Chapter 66: Chef A-Yong

The new chef’s skills were truly remarkable—he sliced the four-cornered deer’s hind leg as thin as paper.

After a quick pass over the blazing fire, the meat slices became translucent.

Then, after sprinkling on various seasonings, they were ready to eat.

Wang Sandong picked up a skewer of meat and brought it to Yuan Di’s lips.

“Come on, Yuanyuan, try it.”

As a song girl, being allowed to sit at the same table as her master in front of outsiders, and even being personally fed by him, was an immense display of favor.

Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng exchanged a glance, then looked at Zheng Xiao.

Zheng Xiao was smiling amiably, without any hint of jealousy.

She took a skewer of meat herself, examined the translucent slices, then looked at the chef busy with the barbecue and said: “To be able to cut four-cornered deer meat like this… such knife skills are truly rare.”

The chef chuckled and said:

“Third Young Madam flatters me. It’s just practice makes perfect.”

Barbecued meat, fine wine, and nine vegetable dishes on the side.

Everyone ate with great relish.

Wang Sandong had a small appetite and couldn’t drink alcohol, so he put down his chopsticks early and held a teacup, sipping tea.

From time to time, he looked at Yuan Di, his eyes full of fondness—the more he looked, the more he liked her.

Especially her pretense of not recognizing the new chef made a smile ripple across Wang Sandong’s face.

Not only did she pretend not to recognize him, she didn’t even give him an extra glance.

If she were only trying to hide from the chef that she recognized him, she would inevitably sneak a few glances—expressions can be hidden, but many subconscious actions are hard to change.

For example, shifty eyes from a guilty conscience, nonstop chatter to mask nervousness, or feigned busyness to diffuse awkwardness.

Yuan Di’s behavior at this moment might indicate two possibilities.

First, it shows she isn’t very interested in the chef.

Second, it suggests the two most likely already knew of each other’s existence and had reached some kind of “peaceful coexistence” agreement.

Because the chef was grilling very seriously, not at all worried or concerned about being recognized by Yuan Di.

At the very least, it showed they had already met.

Thus, trying to use Yuan Di to kill the chef like he had done with A-Gui was basically unfeasible.

But this also indicated the chef wouldn’t harm him for now—otherwise Yuan Di wouldn’t allow the chef to stay.

Yet even so, Wang Sandong’s murderous intent toward the chef hadn’t diminished in the slightest.

For Wang Sandong, the best outcome would be to let the Demon Sovereign and Yuan Di tear each other apart, both ending up injured.

So no matter what agreement the chef (representing the Demon Sovereign) and Yuan Di had reached, Wang Sandong had to sabotage it.

Kill the chef and then frame Yuan Di…

Or, push Yuan Di into killing the chef?

“Hey! New chef.”

Wang Sandong flashed a bright, flower-like smile at the chef.

“What’s your name?”

“Third Young Master can call me A-Yong.”

“A-Yong? Tsk tsk tsk, you’ve got quite a solid build. You must have snacked a lot while being a chef, right?”

Wang Sandong teased.

Wang Yunteng chimed in:

“Which chef doesn’t sneak bites?”

A-Yong quickly defended himself:

“Third Young Master, rest assured, I would never dare to sneak food in the residence.”

“Ha, do you take the Wang family for a small household?”

Wang Sandong laughed.

“Even if I let you sneak food, it won’t make us poor.”

As he spoke, he picked up two skewers of grilled meat and raised them.

“Here, a reward for you.”

Seeing this, A-Yong hurried over, took the skewers, and thanked him repeatedly.

Just as he was about to step back and continue grilling, Wang Sandong grabbed his wrist.

“Whoa, this wrist is really thick.”

Wang Sandong’s eyes sparkled.

“You two big brothers, learn from him. Build some muscle. A real man should be like this.”

As he spoke, one hand caressed A-Yong’s arm back and forth with fondness.

Wang Jinghong glanced at Wang Sandong’s actions, frowned slightly, and said:

“Exaggerating.”

Wang Yunteng laughed.

“This is nothing. I heard Demon Cultivators’ demon bodies are even more robust.”

“Hurry up and grill some more. Later, take some to Grandfather, Mother and Father, and Second Uncle… also send some to Second Aunt’s home.”

Only then did Wang Sandong reluctantly let go and allow A-Yong to go back to work.

“There are so many people, it won’t be enough to go around. Better forget it.”

Wang Yunteng laughed.

“I’ve already divided the remaining meat. If they want to eat, they can grill it themselves.”

Wang Jinghong took a sip of wine and suddenly said:

“Yunteng, while I’m away, I entrust the household affairs and Sandong to you.”

“Alright.”

Wang Jinghong responded casually, then glanced at Wang Sandong, a hint of worry appearing between his brows.

After a moment, he smiled in relief.

“Brother Hong, what are you saying? We’re all family. These are my duties, no need to say more.”

The two brothers toasted and drank.

Wang Jinghong raised his glass again and looked at Zheng Xiao.

Zheng Xiao smiled slightly and, before Wang Jinghong could speak, said:

“Family.”

Three words were enough.

Though not a promise, they were still as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Wang Jinghong was visibly moved.

He raised his cup with both hands above his head, then drank it all.

The wine was finished and the feast dispersed.

Wang Jinghong and Wang Yunteng left together.

Tipsy, Wang Yunteng glanced at Wang Jinghong and asked:

“Brother Hong, are you worried about something bad happening in the New Capital?”

Wang Jinghong shook his head.

“The matters of the New Capital are handled by experts; it’s not my place to worry.”

He paused, then added:

“The weak admire the strong. Our frail third brother seems to really like that burly chef.”

“Haha, just a coarse commoner, what strength is that…”

Wang Yunteng stopped mid-sentence, stunned. Savoring the meaning behind Wang Jinghong’s words, and looking at his worried expression, he asked carefully:

“Brother Hong, you mean… it can’t be that bad, can it?”

Wang Jinghong sighed, recalling the look on Wang Sandong’s face when he caressed the chef’s arm.

He hesitated for a moment, then said:

“Even so… let her be. Third Brother’s life force is nearly severed; he may not have much time left. Life is short—if he can follow his heart, then he won’t have lived in vain.”

“But… if it really is so, you should do your best to cover it up. Don’t let it spread and ruin Third Brother’s reputation.”

Wang Yunteng pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“Brother Hong, rest assured. I’ll take care of things at home.”

Wang Jinghong nodded.

He turned to look back at Anzhi Courtyard, and suddenly his eyes reddened.

“After this parting, I don’t know if we’ll ever meet again.”

Wang Jinghong was not the only one worried that Wang Sandong might die at any moment.

Almost everyone in the Old Capital thought Wang Sandong didn’t have much time left.

So whenever news of Third Young Master Wang’s death arrived, the people of the Old Capital wouldn’t be surprised.

Even when Wang Zhongli held a funeral last time, many Old Capital residents mistakenly thought it was Third Young Master Wang who had died.

Because of this, whenever they saw Third Young Master Wang, many people would unconsciously think one phrase:

‘Still alive, huh.’

Third Young Master Wang was still alive, but not living well.

It was merely seeing Wang Jinghong out of the city, yet due to excessive emotional fluctuation, his breathing became labored and his face flushed red.

Watching Wang Jinghong ride away, Wang Sandong gasped for air, trying to compose himself.

“Sigh, this body is truly disgusting.”

Wang Sandong was very self-loathing.

“If only I could be as robust as A-Yong, that would be wonderful.”

Beside him, Yuan Di, whom Wang Sandong had dragged along to play the “Farewell Song” for Wang Jinghong, heard Wang Sandong’s words.

She frowned but didn’t respond.

Wang Yunteng, who had come along, glanced at Wang Sandong, recalling Wang Jinghong’s words from yesterday.

With mixed feelings, he said:

“Being too robust isn’t good either. It looks savage and vulgar.”

Wang Sandong smiled and replied:

“A real man should have a bit of wild beauty.”

Then he looked at Yuan Di and said:

“You played well. Come, your young master rewards you with a kiss.”

‘I’d like to reward you with a slap!’

Yuan Di thought bitterly to herself.

Unfortunately, Wang Yunteng was present, so she couldn’t lose her temper and even had to cooperate.

Yuan Di suppressed her fury as she stepped forward holding her harp, mentally preparing herself:

‘This little beast is a man, but he’ll eventually become a woman, and he’s very good-looking. Even if I’m kissed, it’s not too disgusting…’

‘A small impatience ruins a great plan.’

‘At this moment, I must endure…’

‘Just clench my teeth and don’t let his tongue in…’

“Forget it.”

Wang Sandong suddenly waved his hand, signaling Yuan Di to stop, as if he had lost interest.

“Let’s go home.”

Wang Yunteng helped Wang Sandong into the carriage and said:

“Third Brother, I have an appointment. It’s not on the way.”

“Alright, see you later, Brother Teng.”

“Mm, goodbye.”

The carriage moved slowly.

The song girl, Miss Yuanyuan, followed beside the carriage, holding her harp.

On the way here, there were others in the carriage, so it was understandable that the song girl couldn’t ride along.

But now there was no one else in the carriage, so why make her follow on foot outside?

Yuan Di suppressed her anger.

Then she recalled Wang Sandong’s action of caressing the chef A-Yong’s arm and his starry-eyed expression.

Her expression turned cold.

Because he looked very much like a woman, rumors about Third Young Master Wang liking men had long existed.

However, Yuan Di, who had been monitoring Wang Sandong for sixteen years, knew that Wang Sandong was an absolute heterosexual.

But…

What if it’s not that he doesn’t like men, but just hasn’t met one he likes?

This matter was really hard to say.

A-Yong was tall and robust, and his looks weren’t bad; he would indeed attract the admiration of some women.

Wang Sandong was frail, out of breath after two steps; he surely longed to have a sturdy body.

What if this desire to possess underwent a slight change and became a desire to “take possession”?

People always like things they can’t have even more.

If by any chance Wang Sandong was really “conquered” by A-Yong…

Would the Demon Sovereign still abide by the so-called “Ten-Year Agreement”?

The Demon Sovereign had never agreed with the practice of sacrificing to the Demon Abyss.

That arrogant Demon Cultivator supreme had no reverence even for the heavens, let alone the Demon Abyss.

Make him sacrifice to the Demon Abyss?

He’d rather destroy the Demon Abyss!

Absolutely could not let the Demon Sovereign run wild.

The Demon Sovereign and his Demon Disciples were all madmen.

Both Demon Cultivators and Spiritual Cultivators agreed on one principle:

Madmen should not wield absolute power.

So, that A-Yong…

She remembered again how Wang Sandong had looked at A-Yong’s arm as if he wanted to lick it…

A-Yong…

Must not be kept!

But…

Having already killed A-Gui, if I kill A-Yong too…

The Demon Sovereign will surely be furious.

Yuan Di wasn’t afraid of the Demon Sovereign, but if they started fighting each other now, the Spiritual Cultivation world would laugh at them.

She needed to think long-term.

At this moment, on the slowly moving carriage beside Yuan Di.

Wang Sandong was reviewing his actions and words from yesterday.

He found some shortcomings.

When he had caressed A-Yong’s arm, if he had licked his lips, it might have been more effective.

Or perhaps he should have shown some disgust at Yuan Di’s feminine appearance?

Hiss…

He was afraid of overdoing it and arousing Yuan Di’s suspicion—that wouldn’t be good.

Originally, he shouldn’t rush, lest he spoil things.

But if dragged out, he’d have to drool over that burly brute A-Yong all the time…

Once or twice, he could endure the disgust and put on a show.

But too many times, and he wouldn’t be able to keep up the act!

So, he had to settle it quickly!

Moreover, the more he performed, the easier it would be for Yuan Di to see through him.

After all, Yuan Di wasn’t stupid.