Fancy Me, Professor!

[This chapter is dedicated to vanz30 for being a silent reader suddenly commenting on my story. ^^ I hope to see more of your comments soon! Thanks for reading and supporting my story! :D]

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Hot pot or hotpot, also known as soup-food or steamboat, is a cooking method that originates from China, prepared with a simmering pot of soup stock at the dining table, containing a variety of East Asian foodstuffs and ingredients. 

While a hot pot full of flavored broth is kept simmering, raw ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked in a manner similar to fondue. Hot pots usually use a water-based soup, while fondues use cooking oil.

Hot pots may be prepared and eaten either at home or in a restaurant. Since it is considered as a main dish, it can be enjoyed without other separate courses like rice or noodles. The cooked food is often eaten with a dipping sauce for additional flavoring.

Typical hot pot ingredients include thinly sliced meat, leaf vegetables, mushrooms, vermicelli, sliced potatoes, bean products, egg dumplings, tofu, and seafood.

Raw ingredients are pre-sliced into thin sections that will cook quickly and consistently in the simmering broth, which is maintained at a gentle boiling temperature.

Most raw foods can be cooked in a hot pot, although they may have different cooking times, and must be immersed in the soup and then removed accordingly.

At the conclusion of the meal, the broth has acquired many flavors from the added ingredients, and may be served to the diners after turning off the cooking heat source.

As Wang Lei searched this on his phone and has read this, he widened his eyes, actually excited to have hotpot.

Well, not that he's completely ignorant about it. He has heard and has seen it on TV, but then again, this is something that his parents discouraged because they think mixing a lot of food as if experimenting can be bad on the stomach.

But when he saw pictures and even watched some videos, Wang Lei now disregarded what his parents are saying, thinking that this is indeed a good way to have a bonding moment with not only with your family, but with your friends and other people, too, in different occasions.

Like for example, he even saw that a boss of the company ate hotpot with his employees. It made him think of the next gathering that his team will have if ever they are going to have an event.

Maybe they can have a hotpot event, too!

Before Wang Lei even realized it, they have already arrived in the mall's parking lot. With the employees noticing the plate number of the owner's car, they immediately recognized them and gave them priority first, already allowing them to park in Wang Lei's personal parking space.

The moment that Mr. Ying parked the car, they then unbuckled themselves from their seat, already leaving the vehicle as they are now entering the mall and then to the elevator for them to meet up with Yu Yan's family in the top floor.

As soon as they took a step inside the mall, people already recognized them, making the others gawk at Wang Lei and his employees as most of the people who are here are also from known families.

Of course, they know that Wang Lei who had just arrived, took a visit to his own mall—which indeed, rarely happens.

As Mr. Ying clicked the elevator doors, the people who were waiting stepped aside, giving them space as they want him to use the elevator first.

The moment the elevator doors opened, the lady who was operating it inside greeted them with a small bow, noticing Wang Lei immediately.

The three of them stepped inside. The moment the doors closed, the lady asked them where they are going, Mr. Ying, answering for the boss.

"To the top floor, please."

The lady clicked the button of the top-most floor. With the elevator now moving, it was quiet for a moment, Wang Lei looking at Yu Yan discreetly from the corner of his eye.

He noticed how her smile hadn't left her face. With the excitement of seeing her little mooncake, Li Jie, Yu Yan couldn't wait to see him after not seeing the little boy for how many hours.

"I think we should not make the hotpot too spicy, Miss Yu Yan," Mr. Ying suggested, breaking Wang Lei from his thoughts. "It might give your son an upset stomach."

"Oh, yes," Yu Yan agreed, nodding as well. "And Mr. Wang Lei is going to have hotpot for the first time, too. Having it mildly spicy is suggested. It might upset his stomach, too, if it's too spicy, since he doesn't like spicy food much."

"Ah, then I'm grateful that Li Jie is here," Wang Lei chimed in, a smile appearing on his face. "I can't have anything too spicy," he added, Mr. Ying and Yu Yan, letting out a small laugh as the elevator doors now opened, indicating that they have arrived in the top-most floor.

The moment the three of them stepped out of the elevator, it was little Li Jie who noticed them first, already shouting and running to his mama.

"Mama! Mama!"

"My little mooncake!"

When Li Jie crashed on his mama's legs, Yu Yan immediately carried him in her arms and showered him with kisses, Li Jie, giggling as he felt the ticklish sensation on his cheeks.

"Aren't you tired, mama? Why are you carrying me so suddenly?"

"Oh, my mooncake… you are magic! You immediately remove mama's stress the moment I lay my eyes on you."

With small giggles coming from the little boy, Yu Yan's mother approached all of them, specifically giving a bow to Wang Lei, making him blink his eyes a few times.

"Good evening, Mr. Wang Lei. My name is Ling Mei Fang, Yu Yan's mother. Thank you for having us with you tonight. Thank you for taking care of my daughter in your company."

"Oh, Mrs. Ling!"

Wang Lei exclaimed, not wanting the old woman to bow any longer.

"Please, raise your body. You don't need to bow. It is I who needs to thank you. I am blessed having a great employee."

With Wang Lei bowing to Mei Fang, the old woman let out a soft chuckle, patting Wang Lei's head as if he is a little boy.

"Such a humble and good mannered boy," she commented, already saying something that made Yu Yan almost pop her eyes out of their sockets. "Why can't you find a good man like this? Haiya... Why not your boss?"

"Mama!"

Yu Yan exclaimed, putting Li Jie down as she immediately turned to look at Wang Lei.

"I'm sorry! My mother. She's—"

"It's alright," Wang Lei laughed out loud, shaking his head at the same time. "Now, why don't we have hotpot and tell me more about what you want for your daughter, Ma'am Mei Fang?"

With Mei Fang already linking her arm to Wang Lei as if he is not Yu Yan's boss, both of them walked on ahead, Yu Yan's mouth agape as Li Jie made a comment with his furrowed brows.

"Mama… close your mouth or a fly might come inside…"

With Mr. Ying chuckling as he looked at Li Jie, he extended his hand to make the little boy hold him, talking to him as well.

"Let's go. Hold your mama's hand with your other hand. She will follow."

"Mm."

With that, the three of them started walking, Yu Yan, still in a daze as she couldn't believe how shameless her mother is, talking to her boss casually as if she is setting her up in a blind date.

'Mama! Please don't say anything weird to Mr. Wang Lei, please!'