Chapter 65: Smoke Bombs and Luring the Tiger Away from the Mountain

Northern Studio.

Yun Xuan gazed at the place tentatively named the Northern Studio. Chang Yue had chosen a location close to the Academy of Fine Arts, a two-bedroom apartment with a living room.

“It cost 200,000 in total, so it's quite a good place,” Chang Yue stood beside Yun Xuan.

“Relax, I don’t think you spent too much. I’m just here to take a look, and to assign you a task,” Yun Xuan opened the suitcase in his hand and took out a super notebook.

“Alright.” Chang Yue readied the notebook to jot things down.

“It seems you still need a lot of things. I won’t talk about tasks today. Let’s go buy everything the studio needs together. The remaining 300,000, keep track of the expenses yourself. Deduct your salary from it, meals as well. Even if you order takeout every day, it comes out of that amount,” Yun Xuan glanced at the notebook in Chang Yue’s hands, wondering how work would even begin.

“Sorry, I forgot to buy a computer,” Chang Yue lowered her head, somewhat uneasy.

“You have the money, so make good use of it,” Yun Xuan scratched his head.

...

All afternoon, Yun Xuan purchased every painting tool and piece of furniture, decorating the place thoroughly. It was only by six o’clock that they barely finished tidying up.

Yun Xuan politely declined Chang Yue’s offer to cook and left the Northern Studio.

He hailed a taxi and arrived at Xuan Xue Restaurant, where preparations had already begun.

Since it was a private banquet, the staff had left early, leaving only Ye Shan, Yuan Ting, and the others, along with Lin Qingyu, Yun Xun’er, Yun Xue, Qin Yue, and Nangong Xiaomeng tidying up the restaurant.

Liu Mengyan and Liu Mengxuan had arrived a bit earlier and sat off to the side.

“You...” Yun Xuan looked at Qin Zhihua sitting beside the Liu sisters, unsure what to say.

“Am I not welcome?” Qin Zhihua bit her lip.

“No, you’re very welcome, Senior Qin Zhihua,” Yun Xuan replied awkwardly.

“Aoxue is in the kitchen preparing dishes and desserts,” Qin Zhihua whispered.

“Oh, I’ll go and have a look,” Yun Xuan hesitated, then decided to walk away.

The gap between him and Qin Zhihua was too great. His words last time had indeed been hurtful, but it seemed Qin Zhihua wasn't ready to give up.

Pushing open the kitchen door, Yun Xuan saw Dongfang Aoxue in a white chef’s uniform, expertly wielding a kitchen knife, with soup simmering nearby.

“Master, you’re back,” Dongfang Aoxue quickly put down the knife and bowed upon seeing Yun Xuan.

“No need to be so formal. I’ll handle the desserts—good chance to practice. You carry on,” Yun Xuan waved his hand.

“Yes, Master.” Dongfang Aoxue returned to her station, more composed than ever.

Yun Xuan was not particularly skilled at desserts, but only compared to the golden river crab balls—he was simply less adept.

...

Night, eight o’clock.

“Cheers!” Everyone raised their beers or juice and clinked glasses.

Alice, Ye Shan, Yuan Ting, Sakagami Ginzi.

Yun Xun’er, Yun Xuan, Yun Xue, Lin Qingyu.

Liu Mengyan, Liu Mengxuan, Qin Zhihua, Dongfang Aoxue.

Wen Xiaoya, Nangong Xiaomeng, Qin Yue, and Wen Xuan’er.

Fifteen people, lively and cheerful.

“Yun Xuan, congratulations on receiving the title of ‘Spirit of Cuisine,’ and for winning the Xingyue Cup. You truly are a genius,” Liu Mengxuan raised her juice and clinked glasses with Yun Xuan.

“There are no geniuses, only hard work,” Yun Xuan shook his head.

“A hardworking genius,” Liu Mengxuan replied playfully.

“Yun Xuan, I never thought you were hiding such talent. Come on, have a drink with your sister,” Wen Xiaoya, with no ladylike restraint, slung her arm around Yun Xuan’s shoulder, standing between him and Liu Mengxuan.

Qin Yue’s expression chilled at the sight, but she quickly regained her composure.

“Sister Xiaoya, are you planning to get drunk before you’ve even started?” Yun Xuan couldn’t help but tease.

Why call her Sister Xiaoya? There was no choice—Wen Xiaoya and Yun Xun’er were colleagues.

“I never get drunk, and even if I do, my adorable cousin will take me home,” Wen Xiaoya glanced at Wen Xuan’er, who sat in the corner eating desserts.

Wen Xiaoya was Wen Xuan’er’s cousin—what a coincidence.

“Alright, alright, I’ll drink if you insist.” Yun Xuan took Wen Xiaoya’s glass and downed it.

“Excellent, that’s the spirit of a true man!” Wen Xiaoya patted Yun Xuan’s shoulder, laughing heartily.

Yun Xuan held his forehead—this young lady seemed destined to remain single.

Everyone toasted Yun Xuan with juice, each one individually, and Yun Xuan accepted all, drinking his fill.

Tasting Dongfang Aoxue’s dishes, Yun Xuan had to admit she possessed the skills of a top chef.

Dongfang Aoxue tried Yun Xuan’s desserts, amazed at how he had improved the flavor, and admired him even more.

Ye Shan, Yuan Ting, and Sakagami Ginzi, all professional chefs, sampled both Dongfang Aoxue and Yun Xuan’s cuisine, marveling and learning much.

...

The banquet progressed joyfully to the final part—it was already ten o’clock.

Yun Xun’er, Yun Xuan, and Yun Xue wheeled out the cake, a special fruit cake crafted by Yun Xuan.

“I’d better cut it,” Yun Xuan said, amused by Yun Xun’er’s reluctance to ruin the exquisite cake.

Yun Xuan took the knife, surveying the delicately adorned fruit cake.

Before he could make the first cut, the door was flung open and something landed on the floor.

A loud bang echoed, and smoke billowed.

“A smoke bomb!” Yun Xuan looked outside, catching a glimpse of a shadow departing down the street.

“Don’t move around, open the windows, the smoke will dissipate soon,” Yun Xuan shouted, bolting out the door.

Even amid the smoke, he could see clearly.

He pursued the shadow, intuition warning that trouble was far from over.

“Who is it this time?” Yun Xuan frowned, speeding after the figure.

The two were less than fifty meters apart. The shadow, unfamiliar with the area, blundered into a dead end.

“Who are you?” Yun Xuan stepped forward, voice cold.

“You’ve been tricked,” the figure in black spoke—in Japanese.

“Tricked... damn!” Yun Xuan’s pupils contracted; he saw the shadow toss another smoke bomb and nimbly vault over the wall.

“That skill... not an ordinary person,” Yun Xuan shivered, his sense of foreboding growing.

Returning to Xuan Xue Restaurant, he surveyed the remaining guests and his anger boiled over.

The restaurant door was open, the smoke dissipated, and everyone lay sprawled on the floor—Yun Xue, Nangong Xiaomeng, Liu Mengxuan, and Wen Xuan’er were missing!

Yun Xuan took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, knelt down, and placed his finger under Liu Mengyan’s nose, finally relaxing.

“Liu Mengyan? Liu Mengyan?” Yun Xuan shook her gently.

“Yun Xuan?” Liu Mengyan slowly opened her eyes, then her expression changed; she hurriedly checked her clothes and only breathed a sigh of relief once she saw they were intact.

“Do you remember what happened?” Yun Xuan asked seriously.

“I felt a bit dizzy, then fell asleep, and only woke up when you called me,” Liu Mengyan recalled.

“Who was closest to the door just now?” Yun Xuan pressed on.

“Closest to the door...” Liu Mengyan looked around, struggling to speak.

(PS: Why does this feel like a detective story... cough, cough, but it’s definitely not. Please vote for recommendations.)