Since we are both reborn, of course I would choose the rich woman!

Chapter 388 Lin Yongzhen: I'm Not Afraid (6k Subscription Request)

There are many ways to get closer to someone and build a relationship, but the more natural and unexpected the approach, the easier it is for the relationship to progress smoothly.

For example, if you go on a motorcycle touring and you happen to meet someone like Brother Jin Yi and you get along well, you can definitely take off for a while.

Fishing is another great opportunity to encounter older, more experienced anglers. Especially when an older angler with tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment is outmatched by a fellow angler with less impressive gear, he's bound to have a chat with you.

As long as you can chat well, taking off a little is not a problem at all.

These aren't really any special secrets anymore.

There are countless examples in real life of people encountering a master while fishing and having their fate turned around.

This kind of "passive catering to preferences" is the most effective. Although what Lü Yao is doing now cannot be called catering to preferences, it is not difficult to use Xiao Hou's curiosity to increase interaction between the two parties and then bring them closer.

Especially now, Mr. Hou is probably going through a low point in his life.

So when Lü Yao suggested trying some cuisine from both the North and South, Boss Hou immediately perked up: "Come on, who's afraid of who!"

Lu Yao immediately took out his phone and said, "Of course, although I can cook, my skills are definitely just average. Wait for me to call someone."

Mr. Hou was stunned: "Wait, this involves calling in people?"

Lü Yao laughed and said, "Let me tell you, the person I shake isn't particularly skilled, but she has indeed studied under a master. If you're shaking a Cantonese cuisine master, that's fine too, no problem! I'm not afraid of challenges!"

Provoked, Xiao Hou pointed at Lü Yao and shouted, "I've never seen such an arrogant person! You're bullying me, Mr. Lü! You think you can take on my Cantonese chef with your half-baked skills? Dream on! I'm not going to take advantage of you. I'll just find one of my friends who's a good cook!"

Lu Yao made a firm decision: "It doesn't matter, we'll see."

Young Master Hou: "We'll see!"

Thus, Lü Yao's first meal in Chengdu ended in a slightly heated bet.

Of course, this tension isn't hostile; rather, it's friendly and enthusiastic, and this friendly and enthusiastic tension can actually help improve the relationship between the two sides.

After leaving Zhilanfang and getting into the car, Cheng Xinyu said as she started the engine, "Boss, do you know this Mr. Hou?"

Lin Yongzhen thought about it carefully. She had never heard of this person in her circle, so she looked at Lü Yao with curiosity. As a shrewd person, she could tell that Lü Yao's enthusiasm tonight had completely exceeded the scope of "making friends". According to Lin Yongzhen's understanding of Lü Yao, it even felt like he was deliberately trying to curry favor with her.

After Lin Yongzhen said that, Lü Yao realized that he had been too enthusiastic tonight. But not only did Lin Yongzhen not understand Lü Yao's behavior tonight, Hou Yulou was probably also confused.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Hou Yulou could only conclude that Lü Yao's actions tonight were a case of "instant rapport".

Lu Yao leaned back in the back seat and said, "I remember this guy has a good relationship with the CEO of a new tech company in Hangzhou. They're childhood friends. I thought I'd try to get to know him better, it's not a bad thing, is it?"

Lin Yongzhen nodded, indicating her understanding.

In her mind, Lü Yao's behavior was just a casual move. Whether it would be useful or how useful it would be, the person who made such a move didn't care at all at the time. It was like how powerful ministers in ancient times supported their retainers. As long as you had a skill, whether it was breaking into houses or stealing chickens and dogs, those powerful ministers and their sons would support you.

Who knows when it might come in handy?

But from Lü Yao's perspective, this is a real investment in the future.

After returning to the hotel, Cheng Xinyu, under Lü Yao's instructions, began arranging Li Qiuwen's itinerary.

Since discovering Li Qiuwen's talent in cooking, Lü Yao has arranged for Li Qiuwen to take the path of recording her beautiful life through self-made cooking videos, and the character growth arc created on the short video platform is also very obvious.

From starting with selfies to later having a team, learning from a master, and doing restaurant reviews, Lü Yao has clearly laid out the growth path of a beautiful, ordinary food blogger.

Currently, Li Qiuwen is in the stage of apprenticing to a master, but she has already passed the novice stage and entered the stage of learning the various treasured, complex, and particularly time-consuming dishes.

In the past, the cooking methods for these dishes were the master's most closely guarded secrets. It was difficult to learn the true skills without treating the master like a father for more than ten years.

But things are different now.

People's living standards are getting better and better, and they can now enjoy all kinds of flavors that they couldn't eat before at relatively reasonable prices.

With the rise of Western food and fast food, people's yearning for the delicacies of the past has faded, and many restaurant chefs are no longer as particular as before, content with just getting by.

Not to mention that many restaurants no longer use open flames in their kitchens; basically, a rice cooker, an electric soup pot, and a microwave are enough to prepare meals.

Furthermore, the master-disciple relationship is not what it used to be.

So whether or not you teach me your most secret skills is actually irrelevant.

Many apprentices even feel that your signature dish is too complicated and difficult to make, and they don't really want to learn it.

So around 2010, many renowned chefs from various cuisines faded into obscurity.

Now, with the popularization of short videos, some culinary masters and their descendants who saw the potential of the internet have started making short videos to attract fans.

Food is the most important thing for people, and this saying is especially true at Dongda University.

Therefore, whether now or ten years from now, there will always be many short video creators in the food category. It is also a relatively easy category to start an account. The only difference is the difficulty of monetization.

However, at this stage, these masters or their disciples still put on airs to some extent. It is only when some real masters start to teach their most treasured skills that those masters will truly start to panic.

While those masters were still being coy, Lü Yao brought up the topic of Li Qiuwen becoming an apprentice.

Now is the time to test what Li Qiuwen has learned over the years.

This is also an opportunity for Li Qiuwen.

The food dispute between him and Hou Yulou tonight shows that Dongda University is too big, and the differences in food culture and customs between different regions are very large. People are more polite offline, but online, such disputes can be much more aggressive.

Southerners dislike the heavy and coarse flavors of northerners' food, while northerners dislike the bland and tasteless food of southerners. They are mutually resentful of each other.

Let alone comparing cuisines.

The debate over whether tofu pudding should be sweet or savory, or what to wrap in zongzi and how to eat it, between northern and southern tastes continued until Lü Yao returned from studying abroad in the future, and still couldn't come up with a clear and accurate answer.

Therefore, if Li Qiuwen can seize this opportunity and incorporate the vibrancy and everyday life into the differences between life in the North and South, then the videos she makes will definitely generate heated discussions online and attract two to five million fans.

Once she reached that level of fan base, Li Qiuwen was able to stand on her own.

Whether she creates her own restaurant brand or develops an online restaurant brand, she can completely turn her life around and achieve mainstream success.

This can be considered as Lü Yao fulfilling her promise to Li Qiuwen.

After explaining his plans for Li Qiuwen to Cheng Xinyu, Lü Yao and Cheng Xinyu went to sleep and rest.

……

The next day, Li Qiuwen, having been notified by Lü Yao, took a morning flight to Chengdu, where Cheng Xinyu picked her up from the airport.

After meeting Li Qiuwen in the living room of the hotel suite, Lü Yao smiled and said, "I'm sorry for calling you here so suddenly, but I did find a very favorable opportunity for you, so I hurriedly called you here."

Li Qiuwen smiled somewhat reservedly and said, "You're too kind, President Lü. It's all for work, I can do whatever I want."

Cheng Xinyu poured a glass of water and handed it to Li Qiuwen: "Why are you still holding back? Everyone here is family, it's okay."

Li Qiuwen glanced at Lin Yongzhen unconsciously, still unable to relax.

She herself did not come from the world of pleasure. Although she had already had many intimate stories with Lü Yao under Cheng Xinyu's matchmaking, she was still somewhat unfamiliar with Lin Yongzhen.

For most people in Lu Yao's company, there are two people they are particularly afraid of: Xiao Nali and Lin Yongzhen.

These people held Lin Yongzhen in even greater awe than Xiao Nali.

Because Xiao Nali was very polite, even respectful, to Lin Yongzhen.

This is the main reason why Li Qiuwen is unable to open up.

Lin Yongzhen didn't say anything to Li Qiuwen. After exchanging a few simple pleasantries, she sat down to do her own thing.

Although Lin Yongzhen is Lu Yao's secretary, her work is not limited to serving Lu Yao. She has her own social circle, intelligence circle, and hidden interest circle.

The identity of Lü Yao's secretary...

Although Lin Yongzhen enjoyed it, strictly speaking, it was just a way for her to conceal her identity. Therefore, Lü Yao rarely restrained Lin Yongzhen. Even if there was something that required Lin Yongzhen's help, he would ask her for help in order to get her to do it.

Looking at the reserved Li Qiuwen, Lü Yao said, "I looked at the account you created before you came. You're quite adept at it now. I've also given you a general overview of the video content you'll be making. As for how to design the script, you can improvise based on your own circumstances."

Li Qiuwen nodded seriously: "Yes! The company's filming and editing team won't arrive until this afternoon, so I'll use this time to write out the script ideas."

Lü Yao smiled and said, "These kinds of stories that focus on life and everyday life don't need to be filmed too professionally. The goal is to present a sense of recording life. When filming, the language of the camera must be well controlled."

Li Qiuwen nodded seriously: "Yes!"

After Li Qiuwen got busy, Lü Yao sat down opposite Lin Yongzhen. Watching Lin Yongzhen drink coffee while working on her laptop, Lü Yao smiled and said, "Sure enough, Sister Yongzhen's presence is still powerful. Even slightly inexperienced young people don't dare to look you in the eye."

Lin Yongzhen kept her eyes fixed on the computer screen and said without looking up, "You're just mocking me! But what exactly are you trying to do? I still can't figure out what you're up to."

Lu Yao shrugged: "Didn't I tell you? I came here to discover an internet celebrity. I see great potential in him."

this time.

Lin Yongzhen finally looked away from the computer screen and focused her gaze on Lü Yao.

That quiet, deep gaze remained fixed on Lü Yao, and even when Lin Yongzhen slightly turned her head and propped her head up with her hand, that gaze never wavered for a moment.

Under such scrutiny, Lü Yao did not feel pressured; instead, he felt cared for.

He even thought it felt pretty good.

After a long silence, Lin Yongzhen said seriously, "I feel that you are planning something big. All the things you have done since the New Year, when I put them all together, I can see that you seem to be preparing for your own death."

Lu Yao quickly stopped him and laughed, "Don't joke around. I'm so young, healthy, and rich. How could I possibly have such thoughts? You're overthinking it."

Lin Yongzhen shook her head and said, "It's not that I'm overthinking things, it's that you're doing too much. I wasn't wrong."

She put the laptop on her lap aside and said seriously, "You're preparing for your own funeral not because you think you're about to die, but because you feel that some things that might happen in the future are too important, too important for you to handle with your current status and power."

"You're using yourself as bait, and you're very likely to lose everything, which is why you've made so many preparations in advance."

As she spoke, Lin Yongzhen's tone became slightly reproachful: "I can see these things. President Rong, President Jian, and even Sister Shu, they are all so smart, how could they not see them?"

This time, Lü Yao could only remain silent.

Lin Yongzhen stood up, went to Lü Yao, and half-squatted down, supporting Lü Yao's knees. Then she looked up at Lü Yao and said in a calm but firm tone, "I don't know what you're planning, nor do I understand what kind of decision you've made, but remember this—"

"I'm not afraid."

Through Lin Yongzhen's eyes, Lü Yao saw her sincerity.

That is a calm and resolute attitude that can take even mountains of knives and seas of fire as nothing.

This is a feeling that can no longer be simply summarized as romantic love between a man and a woman.

This is the "shared destiny" forged in the crucible of "life and death."

For the first time in his life, Lü Yao experienced such a calm yet intense, light yet firm emotion.

Lu Yao took a deep breath, raised his hand and patted Lin Yongzhen's hand, saying sincerely, "I know."

"And you know me, I value my life very much."

Lin Yongzhen smiled and said, "I know~ I value my life too."

It's good to cherish life; we should all cherish our lives and live well.

She had finally escaped from an iron cage and met someone who was right for her. Her happy and promising life had only just begun, and she hadn't had enough of it yet.

Lu Yao booked a suite for Li Qiuwen across the hall, and then Lu Yao lived with Lin Yongzhen, while Cheng Xinyu lived with Li Qiuwen.

The script was almost finished the day after Li Qiuwen arrived. After reading it, Lü Yao made some minor revisions and worked with the cinematographer to finalize the camera language. Then, they were ready to move on to the next step.

Before contacting Hou Yulou, Lü Yao announced his itinerary on his Weibo account, setting his route in Chengdu, which not only spread among netizens but also sent a signal to the outside world.

After the news of his arrival is released, some local business tycoons and prominent figures will likely come to visit him.

Getting to know and befriend these people would make it easier for Lü Yao to do business locally.

Once he's established Li Qiuwen's account here, his process of finding Li Ziqi for collaboration should be easier.

However, before they could attract any prominent local figures, news from Boss Hou's side arrived first.

Young Master Hou sent a long voice message: "Mr. Lü, how's your preparation going? Mine is all ready! I called over an old gourmand I know, and after talking to him, wow! He's really fired up! When can we schedule a time to meet up?"

Lu Yao chuckled inwardly: "So eager, huh?"

Since getting to know Lü Yao, Xiao Hou's tone has become increasingly casual: "Wow! I was just kidding! I was just checking my phone and saw you posted your updates about Chengdu! In a few days, the locals will definitely be knocking down your door! Of course I have to hurry!"

Lü Yao smiled and said, "Then I'll take some men there tomorrow."

Mr. Hou got excited: "OK! Is there anything I need to prepare in advance?"

Lü Yao readily agreed: "No need! We'll buy it and make it right away!"

The next morning, Lü Yao led his men to the residence of Xiao Hou.

Mr. Hou lives in a super-large flat not far from the financial center in Wuhou District. In preparation for today's competition, Mr. Hou even used his spare time over the past two days to build another cabinet in the super-large living room of the flat, and also updated all kinds of pots, pans and utensils.

He doesn't usually cook when he lives here; he mostly eats seafood-flavored instant noodles.

Unfortunately, there aren't many takeout options available in Chengdu.

When Lü Yao arrived with Lin Yongzhen, Cheng Xinyu, Li Qiuwen, and two assistants, Young Master Hou exclaimed, "Wow! You actually brought so many people! But don't think I'm afraid of you just because of that."

Upon seeing the two assistants carrying two large black suitcases, Mr. Hou asked in bewilderment, "What's this?"

Lu Yao laughed and said, "As you know, I work in media and have quite a few signed artists. This lady is the one who competed in cooking with you from the south, and she is also one of my signed artists."

As he spoke, Lü Yao pushed Li Qiuwen forward and introduced her to President Hou.

Lü Yao: "This is Li Qiuwen. Qiuwen, this is the young CEO I mentioned to you."

Hou Yulou shook hands and greeted Li Qiuwen with exceptional politeness, then made an exaggerated expression and looked at Lü Yao again: "No way, President Lü! You have so many beautiful women around you! It makes this place look like a gathering of monks!"

Hou Yulou quickly called over his friends. He pointed to one of the men who was particularly tall, with a buzz cut, and whose muscular build couldn't be hidden even by a loose T-shirt, and said, "This is Gao Kui, we all call him Dali Kui."

Lü Yao smiled and said, "Hello, Brother Kui."

Gao Kui quickly waved his hand: "I dare not accept such praise, Mr. Lü. I have long admired you."

Hou Yulou then pointed to another tall and thin man on the other side, who was handsome in a distinctive way and exuded a refined and scholarly air, and said, "This is the chef I invited, Zhong Haitao! We all call him Gao Lao Tao."

Lü Yao then greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Zhong."

Zhong Haitao was a very cheerful person with exceptionally white teeth and an infectious smile. He extended his hand and shook hands with Lü Yao with great poise: "Hello, Mr. Lü."

After the two sides finished exchanging pleasantries, Lü Yao said, "Since we're going to have a competition on cuisines from the North and South, and I'm a self-media creator, and my daughter Qiuwen has even studied under a master in this field, I really can't bear to miss such a great topic. So I'm planning to post our competition online, is that alright?"

Hou Yulou patted his chest and assured, "No problem! What if I become an internet celebrity too? Hahahaha!"

Don’t say that!
Hou Yulou's appearance and demeanor might seem strange in real life, but people like that are more likely to become popular online, especially given his unconventional personality.

Lu Yao said confidently, "Mr. Hou, it would be easy for you to become an internet celebrity. The question is whether you even think of it."

Hou Yulou seemed eager to try: "Should I do something? Do you have a script? Let me take a look! Oh dear, you've actually made me a little nervous."

Lü Yao laughed and said, "No need! Just be yourself."

In fact, as the internet has developed, various internet celebrities have emerged one after another. From the early days of forums to the later era of blogs, microblogs, and public accounts, and now as netizens gradually shift their attention to short video platforms, netizens' demands for content on the internet have been constantly changing in different internet eras.

From initially seeing the world through the internet, to later bridging the "network distance" between ordinary people and celebrities, and the wealthy, to now—people are beginning to want to see more interesting and authentic lives of ordinary people.

That's why accounts like "Handmade Geng," "Three Sheep," and "Little Zhang" rose to prominence so quickly.

Authenticity and fun always have a stronger appeal than false idealism.

Once both sides were almost ready, Lü Yao nodded to Li Qiuwen. After Li Qiuwen closed her eyes and took two deep breaths, she opened her eyes again and a particularly sincere, bright, and infectious smile appeared on her face.

Holding a portable action camera, she said to the camera, "Hey everyone, it's Qiuwen~~ I've been learning from a master recently, but in the process, I encountered a clash between different food cultures. Then a friend of mine from the South said that the taste of Southern cuisine is unparalleled! I've been learning a lot about Shandong cuisine lately, so I'm a bit unconvinced! Here I am."

As she spoke, Li Qiuwen took the camera and approached Mr. Hou: "I'm going to have a real, offline meeting with our friend from the South!"

Young Master Hou appeared somewhat uneasy in the footage, but he still defiantly declared, "Go ahead and challenge me! Who's afraid of who! Of course, my brother will be in charge of cooking!"

As he spoke, Hou Yulou pulled Zhong Haitao over.

Li Qiuwen also showed a particularly enthusiastic expression: "OK, darlings! Let's have a match today! We're playing for real!"

(End of this chapter)