng before heading her way to the office.
Just when she was about to open the door and enter the office, Tang Yazhu heard another person call out her name again.
"Ah Bao!" a manly voice called out.
Facing her body towards the sound, she found a young brown-haired man who was wearing a chef uniform. From her memories, she recalled that this was Xiao Zhiqiang, the head chef of Regalia Restaurant.
"What is it?" Tang Yazhu asked while blinking her eyes at him.
"Um… Uh…" Xiao Zhiqiang was at a loss for words.
He did not know what he wanted to tell her. The only thing was that he had instinctually followed Tang Yazhu the moment he saw her enter the restaurant.
Actually, if he had any confidence, he would like to ask her how she was doing and why she was gone for so long. Not only that, about why she decided to resign. Truthfully, he has liked Tang Yazhu since the day she first began working in this restaurant and even more when she gained the title 'Queen of Gourmet.'
However, he could only avert his eyes as his cheeks were burning red! He could literally feel himself blushing as he took small glimpses of her! He could not help, but be mesmerized by her beauty again and again!
The thing is that he has never met someone as beautiful as her and someone with such a perfect attitude like her! In fact, it is specifically because of all of these that she has managed to attract so many men.
'Damn it! Xiao Zhiqiang! Be a man and talk to her!' he berated himself internally.
"Brother Xiao? Do you need something?" Tang Yazhu asked when she saw him not moving and standing in front of her like a stick.
"Uh… No, no… I just heard that you came back. I-I just wanted to greet you and talk to you a little bit… since it's been a while," Xiao Zhiqiang said.
When he heard his own mouth speak those words, he so badly wanted to bang his head against the wall.
'I gathered all my courage to walk up to her and in the end, that's all I've got to say to her? So much for being a man, Xiao Zhiqiang!' he continued to beat himself up inside.
"Hm… Okay. Well, it was nice to meet you again, but I have to talk to the boss. So, sorry that I can't hang out with you for too long," Tang Yazhu cut off their conversation just like she did for Mrs. Meng, gave him a slight bow, and finally entered the door to the office.
When Tang Yazhu left him alone in the empty corridor, all Xiao Zhiqiang wanted to do was just pull out his hair - thinking that he was an idiot once again for letting her go again.
"I seriously need some love advice!" Xiao Zhiqiang deeply sighed before heading back to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, in the office, Tang Yazhu finally saw the infamous boss of Ren Bao. The boss was a woman in her forties and was none other than Yan Qiao, the youngest chef ever to achieve twenty Michelin Stars in her twenties and titled 'Queen of Chefs.' Now, she held many Michelin Star restaurants around the world and once again claimed more Michelin Stars.
At her age, her vibrant self along with her face of seriousness and aura of greatness was still very visible.
Currently, Yan Qiao was massaging her forehead while looking at the paperwork. Well, this was until she noticed another presence in her office. The moment she saw who it was, her eyes immediately lit up excitedly.
"Xiao Bao, my dear! You're finally back!" Yan Qiao happily called out as she sprung out of her seat to give Tang Yazhu a hug.
Throughout her entire life, Yan Qiao would always remember this young woman that was always beside her during her greatest periods and her lowest periods.
Just looking at her face, Yan Qiao could remember the moments from when she just first met Ren Bao. The first time that they ever met was at the orphanage the foster father of Ren Bao gave her an introduction to the little girl. With time, she was managed to recognize the cooking abilities of the little girl. Ever since then, it was not wrong to say that she was the mentor and "mother" figure of the little girl.
"I'm very sorry for leaving without notice," Tang Yazhu first apologized as she released herself from the embrace of Yan Qiao.
"It's okay, dear. I know that you have a lot of things you've always wanted you. It's just that… Aigh… I really can't bear to let you go," Yan Qiao replied in a sad tone.
Yan Qiao has always wanted Ren Bao to inherit the restaurant - and even be the head chef - but she declined her offer the first moment she even spoke of the topic. For her, Ren Bao was more than just a daughter. Yan Qiao had always been a single woman and without a child, she decided to focus all of her attention and time on the little girl - grooming her to be the best of the best.
"I'm really sorry, Auntie Yan. I also want to stay… But well… I'm getting married," Tang Yazhu honestly stated.
Tang Yazhu did not want to hide the fact that she was getting married, especially towards someone that she trusted.
"What?! You're getting married?! Already?!" Yan Qiao almost could not control her voice at the shock she received from the sudden confession. "Well, you're definitely at a marriageable age. But, does your father know?"
Yan Qiao did not know that the reason Ren Bao would resign was for marriage.
"Yes, Auntie Yan. I'll be getting married soon. And no, I haven't told Father yet," Tang Yazhu said.
Well, truth to be told, she kinda forgot that she now had a family. After all, she never had one in the past.
"Oh, that father of yours will surely be shocked when he finds out that his little girl is now getting married," Yan Qiao gave a slight laugh, already being able to guess what the reaction of the old man would be.
"So this is the reason why you wanted to resign?" Yan Qiao sadly sighed. "Oh, I can't believe that some strange man out there has snatched my little girl away from me."
Tang Yazhu did not know what to say. To be honest, the real reason why she decided to retire was so that she could freely investigate her own origins. However, she could not tell Yan Qiao this, so she could only stay mum.
"It's okay. Even if you're getting married, I won't let you resign! Instead, you can just come here anytime you want," Yan Qiao said.
No matter what, Yan Qiao did not want to let Ren Bao go. She knew that if she did, those little rats would want to take the small chance that they have and poach away her person.
"Auntie, isn't that a little bit weird?" Tang Yazhu asked.
"No, no! Not weird at all! You're my beloved daughter! Nothing's weird when it comes to you!" Yan Qiao automatically responded, thinking there was nothing wrong with her decision at all.
Tang Yazhu could only sigh and comply with her boss.
After that, Tang Yazhu spent some more time chatting with Yan Qiao. Then, she went to the kitchen to cook some dishes for some customers. The customers that were all blessed with her cooking were immediately happy and satisfied as they have missed her cooking and were glad that they were able to taste her dishes again.
As for those that left early or did not come today, they could feel deep regret for not being able to taste the food from a queen.
Before leaving, Tang Yazhu also chatted a bit with her colleagues, especially her best friend - Yin Nuyin. On the other hand, Xiao Zhiqiang could only look from afar and think deeply about how he would confess his feelings for her and when he could get a chance to have a proper chat with her.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
It was already six in the evening when Tang Yazhu finally arrived at the airport. In fact, she had rushed her way over here because Long Ning had called her to tell her that his flight had been changed from seven in the evening to six-thirty in the evening.
Having worked so hard throughout the day, Tang Yazhu was extremely exhausted. However, this immediately changed after she saw Long Ning in the waiting area sitting with Fu Chao and four bodyguards. In that evening, her exhausted face instantly changed into one that could light up the stars.
"Hubby!" Tang Yazhu called out happily and ran into his embrace.
Long Ning was slightly shocked at her sudden clinginess, but he did not do anything to stop her and simply hugged her back for a while. In fact, he loved it when she was being this sweet to him. He wished she would do even more.
"Hubby, don't leave for too long, okay? Also, you can't be with other women. No looking and no contact. Assistant Fu, you have to report to me if he's having contact with other women, alright?!" Tang Yazhu speedily spat out, causing Fu Chao to feel the hairs on his body stand up.
Fu Chao felt like he was being tortured. He was already sitting quietly on his own here, yet he was being picked on by his young lady boss!
'Miss Ren, must you torture me so?! How can I sell out my own boss?! Do you want me to die?!' Fu Chao wanted to cry so badly, but sadly, he had no tears to shed.
"Don't worry. You're the only woman in my eyes," Long Ning assured her while holding her hands, causing Tang Yazhu to blush.
"Hubby, make sure you bring back souvenirs for me," Tang Yazhu reminded him with a smile.
"Alright, what do you want?" Long Ning automatically agreed.
"The honey in Hou is the best. Bring me some honey, okay? Thank you!" Tang Yazhu quickly answered, clinging onto his arms as she waited with him for his departure.
Before leaving, Long Ning kissed Tang Yazhu goodbye and left her alone in the waiting area to wave at him while he walked away. When his back disappeared… She suddenly remembered that there was someone waiting for her at the hotel.