Chapter 109: Chen Hao Treats Everyone

Deep within the luxurious Krystal Hotel, Chen Hao was oblivious to his father’s renewed intentions of arranging a marriage for him. He remained preoccupied with how to explain to Gu Mengyan and Fan Yirou why Shaotian had come to see him earlier.

Of course, his biggest headache was Dong Xin, the uninvited guest currently in his room. He had no recollection of such a person and certainly could not fathom that she was only there to probe his strength and plot revenge. He was even further from suspecting that Dong Xin was actually the human game master he had encountered online just a few days ago.

Yet, none of this was the most pressing matter. What weighed most heavily on Chen Hao’s mind were the events unfolding in Krystal. When Chen Shaotian had visited, he relayed a stern warning from his father: under no circumstances should he let Gu Mengyan enter the forests of Krystal.

Connecting this to the fragments of information in his own mind, Chen Hao was certain that the attacks were occurring within those woods, which must be fraught with danger. It was highly probable that his father was on the scene right now. While curious, Chen Hao could not help but feel anxious for his father. He was confident in his father’s martial prowess, but the man was aging. Even if his mastery of martial arts had deepened, his physical reflexes, speed, and strength were not what they once were. Despite the capable security team surrounding him, Chen Hao remained uneasy.

It seemed he would have to go into the forest himself to check on his father, if only for his own peace of mind. The critical problem was how to reach the forest without alerting Gu Mengyan or letting her notice his absence.

Given how well that girl knew him, the slightest sign of unusual behavior would immediately tip her off. Before coming to Krystal, she had made it clear that while their trip was for vacation, she hoped to visit the forest she had explored with her biological parents years ago, hoping it might help her recover lost memories.

He had originally agreed and promised to accompany her. Now, he intended to ditch her to find his father. If Gu Mengyan found out, Chen Hao could only imagine the horrific consequences. This was especially true now that Fan Yirou was by her side. That troublemaker was even more formidable when it came to making life miserable for others; the recent chaos at his home was proof enough of that.

As Chen Hao stood with his head bowed, deliberating his excuses, Gu Mengyan and the others stepped out of their room, coming face-to-face with him in the hotel lobby.

"Hey!" Gu Mengyan spotted him, walked over, and waved her hand in front of his face. "What are you daydreaming about? You look like a fool."

"Huh?" Chen Hao jolted, only then noticing the three of them. "Why are you all out?"

Fan Yirou spoke up with a smirk: "Hmph! I bet he was probably planning some mischief behind our backs, but since he couldn't think of a good way to explain it to us, he was standing here racking his brain for a cover story to use once he got back to the room. Don't worry! We have plenty of time to wait. You keep thinking, and make sure your excuse is airtight so we don't see through it immediately..."

"Pfft..." Chen Hao nearly choked. Had Fan Yirou really predicted his thoughts before he had even acted? That seemed impossible; surely she wasn't that monstrous?

"Cough, cough!" Chen Hao cleared his throat. "What are you babbling about? When have I ever hidden anything from you? If anything, it’s you lot who keep secrets from me." He attempted to turn the tables to shift the topic.

Fan Yirou gave him a meaningful look, remaining silent.

Chen Hao pouted. "Where are you all going?"

"Please! My dear young master, it’s dinner time. Are you not even hungry?" Fan Yirou looked at him with disdain. "We haven't eaten a thing since we got off the plane, and Miss Dong hasn't eaten either. We decided to go out and find something to eat."

Chen Hao looked at the three of them, bewildered. "Don't high-end hotels like this have room service? You could have just rung for them to bring food up; why go to the trouble of heading out?"

Fan Yirou rolled her eyes with the air of an expert. "Please, do you really think the food at a hotel like this is any good?"

Chen Hao was even more confused. "It’s a luxury hotel—the food isn't good? It’s all abalone, sea cucumber, and the like. What more could you want?"

"You’re really dense!" Fan Yirou reached out and tapped Chen Hao on the forehead, looking every bit the flirting young couple. "Sure, they have abalone and sea cucumber, but we’re here for a trip, not just to eat a fancy dinner. We can get seafood anywhere; why come all the way to Krystal for that? Since we’re here, we should try the local specialties and experience the regional culinary culture! Don't you know anything about traveling?"

"Uh..." Chen Hao was left speechless. "When you put it that way, it does make some sense... but..."

"But what?" Gu Mengyan finally found a chance to interject.

"But it seems like Krystal’s culinary culture, much like its tourist spots, isn't particularly special. I’ve never heard of any famous local snacks here."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk!" Fan Yirou clicked her tongue repeatedly. "That’s just because you don't know any better. Even the poorest and most backward places have their own unique food culture; that is the depth and breadth of our country’s culinary heritage. Perhaps it's just a bowl of Laba porridge, but depending on the local customs, geography, and history, you’ll taste something entirely different. Take soup dumplings, for example—a famous delicacy in the south, especially in the Yangtze River Delta. Whether it's Nanjing, Shanghai, or Hangzhou, the flavors and techniques vary. So, I’m certain that even if the specialty here is a bowl of plain rice porridge, we’d be able to taste something unique compared to back home."

Fan Yirou talked on, acting like a seasoned food critic. Strangely enough, her words made sense. Having watched programs like *A Bite of China*, Chen Hao knew a fair bit about regional cuisine. Most of the food featured was simple, home-style cooking. Even the grand Manchu-Han Imperial Feast originated from folk dishes that were elevated to the palace and praised by the emperors.

However, the problem remained: even Chen Hao didn't know what hidden culinary gems Krystal might possess. Where would they even start? Should they knock on every door and ask, "Excuse me, do you have any good food?" They’d be lucky if they weren't mistaken for beggars or lunatics.

Just then, Dong Xin—whom Chen Hao still viewed with suspicion—spoke up. "That’s easy enough to solve. You may have just arrived, but I’ve been here for a few days. I happen to know a few small eateries here that serve very delicious food."

*Damn it,* Chen Hao thought viciously, *why does Dong Xin have to have a hand in everything? What is this person really after?*

Despite his suspicions, Chen Hao had a change of heart. If she was determined to follow him, he might as well let her. It was the perfect opportunity to investigate her identity and motives. His father had once said that being exposed in the light while the enemy remained in the shadows was the most unwise approach. Rather than driving her away and letting her tail him in secret, he would keep her close and see what she was truly planning. She was shadowing him, but he was observing her just as closely. With his own wit and talent, uncovering Dong Xin’s true intentions shouldn't be too difficult.

The only thing to be careful about was preventing Dong Xin from turning her sights on Gu Mengyan and the others if she failed to get to him. But that seemed unlikely; the three women seemed to be getting along quite well. Though this harmony might be a facade meant to win their trust and get closer to him, he knew that everyone in the company was aware of his relationship with Gu Mengyan; it wouldn't have been hard for Dong Xin to find that out.

So, if she claimed to know the local eateries... that probably wasn't some grand conspiracy, right?

*Wait!* Since she was so familiar with Krystal, couldn't he use this opportunity to subtly probe for information?

Having made up his mind, Chen Hao stopped hesitating. He put on a friendly smile. "In that case, why don't you lead the way, Miss Dong? Let’s use this chance to smooth over our past misunderstandings. Dinner is on me; I hope you’ll do me the honor."

Dong Xin was taken aback for a moment, but then she relaxed and laughed. "Mr. Chen, what are you saying? The past is in the past. As I said in the room, I haven't taken it to heart. Since you’re being so generous, I’d be rude to refuse! Hehehe..."

Two people, each harboring their own secret agenda, reached a brief consensus. They maintained a facade of harmony that left Gu Mengyan and Fan Yirou shaking their heads in disbelief.