Chapter 546 - 546: A Casual Favor

After gathering the herbs, Zhao Yuan left the university and headed for Lakefront House.

On the way, he remembered something and asked the Bone Woman, "Do you know how to drive?"

"Yes," the Bone Woman replied. "When I was with Lingzi, she taught me how to drive. Whenever we went out, she'd have me drive while she relaxed in the back."

Zhao Yuan was very surprised. "You can drive? Wouldn't you scare people to death?"

When the Bone Woman was with Lingzi, she didn't know the Skin Painting Technique, so she always appeared in her skeletal form.

Imagine a car suddenly driving down the road, and the one behind the wheel isn't a person, but a skeleton!

A scene like that could scare someone to death!

The Bone Woman replied, "Back then, I would wear clothes and a mask whenever I drove. That way, even if someone saw me, they couldn't see me clearly and wouldn't grow suspicious."

Zhao Yuan's eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh, so that's how it was."

The taxi driver overheard the Bone Woman and couldn't help but laugh. "You're a real kidder, Miss. Wearing clothes and a mask to drive... what, you don't normally wear clothes?"

The Bone Woman didn't respond, and Zhao Yuan just smiled without saying a word.

How could the taxi driver have known that the Bone Woman really didn't use to wear clothes! Of course, back then, she didn't have her current charming appearance, as beautiful as a white plum blossom in the snow. She was just a skeleton!

Once the taxi arrived at Lakefront House, Zhao Yuan told the Bone Woman to stay in the car. He instructed her, "Take that card I gave you yesterday and go buy a car. Brand and model don't matter, price doesn't matter either. The most important thing is that it has good all-terrain performance. After you buy it, drive it straight back here to pick me up."

"Understood!" the Bone Woman replied. She abandoned the idea of getting out and said to the taxi driver, "Airport Road."

Most of the car dealerships in Rongcheng City were concentrated along Airport Road, something the Bone Woman had noticed on their way into the city from the airport yesterday.

"You got it," the taxi driver said, thrilled to get another long fare. He immediately turned the car around and headed for Airport Road.

On the way, the talkative driver couldn't help but strike up a conversation. "Miss, was that guy your boyfriend? Jeez, he talks like a real big shot. 'Brand and model don't matter, price doesn't matter...' When will I ever be able to say something like that to myself when I'm buying a car?"

The Bone Woman replied, "He's not my boyfriend. He's my boss!"

Zhao Yuan had instructed the Bone Woman to call him "boss" in front of outsiders, not "master," precisely to keep people from letting their imaginations run wild or gossiping.

Unfortunately, the term "boss" could also easily give people the wrong idea. Especially a boss who casually tosses a card to his female secretary and tells her to go buy any car she wants. That makes it even easier for people's minds to wander.

The taxi driver couldn't help but mutter to himself, 'A boss and his secretary... A classic, volatile combination!'

The Bone Woman suddenly snorted. "Just drive. Don't ask questions you shouldn't, and don't think thoughts you shouldn't!"

Her words were so domineering they stunned the taxi driver. He thought to himself, 'Jeez, this woman is something else. How did she know what I was just thinking? And that powerful aura when she spoke... there's no way a normal secretary could have that!'

After that scare, even though the taxi driver was bursting with curiosity and questions, he didn't dare open his mouth again.

It wasn't that he didn't want to—he didn't dare!

He was truly scared out of his wits!

「Meanwhile」

Zhao Yuan walked into Lakefront House with the White Cat and the two Dang Kangs.

As soon as he walked in, he heard an argument coming from the front desk.

"What? You're closed today? When I made my reservation yesterday, why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you call to inform me before I came all the way here? I specifically chose your restaurant to treat a very important guest today, and I was hyping up your dishes to the high heavens the entire way over. And now that I've arrived, you have the nerve to tell me you're closed? Are you trying to mess with me on purpose?"

The front desk manager wore a wry smile. She felt wronged, too. Who knew what had gotten into the boss? It was almost time for the lunch rush, yet he'd suddenly announced they would be closed for a few days. And just as they were about to lock up, a group of guests with a reservation showed up.

So now the front desk staff had to take the heat. They endured the scolding and had to force a smile as they explained, "Sir, we are terribly sorry. Our boss had an urgent matter to attend to and had no choice but to close for a few days. Please, we ask for your understanding."

The man was about to argue further when a portly, middle-aged man stepped out from the group behind him. He took the man's arm and said in a heavy Hong Kong accent, "President Song, it's alright. We're not in Western Shu Province for just one day. If we can't eat here this time, we'll just come back again. Don't get angry and make it awkward for everyone."

President Song said, "Director Jin, it's a rare occasion for you all to visit Rongcheng City. It's only right that I treat you to the most delicious food in town!"

Director Jin waved his hand. "But the owner has urgent business. We can't force the issue."

As the two were talking, the front desk manager spotted Zhao Yuan and hurried over to greet him. "Mr. Zhao, you're here. The boss said to have you go straight to his room when you arrived."

"Alright." Zhao Yuan nodded and started to head inside.

President Song was not happy to see this. He demanded, "Why does he get to go in?"

The front desk manager explained, "He's a friend of the owner. The owner gave special instructions that he's to be let straight in as soon as he arrives."

Hearing this, President Song didn't press the issue further.

He wasn't a bad-tempered person by nature; he had only lost his cool today because he'd been stood up in front of his esteemed guests.

To be fair, almost anyone in his position would have been angry.

Zhao Yuan, however, stopped in his tracks. He called the front desk manager over, asked about the situation, and after a moment's thought, said, "You should hurry and call the other guests with reservations. Let them know you're closed so they don't make a wasted trip. As for these gentlemen, since they're already here, just invite them in."

The front desk manager gave a wry smile. "But the chefs have almost all gone home. If we let them in, who will cook for them?"

Zhao Yuan said, "This whole thing is Old Hao's fault, so let him cook personally. He can whip up a few dishes for them."

"But..." The front desk manager looked hesitant.

Zhao Yuan smiled. "Don't worry, I'll go talk to Old Hao."

The front desk manager knew Zhao Yuan was a good friend of Hao Li and that his words carried a lot of weight with him, so she nodded in agreement. "I'll arrange for staff to handle the remaining matters immediately. Thank you for the suggestion, Mr. Zhao."

After thanking Zhao Yuan, the front desk manager turned and hurried to catch President Song, Director Jin, and the others, who were on their way out.

"Mr. Song, my apologies. This was indeed our mistake. To show our sincerity, our owner will personally cook a feast for you. If you and your guests would please follow me."

"What?" President Song's jaw dropped in astonishment.

Director Jin couldn't help but ask, "President Song, are we still going to eat here?"

President Song said excitedly, "Eat? Of course we're eating here! This is the owner of Lakefront House cooking for us personally! I'm telling you, his culinary skills are absolutely Divine Level. I guarantee it'll be so delicious you'll remember it for the rest of your life!"

"Really?" Director Jin and the others were stunned. "You've had his cooking before?"

"Er... I haven't, actually. It's all just hearsay." President Song scratched his head and hurried to explain, "You don't understand. The owner of Lakefront House is famously reclusive. You could throw any amount of money at him, and it's still no guarantee he'd personally cook a meal for you. But the food he makes... the taste is absolutely top-tier!"

"Oh?" Hearing this, Director Jin and the others were all taken aback.

All eyes involuntarily turned toward Zhao Yuan.

They were all intelligent people. They knew the only reason they were now able to stay and eat at Lakefront House, and have the owner himself do the cooking, was absolutely because Zhao Yuan had put in a good word for them!

President Song, in particular, was filled with a complex mix of emotions. 'Who is this kid? How did he convince the owner of Lakefront House to cook personally? I've been to Lakefront House so many times, and I've never once gotten to eat a dish cooked by the owner himself!'