Come on, What Kind of CEO Chases His Roommate Back to the Country? - Chapter 14

“Can I book you for next week?” A foreign student asked Pei Song on Instagram. This was already the third private dining request this week.

Ever since Shi Yancheng suggested he start accepting orders again, Pei Song’s career as a food blogger had begun to pick up. Just as he was about to reply, a malicious comment suddenly appeared.

“I heard this blogger’s family had some trouble, and now he’s relying on cooking to survive! Who knows if the ingredients are even up to standard…”

Pei Song’s hand paused. These kinds of comments have been appearing frequently lately, making every order feel like a heavy burden.

“Delete it,” a voice suddenly came from behind him. It was Shi Yancheng. “Don’t bother with people like that.”

Pei Song forced a smile. “But these kinds of remarks can affect customer confidence…”

“I’ll handle it.” Shi Yancheng took his phone and swiftly adjusted some settings. “Set up a keyword filter. Also…”

He opened his laptop. “I asked some classmates from the lab to do a simple data analysis for you. These are the peak reservation times recently. I suggest you schedule your availability around these slots.”

Looking at the detailed data charts on the screen, Pei Song was momentarily speechless.

“Time management is important,” Shi Yancheng pointed at the table. “This way, you’ll have enough time to review your coursework.”

“When did you…”

“I saw you staying up late to finish your paper last week. Your efficiency was way too low,” Shi Yancheng said. “Follow this schedule, and it’ll improve a lot.”

With Shi Yancheng’s help, Pei Song started planning his time more scientifically. Classes in the morning, studying in the afternoon, and private dining reservations at night and on weekends.

One day, while preparing for an important client’s dinner, an unfamiliar number called him.

“Pei Song, it’s me, your Third Aunt.” A pretentious voice came from the other end. “I heard you’re doing well in D Country? Even running a private dining business now?”

Pei Song’s heart sank. This particular aunt loved to gossip and had done nothing but add fuel to the fire when his family faced trouble.

“I was just praising you while chatting with someone!” she continued. “But, I was wondering… where do you get your ingredients from? You wouldn’t be…”

“His ingredients are my responsibility,” a cold voice interrupted.

Shi Yancheng had appeared behind Pei Song at some point and pressed the speaker button.

“And who are you?”

“Leon Schneider, Ph.D. in Computer Science from M University.” Shi Yancheng’s voice was even colder. “If you’re concerned about ingredient sources, I can provide all supplier certifications. Of course, if you still have doubts, I’d be happy to invite the media for an on-site interview.”

The other end was silent for a few seconds before hurriedly hanging up.

Pei Song stared blankly at Shi Yancheng. “You…”

“Don’t worry about them,” Shi Yancheng said indifferently. “Just focus on what you need to do.”

After that, the gossip gradually faded away. Pei Song’s bookings increased, and even Michelin-starred restaurants began inviting him as a guest chef. But as business thrived, so did academic pressure. With finals approaching, Pei Song often studied late into the night.

One early morning, he was struggling with a complex financial model in his study when he heard a knock.

“Still not sleeping?” Shi Yancheng leaned against the doorframe.

“Almost done, just one last question…” Pei Song rubbed his sore eyes.

Shi Yancheng walked over, glanced at the problem, and pointed out, “You used the wrong formula here.” For the next half hour, he patiently guided Pei Song through the corrections.

“Alright, time for bed.” He closed the notebook. “Tomorrow, I’ll go with you to the library.”

Pei Song was surprised. “Aren’t you preparing for your dissertation defense?”

“I already finished writing it.” Shi Yancheng said, “I can help you review instead.”

And so, the two settled into a nine-to-five library routine. Shi Yancheng not only helped Pei Song organize his study materials but also adjusted his private dining schedule to ensure he had enough time for revision.

“Don’t stress about money,” he said. “Pass your exams first.”

Pei Song knew that Shi Yancheng had been silently covering rent and living expenses during this time. But every time he brought it up, Shi Yancheng would simply brush it off with, “Your cooking makes up for it.”

On the day of the final exams, Pei Song scored first in his major.

“Thanks.” He stepped out of the exam hall and turned to Shi Yancheng, who was waiting outside.

This “thank you” wasn’t just for the academic guidance, it was for all the silent support along the way. Shi Yancheng looked at him. “What do you want to eat tonight?”

“You decide,” Pei Song smiled. “My treat.”

“No need.” Shi Yancheng turned towards the apartment. “Whatever you make is good.”

Watching his retreating figure, Pei Song suddenly felt a lump in his throat. This seemingly indifferent person always knew exactly how to help, making it almost impossible not to trust him completely.

That evening, while busy in the kitchen, Pei Song received a message from his aunt.

“Heard you’re hanging around some rich second-generation heir? No wonder you suddenly got into Michelin…”

Pei Song hesitated before deleting the message.

He turned towards the study, Shi Yancheng was completely focused on his screen, typing swiftly. Maybe… he really had been relying on him too much.

That autumn, Pei Song’s Chinese restaurant, “Xunwei”, opened.

Located on the corner of the gourmet street near M University, the three-story standalone building had been carefully designed preserving the elegance of German architecture while incorporating modern Chinese elements.

On opening day, the entire street was packed with eager customers.

Shi Yancheng had anticipated the crowd and arranged for a professional security team to maintain order.

“I didn’t expect this many people,” Pei Song said, sweating in the kitchen.

“They’re your Instagram followers.” Shi Yancheng stood at the door. “I had someone evaluate it. Your influence in D Country’s food scene is huge.”

For the first week, the restaurant was fully booked every day. Pei Song spent nearly all his time in the kitchen, ensuring every dish was perfect.

“You need to start training assistants,” Shi Yancheng told him one late night. “At this rate, you’ll burn out.”

“I’m already exhausted…” Pei Song sighed.

“I’ve scheduled some chef interviews for tomorrow,” Shi Yancheng said. “You just need to evaluate and train them.”

Soon, a few experienced Chinese chefs joined the team.

Pei Song personally taught them his exclusive recipes and techniques. After a month of training, they were finally able to share the workload.

“Now you can focus more on developing new dishes,” Shi Yancheng remarked.

With everything running smoothly, the restaurant became profitable within months. Pei Song wanted to use the profits to repay Shi Yancheng’s investment, but he was immediately refused.

“Use that money to study at Michelin restaurants,” Shi Yancheng said. “I invested in you because I believe in your potential, not for a quick return.”