Rebirth: The Two-Faced Cook Meets the Cold-Faced King Qin

In a quiet and elegant room in Tianxia Building, Gu Yuan looked at his second brother Gu Peng with a puzzled look on his face, and finally couldn't help asking: "Second brother, why did Ning'er come to Tianxia Building?"

Gu Peng took a sip of tea, his eyes revealing a hint of deepness. He put down the teacup and said slowly: "Money."

Gu Yuan frowned slightly, as if he was not satisfied with this answer: "Is it just because of money? Second brother, you and I both know that Ning'er is not the kind of person who covets wealth and fame."

Gu Peng sighed and shook his head: "Yumo, things in this world are not as simple as you and I wish. Ning'er is indeed not greedy for wealth, but she has her own difficulties. This Xialou may be a place for her to solve her current predicament."

Gu Yuan was silent for a moment, as if he was digesting his second brother's words. When he spoke again, there was a hint of helplessness in his tone: "Second brother, I understand what you mean. It's just that I'm worried that Ning'er will be involved in some unnecessary disputes and troubles because of this."

Gu Peng's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and he said in a deep voice: "Yumo, don't worry. I will do my best to protect Ning'er's safety. This downstairs is yours and mine, and we can control it. As long as we act carefully, Ning'er shouldn't be in any big trouble."

Gu Yuan nodded. Although he was still worried, he knew that his second brother was always sensible. He sighed, picked up the teacup and drank it all, temporarily putting his worries behind him. Just as he said this, Su Qianqian came up with Mi Tao.

Su Qianqian came to the door, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open: "Are you two discussing why I came here?" Gu Yuan smiled: "Ning'er, what's your reason?" "I came here for two reasons. First, because I love cooking. I like cooking, I like to study various ingredients and seasonings, and I like to see people's satisfied expressions when they taste delicious food!" Gu Peng raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at Su Ning in front of him, with a flash of appreciation in his eyes. He did not interrupt Su Qianqian's words, but listened quietly. Su Qianqian continued: "Second, I came here to make money. I want to make money with my own efforts and talents!" Gu Peng looked up at Su Ning, but he always felt that she was different from the one he liked!

A few days later in Jingzhou City, a grand cooking competition is about to kick off. All high-end restaurants in Jingzhou City have been invited and will send their best chefs to compete. Tianxialou and Tingxilou have both received invitations. This news spread like a gust of wind to Su Qianqian's ears. "Great! This time our restaurant will definitely shine! I, Su Qianqian, will definitely be famous in Jingzhou City!" Su Qianqian couldn't help but shouted excitedly. However, she didn't realize that her voice was a little too loud and she said Su Qianqian's name out loud! And Mi Tao, Gu Yuan and Gu Peng were all staring at her closely!

Su Qianqian realized that she had said the wrong thing. She stood there like a branch that had been frozen in an instant. Her body, which had been full of energy just now, became extremely stiff. Her eyes were wide open, as if they were about to jump out of their sockets, full of panic and helplessness, like a lost lamb looking for a way out in the vast snowfield. Her hands waved in the air helplessly, as if she wanted to grab something to stabilize her shaky mind, but she didn't know what to grab. The strange looks from the three of them made her feel as embarrassed as if she had been poured with a basin of cold water, and she was completely cold from head to toe.

Gu Peng stepped forward and looked at her with a cold and inquiring look: "Who do you say you are?" Su Qianqian's eyes collided everywhere: "I am the daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion, yes... I am the daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion. It is not a good thing to show up in Tianxialou as a cook... So that..." Su Qianqian's voice became smaller and smaller, "So... So from now on, I will be called Su Qianqian in Tianxialou." She raised her voice again when she said this, "From now on, you must call me Su Qianqian in Tianxialou! Su Qianqian!" Gu Peng took another step closer to her. At this distance, Su Qianqian could clearly smell the faint wood fragrance on Gu Peng's body, "Su Qianqian, okay!" Gu Peng said, "Everyone listen carefully, from now on, she will be called Su Qianqian here!"

At night, the lights of Tianxia Building were bright. Su Qianqian stood in front of the makeshift cooking table in the kitchen, preparing for the upcoming cooking competition with a focused look. The hustle and bustle of the building seemed to be isolated from her. In her world, there were only ingredients, seasonings and the jumping fire.

She was wearing a plain white chef's uniform, with her sleeves rolled up to reveal her slender wrists. Her hands moved quickly and orderly among the ingredients, cutting, chopping, patting, and stirring. Each movement seemed so smooth and natural. Her eyes sparkled with love for food and desire for victory, and her determination and perseverance were fully reflected in every subtle movement of hers.

Su Qianqian's cooking table is filled with a variety of ingredients and seasonings, each of which has been carefully selected and processed by her. She sometimes lowers her head to smell the aroma of the ingredients, and sometimes touches the texture of the seasoning with her fingertips, as if she is communicating with the ingredients most intimately through these sensory touches.

The lights in the building cast mottled shadows on her body, and each of her movements seemed more agile and graceful in the interweaving of light and shadow. She had a faint smile on her face, which was the confidence in her cooking skills and the anticipation for the upcoming challenges.

Gu Peng walked slowly from the building to the kitchen. The light in the kitchen was soft and warm. Gu Peng stood aside, following Su Qianqian's busy figure closely. Her movements were elegant and skillful, and every step revealed her love and concentration for cooking.

Gu Peng looked at Su Qianqian, and an inexplicable impulse surged in his heart. He once again asked the question that had been lingering in his mind: "Su Qianqian, who are you?"

Su Qianqian stopped what she was doing, turned around, and looked at Gu Peng in surprise. A hint of doubt flashed across her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by calmness.

"I'm Su Qianqian. Why do you ask such a question?" She answered softly, with a hint of confusion in her tone.

Gu Peng frowned. He knew his question was a little abrupt, but he couldn't control his curiosity. He looked into Su Qianqian's eyes, trying to find the answer.

"I know you are Su Qianqian, but I feel that you are more than just the name." He said slowly, "Your cooking skills, your manners, your eyes, all make me feel that you are another person with a lot of stories. Not the Su family's eldest daughter, Su Ning..."

Su Qianqian smiled slightly, and a bright light flashed in her eyes. She knew that Gu Peng was not someone who could be easily dismissed, so she decided to give him a more in-depth answer. She paused and continued, "If you really feel that way, then please respect my past and present, instead of asking who I am all the time. Because it doesn't matter who I am, what matters is the feeling and happiness when we are together. Maybe I'm not the Su Ning in your heart, maybe I'm really not that Su Ning!" Su Qianqian turned around, looked up at Gu Peng, "I know you have a lot of questions, but I really have no way to explain the reason for all this now, as long as you know that neither Su Ning nor Su Qianqian is a bad person!"

After hearing Su Qianqian's answer, Gu Peng temporarily put aside his doubts. He knew that he had gone too far, but he also understood what Su Qianqian meant. He nodded, smiled and said, "I understand, Qianqian!" Gu Yuan was at the door of the kitchen, listening quietly!

On the day of the cooking competition, the market was bustling with activity, like a moving painting. The sun shone through the clouds and sprinkled on every corner of the market, adding a bit of warmth and vitality to the competition. People came from all directions, some with their families, some with their friends, and children shuttled among the crowds, with laughter and joy, injecting endless vitality into this ancient market.