Chapter 66: Like-mindedness

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

“Hehe, Brother Chu Qing, this restaurant serves good food. But how should 1 put it? Hotpot…”

Zhai Yu spoke and hesitated. However, Chu Qing could tell the hidden meaning in Zhai Yu’s words.

Chu Qing shared the same sentiment. He believed it was crucial to acquaint himself with hotpot etiquette before indulging in it. After all, sweating was an inevitable part of the hotpot experience, and he cared little about his appearance in such moments.

Chu Qing remembered that he had once read a post that said that if a girl went to eat hotpot with you, she really didn’t care about her image. Chu Qing only thought a little of this.

Hotpot came in various forms, with each region having its distinct flavors. Take, for instance, the renowned Chuanyu hotpot, known for its use of spicy, aromatic, and oily broths. Chu Qing had accompanied his parents on a visit to a Chuanyu hotpot restaurant, and the experience had left a lasting impression on him.

As for the lamb slices they were currently enjoying, it was an entirely different experience. The finest cuts of lamb, sliced paper-thin, would be fully cooked within half a minute of being dipped into the simmering pot. Once cooked to perfection, they would be savored with the accompaniment of sesame sauce. It was an exquisite delight, indeed.

The two of them chatted casually and the dishes were served one after another. No wonder the place they were at was called a luxurious private room. The speed at which the dishes were served was also extraordinary.

There were even two waiters standing beside them. They served them plates and could even help cook.

Zhai Yu waved his hand and gestured for the two of them to leave. The two of them nodded and walked out of the room together.

“Sigh, 1 think it’s better to do this myself. 1 can’t stand being served everywhere 1 go. It’s not like 1 don’t have hands.”

Chu Qing smiled and agreed.

The mo of them should be the ones cooking the hotpot.

Chu Qing also rolled up his sleeves. The air conditioner in the room was not turned on, so when the hotpot began to boil, the air in the room was surrounded by fog, and the fresh fragrance began to spread throughout the entire room.

“Brother Chu Qing, let me toast you.”

The two of them indulged in the feast enthusiastically, their spirits soaring. Zhai Yu raised his beer glass, his face turning red as he continued to eat heartily. Beads of sweat trickled down his neck, a testament to the spicy and invigorating experience of the meal.

Chu Qing waved his hand and poured a glass of cold beer.

“No, 1 should be the one toasting you.”

The two of them shirked for a long time. In the end, they looked at each other and smiled, drinking the beer in one gulp. Neither of them said anything about who was toasting the other.

“Brother Chu Qing, this is the first time someone recognizes my worth beyond just my family background.”

Zhai Yu’s eyes suddenly dimmed as if he was thinking about something. Then, he smiled and shook his head.

“Why do you say that?”

As Chu Qing cooked the lamb slice, he looked at Zhai Yu in surprise.

In his opinion, Zhai Yu should have a lot of friends. In fact, he was the kind of person who was more popular.

Zhai Yu smiled bitterly and poured himself another glass of beer. At this moment, Chu Qing picked up a bottle of cold beer and nodded at him.

“Drink it in a bottle. It feels better.”

Zhai Yu was not pretentious. He picked up a bottle of cold beer that had just been opened and swallowed it in one gulp. Half the bottle was already gone.

“1 grew up alone with my father. It wasn’t until later that my father told me that my mother was an amazing person.”

“Oh? But what’s the point…”

As Zhai Yu spoke, he never stopped drinking the beer in his hand. He took another sip and emptied the beer bottle.

“Ever since 1 relocated to a new city and school, I’ve noticed people giving me strange looks.”

“At that time, 1 didn’t know what that kind of look meant. It was only later that 1 knew what they were.”

“People were sympathetic towards me, and I even befriended a girl who seemed genuinely kind. However, one day, she asked me a hurtful question: ‘Are you an illegitimate child?’”

Chu Qing smiled. He opened another bottle of beer for Zhai Yu and handed it over. Zhai Yu took it and drank it in one gulp.

“Do you understand how it feels? It’s as if I’ve never belonged with them. 1 used to believe that people were inherently equal, but it was at that moment that 1 realized they saw themselves as aristocrats while viewing me as an anomaly.”

Chu Qing remained silent, simply drinking alongside Zhai Yu. He matched Zhai Yu’s pace, drinking as much as his companion did. This was his interpretation of camaraderie at the beer table.

“Do you hate them?”

Chu Qing thought for a moment and asked.

“Hate? Maybe…”

“In the past two years, I’ve been nurtured as a key figure. A lot of the family’s resources will be given to me. 1 know that, but in their eyes, 1 might still be an anomaly.”

“If not for my father, 1 might not have been able to persevere. It’s not comfortable to be treated like one.”

The glint in Chu Qing’s eyes changed. Zhai Yu was drinking with his head lowered and did not see Chu Qing’s changing gaze.

“Alright, brother, let me toast you this time.”

Chu Qing smiled bitterly and revealed his secret.

“I don’t have your troubles, but 1 don’t think I’m living a better life than you…”

“Why?”

Zhai Yu was stunned. Although he had known Chu Qing for a while, he had never known about Chu Qing’s background, including what had happened to him.

“My mother also came from a large family. But later, they came looking for her.”

“Because my parents secretly left. In other words, they eloped, but the family didn’t allow it.”

“So they used me to pressure them. They even said that they wanted to…”

At this point, Chu Qing couldn’t help but curse and take a sip of beer.

“What did they say?”