Professor Xie, isn't this a case of forcing customers to buy products that don't match the

Inside the tea room.

Two men sat facing each other across a tea table.

That posture, that silhouette, how to describe it?

It didn't seem like they were exchanging cat food tips; it was more like... they were holding some kind of mysterious meeting ceremony.

Shang Song was so focused on looking through the glass that he didn't realize how much of a voyeur he was looking at.

Chu Yu followed his example, leaning against the glass next to him, her large golden eyes fixed on the two people in the tea room.

After a while, Chu Yu asked in a low voice, "What are the adults saying inside?"

Shang Song shook his head: "I don't know, the soundproofing is too good, I can't hear it."

Chu Yu's cat ears, hidden in her hair, twitched slightly, then she shook her head: "Xiao Yu can't hear either, Brother Shang Song's glass is too strong."

He thought for a moment, then tugged at Shang Song's sleeve, blinked his big golden eyes, and said earnestly, "However, Brother Shang Song, the adults taught me that cats don't spy on what's hidden."

Shang Song was struggling to glean something from Xie Jing's parted lips as he peered through the glass. Hearing Chu Yu's words, he asked blankly, "What do you mean by 'not lacking in looks'?"

Chu Yu: "Exactly, cats shouldn't peek into other people's secrets."

Shang Song: "???"

He turned to look at Chu Yu's serious little face, "What?"

Chu Yu nodded, her little ponytail swaying slightly, and added, "Oh, Brother Shang Song is a person, not a cat. Since he's a person, the proverb 'A gentleman does not pry into what is hidden' should be used."

Shang Song: "…………"

He looked down at his two hands clinging to the glass, then at Chu Yu, who was also clinging to the glass beside him, and fell into a long silence.

He had a strange feeling that he had just led a child astray.

He silently lowered his hand from the glass.

Chu Yu followed his example and lowered her hand from the glass.

A person and a cat stood in the corridor outside the teahouse, like two primary school students who had been thrown out of the classroom by their teacher as punishment.

Inside the tea room, the water in the small clay stove had just boiled.

Xie Jing calmly held the teapot, scalded the cups, rinsed the tea, brewed it, and finally poured the tea into portions, gently pushing one cup towards Shen Ci.

"Mr. Shen, please."

Shen Ci lowered her eyes, glanced at the cup of golden, clear tea, but did not pick it up. Instead, she looked up at Xie Jing opposite her, waiting for him to speak first.

Xie Jing picked up his teacup, gently blew on the steam, but didn't drink it. "How long has Mr. Shen's pet shop been open?"

Shen Ci: "Not long."

Xie Jing: "I heard that all the cats in the shop were rescued. Mr. Shen is very kind."

Shen Ci: "It's only what I can do."

Xie Jing then took a sip of tea and asked casually, "Mr. Shen, did you and my wife become acquainted because of the adoption of your orange cat?"

Shen Ci: "..."

He paused as he was about to serve tea, and slowly said, "Mr. Xie, I have come here today only to ask for your advice on a recipe."

He emphasized slightly, "I had no other intention."

The tea room was silent for a full five seconds.

Xie Jing's hand, holding the teacup, hovered in mid-air. Finally, he slowly put the teacup down and exhaled almost imperceptibly.

Shen Ci didn't expose him. She picked up the cup of tea, took a sip, and said, "Good tea."

He downed the perfectly brewed tea in one gulp, set the teacup down, and it tapped lightly against the table. "The tea is finished. When would be a convenient time, Mr. Xie, to take me to see Chef Wang, who specializes in sous-vide Wagyu beef?"

Xie Jing did not answer immediately.

His gaze swept over Shen Ci's face, then over Shen Ci's shoulder, and through the frosted glass of the tea room, he saw Shang Song still standing dumbfounded in the corridor.

Xie Jing pursed his lips, then looked away and turned to Shen Ci again. "Mr. Shen, there's no need to rush. Chef Wang is probably preparing dinner for his orange cat right now, so it's not convenient to disturb him."

"Mr. Shen, why don't you tell me what difficulties you encountered when making sous-vide Wagyu beef? Perhaps I can answer your questions without having to trouble Chef Wang."

Shen Ci seemed somewhat surprised that Xie Jing would offer his help, but he didn't refuse. After a brief moment's thought, he briefly recounted his experiences over the past two days, concluding, "...The last time, the steps were the same as the video tutorial, but the finished product still couldn't achieve the 'melts in your mouth' effect described in the video."

He turned his head and glanced out the glass. Chu Yu was squatting on the ground, seemingly studying the leaves of a potted plant intently. Occasionally, he would look up in the direction of the tea room, then quickly look down again to continue looking at the leaves.

He turned his gaze to Xie Jing before speaking again: "Xiao Yu at home is a picky eater. Although she hasn't complained, I can tell that it's not the taste she really wants."

After listening, Xie Jing pondered for a moment and then said, "Since there are no problems with the steps and the machines, the problem is probably not with the cooking method, but with the ingredients themselves."

Shen Ci frowned slightly: "It shouldn't be a problem with the ingredients. The beef was purchased by my family, and the packaging does indeed say 'Angus grain-fed beef steak.'"

Angus grain-fed beef steak?

Xie Jing's gaze toward Shen Ci carried a hint of something indescribable.

He asked tentatively, in a tone that was as calm as possible, "...May I ask Mr. Shen, do you know what 'Wagyu beef' is in this 'slow-cooked Wagyu beef'?"

Shen Ci's brows slowly furrowed.

He pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Mr. Xie, are you perhaps saying that 'Wagyu' is a breed of cattle? Like the difference between yellow cattle and water buffalo?"

Xie Jing: "..."

He finished his tea, refilled it for both of them, and then explained, "Mr. Shen, what you just mentioned, 'Angus grain-fed beef' and 'Wagyu beef,' are indeed two completely different concepts, just like yellow cattle and water buffalo."

Shen Ci: "...I would like to hear the details."

Xie Jing: "Angus is a breed of beef cattle. Grain-fed refers to the feeding method, meaning they are fed with grains. Wagyu, on the other hand, was originally a draft cattle breed. Later, through specific feeding techniques and closed selective breeding, its fat distribution gradually became more even and dense, achieving the so-called 'melt-in-your-mouth' texture."

Shen Ci: "...But when my family bought it, they specifically requested 'Wagyu beef'."

Xie Jing: "Wagi beef, where did Mr. Shen's family purchase it?"

Shen Ci answered truthfully: "My family said it was an e-commerce platform."

Xie Jing: "…………"

He silently took out his phone, searched for a moment, and then put it back.

"Mr. Shen, about 70% of the beef sold online labeled as 'Wagyu' is not actually Wagyu."

Shen Ci: "..."

Xie Jing: "Of the remaining 30%, 20% are crossbred Wagyu or low-grade Wagyu. Wagyu that truly reaches M5 level or above is rarely circulated on ordinary e-commerce platforms."

Shen Ci: "..."

He glanced at Chu Yu outside the glass one last time before turning back to Xie Jing. "Then, may I ask, Mr. Xie, where can one find genuine Wagyu beef?"

Xie Jing saw Shen Ci turn his head to look out into the corridor, but from his current angle, he couldn't see Chu Yu squatting on the ground; he could only see Shang Song standing.

After weighing his options, he replied, "The Wagyu beef used in Genting Kitchen has a fixed supplier with stable channels and guaranteed quality. If Mr. Shen needs it, I can have the kitchen allocate a portion for Mr. Shen to try first."

Shen Ci finished his second cup of tea, slightly raised his eyes, and waited for him to continue.

Xie Jing continued, "In addition, I can have my subordinates compile a list of reliable high-end ingredient suppliers and give it to Mr. Shen. If there are any other ingredient needs in the future, there will be no need to go through e-commerce channels."

Just as Shen Ci was about to express his gratitude, Xie Jing added, "However, Mr. Shen, I have a small request."

Shen Ci: "Please speak, Mr. Xie."

Xie Jing poured Shen Ci a third cup of tea before speaking: "I hope that Mr. Shen and my wife will try to meet less in the future."

Shen Ci: "………………"

Shen Ci remained silent for a long time, then picked up the cup of tea, blew away the steam, drank it all in one gulp, put down the cup, and said noncommittally, "The tea has been served three times. Thank you for your hospitality."

"I'm sorry to trouble you with the supplier matter, Mr. Xie. I'll take my leave now."

He stood up and made a farewell gesture.

Xie Jing also stood up, without trying to stop him, but simply nodded slightly: "Lin Zhou will prepare the ingredients and contact information and send them downstairs. Take care, Mr. Shen."

Shen Ci nodded, turned and walked towards the tea room door, then pushed it open and went out.

In the corridor, Chu Yu heard the door open, looked up abruptly, saw Shen Ci, and immediately ran over: "Sir! Are you done talking?"

Shen Ci gave a soft "hmm," raised her hand, and ruffled Chu Yu's hair. "Let's go back."

Chu Yu nodded vigorously immediately, took Shen Ci's hand, and said, "Little Yu will go home with you, sir!"

Chu Yu obediently followed Shen Ci's steps, then turned back and waved to Xie Jing and Shang Song, who were standing at the entrance of the tea room, "Goodbye, Brother Shang Song, and that big brother!"

Shang Song waved to Chu Yu, watching Shen Ci and Chu Yu's figures disappear into the elevator doors.

The elevator arrived at the first floor and the doors opened.

Lin Zhou was already waiting in the lobby, holding a cold-chain insulated bag, which he handed to Shen Ci with both hands: "Mr. Shen, inside are three pieces of M9+ grade Wagyu beef, which have been properly aged and can be used directly. In addition, the supplier's contact information is also included in the bag."

Shen Ci took the insulated bag and nodded slightly: "Thank you for your trouble."

Lin Zhou bowed slightly: "You're welcome. The patriarch instructed that if you need any other ingredients in the future, you can contact me directly. My surname is Lin, and my contact information is in this bag."

Shen Ci nodded. "Mr. Lin, farewell."

With that, he led Chu Yu and walked out of the cloud top.

Lin Zhou watched the two figures walk away, their voices fading into the distance, carried by the swaying white ponytail:

"Have the adults learned how to cook sous-vide Wagyu beef?"

"...I've learned something."

"Really? Then we can make beef that looks like clouds?"

"...That should be acceptable."