The prince, Snow White, was a Mastiff, with a thick coat of fur, which made it difficult for them to cool off in the heat.
They didn't want anyone disturbing their beautiful fur, so they stayed in the shade, avoiding the hot weather.
Maria controlled the camera, continuously telling him about the events that had transpired during this period.
The car soon arrived at the small town, passed through it, and continued along the straight road towards the manor.
The road was wide, bordered with maple trees, and beside the trees were clean benches where people could rest.
The surroundings were quiet, clean, and free of noise. The crisp sound of birds chirping could be heard from the green leaves, and a gentle breeze stirred, making the air naturally fresh and cool.
Zhao Lun opened the window, took a breath, and was quite satisfied.
"Not bad! Even more beautiful than last year."
At this moment, the scenery was more captivating than during Christmas.
Simple, bright, and transparent, with a lively atmosphere, it felt much more comfortable than the chaotic places they had encountered on the way.
Hidden cameras were mounted on the maple trees, providing an all-seeing surveillance of the area; no enemy could escape their watch here.
They approached a modern manor, and before they even drew near, a floral fragrance wafted toward them. Before they could get closer, they saw bright, vibrant flowers, as if they had gathered all the surrounding light, making the manor appear exceptionally bright and fragrant.
"How beautiful."
Zhao Lun gazed at the flowers in awe; they were indeed stunning, radiating vitality.
Earlier, Maria hadn't mentioned this to him.
Could it be a surprise?
Though these flowers were not as magnificent as those in the Divine Realm, they possessed their own charm.
The world was vast, and gardens adorned it, just as the world added charm to the garden. The beauty of the world made the flowers here seem no less beautiful than those in the Divine Realm.
The gate was already open, and a few people were waiting to greet them. Beside them stood Ivy and Gray Shadow.
At that moment, the two Labradors had grown a bit taller. Seeing Zhao Lun return, they showed no sign of unfamiliarity, bounding over and greeting him with enthusiastic licks.
Zhao Lun quickly responded, grabbing the two eager dogs and pushing them aside.
After half a year, the calm dogs had become even more playful.
"Stop being naughty!"
Zhao Lun warned them, but the two dogs still wagged their tails, their faces beaming with affection, making it hard for him to shoo them away.
"Brother."
Maria followed, grabbing Zhao Lun's hand and leading him toward the garden.
In the garden, the fragrance of flowers filled the air. As they stepped out of the car, the scent of the flowers immediately greeted them.
The fragrance was light yet impossible to ignore.
Bees fluttered about in swarms, busily gathering nectar, showing no signs of aggression.
They seemed to operate like an organized army, their movements methodical and efficient.
On the surrounding walls, there were many beehives, and the bees were coming and going from these hives.
Maria tugged at him, pointing out the hives.
"Brother, these are the bees I raised."
"The honey is so sweet, it can fetch a lot of money."
"Maria can also help you, brother."
When talking about earning money to help him, her small face beamed with pride, and her smile grew even sweeter.
"Alright."
Zhao Lun looked at her slender figure, his eyes suddenly feeling warm. He could say nothing more than a simple "alright."
He was afraid that saying too much would bring tears to his eyes.
Maria took out a jar of honey from her pocket and offered it to him.
The honey was so sweet, it warmed his heart.
Zhao Lun held Maria's hand and walked toward the old courtyard.
This place held many of their memories and happiness. He had the deepest feelings for it. Every time he saw it, he felt differently.
Maria had grown taller, and the courtyard now bore traces of their activities, reminding him that much time had passed.
A rumbling sound came from Maria's stomach.
It was already afternoon, and they hadn't had lunch yet.
"Alright, Maria, it's time for lunch. Let's go eat."
Zhao Lun said.
The hunger was overwhelming, and he felt he could eat several times what he usually would, making him put aside his emotions.
"Nico, Monica, how are you?"
Zhao Lun, feeling moved, embraced them briefly and led them to the dining table.
The two had been waiting for their return and had not yet eaten.
"Huh? What's with these dishes?"
On the dining table, almost all the dishes were vegetables, presented with an artistry that made them look like masterpieces.
The knife skills were extraordinary, each dish measured with precision, giving the food an aura of grace.
It was the hot season, and the dishes served corresponded to the season, making his appetite instantly surge.
The vegetables were cool and refreshing, while the meats were placed to fill the stomach first, followed by some hot dishes.
This meal was simple but not ordinary—restrained and low-key without being extravagant. When eaten, the natural flavors could be tasted, showing the care that had gone into the cooking.
The "original taste" referred to the natural flavor of the ingredients, the essence of nature that had been preserved.
Many chefs either couldn't bring out this taste or ruined it by mixing it with other flavors, losing the original natural taste of the ingredients.
A skilled chef could always make the most delicious dishes with the simplest methods.
Each dish was served one after another, each one pushing the enjoyment of flavors to the peak, giving him a feast for the senses.
After the meal, Zhao Lun and the others lay contentedly on the sofa, still savoring the flavors in their minds.
"This chef is incredible."
"When did such a skilled chef arrive in our home?"
Zhao Lun marveled as he looked at the empty plates.
This chef could take ordinary ingredients and elevate them to extraordinary flavors, his skills were on a level that could only be described as masterful.
A master is not easy to find.
"This is the renowned master chef from Hong Kong, known as the 'Chef God.' Of course, he's impressive."
Angela said, looking quite proud.
"Since he's a master chef, why would he come here to cook for us? Don't tell me it's easy to hire him."
"Could it be the charm of Sister Zhi?"
Zhao Lun joked.
In every field, those who reach the top hold a level that ordinary people can hardly attain, and this height commands respect.
Such top-tier professionals are not easily hired.
Master chefs stand at the peak, and for Zhao Lun and the others here, whose fame is not great, it would be nearly impossible to invite a master chef from Hong Kong to cook.
"Ha!"
"Of course, a master chef is hard to hire, but we have something the master chef wants."
Angela said, her pride evident.
Those who stand at the top often have their own pride.
In the world outside China, where the gold standard still prevailed, the concept of "power" was being gradually diminished.
No one could make a top-tier master chef willingly cook for one person or "one family" every day, not even a country's president could force them to do something they didn't want.
At this time, Hong Kong had not yet been returned, and in the gold-standard world, even a chef of such a high level, no matter how poorly they were doing, would not willingly cook for someone unless there were exceptional circumstances.
"He wants something? What could a master chef care about, apart from his cooking?"
"Does he know we have top-quality ingredients? Or is it something else?"
Zhao Lun asked.
"The ingredients, of course. You provided many, and we can't consume them all, so we started selling them at high prices to make a name for ourselves. There's also the honey... It's been a recent venture..."
Monica said with pride. She had worked hard, following Zhao Lun's plans and executing them according to the current situation, which had brought them great success.
"By the way, tell me about this master chef. I still don't know who he is."
"And what's this 'Chef God' title about?"
Zhao Lun said. When he thought of the term "Chef God," he imagined it being from some movie.
Could it be that the chef in their house was truly a "Chef God"? That seemed too exaggerated!
Zhao Lun found it hard to believe such a thing. Hong Kong was so small; how could there be a "Chef God"?
Not being involved in the culinary world, Zhao Lun had never considered these matters before.
"This one is best explained by Angela. She knows the most about him," Monica said, giving Angela a playful wink.
"Huh? Sister Zhi? You know the 'Chef God'? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Zhao Lun teased, then took a sip of the tea that had been brought to him, savoring it as he listened.
"Hey? This tea is great. One sip, and it's so refreshing. It's hot, but after drinking it, it cools you down. What's more, there's no sugar, yet it's so sweet... This tea is something special."
"This must be the work of the Chef God."
Zhao Lun closed his eyes and marveled at the faint energy he felt from the tea, a kind of energy that seemed to nourish and calm the spirit.
"Yes, it's hers."
"Her temperament is odd. She used to never give anyone face, staying at home researching culinary skills. She hadn't been outside for ages, then came out to find her house was gone, and she was kicked out."
"Afterward, someone took advantage of her situation and challenged her. She was defeated... Now, she's come to us, hoping to stay here temporarily until she can reclaim what she once had."
Angela explained the story of the "Chef God," and hearing how she had fallen from grace made even her voice laced with a sense of pity.
A renowned Chef God, having fallen from the top, now had to hide here to avoid danger.
It seemed that no industry was truly easy to succeed in.
"Such a thing happened?"
Zhao Lun was also moved.
He had heard stories of billionaires losing everything overnight, but hearing such a story from those around him felt even more poignant than seeing it on the news.
"The Chef God" had fallen right before his eyes, and it gave him a deeper sense of reality.
"Yes, this event was a huge blow. At such a young age, her hair had turned white."
"Well, after going through hardships, her temper has improved a lot, and her culinary skills have also reached new heights."
Angela said with a smile.
"How can we help her?" Zhao
Lun asked, feeling deeply for her struggles.