Chapter Thirty-Six: Heaven, Are You Sure You're Not Playing Tricks on Me?

After hearing those words, Xue Tian'ai turned around in confusion. In the lavishly decorated reception hall of Menghua Group, several elegant, fashionably dressed young women behind the front desk were smiling at him. Yet the moment he looked back, their expressions subtly shifted, and a glimmer began to dance in their bright eyes.

Standing at one meter eighty-five, tall and slender, his handsome face was fair and angular, with delicate features—most notably, his mouth, striking and attractive, lacking the sickly pallor of the typical pretty boy; instead, he looked healthy, vibrant, and full of life. Although he was dressed in sporty, casual attire that seemed entirely out of place in Menghua Group, the gentle smile on his face lent him an undeniable charm, especially to the more naïve young women—it was the kind of allure that drew one in irresistibly. This was Xue Tian'ai.

“Good morning, sir, welcome to Menghua Group. Are you here for business, or is there someone you wish to see? How may I assist you?” The youngest and prettiest of the receptionists stepped forward, her voice sweet and her smile dazzling, radiating a confident beauty. As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with subtle hints, and her tone grew softer, more ambiguous, than it had been at first.

“Oh, I wanted to ask—where is the company cafeteria?” Xue Tian'ai suddenly realized he had forgotten to ask Qin Mengxue about the location of the cafeteria.

The beautiful receptionist was clearly taken aback by his question; she had not anticipated such a mundane inquiry. “Sir, our company cafeteria is only open to employees…” she replied hesitantly, uncertain because she had never seen this handsome stranger before. Though she found herself favorably disposed toward him, she knew she had to follow the rules.

“Ah! I started work today—I'm an employee here.”

“Do you have any work identification, sir?” The young woman remained dutiful, asking with professional care.

“I don't have any ID, but President Qin Mengxue sent me. My surname is Xue. You can check with her,” Xue Tian'ai replied, inwardly approving of the receptionist’s conscientiousness—such earnest, responsible staff were becoming a rarity these days.

“Mr. Xue, good morning. The president did indeed inform us about you. Welcome to Menghua Group! The cafeteria is on the fifth floor; you can take the elevator straight up.” As she spoke, the receptionist couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times, though any faint hope in her heart was quietly dashed. Earlier, when President Qin herself had stopped by the front desk, she’d left special instructions regarding Xue Tian'ai—such a handsome man, personally introduced by the president herself, must be someone extraordinary. For receptionists like them, it was unlikely they’d ever have a chance with such a man, let alone dream of marrying into wealth.

“Oh, thank you. You’re very beautiful.” Xue Tian'ai smiled gently, complimenting her with great gentlemanly charm before turning toward the elevator, leaving the receptionist blushing at the desk.

“So, how did it go? Did you get his phone number or any info?” As soon as she returned to the reception area, her colleagues crowded around her, chattering with excitement.

“He’s the very Mr. Xue President Qin mentioned. We’d best not even entertain the thought,” she replied with a resigned shake of her head.

“So he’s that Mr. Xue. Do you suppose President Qin has her eye on him? Or is he related to her somehow?”

“Don’t talk nonsense—if President Qin hears you, we’ll be in trouble!”

“Yes, yes, but don’t you think it’s odd? We’ve seen plenty of rich young men try to court President Qin, and she’s never been the least bit friendly to any of them. Yet now, she’s brought an unknown man in as an employee. Isn’t that strange?”

“Let’s not overthink it. In any case, a man that handsome would never be interested in people like us.”

“You could always try stripping off and giving it a shot! Don’t give up!”

“Why don’t you try, then…”

“…”

Beneath the reception desk, the young women engaged in a brief, silent skirmish of pinching hands.

Meanwhile, Xue Tian'ai had no inkling that he had just sparked a pointless contest among the receptionists. In fact, none of them had made much impression on him—truth be told, they simply seemed too ordinary. As far as looks went, they weren’t bad, but Xue Tian'ai’s standards were high; his wife, Qin Mengxue, could easily outshine dozens of such girls.

Now, in the elevator, his mind was filled with anticipation for Menghua Group’s breakfast. When it came to food, Xue Tian'ai was a true enthusiast; eating was one of his greatest passions in life. This love originated from the year he was abandoned by the Xue family to survive in the wild—a time when he was only ten years old. While others his age were still shouting for Ultraman, he was left to fend for himself.

For half a year, he survived alone in the mysterious, savage mountains of Shennongjia, known for wild men and strange beasts. The Xue family had given him nothing but a knife. He managed to snatch food from the wild men, wrestled with pythons as thick as barrels, and survived until Xue Xiquan came to fetch him. (For reference, Xue Xiquan is the fourth son of the Xue family, known as the Wolf King among wolves, and was also Xue Tian'ai’s trainer in his youth—a kind of mentor.)

But there was no respite. As soon as he was back, in the bitter cold of winter, Xue Xiquan sent him off to survive in the northern Great Khingan Mountains—this time, without even a knife. Xue Tian'ai managed to lure a Siberian tiger into a trap, fashion himself a dagger from its tooth, and sew a coat from its skin.

That year, his life was a constant struggle, never knowing when his next meal would come. Perhaps that was why he held such deep respect and fondness for food. Even though he never again faced such danger, his voracious appetite was forever awakened.

Soon, Xue Tian'ai arrived at the fifth floor cafeteria—and was utterly astonished to find the entire floor filled with recreational facilities: not only a cafeteria, but also billiards rooms, a fitness center, a private cinema, and a karaoke lounge. It was truly extravagant. He couldn’t have imagined that Qin Mengxue, with her serious personality, would provide so many amenities for her staff.

In fact, these facilities were not built under Qin Mengxue’s direction, but by the previous president, Qin Wanlan. Given Qin Mengxue’s dedication to work, she would never have arranged such lavish entertainment for her employees.

Xue Tian'ai’s sole purpose was to eat, so he ignored the other areas and headed straight for the cafeteria. The space was vast—despite the other facilities sharing the floor, the cafeteria still occupied a large area. At this hour, it was crowded with staff, all enjoying their breakfast.

Around the cafeteria were display cases offering a dazzling array of dishes. Despite being just breakfast, the selection was remarkably rich: countless varieties of congee, delicate pickles, eggs, sausages, and even braised meats and drumsticks that looked mouthwatering. Dozens of cafeteria staff, all in white uniforms, caps, masks, and gloves, worked busily behind the counters. It was peak mealtime, so there were more than ten ordering stations open to accommodate the crowds and prevent delays.

At the sight of braised pork and chicken drumsticks, Xue Tian'ai’s eyes lit up. After years abroad, he’d rarely tasted authentic Chinese food—now, faced with such a feast, he was determined not to miss out.

Though he had to queue, Xue Tian'ai didn’t mind at all. For one thing, he believed good food was worth the wait; for another, he noticed that Menghua Group had an unusually high number of female employees, almost as if it were a company rule. The men were all in white shirts and suits, the women in pale professional attire—different brands, but all cut from the same cloth. In his sportswear, Xue Tian'ai stood out like a crane among chickens.

He paid no attention to the men, but let his eyes roam freely over the beautiful legs and enticing curves of the women around him. He couldn’t help but inwardly cheer—his wife’s company was indeed a garden in full bloom! Perhaps working here would not be so bad after all.

Since it was his first day, Xue Tian'ai didn’t know anyone besides his wife, Qin Mengxue, so he didn’t chat as he waited his turn. He filled his tray with a bowl of braised pork, a drumstick, a bowl of congee with preserved egg and lean pork, and five eggs, then casually found an empty seat and began to eat with gusto.

His hearty, greasy breakfast and out-of-place attire quickly drew attention from those around him. Yet Xue Tian'ai paid not the slightest heed to their stares, continuing to gnaw on his drumstick and gulp his congee with relish.

As more people poured into the cafeteria, seats grew scarce, and soon people were forced to share tables. Just as Xue Tian'ai was contentedly popping a ketchup-covered egg into his mouth, someone tapped him on the shoulder. A voice, clear as a silver bell, rang out, “Excuse me, may we share your table? There’s nowhere else to sit.”

He turned to find two women standing behind him, trays in hand. But upon seeing the face of the woman who had touched his shoulder, Xue Tian'ai was struck dumb with shock and disbelief. When he looked at the second woman, his expression became even more extraordinary.

Inwardly, he cursed—Heavens above, are you playing a trick on me?