Old courtyard, new vines.

Lush and full of life.

Since his retirement, Zhang Weimin has been steadfastly tending to his flowers and plants, never missing a single day.

It seems these flowers and plants have become the most important part of his life-perhaps even more cherished than his sons, Zhang Xingguo and Zhang Jingshan.

As Ye Chen parked his Mercedes-Benz G-Class outside the courtyard and strode in, Zhang Weimin had just set down his scissors, admiring the vibrant greenery that filled the yard. He nodded in satisfaction.

"Ah, Ye Xiaoyou, you're here! Let me wash my hands."

Hearing the approaching footsteps, Zhang Weimin turned around and smiled.

As Ye Chen responded, Zhang Weimin twisted the faucet and washed his hands.

"Hualai is still busy inside. How about we make some tea first?" Zhang Weimin suggested.

"Old Secretary, Secretary Yan is hard at work inside. How could I... how dare I sit back and do nothing? I enjoy cooking too-I'll go lend Secretary Yan a hand!" Ye Chen quickly replied.

No matter what, he had to say the right things and do the right things.

In his past life, Ye Chen had reached heights where even provincial leaders treated him as an honored guest. But now, he was just an up-and-coming young man.

There was no way he could be so shameless as to wait for Yan Huailai to cook and then simply sit down and eat.

"Haha, you like cooking too? That's great! Go see if you can help with anything," Zhang Weimin laughed heartily, quietly admiring Ye Chen's sense of propriety.

But how could he know-when it came to social finesse, who could surpass someone who had once wielded billions and lived past eighty, only to be reborn sixty years earlier?

Zhang Weimin's years of experience didn't even match Ye Chen's previous life.

In the competitive world of fame and fortune, how could one rise to the top without a sharp mind and thick skin?

With Yan Huailai busy in the kitchen, waiting for him to serve the dishes would indeed be foolish.

Steamed egg custard.

Steamed turbot.

Blanched mustard greens.

Braised pork ribs.

These were Yan Huailai's planned dishes-simple, homely fare.

Although Ye Chen had said he'd assist, he ended up taking over completely.

In the kitchen, Yan Huailai's hearty laughter contrasted with Ye Chen's calm composure.

However, as Ye Chen showcased his masterful cooking skills, Yan Huailai was stunned.

The precision of Ye Chen's technique and the controlled heat he demonstrated-this was the work of a true master!

Even the simplest ingredients and most ordinary dishes exuded an irresistible aroma under Ye Chen's hands.

The fragrance alone redefined Yan Huailai's understanding of these dishes, stirring his appetite like never before.

"Xiao Ye, did you study cooking before?"

As the dishes were served, Yan Huailai looked at Ye Chen as if he were an alien.

Based on his understanding of cooking, turning simple home-cooked meals into something of this caliber was on par with top-tier chefs.

Zhang Weimin was equally astonished.

He never expected Ye Chen to possess such culinary skills. Even without tasting the food, the aroma and presentation spoke volumes.

"When I was a kid, we didn't always have enough to eat-often just steamed buns and pickled vegetables. Braised ribs, beef, lamb, fish-those were luxuries I didn't taste until high school, and even then, it was thanks to my homeroom teacher inviting me over," Ye Chen said with a smile, his deep eyes reflecting a lifetime of experience far beyond his years.

"So, when I smelled the aroma of others' cooking as a child, I thought, 'When I grow up, I'll become a chef. That way, I can eat whatever I want.' Even in high school, I considered attending culinary school if I didn't get into a good university. I worked part-time during holidays to save up, just in case I needed tuition for culinary school."

Ye Chen spoke calmly, as if recounting someone else's story.

"But fate was kind to me-I didn't fail my exams. Still, my love for food never faded. Whenever I had free time, I'd dive into cooking-not for anything else, just to fulfill that childhood dream."

This wasn't just a fabricated story.

In his previous life, it was exactly like this.

The timeline had simply shifted. In his university days, he had let go of childish dreams, believing himself too talented to waste time cooking.

But after losing Yinuo and Youyou, he sought solace in cooking-filling the emptiness left by his wife and daughter.

He spent decades honing his skills.

So now, returning with decades of experience, how could his cooking not impress?

Yet, as Ye Chen recalled his past, Zhang Weimin and Yan Huailai fell silent.

They didn't want him to dwell too much on painful memories.

Breaking the silence, Yan Huailai laughed, "Xiao Ye, this is more than fulfilling a childhood dream. They say home-cooked meals are the hardest to perfect, and you've made these better than most top chefs! They say food must appeal to the eyes, nose, and taste buds. I haven't tasted it yet, but it already looks and smells incredible."

Chuckling, Yan Huailai added, "If you opened a restaurant, I'm sure it would be packed with customers!"

"A restaurant? That's not for me," Ye Chen smiled.

"Oh? Why not?" Yan Huailai asked, intrigued.

"Because it's too slow to make money!" Ye Chen said seriously.

Yan Huailai was momentarily stunned.

In his long career, he had met countless businesspeople.

But no one had ever been so blunt about money in front of him.

"So that's why you're selling flawless cream, right? Haha!"

Here it comes.

Ye Chen chuckled inwardly.

He knew the conversation would eventually lead to his skincare business.

Before Ye Chen could respond, Zhang Weimin interjected with a laugh, "Let's eat first before the food gets cold. We can't let Xiao Ye's cooking go to waste!"

"Right, right!" Yan Huailai echoed, setting aside formalities as he grabbed his chopsticks.

Still, he waited for Zhang Weimin to start before digging in.