The restaurant.

When Ye Chen sat down at the table, Chen Yihao, who was already seated, couldn't help but ask:

"Did you make all of this yourself?"

In his impression of Ye Chen, the man was clearly not someone who would step into a kitchen.

But this table full of fragrant dishes was enough to make his stomach rumble just from the aroma.

It left him feeling a little frustrated.

"What else? Took me a few hours, but it should taste alright. Eat up while it's hot!"

Ye Chen smiled nonchalantly.

He was the first to pick up his chopsticks and placed some food into little Ye Youyou's bowl.

"Come on, Yihao, Qiwen, dig in. Your brother-in-law may not cook often, but his skills are not ordinary. Hurry, give it a try!"

With Chen Yinuo's gentle encouragement, Chen Yihao and Lin Qiwen finally began to eat.

Twenty minutes later, the meal that left both Chen Yihao and Lin Qiwen fully satisfied was nearing its end.

"I'm sorry for the things in the past. And for my parents, I apologize on their behalf too."

After holding back for a long time, Chen Yihao finally spoke after putting down his chopsticks.

However, he found it difficult to look Ye Chen in the eyes.

"Yihao, don't say that. I did let your sister—and you—down in the past. If anyone should apologize, it's me. Honestly, I owe you my gratitude. Without your help back then, Yinuo and I might not have been able to get married at all!" Ye Chen replied sincerely.

"It's all in the past. Why bring it up?" Chen Yinuo said, feigning annoyance.

"Alright, sis!" Chen Yihao awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Yihao, since your sister doesn't want to dwell on the past, let's talk about the future!" Ye Chen grinned.

"Okay."

Hearing Chen Yihao's response, Ye Chen got straight to the point.

"Yihao, I'm planning to invest in a hotpot brand—you might've heard of it—Jianghu Hotpot. I want you to help manage it. What do you think?"

"I've been to Jianghu Hotpot. It's a unique place with good service, a clean environment, and great food. But from what I know, they only have a few locations in the Pearl River Delta region. Why did you decide to invest in it?"

Instead of answering right away, Chen Yihao asked curiously.

"Their service philosophy caught my attention. I see great potential in them, and that's why I'm considering the investment," Ye Chen replied.

After a moment of thought, Chen Yihao asked, "What exactly do you want me to handle? And will the founders even accept me?"

"I hope you can handle everything. Jianghu Hotpot is still in its early stages, which makes it the perfect platform for you. As for whether the founders will accept you, don't worry. After the investment, the shares will be diluted, and I will become the majority shareholder. However, two things to note—first, the founders will retain managerial control. Second, you won't have much time to grow into the role. You'll need to adapt quickly."

"Adapt quickly? What do you mean?" Chen Yihao asked in surprise.

"Because I'm investing 500 million. The plan is to expand Jianghu Hotpot nationwide, across all major cities, within a year. By then, Jianghu Hotpot's competitor won't just be other hotpot chains—it will be the industry giant Haidilao. Simply put, Jianghu Hotpot will take on Haidilao head-on," Ye Chen said.

His words left not only Chen Yihao and Lin Qiwen but even Chen Yinuo stunned.

"500 million? Expanding nationwide in a year? Competing with Haidilao?"

"Ye, are you seriously investing 500 million in a relatively new hotpot brand and planning to expand across all major cities in one year? How risky is that!" Chen Yinuo exclaimed, clearly shaken.

Chen Yihao felt the same shock, and more than anything, he wondered how his brother-in-law could afford such capital.

"Trust my judgment. Jianghu Hotpot may be new, but it has potential," Ye Chen said calmly, offering no further explanation.

From his memories of the past, Ye Chen knew there was no risk.

Jianghu Hotpot only lacked capital.

With enough funding, success was inevitable.

Hearing this, Chen Yinuo fell silent.

After all, Ye Chen's keen eye for opportunities had proven itself time and again in the past few months.

Still, investing 500 million to expand nationwide within a year seemed like too bold a move.

"You're making me a little nervous."

Seeing his sister remain silent, Chen Yihao swallowed nervously, visibly uneasy.

"It's about whether you have the guts. This is the fastest way to grow. Don't worry—you'll have the founder's support and me backing you. Just go for it!" Ye Chen said with a light smile.

"But aren't you worried the founder might mess it up with such a large investment?" Chen Yihao asked.

"I chose Jianghu Hotpot for a reason. I trust him, which means he's capable."

Ye Chen smiled and continued, "So, back to the question—Yihao, do you want this opportunity?"

Chen Yihao fell silent.

He initially thought Ye Chen might invest a few million at most, which wouldn't put too much pressure on him.

But 500 million?

That was a different story.

He had zero experience.

Essentially, Ye Chen was investing 500 million to give him a shot at growth.

If he succeeded, great. But if he failed and made a mess of things—what then?

As Chen Yihao hesitated, Chen Yinuo said nothing, and Lin Qiwen dared not speak either.

After a while, Chen Yihao remained indecisive.

But Ye Chen's calm voice broke the silence again.

"Believe in yourself. If I'm willing to give you this opportunity, it means I have faith in you."

These words sparked a fire within Chen Yihao.

"Alright! If you believe in me, I'll go for it! I can't guarantee success, but I'll give it everything I've got!"