In the evening, Zhao Meng treated everyone to a meal at Lao Liu’s Barbecue on a side street.

After the gathering, Zhao Meng paid the bill but didn’t return to the dormitory with Fu Yu and the others.

Watching the taxi disappear from view, Sun Qingning put an arm around Fu Yu’s shoulder and slurred playfully, "At this time of night, Chef Zhao isn’t coming back, something’s definitely up!"

Fu Yu chuckled but said nothing.

He was quite happy about Zhao Meng and Dai Li’s situation.

After all, Dai Li was a good person. During the time they spent together, she took great care of Zhao Meng, being attentive and thoughtful. She was someone who truly cared for others.

Zhao Meng had been single for many years, and it was hard for him to find someone he liked, so Fu Yu felt happy for him.

Sun Qingning couldn’t hold his liquor well. Earlier, he’d been enjoying himself and had a couple more drinks, and now the night breeze was making the alcohol hit him hard.

On the way back, Fu Yu was concerned and decided to walk Sun Qingning to his room first.

At the door, he noticed it was open, and the person who’d been lying in bed sat up at the noise.

Seeing the person, Fu Yu remembered that Qi Shun had been assigned to Sun Qingning’s room.

Sun Qingning originally had a roommate, another kitchen helper, but in the spring, that person resigned. The store hadn’t hired anyone new, so he got to enjoy a single room for half a year.

It’s said that Qi Shun was quite unhappy when he found out he had to share a room with others.

He argued with the management, trying to secure a room of his own, but they didn’t agree.

Qi Shun packed his bags and left right away.

He hadn’t stayed in the dorm since then.

No one expected him to return suddenly today.

The day after it happened, Sun Qingning privately complained to them, cursing Qi Shun for looking down on people.

His uncle was just a department head at the municipal health bureau, yet he acted all high and mighty, not knowing his place, even finding it beneath him to share a room with Sun Qingning.

"Whoa, Young Master Qi, why are you back today?"

Sun Qingning, usually direct, had even fewer reservations now that he’d had some drinks.

Qi Shun stood up from the bed at once, glaring at Sun Qingning with displeasure, "This is my room; I’ll come back whenever I want."

Sun Qingning let out a cold snort, "You’re so high and mighty, you could even demand the same treatment as Chef Fu! Why are you back now?"

Qi Shun didn’t expect Sun Qingning would say such things in front of Fu Yu, and his face darkened even more.

Fueled by the alcohol, Sun Qingning said bluntly, "Our Chef Fu, though a culinary school graduate, was personally trained by our Chef Zhao! He was the first-place winner of a culinary competition, a talent our store urgently needs. Even so, when assigned a dorm, he lives wherever the management says!"

"Who do you think you are? There are lots of culinary school graduates; you need the skill to back it up! With your abilities, you want the same treatment as Chef Fu! How dare you demand: Chef Fu is a culinary school graduate, so am I; why can Chef Fu have his own dorm while I have to share?"

"Let me tell you, it’s because Chef Fu is just that outstanding! His private room at the dorm was arranged by our management!"

"Our Chef Fu can take orders and handle the stove independently! Put together some online reviews and gather the city’s top old barbecue brands; he can outdo all those restaurants and top the list! Can you even compare to our Chef Fu?"

Sun Qingning was getting into it, and as he turned to see Fu Yu, it was as if he’d found crucial evidence in a long-unsolved case, pulling Fu Yu and continuing to say to Qi Shun, "Look at you, your cooking skills don’t match Chef Fu’s, and you’re not as handsome as our Chef Fu. How dare you say those things?"

The people living on either side were all kitchen staff.

Having just come back from their late-night meal, some were opening their doors when they heard the commotion and gathered around.

Two older ones, worried things might get out of hand, quickly persuaded Qi Shun out of the room.

They kept saying that Sun Qingning was drunk and not to take him seriously.

By the time Qi Shun realized it, he was already outside the room.

Meanwhile, Sun Qingning was supported inside and settled comfortably on the bed to rest.

The difference in how they were treated was clear as day.

Sun Qingning, though a little drunk, wasn’t completely out of his senses.

Seeing Qi Shun driven out made him feel quite satisfied, so he couldn’t help but complain to Fu Yu, "Damn! He had the nerve to call this his dorm, it’s sickening!"

Then he couldn’t help but feel a bit proud, "I’m fantastic, those words were like a slap in his face, hahaha..."

Fu Yu just smiled, not responding to Sun Qingning.

He wasn’t sure how much Sun Qingning exaggerated, but no matter what, after hearing Sun Qingning, he felt no goodwill towards Qi Shun.

If it had been about anything else, Fu Yu wouldn’t have minded Qi Shun using him to make a point.

He thought people usually subconsciously compare themselves to others around them in such situations, often choosing those with similar conditions, which is normal.

But a smarter person would consider the upcoming work relationships.

Even if they were upset, they wouldn’t voice it easily.

That Qi Shun spoke up showed he was impulsive and acted without thinking.

However, Qi Shun involving Fu Yu over the dorm issue was something Fu Yu couldn’t tolerate.

The reason Fu Yu had a single room now was because Zhao Meng arranged it to take care of him.

What Qi Shun did also dragged Zhao Meng into it.

Thinking about it carefully, it was unforgivable what Qi Shun did.

If Zhao Meng hadn’t been so close to Yao Shi in the kitchen, and if Yao Shi weren’t so strong-willed and indifferent to what people said about fairness and clarity, afraid of everything,

Qi Shun’s commotion might have cost him his single room, forcing him to live in the shared dorm.

Recalling Qi Shun’s behavior on the school’s anniversary day.

Despite playing terribly on the guitar, he was incredibly confident showing off in front of everyone.

How strong must one’s vanity be to maintain the pretense of being knowledgeable when they know they’re empty inside?

A person so vain, selfish, and arrogant, who’d publicly use him as a target — Fu Yu felt staying away from him was for the best.