Chapter 15: Durian Pancake

Chapter 15 Durian Pancakes

Wen Zhaofu's office had all the amenities. As Yun Fan showered, he thought that if it weren’t for the old butler insisting Wen Zhaofu come home for meals, he’d probably live at the office.

As Yun Fan showered, Wen Zhaofu stayed seated in the outer room. He stared at the stock market data on his computer screen, the zigzagging lines making his vision blurry.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, realizing Yun Fan had stirred a desire in him. He wasn’t ashamed to admit it, but he was afraid of scaring Yun Fan.

No one would bother him now—he had his assistant guard the door, allowing no one to enter.

The sound of water was too clear, pounding in Wen Zhaofu’s ears. Visions of a drenched Yun Fan flashed before his eyes, and he quickly shut them, not daring to dwell on it.

Since Yun Fan entered his life, he had witnessed a vibrant vitality. Yun Fan loved life and was whimsically clever—Wen Zhaofu adored such liveliness.

From childhood, Wen Zhaofu had followed too many rules. Rule-followers only seemed ordinary to him, while Yun Fan made his heart race.

He envied Yun Fan's relaxed attitude; perhaps he himself could never achieve such a state in this lifetime.

So before this, Wen Zhaofu considered Yun Fan a treasure that had suddenly descended into his life.

But today, he realized he had begun to harbor other, more intimate thoughts about Yun Fan. Yun Fan was no longer just a treasure—he was a darling.

“Mr. Zhao Fu, I’m done showering!” A cheerful voice rang out. Wen Zhaofu looked up, smiling at his darling.

“Just a moment, the clothes will be here soon.” Wen Zhaofu picked up the phone and asked again if the new clothes had been bought.

In Wen Zhaofu’s presence, Yun Fan didn’t dare act recklessly. He obediently sat down and drank a cup of warm tea at just the right temperature.

He had thought Wen Zhaofu was busy with work, but when Yun Fan set down his cup, he noticed Wen Zhaofu watching him.

“Sir?” Yun Fan tilted his head slightly, asking in confusion.

Wen Zhaofu snapped out of his daze. “About the afternoon tea, don’t be nervous. Don’t pressure yourself because of me.”

Yun Fan was surprised that Wen Zhaofu had seen through his thoughts. But he couldn’t bring himself to say anything flippant, especially since Wen Zhaofu had treated him well.

Well, the truth was, Wen Zhaofu held control over his finances.

“You’ve been doing very well these past few days. The Wen house really needs some new life.” Wen Zhaofu smiled faintly.

Yun Fan had never seen Wen Zhaofu standing, yet he never felt that someone in a wheelchair was any different from others.

On the contrary, he always thought Wen Zhaofu seemed tall and exuded immense control.

Yun Fan had never met anyone like him and wasn’t sure if he could handle such a person.

“Alright, sir, I’ll do my best,” Yun Fan replied.

The new clothes arrived, and Yun Fan quickly changed in the inner room. Now feeling warm and comfortable, he was in a good mood and unconsciously began humming a tune.

When he stepped out, he saw Wen Zhaofu wasn’t working but instead holding a black bowtie, deep in thought.

“Come, let me put this on for you.” Wen Zhaofu smiled at Yun Fan.

Yun Fan paused in surprise, then after a moment gathered his nerves and walked over. He bent slightly, meeting Wen Zhaofu’s eyes.

Up close, Yun Fan noticed Wen Zhaofu’s pupils were lighter than most. No wonder he always seemed somewhat nonchalant when smoking cigars or speaking with others. But now, with just the two of them in the room, his gaze became intensely focused.

It was profound—Yun Fan couldn’t read it.

Having worked for several years, Yun Fan wasn’t usually intimidated by bosses, but this time, meeting Wen Zhaofu’s eyes made his heart tremble.

He thought he probably couldn’t handle this man.

Wen Zhaofu raised his hand and pressed it against the back of Yun Fan’s neck. Though his expression remained calm, he knew he felt somewhat impatient inside.

“Come closer,” Wen Zhaofu said, his voice still gentle.

Yun Fan lowered his eyes, avoiding Wen Zhaofu’s gaze. Wen Zhaofu chuckled softly, his nimble fingers quickly tying the bowtie for Yun Fan.

Throughout this, Wen Zhaofu remained seated in his wheelchair, only straightening his upper body slightly.

“Xiao Yun.” Wen Zhaofu’s fingers rested on the edge of the bowtie, close to Yun Fan’s Adam’s apple.

“Yes, sir?” Yun Fan responded instinctively, looking up at Wen Zhaofu.

Wen Zhaofu met Yun Fan’s eyes again, unable to look away from those bright, dark orbs. He feigned casualness, tracing a circle on the bowtie with his finger.

“Lately, have you been in touch with Young Masters Cheng and Liu?” Wen Zhaofu asked.

So that’s what he was asking. Yun Fan relaxed, though he couldn’t explain why he had been so nervous moments earlier.

Wen Zhaofu withdrew his hand, and Yun Fan straightened up. “Yes, Young Master Liu texts me every day.”

“About what?” Wen Zhaofu raised an eyebrow, his left hand forming a fist.

Yun Fan laughed. “Funny videos.”

Wen Zhaofu nodded understandingly. “You two really get along. What about Cheng Yu?”

Yun Fan tilted his head. “Young Master Cheng asked me for a recipe for smoked fish, saying it tasted better than what he had in Shanghai.”

Liu Erxing’s actions didn’t surprise Wen Zhaofu, but he hadn’t expected Cheng Yu to make a move too. He smiled again. “Let’s go. The timing is just right.”

Stepping out of the Wen Group building, Yun Fan took deep breaths. Good grief, if he didn’t know the plot, he’d almost think Wen Zhaofu was starting an office romance with him!

*

The Wen Group’s Gold Crown Restaurant was located in the most bustling part of town, bustling with people and thriving business.

This was the venture started by Wen Zhaofu’s great-grandfather, Zu Hua, in Hong Kong. Over the years, no matter what the Wen Group went through, they never considered selling it.

New chefs at Gold Crown Restaurant, regardless of their specialties, had to first master the restaurant’s traditional dishes.

Because Grandma Zu loved to eat, she would often visit, sitting by the window on the second floor for entire afternoons.

It was passed down through generations at the restaurant that Grandma Zu used to sit there, watching her husband busy himself with work.

Upon arriving at Gold Crown Restaurant, Yun Fan heard this story. Honestly, he was quite moved. Having interacted with Grandma Zu, he could sense the affection in this tale.

But seeing that the old butler and Uncle Man showed little reaction, he simply smiled.

Gold Crown Restaurant had undergone several renovations over the years but retained its original layout and decor. Though it still did good business, it wasn’t as prominent compared to other Wen Group ventures.

“Young Master Zhao Fu said he won’t shut this place down,” the old butler whispered. “Even after the great lady is gone, he won’t close it.”

Yun Fan thought of Wen Zhaofu’s deep, well-like eyes and shuddered. “Perhaps coming here makes one understand how the Wen family came to be.”

“What, did the young master tell you that too?” The old butler stopped and looked up at Yun Fan. “That’s exactly what he said.”

“No, no, I was just guessing,” Yun Fan quickly shook his head.

The restaurant arranged a pastry chef to receive them. Uncle Man was very familiar with him, as he often came here to learn.

Brother Lu was completely different from Uncle Man in terms of physique—standing next to him, he even seemed somewhat smaller in stature. However, Brother Lu spoke with a powerful and clear voice, his words well-organized. Yun Fan liked him immensely; compared to his previous bosses and colleagues, Brother Lu never wasted a single word.

"Actually, the elderly lady’s insistence on maintaining the afternoon tea tradition at the residence is truly a way of cherishing the memory of the Old Master Wen. In the past, they would work together from dawn until noon, and sitting down for a bite to eat in the afternoon was their most relaxed time."

"Now, the elderly lady uses this tradition to unite the Wen family. That’s why she places great importance on it."

Yun Fan nodded. The old steward patted his arm and said, "Got it now? This time, your responsibility is significant. So, make sure to follow the requirements carefully and avoid acting recklessly."

Before leaving, they also tried durian crepes. The outer layer was thin yet pleasantly chewy, while the filling—a blend of fruit and cream—was sweet and delicious.

The old steward refused to eat any, saying that he had never liked durian since childhood. So, Yun Fan ended up eating his portion too, savoring it so much it almost made him burp.

"Food is fleeting, but what remains are the memories of the moment we eat it," Brother Lu said meaningfully as they were leaving.

Reflecting on these words, Yun Fan sat back in the narrow rear seat of the sports car. As soon as he got in, he said to the old steward, "Uncle Cheng, no sunroof this time! It looks like it’s going to rain soon."

"Got it, got it!" the old steward replied, starting the car.

Along the way, various scenes flashed by—the glimpses of the sea, lush trees, and hurried pedestrians were not the only sights. Behind the towering skyscrapers stood low-rise village houses. Many images overlapped here, each holding memories of different people.

Memories...

By the time they arrived at Wen Yanlan’s Residence, Yun Fan had an idea. He patted the driver’s seat and said, "Uncle Cheng, I want to create an afternoon tea blind box!"