Chapter 30: Hot Pot Feast

Chapter 30 The Hot Pot Feast

The ceremony concluded, and the banquet officially began. With no guests to attend to for the moment, Liu Erxing relaxed, his eyes roaming over Yun Fan as he teased, "You look quite sharp in that suit. Who bought it for you?"

"Myself, with my legitimate earnings," Yun Fan replied.

The black suit hugged Yun Fan’s frame, accentuating his lean and nimble build—much like the man himself. Instead of a tie, he wore a red bowtie, which softened the formality and added a playful touch.

Liu Erxing thought again; perhaps it was simply Yun Fan’s good looks that drew attention. People were so captivated by his face that they often overlooked what he was wearing. It was only when they suddenly noticed he had changed outfits that they were surprised.

The badge pinned to Yun Fan’s left chest glittered under the lights. Just as Liu Erxing leaned in for a closer look, Wen Haochen rushed over like a gust of wind.

"Butler Yun! You actually have my brother’s badge!" Wen Haochen exclaimed, utterly shocked. "I don’t even have one!"

Yun Fan blinked rapidly, the small gold flakes at the bottom of the badge shaking with his rapid breathing. He glanced down at the eagle emblem on the badge, momentarily speechless.

Seeing Yun Fan’s stunned expression, Liu Erxing realized Wen Zhaofu hadn’t explained the significance of wearing his badge.

If nothing else, this alone would be enough to make the old butler envy Yun Fan for a year.

Wearing the employer’s badge or adorning oneself with the employer’s accessories was a long-standing tradition in the butler world, a symbol of status.

Since Yun Fan disliked wearing clothes bought by others, Wen Zhaofu had gifted him his precious badge instead. He knew how to appeal to Yun Fan—the badge was exquisitely crafted, small, and something Yun Fan wouldn’t refuse.

"Zhao Fu is quite generous. As far as I know, he only has five of these badges in total, made of pure gold. The price..." Liu Erxing trailed off as he noticed Yun Fan’s eyes widening with dollar signs in them.

Observing Yun Fan’s reaction, Liu Erxing felt he couldn’t quite figure out his peer. He had expected Yun Fan to be moved by Wen Zhaofu’s thoughtful gesture, but instead, Yun Fan perked up at the mention of money.

"Another thing to keep me from going hungry," Yun Fan concluded.

*

The hotpot feast was set up outdoors. Curious, nearly all the guests made their way to the beach.

For businesspeople, eating hotpot often seemed inelegant, especially with the lingering odor. But who could resist its deliciousness? The aroma was totally irresistible.

The Wen Family Spring Celebration was considerate of everyone, arranging the meal in the temperate open air and installing ventilation nearby to ensure no one carried the smell home with them.

A significant number of guests even changed out of their formal attire into more casual clothes, gathering eagerly around the dining tables, ready to indulge.

"What kind of broth is this? It doesn’t look spicy."

"Miss, this is a fermented glutinous rice broth—delicious and nutritious. Would you like to try it?" Uncle Man explained, putting on gloves to start cooking the ingredients.

"Come quickly! There’s pork tripe and chicken here!"

"Wow, sour hot pot. So many varieties!"

A line formed in front of the spicy chili oil hot pot, with many eager to take on the challenge. Surprisingly, the duck blood cake, added to the cold pot, received high praise.

Among the wide array of dishes, the beef and lamb brought by Liu Erxing stood out for being fresh and tasty. After tasting the tender and resilient meat, several VIPs immediately approached Liu Erxing to discuss purchasing.

Who would have thought that a simple favor would lead to business opportunities? Liu Erxing was thrilled.

Yun Fan had already sampled and evaluated every dish and broth, so he didn’t feel the need to join the crowd. Standing at a distance, he watched the scene with some confusion.

Along the misty coastline, it was as if a glass bubble enclosed these glamorous people.

It seemed they could buy anything with their vast wealth, yet there were many things money couldn’t purchase.

This inherent contradiction faced by these individuals was difficult to put into words.

"Ah, I had a meal at the Palace of Versailles not long ago, but honestly, today’s hotpot suits my taste better," Yun Fan overheard two men in suits chatting nearby, dipping sauces in hand. He smiled faintly and turned to leave.

"Hao Chen, Hao Chen, try this! It’s not spicy at all!" Two young men crowded around Wen Haochen, urging him to try the spicy pot.

"Hey!" Yun Fan stepped forward to stop them but was too late. He watched helplessly as Wen Haochen swallowed a large mouthful of fried gluten puff that had soaked up the broth.

Scalding and spicy, the gluten seemed to bite back, making Wen Haochen jump around uncontrollably, forgetting all decorum.

"My goodness, you know he can’t handle spicy food," Yun Fan felt a protective instinct and quickly found an empty bowl, urging Wen Haochen to spit out the food.

But the young master, wanting to keep up appearances in front of his friends, chewed a few times and forced the gluten down.

Soon, Wen Haochen’s face turned red, his lips shiny, and his eyes dazed—utterly stunned by the spiciness.

"Why do that to yourself?" Yun Fan looked at him with a mix of sympathy and helplessness.

Wen Haochen glanced at his two classmates and whispered to Yun Fan, "Their fathers beat mine in business last month. Today, I can’t afford to lose."

"One thing has nothing to do with another. Why punish yourself for your father’s affairs?" Yun Fan shook his head.

Wen Haochen sighed deeply, like it was a profound matter. "Butler Yun, there are some things you just don’t understand."

Yun Fan quietly chuckled, thinking, *I may not understand, but I do know you’re suffering just to save face.*

*

In contrast to Wen Haochen, Cheng Yu and Liu Erxing were much more restrained.

Cheng Yu was pulled around by his mother as the two toasted with guests. Young Master Cheng barely had a chance to eat much hotpot, though he didn’t particularly like it anyway. With his time occupied, he could only glance at Yun Fan from afar, unable to approach for a conversation.

His work is focused in Shanghai, serving mainland clients. Truth be told, he attended the Spring Celebration mostly to accompany his mother.

Cheng Bixia, full of energy in her later years, seemed unable to accept defeat after returning to Hong Kong, eager to rebuild her career.

Wen Zhaofu had discussed this with Cheng Yu. He wasn’t surprised and even offered to provide any assistance his aunt might need.

Of course, Wen Zhaofu knew his words likely were ignored. He was well aware of his aunt’s temperament, and Cheng Yu had inherited her proud nature.

Meanwhile, Liu Erxing seemed to be right at home, surrounded by a group of celebrities, chatting happily. Throughout the evening, he encountered one potential romantic interest after another, leaving him dazzled.

It was no wonder—unlike other stiffly formal handsome men, Liu Erxing, though dressed in a suit, had a roguish charm that shone through his captivating, narrow eyes.

Wherever he went, he stood out.

With everyone offering him a drink, Liu Erxing eventually grew slightly woozy. Yun Fan took the opportunity to bring him a glass of lemon water.

"I really don’t enjoy these kinds of events. They’re exhausting," Liu Erxing let out a tired breath.

Yun Fan raised an eyebrow. "You seemed to be enjoying yourself quite a bit—smiling from ear to ear."

"Hey, that’s just a professional smile, alright?" Liu Erxing perked up. "What, Butler Yun, are you jealous?"

Yun Fan glared at him and turned to leave, but Liu Erxing grabbed his wrist. "Don’t go! There’s something interesting over there."

Liu Erxing nodded toward a direction, and Yun Fan followed his gaze to Wen Zhaofu. Seated in his wheelchair, Wen Zhaofu was conversing with an elegant, graceful woman.

"Fiona Wu, back from the UK. An intellectual and actress, currently one of the most popular stars," Liu Erxing tsk-tsked. "She’s had a crush on Zhao Fu since their school days. Quite a match, don’t you think?"

Yun Fan unconsciously widened his eyes and let out a soft "Oh." Among today’s attendees, Miss Wu was dressed rather modestly, without extravagant jewelry, revealing only her graceful neck. Her extraordinary elegance was evident in her every gesture.

"Part of a butler's job is not to casually judge the boss," Yun Fan muttered, withdrawing his gaze and glancing at Liu Erxing.

"Rich people’s marriages are complicated," Liu Erxing remarked fearlessly, unafraid to voice his opinions. "That’s why I say Fiona Wu is quite daring, insisting on jumping into the Wen family’s drama."

"Sometimes I feel sorry for Zhao Fu—his legs don’t work, and he can’t even make his own decisions about marriage. When you think about it, he might not even have as much freedom as I do."

At this, Yun Fan chuckled softly. He recalled Wen Zhaofu standing before him with a cane and realized how deceptive his boss could be. Even the usually sharp Liu Erxing had been fooled by him all these years.

Liu Erxing reached out and patted the back of Yun Fan’s neck, then nodded toward Wen Zhaofu, who was watching them. With a playful tone, he said, "The Wen family has too many complications. If you ever get tired of it, come find me. My place offers freedom."

Yun Fan looked at Liu Erxing and shook his head. "You might not believe it, but Mr. Zhao Fu... the pay is just too good."

*

Wen Zhaofu had been busy all evening. Even if he weren’t the host of this Spring Celebration event, he would still attract attention.

Too many people were curious about him, and there were too many questions surrounding him that demanded answers.

For instance, when would he undergo surgery again? Will he walk again? As he had reached marriageable age, had the Wen family begun selecting a wife for him, and what kind of person would she be?

And as the next head of the Wen family, what moves would he make?

He rarely made public appearances, so whenever he showed up at such events, he inevitably became the main attraction.

Having spoken too much and downed glass after glass of alcohol, the alcohol was getting to him. He lit a cigar, facing the sea breeze, and grabbed a quiet moment to search for Yun Fan in the crowd.

Amid the noisy environment, only his Xiao Yun could calm him. He longed to talk to Yun Fan but feared he’d reek of alcohol.

The world of fame and fortune was both complex and simple—viewed through the lens of "follow the money," everything fell into place. Wen Zhaofu understood it well but couldn’t care less.

Someone mentioned hiring a composer in Europe to create music for their family dinners, and he smiled faintly. He remembered how, not long ago, Yun Fan had casually told the banquet band, "Keep the music playing, keep the dance going."

Then he overheard someone talking about a certain Mr. Zhang installing a bathtub with diamonds all over it in his home. Internally, he scoffed, thinking, "So what?" Not long ago, Yun Fan had searched all over the city for a bath scrubber, insisting that no fancy rose milk beats a simple scrubber.

Wen Zhaofu exhaled a ring of cigar smoke. Though he hadn’t eaten, he felt somewhat satisfied, and thoughts of Yun Fan chilled him out. He never inhaled the cigar, only savoring the fruity, woody taste in his mouth.

As another haze of smoke clouded his vision, Wen Zhaofu saw a slender young man walking fast down the beach toward him. For a moment, he thought he was drunk, because it looked like Yun Fan.

"Sir, stop drinking. Doctor Shi will be angry," Yun Fan said, taking the wine glass from Wen Zhaofu’s hand.

Wen Zhaofu reached out and abruptly grabbed Yun Fan’s wrist. His grip was tight, and Yun Fan struggled to steady himself to avoid spilling champagne on Wen Zhaofu’s trousers.

The warm pressure encircled Yun Fan’s skin. He crouched down, looking at Wen Zhaofu, who didn’t let go. His breathing was slightly ragged.

"Sir?" Yun Fan asked uncertainly, gauging Wen Zhaofu’s condition. "Are you alright?"

Wen Zhaofu stared intently at Yun Fan, wanting those bright eyes to reflect only him. The sea breeze rustled, tousling the hair on Yun Fan’s forehead and got to Wen Zhaofu.

"Xiao Yun," Wen Zhaofu called softly, his voice got lost in the noise.

But Yun Fan heard it—every word.

"Xiao Yun, I need you to look after me."