I Have Everything They Like - Chapter 4

You Tao obediently closed her mouth, which had been about to reveal Teacher Jing’s secret.

By the time Huo Lang rescued her, he had already swum several laps in the pool and even taken a shower. Glancing at the early morning sky, he strode toward the elevator. “Got anything to eat?”

“There’s fresh bread, vegetables, and eggs in the fridge, and dumplings and wontons in the freezer—”

The light-haired woman standing on the dry edge of the pool was interrupted before she could finish. “No bread. Can you cook? Just whip up something simple.”

Even dressed only in a bathrobe, devoid of yesterday’s understatedly luxurious jewelry except for a single earring, Huo Lang couldn’t conceal his privileged upbringing the moment he spoke. His voice dripped with entitlement, as if the world owed him preferential treatment.

Before You Tao could move, Huo Lang glanced back and said in a slightly lower tone, “Don’t worry, I won’t freeload.”

At those words, You Tao sprang into action, darting ahead to the elevator and pressing the button. Her voice, sweeter than ever since joining the show, rang out, “After you, Boss Huo.”

Even though Huo Lang radiates scumbag woman vibes, I still have to say: let me get my hands on that dirty money!

Huo Lang rarely encountered someone so openly and unapologetically motivated by money. For the first time since yesterday, he gave You Tao a proper look, a faint smile playing on his lips as he followed her into the elevator.

Entering the kitchen again, You Tao moved with practiced ease. Though she was only preparing simple dumplings, the thought of Second-Generation Huo’s generous compensation prompted her to whip up a variety of dipping sauces and prepare the dumplings three ways: steamed, boiled, and pan-fried. Her light-colored hair, damp with perspiration from her neck, stuck to her skin as she worked with cheerful efficiency.

The woman in the white bathrobe stood leaning against the kitchen doorway, her sleeves rolled up to reveal firm, healthy muscle tone in her arms. After watching for a moment, she suddenly asked, “Aren’t you hot?”

“Huh?”

Standing in front of the black ceramic range hood, You Tao didn’t hear her clearly. She turned her head, read the woman’s lips, and belatedly replied, “I can’t find my hair tie. I’ll buy one when I go out later.”

Huo Lang clicked his tongue and walked over, reaching out to gather You Tao’s long hair at the nape of her neck. As a cool breeze brushed her skin, You Tao opened her mouth to thank him, but he cut her off with a slow, deliberate drawl:

“No need to thank me. I just don’t want anything extra in my breakfast.”

“……”

Every time I hear Huo Duidui talking to the other guests, I’m convinced this show has no script… He’s just too good at offending people!

Sweet talk only reserved for his future wife, huh?

For the sake of earning extra money on the show, You Tao generously filtered out her words and even set the table for her. When Huo Lang put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a wet wipe, she stepped forward at the opportune moment. “Thank you for your patronage. The breakfast charge has been recorded and will be settled upon the show’s conclusion.”

The satisfied man narrowed his eyes contentedly and magnanimously offered, “Weren’t you planning to go out to buy something? I can give you a ride later.”

The roar of the silver-gray Pagani reverberated through the driveway outside the villa. As soon as You Tao fastened her seatbelt, the car shot off like a dart.

After stopping at a nearby upscale supermarket, the driver removed his sunglasses, opened the door, and stepped out. Seeing You Tao emerge from the other side, he asked with a smug expression, “How was the ride?”

“My back hurts,” You Tao replied honestly, even unconsciously rubbing the area near her tailbone. Once again, she lamented her lack of “rich person luck”: insomnia in a hundred-million-dollar villa and back pain in a ten-million-dollar luxury car.

Huo Lang let out a soft, mocking laugh, as if to say You don’t know what you’re missing. Before entering the supermarket, he tossed her a parting shot: “The gas money will be deducted from your breakfast service fee.”

???

Good grief, a capitalist!

You Tao, outwardly unfazed by the deduction, followed him inside. As Huo Lang browsed the fresh produce section, picking out ingredients for dinner, she suddenly asked, “Do you want to know Teacher Jing’s preferences?”

Huo Lang, who had just grabbed a cut of A5 Wagyu beef, whipped around to look at her. But You Tao said nothing more. Instead, she pulled out the phone provided by the Production Team—which only contained the guests’ contacts—and created a group chat to ask everyone what they wanted for dinner.

Huo Lang had initially planned to observe Jing Sinian’s response in the chat, but when she simply went along with the group without expressing any clear preferences, he had no choice but to approach You Tao and glare at her. “How would you know something I don’t?”

You Tao merely blinked at him, her eyes clear and transparent, yet utterly unreadable.

After a moment, Huo Lang’s eagerness to win Jing Sinian’s favor prevailed. He caved first, gritting his teeth as he asked, “Fine, tell me—what does she actually like?”

You Tao held out her hand.

“?”

Amid Boss Huo’s confusion, the live comments voiced her unspoken thoughts: That’ll be extra!

The capitalist attempting to exploit the workers had been outmaneuvered by her own target. Huo Lang smoothed back his hair, a half-amused, half-skeptical glint in his eyes as he regarded her. He had swapped yesterday’s slightly formal black shirt and silver tie for a vibrant summer-themed shirt today, its bold, clashing colors reminiscent of beachwear. On anyone else, it would have looked like a cheap ten-yuan find, but on him, it made him the most striking figure in the entire supermarket.

A soft tap echoed as Huo Lang lightly slapped her palm, tacitly agreeing to her price.

After You Tao finished selecting her groceries and passed the produce section, she suddenly noticed a large, exquisitely packaged box of White Phoenix Peaches in her cart—each peach plump and sizable, and naturally, quite expensive.

She followed the box back to the person who had tossed it in, but Huo Lang’s hand pressed against her head, turning her gaze forward. “Watch where you’re going.”

You Tao deftly avoided a collision with a display shelf using her impeccable cart-handling skills. As she turned toward the checkout lanes, Huo Lang, strolling behind her with the leisurely air of someone inspecting his own estate, caught up. Glancing at the box of peaches in her cart, he remarked casually, “Your name suits you well.”

Despite her delicate appearance—so soft that the slightest pressure would bruise her skin and cause the juice to seep out—she had somehow mustered the audacity to approach him and negotiate these deals. If she failed to obtain useful information to track down Jing Sinian, how would this little actress ever manage to extricate herself from this mess?

The last time I saw someone help someone else chase after their crush, they ended up losing themselves in the process.

Hehe, it’s a White Phoenix Peach—fragrant, sweet, and soft. You can peel off the skin and suck out the juice directly, the flesh is tender and juicy… But still, Huo Lang, back off! Whether it’s Teacher Jing or Taotao, you’re just dreaming!

After buying the groceries, Boss Huo pressured You Tao into picking out a gift for Jing Sinian. Although Teacher Jing had a hidden, deeper side, her public image was consistently gentle and refined. You Tao didn’t presume to know her private preferences; instead, she offered her judgment while selecting the gift.

“She loves gardening and wears floral-fruity perfumes. This morning, she used a red rose scent from Z House. If you’re getting perfume, stick to similar scents that won’t go wrong. If you want something unique, consult flower cultivation experts and get her rare, domestically uncommon varieties.”

Her suggestion hit Huo Lang’s sweet spot perfectly. The latter option, which would be a hassle for most people, was trivial for her, thanks to her bottomless bank account.

She could have it all.

Huo Lang immediately made a call, then took You Tao to an exceptionally high-end DIY perfume studio. By the time they returned with their custom-made scents, it was already past six in the evening.

Beep.

After verifying her fingerprint at the villa’s gate, You Tao pushed open the brass double doors with her back, carrying bags of groceries. Her palm-sized face was flushed from the heat, making her look even more like a glistening peach.

She had barely stepped into the living room when she stopped in surprise. “Dr. Fu, you’re back?”

Fu Jinyan was sitting in the living room, watching a medical documentary. Hearing her voice, he glanced sideways, revealing faint dark circles under his eyes—likely from not resting since leaving the previous night. He nodded slightly before turning back to the documentary.

After putting away the groceries in the kitchen, You Tao quickly returned to the opulent living room. Under the gaze of the Western European oil portraits hanging high on the walls, she held out a round, white peach to Fu Jinyan.

“Dr. Fu, would you like some fruit? Boss Huo got them. This variety is very sweet!”

The White Phoenix Peach had thin skin and soft flesh, requiring no knife to peel. A simple pinch at the tip and a gentle tear easily removed its delicate outer layer. Whether it was sweet or not, Fu Jinyan couldn’t say, but its aroma was undeniably potent. The faint, lingering scent of peach now permeated half the living room.

The images from the previous night, suppressed by a day of relentless work, resurfaced in Fu Jinyan’s mind. He stared fixedly at You Tao, recalling how, upon returning home earlier, he had washed his hands in the bathroom. The countertop was neatly arranged, every item—from toothpaste and shower gel to soap—all peach-scented.

No wonder her scent lingers so long.

Fu Jinyan remained motionless for a long moment. You Tao, initially puzzled, quickly noticed his gloves. As if remembering something, she retreated to the kitchen and returned with peeled and sliced peach wedges, accompanied by toothpicks for easy handling.

By now, Huo Lang had already retreated to his room, leaving only the two of them on the ground floor. Fu Jinyan finally reached out and brought the sweet, juicy peach to his lips.

The moment he bit down, the fragrance completely enveloped his mouth, teeth, and nose. He ate in silence, a towering wall of coldness that had kept others at bay, now silently eroded by the refreshing aroma, a corner crumbling away.

This is… Taotao inviting Dr. Fu to eat Taotao.

Fu Jinyan can’t possibly be unaware of the implications of sharing a peach, right?

Dr. Fu, you’re so cold! I wonder who can warm you up with their 37-degree body temperature. I want to see your icy mask melt, to see the jade of passion light up in your eyes from the heat.

When Jing Sinian arrived at the villa, You Tao was already preparing dinner. Fu Jinyan stood by the sink, carefully measuring rice with a measuring cup.

“Need any help?” Jing Sinian asked warmly, already rolling up her sleeves and approaching the counter. But before she could start, Huo Lang, who had heard her voice, intercepted her. “Sinian’s back? Come here, I need to talk to you.”

Jing Sinian paused, understanding Huo Lang’s intention, but instinctively glanced at You Tao, as if hoping she would refuse to let her leave.

However, You Tao, having received a subtle glare from Huo Lang, turned to check the ingredients in the pot and replied naturally, “Actually, most of the prep work is done. We just need to cook it now. Teacher Jing, if you have something to attend to, go ahead.”

“…Then I’ll do the dishes after dinner,” Jing Sinian said, leaving with Huo Lang.

After she left, Shen Mingrui returned as well. The team that had been with her that morning was nowhere to be seen, and she had changed into a new outfit—a semi-transparent sun-protective jacket over a simple short-sleeved shirt and shorts, revealing her slender waist.

Ahhh, Sister’s waist isn’t just a waist—it’s a deadly, soul-snatching scimitar!

“Taotao, I’m back! Did you think of me today?” The voice arrived before the person. When Shen Mingrui entered the kitchen, she saw Fu Jinyan standing by the sink. She paused in surprise, her gaze darting between Fu Jinyan and You Tao before settling on the answer. With a composed smile, she added, “Good evening, Dr. Fu.”

Taotao and Dr. Fu—the stark difference in treatment between them and the superstar is glaringly obvious right now.

Shen Mingrui’s eyes seemed to say, “I’m relieved to see there’s nothing romantic between you two.”

Amidst the sound of running water and rice being rinsed, Fu Jinyan hummed in acknowledgment, not glancing at Shen Mingrui, who had already sidled up to You Tao. He listened indifferently as she complimented the aroma of the food before turning to You Tao with an invitation: “I’ll be waiting for you in the media room at eight tonight, Taotao. Are you ready?”

Isn’t it a bit much to openly pursue personal desires under Dr. Fu’s nose?

But Taotao and Dr. Fu are just friends! [doge]

You Tao nodded, seemingly oblivious to the saccharine tone in Shen Mingrui’s voice, and replied as usual, “Sure.”

After saying this, she turned to Fu Jinyan, who was still rinsing the rice. “Dr. Fu, rinsing it twice is enough. You don’t need to wash it so many times.”

Fu Jinyan stared at the faintly milky water in the pot and replied coolly, “But I prefer it clean.”