Chapter 17: The Hidden Traits of the Tycoon

Bags and parcels piled up once again, and the Bentley was packed to the brim. When they finally returned home, it took everyone working together to carry everything upstairs.

“How beautiful…” Tang Hong gazed at the breathtaking view outside the window, once again revising her estimation of Zhuang Chen. This was number seven Diaoyutai—an ultra-luxury residence at three hundred thousand per square meter! My goodness, a six-hundred-square-meter duplex, easily worth over a hundred million…

And watching Zhuang Chen busy in the kitchen, she wondered—was the legendary billionaire right before her eyes?

Zhuang Chen tied on an apron, catching Tang Hong’s thoughtful expression, and smiled. “Please have a seat first. Xia Long, Xia Hu, help me entertain our guest. It’s a happy day; consider this a housewarming.”

Xia Long and Xia Hu nodded with a smile. Back home, they could finally relax. They took turns changing into casual clothes and went to the kitchen to help wash vegetables.

Zhuang Chen picked up the bass, expertly gutting and scaling it, sprinkling it with salt and cooking wine, and massaging it to let the flavors seep in.

He grabbed the knife and began preparing various ingredients. Xia Long and Xia Hu exchanged glances—impressive! They didn’t even need to watch; the sound of the knife hitting the board was rhythmic and fine, like raindrops on banana leaves, pearls falling onto a jade plate—crisp, clear, and unceasing.

He set the wok, lit the fire, poured in oil, added the vegetables, stir-fried, and tossed the pan in a seamless flow.

Sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty—he handled them all with ease, the movements as smooth as flowing water.

In less than forty minutes, six dishes were on the table. Zhuang Chen washed his hands, took off his apron, and told Xia Long to bring out a bottle of red wine. “Come, try my cooking.”

Steamed bass, cabbage in broth, Kung Pao chicken, shredded pork in garlic sauce, spicy beef slices, and chicken stewed with mushrooms.

Tang Hong stared at the feast before her, momentarily dazed by the colors, aromas, and flavors. Zhuang Chen took the red wine Xia Hu had opened, saw she was still lost in thought, and teased, “Sit down. What are you waiting for?”

“Okay… okay!” Tang Hong snapped out of her daze, her cheeks flushed. She quickly sat down, took the glass of wine Zhuang Chen handed her, and each had a glass. Zhuang Chen raised his first and smiled, “I’m happy today. Thank you for gracing us with your presence. Where I come from, it’s tradition to host a housewarming for a new home.”

“Here’s to you all—I’ll drink mine in one go, you do as you please!”

With that, he downed his glass. The red wine was the most expensive from the supermarket, but since there was a lady present, it would have to do. Xia Long and Xia Hu also finished their glasses in one go—after all, even bodyguards need to unwind.

Tang Hong hadn’t expected a scene like this. She thought they’d just go to some fancy restaurant for a casual meal, but instead, she found herself in a billionaire’s mansion with the host cooking for her himself…

Though her tolerance for alcohol was average, the excitement surged through her, and she declared, “I’ll drink mine too!”

Half a glass in, even red wine was too much for her—she coughed a few times, quickly picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks, and put it in her mouth to offset the taste.

“Mmm… this is delicious!” The chicken melted in her mouth, sweetness exploding on her taste buds. Who would have thought an ordinary Kung Pao chicken could taste this good?

Xia Long and Xia Hu also took a bite, their faces reflecting pure enjoyment. Who would have guessed Zhuang Chen’s culinary skills were so advanced? At this level, he could hold his own in any big restaurant.

Zhuang Chen picked up a piece of fish and tasted it, frowning slightly. “Ah, as expected—supermarket goods just aren’t fresh enough. The farmer’s market is always better.”

Everyone burst into laughter. With the wine flowing, the atmosphere grew lively. Tang Hong, her cheeks flushed and courage rising, couldn’t help but tease, “Still not satisfied? Aren’t you being a little too demanding?”

Even the usually reserved Xia Hu couldn’t help but joke, “Agreed. Who knew our boss was such a hidden master chef?”

Zhuang Chen slapped the table and pretended to be offended. “What, you couldn’t tell? Hmph, this was just a little demonstration. Wait until I get my hands on some quality ingredients—then you’ll see real skill!”

He waved his hand commandingly. “Eat! I want everything finished—no leftovers!”

Everyone laughed heartily, picking up their chopsticks to demolish the food. After a long day and a meager lunch, even Tang Hong couldn’t resist, digging in with gusto.

“The chicken is so tender… the mushroom soup is so fresh…”

“The shredded pork in garlic sauce is amazing… especially the sauce—it’s perfect with rice.”

“The spicy beef slices are so fragrant… hey, save me some soup!”

Like a whirlwind, the six dishes vanished in no time. Tang Hong put down her second bowl of rice and couldn’t help but burp, satisfied. “It’s been ages since I’ve eaten my fill!”

Zhuang Chen watched as Xia Long and Xia Hu, bowls in hand, still looked unsatisfied, and laughed heartily. For a chef, this was the greatest sense of accomplishment—no matter who the diners were, it never got old.

Xia Long and Xia Hu helped tidy up and left the room, leaving Zhuang Chen and Tang Hong alone. Zhuang Chen looked at the office beauty reclining on the sofa and suddenly found himself at a loss for words, not knowing what to say.

“I’ve never seen a billionaire’s mansion before,” Tang Hong murmured, her cheeks flushed as she slowly slipped off her high heels and sank comfortably into the leather sofa. “Don’t bother me. Let me enjoy this moment.”

Zhuang Chen smiled, leaned back as well, and the two sat in comfortable silence, savoring the contentment after a meal.

“Is there any more wine?” Tang Hong asked softly. “If there is, pour me another glass.”

Zhuang Chen paused, then slowly stood up, opened another bottle, and poured two glasses, handing one to Tang Hong. In truth, they hadn’t drunk much—the wine was low in alcohol, though it had a bit of a delayed effect.

“Today is actually my birthday,” Tang Hong said, raising her glass, swirling the wine gently, her eyes hazy. “And it’s also the day I officially resigned.”

Zhuang Chen was taken aback, watching as she slipped into a pensive state. He didn’t speak, just quietly took out his phone and sent a message.

“It’s been ten years in the capital, a full decade. I thought hard work would earn me respect and recognition, but in the end…” Her voice was soft. “In the end, it couldn’t compare to a single word from someone else.”

“So… was I just naïve?”

“Or is this just the reality of society?”

She finished her glass in one gulp, poured herself another, sighed deeply, and gazed at the city lights outside, silent.

Zhuang Chen sipped his wine, let the flavors linger, and finally spoke. “From my perspective, it’s not your fault—it’s certainly not about your professional abilities. As for the rest, well, that’s just how society is. Fate, luck, environment, virtue, learning—it’s always been that way.”

“Fate, huh?” Tang Hong shook her head, took another sip, and said with a wry smile, “Maybe. It’s normal, really. No one owes anyone anything. In the end, it’s all about mutual benefit.”

“I come from a small county town, an ordinary family, ordinary school, ordinary grades. Nothing remarkable about me—a plain, ordinary girl.”

“I loved reading fashion magazines, always dreamed of becoming a model, wearing beautiful clothes every day, walking the runway, basking in the spotlight.”

“I came to the capital without hesitation, worked hard, got cheated, met a few scoundrels. After ten years, I finally turned my dream into a career. But in the end…”

She drained her glass, her face flushed, looked back at Zhuang Chen, and forced a light tone. “Ah, it doesn’t matter. It was bound to happen sooner or later. At least I didn’t waste these past few years—I’ve built up some connections. Worst case, I’ll start my own studio. I won’t starve.”

Zhuang Chen nodded. Since the conversation had opened up, he asked curiously, “You’re planning to go it on your own?”