I met my whole family through Baidu Tieba.

After Ma Lei left, only Shen Kang and a few others remained in the tea room.

Jiang Chengle looked at Dong Baitao, said nothing, and just patted him on the shoulder.

Dong Baitao had calmed down and returned to his previous composed demeanor.

Dong Baitao glanced at Shen Kang, seemingly wanting to say something, but hesitated.

Shen Kang suddenly spoke up: "Jin Tong, Chun Fu, you haven't been to the toilet for ages, aren't you going to feel the urge?"

Ye Jintong had just finished watching a show and was munching on nuts without looking up. "Boss, my kidneys are strong, I don't need to hold it in."

Ji Chunfu was also eating. "Boss, aren't you holding back? Join us."

Shen Kang said, "My kidneys are good. But your kidneys are definitely not as good as mine, so you can go."

Seeing that the two were still eating, he had no choice but to forcibly push them out.

Ye Jintong was still reluctant to part with it, saying, "My figs!"

Shen Kang shoved the bag of figs into her hand and then pushed the two of them out.

Jiang Chengle smiled as he watched this scene. "Boss Shen, your employees have a great relationship with you and feel very relaxed around you."

"How so?"

"My impression of that Ye student before was that he was quite shrewd, capable, and very persevering, but in front of you he was just like an ordinary college student. This shows that they have a good relationship with you and are very relaxed."

Shen Kang thought for a moment, then smiled, "You flatter me. It's probably because I don't usually act like a boss in front of them."

As she spoke, she walked back to the coffee table and stood in front of Dong Baitao, proactively asking, "What's the situation with that Deputy Manager Ma?"

After Ye Jintong and Ji Chunfu left, Dong Baitao finally spoke up, sighing, "Actually, I have a younger brother. That Ma Lei is from my brother's side."

Shen Kang said, "Understood, no need to say more." In his heart, he thought, "Wow, this Dong family's business seems to be quite good. They're only this young, and they've already started to compete openly and covertly."

Dong Baitao glanced at him, nodded, and said nothing more, feeling somewhat annoyed.

He originally intended to be just an introducer, and whether it would work out depended entirely on Jiang Chengle.

Just like they said, she should do her best and let Shen Kang see her feelings.

Unexpectedly, Ma Lei suddenly appeared, making him the one responsible—these people always managed to ignite his anger.

To be honest, Dong Baitao didn't really trust Shen Kang's abilities. After all, he was the future son-in-law of Shengyuan Group, someone who had risen to power through women. People instinctively assumed that such a person was incompetent and could only live off a woman.

Dong Baitao subconsciously thought the same thing.

Therefore, he is not optimistic about the future of "If You Are the One".

Now that I'm the one responsible, if there are real losses, what will they say to my father...?

Thinking about this, Dong Baitao became even more frustrated.

However, he did not regret it.

After all, this matter is also related to Shen Kang. And Shen Kang is the future son-in-law of Shengyuan Group, the kind of person who has already been recognized by Zhou Man, and even suspected of being handpicked.

If we can win Shen Kangcheng's favor, maybe things will turn out for the better.

Dong Baitao thought to himself silently.

While Dong Baitao was pondering silently, Shen Kang was discussing the cooperation between the two parties with Jiang Chengle: "Manager Jiang, the contract has been signed. What do you think? Should we create a special table setting and a few dishes specifically for our event?"

Since the dinner for two offered by Zhongtanghui is a mystery reward, the more special and rare this mystery reward is, the more precious it will be, and the more it will attract more people to participate and discuss it. After all, things are valued for their rarity.

Thinking of this, Shen Kang added, "Ideally, it should be something your store doesn't sell, but only provides to the 'partners' on 'If You Are the One'."

Jiang Chengle is also a decisive person.

Now that the cooperation had been finalized, he stopped thinking about whether "If You Are the One" and Beiming Community could succeed, and instead began to seriously consider his partner's proposal.

"Well, providing it just for you is no problem, but if you're looking for something creative... does Mr. Shen have any ideas?"

Shen Kang shook his head: "What ideas could I possibly have? I only know how to eat, I can't cook, and I don't know anything about creative dishes. Manager Jiang, you're the expert in this area."

Jiang Chengle then began to ponder.

As expected of the manager of this upscale restaurant, Manager Jiang has extensive industry experience and quickly came up with some ideas.

"So, this appetizer will be called 'The Red Thread Connects Us'."

"Actually, it's a double-flavored assorted platter. The main dish features red and white shrimp, symbolizing a red thread, with pure lilies as the base. In the middle, gold leaf can be wrapped into a heart shape, symbolizing the connection of fate. The side dish is smoked salmon with avocado."

"The entire dish symbolizes a red thread entwining, signifying the beginning of a predestined relationship. The combination of two flavors subtly represents the different qualities and fusion of the man and woman."

Although Zhongtanghui is a Chinese restaurant, it is a Chinese restaurant that incorporates Western marketing, which is the kind of restaurant that later generations would call "put on a plate, put some grass, and sell to Shanghai tycoons for 850 yuan".

The dish proposed by Jiang Chengle is indeed in line with the style of Zhongtanghui.

Upon hearing this, Shen Kang also exclaimed in admiration, "It sounds quite good, but the name needs to be changed."

Jiang Chengle was taken aback. "Change the name?"

Shen Kang hummed in agreement. "Manager Jiang, our 'If You Are the One' event is mainly about secondhand transactions, not blind dates. Many college students are shy, so calling it 'matchmaking' would make them feel awkward."

"This is how we'll call it 'A Colorful Gathering.' Shrimp and pure white lilies form the base, while gold leaf is wrapped around them in a heart shape, symbolizing the precious bond of friendship. The entire dish is like the companions we meet in our youth, each unique yet complementing each other, using vibrant colors and flavors to open a beautiful chapter in this gathering of friends!"

Jiang Chengle understood. "So, it's like burying your head in the sand?"

Shen Kang remained noncommittal: "You can understand it that way too."

Jiang Cheng laughed. "Boss Shen, you college students are really something. You're clearly dating, but you insist on calling it friendship."

Shen Kang reacted immediately, saying, "Nonsense! What do you mean, dating? We're clearly just platonic godbrother and godsister!"

"???"

Jiang Chengle was completely baffled, his mind filled with questions.

Shen Kang then realized that it was just a habitual reflex of his throat muscles. He cleared his throat and moved on from the matter: "That was the appetizer. What's next? Manager Jiang, do you have any ideas? I thought that 'Colorful Gathering' dish was quite good."

Jiang Chengle didn't press further, and instead offered another idea.

"The soup is called 'Knot of Love'."

"It's actually a jade ring soup. The soup base is made with clear chicken broth and tender vegetable juice to give it a delicate jade green color. The main ingredient is a winter melon carved into thin rings, resembling a love knot, with crab meat filling inside. When the waiter serves the dish, he will deliberately explain the meaning of the love knot. The couple needs to use a spoon together to untie the winter melon ring, adding a fun and interactive element."

"The meaning behind this is naturally to work together with one heart and one mind to start a new chapter."

After listening, Shen Kang clapped his hands and praised repeatedly, feeling that professional matters should indeed be handled by professionals. Just hearing about the dish made him think it was delicious. "Great! But as before, the name needs to be changed."

Jiang Chengle slapped his forehead.

He forgot about this again, mainly because these dishes were originally "lovers' dishes" that he had participated in creating before.

These "Valentine's Day dishes" are a major source of profit for many restaurants, since they are associated with love.

As everyone knows, anything related to love can be sold for diamond prices, and people will still buy it.

Therefore, Jiang Chengle has participated in the creation of many such "lovers' dishes" and has a lot of recipes in his mind. Now, with a few modifications, he can put them into use, which is why he wanted to do it so quickly.

This slightly modified "Knot of Love" was already thought of by Shen Kang before Jiang Chengle even had to change its name.

"Let's call it 'Walking Hand in Hand'."

"The meaning remains the same as you said: only by joining hands can the winter melon ring be untied, echoing the tacit understanding and mutual assistance in friendship. Also, let's revise the description when the waiter serves the dish; have them say, 'Joining hands to untie the concentric ring, friendship grows stronger from this moment on!'"

Seeing how quickly Shen Kang could think, Jiang Chengle inexplicably felt a competitive spirit and immediately came up with another idea.

This time, even though Jiang Chengle had already remembered the matter of "wanting friendship but not love", he still deliberately used the name of love from before.

Then, Jiang Chengle stepped to the side, gestured with his hand, and tossed it out.

"The first main course, 'Flying Together'!"

This dish features crispy black pepper beef short ribs paired with pan-fried cod. The beef short ribs are slow-cooked at a low temperature, coated with a crispy skin, and drizzled with a secret black pepper sauce, resulting in tender and juicy meat. The cod is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, served with lemon foam for a refreshing and palate-cleansing touch. The two main ingredients are presented in a "flying wing to wing" shape, with honey-roasted pumpkin slices at the bottom, the gold and brown colors echoing a romantic atmosphere. Flying wing to wing, growing old together!

Shen Kang was truly a fun-loving and attention-seeking person. Seeing Jiang Chengle's posture, he also took a step to the side, stood opposite Jiang Chengle, and made a gesture with his hand.

The way the two of them were acting was just like when Tang Bohu and Dui Chuan Chang were exchanging couplets in the movie "Flirting Scholar".

"The two main materials are like close friends growing side by side. Presented as 'wings outstretched side by side,' with honey pumpkin slices at the base, symbolizing warm companionship. Therefore, it can be called 'Moving Forward Together'!"

Jiang Chengle took another step to the side, his tone aggressive.

"The second main course, 'The Intertwined Branches'! This dish is an upgraded version of 'Sliced ​​Beef and Offal in Chili Sauce,' featuring sliced ​​beef tongue and shank, paired with crisp lotus root slices and shredded green and red peppers. It's drizzled with a secret Sichuan peppercorn-infused sauce and red wine vinegar, creating a rich and layered flavor. On the plate, the meat slices are stacked in an interlaced pattern like 'tree branches,' and the accompanying plate is decorated with a 'intertwined branches' pattern using sugar art, symbolizing a harmonious and deeply rooted love!"

Shen Kang followed along with the two-person comedy act, feeling relaxed and carefree.

"The ingenious combination of different ingredients is like the tacit understanding and complementarity between close friends. Amidst the spicy and savory flavors, we savor diverse friendships, finding each other amidst the myriad tastes, because we are true friends; you know me, and I know you. This can be called 'the taste of true friendship'!"

"The four seasons resonate in harmony!..."

"The Four Elements of Youth!..."

"A match made in heaven! ... The waiter offered his blessings as he served the food, saying, 'You two are so fortunate, may your love be blissful!'"

"Time flies! ... The waiter brings blessings as he serves the dishes, wishing this sweetness to accompany you for three, five, or even longer!..."

……

Dong Baitao stood aside, staring blankly at the two people performing the duo act in front of him—what's wrong with these two?

But you know what, those two really made him crave it.