Chapter 18
The chefs in Yuncheng were not easy to mess with, and this was not groundless.
In the early years, before people’s living standards improved, materials were scarce, and they didn’t have enough to eat.
In order to survive, the people of Yuncheng depended on the mountains and developed hunting skills.
Apart from the mushroom that could be seen everywhere in the forest, the ones that were eaten the most were thick and ferocious beasts.
At that time, there was no mature cold chain transportation for raw materials, and private breeding was not allowed.
Chefs who valued the freshness of their ingredients were more willing to pick up their machetes and hunt the parts of the beasts that they or their diners needed rather than waiting for the hunters to deliver the smelly pieces of meat to their doorsteps.
Of course, this was no longer possible. Any wild animal they encountered could be a protected animal.
Many local delicacies in Yuncheng were gradually lost, but the fighting skills were passed down along with the chefs.
It was said that gangsters once came to a hotel in Yuncheng and took everyone in the hotel as hostages. As a result, the chef killed three people.
The Yuncheng chef became famous in one battle and became well-known far and wide.
The chef at Hulu Mountain Hotel was named Wu Hu. He was two meters tall and weighed three hundred kilograms.
It was no exaggeration to say that if he had been there that day, Boss Zhou would not have died.
It was a pity that Zhou Yuan closed the hotel for a day in order to make up for his mistakes.
“You’re the one who started the trouble, right?” Wu Hu walked around the cart, and his majestic body surrounded Xu Zhaoxin with just one person.
Xu Zhaoxin’s face turned pale, and he said one after another, “Brother, it’s all a misunderstanding.”
Wu Hu patted Xu Zhaoxin’s face with his palm as big as a cattail leaf fan: “You’ve already pushed the dining cart in front of me, and you’re saying it’s not a provocation?”
The sense of oppression was so strong that Xu Zhaoxin was so frightened he could hardly control his tears and had to call for a saviour: “Liu Jin’an, save me!”
For Duan Haiping’s sake, Liu Jin’an coughed twice and said, “Uncle Wu, let him go. He has no ill intentions.”
After Zhou Yuan’s death, the owner of Hulu Mountain Hotel became Zhang Yaoyao.
Zhang Yaoyao respected Liu Jin’an very much, and even old employees like them were very polite to Liu Jin’an and the others.
Hearing this, Wu Hu stared at Xu Zhaoxin with his leopard eyes and took two steps back reluctantly.
Without the pressure that was so close at hand, Xu Zhaoxin gasped for air, not daring to look directly into Wu Hu’s eyes, and pushed the cart dejectedly: “I’m leaving now.”
‘As the saying goes, if you have a hard time, you’ll gain wisdom.’
Xu Zhaoxin finally discovered that Liu Jin’an had deliberately not added Mr. Duan as his friend. He really couldn’t figure out why.
Not daring to ask Duan Haiping, he had to guard the door of the hotel the next day, caught Liu Jin’an, and asked him: “What on earth do you want me to do before you’re willing to become Mr. Duan’s friend?”
Liu Jin’an was silent. To be honest, he hadn’t figured out how to face Duan Haiping yet.
Every time he talked to Duan Haiping and heard the man’s familiar yet unfamiliar voice, the emotions surging in his heart reached the point where he was on the verge of losing control.
He could no longer tell whether this was his own feelings or whether he was affected by the content of the novel.
Furthermore, tomorrow was the time when the apocalypse would break out in the novel. The magnetic field was chaotic, and all communication equipment failed.
He would not disclose information about the end of the world to anyone except Duan Haiping, so he could only refuse: “It’s not necessary.”
“I beg you,” Xu Zhaoxin said softly, “You also know what happened that day. It was me who suggested that you add Mr. Duan as your chatting friend. If you refuse to add Mr. Duan, Mr. Duan will not let me go after I go back!”
In just two days, Xu Zhaoxin, who was originally bright and vibrant, turned his eyes black with worry, and his beard was unkempt.
Even Liu Jin’an, who was determined, couldn’t bear it.
“It’s okay to add him, but you and Yang Shu must return to Beijing immediately.” Liu Jin’an hesitated for a long time but finally agreed.
But he had his own requirements.
Xu Zhaoxin looked embarrassed. His and Yang Shu’s mission was to take Liu Jin’an back to Beijing.
If the task was not completed, they would be punished when they returned, and he did not want this to affect his promotion.
With a roll of his eyes, Xu Zhaoxin made up his mind: “Okay, Yang Shu and I will return immediately.”
At worst, he would have to find a place to hide for a few days. Even if Liu Jin’an found out later and blocked Duan Haiping, he couldn’t be blamed!
Liu Jin’an took out his mobile phone, scanned the QR code displayed by Xu Zhaoxin, and pressed the button to send the application.
It passed in seconds.
Liu Jin’an paused with his fingers and subconsciously put his phone away.
“It’s all done. Let’s make a video call. It will be easy for me to go back.” Xu Zhaoxin stopped him with quick eyes and hands.
‘Make a video call to Duan Haiping?’
Impossible, absolutely impossible, he was not mentally prepared yet!
The next moment, a video call invitation came from the other side, which scared him so much that he could hardly hold his phone.
Xu Zhaoxin didn’t expect the boss to be so proactive. He took advantage of Liu Jin’an’s uneasiness and pressed the answer button.
The picture of Duan Haiping’s bedroom immediately appeared on the phone screen.
[This was Liu Jin’an’s first time coming to Duan Haiping’s bedroom.
The layout of the bedroom was very simple, and even had a sense of simplicity that was not in line with Duan Haiping’s worth.
The curtains covered the entire wall thickly, making it difficult for even a ray of light to penetrate. The only light source was the incandescent lamp that could be seen everywhere on the top.
Duan Haiping didn’t like anyone entering his bedroom, including interior designers and decorators.
Therefore, there were no warm colours in his room, and all he could see were metal furniture, which was extremely indifferent.
“Disappointed?” Duan Haiping’s deep voice sounded, and his cold eyes looked at the young man in front of him without hesitation.
Like a cold and poisonous snake, staring at its prey.
The hair on Liu Jin’an’s body stood on end as he wanted to escape from this dark space and this powerful but cold man countless times.
But he couldn’t.
He forced a smile and pretended to have no grudges and said, “No, I like it here very much.”
Who would like it here?
It was like a tomb.]
Exactly as described in the novel, the pale incandescent lamp could not completely dispel the darkness of the room, and Duan Haiping’s face was looming in the darkness.
Although it was a handsome face with no flaws, the thick dark colour behind it still made people feel scared.
Liu Jin’an’s eyes passed over the other person’s tall nose: “Duan Haiping, I heard that you want to see me?”
Duan Haiping was silent for a moment, as if he didn’t expect Liu Jin’an to be so direct.
Then he slowly said: “Indeed, I really want to know who dares to make such a big joke on me.”
“I never joke.” Liu Jin’an chuckled, “But I’m afraid Mr. Duan won’t be able to do what he wants. There is something very important to me in Yuncheng, and I have to stay here for a while.”
Duan Haiping frowned slightly. The grass on the grave of the last person who rejected him was already three meters high.
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
Xu Zhaoxin on the side was so frightened that he didn’t dare to breath loudly. He knew that Mr. Duan’s expression meant that he was very angry.
Quickly tugging at Liu Jin’an’s sleeve, he reminded in a low voice: “Don’t make the boss angry, he won’t be as polite to you as I am.”
Liu Jin’an pursed his lips and said nothing.
He could indeed follow Xu Zhaoxin to Beijing, seek protection from Duan Haiping, and even use Duan Haiping’s resources to take a shortcut to becoming stronger.
But that also meant that he would miss many opportunities.
God had given him a Book of Superpowers and the ability to know the plot. How could he waste it in vain?
He wanted to control his own destiny. He no longer wanted to watch death come and be helpless!
“I’ll give you another chance,” he heard the man’s cold temptation, “Whether what you say is true or false, come to me, I can protect you.”
The corner of Liu Jin’an’s mouth raised slightly, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes: “I told you several times, and I will always give the same answer.”
“I have my own way. Even if I die, I will never look back.”