Huayu, my cheat code is a bit strange.

Chapter 80 Caught in the Act (Please read on, please recommend, please do anything!)

The manager asked curiously, "Mr. Gu is a chef?"

Hu Jun thought to himself, "How would I know?"

He originally thought that Gu Xiao would at most cook a few home-style dishes, boil some noodles, or make some dumplings, but the aroma wafting out now is probably not something that ordinary home-style dishes can produce.

Hotel kitchen.

Gu Xiao, wearing a dark apron, was expressionlessly handling the prawns in her hands.

Cutting the head, removing the shrimp vein, peeling the shell—the movements were fluid and fast, so fast that even the hotel chefs watching couldn't help but hold their breath.

As the last shrimp fell into the prepared bowl of ice water, the pork ribs frying in the pan were also finished, their golden fat emitting an enticing aroma.

He deftly removed the pork ribs from the pan, drained the oil, and set them aside for later use.

She then turned around, took out onions and bell peppers from the prepared ingredients, and began to shred them.

The chef looked at the side dishes and tentatively asked, "American-style barbecue?"

Gu Xiao hummed in agreement and picked up the potatoes and carrots beside her to begin processing them.

The chef stood to the side, watching Gu Xiao cut the potatoes and carrots into chunks and put them into the steamer, and couldn't help but say, "Mr. Gu used to be a chef."

Gu Xiao did not answer and continued processing the ingredients.

The aroma in the air grew stronger and stronger, and Hu Jun couldn't help but move closer to the kitchen doorway, addressing the group of girls who were also gathered there:

What is he doing?

Jiang Xin shook her head, her small nose twitching slightly. "I don't understand, but it should be Western food, right? It smells like butter."

"Western food."

Hu Jun smacked his lips, looking somewhat disgusted.

But then I realized that Liu Yifei had returned from abroad, so I could understand.

Liu Tao felt that what they ate was not important; the sentiment was more important.

Thinking of this, she looked at Liu Yifei with a teasing expression, "Wang Yuyan, you've already won over Duan Yu so early."

Liu Yifei, who was intently peeking into the kitchen, instantly turned bright red, and became extremely anxious:

"Sister Tao! You, you, you mustn't talk nonsense!"

"I'm not making this up," Liu Tao laughed, dodging Liu Yifei's playful punches. "It's the middle of the night, and you're borrowing the kitchen and cooking yourself, tsk tsk tsk."

Liu Yifei blushed and was about to retort when the kitchen door was suddenly pushed open.

The chef came out carrying a huge tray.

He placed the dishes one by one on the long table in the center of the restaurant and lifted the lids.

The rich aroma instantly filled the air, and everyone swallowed hard.

In the center is a large plate of golden-red, glistening, and tempting American-style roasted pork ribs, brushed with a glistening sauce.

Next to it is a Japanese-style thick omelet, golden and soft, garnished with diced ham, chopped green onions and shredded carrots.

Next is a potato and shrimp salad, with tender pink shrimp and creamy white mashed potatoes, garnished with leafy greens.

Gao Hu, who had been drowsy, immediately woke up upon smelling the aroma. He stared blankly at the food in front of him, lost in thought.
"Did Gu Xiao make this?"

Everyone's eyes turned to the chef.

The chef nodded bitterly, his tone tinged with disbelief: "It was indeed made by Mr. Gu. There's more to come, please enjoy."

Hu Jun stared at the glistening, tempting grilled ribs in the center of the plate, his throat bobbing involuntarily.

He wanted to suggest that they eat together when Gu Xiao came out, but his stomach started growling again.

"How about," Gao Hu stared longingly at the thick omelet, "we try some first?"

The group looked at Liu Yifei with longing in their eyes.

Liu Yifei was a little embarrassed, but nodded and said, "Eat up, he won't mind."

As soon as he finished speaking, several pairs of chopsticks swiftly reached for their favorite dishes.

"Well--!"

The omelet was incredibly tender and smooth, with the salty aroma of ham, making his mouth water uncontrollably.

"So delicious!" Gao Hu mumbled a praise, not bothering to be polite, and picked up another piece.

Hu Jun then grabbed a grilled rib and took a big bite. The outside was crispy and fragrant, while the inside was tender and juicy, with a rich sauce flavor that exploded in his mouth.

He squinted his eyes in satisfaction and mumbled a praise, "Delicious! It smells fucking delicious!"

Chen Hao scooped up a spoonful of mashed potato and shrimp salad.

The mashed potatoes, with their creamy aroma and subtle black pepper flavor, are a perfect match for the sweet shrimp.

She couldn't resist scooping up another spoonful and giving Liu Yifei a thumbs up.

Liu Yifei also picked up a thick omelet for herself, savoring it in small bites, her eyes slightly curved.

The huge restaurant was filled with the sound of chewing for a moment.

A short while later, the kitchen door opened again.

The chef brought out a new dish: garlic mushroom shrimp and tomato potato soup, served with white bread and chicken fried rice.

"My goodness!" Hu Jun exclaimed, his eyes wide. "Is he trying to stuff us to death?"

The chef thought it was possible, since there were indeed quite a few side dishes on the counter.

Sure enough, a short while later, Gu Xiao came out carrying a new tray.

This time it's steak, cream stew, and various sashimi.

"Stop cooking," Hu Jun stopped Gu Xiao, who was about to return to the kitchen, and pointed to an empty seat next to her. "Sit down and eat first, don't tire yourself out."

"I'm not very tired," Gu Xiao said.

Hu Jun looked incredulous. "So many vegetables, I'd be exhausted just chopping them all."

Liu Yifei didn't believe it either, "Don't do it anymore, this is enough."

"You guys are enough, but I'm not enough," Gu Xiao thought to herself, glancing at the dishes on the table before saying, "At least make me a bowl of longevity noodles, okay?"

He had barely finished speaking when he turned and went back to the kitchen.

This time, everyone didn't have to wait long. In just a few minutes, someone came out carrying a steaming bowl of noodles.

"Happy birthday." Gu Xiao placed the noodles in front of Liu Yifei.

Liu Yifei blushed and nodded, "Thank you."

……

……

After having their fill of food and drink, the group left the restaurant, returned to the lobby, and took the elevator back to their respective rooms.

Liu Yifei used her room card to open the door and tiptoed into the room, not daring to make a sound.

She groped her way through the darkness to change into her slippers, and was about to slip back to her bed when the bedside lamp suddenly turned on.

Liu Xiaoli leaned against the headboard, arms crossed, looking at her expressionlessly:
"Where have you been?"

"Mom, Mom, you're still awake?" Liu Yifei froze on the spot, not daring to move.

"My daughter sneaks out in the middle of the night, doesn't answer the phone, and doesn't reply to text messages. How can I sleep?"

Liu Xiaoli's voice was devoid of emotion, "Where did you go?"

Liu Yifei lowered her head guiltily and muttered softly, "I just went downstairs for a meal."

"With Gu Xiao?" Liu Xiaoli's voice remained calm.

Liu Yifei looked up in surprise: "How did you know?"

Liu Xiaoli snorted lightly, not answering the question, and continued to press, "Just the two of you?"

"And Sister Jiang Xin and Teacher Hu Jun too!" Liu Yifei hurriedly added.

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaoli's expression softened considerably. After a few seconds of silence, she sighed.

"Go to sleep early, you have to get up early tomorrow."

Liu Yifei was surprised that she could get away with it so easily. She smiled and secretly clenched her fist.

Liu Xiaoli saw her little actions and was speechless.

In another guest room, Gu Xiao was staring at the text message she had received on her phone screen:

[Liu Xiaoli: Is it convenient for us to chat?]

(End of this chapter)