The Reviled God of Cooking Tries to Slack Off - Chapter 53

In addition to the reporters waiting outside, there were also people sent to receive the film crew. Lu Group already finalized its sponsorship deal with A Bite of China, so naturally, they handled the reception too.

Not only did they handle it, but both Qin Rushuang and Lu Baiyu came in person—showing just how seriously Lu Group regarded the matter.

Originally, this was just a PR department task to negotiate sponsorship—hardly something that normally required board-level attention. Yet even while being at odds with Suda, Lu Zhenting still got involved.

Although there was still online controversy, as long as Cheng Shifei gave the nod, Lu Group still stood a solid chance.

Standing at the airport, Lu Baiyu still looked a little pale. Last time at home, he suddenly coughed up blood. His back injury wasn’t serious, but repeated strain prevented it from healing. He was running a low fever, but he still came to represent Lu Group.

“I told your father I could handle this alone,” Qin Rushuang said worriedly. “You’re still not well—”

“I’m fine,” Lu Baiyu replied with a shake of his head.

He didn’t say much, but his voice was clearly hoarse. The doctor recommended hospitalization.

Qin Rushuang frowned and said, “You’d better not talk much later.”

A moment later, the crew emerged. Despite being held back at a distance, reporters’ flashes kept going off. The first person out wasn’t Cheng Shifei but Sun Hui.

He was now fully exposed, yet seemed unbothered, walking at the front of the team with a smug tone that dripped with sarcasm. “Hey, where’s Young Master Lu? Wasn’t he always personally in charge before? Suddenly switching to someone else—I’m not used to it.”

Though he struck first, Qin Rushuang’s expression didn’t change. She responded with a courteous smile, “It’s true there’s been a change, but please believe our group’s sincerity remains the same.”

“Oh, change indeed,” Sun Hui sneered. “If you ask me, your Lu Group just has bad luck. Right at the critical moment—”

Qin Rushuang wasn’t going to argue. “How lucky Lu Group is depends on Director Cheng. By the way, where is he?”

A staff member answered: “He’s at the back.”

Cheng Shifei brought up the rear. He was in his early thirties—youngest on the team. Dressed plainly with a U-shaped pillow around his neck, he looked more like a traveler than a director.

Word was, he used to carry his own camera, making films hands-on. He was tall—like a bodyguard—and now yawned as he walked out.

Reporters erupted in shouts as soon as they saw him. Their barrage of questions nearly drowned out Qin Rushuang when she stepped forward.

“Director Cheng, any plans for filming in Yongqing?”

“Which chef will be featured? Who are you most looking forward to working with?”

Amid the chaos, Qin Rushuang raised her voice, her smile deepening. “Director Cheng, it’s quite crowded here. We’ve prepared cars and lunch. Since it’s mealtime, how about we eat and talk? I’ll also guide everyone around Yongqing.”

The team just got off the plane and needed rest. Hosting duties were already discussed, so everyone followed Qin Rushuang—except Cheng Shifei, who suddenly stopped.

He waved his hand. “You all go ahead. I have personal plans. We’ll meet again tomorrow at work.”

His sudden statement stunned both sides. Sun Hui asked, “Director Cheng, where are you going?”

“None of your business.” Cheng Shifei shot him a glance. “Go on, my ride’s almost here.”

No one wanted to let him leave just like that, but after several attempts to stop him, he grew irritated: “What’s wrong with eating somewhere else? The project plan isn’t changing.” He stepped away and made a call: “Where are you? I don’t see you. What? You’re at the gate? Which gate, this airport is huge—how am I supposed to know which one?”

Though his voice was loud, his tone softened considerably during the call.

Moments later, someone approached from the other side.

Jiang Tingzhou, still in a hoodie like a student, also wore a mask. When he neared, a staff member stopped him, but Cheng Shifei waved, “Hey, over here.”

Even masked, those familiar with him recognized him instantly.

Qin Rushuang called out in surprise, “Tingzhou? You—?”

Lu Baiyu wasn’t surprised. He’d been watching Jiang Tingzhou since he showed up—almost as if he knew he’d come.

Many in the crew also knew Jiang Tingzhou, likely from the recent CCTV chef competition. They greeted him by name.

Jiang Tingzhou nodded to each of them, then turned to Cheng Shifei. “Director Cheng. Long time no see.”

Cheng Shifei broke into a genuine smile. “Long time no see. So? Was the goose good? I hope my cooking hasn’t gotten worse.”

“It was delicious,” Jiang Tingzhou replied.

Satisfied, Cheng Shifei didn’t mind the cameras pointed at them. He slung an arm around Jiang Tingzhou’s shoulder and half-hugged him.

Taller by half a head, Cheng Shifei leaned in and asked, “What did you just call me?”

“Director Cheng.”

“Try again.”

Jiang Tingzhou sighed, helpless. “…Senior Brother.”

“Mm, that’s better.” Beaming now, Cheng Shifei ignored the others and turned to Qin Rushuang. “Alright, President Qin, my ride’s here. See you.”

As he spoke, his arm still draped over Jiang Tingzhou, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was staring hard at him.

He glanced back—and saw Lu Baiyu stop Qin Rushuang with a raised hand, silently signaling her not to say more. Then he led the rest of the crew away.

As he turned, Lu Baiyu said in his hoarse voice, “It’s cold in Yongqing today. And drizzling. Wear more so you don’t catch a cold.”

He didn’t look at Cheng Shifei, only at Jiang Tingzhou.

Jiang Tingzhou took a taxi and didn’t walk far. With his hoodie up, the drizzle didn’t touch him much, though fine droplets still clung to his hair.

He didn’t look back. He and Cheng Shifei walked away shoulder to shoulder.

Just before they exited the terminal, someone caught up to them and handed over a windbreaker and an umbrella.

Jiang Tingzhou didn’t know her and declined to take them. She said, “My last name is Xu. I’m Mr. Lu’s new secretary. There’s a car outside to take you home. You can wear this coat.”

Cheng Shifei smiled. “Oh, your Mr. Lu is pretty thoughtful.”

He could tell at a glance that the coat wasn’t for him—the size was clearly tailored for Jiang Tingzhou.

“No need,” Jiang Tingzhou shook his head. “He can keep it.”

There were plenty of taxis around. He didn’t need a ride from the Lu family.

Cheng Shifei saw everything and said nothing. He just followed him out.

Once inside the cab, he said, “Hurry up and take off that mask already.”

Just now, with so many people around, it was Jiang Tingzhou who waited at the gate. If Cheng Shifei didn’t call out to him, he wouldn’t have approached.

Jiang Tingzhou smiled. “I was just afraid of causing unnecessary trouble for you, Senior Brother.”

After all, A Bite of China was currently under public scrutiny.

“What kind of trouble?” Cheng Shifei shook his head. “You weren’t like this when you were still learning the craft. You’ve really changed—keeping things from me, resigning all of a sudden, and…”

Jiang Tingzhou sighed. “Let’s talk when we get home. I have changed, but you’ve changed too, Senior Brother.”

“That’s true.”

Cheng Shifei wanted to ask a lot of questions and say a lot to Jiang Tingzhou.

But he wasn’t the only one with questions.

Qin Rushuang, who was with the crew, was also puzzled. Besides Sun Hui, there were two assistant directors in the team, both of whom treated the Lu Group favorably. Even with Cheng Shifei absent, she still needed to be attentive with the team members.

After handling everything, she went to find Lu Baiyu and immediately asked, “How could Cheng Shifei and Jiang Tingzhou be senior and junior brothers?”

Chef Wang didn’t take on many apprentices—it wouldn’t be hard to verify. She looked over Cheng Shifei’s resume many times. He indeed studied culinary arts, but not under Chef Wang. The Cheng family was a family of chefs, and Cheng Shifei was clearly trained by them.

Lu Baiyu was in the hospital getting his bandages changed. He rested the returned windbreaker on his lap, holding one of the sleeves in his hand as he replied, “It’s true. Cheng Shifei worked hard to get accepted as a disciple, but he left before he learned much. His relationship with Chef Wang wasn’t good, and it wasn’t a formal apprenticeship. He only stayed a few months, so he always kept that experience under wraps.”

Qin Rushuang was even more confused. “If you knew that, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Lu Baiyu lowered his head and coughed a few times. After regaining his breath, he said, “I only found out yesterday.”

In fact, even Cheng Shifei’s sudden switch from being a chef to becoming a director was tied to Jiang Tingzhou. It wasn’t easy to discover this—Chef Wang refused to talk about it, and only a handful of people knew.

Lu Baiyu always thought he knew his lover well, but the facts proved otherwise.

He couldn’t imagine—if there truly were a past life—how long it took him to realize all this.

During his illness, he thought about many things, recalling only fragments, most of them unclear—except for one fact: Jiang Tingzhou ultimately broke up with him.

That alone made him reflect deeply, and eventually he uncovered the connection to Cheng Shifei. But even though he thought long and hard about it, he still didn’t work everything out, and that unsettled him even more.

Why did things end up that way? What happened to Tingzhou’s hand?

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure it out.

That was what tormented him most. He knew that the road ahead might lead to a dead end, and yet he couldn’t piece together the full picture.

If he remembered everything, maybe he could use that knowledge to forge a new path. But right now, it wasn’t working.

In those fragmented memories, he recalled trying everything—lavish gifts, playing the victim, clinging desperately—just to get Jiang Tingzhou back. None of it worked. Repeating it would only push him further away.

Today, he didn’t even dare show too much weakness in front of Jiang Tingzhou, afraid the other would think he was using his injuries to manipulate him—because he did that before. More than once.

Lu Baiyu was scared that everything he did would be wrong. He missed him so much, but he didn’t dare approach like last time, fearing it would only upset him.

Last time they met, Jiang Tingzhou clearly was in a good mood—until Lu Baiyu opened his mouth. After that, nothing he said landed right, and they parted on a sour note again. If they met like that again, the result would likely be the same.

That’s why he came today—not to stir up trouble, but just to see Jiang Tingzhou. This was the only way he could see him—just for a moment. That was enough to keep him going.

He thought just one glimpse would be enough. He wouldn’t do anything. But when he saw someone hugging Jiang Tingzhou, he was still jealous. Very jealous.

The tightening pain in his chest hurt more than the wound on his back. And now, all he had left was a returned coat.

Qin Rushuang didn’t know what he was thinking. She only knew Cheng Shifei was taken away by Jiang Tingzhou. After speaking with the A Bite of China team, she was certain the whole project was pushed forward by Cheng Shifei.

Just then, she also received a message from Lu Zhenting, asking for an explanation.

“I think this is our chance. Right now, our only option is to work with Tingzhou,” Qin Rushuang said. “Baiyu, didn’t you say you were going to arrange a cooking show for him? The weather’s bad today, but I’ve already notified Dongjiang TV. He can—”

“No.” Lu Baiyu immediately cut her off. “I was wrong. Don’t mention this to him. Never.”

Qin Rushuang didn’t understand. “But this is a great opportunity. He doesn’t like this kind of show? I can redesign it until he’s happy.”

She wasn’t about to treat Jiang Tingzhou unfairly—not in the current situation.

Lu Baiyu shook his head. “That’s not it.”

If it were purely business, an exchange of interests would be fine. But his and Tingzhou’s relationship couldn’t be reduced to that.

A show, a restaurant—sure, the Lu family always was willing to give those things. But that didn’t mean it was what Jiang Tingzhou wanted. It was just what they thought was good for him.

“Baiyu, you can’t let personal feelings interfere. You have to think of the entire group. If we really lose to Suda over this, your father will be furious,” Qin Rushuang said. “We’ve already lost our edge with CCTV. Jiahe is emotionally affected. Cheng Shifei has an artist’s temper and isn’t easy to work with. Now that we finally have Jiang Tingzhou, you—”

“Aunt Qin, please stop thinking of him that way,” Lu Baiyu interrupted. “I shouldn’t have said what I did before.”

Her attitude said it all. He never should’ve summed up their relationship with: Tingzhou listens to me.

Lu Baiyu used to wonder how things could go so wrong when everything seemed to be improving. Now, he finally understood.

It was wrong from the start.

He thought realizing the mistake and spending more time with Jiang Tingzhou would fix things. But he never once stopped to truly consider—what did Tingzhou want?