Half an hour later, Wu Qing drove to the foot of a small mountain, arriving at a pair of very grand, tightly closed gates. After confirming their identity, the gates then slowly opened, and the rcedes drove onto a gently sloping, wide mountain road, broad enough for four large cars to run side by side.
On both sides of the mountain road, trees were trimd neatly in unison, while various exotic flowers and grasses competed in their beauty. As the car continued up the mountain road, man-made lakes, golf courses, horse stables, swimming pools, and even a helipad appeared one by one in the view of the people in the car, followed by widely spaced villas.
Counting from the mont they entered the outer gate, Wu Qing drove for another dozen minutes before pulling into a parking lot. This entire mountain belonged to the Chu family, a testant to their imnse wealth.
Wu Qing parked the car and asked Chu Ge and Chu Shiyao if they needed a ride vehicle. Receiving a negative response, he followed behind them as they walked toward a three-story villa occupying more than 3,000 square ters.
Before long, the three of them arrived near the villa, ready to reach the door when a familiar figure appeared in their sight.
It was Chu Chengrui. He stopped at the door, wearing a kindly smile, with his hair neatly combed and dressed in a white casual suit, looking vibrant and full of spirit.
Seeing Chu Chengrui, Chu Shiyao waved her hand with a smile, "Old Chu! I've brought Chu Ge back ho!"
Chu Chengrui seed completely unfazed by the nickna "Old Chu," smiling even more affectionately.
As they reached Chu Chengrui's side, Chu Ge smiled and said, "Mr. Chu, why did you co out yourself? I'm really unworthy of such attentiveness."
"Little Chu, you can't write two 'Chu' characters with one stroke. Why do you always speak so formally? Besides, I just ca out for a casual walk and happened to run into you. What's there to be unworthy of?"
Chu Chengrui responded casually, his gaze and tone expressing a non-resentful rebuke that an elder might give to a younger.
If Chu Ge's earlier words were out of politeness, then Chu Chengrui's response was certainly the sa. Chu Ge did not believe this was re coincidence. It was clear that Chu Chengrui ca out to welco them, more precisely, to welco him.
Though Chu Ge did not feel overly flattered, he did find it a bit odd. From an age or status standpoint, there was no need for Chu Chengrui to co out to greet him.
Moreover, Chu Ge noticed that this ti Chu Chengrui seed even more enthusiastic towards him. His gaze was full of delight, and his smile was nothing like a re facade; it genuinely seed like he was truly happy.
As Chu Ge pondered, Chu Chengrui looked him up and down a few tis, patted his shoulder, and nodded with a very kind smile.
"Hmm, your recovery is quite impressive. Looking at your lively appearance now, who would have thought you recently suffered such serious injuries? Youth is wonderful, really wonderful."
"Ha, what's so great about being young? Everyone's been young before. In a few decades, if I can be half as robust as you are now, Mr. Chu, I'd be content."
"Haha..."
Chu Ge exchanged a few polite words with Chu Chengrui, casually observing every change in his expression, but for now, he couldn't discern any clues.
Entering the villa, the entire first floor was a massive reception room. Although all the furnishings didn't appear particularly eye-catching, even a vase or a hanging painting was undoubtedly valuable.
They each took a seat, and after chatting for a while, they talked about Chu Ge inviting Chu Chengrui and Chu Shiyao to dinner.
"Mr. Chu, honestly, I'm quite ashad to say, since I've known you, you've shown a lot of care. Today, I'd really like you to give an opportunity to treat you to dinner and let respectfully toast you a few tis."
"Haha, Yaoyao ntioned this to earlier. Your kind intention alone makes happy, but since you're here, you're my guest. Let's not go out for dinner; we can eat at ho. I have chefs from various countries who can make any kind of cuisine."
As soon as Chu Chengrui finished speaking, Chu Ge didn't have ti to respond before Chu Shiyao interjected with a laugh, "Old Chu, you know, there are so dishes that our chefs here really can't make."
"Oh?" Chu Chengrui turned to look at Chu Shiyao, "What's so difficult to make?"
"Well..." Chu Shiyao giggled, acting mysteriously for a few seconds before continuing, "That's Chu Ge's handiwork. Even if it's the sa dish, others will definitely not be able to replicate his flavor."
Hearing Chu Shiyao say this, Chu Chengrui seed a bit speechless, "Yaoyao, are you thinking of making Chu Ge cook now that he's here?"
"Actually... I suddenly feel particularly eager to taste Chu Ge's cooking again. When we were neighbors, I often went to his place for als. His cooking was really delicious, and unknowingly, I realize it's been so long since I last had it."
Chu Shiyao stuck out her tongue and scratched her head, looking a bit embarrassed, but more so, full of hope.
"You kid... really..." Chu Chengrui looked exasperated, clearly at a loss for words.
Seeing this, Chu Ge thought for a mont and said, "Since Yaoyao wants to eat, how about I give it a try?"
To Chu Ge, cooking a al wasn't a big deal, but to his surprise, Chu Chengrui seed hesitant, as if it was a difficult decision for him.
"Old Chu, you see Brother Chu has agreed, why don't you agree too?"
Chu Shiyao pleaded again, and Chu Chengrui finally gave in, looking at Chu Ge helplessly, "Little Chu, you... sigh, look at this girl, I really can't do anything about her, so could you trouble yourself?"
Chu Ge smiled, "It's no trouble at all, cooking is one of my hobbies. As long as Mr. Chu isn't worried about ruining your ingredients, it's fine."
"That won't be a problem at all."
Having decided on the al, Chu Chengrui looked even more helpless, while Chu Shiyao was overjoyed, clinging to Chu Ge's arm, excitedly rattling off the nas of dishes she wanted to eat.
She listed seven or eight dishes she'd had at Chu Ge's before, then realized she'd probably asked for too much, chuckled awkwardly, scratched her head, and said, sowhat reluctantly, "Hmm... these dishes will do, and as for the main dish, can you make that stir-fried noodle dish you made for last ti?"
"No problem."
Chu Ge nodded straightforwardly and glanced at the helpless and conflicted expression on Chu Chengrui, "Mr. Chu, is there anything else you'd like to eat besides what Yaoyao ntioned?"
Chu Chengrui shook his head, "This is more than enough, it's just too much trouble for you."
Chu Ge smiled and checked the ti. Although it was still a while before noon, considering the list of dishes Chu Shiyao had given him, he would need so ti for preparation. By the ti he finished prepping and cooking, it would be about ti for lunch.
He stood up from his seat, "Shall I start preparing now?"
Chu Shiyao stood up too, "Let's go, I'll take you to the kitchen and give you a hand."
"Chu Shiyao!"
Just as Chu Shiyao was about to lean towards Chu Ge, she was startled by the noticeably stern voice of Chu Chengrui.
Ever since she had been in contact with Chu Chengrui, he'd accommodated her in everything, doting on her. It seed to be the first ti she heard him use such a strict tone, even calling her by her full na.
Chu Shiyao was taken aback, and Chu Ge found it very puzzling. In that instant, he clearly felt that Chu Chengrui's voice was filled with anger.
Why get so upset over such a trivial matter? Wasn't it making a mountain out of a molehill?
Seeing Chu Shiyao turn her head, and seeing her bewildered look, Chu Chengrui softened his tone and explained.
"Yaoyao, there's always soone in the kitchen to help Chu Ge with these things. You haven't handled those kitchen tools in ages, and there are a lot of knives. What if you accidentally cut yourself?"
This ti, it was Chu Shiyao who looked conflicted. She looked at Chu Chengrui speechlessly and said, "Oh co on, even if I'm not super skilled, I'm not that clumsy, right? Besides... I used to be a nurse, dealing with scissors and scalpels every day. How could I easily get injured?"
Chu Chengrui shook his head indulgently and helplessly, "Yaoyao, you did say, that was all in the past. I used to be able to sprint across the entire soccer field, but now I definitely can't. Listen to grandpa, don't get involved in this, okay?"
"You were sprinting across the field when you were probably only in your teens or early twenties, right? You're much older now. I'm not seventy or eighty, how can you make such a comparison..."
Chu Shiyao muttered this in her heart but didn't say it out loud. She looked at Chu Ge, then at Chu Chengrui, and finally shrugged helplessly, "Alright, I won't help Brother Chu in the kitchen, but I can at least walk him there, right?"
Chu Chengrui smiled, looking sowhat relieved, and without saying more, Chu Shiyao tugged Chu Ge's arm and headed towards the kitchen.
Chu Chengrui's reaction made Chu Ge even more intrigued.
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