Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Chapter: The First Daughter

Due to Xu Ruyan, Xu Dong had specifically investigated Qin Yan, which led him to also look into Lin Le. So, upon seeing Lin Le, he recognized her immediately.

Xu Dong was surprised to find Lin Le in Haicheng, especially running a restaurant near their university with surprisingly good culinary skills. Initially resentful towards Lin Le because of Xu Ruyan, he had thought about making her pay once he met her, as a form of vengeance for Xu Ruyan.

However, when he actually encountered Lin Le, especially under those circumstances, he found he couldn’t bring himself to act on any of his previously conceived malicious plans, nor could he utter a single spiteful word.

Thus, Xu Dong could only leave the restaurant silently, with his head down.

His roommate followed him out, pulling at him to ask what had happened.

After some thought, Xu Dong decided to share everything with his roommate.

Immediately, Roommate 2 punched him in the chest and exclaimed, "Damn, are you out of your mind? This whole mess was caused by that idiot Qin, what does Lin the boss have to do with it? She's a victim too, you know?"

"…I know, it's not really about her. But whenever I think of the humiliation my sister has suffered recently, I just can't help but feel angry," Xu Dong said helplessly. Objectively, anyone could see Lin Le was a victim, and none of this was her fault. But emotions often override rational thought, especially when it comes to loved ones.

"Why the hell are you taking it out on Boss Lin?!" Roommate 4 pointed at Xu Dong, "If Boss Lin deliberately led that man to break off the engagement with your sister, I'd get your resentment. But clearly, you know it was that man who forced Boss Lin, even torturing her himself — how can you justify your behavior towards her? You’re displacing anger! Why? The person causing your sister's broken engagement isn’t Boss Lin. So, because you pity your sister, an innocent girl should just accept your anger? Why should she bear the brunt of wealthy people bullying her?!"

"…I, I didn’t actually do anything to her, why are you so angry?" Xu Dong felt unjustly scolded by Roommate 4's outburst.

"What were you planning to do to Boss Lin?! Your initial thoughts were already wrong!!" Roommate 4 shouted indignantly.

Roommate 1 and Roommate 2 also shared their opinions, although not as vehemently as Roommate 4, they agreed with his sentiment.

If Lin Le had truly been a shameless homewrecker, it would be one thing. But she was also one of the oppressed, perhaps even more so than Xu Dong's sister, because while Xu Dong's sister had a powerful family to back her, preventing Qin from getting off scot-free, Lin Le could not retaliate and had to hide and dodge just to

The three brothers sympathized with Lin Le, with Roommate 4 fiercely defending her due to his special affection for her. The others, however, held more balanced views.

They explained to Xu Dong that disliking Lin Le was understandable since she wasn't entirely blameless in her situation. Her passive endurance emboldened Qin Yan's recklessness. While Lin Le's character flaws contributed to her predicament, it didn't justify Xu Dong's desire for retribution.

Lin Le's mistake was her meekness and lack of assertiveness, which might irk some but doesn't warrant retaliatory anger.

Pondering Roommate 1's words, Xu Dong called Xu Ruyan, now living freely abroad, to seek her opinion.

Xu Ruyan mused before saying, "Initially, I looked down on her; then, I pitied her; and now, I kinda like her. She's too soft, like a dumpling. I thought she'd always be bullied by Qin, but she proved me wrong this time."

Xu Dong listened silently as Xu Ruyan chuckled, recalling Lin Le's quail-like nervousness around her.

She continued, "I've never blamed her. So, stop thinking about troubling her. If you really want to avenge me, help her stay away from Qin."

Losing a loved one and becoming strangers with someone you once cherished—this serves as the best revenge on Qin Yan, a person who doesn't understand how to love properly.

……

After the call with Xu Ruoyan, Xu Dong's feelings remained complex.

Previously, if he had a physiological aversion to Lin Le, now he was completely unsure how to face her. Of course, he couldn't suddenly change his views on Lin Le, but he indeed found it impossible to harbor malice towards her like before.

Staying at the school amidst his inner turmoil, Xu Dong was subjected to Old Four's "brainwashing" every day, almost convincing him that harboring ill will towards Lin Le was truly atrocious.

Fortunately, at this time, Xu Dong's younger uncle returned from abroad, providing Xu Dong with an excuse to escape school and head home.

This younger uncle of the Xu family, the youngest child of Grandfather Xu, wasn't much older than Xu Dong. Thus, the entire family, from Grandfather Xu and Mr. Xu to the Xu daughters and down to Xu Dong, cherished him immensely.

Upon hearing of the younger uncle's return, most of the Xu family rushed home, filling the living room by the time Xu Dong arrived.

The eldest aunt, second aunt, youngest aunt.

Cousins, cousin-in-law.

—The whole family was lively.

"Young Uncle."

Xu Dong, brimming with excitement, walked into the center of the living room. The Xu family was known for their good genes, making them a family of handsome men and beautiful women without exception, especially the younger uncle.

He seemed to embody all the best qualities of the Xu family, not just in his exquisite appearance but more importantly, in his demeanor—gentle, refined, and graceful. Like a meticulously carved piece of jade, he was captivating yet possessed an aura of lofty integrity.

"You're back," the younger uncle greeted Xu Dong with a gentle smile.

Every time Xu Dong sees his uncle, he's struck by his jade-like presence, sometimes wondering if his uncle isn't really a celestial being who's come to experience life on Earth.

"Dongdong, come, sit here!" The elderly matriarch of the Xu family beckoned Xu Dong warmly.

Xu Dong approached, and the elderly lady grasped his hand, inquiring about his well-being with the kind of concern that seemed to magnify even after just a few days apart—a common trait among elders, always worried about the younger generation.

Xu Dong, accustomed to this, politely responded to the elderly lady's inquiries.

The family gathered around the younger uncle, mostly inquiring about his overseas experiences, to which he responded one by one.

Among the food enthusiasts in the Xu family, the younger uncle stood out not just for his palate but also for his culinary skills. Born with an exceptionally sensitive sense of taste, he could easily discern the subtle differences between ingredients, maximizing their flavors.

As a result, he gained international fame in the culinary world at a young age.

Conversations with him inevitably veered towards food, and suddenly, the youngest aunt suggested, "There's this popular restaurant online with rave reviews. How about we go there for lunch?"

The Xu family, known for their love of good food, and the youngest aunt, lively and always online, often chased after highly-rated restaurants she discovered online, never tiring of the adventure.

"Another internet-famous restaurant? Online reputations are all hype. They say the food is good, but it's usually not. And with Xiao Wu's sensitive taste, wouldn't that be torture?" The eldest aunt's husband expressed concern upon hearing the suggestion to dine out.

Dine out? That seemed impractical.

Xu Rui was only home for a day. How many meals could he possibly have? Preparations had been made in anticipation of his stay, so how could they consider going elsewhere?

This eldest aunt's husband, whose own family ran a nationwide chain of restaurants, aspired to elevate their business further by leveraging Xu Rui's international culinary status.

Gaining his endorsement could easily propel their restaurants to new heights.

Furthermore, if someone from their family could catch Xu Rui's eye and become his apprentice, their future prospects would be unparalleled. So, how could he let this opportunity slip to others?

As for that internet-famous restaurant? Forget about it!

"Yeah, yeah, Four, Xiao Wu is different from us. We can't just go to any random place. I say we should head to the restaurant owned by our eldest sister's husband. Their new chef just won the culinary competition, and since it's all in the family, it feels more reliable," suggested Xu's second uncle-in-law.

Although Xu's second uncle-in-law wasn't in the catering business himself, he had investments with the eldest uncle-in-law's newly opened five-star hotel in A City, so a more prominent reputation for the hotel would be beneficial for him too.

"Can any competition winner compare to Xiao Wu? If we want delicious food, why not let Xiao Wu cook at home? Do we really need to go out?" countered Xu's youngest aunt, "I recommended this restaurant not for its culinary excellence but because I think it suits Xiao Wu. He's exploring ancient culinary arts, and I've heard this restaurant has a rich family tradition. Their dishes are sophisticated, which is why I thought he should try it."

Given the Xu family's gourmet inclinations, they pay close attention to the culinary world, especially with Xu's younger uncle in their midst, deepening their understanding of China's cuisine's global standing.

Despite his renown in the culinary world, Chinese cuisine doesn't hold a high international status, prompting Xu's younger uncle to embark on a nationwide quest years ago. He aims to elevate traditional Chinese cuisine to a prominent position on the global stage.

"Is that true, Fourth Sister?" Intrigued by his youngest aunt's description, Xu Rui showed interest.

"Of course, it's true. Would I lie to you? I've personally dined there. While the owner's skills may not match yours, her dishes are indeed unique," she affirmed.

The younger uncle seemed persuaded, but the eldest uncle-in-law remained opposed. Their debate, with family members taking sides, filled the living room with unending arguments until the family patriarch decisively intervened: "Enough with the bickering. Why argue when we can simply go and try?"

The patriarch, though retired, still commanded respect, silencing further debate.