Adorable Food Goddess - Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Ye Jiayao made the mushroom soup and beggars’ chicken that little Jing wanted . She also prepared seasonal vegetables, tree fungus salad, pork tripe chicken, and cabbage with shredded wings, serving them personally to him .

Shopkeeper Li waited for her at the mouth of the staircase .

“Li Yao, ah, go have a couple of drinks with the prince . You don’t have to help out in the kitchen for the time being . ”

Ye Jiayao’s jaw fell open . Am I an escort now?

Shopkeeper Li didn’t think there was anything inappropriate about his order . It was a great honor to join Young Prince Jing during his meal .

“You don’t have to worry, the Heir-son Lord from last night is not around . ”

That Heir-son Lord was an infamous homosexual, if Li Yao was invited to dine with him, Shopkeeper Li didn’t think that his young chef would survive it intact .

Why should I be relieved that the Heir-son Lord is not around?

“Quick, get moving . Don’t let the prince wait for too long . ” Shopkeeper Li laughed as he hurried Ye Jiayao along .

Well, it was not like she has anything to be worried about . It was just little Jinjing .

Ye Jiayao walked into the lotus room with high fighting spirit .

Helian Jing sat alone at the table, tapping his fingers . Zhao Qixuan’s words replayed in his mind, confusing him even more . Could it really be possible that he was becoming gay? He was feeling worried and anxious for a man . He feels disappointed when he couldn’t see him, elated when he was with him . Was that love?

Unfortunately, Helian Jing wouldn’t know that . In his 16 years of existence, he has never experienced that love for either a female or a male . He felt like he was going crazy trying to make sense of what he was feeling .

“Young Royal Highness, the dishes you ordered are here . ” Ye Jiayao placed the dishes on the table efficiently .

She picked up a small hammer and knocked the mud wrapped around the beggars’ chicken off . A burst of flavor together with the scent of lotus leaves drifted through the air .

Ye Jiayao looked at little Jingjing, who was sat there expressionless . What now? Is this brat going through one of his mood swings again?

She tore off a pigeon thigh and placed it in his bowl . “Didn’t you kick up a fuss wanting to eat the beggars’ chicken? I assure you it is as authentic as it can get, try it!”

The fragrance reminded Helian Jing of the first time he shot a bird . He remembered the joy he felt when he jumped into the lotus pond to pick a lotus leaf . He remembered how he spared no effort in digging a hole . He recalled the curiosity and excitement he felt when he got down on all fours to watch Big Yaoyao prepare the beggars’ bird .

He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth . Ever since he was young, he got everything he wanted with a flick of his hand . He has never gone hungry, and neither has he slept in a run-down pavilion, getting bitten by mosquitoes . He had never gone through hardship so it didn’t occur to him that there were so many people in the world who were leading hard lives .

Therefore, that beggars’ bird that came with great difficulty became the most delicious dish he had ever tasted in his life . The smell infused into the bones, the image of both of them sitting on a dirt pile, wolfing down the food, rushed to his thoughts .

He just continued to sit there silently, eating and reminiscing the past, not caring if Big Yaoyao was still standing there .

Ye Jiayao watched him slowly and expressionlessly eat the beggars’ chicken . It looked like he was savoring every bite of the beggars’ chicken and every spoonful of the mushroom soup . She might as well have been invisible for all the attention he was giving her . This brat took me away from the kitchen just to make me watch him eat?

After finishing the whole bird and half a bowl of soup, Helian Jing wiped his mouth with a piece of the serviette .

Finally, he slanted a look at Ye Jiayao . “Why did you not keep your word?”

The interrogation has finally started! Ye Jiayao pursed her lips and denied, “I didn’t break my promise . ”

Helian Jing’s eyes were filled with fury . “You promised to look for me . We even clapped our palms and swore . ”

“I was going to look for you . I just wanted to wait until I have settled down and found a job before seeking you out,” Ye Jiayao argued with conviction .

Technically, she was telling the truth . She did not say she would immediately look for him as soon as she reached Jin Ling .

“You’re a liar! Why did you get off at Zhen Jiang? Did you know that I waited for you in the harbor? I waited for Li Mao’s ship but you were not there! Did you know how I felt, then? I went to Zhen Jiang to look for you, my men almost ransacked the whole town to find you, but you weren’t there! Did you know how I felt, then? Just last night, I begged Zhao Qixuan to get his brother-in-law in Jiang Xi to look for you . ”

“Big Yaoyao, how could you break your promise? Even now, you’re still denying it! I hate people who break their promises!” Helian Jing couldn’t help the words pouring out of his mouth . All the pent up worry, frustration, and anger he was feeling just busted out of him . He had been going out of his mind looking for big Yaoyao, and yet, here he was, looking as if he did not care .

Ye Jiayao felt like screaming back at him . However, she stopped short when she saw his eyes welling up with tears . He looked so angry and sad at the same time that Ye Jiayao could not bear to argue with him .

“Little Prince, you are overthinking this . I went to Zhen Jiang because I have some things to settle there . And I did intend to go to Jiang Xi, but in the end, I decided against it . Jin Ling is a flourishing city, it would be easier to find a job here . I promised you that I’d look for you, and I don’t go back on my words . ”

“I even fell ill for two days on the way to Jin Ling and had to hunker down in a ruined temple to wait for the pain to pass . I only reached Jin Ling the night before . It was Manager Du of Laifu Motel who introduced me to work here . I came to apply for the chef position yesterday morning . You can ask the manager of Laifu Motel or Shopkeeper Li if you don’t believe me,” Ye Jiayao explained calmly .

Helian Jing’s anger dissipated when he heard that big Yaoyao fell ill . What illness did he contract? He would have to get the royal physician check on him after he gets back .

Seeing his expression ease, Ye Jiayao continued, “Little Jingjing, you’re a prince . To civilians like me, you’re unreachable . I admit, I hesitated because I don’t know how to approach you in your mansion . I was going to look for you once I’ve made a decent living here in Jing Ling . I wanted to look for you for the sake of old friends catching up, not to charge you for your debt or beg for something to eat . I didn’t want you to look down on me, little Jingjing . ”

Helian Jing was so touched, the tears he was holding in almost fell . He had always dislike how big Yaoyao calls him little Jingjing, but now, it felt like a term of endearment . It was just like how he sometimes call him ‘big Raorao’ to get on his nerves .

Big Yaoyao did not forget me!

Helian Jing stood up and pulled a chair out for Ye Jiayao . “Big Yaoyao, take a seat . ”

Ye Jiayao sat down on the chair he offered . The young prince immediately pushed all the dishes she cooked right in front of her . “You must be hungry? Quick, eat . ”

Um? Talk about a personality change!

“No, that’s okay . You go eat, I am not hungry . These are made especially for you,” Ye Jiayao replied courteously .

“You eat, you eat! I already had my fill . Besides, if I want to eat the food you prepare, I can just come here every day . ” Helian Jing smiled happily .

Everyday?

“That . . . Little Jingjing, I know that your family is wealthy, but even if you have a lot of money, this is not the way to spend it . Eating in a restaurant every day would not look nice in the eyes of others . They would think that you are idle . A man should have some accomplishment, like serving your country and the commoners . Anyway, I am contractually bound to this place for three years . You can come here occasionally if you have guests or you want to socialize . When I open my own restaurant in the future, you can go over there every day if you wish . ”

Helian Jing laughed out loud . “Alright, I will listen to you .

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him and he suggested, “Why don’t you open one now? I can lend you the capital if that’s what you’re worried about . ”

The more thought he put into it, the more that Helian Jing was convinced that it was a superb idea . Opening a restaurant together would bound him to Big Yaoyao legitimately . Besides, with Big Yaoyao’s culinary skills and his connections as a royal, the restaurant was sure to be bustling with business . They could easily compete and defeat Xiang Yi Restaurant, Heavenly Residence, and Man Ji .

Unexpectedly, Big Yaoyao rolled his eyes . “What are you talking about? I just signed a contract, do you want me to breach it?”

Helian Jing shrugged . “So what if you breach the contract? I will talk to Shopkeeper Li, see if he dares to not let you go . ”

“Don’t you dare,” Ye Jiayao told him fiercely . She has only just settled down in Jin Ling and there were still a lot more for her to learn . Moreover, she got this job because of the help of Shopkeeper Du and his wife . She couldn’t just abandon the job they so generously gave her . Also, she wanted to open a restaurant that completely belonged to her . She does not want to bring in other people to partner up . She has seen too many failed business ventures in the modern times just because the partners ceased being friends . She didn’t want that to happen to her .

“We can always discuss opening a restaurant in the future . First, we have to learn how to walk before we run . Opening a restaurant is not as easy as it seems,” Ye Jiayao lectured .

Helian Jing pouted .

“Oh, also, you can bring anyone you want here but not the person who brought you back in Jin Ling . ” Ye Jiayao said, suddenly coming up with a solution to one of her problems .

Helian Jing was puzzled . “Why?”

Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes again . “Because I hate him . ”

What? Helian Jing was baffled . How did brother Chunyu provoke big Yaoyao? They don’t even know each other . Could it be . . . could it be that big Yaoyao detests brother Chunyu for bringing him back to Jin Ling, causing them to part?

Helian Jing’s heartbeat involuntarily increased as he thought of this . Is that really the case? Oh, my god! This is awesome!

Ye Jiayao picked up a slice of potato, watching Little Jingjing stare at the wall, smiling like a fool .

“You do know you look ridiculous when you smile like that, right? Hold up a mirror and I’m sure you’d scare yourself . ” Ye Jiayao missed teasing him .

Helian Jing managed to restrain his smile for a while . After a few seconds, it burst out of him again, his eyes glistening like the spring sun reflecting in the ripples of the Qin Huai River .

“Big Yaoyao, I am so glad I found you . ”

Ye Jiayao could not help but laugh . Such a cute little child!

“Mm, I am also happy to see you . ” Ye Jiayao nodded .

That was not a lie . She was indeed fond of this little brother .

Helian Jing smiled even more brilliantly, the joy in his heart indescribable .