Cooking Gourmet Meals in the Apocalypse

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Face-slapping

Mr. Hu was usually an agreeable man, but Hu Dawei knew that when he got stubborn, no one could stop him. When he really got bull-headed, even his mom had to give in to him.

Besides, his dad was extremely concerned with saving face.

Chen Xing’s recent actions had clearly made Mr. Hu lose face.

No amount of pleading would work now.

Hu Dawei immediately stepped forward and pulled Hao Wenli back, not wanting her to say another word.

’This reckless girl chose this path herself. Wouldn’t it have been better to just beg for mercy? No one’s heart is made of stone.’

Hao Wenli, of course, shut her mouth.

She had said all she needed to. Now, it was up to fate whether Chen Xing, who was about to be kicked out of the building, would survive.

There was no need for her to put herself in danger for her sake.

The mission was important, but her own life was more important.

Mr. Hu’s face was livid. He stubbornly pointed at the door and bellowed again, ”Get out of here this instant...”

Chen Xing had to hand it to herself for her ability to handle being yelled at. She couldn’t feel an ounce of intimidation from him; in fact, she found it rather funny.

Still, when she thought about the look of defeat on Mr. Hu’s face after she turned the tables, she managed to hold back her laughter.

After shooting everyone a cold glance, she reached out and pressed her thumb onto the recognition button of the private elevator.

The elevator, which should have sounded an alarm, suddenly activated and began descending from the top floor.

At Song Yiguo’s suggestion, she had already registered her fingerprint.

Everyone was dumbfounded, but more than that, they were in utter disbelief.

Especially Mr. Hu.

He knew this building well. No one besides Boss Song could activate this elevator.

Of all the people living in this building, how many of them were envious, wishing they could ride this elevator just once?

Amidst everyone’s astonished expressions, the elevator stopped, the doors opened, and Chen Xing calmly stepped inside. She pressed the button for the top floor, the doors closed, and the elevator ascended all the way to the penthouse.

”Old Hu... was that young girl telling the truth? I remember you telling me this elevator is for Boss Song’s private use only.” After a long moment, Mrs. Hu, slow on the uptake, already had an envious look on her face.

In all the years they had lived here, how she had longed to see the top floor, if only for a single glance.

To think this unremarkable little girl was actually friends with Boss Song... Her gossipy side flared up. As if she had thought of something incredible, her eyes widened and she grabbed Old Hu’s arm. ”Oh my god, no way. It can’t be, it can’t be...”

After repeating ”it can’t be” several times, she asked with a hint of certainty, ”That girl couldn’t be Boss Song’s actual girlfriend, could she? I heard he’s over thirty and has always refused his family’s arranged marriages. Could it be he’s already secretly promised himself to that woman upstairs? That must be it... Yes. Otherwise, how could she come and go from Boss Song’s residence as she pleases?”

Old Hu: ”...” After hearing what his wife said, his expression of defeat deepened.

’If what my wife is saying is true, then my position as director is done for. Did I just single-handedly ruin my own future?’

’Damn it!’

”Impossible!” Hearing this, Hao Wenli immediately issued a firm denial.

Others might not know, but she did.

’She’s just a lab rat who escaped from the Research Institute. It’s only been a day, how could she possibly be the girlfriend of the famous Boss Song?’

’In my opinion, they probably don’t even know each other.’

”You don’t even know them, how can you say it’s impossible?” Du Yina’s expression had completely changed. ’I didn’t say anything too harsh just now, did I?’

’If I had known that girl had landed such a powerful sugar daddy, I would’ve held my tongue. Now I’m kicking myself.’

”Old Hu, oh, Old Hu, our son and I tried to talk you down, but you just wouldn’t listen! You insisted on kicking her out, and look what happened! What are you going to do now? You useless thing! What perfect timing for your bull-headedness to flare up...” Furious, Mrs. Hu went up and slapped Mr. Hu a few times.

It was such a great opportunity to curry favor with Boss Song.

But no, his stubborn temper flared up, and he just had to take issue with her. Now, forget about sucking up to him; it was questionable whether they could even continue living in this building.

The thought made her even angrier, and she delivered several more slaps.

Old Hu was filled with regret too, but what was done was done. ’Maybe... she just happened to be able to open the elevator?’

He desperately hoped he was right.

Just then, his phone rang.

In that instant, his mind went blank, and he felt his blood run cold.

The caller ID showed Boss Song’s assistant. After picking up, aside from his first sentence, he just kept repeating a single word: ”Yes, I’m still in the building... Okay, okay, okay... Okay.” When he was done, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and hung up, all while everyone watched with curious and anxious expressions.

He felt like banging his head against the wall. He immediately slapped himself twice across the face.

How hard were those two slaps? A red, five-fingered handprint immediately appeared on his cheek.

”No wonder she was so bold. She really is one of Boss Song’s people,” he muttered, then explained, ”Boss Song’s assistant said that Boss Song gave specific instructions that I must take good care of Miss Chen Xing. I am to cooperate with whatever she wants or needs.”

Hao Wenli: ”...”

’Chen Xing?’

’Why is her name Chen Xing?’

’It’s only been a day since she escaped from the Research Institute, how could she be so close to Boss Song?’

’Did I get the wrong person?’

Her mind was in chaos. She stared blankly up at the numbers on the elevator display.

’No matter what, I have to find a way to get close to this Chen Xing.’

’If she is my target, I must get close to her. If she’s not, I still have to get close to her. Becoming friends with Song Yiguo’s beloved woman would make my future path much smoother.’

”Uncle Hu, we can’t take this elevator up?” Hao Wenli was also full of regret now. She should have been more firm and stood by Chen Xing’s side.

If she had, she would definitely be upstairs with Chen Xing right now.

Mr. Hu was completely deflated. He shook his head with a pathetic look on his face. ”Not unless Miss Chen Xing invites us. There’s no other way!”

Now when he said ”Miss Chen Xing,” his voice was filled with reverence.

Mrs. Hu had always been a snob. Knowing her useless husband had thoroughly offended the big boss’s woman, she clenched her teeth, marched over, and started pummeling him. ”You good-for-nothing! You could have picked on anyone! Did you have to pick the big boss’s woman? I must have been blind to marry a useless thing like you! I thought that with you as the director, we could get close to Boss Song and find a chance to climb the social ladder. Who knew you’d ruin such a perfect opportunity with your own hands? My life is so bitter...”

Hu Dawei didn’t step in to help his father this time.

His goddess had clearly tried to mediate; he should have listened to her. Now look. He’d offended his goddess, and he’d offended Boss Song’s woman.

From the security monitors upstairs, Chen Xing could see the group of people below. Although she couldn’t hear what they were saying, she could guess the gist of it.

Seeing the looks of utter regret on their faces, she figured the phone call must have been from Song Yiguo.

But, she didn’t know why Song Yiguo would go out of his way to make that call. Her relationship with him was limited to a single transaction.

Putting Song Yiguo out of her mind, Chen Xing watched Hao Wenli’s regretful yet resentful expression and felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

’Perhaps killing her isn’t the best method of revenge...’

As Chen Xing’s chin lifted, the corners of her mouth curved into a faint, knowing smile. ’We’ll play this out slowly...’