Chapter 1684 Return to the Holiday Village (3)

Mrs. De led the siblings into the courtyard and saw that the courtyard house was not only well-preserved but also artfully arranged, incomparable to her own four-bedroom apartment.

Marcus Quinn and Mr. De were both cooking in the kitchen, while Arden was in the courtyard planning the renovation style of Fragrance Tower and the restaurant’s target clientele. She decided to change one character in the name, renaming it to Fragrance Garden, which kept the original "Fragrance" while elevating the restaurant’s sophistication. The term "tower" is outdated, and restaurant names nowadays are becoming increasingly artistic.

Seeing Mrs. De and the others arrive, Arden quickly got up to greet them.

Mrs. De and the siblings were taken aback by Arden’s sweet and beautiful looks and unique temperament. She was simply too stunning.

"Mr. De and Marcus are both cooking. Please sit down and have some tea. Dinner will be ready soon," Arden said with a smile, then brought over some snacks that Yeats Howard had brought and arranged the flowers Lilith had brought in a vase.

"You all chat, I’ll go to the kitchen to see if there’s anything I can help with," Mrs. De, who couldn’t sit still, said with a smile.

"Arden, are you looking at renovation plans?" Cade Warrior, feeling shy to look at her pretty face, glanced at Arden’s computer instead. Seeing various renovation effect pictures, he asked.

Lilith, on the other hand, was delighted by the variety of snacks, most of which she had never tried. She was as happy as a little squirrel, reaching out to eat the snacks.

"Yes, Fragrance Garden needs a renovation. I casually look at some online designs, but we’ll still need a designer to plan it," Arden said with a smile.

"Me, me, me! I study design. Sister, you can ask me. I can introduce you to some studios," Lilith said eagerly, raising her hand.

"That’s wonderful," Arden replied happily.

"Arden, are you and Marcus planning to reopen Fragrance Garden? The initial investment must be significant," Cade asked, knowing well about the industry since his dad owned a small restaurant. For a place like Fragrance Garden, it would require a sizable investment to succeed.

"Yes, we’re giving it a try. We’re not expecting to make a fortune, just enough to be self-sufficient," Arden had calculated. All ingredients would be directly transported from the Holiday Village; ten waiters, one accountant, one manager, and five chefs should be enough initially. Based on Imperial City’s wage standards, the monthly expenses for staff, utilities, and transportation are around 300,000. Earning 10,000 a day would make it self-sufficient.

In a remote place like the Holiday Village, daily profits could reach tens of thousands. Arden couldn’t believe that in a place as expensive as Imperial City, with good culinary skills, there’d be no business?

As the three were chatting, Marcus and Mr. De had already prepared the meal, and Mrs. De had set the table with plates, bowls, and chopsticks.

Marcus pulled her aside and requested to have a little drink in the evening.

Arden saw that he was genuinely happy; his normally serious face was lit with a rare smile, his eyes sparkling. She glared at him and said, "You’re becoming a drunkard, Marcus."

Marcus chuckled quietly, and when he saw no one was around, quickly gave her a peck and said, "Then I won’t drink anymore. I’ll say I’m allergic to alcohol."

Arden nodded, wrapped her arms around his slender waist, tiptoed, and said with a smile, "Then lower your head."

The man lowered his head, and immediately the sweet and charming girl gave him a quick peck and let go.

Marcus was taken aback, looked intently at her soft body and said hoarsely, "Let’s head back to the Holiday Village tomorrow. I can hardly hold back."

Arden’s face flushed; she glared at him, stomped on his foot, and quickly ran away.

"Arden! Marcus, time to eat," Lilith called excitedly, "There are so many dishes tonight."

In the evening, Marcus brought out a bottle of Maotai for Mr. De and his son, while he drank tea as a substitute for alcohol. The meal lasted several hours.

Mr. De drank too much and, wiping his tears, began reminiscing about the past when he learned the trade from Marcus’s father. He said, back then, he was just a runner, but because he was diligent and hardworking, Marcus’s father brought him into the kitchen, kept him by his side, and taught him the craft. Otherwise, he would still be a runner today.

Fortunately, while eating and drinking, the important matters were resolved.

Because Mr. De had a twenty percent stake in Fragrance Garden, Arden confirmed the reopening plans one last time, with Mr. De’s family’s full approval.

"When Fragrance Dwelling opens, I’ll close my small restaurant. I’ve been in this industry for decades, and I’ll call up some old colleagues to see if they want to come back," Mr. De said.