Chapter Two: Mr. Shen

Yang Yuanqing wanted to say something more, but at that moment, the door of the Seaside Cottage was pushed open again. A middle-aged man in a black suit and a middle-aged woman wearing fur walked in.

To his surprise, they were also acquaintances. It was Lin Xiaolei’s father, Lin Weitian, and her mother, Wang Yunfang.

Lin Weitian spotted Shen Ye and then noticed Yang Yuanqing standing nearby. He couldn't help but pause, recognizing him. "Manager Yang is here too. I have some matters to discuss with Boss Shen."

The implication was clear: he wanted Yang Yuanqing to excuse himself. Under normal circumstances, Yang Yuanqing was a reasonable man and would have obliged. However, having discovered the magical flavor of Shen Ye’s seasonings, he was determined to secure them to boost his own restaurant's success. He realized he wasn't the only one with a keen eye; Lin Weitian likely had the same idea. With that in mind, he couldn't afford to step aside.

With a smile, Yang Yuanqing replied, "I’ve been walking and grew a bit tired, so I’m resting in this little shop for a while."

The subtext was clear: he wasn't going anywhere. Lin Weitian was stunned by the response; this wasn't like Yang Yuanqing at all. However, while the Lin family was slightly more powerful than the Yangs, Lin Weitian was still under the thumb of his father, the elder Mr. Lin, unlike Yang Yuanqing, who was the master of his own house. Thus, he couldn't force the issue.

"We need to talk," Lin Weitian said, looking directly at Shen Ye.

"Talk? Sure, what about?" Shen Ye asked with a faint smile.

Before Lin Weitian could speak, Wang Yunfang burst out, "That old man has gone senile to let Xiaolei work for you here! My daughter is so noble; how can she be a waitress? And you aren't very old, and neither is she. If something were to happen, we wouldn't even have time to cry."

"To be frank, we are grateful that you brought Xiaolei back last time. But look at our family—the Lins are one of the wealthiest households in N County. And your Shen family? Ha! Three generations back, you were all penniless. You might make some money with this little shop, but that’s all it is. You are too poor to be worthy of our Xiaolei."

Shen Ye couldn't help but laugh. "Ms. Wang, you’ve made two mistakes. First, Lin Xiaolei is working here as a waitress with her grandfather’s permission. If you object, please take it up with him. Second, she is here strictly as a waitress. Our relationship is completely professional. No matter what you think, I wouldn't prey on a middle-schooler. Please stop with the wild fantasies."

"My restaurant does not welcome you. Please leave," Shen Ye said bluntly. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of day this was. First Yang Yuanqing, then the Lin couple—one wave of unwelcome guests after another. How unlucky!

Lin Weitian’s expression turned cold. "We came here today to warn you: fire Lin Xiaolei immediately."

"And if I refuse, what will you do?" Shen Ye countered.

Lin Weitian’s face darkened further. "You should know that people like us have access to powers you couldn't imagine—enough to shut your shop down for good."

"If you really have that kind of ability, I’ll be waiting to see it," Shen Ye sneered.

Just then, the door of the Seaside Cottage was pushed open once more. Several tall, heavily armed police officers walked straight in. The leader, a man in his thirties, walked up to Yang Yuanqing and said sternly, "Who are you? Why are you here?"

Yang Yuanqing, a man with a net worth of over a hundred million, had never been interrogated by low-level officers like this before. He was instantly annoyed. "What is this? Checking my identity?"

"Yes, exactly that," the lead officer replied, nodding flatly with a completely professional, unyielding expression.

"Which precinct are you from? I’m going to call your superiors," Yang Yuanqing said, pulling out his phone. Although most of his business was in N County, he knew influential people in Yangcheng. He wasn't afraid of a mere police officer.

"You want to call my superiors? Go ahead." The officer looked amused. He pulled out his credentials and placed them in front of Yang Yuanqing. "If you want to file a complaint, feel free."

Yang Yuanqing glanced at the card and saw the words "Special Operations Unit." His heart skipped a beat. Ordinary people might not know what the Special Operations Unit was, but a man of his stature certainly did. It was rumored that even the "handymen" in that unit were the elite of the police force. They held immense authority, could temporarily command local police, and were rumored to possess a legal "license to kill." It was terrifying.

He remembered someone in the system telling him: "If you run into the Special Operations Unit, do exactly as they say. Don't resist, or you're just asking for death."

Shivering, Yang Yuanqing replied, "My name is Yang Yuanqing, from N County, Yangcheng. I am a businessman—a legal businessman. My ID number is..."

"A legal businessman, huh? Let me check."

The officer then turned to Lin Weitian and Wang Yunfang. "Please cooperate. State your names and ID numbers. We are conducting a check."

Lin Weitian, a "rich second generation," had also heard of the Special Operations Unit. Knowing their reputation, he obediently provided his information. Wang Yunfang, coming from a middle-class background, had never heard of the unit, but seeing her husband and the wealthy Yang Yuanqing complying, she followed suit.

Finally, the officer approached Zeng Rou and Zeng Ou. Zeng Rou provided their details, but Zeng Ou curiously asked, "Sir, what is all this for?"

"This is a clearance operation," the officer said solemnly. "A very important figure is arriving, and we must ensure their safety."

"A clearance operation? A big shot?" Zeng Ou’s eyes lit up. She had never seen such a thing in her life, and now, here it was! "Sir, can I stay and watch? It's a big shot!"

"No!" the officer shook his head. "We are clearing the area. Once we verify that you aren't a threat, you must leave and stay clear."

Zeng Ou was stunned. Curiously, the officers only checked the guests; they didn't ask a single question of the restaurant owner, Shen Ye, or his waitress, Wen Xiuting.

A moment later, the five of them—Zeng Rou, Zeng Ou, Lin Weitian, Wang Yunfang, and Yang Yuanqing—were escorted out of the Seaside Cottage.

The lead officer gave Shen Ye a military salute. "Boss Shen, you just need to wait here. Elder Shen will be arriving shortly."

Shen Ye was taken aback. "Elder Shen?" Who was that? And why were they looking for him? Could it be that his identity as the "Chopstick Hero" had been exposed?

Looking at the display of force, it didn't seem like it. If he had been exposed, a tactical team would have come to arrest him. Regardless, he decided to remain on guard.