“I understand, Aunt Feiyan.” Shen Lingqing nodded and took a sip from her cup. As she glanced outside the glass window, she noticed that the snow was starting to fall again.

“So do you think that you would succeed your father?” Sun Feiyan asked. “Jiewen told me that your younger brother also wants to compete with you.”

“Lingtian is still young. If he truly wants to compete with me, he should finish his studies first and then prove his worth to our father.” The younger woman shrugged as if she wasn’t bothered by it.

“Lingtian isn’t like you.” Sun Feiyan didn’t sugarcoat her words.

“So I heard.” Shen Lingqing cupped her chin and watched as the snow outside came down like white flowers on the streets. “People say he’s like Mom in so many ways—like I am to Dad, but I don’t want Lingtian to be forever bound to our parents’ shadow.”

“Is that why you decided to come back as soon as you graduate? You know, you don’t have to go abroad to such an extent just because of this.”

“I merely wanted to enjoy my temporary freedom, Aunt Feiyan. You know that I can never do that while I’m here.”_-.

An hour later, Sun Feiyan decided to leave and thanked Shen Lingqing for her hospitality. The rest of the staff continued with their tasks until midnight came. When the Shen princess made one last inspection, she found Liu Jinfei in the kitchen, hovering over one of the counters with a pen in his left hand.

“I didn’t know you were left-handed.” Her words surprised the man.

“Oh, Director Shen.” Liu Jinfei raised his head and smiled at her, that same smile enough to make other women swoon over him—not including the Shen princess.

“Actually, I am ambidextrous, so I can use both hands. I just favor my left hand most of the time,” he explained.

“I see.” Shen Lingqing nodded before she strode towards him. “So what are you doing?”

“I’m listing the ingredients.” Liu Jinfei scratched his head. “Since I’m not sure when my sense of taste would recover, I have decided to think of a way to lessen the effects on the dishes I need to prepare.”

Shen Lingqing hummed and remained silent for a moment. She stared at the notes Liu Jinfei made and couldn’t fault him by doing it.

After a long silence between them, Liu Jinfei placed down his pen and asked Shen Lingqing in a low voice.

“If things get worse… Director Shen, please fire me.”

“And if I don’t?” Shen Lingqing asked in return.

“Then, I have to apologize. I will render my resignation and pay the penalty for breaking our contract.”

“If that happens, what do you plan to do next?” The Shen princess probed. If Liu Jinfei left, then he would no doubt be subjected to the Liu family’s pressure again.

Liu Jinfei had strived to become a chef for several years. Shen Lingqing was aware that it would be hard for him to shift to another career at his age. He might have survived on his own without relying on the Liu family, but it didn’t mean that it would be easier for Liu Jinfei once he left Savory Alley.

“I don’t know yet.” Liu Jinfei chuckled, but his eyes were blank. “I have saved enough money. Maybe I could find and buy a house in the countryside, get married, and settle down with my own family… but that sounds so far-fetched and impossible, isn’t it?”

“Why not? Considering that you want to settle down and have your own family, I believe you already have a woman to marry.” Shen Lingqing ran the tip of her forefinger on the counter, making sure there was no dirt left on it.

“Do you think the Liu family would leave us be and in peace? My wife, whoever she would be, would need to deal with them. They will try to bully her, use her to spite me. If we were to have children, they might see them as threats to their inheritance. I don’t want any of that.”

Shen Lingqing hummed in agreement. What Liu Jinfei said made sense. If he was to marry a commoner, what he said would surely happen. However, if he marries a woman with good standing in the society and one that the Liu family wouldn’t dare to offend, Liu Jinfei would need to swallow his pride to seek his in-law’s help—something that Shen Lingqing felt he would never do.

“Is that why you haven’t married, even at your age?”

“Hey, I’m not that old.” Liu Jinfei laughed genuinely this time. “And I’m not rushing into marriage, you know. I’m not sure what else my uncle wants from me, but until I’m certain that he won’t be able to hurt me and my future family, I won’t get married.”

“Then, I hope everything works well with you, but about your condition, I don’t mind you making notes such as this. I would be the one to decide in the end anyway.”

Liu Jinfei released a sigh he didn’t know he was holding.

“That’s very assuring, Director Shen.”

“Do you know… even if you strictly follow a recipe, most of the time; it tastes different?”

“How so?”

Shen Lingqing shrugged before they turned to leave the kitchen together.

“That’s what my mother told me, though I saw it proven to be true before… when Mom and Uncle Lingyu cooked and followed the same recipe of the dish.”

“So they were different?” Liu Jinfei asked curiously.

“The taste was almost identical, but I have to say Mom’s version was better. Of course, I’m not saying that because she’s my mother. I’m just not sure how that’s possible.”

“It must be the taste of love, then. The thing that people used to say to be a secret ingredient.”

“You are probably right,” Shen Lingqing said. She tried to unlock the door of the restaurant, only to notice that it wouldn’t budge.