Thankfully the dinner ended up in a relatively peaceful meeting between the hot neighbors and Wei Wuxian's side. Even Shen Qingqiu spoke politely to Luo Binghe–who also seemed to hold himself back.

Hua Cheng on the other hand, sat beside Xie Lian and talked to him about various topics that they both were interested in and Lan Wangji engaged Wei Wuxian in a more intimate get to know him–mostly cooking and books. Both of them loved to read books and they found another commonality in regards to food.

Surprisingly all six of them really enjoyed themselves despite the initial awkwardness.

They shared the meat, the side dish, the beer, until it was well within midnight and they had to go their separate ways.

"We should do this again." Hua Cheng smiled as he laughed at something with Xie Lian. "This was fun, and we could definitely eat more home-cooked food. God knows how sick we are with takeaways these days. Am I right, Wangji?" He winked at Lan Wangji–who smiled at Wei Wuxian.

"Well, I could eat… healthier food. So what do you say, Chef Wei? Should we commission you to be our chef and cook for us every day?"

"Well… I–"

"He's busy. You know, writing, cooking, doing important stuff…" Shen Qingqiu answered Lan Wangji with a glare in his eyes. "He doesn't have time to play house with you."

Wei Wuxian did not want to put his friend down, but enough was enough. He was old enough to make a decision for himself, and this time, he decided to do so.

"True, I will be busy, but I don't mind making extra meals for you, Lan Zhan. And your cousins, obviously. In fact, since I will be doing some freelance work in your company, why don't you stop by in the morning to grab breakfast together and then we could have the especially prepared lunch by Qingqiu here either at my restaurant or by delivery," he glared back at his friend, as if to challenge him to say no to his face, "and if you're still not bored with seeing my face for so many hour already, you can drop by for dinner. All three of you."

Wei Wuxian offered his service so generously–although it was mostly to spite Shen Qingqiu for treating him like a child– that it kinda surprised Lan Wangji and the others, because they never had anyone who would do that for them without any ulterior motives. And here he was–a very renowned Michelin chef–just offered to give them meals three times a day for free.

Even though Lan Wangji knew that he was generous from the dossier he extensively compiled on the man, he just didn't think that Wei Wuxian would be that generous, and it caused him to feel something shifted within him.

And it also made Shen Qingqiu want to kill his best friend right there and then. He knew what Wei Wuxian was doing, and it happened because he was pushing him too far by treating him like a kid.

But was he really that gullible? Couldn't he see the intention behind those pretty faces?

Of course Wei Wuxian was a very nice and generous man–who was often being taken advantage of by snakes like his own family, that fucking Jin Zixuan, and now, Lan Wangji.

Shen Qingqiu was pissed, but he knew that he should try to give those men the benefit of a doubt. Maybe his friend would make an honest man out of him.

Yeah right.

He still remembered the hurt he saw in Wei Wuxian's eyes back when his own family used him–and discarded him–like a rag doll. But he still smiled despite all the pain he must have felt deep within his soul, especially from his foster sister who betrayed him deeply.

Yeah that bitch stole his recipe books that he had compiled extensively over the years and gave it to Jin Zixuan as a dowry. And his brother, Jin Zixun, had the gall to rub it on Wei Wuxian's face and offered him a position as the sous chef under the slimy bastard Su Minshan–the head Chef right under Jin Zixun's position–who married their sister, Jin Su.

Wei Wuxian declined the offer and when Shen Qingqiu and Xie Lian were in a rage because of the stolen recipe book, he just waved it off and told them that no two different hands could produce the same result. And then he worked his ass day and night just to rewrite and improve his recipes.

The result? His first Michelin star.

At that time, Jin Zixuan himself approached him and gave him an offer to work for him on his luxurious restaurants, rather than the hole in the wall they all had bought with their collective money, and poured blood, sweat and tears to make it as the first affordable Michelin star restaurant in their country. No fancy plating, no fancy drinks, only meat, carbs and alcohol, and their signature whole pork platter–which always sold out every day and needed to be ordered in advance if you want to taste it.

When they all declined, Jin Zixuan bought all the surrounding buildings and turned them all into his fast-food restaurant chain with the almost identical menu as Wei Wuxian's.

He really intended to drive Wei Wuxian over the wall and then jump into his clutch, and it was the same with Shen Qingqiu, the pastry making genius.

Thankfully, the article that Xie Lian had written when he was still a young reporter back then, helped them a lot. And nowadays young people were all about authenticity and helping local establishments to survive, instead of supporting the big and famous fast-food chain.

Soon, by word of mouth, their place had become the raging trend for good, authentic food, and affordable price with the handsome chef and patissier. Xie Lian also helped by recommending the place to his famous clientele who wanted more exposure by also sending paparazzi to snap a picture or two.

Two birds, right?

So, to sum it all, their journey was a long and hard one, but they thrived beautifully. And Shen Qingqiu would not let his best friends fall for those… beautiful, rich people with a hidden agenda behind their pretty faces.

But how was he supposed to do that, when the men in question already barged their way into their life that easily?