"How dare you!" the guard yelled, taking a step forward, his hand poised to draw his sword out.
Helian Xuan stopped him with a wave of his hand. The guard retreated warily.
He could tell that the reason Li Yao was this bold was because he knew that he wouldn't be able to persuade his little brother to let him go.
Helian Xuan had a smirk on his face as he said, "You better do as I say, or you'll find may people harmed. Maybe this restaurant? Or the hotel you live at? Li Yao, I'm paying you generously to just leave. Don't wait until I stop being magnanimous."
Ye Jiayao gasped. This cruel ass!
"Duke Helian, aren't you here for the birthday celebration? I already said I won't do it, and Young Royal Highness Jing has also given up the thought. I really don't get why you're going to these lengths just for something so small?
Helian Xuan's eyes thinned. "If Little Jing can do this for you today, he can do more tomorrow. I won't allow someone with a bad influence to dig his claws deeper into my brother."
What the actual f*ck? What kind of bullshit was this? How was she being a bad influence on Little Jing?
Ye Jiayao's annoyance got the best of her and she spoke, "Duke Helian, I am not being a bad influence on Young Royal Highness Jing. Yes, I am of low status and I have no right to be friends with him, but I didn't ask for this. Young Royal Highness Jing only wants to help me because I gave him help when he needed it the most. How is that being a bad influence? I'm just a poor kid but I don't steal. I am an honest person. How is that being a bad influence? F*ck! What more do you need? Just because you have money and power doesn't mean that you just get to insult people like that!"
Helian Xuan was speechless. No one except his dad has ever dared to swear in front of him.
"And here I thought good people get good fortune! All I did was help him! If you harm the hotel or the restaurant, I will spread the news of how people in the Helian Mansion use their power to oppress normal citizens," Ye Jiayao threatened. "Oh, and if you want to kill me, you should ask Duke Jing An's son if he'd allow it."
Content that she had said her piece, Ye Jiayao walked out of the room, slamming the door.
The guard said in fury, "Duke, I will go kill that kid now."
Helian Xuan stopped him.
Li Yao was on a roll and he wasn't able to react. So the person who saved Little Jing was Li Yao? But what has this got to do with Xia Chunyu? Was he protecting him?
Where did this arrogant kid come from?
F*ck! This was the first time he was sworn at and had the door slammed in front of him. He would clear the things Li Yao said, then, he would make the little chef pay for disrespecting him.
"Let's go to Duke Jing An's mansion." Helian Xuan stormed off.
Ye Jiayao was so overcome with anger earlier that she didn't think before she blew up in front of Duke Helian. Now that all she has said came back to her, she started to feel scared. If he really wanted to kill her, it could be done within a matter of minutes. However, she mentioned Xia Chunyu. Duke Helian must have some concerns, right? Even Little Jing addressed that Dumb Donkey respectfully. Surely, these two families were quite close?
Manager Li walked over to the kitchen and asked worriedly, "Li Yao, what happened? Why did Duke Helian storm off?"
Ye Jiayao answered, "Nothing. He and his brother had a fight so he wasn't in a good mood. I can't really help."
Manager Li was confused, but nevertheless, he believed Li Yao.
Xia Chunyu heard that Helian Xuan was outside the mansion and quickly told Song Qi to invite him in.
"Why are you here?" Xia Chunyu asked before ordering the servants to fetch some tea.
After the two sat down, Helian Xuan questioned, "Do you know someone called Li Yao?"
"Yeah, I know him," Xia Chunyu replied, hiding his surprise.
"If I kill that kid, would you mind?"
Xia Chunyu blinked. "What did he do?"
Helian Xuan hesitated. Could he really say that Little Jing might be interested in a man? Could he say that some punk swore at him? Oh, and slammed the door in his face?
This is humiliating.
On the way to Xia Chunyu's place, Helian Xuan thought about all that has transpired. Yes, it was possible that he was overreacting just a bit. He could be taking things too seriously. Perhaps all Little Jing wanted was to repay Li Yao out of gratitude. If that really was the case, Helian Xuan could admit that his actions tonight were out of line.
"Did you know that he was Little Jing's savior?"
Xia CHunyu nodded. "Yes, Little Jing told me about this a long time ago."
Helian Xuan sighed, "Little Jing always comes to you. He never talks to his brother."
"That's because you're too serious."
Helian Xuan rolled his eyes. "As if you're not the same."
Xia Chunyu smiled. "Just drink some tea."
"The older brother adopts the role of the father. Little Jing is naughty. If I don't control him, who knows what sort of trouble he'd get into."
"Little Jing isn't actually as bad as you think. Helian Xuan... your hopes are too high. You're judging him based on your standards," Xia Chunyu told him honestly.
"What is your relationship with Li Yao?"
"I owe him big time," Xia Chunyu answered seriously.
Helian Xuan nodded. It was no wonder that the kid wasn't afraid of him.
"What did he do?" Xia Chunyu was curious. He doesn't understand how Yaoyao could've offended Helian Xuan.
"Nothing. Ignore what I said." Helian Xuan waved his hand dismissively.
The two chatted for a bit before Helian Xuan bid him goodbye and left.
After he was sure that Helian Xuan left the mansion, Xia Chunyu called for Song Qi.
"Send people to follow Ms. Ye. If something happens, report back to me quickly. If someone is going to harm her, stop them. She must not be harmed."
Helian Xuan wouldn't just make the threat of killing her for no reason. Something must've happened.
For three days, everything was calm. Little Jing didn't come to the restaurant so Ye Jiayao was happy in her peace.
Manager Li finally accepted her offer but made the compensation for violation of the contract much harsher.
Ye Jiayao believed that she wouldn't leave mid-contract anyways, so she signed it.
Manager Li notified every one of the news. Deng Haichuan and the other workers hugged Ye Jiayao happily, congratulating her. They started ribbing her to treat them to food and drinks.
Ye Jiayao smiled and asked the manager, "Manager, after dinner, how about you give me a room? Discounts for food and wine, too?"
Manager Li was actually generous this time. "Wine is 30% off and the food is base cost, you're cooking it anyways."
After everyone finished cooking the foods, Xing Xiao ran in and set up two tables. Everyone took their places including Zhong Xiang who was pulled in here by Deng Haichuan.
"Brother Yao, congratulations on becoming the head chef! We will be listening to you from now on." Deng Haichuan raised his wine cup and everyone stood up.
Ye Jiayao smiled. "You only have to listen to me when we're working. If anyone tries to slack... well, my spoon isn't just used for cooking. Now, come on brothers! Let's drink and eat to our heart's content. Who doesn't drink is a little dog!
"Drink, drink! Whoever doesn't drink has to crawl on the ground," Cui Dongpeng cajoled.
Everyone finished the wine in the bowl.
Zhong Xiang also drank, but he was unsatisfied. He couldn't beat Li Yao, whether it was about cooking or socializing.
Ye Jiayao found that this sort of life was much better than hiding in some house, being some rich man's wife. Here, she didn't have to care about her image. She could say whatever she wanted without studying people's expressions to gauge if she'd offended them.
She pulled her sleeves up and started to play drinking games.
"I've already thought this over. My contract is for three years, and in that time, I will personally teach you all to at least graduate to assistant chef. You all need to work hard for me, okay? We'll be the best kitchen team in Jin Ling," Ye Jiayao announced.
Everyone fell silent as they stared at Ye Jiayao.
"What are you all doing?" Ye Jiayao was weirded out by their reaction.
Deng Haichuan stood up and said seriously, "Brother Yao, no head chef has treated us lowly kitchen helpers as brothers. Only you, Brother Yao. So today, I promise that anytime you need me, I'll be there."
Zhong Xiang also stood up, holding the bowl of wine in his hand. "Li Yao, just from what you have said, I, Zhong Xiang, approve of you," he said before drinking the wine.
No big chef would say this sort of words. Even if they were willing to take you as a disciple, they wouldn't teach you their best skills. No head chef would allow anyone to be better than him. What Li Yao had just said was a testament to his gracious and kind heart.
Everyone stood up with misty eyes.