"Does 'instantaneous scar removal' mean it'll get rid of the scar right away? Dr. Chen... Dr. Chen, I didn't study much, please don't lie to me."
Chen Xiao clearly hadn't expected Zidan's reaction to be so intense. Seeing the van nearly crash into the flowerbed by the roadside, he quickly reached out to help control the steering wheel, saying with a wry smile, "You are the most lovable people, how could I possibly lie to you?"
"Lovable?"
Zidan clearly misunderstood Chen Xiao's wording. Her sun-kissed cheeks flushed instantly, and her strong, resolute heart pounded in her chest.
She was so eager to get rid of the hideous scar on her left eye that, amidst her shyness, she couldn't help but ask with hopeful eyes, "Dr. Chen, there's no time like the present. Since your medicine is so miraculous, why don't you help this little sister remove the scar now? I'll go buy whatever medicine is needed right away."
Zhegu Tian was just ahead. With nothing else to do, Chen Xiao hesitated for a moment before readily agreeing, "Then let's go to Zhegu Tian!"
The ingredients he had taught Song Yan to use for the "Dragon Liver Phoenix Marrow Soup" yesterday included herbs like Bai Jili, Bai Fuzi, and Bai Zhi, which were also needed for preparing the "White Jade Emerald Paste." Therefore, going to Zhegu Tian was the most convenient option.
...
As the chief executive chef of Zhegu Tian, Zhu Dachang clearly held significant influence. Ever since he resigned yesterday, at least eighty percent of the staff, from the kitchen to the front desk, had followed suit. This morning, they all high-profilely jumped ship to Cai Cai Zi Sushi, a Japanese international chain restaurant represented by the Ye family, a move that was widely reported by major media outlets in Juxian City.
Consequently, business at Zhegu Tian became even more dismal. The new signature dish, "Dragon Liver Phoenix Marrow Soup," which Song Yan had been heavily promoting through various online and offline advertising channels since last night, received no attention. From morning to noon, not a single pot had been sold.
Accompanied by Song Xiangyu, Song Kaichao, after being discharged from the hospital, rushed straight into Song Yan's office to demand an explanation:
"For the sake of a mere intern doctor at the Central Hospital, you openly antagonized Ye Qingtian, causing Zhegu Tian, which was already on a downward spiral, to fall from grace overnight. Yan Yan, is this how you manage the Song family's business?"
Song Yan was caught off guard by the sudden arrival of Song Kaichao and immediately panicked, shaking her head repeatedly and explaining, "Grandpa, Dr. Chen is your savior after all. Ye Qingtian was the one who publicly provoked him yesterday. Shouldn't I have helped him? Besides, his secretly formulated Dragon Liver Phoenix Marrow Soup is truly a peerless delicacy. Please give me some time, and I will surely make Zhegu Tian bigger and stronger again, so we won't have to rely on the Ye family's goodwill anymore..."
Song Xiangyu chuckled, interrupting Song Yan with a look of disdain, "Yan Yan, have you gone mad? How could a mere medical school graduate understand cooking? If the so-called Dragon Liver Phoenix Marrow Soup were truly that delicious, why is Zhegu Tian's business so bleak today, with not a soul in sight?"
She paused, then added sarcastically, "As far as I know, the Dragon Liver Phoenix Marrow Soup, for which you spent millions on advertising overnight, hasn't sold a single pot, has it? And you have the nerve to call it a peerless delicacy?"
Song Yan argued back, "The Dragon Liver Phoenix Marrow Soup uses exquisite ingredients and is positioned as high-end, with a price of 388 per pot. Before its reputation is established, ordinary diners are unlikely to risk spending money. And those willing to spend a lot are currently afraid of offending Ye Qingtian and dare not come to Zhegu Tian. Isn't it normal that not a single pot has been sold?"
"Pfft—"
Song Xiangyu sneered mockingly, "Song Yan, Song Yan, you've truly wasted the old man's efforts in grooming you as the future successor of the Song family. I never expected you to not even understand the principle of seeking shelter under a big tree! The Ye family is flourishing now. As long as you maintain an ambiguous relationship with Ye Qingtian, even if Zhegu Tian sells shit or piss, countless wealthy patrons will flock to the restaurant! But if you displease Ye Qingtian, even if you were selling dragon liver and phoenix marrow from heaven, wealthy consumers would avoid it like the plague."
Song Yan refused to back down, her tone firm, "Things turn extreme when they reach their limit! Prosperity leads to decline! The Song family was like that once, and the Ye family is the same today! Running a restaurant relies not on groveling and fawning, but on reputation and delicious food. As long as I persistently create delicious cuisine, I may not be able to defeat the Japanese cuisine under the Ye family's banner honorably! If Auntie doesn't trust me, you can try tasting Dr. Chen's secretly formulated Dragon Liver Phoenix Marrow Soup right now..."
Before she could finish speaking, the landline on the desk rang. It was the lobby manager on the first floor:
"Miss Song, Dr. Chen has arrived. Should I arrange a private room to entertain him, or bring him directly to your office?"
Without considering that Song Kaichao and Song Xiangyu were present, Song Yan unhesitatingly commanded, "Please entertain him well for me first. I'll be right downstairs to greet him personally!"
After hastily hanging up the phone, she rushed out of the office without looking back, leaving Song Kaichao and Song Xiangyu in the office.