Vinegar essence mixed with alcohol

After three years of abstinence, Xu An suddenly indulged in sensual pleasures for two consecutive days. Rubbing his aching back, he sadly realized the problem of his age.

I forced myself to take a cold shower and then went to the shop.

When Xiao Lu saw the new strawberry on the boss's neck, his eyes widened and his expression was quite interesting.

Xiao Lu: Wait, what's going on, boss? Who exactly is that fierce boss's wife?

Xu An also felt a little embarrassed. He could remain calm once in a while, but to flaunt his rich private life to others for two consecutive days was somewhat awkward.

As Xu An changed into a white chef's uniform with a high collar, he cursed Shen Jiamu inwardly. This man was completely reckless when he was infatuated; the marks on his own body were even more exaggerated. If Xiao Lu saw this, the child would probably question his existence.

Xu An glanced at the time; it was exactly 11 p.m.

Shen Jiamu said he would come every night from now on, and Xu An felt a mix of emotions.

That night, he kept thinking of Shen Jiamu, who used to come to the bar to see him every day but never dared to speak to him. It was he who took the initiative to say the first words to each other.

Xu An clearly remembers mixing a Margarita and bringing it to Shen Jiamu, asking him, "Would you like to try it?"

Shen Jiamu nervously picked up the cup and drank, his expression of frowning from the salt on the rim of the cup was absolutely adorable.

A smile appeared on Xu An's face that he himself didn't even realize was on his face.

Lin Nuan was a little surprised. Xu An was usually a very cheerful person, and his smile was quite handsome. She had seen him in the past six months in various moods, from polite and courteous to teasing and helpless.

I've never seen him smile so genuinely and warmly before.

Lin Nuan felt a pang of sadness because Xu An had someone he liked, and she probably had no chance.

Lin Nuan has a respectable job, a considerable income, and a proud self-esteem. She likes Xu An, but she will never lower herself to compete with him.

Besides, she felt that Xu An was not a man she could tame.

"Ring ring—" The door opened and the handsome man who had come last night walked in, accompanied by a well-behaved and pretty boy who looked quite young.

Lin Nuan saw the smile on Xu An's face vanish instantly.

Shen Jiamu glanced at Xu An, then led his men to sit at a table by the window.

Xiao Lu brought over two hot towels and waited to order.

Not knowing what Shen Jiamu said, Xiao Lu turned around to look at Xu An with a troubled expression.

Xu An nodded and walked over.

Xu An wore a white chef's uniform with a long black apron that reached her knees, and her long legs, connected to her slender waist, swayed gracefully to Xiao Lu's side.

Xu An patted Xiao Lu on the shoulder. "Go ahead and get busy. I'll take care of this table."

"Yes," Xiao Lu replied, and went to attend to the other guests.

Shen Jiamu crossed his long legs, wiping his hands with a hot towel while leisurely watching Xu An.

The boy sitting opposite her blushed slightly and looked at Shen Jiamu obediently.

Xu An flashed his standard business smile and asked, "What would Mr. Shen like to eat tonight?"

Shen Jiamu raised her chin and asked the boy opposite her in a gentle tone, "What would you like to eat?"

The boy blushed and whispered, "Mr. Shen, I... I've never been to this store before, and I don't know what the signboard is."

Shen Jiamu nodded and said to Xu An, "Boss Xu, please give me your recommendation."

Xu An suggested earnestly, "It's too late for something too greasy. The oysters and yams today are quite good. How about we steam the oysters, have two bowls of thin yam noodles as the main course, and—and maybe add a side of scallion oil pork kidneys?"

Shen Jiamu laughed in anger. Oysters, yams, and kidneys are all kidney-tonifying foods. What was this implying to him?

Xu An smiled innocently, while the little boy opposite Shen Jiamu blushed deeply, but since Shen Jiamu didn't speak, he didn't dare to say anything either.

After a few seconds, Shen Jiamu said, "Okay, then, as we just agreed, will Boss Xu cook himself?"

Xu An put his hands behind his back and bowed gracefully. "I will naturally handle President Shen's order personally. Please wait a moment."

Shen Jiamu gritted his teeth as he watched Xu An's tall figure enter the kitchen, plotting how to make him reap what he sowed.

Xu An placed the order in the kitchen, and Xiao Ping, who did odd jobs, prepared the ingredients according to his instructions, while Xu An was responsible for seasoning and cooking.

Xu An didn't know why Shen Jiamu had brought people to his shop.

Was it unintentional? Was he trying to show off his current womanizing ways? Or was he trying to prove that he had truly let go of his feelings for her?

In a moment of distraction, the sharp tip of the knife pierced his pale fingertip, and a bead of bright red blood rolled down instantly.

"Oh dear, boss, what's wrong? Let me cut it. You go disinfect and bandage it." Xiaoping took the kitchen knife, rinsed it under water, and continued Xu An's work.

Xu An rinsed his fingers under cold water for a while. His slightly long bangs were projected onto his eyes under the light, making it impossible to see his expression. He just suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly.

Xu An simply wrapped the wound with a band-aid and continued cooking. Dishes were brought out of the kitchen one after another. When the last dish, braised pork kidney with scallion oil, was finished, Xu An personally carried it over.

Xu An held the tray behind his back with one hand and said, "Your dishes are all served. Please enjoy your meal. The wine is complimentary. I wish you both a pleasant evening."

The moment Xu An turned around, Shen Jiamu saw his injured finger. His heart skipped a beat, and his body acted before his mind, standing up to grab Xu An's hand.

He had just stood up, his fingers almost touching Xu An, when the door opened and a fiery red figure rushed out, throwing himself directly at Xu An. A boy called out in a spoiled tone, "Brother Xu An—"

Xu An was knocked back a step before regaining his balance. He patted the boy's back and said, "Let go. So many people are watching. Aren't you afraid of being photographed and gossiped about?"

The boy, dressed in a red hip-hop outfit, loosened his grip slightly, pouted, and said, "I wish I could be famous enough to have paparazzi following me around, then I'd let them take pictures of me."

Hsu An-hsiao: "How did the audition go today?"

"Don't mention it—" The boy, about to confide in someone, felt a cold gaze behind him. He turned around and met Shen Jiamu's deep, icy eyes. He unconsciously loosened his grip on Xu An and whispered, "Do you know him?"

Xu An glanced at Shen Jiamu, but didn't intend to introduce them. He nodded to the boy and said, "Okay, let's go. Let's go to the bar and tell each other what you want to eat. I'll make it for you."

The boy in red followed Xu An toward the bar, saying as he walked, "Anything is fine, let the kitchen make it. Chat with me for a while, I'm in a really bad mood."

Xu An affectionately patted the boy's head and said, "Okay."

The boy opposite Shen Jiamu saw that he was staring at the restaurant owner with a frighteningly fierce look in his eyes, so he didn't dare to ask or eat.

Shen Jiamu gripped the crystal glass tightly with his well-defined fingers, his chest heaving violently as if the suppressed anger was about to erupt at any moment.

He gritted his teeth and thought to himself, "Xu An, you're really something!"