Chapter Thirteen: The Wreck

"Why did you just walk out like that? Even if you were going to lose, couldn't you at least see it through and then admit defeat?"

"It was your own idea to take on the challenge, and you gave up before it even started—what's that supposed to mean?"

Shen Xiaoqing and Jiang Yingying were utterly confused as they were led out of the kitchen by Qin Tian. Once they had left the Pine Grove Hall, Shen Xiaoqing couldn't hold back any longer and scolded him with exasperation.

"I've already won. What else is there to compete for?" Qin Tian replied.

"Won? How have you won?" Jiang Yingying looked distinctly unimpressed.

Jiang Yingying had to admit—Qin Tian had some real tricks up his sleeve. Whether it was beating Jiang Feng at the racetrack or using his sharp observation skills to clear the Jiang family's name, he had certainly proved himself.

But this time, the opponent was Yan Songlin, a master held in the highest regard among chefs! And yet Qin Tian claimed he had already won?

She and Shen Xiaoqing had witnessed it all! It was clear as day—Qin Tian hadn't even competed; he just walked out!

What was this, if not outright desertion on the battlefield?

"If you don't believe me, why not go back and see for yourselves?" Qin Tian shrugged helplessly.

A trace of suspicion flickered in Shen Xiaoqing's eyes.

"Tell us, how exactly did you win?" she pressed.

"The knife! I won because of the knife!"

"The ingredients were excellent, and the preparation was flawless. The crucial point was the choice of tools—Yan Songlin picked the wrong one!"

"He should have used a knife that had been chilled! I think that's basic knowledge for any chef. I have no idea how he could have forgotten such a fundamental step."

Qin Tian explained his reasoning calmly, laying everything out for the two women.

Shen Xiaoqing and Jiang Yingying exchanged glances, eyes wide in disbelief. Could it be that Qin Tian really did understand the intricacies of cooking? And had he truly won just now?

"No way! I have to go back and check!" Shen Xiaoqing said, and immediately ran back the way they had come.

Jiang Yingying hesitated for a moment, then followed after her.

Not long after, the two of them returned wearing peculiar expressions. They had overheard Yan Songlin admitting there were flaws in his sashimi, and he'd confessed the problem was with the knife.

Qin Tian hadn't made it up—it was all true!

"You've studied culinary arts before?" Shen Xiaoqing asked him directly.

"In a manner of speaking. I have this book—it covers everything, and by coincidence, I read the section on cooking just a few days ago," Qin Tian said.

"Oh, come off it! You think reading a book can make you that skilled? You must have secretly trained as a chef!" Shen Xiaoqing rolled her eyes, clearly unconvinced.

Qin Tian could only look on helplessly. He really did have a book—A Book of Everything!

That afternoon, the three of them wandered around the mall for a while, and for the first time in his life, Qin Tian experienced what it was like to shop with women.

If not for his phone, he felt he might have "died" halfway through.

He noticed quite a few other men sitting on benches, waiting for women to try on clothes or shoes. Every now and then, their eyes would meet in silent sympathy—an unspoken resignation only they could truly understand.

The number of bags in Qin Tian's hands multiplied from one to two, then three, then four...

He was nearly buried beneath them all.

"Are you two still not done?"

Qin Tian, feeling as lifeless as a dead dog, found the endless array of bags more draining on his spirit than on his arms. He promised himself he would never go shopping with women again.

"Alright, let's go. We've bought enough," Shen Xiaoqing said, glancing at Qin Tian, who was festooned with bags, and stifled a laugh.

Jiang Yingying also chuckled, feeling that justice had been served—Qin Tian had come to work for their family, and this was exactly what he deserved!

The three of them almost couldn't fit into the elevator because of all the shopping. Maybe feeling sorry for him, the two women took the initiative to help carry a few things.

Qin Tian was so moved he almost cried. Each of them took a tiny, palm-sized package off his hands...

Were they just messing with him on purpose?

"Huh? Where's the car?" After leaving the mall, they walked to where the car had been parked, only to find the spot empty—their car was gone!

"Damn, it must've been that traffic cop from earlier!" Qin Tian, exasperated, set all the bags down on the ground.

"Careful! There are cosmetics in there—don’t break anything," Shen Xiaoqing cried out, distressed.

"Er, right. But let's find the car first," Qin Tian said sheepishly, realizing his anger had gotten the better of him.

"How are we supposed to find it?" Jiang Yingying looked around but saw no sign of the traffic cop from before.

An idea struck Qin Tian, and he whipped out his phone to make a call.

"Hello?" The other end picked up.

"Hello, Captain Lin? It's Qin Tian. My car seems to have been towed by the traffic police. Could you help me check if that's the case?" Qin Tian asked.

"Oh? What did you do to get your car towed?" Lin Jian asked.

"Nothing much, just—" Qin Tian recounted his run-in with the unreasonable traffic cop.

"You were in the wrong too. The traffic cop was unreasonable, but does that mean you can be unreasonable as well?"

"I'll look into it for you, but you'll still have to pay the fine and undergo a lecture. As for that cop, we won't let him off either," Lin Jian said.

"Alright, I'll wait for your news, Captain Lin." Qin Tian hung up.

Before long, Lin Jian called back, and from his tone, he sounded somewhat annoyed.

"Your car's at the traffic police station. Go pick it up, and don’t forget to settle the penalty," Lin Jian said.

"Thank you, Captain Lin." Qin Tian thanked him and hung up.

"What did he say?" Jiang Yingying and Shen Xiaoqing leaned closer.

"The car's at the traffic police station. I'll go get it. Why don't you two take a taxi home first?" Qin Tian suggested.

"Or we could go together?" Jiang Yingying said.

"We'd better head home. With all this stuff, it's inconvenient. I'm sure Qin Tian can handle it," Shen Xiaoqing said.

"Right, I agree. You two head home first," Qin Tian nodded.

He hailed a cab for the two women, loaded their things into the trunk, and watched as they drove off.

Then he caught a cab himself and went straight to the traffic police station.

There, he went directly to the window and explained his situation. His information had already been recorded in the system. Lin Jian had told him: illegal parking, obstructing traffic, severe offense, a fine of two thousand yuan, plus a mandatory lecture.

Qin Tian pulled out his phone and scanned the code to pay the fine—this one he would accept.

He had left the car parked out of spite, after all.

With the payment receipt in hand, he headed to the parking lot. After telling the attendant, he started searching for the car.

He looked for a long time but couldn't find it, which left him puzzled. Could it really not be here? That couldn't be—Lin Jian had said it was here, so it had to be.

Qin Tian circled the lot a few more times before stopping beside a car, suspicion written all over his face.

This car's front and rear bumpers were smashed, and both doors were badly scratched.

Qin Tian crouched down, lifted the front cover, and saw the license plate—it was definitely the Jiang family's car.

He was dumbfounded. How had the car ended up like this?