I Heard I’m a Scummy Alpha? [Transmigration] - Chapter 81

Qi Yunwei was right—after the restaurant stayed empty for about half an hour, customers began streaming in around 12:30. The servers, who had been feeling uneasy about earning such high wages with so little to do, suddenly found themselves busier than ever. Their anxiety vanished, replaced by relief.

All these new diners had come after seeing Director Liu and his friends recommending the restaurant in their social circles.

Director Liu and his circle fancied themselves gourmets. Every restaurant they had ever endorsed turned out to be solid, so when they lavished praise on Jinzhao Youjiu, food lovers—and even those hoping to curry favor—immediately drove over to try it.

Those who came on the recommendation left amazed, and in turn posted glowing reviews themselves.

Word of mouth spread fast. Within a tight-knit circle, Jinzhao Youjiu quickly became the talk of the town.

As November passed and the weather grew colder, Qi Yunwei grew busier with her focus on the holographic game project. Other than visiting the restaurant on opening day, she hadn’t been back since.

Director Liu and his friends, each time they came, always hoped to meet the head chef—but since Qi Yunwei was never there, they never had the chance.

Finally, one evening, Director Liu managed to arrange a meeting after seven. Both Qi Yunwei and Yan Zui were free, so they went together to meet him at the restaurant.

Qi Yunwei: “Director Liu, don’t go inside yet. Wait for us in the car—we’ll be there soon.”

Director Liu: “Alright, no rush. Drive safe.”

He hung up. His friends immediately leaned in, asking eagerly, “So? Are they almost here?”

“Almost,” Director Liu replied.

Just the thought of finally meeting the chef filled the group with unconcealed excitement.

Five minutes later, Zhou Xiao pulled up, only to find the parking spaces near the restaurant completely full. After circling a few times, he finally managed to park nearly a hundred meters away.

The three of them—Qi Yunwei, Yan Zui, and Zhou Xiao—walked up to the restaurant entrance.

Spotting them, Director Liu flung open the car door and waved enthusiastically. “Yunwei!”

Qi Yunwei quickened her pace toward him.

Behind him, more than a dozen men and women got out of the car—some Alphas, some Betas.

“Director Liu, long time no see,” Qi Yunwei greeted with a smile.

But Director Liu’s gaze suddenly froze.

His eyes locked on the hands clasped together—Qi Yunwei’s and Yan Zui’s. His facial muscles twitched in disbelief. “You and President Yan, y-you two”

“We’re a couple,” Qi Yunwei said, raising Yan Zui’s hand to her lips for a kiss. “A real one.” Then she and Yan Zui exchanged a smile.

One of Director Liu’s friends nudged him from behind. “Come on, don’t just stand there freezing. Introduce us already!”

They all remembered Qi Yunwei from the restaurant’s opening, but this stunningly cold beauty beside her was a first. Seeing Director Liu stunned by her presence confirmed their suspicion—this woman was no ordinary guest.

Director Liu quickly recovered, muttering “no wonder” under his breath several times before solemnly shaking Yan Zui’s hand. “President Yan, I never expected you would be here.”

“There’s no need to be so formal,” Yan Zui replied coolly. “You’re Yunwei’s friend, which makes you my friend too.”

Hearing that, Director Liu scratched the back of his head and grinned. “What did I do to deserve such luck? Honestly, even before I knew your relationship, I thought you two were a perfect match. I’m glad to see I was right.”

He then introduced his companions. “These are my friends. They’re all food lovers who’ve admired the chef here for a long time. Since the chef must be busy, we’re happy to wait until after closing.”

“The chef can multitask,” Qi Yunwei said with a smile. “You don’t have to worry about disturbing her.”

“Follow me.”

She and Yan Zui led the way, Zhou Xiao staying close with a watchful eye.

Director Liu’s friends noted with interest that Yan Zui even had a bodyguard, only deepening their curiosity about her identity.

When Qi Yunwei guided them into a nearby alley instead of through the main entrance, Director Liu hurried forward. “Yunwei, where are we going?”

Stopping midway, she opened a small hidden door in the wall. “This counts as the back entrance.”

Gesturing, she said, “Please, this way. The chef is inside.”

They followed her in, initially worried the kitchen would be too cramped to fit everyone.

But once inside, they were stunned by the spacious layout—and the sight of robotic arms behind glass windows chopping, frying, and simmering in perfect rhythm.

“This, this is the kitchen?”

Were they watching a 3D movie?

Qi Yunwei only smiled in response.

When the guests turned toward Yan Zui, she suppressed a laugh. “The chef is right there—on the counter to your left.”

They turned in unison.

And saw, standing atop the counter, a half-meter-tall robot.

The little robot’s green eyes suddenly flickered into heart shapes as it spoke in a soft, childlike mechanical voice:

“Good evening, everyone. I heard you wanted to meet me after tasting my food. Do you have something you’d like to say to me?”

Meanwhile, the robotic arms kept moving without pause—washing, slicing, stir-frying, simmering. Just as Qi Yunwei had said, the chef could indeed multitask.

The surreal sight left everyone dumbfounded.

Director Liu’s mind went blank. Words completely deserted him.

Thankfully, one of his producer friends steadied himself enough to speak despite the nervous bobbing of his throat. “Hello, Chef. We love your cooking. Honestly, we thought you’d be a venerable elder, but you’re so adorable.”

Not only adorable to look at—but even its voice was unbearably cute.

“Thank you for the compliment,” the robot chirped. “My name is Xiao Jiu. You don’t have to call me Chef. My owner opened this restaurant for me. I’m so happy you like my food.”

“Xiao Jiu… as in jiu from Jinzhao Youjiu?” Director Liu asked.

“Mhm.”

Everyone melted on the spot.

Director Liu was amazed. Turning to Qi Yunwei and Yan Zui, he asked, “President Yan, is Xiao Jiu a new product developed by the Yan Corporation?”

“No,” Yan Zui replied evenly. “Xiao Jiu has nothing to do with the Yan Corporation.”

Several people behind him, who had been eavesdropping, sighed in disappointment.

If this little marvel were a Yan Corporation product, they would’ve bought one instantly.

“Xiao Jiu was created by Qi Yunwei,” Yan Zui added, noticing the disappointment in Director Liu’s eyes.

Shock lit up his face. “Yunwei, Xiao Jiu is your company’s product? What exactly does your company do?”

Only now did he realize how much he had underestimated her.

Qi Yunwei had always described her business as a “small company.” He had believed her. But what kind of “small company” could develop something as advanced as Xiao Jiu?

“It’s just a game company,” she replied lightly.

The more understated she was, the more cautious he became. “What kind of game?” he asked carefully.

Qi Yunwei gave them a brief introduction to the concept behind Yunmengze. Her words left them utterly captivated.

“If what you say becomes reality, it’ll be groundbreaking,” Director Liu exclaimed.

“We’re planning for internal testing by next March,” Qi Yunwei told him. “Keep an eye out.”

“Absolutely. We’ll all be waiting!”

“After hearing your vision, I don’t even want to play other games anymore.”

“I feel fired up—I wish I could play your holographic game right this second!”

One by one, they voiced their excitement, looking at her with awe and admiration.

To Yan Zui, it felt as if Qi Yunwei was glowing.

Before leaving the kitchen, each of them reluctantly said goodbye to Xiao Jiu before heading through the restaurant’s front entrance.

Since Yunwei and Yan Zui had already eaten earlier, they parted with the group and returned home.

Zhou Xiao, after weeks of driving them, had figured out one thing: whenever both of them were in the car, his best strategy was to focus on the road and pretend the backseat was empty—otherwise he risked being blinded by all the affection.

Yunwei had already noticed Yan Zui watching her back in the kitchen. Even in the car, her gaze lingered.

Turning, Yunwei met those dark eyes tinged with blue and teased, smiling, “Am I looking especially good today? You seem entranced.”

Yan Zui blinked, her lashes trembling. In a soft voice, she replied, “You shine especially bright today.”

The straightforward praise made Yunwei’s heart skip two beats. “Really?”

“Of course.”

Yunwei cupped her face in both hands and gave her a quick kiss. “Wife, this is the first time you’ve praised me like that.”

In the front seat, poor single Zhou Xiao silently cursed that his ears couldn’t shut like his eyes. Why did he have to overhear their syrupy back-and-forth?

Back home, Yan Zui went into the bathroom for a shower. Yunwei was about to head to the gym when a hand caught her wrist.

Clad only in a towel, Yan Zui revealed a pale shoulder. Her dark eyes shimmered as her lashes lowered. In a hushed voice, she asked, “Do you want to shower together?”

Yunwei’s heart gave a violent thump. With her imagination filling in the rest, her cheeks instantly flushed. “Yes. Together.”

Who could refuse an invitation like that?

Certainly not her.

They soaked until their skin wrinkled white, water spilling over the floor. Carrying the limp Yan Zui from the tub, Yunwei kissed her flushed cheek and whispered with a smile, “Were you satisfied with my performance just now?”

Yan Zui’s damp eyes narrowed lazily. Fingers traced Yunwei’s collarbone as her lips curved, her cool voice husky with fatigue. “The date you promised about getting pregnant is only a few days away. Maybe you should try harder.”

Yunwei’s breath hitched, her pulse surging. With Yan Zui’s wet curls coiling around her like a siren’s embrace, she lowered her head and claimed her lips again. “You’re right. I do need to try harder.”

On the agreed date, Yan Zhao personally came to the Yan Corporation headquarters to take Yan Zui to the hospital for a check-up.

On the way, his tone was unusually warm. “Your mother and I both think two children would be best. The more the merrier—and they’d have each other for company.”

Yan Zui gave only a perfunctory “mm.” She turned to the window, eyes filled with irritation and cold detachment. Even sitting in the same car with him felt unbearable.

Just then, her phone buzzed. Glancing down, she saw a message from Qi Yunwei, and her expression softened slightly.

Qi Yunwei: I came to your office to see you, but Secretary Shen said you went out with Father-in-law. Finally had some free time to cuddle my wife, and you’re gone!

Yan Zui: I’ll be back soon. Dad’s taking me to the hospital for a check-up.

Qi Yunwei: A pregnancy test??

Yan Zui: Mm.

Qin Yunwei: He won’t be angry if you’re not pregnant, right?

After discussing it together, they had agreed that now—while Yunwei was still in the early stages of building her company—was not the right time to have children. They had taken precautions.

Yan Zui: As long as we don’t mention contraception, it’s fine. Pregnancy isn’t something that happens just because you want it to.

Qi Yunwei: Should I come join you? Which hospital are you at?

Yan Zui hadn’t planned on letting her come, but Yunwei insisted, worried Yan Zhao might lose his temper. At last, she relented and told her the hospital’s name.