Chapter 154
The two weeks Su Bin spent with Allen at Marisais Manor nearly made his taste buds wither away. Even the typically light-flavored Japanese cuisine had him practically drooling in anticipation.
“It’s just some sashimi. What’s the big deal?” Qin Chao eyed Su Bin skeptically.
Sure, they hadn’t gone hungry at the manor and even had meat every day, but with limited cooking options, anyone would get tired of pan-fried steak and beef stew day after day! And out of consideration for Alan, Su Bin rarely ate seafood in his presence (even though Allen didn’t mind). Now faced with fresh sashimi, Su Bin was practically salivating.
“If I’d stayed there any longer, I might’ve renounced worldly desires altogether…”
“Renounce worldly desires? Where on earth were you staying?” Qin Chao only knew Su Bin had gone on vacation with his roommate but wasn’t aware of their deeper relationship. Unlike their mutual friend Lily, Qin Chao wasn’t the type to assume two close men were romantically involved.
Su Bin gave a detailed account of his two weeks in near isolation with Allen. Qin Chao listened in astonishment. “You two stayed in a stone house? For two whole weeks?”
“Pretty much. We went to a local Christmas market once, but it was far, so we only made one trip.”
“What did you guys even do in the room all day?”
“I don’t know… stared into space, reflected on life…” And, well, kissed and made love…
Qin Chao’s expression turned odd. “Did you share a bed?”
“Uh… yeah.”
Su Bin wasn’t worried about Qin Chao suspecting anything. Even if Qin Chao asked directly, he wouldn’t hide it—he knew Qin Chao wouldn’t judge him for it. But Qin Chao didn’t go there at all. “Damn, two guys stuck together for two weeks. Were you trying to become monks or something?”
“…Haha,” Su Bin dryly chuckled. If Qin Chao knew about their other activities, every monk in existence would probably cry.
Ever oblivious, Qin Chao asked, “By the way, I’ve been wondering—you broke up with your girlfriend over a year ago. Why haven’t you found someone new?”
“Uh…” Su Bin scratched his head awkwardly. “Not interested.”
“Why? Still hung up on your ex?”
“No!” Su Bin denied immediately.
“You’re successful now—good looks, solid education, steady career—and still single? What a waste!”
“You’re single too!” Su Bin retorted.
Qin Chao laughed. “Me? Come on. Look at me—I’m no prize. What girl would want me?”
“By your logic, good-looking people shouldn’t be single either?”
“We’re single for the greater good. You being single, though? That’s just wasted potential.”
Qin Chao’s ridiculous reasoning left Su Bin speechless. He had half a mind to tell Qin Chao he was already seeing someone but suddenly changed his approach. “My roommate hasn’t dated anyone either. Why don’t you suspect us of being a couple?”
“That’s different.” Qin Chao had met Allen a few times and was initially stunned by him. “Honestly? That guy doesn’t even seem human. He doesn’t feel like he belongs in this world. And looking like that? Who could he even fall for? Actually, if someone did fall for him, they’d probably regret it. A guy like that… good to admire from afar, maybe as a celebrity crush. But as a lover or family member? That’s just asking for trouble.”
“…” Su Bin was speechless.
Indeed, from every perspective, Allen didn’t seem like he came from the same world as them.
“If you ask me,” Qin Chao continued, “your roommate looks like he’s destined to live and die alone. If he ever does fall for someone, that person’s life is going to suck.”
“…Why do you think that?”
“Look at him—doesn’t he seem high-maintenance? And he’s just your roommate, but he already makes you do all this stuff for him like some personal servant.”
Qin Chao had seen Su Bin bring Allen meals and run errands for him when they worked together. He even heard about Allen imposing a curfew on Su Bin. It seemed absurd until he learned Allen was the big boss behind “Su’s Kitchen.” Then it made a little more sense.
Qin Chao had once asked why Allen helped Su Bin, and Su Bin had vaguely replied that Allen saw him as a friend. To Qin Chao, being regarded as a friend by someone like Allen was an accomplishment in itself.
Allen’s innate superiority made it impossible for him to bow to anyone or anything. If that’s how he treated friends, how would he treat someone he loved?
Qin Chao’s insights left Su Bin in thought.
If Allen treated someone else the way he treated Su Bin, how would they respond?
…Well, if they were hopelessly infatuated, they’d probably enjoy it.
Sometimes, Su Bin felt like being bossed around by someone like Allen was almost an honor. Being micromanaged by Allen even gave him a sense of care and attention. How could he even think about whether it was tolerable or not?
Maybe he was just a natural-born masochist. After being treated like this for so long, not only had he grown used to it, but he might have even started to… enjoy it. Orz…
At night, Su Bin carefully explained everything about Chef Wang to Allen.
Allen asked, “What are you thinking? Do you want him in jail or bankrupt?”
Su Bin: “…” Isn’t that a bit too harsh?
Allen continued, “At his level, the worst that could happen is a fine or being forced to close his restaurant. If you want him in jail, you’ll need to pin more charges on him.”
Su Bin asked, “What kind of charges?”
Allen replied, “Didn’t he have food safety issues in the past? If he’s a repeat offender, the chances of imprisonment are pretty high.”
Su Bin remembered that Chef Wang had three sons, two of whom were still in school. Wang was the backbone of his family. Although what he did was out of line, sending him to jail or bankrupting him felt excessively cruel.
Frowning, Su Bin said, “As long as he changes the restaurant’s name and removes those signature dishes he plagiarized from the ‘Experimental Shop,’ let’s leave it at that.”
Allen smiled and teased, “As a businessman, you shouldn’t be so softhearted.”
“We just have different philosophies; there’s no deep grudge between us. I don’t want to push things too far,” Su Bin reasoned, then asked Allen, “Do you think I’m being too weak?”
Allen kissed him and said, “As long as you’re happy.”
However, Su Bin didn’t realize that his small act of mercy would plant the seeds of a major problem, one that nearly brought disaster to Allen later.
Not long after, Chef Wang’s restaurant was ordered to make corrections, and the M City food regulatory authority listed him as a key inspection target.
Hoping to profit off Su Bin’s fame, Chef Wang ended up with the opposite result. The incident caused an uproar, even making it into the local newspaper.
Chef Wang’s reputation was thoroughly ruined. The restaurant, open for only a few months, spiraled into decline, faring even worse than his previous one. Now, it was almost deserted.
Qin Chao finally understood why Su Bin had been so calm from start to finish. The power of the person behind him was overwhelming—destroying Chef Wang was as easy as crushing an ant.
But Qin Chao was still concerned. He knew Chef Wang wasn’t a good person. If he were sensible, he wouldn’t have had food safety issues after stealing recipes.
With such distorted values, Chef Wang wasn’t likely to change anytime soon. Su Bin’s decision to let him off might not soften him but instead foster resentment. It was like leaving someone to suffer half-dead rather than ending them quickly.
Even so, Qin Chao figured Allen would have precautions in place, given his strength, and didn’t bother warning Su Bin.
While Chef Wang’s restaurant faced a dead end, Su Bin’s “Experimental Shop” thrived. By Easter the following year, they had opened a chain in D City, the capital of Country B, to great acclaim.
The restaurant’s fame spread far and wide, even attracting attention from national TV media. When it was revealed that the owner was a twenty-something international student, people in his home country were astonished. Many sought to interview the mysterious “Boss Su.”
However, during this period, Su Bin was busy with his thesis and spent most days in the library, overwhelmed. He declined all interview requests, focusing solely on his studies.
Since Yang Chengzhe had expertise in finance, Su Bin frequently consulted him.
One day, after answering his questions, Yang Chengzhe joked, “You’re struggling so much with your undergrad thesis—want me to write it for you?”
Su Bin was stunned. “Huh? How could you write it for me?”
Yang Chengzhe said casually, “Back when I first came to Country B, I often ghostwrote essays for undergrad kids in finance and physics. Five hundred bucks per essay, guaranteed at least a second-class grade. Cheap, right?”
Su Bin twitched. “…That’s a thing?”
Recalling a story Sun Yujie once told him about students buying exam answers, Su Bin thought, So this kind of industry really exists in Country B, and there’s a ghostwriter right next to me!
Su Bin asked, “How did they find you?”
“There are intermediary agencies. You just sign up,” Yang Chengzhe replied, rubbing his chin with a grin. “So, want me to help you? I won’t charge you.”
Su Bin lowered his eyes. “I-I’d rather write it myself…”
Yang Chengzhe ruffled his hair with a smile. “Good kid.”
Su Bin: “…” Chengzhe, were you seriously offering, or just teasing me? QAQ
Not far away, Qi Xin overheard and asked Yang Chengzhe, “Why didn’t you tell me you could ghostwrite assignments?”
Yang Chengzhe replied, “Why?”
Qi Xin said, “Write for me! I’ll pay you.”
Yang Chengzhe shook his finger. “No. Even if you pay me, I won’t do it.”
Qi Xin’s face darkened, like a child denied candy. “Why can he get your help?”
Yang Chengzhe raised an eyebrow. “How can you compare to Su Bin?”
Qi Xin: “…”
Su Bin: “…” Chengzhe, can you not drag me into this? Qi Xin and I just became friends! -_-#
Yang Chengzhe added fuel to the fire: “Su Bin is obedient and such a good kid. Helping him with an assignment wouldn’t hurt. But you? You’re so clueless. Shouldn’t you be working hard to learn instead? If I write for you, what future will you have?”
Qi Xin exploded, “Cut the crap! You just don’t like me, right?”
Yang Chengzhe sneered, “What does this have to do with you? I just don’t like idiots.”
Qi Xin: “You…!”
Unable to bear it, Su Bin fled back to his room with his thesis and materials.
