Beast World: From Villainess to Cub-Raising Chef

Chapter 156: Chapter 155: Developing a New Business for the Restaurant

Her son had made his wife angry, so she had come to appease her daughter-in-law and get her to forgive him.

Bai Su was a little exasperated. "Auntie..."

But after a moment’s thought, she accepted the key.

’She’s giving it to me today, so I’ll just keep it safe. Later, when her family shows up, I can simply return it.’

’What if Hua Hua has another episode tomorrow and gives it to a different servant, or even loses it?’

’Then I’d be in a position where I couldn’t explain anything clearly.’

When Hua Hua saw her accept the key, her smile finally seemed genuine. "Good, you’ve taken it. Now don’t be angry with my boy."

Bai Su laughed helplessly. "All right, all right. I’m not angry."

’I have no idea who this "boy" is, but humoring her for now is the right move.’

Hua Hua then lovingly stroked her head. "Sit down. I’ll braid your hair for you."

Bai Su was happy to oblige and sat down.

For the past few days, it had been Hua Hua who’d been doing her hair.

Even though she knew Hua Hua had probably mistaken her for someone else, she still cherished this rare show of affection from an elder.

In two lifetimes, she had almost never experienced anything like it.

Hua Hua’s motions were very gentle, and Bai Su could feel the immense affection and care in every stroke of the comb.

Bai Su let her mind wander, allowing Hua Hua to fuss over her hair.

’If Hua Hua really were a beggar with no family...’

’...it might not be so bad to have her stay by my side...’

’After all, it’s not like I can’t afford to support one more person.’

’Besides...’

’I really like having Hua Hua do my hair.’

But someone else was not nearly as pleased.

The moment Lu Tingyan pushed the door open, he saw Bai Su, her hair meticulously styled into fluffy, intricate little braids. His expression instantly darkened. "Why is *she* doing your hair again?"

He!

Hadn’t!

Managed to snag the job for three days!

Bai Su was beaming, and her smile only grew wider when she saw Lu Tingyan. "You’re back?"

Lu Tingyan gave a slight nod and walked over quickly, but his drooping tail and ears betrayed just how wronged he felt.

Bai Su scratched him under the chin. "What’s wrong?"

Lu Tingyan’s voice was sullen. "How much longer is that auntie going to be staying at our place?"

Bai Su paused. "You don’t like her?"

"No," Lu Tingyan said stiffly.

As Bai Su was picking out her clothes, Lu Tingyan spoke again. "The sentences for the Bai Family are out. Do you want to hear them?"

"What sentences?" Bai Su asked, still picking out her outfit.

Lu Tingyan said, "The investigation is complete. Besides Bai Rongrong, Rachel, and the deceased Bai Xue, the rest of the Bai family had no connection to the Medical Alliance. They were just dragged into the mess."

Bai Su had pretty much figured that out.

"Therefore," Lu Tingyan continued, "Bai Rongrong and Rachel will be executed by firing squad."

Hearing this, Bai Su turned her head in curiosity. "I thought the Federation’s laws forbid executing females?"

"That’s a law from the International Alliance," Lu Tingyan explained. "Colluding with the Medical Alliance is beyond the scope of Snow Country’s domestic affairs. It’s considered an act of hostility against the entire world, so of course they’ll be executed."

Bai Su nodded, her expression unreadable.

"Bai Rongrong wants to see you before she dies," Lu Tingyan added.

Without a second thought, Bai Su refused. "No."

A small smile touched Lu Tingyan’s lips. "Okay."

*

After getting ready, Bai Su went out to visit Yan Qingya.

When she brought the matter up, Yan Qingya was in the middle of packing her things to leave the hospital.

Yan Qingya shrugged. "She probably thinks you’re a soft touch. And besides, you’re a powerful connection to have."

Bai Su grumbled as she helped her pack, "Do I really seem that magnanimous? She snitched on me and almost caused my uterus transplant to fail, and I’m supposed to what, take care of her mother for her?"

Yan Qingya burst out laughing. "Well, you do have the face of a saint."

Bai Su’s lip twitched. "Thanks. For a second there, I couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or not."

"How’s the restaurant coming along?" Yan Qingya asked.

At the mention of her business, Bai Su’s eyes lit up. "I’ll take you to see it soon! It’s going great, but I’m thinking of adjusting the staff."

"Adjust them how?"

Bai Su helped her pack some clothes into a bag. "On my social media account, a lot of infertile females have reached out. They want to work at my restaurant in exchange for meals instead of a salary."

Yan Qingya quickly grasped the idea. "You mean they want to work at your restaurant, and all you need to provide is room and board? So they can work while eating your food to restore their fertility?"

Bai Su nodded. "I think it’s a pretty good idea."

Yan Qingya thought for a moment. "That actually sounds like a great thing. So, who’s waiting tables at your restaurant now?"

"The soldiers Lu Tingyan assigned as my guards," Bai Su replied.

"Oh, well that makes sense," Yan Qingya said. "You are a Level 8 Female, after all. Countless people are watching you like hawks. Opening a restaurant comes with a lot of risks."

"That’s why I was thinking they should go back to their actual jobs," Bai Su said. "They can just be guards and protect me from outside the restaurant."

Yan Qingya suddenly stared at her. "Susu, have you ever thought about why the Medical Alliance is targeting you?"

Bai Su froze. "Why?"

"Because your food can cure female infertility," Yan Qingya said. "You’re cutting into the Medical Alliance’s profits."

She lowered her voice, leaning in to whisper in Bai Su’s ear, "You know how I was infertile? Before I met you, I’d even considered secretly contacting the Medical Alliance and going through the black market to get a healthy uterus transplant. That way, I could have become fertile again."

Bai Su understood instantly. Yelias and Lu Tingyan had already analyzed some of this with her before.

She thought for a moment before shaking her head. "That part doesn’t really create a conflict."

Yan Qingya looked at her, confused.

"The ones who want to work for their meals are obviously the ones who can’t afford to buy them," Bai Su explained. "Look, a wealthy, aristocratic female like you would choose to spend money to buy food at my place, not come work as a waitress, right?"

Yan Qingya’s eyes widened in realization as she nodded. "Oh, that’s true..."

Bai Su didn’t say the rest of her thoughts. The thing that truly made the Medical Alliance wary of her was her participation in the Lanton Family’s medical experiments.

Yan Qingya thought for a moment, then laughed heartily. "My brain’s not as sharp as yours, so you can just call the shots! I’ll come to the restaurant in a couple of days to help out!"

Bai Su smiled and nodded, not turning her down.

This was what the two of them had agreed upon earlier.

Her restaurant was in dire need of a proper manager for the dining area.

She was always busy in the kitchen and couldn’t always attend to the guests in the main dining area.

Yan Qingya was great with people and, like Bai Su, was eager to be a female with her own career.

So the two of them had hit it off immediately and decided to open a new restaurant in the city center.

"I heard you’ve been getting close with some of the Lanton Family elders recently," Yan Qingya asked.

"You’ve heard the rumors already?" Bai Su asked.

Yan Qingya snorted with laughter. "Heavens no. I heard it from someone else. Do you remember Bi Yue?"

Bai Su blinked, looking blank. "Who?"

"The daughter of the Bear Clan’s chief," Yan Qingya said. "The one who caused a scene at your restaurant and got fired and locked up by Lu Tingyan."

A flicker of recognition crossed Bai Su’s face. "Oh, her... What about her?"