Chapter 186: Mr. Cheng is an Honest and Trustworthy Person
Seeing Ji Yanjun’s unconcealed joy, Li Bo’s spirits lifted. He asked cautiously, "President Ji, what’s got you so happy?"
Ji Yanjun said smugly, "Chief Li, I’m arranging a celebration banquet for later. Chef Klaus will be personally serving us!"
’Chef Klaus?’
Li Bo couldn’t help but gasp. He had once heard two leaders, far above his station, discuss the great name of Klaus.
Klaus had once been a Three-Michelin Starred Chef before being poached by the Sofitel Hotel for an exorbitant sum. The hotel’s rise to fame was entirely due to his presence.
Klaus only accepted one table of distinguished guests per day, and his private reservations were booked out for the next six months.
Only a handful of the Provincial City’s most elite and powerful figures could cut the line!
Those two leaders far above Li Bo’s station had waited a full three months for the honor of tasting Chef Klaus’s cuisine.
’And now, we’re getting to cut the line for Chef Klaus’s services. What an incredible honor!’
Li Bo couldn’t help but lay on the flattery. "President Ji, I always thought you were just a businessman in our Luocheng. I never imagined your connections were so vast and powerful that you could reach the Provincial City’s most elite figures!"
How could Ji Yanjun possibly know any of the Provincial City’s elite? Of course, he wasn’t about to explain that. He just gave a mysterious smile, which only served to solidify Li Bo’s assumption.
’President Ji must have an incredibly powerful backer!’
’If President Ji just puts in a good word for me, won’t my career take off?’
"President Ji, have a cigarette."
Li Bo took out a lighter and respectfully lit the cigarette for Ji Yanjun.
Ji Yanjun was very pleased with Li Bo’s performance. He took a deep drag from his cigarette and said nonchalantly, "Chief Li, go ahead and notify the two teachers to come to the Duke’s Mansion for the celebration banquet. As for Cheng Yuan and Cheng Qianqian, I’ll personally inform them."
"President Ji, why are you still calling me Chief Li! It feels like you’re scolding me. Just call me Xiaoli! I’ll go notify the two teachers right now!"
With that, Li Bo hurried to call the two teachers.
Meanwhile, Ji Yanjun took out his phone and dialed Cheng Yuan’s number. The call connected quickly, and Cheng Yuan’s placid voice came through, "President Ji, congratulations. Your daughter advanced to the second round in second place."
WHOOSH!
Ji Yanjun’s face instantly darkened. ’This damned Cheng Yuan really knows how to act high and mighty! So what if your sister got a perfect score? Is there any need to be so damn smug?’
Ji Yanjun struggled to suppress his rage, saying in the calmest tone he could muster, "Mr. Cheng, the children from all three of our families performed well and advanced to the second round. We must hold a celebration banquet tonight. It’s at the Duke’s Mansion on the 8th floor of the Sofitel Hotel. Chef Klaus will be personally serving us."
Ji Yanjun deliberately emphasized Klaus’s name, hoping to hear shock or flattery from Cheng Yuan.
Unfortunately, Ji Yanjun was disappointed. Cheng Yuan had no reaction at all, merely uttering a single, flat word: "Oh."
’Oh??’
Ji Yanjun was furious!
’Can this Cheng guy not be such a goddamn poser?’
’This is Chef Klaus we’re talking about!’
’How could Cheng Yuan act so nonchalant?’
Soon, Ji Yanjun found a way to console himself. ’This Cheng fellow probably just doesn’t know how incredible Chef Klaus is. I’ll have to make sure to enlighten him later.’
’What a tremendous honor it is to be served by Chef Klaus!’
"Then we’ll see you at six p.m. sharp. Mr. Cheng, you’d best take a taxi early. The Provincial City is always congested; you can’t be late! Chef Klaus despises guests who are tardy."
Cheng Yuan couldn’t be bothered to explain and once again replied with a single word: "Oh."
This thoroughly infuriated Ji Yanjun. He viciously hung up the phone and turned to look at Li Bo, who was on a call nearby.
After notifying the two teachers, Li Bo turned to Ji Yanjun with a fawning look. "President Ji, I’ve finished notifying the two teachers. They’ve agreed to attend the celebration banquet on time."
Ji Yanjun nodded with satisfaction and said, as if it were an afterthought, "I’ve also notified Cheng Yuan, but his reaction was quite flat. He’s probably never heard of Chef Klaus."
Li Bo understood Ji Yanjun’s underlying meaning and, keenly spotting an opportunity to curry favor, smiled and said, "We’re all from Luocheng. We can’t let Cheng Yuan embarrass the rest of us. I’ll be sure to properly educate Cheng Yuan on Chef Klaus’s accomplishments."
Ji Yanjun smiled but said nothing. ’This Li Bo is quite perceptive,’ he thought. ’If I really knew the Provincial City’s elite, I might actually consider recommending him for a promotion.’
’What a pity...’
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was five-thirty.
Ji Yanjun and Li Bo, along with their children, were the first to enter the Duke’s Mansion, a gesture meant to show their respect for Chef Klaus.
Soon, the two teachers walked into the Duke’s Mansion.
Li Bo greeted the two teachers enthusiastically. "Teacher Zhang, Teacher Li, you’ve arrived?"
Ji Yanjun watched the two teachers with a reserved gaze, hoping to see shock in their eyes.
Unfortunately, having already seen the Number One Presidential Suite, the two teachers were thoroughly underwhelmed by the slightly inferior Duke’s Mansion, and their reactions were very placid.
"Chief Li, Li Xin did quite well on the exam this time. If he keeps working hard, he could make it to the national competition."
"President Ji, Ji Tingting also performed exceptionally well. If she maintains this level, getting into the national competition will be easy."
The teachers’ reactions made Ji Yanjun a little uncomfortable. He could understand Zhang Jing’s placid nature and lack of flattery, but Li Yankui was a savvy people-person. Shouldn’t he be laying it on thick?
Ji Yanjun couldn’t take his anger out on the two teachers; after all, he still needed them to tutor Ji Tingting’s lessons.
Ji Yanjun could only redirect his anger toward Cheng Yuan. He said, with a hint of displeasure, "Why isn’t Cheng Yuan here yet? I reminded him over and over to take a taxi early and that he absolutely could not be late! Chef Klaus despises late customers. He’s not going to be late, is he?"
Li Bo chimed in with Ji Yanjun’s criticism. "It’s normal for him to be a little arrogant, I suppose; his sister did get a perfect score, after all. Worst comes to worst, we can just explain the situation to Chef Klaus later."
Li Yankui smiled and said, "You two don’t need to worry. Mr. Cheng won’t be late."
Li Bo retorted, "Teacher Li, why are you so certain? Everyone knows the Provincial City has terrible traffic. Mr. Cheng has to take a taxi over; who knows how long he’ll be stuck."
"Chief Li, you’ve misunderstood. Actually, Mr. Cheng..."
Li Yankui was about to subconsciously blurt out that Cheng Yuan was actually staying in the Number One Presidential Suite on the top floor and could come down in moments using the VIP elevator.
Zhang Jing, who was standing beside him, quickly pulled Li Yankui back and shook her head slightly. It was obvious Mr. Cheng wanted to avoid trouble and didn’t want to reveal his true status; they couldn’t be the ones to expose him.
Li Bo frowned and asked, "What about Cheng Yuan? Teacher Li, finish your sentence!"
Li Yankui understood Zhang Jing’s meaning and awkwardly changed his tune. "Actually, Mr. Cheng is a very honest and reliable person. He would never be late."