The boss is just that capricious.

Watching as Sang Qingye swiftly polished off an entire plate of Double Fowl Cabbage, Xiao Yao stared in disbelief and reminded her, “Have you forgotten you’re streaming? Shouldn’t you be maintaining your image at all times?”

Sang Qingye wiped her mouth and replied nonchalantly, “I’m just a food streamer and a foodie. My viewers already know what I’m like. This is who I am—straightforward and genuine. I can’t pretend, and I don’t want to. My streaming style is about showing the real me to everyone in the chat.”

“You really are quite unique,” Xiao Yao said, surprised by her candor. “You’re eating with such gusto—aren’t you worried about gaining weight? Just so you know, the other dishes are just as delicious as the Double Fowl Cabbage.”

“Why didn’t you say so earlier? The Double Fowl Cabbage was so good I couldn’t stop after the first bite. I’m naturally blessed and never gain weight, but my stomach isn’t that big. How am I supposed to fit all these dishes in?” Sang Qingye looked a little regretful.

“Let me remind you again, the four dishes and soup I made for you are actually two servings. I’ve been sitting here for quite a while now. Don’t you think you should invite me to join you for lunch?” Xiao Yao said, his face expressionless and his tone calm.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! You’re the owner—I just assumed you’d be busy and didn’t expect you to sit down for lunch with me,” Sang Qingye apologized quickly.

“There’s no need for me to cook in my own restaurant—I have a professional chef for that. These dishes I made today are for a friend, not for a customer,” Xiao Yao said with a quiet gaze.

“My mistake, my mistake. May I now invite you, Young Master Xiao, to share this lunch with me? Is it still in time?”

“Though your invitation lacks sincerity, I’ll give you a chance,” Xiao Yao agreed smoothly. “Would you like some wine? White or red?”

“White wine is too strong for me, but I’m fine with red.”

“I happen to have a few bottles in my car. Would a bottle of ’82 Lafite suffice? I think I also have a ’90 Romanée-Conti. Which would you prefer?” Xiao Yao asked for her opinion.

As a food streamer who frequented Western restaurants, Sang Qingye was somewhat familiar with red wine. She hesitated, “Isn’t that too expensive? Ordinary wine is fine.”

“To me, these are already just ordinary wines. Which do you prefer? Make up your mind.”

“I haven’t had much experience with such expensive wine, so don’t laugh at me. Honestly, I’ve never tasted anything so renowned. Since you’re treating, I won’t be polite. They say the ’82 Lafite is legendary—I’ve heard it mentioned so many times that my ears are calloused—so let’s try the Lafite.”

Though the ’90 Romanée-Conti was more expensive, the ’82 Lafite was far more famous among ordinary people. Being just that, Sang Qingye chose the one with the bigger reputation.

“Wait a moment. I’ll fetch the wine from my car.”

Xiao Yao soon returned with a bottle of red wine and handed it to Zhou Xiaobai to let it breathe.

Still streaming, Sang Qingye grinned brightly and, seeing Xiao Yao sitting across from her, asked, “Some viewers nearby want to come for a Chivalrous Feast. They’re asking about the prices for these dishes—could you tell us?”

Xiao Yao considered briefly and replied, “The Chivalrous Feast will be launched in a while, so the prices aren’t set yet. It’s hard to say now, but for these dishes, each single serving will probably be between five hundred and a thousand.”

“Even a single serving is that expensive? Isn’t that a bit much?” Sang Qingye was surprised.

“You’ve already tasted them. When we officially launch the Chivalrous Feast at Xunwei Zhai, our chef’s skill may not quite match mine, but the food will still be rare delicacies. I don’t think the price is high at all,” Xiao Yao replied, full of confidence in the upcoming feast.

Reading the viewers’ comments, Sang Qingye asked again, “Everyone really wants to taste dishes made by your own hands. Would you consider granting that wish for some of your audience?”

Xiao Yao declined without hesitation. “That’s a wish I really can’t fulfill. I rarely cook myself—only my family and friends get to taste my own cooking.”

“You’re the owner, after all. Even if everyone knows you’re well-off, since you’re in this business, you should take customers’ suggestions seriously. Maybe you can’t cook every day, but from time to time, just to meet customers’ wishes, I think you should consider it. After all, the customer is king.” This wasn’t just a suggestion from the stream—it was also her own opinion.

“You do have a point. Since I’m in business, the idea that the customer is king should be upheld,” Xiao Yao mused. He found it troublesome, but if it was only occasionally, it was not impossible. “I’ll take your advice and might personally cook a few dishes for guests when I have some free time.”

Sang Qingye hadn’t expected to actually persuade him and was overjoyed, her smile radiant. “Thank you on behalf of everyone who asked! They also want to know—if you cook the dishes yourself, will the price change?”

“Naturally,” Xiao Yao replied matter-of-factly. “You’ve tasted my skills firsthand. My cooking deserves a premium. Anything I cook myself will be priced at ten times the normal rate.”

“Ten times? Are you trying to run a shady business?” Sang Qingye was incredulous. “You just said these single-serving dishes would be five hundred to a thousand each. If you cook them yourself, that’s five to ten thousand. Don’t you think that’s excessive?”

“Excessive? Not at all. Dishes made by me are a world-class rarity. Once Xunwei Zhai becomes famous, my dishes will only go up in price,” Xiao Yao replied with absolute confidence.

He set the price so high precisely to avoid tying himself down. Now that he had the means to do as he pleased, he could cook a few dishes whenever inspiration struck, or simply choose not to if he wasn’t in the mood—no one could force him.

“You really are a willful boss. I have nothing more to say.” Once again, Sang Qingye realized just how capricious Young Master Xiao truly was.