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They were strangers, after all. Though Huo Jiu looked young, the old lady still had some reservations. "Wouldn't that be too much trouble? We'd better not."

"It's no trouble." Huo Jiu smiled. He had to cook for Diwu Ling anyway. Since someone was paying, he only needed to make a little extra and bring it to Nannan.

Huo Jiu was very skilled at using someone else's generosity to earn himself a favor.

Hearing Huo Jiu say that, the old lady stopped refusing. "Then we'll meet at the square tonight. I'll bring you some Osmanthus Red-Date Cake I made myself."

Huo Jiu got the old lady's number and said with a grin, "Then it's settled. See you tonight."

Nannan waved at Huo Jiu and said in her soft, childish voice, "Bye-bye, big treasure."

Huo Jiu waved goodbye to Nannan as well. Only after the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd had completely hidden Nannan and the old lady from sight did he turn around, refreshed and energized, and gaze at the fresh-food stall owner as though sharpening his knives for battle.

"Give me a mandarin fish..."

After buying the groceries, Huo Jiu carried the ingredients to find Diwu Ling. On the way, he called Yan Dongge and asked him to help soak some shark fin and abalone. "...I'll need them in a few days."

Yan Dongge had not expected Huo Jiu to call him. For a moment, he was almost flattered beyond measure. Smiling, he replied, "You can bring the ingredients over. I'll soak them myself."

Huo Jiu thanked him softly. After hanging up, he looked at the domineering CEO who had personally come downstairs to meet him and raised the bags of ingredients in his hands. "Which floor is your company cafeteria on? I need to requisition the kitchen."

Diwu Ling quietly swept a glance over the ingredients Huo Jiu was carrying and reached out to take them. "The cafeteria is on the second floor."

Huo Jiu stepped back, avoiding Diwu Ling's outstretched hand. "I bought fish. Don't get your clothes wet."

One glance was enough for him to tell that Diwu Ling was wearing a custom-tailored suit. It would be troublesome if it got wet.

Diwu Ling said softly, "It's fine."

He took two bags of ingredients from Huo Jiu and asked with a gentle smile, "What are we having today?"

"Squirrel Mandarin Fish, Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork, Lychee Pork, Sweet-and-Sour Spare Ribs, and Sour Bamboo Shoot and Chicken-Skin Soup. For dessert, Suzhou-Style Boat Pastries..." As Huo Jiu listed the dishes, he gradually fell silent.

He had not felt anything was wrong while buying groceries, but now that he recited his planned menu dish by dish, he suddenly realized, "Isn't this a little too sweet?"

"No." Diwu Ling carried the two bags of groceries, his face still cold and stern as ever, and said in a reserved tone, "This is perfect."

As he spoke, his pace unconsciously quickened. His long legs carried him to the elevator in just a few strides.

Huo Jiu carried the remaining bags of ingredients and followed leisurely behind Diwu Ling. Somehow, he could read a hint of excitement and happiness in that back, worthy of a male model.

Did this domineering CEO like sweets?

Huo Jiu blinked. Looking at Diwu Ling's expressionless face, he wisely chose not to ask.

After the two entered the elevator, the receptionist picked up her phone in shock and began frantically sending exclamation marks to the company group chat—

[!!!!!!! This is huge! The biggest boss personally took a cute guy to the second-floor cafeteria. The cute guy was even carrying fresh vegetables and fish!]

[??? What does that mean?]

[What cute guy?]

[A handsome guy came to see the big boss?]

[What's the relationship between that cute guy and the boss?]

[Why does it have to be a cute guy?]

[The cute guy was carrying fresh vegetables and fish? Why did he bring vegetables and fish to the company?]

In an instant, the previously quiet company group chat erupted with constant notifications. Everyone emerged during breaks in their work to gossip.

Huo Jiu obviously had no idea about the shock and confusion he had caused among Turing Group's employees. He carried the ingredients to the second floor. Diwu Ling did not take him to the main cafeteria's back kitchen, but instead led him to the small cafeteria used for company executives' gatherings.

—Since it was a small cafeteria specifically providing work meals for mid-to-senior management and business partners, its kitchen had every seasoning imaginable, and the ingredients purchased by the procurement department that morning were especially fresh.

Huo Jiu glanced over the kitchen's prepared ingredients and was slightly surprised.

He had not expected a company cafeteria to stock such abundant ingredients. It was practically on par with a restaurant.

It seemed Diwu Ling really was a foodie.

Then again, if Diwu Ling were not a foodie, he would not have thought to persuade Huo Jiu to cook for him by offering one million per dish.

When he thought about it that way, Huo Jiu himself was the one who ultimately benefited.

Huo Jiu glanced at Diwu Ling, feeling extremely pleased.

What he did not know was that Turing Group's small cafeteria was stocked so lavishly entirely because of him.

After personally witnessing First-Rank Pavilion fool customers with fake shark fin, Diwu Ling had been deeply shocked. He had not expected even a time-honored establishment with more than three hundred years of history like First-Rank Pavilion to do something so foolish as to ruin its own reputation. Beyond his anger, Diwu Ling no longer dared to place complete faith in the professional integrity of the city's other restaurants.

He could not tell whether ingredients were good or bad, genuine or fake, but he was unwilling to be deceived. Nor did he want to become a victim of other restaurants cutting costs. After thinking about it for half the night, he finally decided to build up the company's small cafeteria.

He had the procurement department buy fresh ingredients, then hired renowned chefs in the industry at high salaries to cook for the company. Though it would add to the budget, at least it would guarantee dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted good, with genuine ingredients. It could also be considered an added employee benefit for the company's mid-to-senior management, while encouraging entry-level employees to work hard and strive for promotion.

As a domineering CEO, Diwu Ling had always acted swiftly and decisively. He was a man with exceptionally strong execution. Once he decided to do something, he would never wait until the next day if circumstances allowed.

Thus, the day after he ate the suspected fake shark fin, Turing Group's small cafeteria had already undergone a complete transformation.

Because time was tight, the company had not yet hired a full-time chef. They had temporarily called in a chef from a restaurant to cook. Just as the appointment was made, Diwu Ling received Huo Jiu's call.