The Foolish Wife Turned Scheming After Her Recovery - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: A Showdown Between the Two Food Delivery Giants Is About to Break Out in Our Studio!

There were nine invitation cards in total, and Lu Zhili filled all of them with Yu Yao’s name, using a different handwriting style on each one. After going through all of them with Housekeeper He, Lu Zhili ended up choosing the very first one she wrote.

Housekeeper He: “So tired. :)”

Lu Zhili didn’t notice her exhaustion at all. Instead, she excitedly ran downstairs and dashed into the kitchen, looking for Aunt Chen.

“Aunt Chen! Aunt Chen! Aunt Chen!” Lu Zhili instantly turned into a little repeat machine.

“Oh my, Miss! The kitchen floor’s all wet. Why are you in here without shoes?” Aunt Chen quickly wiped her hands on her apron and gently pulled Lu Zhili out of the kitchen by her wrist.

Housekeeper He was coming down the stairs carrying slippers. At her age, she really couldn’t keep up with a youngster like Lu Zhili, who was practically wind on legs.

While putting on her slippers, Lu Zhili said to Aunt Chen, “Aunt Chen, I want those little cookies you made last time, and the yam cakes we had yesterday! With red date filling and purple sweet potato filling!”

“Okay, okay. You want to eat them later? If I start now, you can have them before dinner.” Aunt Chen began preparing the ingredients.

Lu Zhili shook her head and followed her in, “No, no, I want to bring them to Yu Yao tomorrow. Can you teach me? I want to make one myself.”

She wanted to make a special version just for Yu Yao.

Aunt Chen paused to think, then replied, “I see. Then let’s make them tomorrow morning. The cookies can keep, but the yam cakes are best made fresh and eaten the same day.”

“Okay! I want to help tomorrow morning too!”

“Alright. Once I’ve got the ingredients ready, I’ll come wake you up.”

…

Around ten the next morning, a black Cullinan drove out from the villa area. Lu Zhili, holding a box of beautifully packaged cookies and yam cakes, was headed for the address Yu Yao had sent her, practically trembling with excitement.

Knowing Lu Zhili was going to Yu Yao’s studio, Aunt Chen had inquired about how many employees worked there and made extra yam cakes. They’re good for the spleen and stomach—perfect for overworked office people with irregular meals.

Yu Yao’s studio was in the central business district of Yanjing, and the drive from the villa took over an hour. Lu Zhili had gotten up at seven to help with the cakes, and was now sleeping soundly, sprawled back in the seat.

The driver was extremely smooth, and when Lu Zhili woke up, they were already in the city center. The driver said they’d arrive in about ten more minutes.

Yu Yao had already messaged her:

Y: Almost here? I’m about to head into a meeting, will take about 30 minutes. If you arrive, just tell them your name—someone will take you to the lounge.
Y: Going in now.

That message had been sent twenty minutes ago—Lu Zhili was asleep when it came.

She scratched her cheek and slowly typed back:

Yaoyao Princess’s Devoted Fan: “Uncle Driver says we’ll be there in ten minutes. Sorry, I fell asleep in the car and didn’t see your message earlier.”

Yu Yao didn’t reply, probably still in the meeting.

Lu Zhili set her phone down, excited and a little nervous. She cradled the pastry box on her lap, her cheeks still flushed from her nap.

Ten minutes later, the Cullinan parked neatly outside an office building. Yu Yao’s studio was on the 12th floor.

It was nearly lunchtime, so the lobby was full of people coming and going—some entering, some heading out—mostly food delivery workers in yellow or blue uniforms.

Lu Zhili was carrying a large box and wearing a light blue windbreaker. At first glance, she really did resemble a food delivery worker. But her face was far too stunning, attracting stares from every direction.

She’d grown up under this kind of attention and had long since learned to block it all out.

Everyone staring at me is just a bunch of irrelevant carrots and broccoli!

Her grand delusion technique (Vegetable Edition).

She also had Animal and Food versions—whichever she used depended entirely on her mood.

With her poker face, Lu Zhili looked rather intimidating. So even though she was beautiful, people kept their distance.

She stepped into the elevator—empty at the time—but just as the doors were closing, a bright yellow blur called out:

“Wait! Hold the door!”

Kind-hearted Lu Zhili pressed the button. The yellow figure darted in, holding a bouquet of vivid red roses—definitely eye-catching.

“Thanks.”

“Mm.” Lu Zhili stayed cool and aloof.

So he’s a delivery guy, huh. Tough job. Good thing I helped him.

The delivery guy thanked her while staring in surprise. Since when were food delivery girls this pretty?

They stood in silence, neither knowing they were headed to the same floor.

A soft “ding” soon rang out. The doors slid open. Both stepped forward at the same time, surprised to find they were going to the same place.

But neither seemed too shocked. The guy stepped aside with a gentlemanly gesture, letting her go first.

Without even looking at him, Lu Zhili headed straight to Yu Yao’s studio.

A young woman was crouched at the entrance, boredly picking at the carpet. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and instantly recognized the unforgettable beauty.

“Excuse me, are you Miss Lu? I’m Yezi, Assistant to Miss Yu. She asked me to wait for you.”

The air of distance around Lu Zhili vanished. Her eyes lit up and she nodded, but before she could speak—

“Hey? Yezi, what are you doing out here?” said a male voice behind her.

The so-called delivery guy stepped up beside Lu Zhili, then paused and exclaimed, “Oh! Are you picking up the food delivery?”

Lu Zhili: “???”

Who’s the real delivery person here?

Yezi’s eyes widened at the sight of the man. “President Xiao Chu?! Why are you here?!”

Chu Jiayan was wearing a bright yellow windbreaker and holding a bouquet of roses—no wonder Lu Zhili mistook him for a delivery guy.

“Is Yu Yao here? I’m looking for her.” Chu Jiayan smiled, dimples flashing like a golden retriever.

Lu Zhili turned to glare at him, a little angry. “I’m not a delivery girl.”

Chu Jiayan scratched his cheek sheepishly. “Sorry, I just saw your blue jacket and thought you were with that other delivery company…”

Lu Zhili said nothing, but her eyes darted up and down him with clear judgment. Clearly you look way more like a delivery guy than I do.

Yezi bit her lip, recalling every tragic moment of her life to stop herself from laughing out loud.

“Ahem, please come in, both of you. Miss Yu is still in a meeting, so you’ll have to wait a bit in the lounge.”

They exchanged glances, said nothing, and silently followed Yezi inside.

As they passed the meeting room, the door was shut, but intense arguing could be heard from within. Both of them leaned in, eavesdropping.

“Why can’t I hear Yu Yao’s voice?” Lu Zhili whispered, puzzled.

Chu Jiayan, clearly familiar, whispered back, “She usually speaks last. Never joins the bickering.”

“Ohhh…”

They suddenly realized how nosy they were being and quickly stood up straight, pretending nothing happened.

Yezi added, “President Chu is right. Miss Yu never joins the designer quarrels. She listens quietly, and by the end, she already has a conclusion in mind. This happens every time we prepare a new collection.”

“They seem especially intense today. Might take a while. Let me show you to the lounge.”

The lounge looked more like a break room—fridge, microwave, coffee machine, and various staff items cluttered the counter, but it was still quite clean. A small sofa and coffee table were set aside for resting.

Lu Zhili and Chu Jiayan each picked the sofa furthest from the other and sat down. After Yezi left, the room fell into a painfully awkward silence.

Chu Jiayan wasn’t the type to sit still for long. He opened his mouth to say something, only to watch Lu Zhili whip out her earbuds and shove them in—a clear do not disturb sign.

Chu Jiayan: “…”

Hmph. Fine, I’ll survive without talking.

They sat in silence for over ten minutes until footsteps approached, perking them both up. Lu Zhili even pulled out her earbuds.

The door opened—and a stranger stepped in.

Not Yu Yao.

They both sank back into the sofa, deflated.

The man seemed startled too. “Ah, sorry!” He turned and fled without even getting water.

Then they heard him outside, saying loudly:

“Miss Yu, why are there two delivery people in our lounge? Scared me half to death—I thought the two biggest food delivery apps were about to throw down in our studio!”

Meituan delivery guy Chu Jiayan: “…”

Ele.me delivery girl Lu Zhili: “…”

You’re the delivery guy! Your whole family delivers food!

Yezi, following behind Yu Yao, was clearly trying not to laugh.

Yu Yao turned to her, confused.

“You’ll get it when you see for yourself. We’re going to lunch.”

“Go ahead.”

Yu Yao walked forward and pushed open the lounge door, her eyes scanning the two people standing up inside.

She looked them up and down and paused.

“…So what, are you two cosplaying food delivery today?”