Chapter 85:

After Qin Chaoyu gave the medicinal cuisine recipes to Wang Qijing and the others, she temporarily stopped contacting them.

Upon returning to school, Professor Wei informed her of some news, leaving her with little mental space to think about anything else.

Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing acted swiftly. The day after Qin Chaoyu spoke with them, they went to Benyuan Zhai.

At first, the shop manager was puzzled by their unusual request, but upon hearing Qin Chaoyu’s name, he immediately agreed and even offered to deliver the meals to their doorstep.

Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing found this arrangement convenient and accepted, though they weren’t the type to take advantage. They insisted on paying extra for the service.

They stayed in Yuzhou for about half a month. During that time, Wang Qijing’s complexion visibly improved, becoming rosier, and her overall energy and spirit were noticeably different from before.

Later, while dining at Benyuan Zhai, they tried the signature medicinal cuisine and were instantly captivated by its delicious and nourishing flavors. The aromatic herbal teas and medicinal wines, some of which tasted more like fruit juice than alcohol, also won them over.

Neither of them were heavy drinkers, but the low-alcohol medicinal wines, especially those with barely any alcohol taste, became a favorite. If not for the shop’s recommendation to avoid overconsumption—limiting them to once a day—they would have happily eaten all three meals at Benyuan Zhai.

One day, after shopping, they decided to have lunch at Benyuan Zhai since it had been two days since their last visit.

The staff at Benyuan Zhai were already familiar with them, primarily because they were the only customers who received special delivery service—a privilege unheard of since the restaurant’s opening. Normally, Benyuan Zhai refused delivery requests to maintain its exclusive reputation and because most dishes were made fresh daily in limited quantities, barely enough for in-house dining, let alone deliveries.

Preparing medicinal cuisine was also time-consuming, often taking over ten hours per batch. By the time the next batch was ready, it was usually evening, and any leftovers would go to waste. Hence, Benyuan Zhai never offered delivery—until now.

Of course, the staff didn’t know the meals were made from Qin Chaoyu’s recipes or that her influence was behind the exception. Still, they assumed Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing must be VIPs.

After being seated in their usual private room and placing their orders, Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing waited for their food.

Meanwhile, Lu Weijin had been riding high lately, feeling so pleased with life that even the sight of his half-brother, Lu Yaoqing, didn’t disgust him as much as before.

After some time socializing with his new circle, he decided to flaunt his status by inviting Fei Dinggui and a group of friends to Benyuan Zhai.

“Brother Fei, you should’ve tried Benyuan Zhai sooner,” Lu Weijin boasted. “Our medicinal cuisine is truly unmatched!”

After his grand introduction, he loudly demanded a waiter take them to a special private room.

Fei Dinggui had heard of Benyuan Zhai’s fame in Yuzhou but avoided it due to his dislike for medicinal flavors. Knowing Lu Weijin’s family owned the place didn’t impress him much, but he agreed to the invitation out of courtesy—and curiosity about whether the restaurant lived up to its reputation.

The staff were well aware of the strained relationship between Lu Weijin and Lu Yaoqing, having witnessed several heated arguments (mostly one-sided, with Lu Weijin shouting while Lu Yaoqing remained unfazed). Still, as mere employees, they couldn’t openly disrespect Lu Weijin.

A male waiter stepped forward to escort them to a second-floor room, but Lu Weijin insisted, “Take us to the special private room—Shuiyun Nongmei. I want to admire the plum blossoms while dining.”

The waiter hesitated. “Um…”

Special rooms required approval from the manager or Lu Yaoqing himself, along with a key. The waiter had no authority to grant access.

“What? As the second young master of the Lu family, am I not even allowed to use my own restaurant’s private rooms?” Lu Weijin’s face darkened at the perceived slight.

The waiter quickly explained, “No, no! It’s not that, Young Master Lu. It’s just that special rooms require the manager’s or Mr. Lu’s permission and a key. I’m just a waiter—I don’t have the authority…”

This was the first Lu Weijin had heard about keys for private rooms. Noticing the mocking glances from his friends, he snapped, “Then go get the manager and bring me the key!”

“Right away!” The waiter scurried off to fetch the manager, who arrived promptly to smooth things over.

Spotting Lu Weijin at the center of the commotion, the manager approached with a smile. “Ah, Young Master Lu, my apologies. The rules for special rooms were set long ago and can’t be bypassed. Next time, just give us advance notice, and we’ll prepare everything for you to avoid such misunderstandings.”

His diplomatic words eased Lu Weijin’s temper slightly, though the latter still grumbled, “At least someone here knows how to speak. No wonder you’re Lu Yaoqing’s favorite lackey.”

The manager ignored the jab, simply producing the key. “As an apology, allow me to personally escort you.”

Lu Weijin lifted his chin. “Lead the way.”

As they ascended, Bai Pengpeng and Han Shuying entered the restaurant and witnessed the scene: a haughty man (Lu Weijin) being ushered upstairs by the manager, trailed by an entourage.

Han Shuying whispered to Bai Pengpeng, “Look at that guy’s posture. Isn’t he worried he’ll trip and roll down the stairs?”

Bai Pengpeng rolled her eyes. “Why do you always focus on nonsense? Put half this energy into managing Yu Meiren, and you wouldn’t still be struggling with basic tasks.”

Han Shuying stuck out her tongue. “Not my fault! Management is hard, and my brain’s already fried from four years of college partying. Not everyone’s as talented as you, Pengpeng.”

The flattery, though transparent, softened Bai Pengpeng’s irritation. She decided to spare Han Shuying further lectures—until tomorrow.

Unaware of her reprieve’s brevity, Han Shuying cheerfully followed a waiter to their table.

As they passed a private room, the door opened, revealing Han Lanyi and Wang Qijing, who had just finished their meal and were heading back to their hotel for a rest before dinner.

Han Shuying gasped. “Auntie!”

Recognizing the voice, Han Lanyi looked up in delight. “Shuying! I had no idea you were in Yuzhou!”

Han Shuying rushed over, clinging to her aunt’s arm. “Why are you here? You never told me!”

Han Lanyi had always been Han Shuying’s idol and confidante. Despite their age gap, they got along like sisters, with Han Shuying sharing all her teenage woes with her aunt.

Han Lanyi patted her head affectionately. “You’re a grown woman now—still acting spoiled?”

“I’ll always be spoiled around you!” Han Shuying declared, making Han Lanyi laugh.

Noticing Wang Qijing, Han Lanyi introduced her. “This is your Auntie Wang. We came to Yuzhou together.”

Han Shuying turned to Wang Qijing, stunned. The woman before her—weathered and aged—bore little resemblance to the youthful, gentle Auntie Wang from her memories.

Time had transformed the once-lovely woman into someone unrecognizable.

“A-Auntie Wang?” Han Shuying stammered.

Wang Qijing tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling shyly. “I’m sorry I didn’t bring a gift this time. Next visit, I’ll make it up to you.”

Her voice, still sweet and soft despite the years, confirmed her identity.

Han Shuying waved her off. “Don’t be silly! We’re family—gifts don’t matter!”

Wang Qijing nodded. “You’re right. Family shouldn’t stand on ceremony.”

After greetings, Han Shuying pulled Bai Pengpeng forward. “This is my business partner and best friend, Bai Pengpeng. She’s been taking care of me in Yuzhou.”

Bai Pengpeng, on her best behavior around elders, politely said, “Auntie Han, Auntie Wang, it’s a pleasure. Why don’t we continue this in our private room? The hallway isn’t ideal for chatting.”

“Great idea!” Han Shuying tugged her aunt along, with Wang Qijing following.

Once seated, Han Shuying repeated her earlier question. “So, Auntie, why are you in Yuzhou?”