The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 342: Chapter 341: Ex-Husband and Current Partner’s Collision

Zhao Meng has worked at Qianlima for over ten years and has met many people.

The person who came today is one of his old customers.

After dealing with them for many years, Zhao Meng can somewhat guess if the dish ordered is for entertaining guests, for family, or for some celebratory event.

This old customer ordered a table of dishes today and also specially requested a bowl of seafood noodles.

Zhao Meng looked at the menu, specially asked the order-taker to confirm he hadn’t mistaken the person, and then hurried over to the pastry section, temporarily borrowed a six-inch cake, and also asked Li Shuli to help make a beautiful fruit platter, which he personally delivered to the private room.

The old customer is celebrating a birthday today.

Otherwise, usually when coming to the restaurant, the staple would always be mackerel dumplings or seafood congee. This person does not like pasta except for dumplings.

As it turns out, Zhao Meng’s guess was very accurate.

Seeing the cake and fruit platter personally delivered by Zhao Meng, the old customer was both proud and somewhat moved.

Zhao Meng chatted for a bit and said some appropriate blessings before tactfully leaving.

After today’s gesture, at least for the next few years, whenever the person comes to Qianlima to dine, they are bound to order his list of dishes.

Zhao Meng left the private room and happily headed back to the kitchen.

As he passed 203, he happened to meet a waiter returning with dishes. Zhao Meng stopped and greeted him.

Just then, someone came out of the private room and was stunned to see Zhao Meng standing at the door!

”Wow! Old Zhao!!”

Hearing the voice, Zhao Meng turned his head and laughed: ”Old Hu! Yo, what brings you here?”

Hu Kaixing was a little embarrassed and quickly explained in a low voice: ”A friend treated, so I didn’t specifically look for you.”

Zhao Meng nodded understandingly but still said: ”If we hadn’t met, it would be fine, but I’ll say a word to the front desk later and give you guys an internal discount.”

Hu Kaixing laughed: ”I was just thinking not to bother you.”

Zhao Meng responded genially: ”What’s the trouble in that, it’s just a matter of saying the word.”

Hu Kaixing was quite pleased and was about to say something when Zhao Meng suddenly seemed to see something and quickly turned his back: ”You just eat. I’m just off to the restroom.”

Hu Kaixing was dumbfounded and hadn’t reacted when he saw Zhao Meng hastily rushing back the way he came.

As he looked back in the direction Zhao Meng had just been looking, he saw a waiter leading a pair of customers walking towards them.

Hu Kaixing looked at the pair, a man and woman walking side by side, and his face suddenly changed.

Li Dan?

He instinctively turned his head toward the corridor and saw Zhao Meng turn left into another area.

The waiter was saying as they walked, ”The 203 private room is just ahead, please this way.”

Hu Kaixing was dumbfounded, watching as Li Dan, following the waiter, walked closer to them.

Meanwhile, hearing the commotion, the people in the private room came out to greet them.

”Li Dan!”

At this moment, Li Dan also saw them and walked over with a smile: ”Mengqi!”

Li Dan first hugged Wang Mengqi, then turned to look at Hu Kaixing: ”Wow! Old Hu, how did you get so fat!”

Hu Kaixing stared at Li Dan in astonishment: ”Li Dan, how come you’re also here?”

Just as he finished speaking, his wife pinched him on the waist.

Li Dan pretended to be angry: ”What, not welcoming me?”

Wang Mengqi quickly explained: ”No, my husband just didn’t know you were coming today.”

Li Dan laughed: ”Well, it’s also my fault for contacting suddenly. I originally planned to come see you after settling down, but we happened to want to try the Qianlima specialties, and hearing you were here too, we might as well have a good gathering tonight.”

Wang Mengqi laughed happily: ”Yes, Xiaohuo and I were just saying that since you’re back, if you don’t have time, we would go see you instead, but it’s great that we all meet up today. Come in, the seats are ready for you.”

She then looked at the man standing beside Li Dan, who looked very distinguished, and greeted him with a smile: ”And you must be Yuhang?”

Li Dan nodded with a smile: ”This is my husband, Che Yuhang. Yuhang, this is my best friend, Mengqi.”

Wang Mengqi invited: ”Let’s not stand here talking, come in quickly.”

Li Dan and her husband entered the private room.

Hu Kaixing quickly took the opportunity to pull Wang Mengqi aside and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear: ”Honey, how come she’s here?”

Wang Mengqi explained: ”She just called me, and upon hearing we’re at Qianlima, and since she just arrived, she said we should have dinner together.”

Having said this, Wang Mengqi couldn’t help but ask: ”What’s wrong?”

Hu Kaixing shook his head: ”Oh, nothing, just surprised. By the way, honey, you go in first, I’ve already stepped out, I might as well go to the restroom.”

Wang Mengqi, suspecting no ulterior motive, turned back into the private room.

At this point, how could Hu Kaixing not know why Zhao Meng had gone to the restroom?

He hurried after him.

Compared to meeting Che Yuhang for the first time, Hu Kaixing certainly values his old friend Zhao Meng more.

This kind of encounter between an ex-husband and current partner is simply awkward and embarrassing.

Hu Kaixing, fearing that Zhao Meng would misunderstand, chased into the restroom, and seeing no one else was there, quickly explained to Zhao Meng.

”Li Dan just arrived in Bei’an today, it was when we were talking that she got in touch with my wife. Hearing we were eating here, she just came over.”

Hu Kaixing studied Zhao Meng’s face: ”Old Zhao, are you really okay?”

Zhao Meng smiled: ”What’s there to be okay or not? It’s been so long since the divorce, it’s all in the past.”

Hu Kaixing suppressed the urge to scratch his head: ”That’s good, I, sigh...”

Zhao Meng reached out and patted Hu Kaixing’s shoulder, asking: ”I’m done here. Are you going to the restroom, or... leaving with me?”

Seeing Zhao Meng’s calm smile, Hu Kaixing suddenly felt his own cautious thoughts were rather petty.

He smiled and nodded: ”Oh right, I’m going to the restroom, I’ve taken up so much of your time, you go back, and I’ll contact you later so we can meet up.”

Zhao Meng suddenly laughed: ”Hey, Old Hu, are you sure you’re here to use the restroom? Don’t you have something to say to me?”

Hu Kaixing was a bit embarrassed, as Zhao Meng’s expression clearly indicated he had seen through everything, intentionally teasing him.

Unable to keep the act up, Hu Kaixing immediately felt relieved: ”I’m just worried you might overthink it. I was also a bit shocked when I suddenly saw Li Dan, it’s been, what, three years since I last saw her.”

Zhao Meng laughed: ”It’s been even longer for me. Haven’t contacted each other ever since the divorce. I wonder how she’s doing now?”

Although it was still a bit awkward, Hu Kaixing sincerely, from the bottom of his heart, smiled and said: ”You’re just curious and want to know, right? I originally didn’t want to tell you, worried you’d feel uncomfortable, but knowing ahead of time is good in case you run into it again in the future or hear from others, to avoid further awkwardness.”