It was just the first day of their official training with Shen Lingqing, but Liu Jinfei already felt exhausted even though the sun was yet to set. Perhaps it was because he felt sensitive and wary in front of Shen Lingqing. Her clear eyes looked at him as if she could see through his soul and understand the conflicts and storms in his heart.

Did she somehow notice? Did she allow him to stay at Savory Alley despite realizing that something was wrong with him as a chef? Liu Jinfei wondered.

He wasn’t sure whether it was a good thing or not, but if Shen Lingqing didn’t think he was efficient enough to work with them, Liu Jinfei figured that she would never hire a problematic chef like him.

Ha. What kind of chef was he who rarely took a taste of what he was cooking? He was already lucky that Shen Lingqing hadn’t kicked him out from her team yet, but he wasn’t hopeful that she would give him leeway, considering how strictly professional she was.

“Are you okay? You don’t seem like yourself today.” Lin Xiao asked as they made their way upstairs to their rooms after their whole day of palate training with Shen Lingqing in the kitchen of the resort. They met a few guests of the resort in the hallway and made sure not to obstruct the guests’ way and cause trouble during their stay.

“I’m fine. I just feel a little tired because we barely got a break these days,” Liu Jinfei replied. Truth be told, he felt vulnerable and on the edge today.

“You’re right, but that couldn’t be helped. With our reopening day approaching, I’m sure everyone is under pressure to perform well.” The older man agreed with him. “I wonder how everyone is faring without us nagging at them.”

“Even you?” Liu Jinfei didn’t expect that Lin Xiao was also nervous and on the edge lately, but he did notice that the older man was trying his best to improve. Lin Xiao even welcomed some feedback about his dishes and learning from younger ones like him and Shen Lingqing.

“Of course! Since Director Shen promoted me as the head chef, you don’t know how worried I am about making mistakes. I don’t want Director Shen to regret trusting me to lead the kitchen.” Lin Xiao chuckled. “I have never thought this day would come, and I don’t want to waste this chance to prove to myself that I can still cook.”

“Well, you still can cook.” Liu Jinfei pointed out. “Did you get worried that I would steal your thunder when I approached Director Shen to apply as the head chef before?”

Liu Jinfei realized a bit too late that he had been impulsive when he voiced out his intention to work at Savory Alley in front of Shen Lingqing, but oddly enough, he didn’t feel any regret from his decision. He knew he would still do the same thing all over again if he was back in the same scenario.

“Of course not!” Lin Xiao exclaimed, his brows furrowing together in confusion. “I’m not that petty, Chef Liu. I know that there are chefs out there that could surpass me when it comes to cooking, just like a chef coming from Silver Leaf such as you. I would never hold it against you.”

Somehow, his answer made Liu Jinfei feel better. The younger chef tried to avoid competition as much as possible and tried to get along well with his colleagues. However, sometimes, it was hard to avoid it altogether, especially when he was still at Silver Leaf.

Was it really hard to live a harmonious and peaceful life? Liu Jinfei wondered. If he had a choice, he wanted neither fame nor wealth, as long as he could live in peace without worrying who would scheme against him behind his back.

“Thank you, Chef Lin. That’s reassuring to know,” he replied with a genuine smile. One of the reasons he never stayed for too long at the restaurants he worked in the past was that some chefs were hard to get along with, especially once they found out that he was once a young master of a prominent family back in the capital.

Hopefully, this time, under Shen Lingqing’s management; he wouldn’t need to resign prematurely to avoid the Liu family coming after him. Although he knew he couldn’t hide from them for too long—they would eventually find him working at Savory Alley.

However, would the Liu family be brave enough to bully the demon princess? Would they dare to offend the Shen family and make an enemy out of them?

Shen Lingqing might be young, but her influence as the demon lord’s heiress was known to everyone within the capital. She was certainly one of the people the Liu family wouldn’t dare to mess up with.

The Shen and the Liu families once had strong ties when Liu Jinfei’s grandfather was still alive. However, ever since his uncle took over the company, this bond had been completely severed by Shen Yi without giving further reasons for their disassociation.

“Were you worried about it, Chef Liu? Tell you what, if you need help on something, just tell me, and I will help you at the best of my capabilities,” Lin Xiao assured him.

Liu Jinfei’s lips quirked up. He had a feeling that he might stay longer at Savory Alley this time. With the Liu family left with no choice but to distance themselves from him for now, he would have temporary freedom to do what he wanted under Shen Lingqing’s watch.

“Then, I will be under your care, Chef Lin.” He chuckled and bid goodbye to the older chef as he entered his designated room in a better mood than earlier that morning.

As his eyes caught his notebook on top of his desk, he wondered if it was time for him to come clean to Director Shen and inform her about the issues he was currently facing.