Chapter 175: Reticent towards others, yet profoundly kind to her!

Chapter 175: Chapter 175: Reticent towards others, yet profoundly kind to her!

By the time they arrived at the Mountain City Military Region Guesthouse, Gu Qiaoqiao had thoroughly washed herself with a hot shower, and when she lay on the albeit hard but clean and even bed, she finally felt revived.

“I’ll take the train next time,” she decided.

But she soon felt that the trip had actually been quite fun. Not to mention the scenery, at least it was very convenient; whenever she felt tired, they could stop the car to rest for a while.

Plus, when they passed through an area of wild strawberries, Gu Qiaoqiao squatted down and picked a lunchbox full.

Qin Yize and Luh Fei, seeing how much she enjoyed them, also joined her in picking them.

Locally known as the sorghum fruit, they tasted sweet and left a refreshing fragrance in the mouth.

Also worth mentioning was that Qin Yize, for reasons unknown, found her fishing skills impressive, and whenever they passed by the river, he would join her on the banks.

Luh Fei hadn’t expected Gu Qiaoqiao’s technique to be so accurate.

When he saw a crucian carp precisely speared by her, his mouth hung open in shock for a long time without closing.

Gu Qiaoqiao lifted her head proudly.

Luh Fei, thoroughly impressed, gave her a thumbs up.

Qin Yize’s eyes held a smile.

And so, after both of them tacitly and feigned ignorance about that incident, it was as if nothing had happened.

This might be the most typical form of self-deception.

Four days later, the jeep entered the Imperial Capital.

It was already noon.

There was still an hour’s distance from the Western District.

Luh Fei was unfamiliar with the road conditions in the Imperial Capital.

Qin Yize took the driver’s seat and steered the vehicle onto the main road.

Then, he turned to the right.

Once smoothly cruising on the road, Qin Yize said to the two people in the car, “Let’s go have lunch first.”

Gu Qiaoqiao checked her wristwatch; it was nearly twelve o’clock, but she didn’t say anything.

And Luh Fei was all about following commands.

So, a few minutes later, Qin Yize parked the jeep in front of the parking lot of the Lijing Ho Hotel.

Standing out front, Gu Qiaoqiao felt a mix of emotions.

Since her rebirth, she had never been here.

One reason was the lack of time, the other was not knowing what feelings to confront it with.

This was the place where she learned to survive and acquired a valuable skill.

It was here she learned how to conduct herself with others.

When she was at her most desolate and helpless, it gave her a bed and a bowl of rice.

Qin Yize walked briskly towards the revolving door, saying a few words to the doorman who then nodded with a smile before leaving his post.

Qin Yize stood on the steps, waving at Gu Qiaoqiao.

Gu Qiaoqiao collected her scattered thoughts and followed Luh Fei towards Qin Yize.

The three of them entered the lobby one after another.

It was no different from a few years later.

The only thing was that the space directly across from the main entrance was empty.

In five years, a wooden carving of a dragon and phoenix she crafted would be placed there.

On An Xiaotong’s father’s advice, that carving earned her fifty thousand yuan.

Soon after that, misfortune befell that family.

In the end, An Xiaolan inherited this luxurious hotel.

Qin Yize led them towards the private room.

He seemed to be familiar with this place.

The attending waiter appeared to recognize him, his smile radiating affection as his eyes almost seemed to stick to Qin Yize, unwilling to turn away.

Luh Fei sneered disdainfully and glanced cautiously at Gu Qiaoqiao.

Probably worried that she would get upset.

Gu Qiaoqiao, of course, wouldn’t take it to heart—it was pretty normal, after all, she herself would give a pretty girl a few extra glances.

A group of people turned through the hall and arrived at the corridor leading to the private rooms.

When Gu Qiaoqiao saw a young man coming towards them, dressed in white chef’s attire with an apron tied around him, walking with his head high and chest out, she was struck still.

She hadn’t expected to see him so soon.

In her heart, she had thought countless times about what way and reason she could use to find him.

After all, in this life, she and he were still strangers.

And this man was her master—from teaching her how to handle a kitchen knife to chop vegetables, to the moment she obtained her grandmaster chef certification and became his assistant.

Silent and reserved, yet to her, he was a mountain of kindness!

His name was Fong Lei.

Everyone called him Master Fong.

He was the head chef at the Lijing Ho Hotel.

At this moment, this person who shouldn’t have appeared until five years later was striding towards them with his usual stern face.

Gu Qiaoqiao’s heartbeat pounded.

She really wanted to rush forward and tell him, “Master, my family is all living well, Dad is teaching at school, Mom is taking care of the home and planting vegetables, my younger brother and sister are going to school, I haven’t been trafficked, I don’t have grey hair, and I’m not being cursed as an old mute woman…”

You also don’t need to encourage me with your awkward language to live well.

You also don’t need to scold me with your ‘tough love’…

Gu Qiaoqiao’s eyes couldn’t hold back the mist that began to fill them.

Although Master didn’t recognize her, her current advanced cooking skills and exquisite food carving were all taught by him!

Yet at this moment, there was nothing she could do!

She mechanically followed Qin Yize’s footsteps, moving forward with every step feeling like they weighed a thousand pounds.

Soon, Master Fong came to a stop.

Gu Qiaoqiao looked at him closely.

A scar stretched across his face.

It gave him a somewhat more elderly and fierce appearance.

But no one knew what a kind and upright person he was.

Gu Qiaoqiao was a bit nervous, unsure why Master Fong had suddenly stopped.

After all, he didn’t recognize her.

But in the next moment, Gu Qiaoqiao’s mind was shattered by a figurative Nine Heavens Thunder.

Even, her mind went blank.

Qin Yize and Master Fong actually shook hands, and then gently embraced.

After a few breaths, they separated.

Qin Yize’s gaze lost its usual cold indifference, revealing nostalgia, his clear voice slowly echoed in the quiet corridor, “Captain Fong, it’s been a long time.”

“You rascal, I haven’t seen you for a whole year,” Master Fong’s rough voice contrasted sharply with Qin Yize’s.

Yet it was unexpectedly harmonious.

Qin Yize smiled and pointed to Gu Qiaoqiao and Luh Fei, saying, “This is my wife, Gu Qiaoqiao, and this is Luh Fei, a guard from the base.”

Master Fong smiled at the two of them.

And Qin Yize continued the introductions, “This is my old friend, who became head chef here after retiring, you can call him Master Fong.”

Gu Qiaoqiao’s hand by her side clenched tightly, the pain in her palm snapping her out of her daze.

She opened her mouth, her eyes slightly dim, but she lifted the corners of her lips, her voice dry yet deliberate, “Nice to meet you, Master Fong.”

In her previous life, she had only ever called him Master Fong in her heart.

She didn’t know how many times she had uttered it, even when he was harshly scolding her, she would cry while cursing him again and again in her mind.

Even though she knew it was for her own good.

But his relentless demeanor had made her feel worthless and utterly embarrassed.

Later, under his strict instruction, she managed to get her grandmaster chef certification in just one year.