The Gourmet Customizer

It just wasn’t worth it to wear himself out.

But when it came to a dish to go with drinks...

"Then that’s a different story," Su Chen said mysteriously. "I’ll show you what I can do. I’ll make a non-spicy Sichuan dish."

"HISS!" Ah Bao, who was in the middle of chopping meat, suddenly stopped. "For real? I thought all non-spicy Sichuan dishes were the expensive ones. Am I really going to be lucky enough to try one?"

"Don’t listen to the bullshit online." Su Chen glanced over; there were still plenty of ingredients left in the kitchen. "Sichuan cuisine isn’t some big secret. You’ll find out in a minute!"

And here Ah Bao was, supposedly versed in both the Shandong and Sichuan schools of cuisine.

But when it came to non-spicy Sichuan dishes, he was truly in the dark. After all, his studies had focused mainly on Sichuanese seasoning techniques.

His expertise was in dishes defined by their numbing, spicy, and robust flavors.

Seeing Su Chen get busy, Ah Bao, not to be outdone, immediately started prepping his own ingredients.

...

「Meanwhile, in Jingzhou City.」

A short girl with short legs, wearing a white tulle skirt and a cartoon T-shirt, stood anxiously by the side of the road.

’Damn it, when will I ever stop being so forgetful! How could I forget something as simple as my keys!’

Zhang Li was on the verge of tears.

She had gotten everything ready, but then Zhang Heping had caused a scene, and she’d gotten distracted watching the drama unfold.

Then she had left the office, laughing and joking with everyone else. It wasn’t until she got home and tried to open her door that she realized.

’Where are my keys?’

After wracking her brain for a long time, she finally remembered.

’The keys are still on my desk on the nineteenth floor.’

’Damn it!’

Zhang Li had no choice but to hail another car to go back to the office and get her keys. While she waited, she spotted a shop selling braised duck snacks on the side of the road.

’Hehe... I’ll buy some duck heads to eat on the way.’

’And while I’m at it, I’ll bring some yummy snacks for Sister Ling, who’s working overtime~’

When she learned Ling Shuyu had taken on a freelance gig, Zhang Li had even asked if she should work overtime to help out. After all, she used to be Ling Shuyu’s assistant, so Zhang Li could definitely help with the design work.

But Ling Shuyu had turned her down.

"Once I submit the proposal, I’ll send you a bonus. Don’t worry about working overtime; I can handle it on my own."

Back when they were at Xinghui, every time Ling Shuyu successfully landed a project and received her commission, she would give Zhang Li a personal bonus.

A big commission meant a bonus of a few thousand yuan, while a smaller one meant a few hundred.

This was one of the reasons Zhang Li was so devoted to Ling Shuyu, even quitting her old job to follow her to Delicious.

After all...

’Zhang Li knew one thing about herself: she might not be the smartest person. So, when she met someone who was good to her, she wanted to be especially good to them in return. Trading kindness for kindness... that should always work out, right?’

With this in mind, Zhang Li added two more duck necks and some vegetable side dishes to her order, spending a total of eighty-five yuan.

’Man, these duck snacks are expensive these days!’

She also grabbed a four-pack of Yakult.

Her shopping done, the ride-share car arrived just in time. The streets of Jingzhou were already quiet at ten o’clock at night, but Zhang Li was still in high spirits.

’She loved this job so much!’

With no traffic, the drive from downtown to the Development Zone only took about fifteen or sixteen minutes.

Zhang Li carried her bags up to the second floor. Just as she expected, the lights in the office were still on.

"Sister Ling~ Sister Ling~" she called out in a whisper.

"Zhang Li? What are you doing back here?" Ling Shuyu looked up, her left hand instinctively hitting the save shortcut keys.

Zhang Li held up a plastic bag and shook it. "Hehe, I forgot my keys. I figured I’d bring you some yummy snacks while I was at it. And Yakult, too!"

’This kid.’

Ling Shuyu smiled and shook her head. "Come over here. I’ve got something for you, too."

She pulled open a drawer and took out a bar of chocolate. "It’s a little bitter, though. See if you like it."

"Eh, no thanks. I don’t like bitter stuff. Like the boss says, ’Life is bitter enough, so you should eat more sweets’~"

’Ling Shuyu was speechless for a moment. She’s only been here a few days and she’s already going on about ’the boss’ this and ’the boss’ that. Can’t she tell he’s just putting on an act?’

"Alright, alright. Look at the time." Ling Shuyu closed her laptop. "I’ll go with you to get your keys, and then I’ll give you a ride home."

"Huh? But I thought you were still working overtime?"

Ling Shuyu gave Zhang Li a deadpan look. "Let me guess, you only booked a one-way trip, right? Which means if you want to go home now, you’ll have to call another car."

Zhang Li thought for a second. "Oh no! I forgot to ask the driver to wait for me! Argh, so annoying!"

Sigh.

’Oh, Xiaozhangli, you really need to be more careful!’

Ling Shuyu sighed. "Come on, it’ll be faster if I drive you."

The two walked into the elevator hand in hand and pressed the button for the nineteenth floor.

DING-DONG~

As the elevator doors opened, Zhang Li looked out curiously. "The boss is still up this late? Is he working overtime, too?"

"Him? Work overtime? He just napped too long this afternoon and can’t fall asleep. Now hurry and get your keys."

As they walked further down the hall, Ling Shuyu realized the light was coming from the cafeteria.

She and Zhang Li exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between their eyes.

’Let’s go check it out!’

Pushing the door open, they saw a pot of steaming-hot stewed duck sitting on an otherwise empty dining table!

Just by standing in the doorway, they could smell the duck’s tantalizing aroma, causing Zhang Li to gulp.

’Oh no, I’m hungry again. What should I do?’

"So where do you think the boss is?"

Ling Shuyu jutted her chin forward. "In the kitchen, making something good. Probably trying to sneak a snack without us."

"So, should we..."

’If we leave, we’ll still be hungry.’

’But if we stay, it feels wrong to bust the boss for sneaking food, right?’

"Let’s just take a look. Looking is free," Ling Shuyu said confidently. "Besides, we both have small appetites. Even if we do eat, it won’t be much."

"Mhm!"

The two girls advanced once more, decisively pushing open the sinful door that symbolized weight gain!