Chapter 398: You Can Cook, Too?

Chen Erbao leaned against the sofa, looking over the mask company's financial reports from the last few days. His expression was perfectly calm, while Fang Yun sat at the desk, her upper body slumped over it, looking somewhat weary.

Qiu Shuzhen secretly observed their expressions, but she couldn't spot anything out of the ordinary.

"Huh, where did this water come from?"

After she finished making tea and handed it to Chen Erbao, she noticed the spot where she had been sitting was wet and couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Fang Yun's face flushed as her eyes darted away. Chen Erbao gave a light cough.

"Maybe something was spilled by accident…"

Seeing that Qiu Shuzhen still looked a little confused, Chen Erbao stood up and headed for the door.

"Sister Shuzhen, I'll let you get back to work. I'm heading back to the village for a bit."

'If I stay any longer, I'll probably give the game away!'

Driving away, Chen Erbao quickly left the factory and headed straight for the village chief's office.

He parked the car downstairs. Just as he got out, a village official came up to greet him.

"Er Bao, you're back!"

"Hey, Uncle Zhou!"

Chen Erbao smiled and offered him a cigarette, and the two of them stood by the entrance to chat for a moment.

"Er Bao, you're really something else! You made a fortune out there but still came back to our village to open a factory. Now, everyone for miles around knows your name!"

"You're too kind, Uncle Zhou. It's just a small operation…"

Chen Erbao said humbly.

Uncle Zhou chuckled and took a drag from his cigarette before suddenly asking:

"Got your eye on any young ladies?"

Hearing the question, Chen Erbao gave a dry laugh.

"Not at the moment… I'm focused on making money. Everything else can wait!"

"That's true, you're still young. But if you find someone suitable, you'd better make your move!"

"Of course…"

After they finished their smoke, Chen Erbao tossed the cigarette butt to the ground and crushed it out with his shoe.

"Uncle Zhou, I'll let you get back to it. I need to see the village chief about something."

"Go on, then…"

After Chen Erbao left, Uncle Zhou grinned and stuffed the nearly full pack of cigarettes Chen Erbao had left behind into his pocket. He then sighed with a hint of regret.

"That Xiufen and her family were real fools! Those two kids were so good together, but they just had to go and run off a great catch. Too late for regrets now! The line of girls from all the villages around here who want to marry Er Bao would probably stretch all the way to the Bai River…"

...

The village office building had only two floors. The first floor was for the regular officials, while the second floor housed only Zhao Ruoying's office.

Chen Erbao went upstairs and, knowing the way well, walked right up to Zhao Ruoying's door and pushed it open.

Zhao Ruoying was wearing a formal pantsuit. Her full chest strained against her white blouse, threatening to burst free. She was bent over her desk, writing.

Hearing the door open, she looked up in surprise. When she saw it was Chen Erbao, a flash of joy crossed her eyes.

"Why don't you knock before coming in!"

Zhao Ruoying glanced at Chen Erbao a few times, then nonchalantly set down her pen, leaned back in her chair, and asked haughtily.

"Heh, I forgot."

'It's only been a few days, but Ruoying is as proud and prickly as ever!'

'She clearly missed me like crazy, but she still has to put on this cold, aloof act!'

Chen Erbao walked around the desk, went straight to Zhao Ruoying's side, and scooped her into his arms. He then sat down in the chair himself and placed her on his lap.

Zhao Ruoying struggled for a moment but couldn't break free. She settled for glaring at him.

"Keep your hands to yourself!"

Chen Erbao grinned and pressed closer, wrapping his arms around Zhao Ruoying's waist.

"Village Chief Zhao, have you missed me at all these past few days?"

"Not at all."

Zhao Ruoying turned her face away, her words defiant.

One of Chen Erbao's hands traveled up, while the other traveled down, scaling snowy peaks and plumbing deep valleys.

"You really didn't miss me?"

Feeling Chen Erbao's mischievous hands, Zhao Ruoying's beautiful face suddenly flushed red. She pinned the hand that had slipped between her thighs, put on her "village chief" airs, and said with a stern gaze:

"Don't you dare move!"

Of course, Chen Erbao wasn't scared. In fact, he found it a little thrilling. He teased her through the fabric of her suit trousers with his fingers.

"Village Chief, you're already wet, yet you still say you didn't miss me…"

"You—!"

Zhao Ruoying's face was flushed crimson by his words. Just as she was about to rebuke him, Chen Erbao grabbed the back of her head and crushed his lips against hers.

"Mmph, mmph…"

Zhao Ruoying struggled for a moment, but her soft tongue was already captured. She had no choice but to relent, allowing Chen Erbao to conquer her mouth.

His domineering scent filled her senses. Zhao Ruoying's body went limp, and she leaned against him. Her face held a trace of humiliation, but deep down, her heart was filled with delight.

At some point, she suddenly felt a cool sensation on her chest. Looking down, she saw that Chen Erbao had already unbuttoned her blouse, and his large hands were now cupping her twin peaks!

She gently pushed Chen Erbao away and glared at him.

"Stop messing around!"

Seeing she was genuinely a little angry, Chen Erbao immediately stopped moving his hands. He left them resting on her breasts and said placatingly:

"Okay, okay, I won't move! I just missed you and wanted to hold you!"

Looking at his shameless expression, Zhao Ruoying found she couldn't stay angry. With a helpless sigh, she rested her cheek on his shoulder.

"Has it been busy in the village lately?"

"What's there to be busy with? There's basically nothing going on. Besides keeping an eye on your factory's business, I have nothing to do all day!"

Chen Erbao nodded, his hand caressing the tender bud as he whispered:

"Has your cousin left yet?"

'That last time with Zhao Xiang'er had been a complete accident. Thankfully, things hadn't gone too far, or he was sure Zhao Ruoying would have eaten him alive!'

Hearing his question, Zhao Ruoying lifted her head and gave him a suspicious look.

"Xiang'Er was just feeling down for a couple of days and came to clear her head. She went back to school a long time ago… Why are you asking about her, anyway? Are you getting funny ideas again?"

Chen Erbao's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly denied it.

"Of course not. I'm not that kind of person…"

"Hah!"

Zhao Ruoying scoffed, but seeing his denial, she didn't press the issue.

"Is the new factory all set up?"

"Yeah, it's already up and running smoothly."

Hearing this, Zhao Ruoying sighed.

"To think you could come this far in just a few months. It's truly incredible!"

'A few months ago, Chen Erbao was just an ordinary university student from a rural village. Now, in the blink of an eye, he was the owner of eleven factories with a daily turnover in the tens of millions. It was simply unimaginable!'

"It's just a case of the stars aligning. Without the help and support from all of you, I could never have grown the company this big on my own."

Chen Erbao said with genuine emotion as he inhaled Zhao Ruoying's fresh, clean scent.

'The turning point in his life had been the Joyful Technique. It had set him on a completely different path!'

'And the women by his side—they were his most precious treasure!'

'Zhao Ruoying felt like the man before her was an enigma. No matter how she tried to understand him, she could never uncover his secrets!'

'And that feeling fascinated her.'

She watched Chen Erbao for a moment, then said quietly:

"It's almost noon. Why don't you come to my place for lunch? I'll cook a few dishes to celebrate your company getting on its feet!"

Chen Erbao's eyes lit up, and he nodded.

"You know how to cook?"

Zhao Ruoying huffed.

"My cooking is amazing, thank you very much! You should count yourself lucky you get to eat a meal cooked by me!"

"Alright, alright. In that case, I'll be happy to sample the culinary skills of Chef Zhao today!"