Chapter 176 - 176: Is It Really You?

Words : 1348 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Is It Really You? On the day he received his chef’s certificate, he stared at it for a long time. Eventually, the typically solemn man cracked a smile and said to her with a laugh, “Qiaoqiao, well done!” At this moment, upon hearing what Gu Qiaoqiao said, Master Fong laughed heartily and patted Qin Yize on the shoulder, seemingly very pleased, “Good lad, already taking a wife, not bad at all.” Then he led the way to the private room. Once there, he told everyone, “Hang on a bit, I’ll go fry some dishes for you.” Then he didn’t hesitate and walked towards the door. It seemed Qin Yize often received this kind of treatment, so he sat down calmly. He said to the still dazed Luh Fei and Gu Qiaoqiao, “Sit dowm—Master Fong is an old friend of mine, and also a good brother.” Luh Fei blinked a few times, as if he had just come back to his senses, and leaned in close to Qin Yize, urgently asking, “Doctor Qin, is he the Fong Lei you mentioned?” Qin Yize nodded lightly, “Yes.” Luh Fei suddenly widened his eyes, “The national special class combat hero?” “Hmm.” Luh Fei felt his breathing become somewhat erratic. He had once heard Qin Yize talk about Fong Lei’s combat exploits. Only, it was not quite as he had imagined. “Doctor Qin, he is a hero, so why is he working here as a…” Luh Fei didn’t finish his sentence, but it was something along the lines of a chef. However, Qin Yize couldn’t explain it clearly to him. Fong Lei was the third leader of the special medical team, different from him back then. Fong Lei was an active serviceman, and after he retired, Qin Yize, who had returned from studying abroad, took over that duty. And though Fong Lei appeared to have retired, he was still serving the country in another way. But this was already a secret. He glanced sideways at Luh Fei and said mildly, “Heroes are ordinary people too, and have the right to choose their preferred way of life.” “Doctor Qin, that’s not what I mean, what I mean is…” Luh Fei anxiously scratched his ears and neck, his face flushed, struggling to find the right words for a while, “I just think it’s a waste of talent.” Qin Yize sipped his tea slowly and then said, “He has always loved cooking. He even dreamed of opening a restaurant before he was discharged. Now that he’s the head chef here, he has fulfilled his wish.” Ah? Do heroes dream of being chefs too? Luh Fei was confused. He scratched his head and, realizing his thoughts might have been inappropriate, he sheepishly chuckled. Qin Yize then warned softly, “Few people here know about his past identity. Don’t talk carelessly.” Meanwhile, Gu Qiaoqiao sat with her head bowed, sipping her tea in small sips. Without uttering a word. In her previous life, she also did not know that Master Fong was a retired serviceman, nor that he and Qin Yize not only knew each other but were also good brothers. To be called a brother by Qin Yize meant having a friendship deep enough to lay down one’s life for each other. And she knew none of this. So why had she never seen Qin Yize come to visit him? Was it because he was worried about running into her? Or was it because of the trembling hand with which she had written that sentence when she divorced? All this, Gu Qiaoqiao did not know. Soon, the waiter brought in the fried dishes to the private room. And the last dish was personally served by Master Fong. It was a flavor Gu Qiaoqiao recognized. Although she was his apprentice, what she ultimately mastered was her own special touch, otherwise, she wouldn’t have obtained the special certificate. Master Fong also brought over a bottle of liquor. He poured some for Qin Yize and then asked Luh Fei lightly, “Do you, a youngster, drink?” Luh Fei quickly waved his hand, “No, no, my sister-in-law and I will stick to water and grass.” Gu Qiaoqiao almost spat out her water. Drinking water was fine, but eating grass was not for her. Luh Fei’s comment had lightened her tensed mood considerably. Glancing at Luh Fei, she finally spoke, “I won’t eat grass. If you want some, eat it yourself.” Luh Fei’s face turned even redder as he awkwardly explained, “Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue. I meant to say we’ll eat vegetables.” Then he picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and after a few bites, he complimented Fong Lei, “So delicious, absolutely delicious.” The atmosphere livened up instantly due to Luh Fei’s interruption. Qin Yize and Fong Lei had only drunk less than half a cup before they stopped. The two men were on the other side of the square table, whispering something only they could understand. And Gu Qiaoqiao was just responsible for eating and drinking. An hour had passed. The satiated group left the restaurant. They headed towards the west district. Gu Qiaoqiao stared blankly out the window at the skyscrapers, but her mind was still in a mess. In her past life, after she returned from her hometown, she went to a shelter in the Suburbs of the Capital to see her brother, who had just turned eighteen that year. Old enough to be sentenced. He was the only family she had left. So she had to strive to survive. But reality was so cruel; without a diploma, not even having finished high school, so she switched many jobs—day laborer, dishwasher, and even worked with some migrants from the countryside carrying bricks on construction sites, later becoming a domestic helper. But nothing lasted long. Some ill-intentioned men always wanted to take advantage of her. Once, she had scratched the face of a male employer who tried to violate her, and during the fight, the lady of the house came back. She was then caught, beaten up by the woman, and after being threatened, had her few belongings thrown out as the woman fiercely slammed the door shut. That day, the sky in the Imperial Capital was a dull gray, and the air was unusually oppressive. Sёarᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And that day, half a year had passed since her brother Zishu had been taken into custody. It was also that day, as she sat desperately hungry and despondent on the concrete steps of the job market, that Fong Lei appeared. He quietly watched her, seemingly indifferent to how disheveled and pitiful Gu Qiaoqiao was, just calmly saying that he worked in the kitchen at Lijing Ho, and he needed a helper, room and board included… Lijing Ho was indeed a restaurant, with its own staff canteen and dormitory. For Gu Qiaoqiao, who was at her wit’s end at that time, this was like a lifesaver thrown from the heavens. From that day onwards, she became a kitchen staff member at Lijing Ho. From that day onwards, she had a place to call home. But why did Qin Yize know Master Fong? That day at the job market, was it really just a coincidence? Gu Qiaoqiao took a deep breath, suppressing the tumultuous thoughts rising inside her, and stealthily glanced at Qin Yize, who was focused on driving. She really wanted to ask, Qin Yize, was it you who asked Master Fong to look after me? Was it? Was it really you? From the time she was rescued from Cliff Village until after the divorce, she had no idea where Qin Yize had gone. It was only several years later that she heard from him again. It was when he was awarded a special medal, standing on the stage at the Grand Hall to receive it.

Chapter 176 - 176: Is It Really You?

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