DHLM 3
Nouveau Riche
Even the most skilled cook can’t make a meal without ingredients. No matter how good a chef Teacher Xiao Jiang was, there was no way he could cook anything with a kitchen full of liquor bottles and not a single grain of rice.
Jin Ze rested his hand on the steering wheel, listening to the GPS as he searched for the nearest supermarket.
“I saw one on the side of the road when we came,” Jiang Heng reminded him. “Take a left up ahead.”
“I never noticed,” Jin Ze replied. Even though he had lived here for quite some time, he rarely wandered around the neighborhood.
On weekdays, he rarely made it home before midnight.
On his days off, he was either sleeping at home or out meeting clients.
“You’ve never been there?”
Jin Ze shook his head. “Nope.”
“Alright then.” Jiang Heng didn’t press further. After parking, the two of them walked into the supermarket together.
Standing at the entrance, Jin Ze tried to recall the last time he’d been grocery shopping. He honestly couldn’t remember. Now, just being here felt like a novelty.
Jiang Heng grabbed a shopping cart. “We don’t have rice or cooking oil at home.”
“We need to buy all of that.”
“There’s nothing in the kitchen except a pan,” Jiang Heng summarized succinctly.
Jin Ze walked beside him and recalled, “That pan was a housewarming gift from a friend.”
“I think it’s imported from the UK.”
“Pfft.” Jin Ze scoffed in disdain.
Jiang Heng chuckled. “What’s your problem with the pan?”
“The instruction manual is in English,” Jin Ze muttered, irritated. He’d had enough of dealing with English lately.
Jiang Heng thought he was being childish. Here was a man who looked every bit the successful elite, yet he was secretly holding a grudge against an English manual. The thought made him smile, though he didn’t comment.
When you're out and about, you have to let the boss save face.
“What kind of rice do you like?” Jiang Heng asked as they reached the grain and oil section.
“Anything’s fine. Which one tastes best?” It wasn’t until he stood in front of the rows of rice bags that Jin Ze realized how ridiculous this was. He actually had enough free time to go grocery shopping today. But then he glanced to the side—shopping with someone this attractive wasn’t exactly the worst way to spend his time.
Maybe it was the sincerity in Jiang Heng’s eyes when he suggested they go buy ingredients. Even through his glasses, his gaze had been convincing enough that Jin Ze had nodded in agreement—just like that time he’d handed over 150,000 yuan without a second thought.
Jin Ze reflected on it for a moment and concluded: I’m letting my attraction cloud my judgment.
His self-reflection didn’t last long before Jiang Heng interrupted.
“Let’s get Wuchang rice. It’s really fragrant when cooked.”
“Alright, you pick.”
Jin Ze had no clue about kitchen essentials. Back when he first graduated, he used to cook simple meals, but as work got busier, he barely had time to eat properly.
He followed Jiang Heng around the store, letting him make the choices. From rice and oil to seasonings and vegetables, Jiang Heng had his own method for picking everything. Jin Ze watched in admiration.
“Teacher Xiao Jiang, you sure know a lot.”
Jiang Heng felt a little embarrassed. “My grandpa taught me.”
“Then your grandpa must be amazing too.”
Jiang Heng agreed.
But as they passed the alcohol section, Jin Ze suddenly stopped.
“You want to buy alcohol?” Jiang Heng asked.
“Just taking a look.” Jin Ze veered off and tossed a few bottles into the cart.
Jiang Heng wanted to remind him that he already had plenty at home. But he figured, since Jin Ze was the boss, it wasn’t his place to interfere.
As Jin Ze reached for a sixth bottle, Jiang Heng’s eyebrow twitched. He suddenly remembered that Jin Ze lived alone—maybe that’s why he had such an uninhibited lifestyle.
“Do your parents live in Beicheng?” Jiang Heng asked curiously.
Jin Ze placed the fifth bottle into the cart and replied casually, “They passed away when I was little.”
“Sorry,” Jiang Heng said, taken aback.
“No need to apologize. Birth, aging, sickness, and death—it’s just part of life.” Jin Ze had long gotten used to being on his own.
“That’s true. My dad passed away too.”
After a brief silence, Jin Ze said, “It’s okay. You still have your mom—take good care of her.”
“Yeah.” Jiang Heng nodded. Then, when he noticed Jin Ze eyeing a seventh bottle, he quickly steered the cart in another direction. “The fish looks fresh. Want fish for lunch?”
Jin Ze’s attention shifted. He paused before reaching for another bottle. “I don’t like fish with too many bones.”
“I choked on a fish bone as a kid—never again.”
“I heard Wuchang fish only has thirteen and a half bones, and they’re all big, no tiny ones.”
“Sounds good. Pick one.”
As they continued shopping, Jin Ze realized that Jiang Heng was incredibly organized. From staple groceries to fresh produce, everything was selected with care.
“Any food you don’t like?” Jiang Heng asked as he grabbed a head of garlic.
“No cilantro.” Jin Ze wrinkled his nose.
“Got it.”
“Anything else? Any allergies?” Jiang Heng planned to avoid them when cooking.
“I’m allergic to mangoes.”
“Okay, I’ll remember that.”
Jin Ze glanced at Jiang Heng, feeling a little puzzled. Did I hire a tutor or a housekeeper?
Maybe he should tell Jiang Heng later that he didn’t have to do all this.
But seeing him focused on picking vegetables, Jin Ze decided to wait for a better moment.
“Need anything else?” Jiang Heng asked, looking at their full cart.
Jin Ze surveyed it, then turned into the drinks aisle.
“You’re getting more alcohol?” Jiang Heng followed.
“No, what do you want to drink? Soda? Juice?”
“Me?” Jiang Heng hadn’t expected him to ask. “I’m fine with anything.”
Jin Ze picked a bottle. “Juice. You need some vitamin C—it’s good for you.”
Jiang Heng glanced at the alcohol buried at the bottom of the cart. Now he cares about health? He sure wasn’t thinking about that when grabbing all that booze.
“You eat chips?” Jin Ze asked, stopping at the snacks section.
“No.” Jiang Heng wasn’t in the habit of eating junk food.
Jin Ze lingered. “Really?”
“If you want some, go ahead.”
“I don’t want any. That’s kid stuff.”
Yet, he still didn’t walk away.
Jiang Heng hesitated, then noticed Jin Ze eyeing a bag of chips.
“…Alright, I kind of want some.”
Jin Ze grinned and immediately tossed a big bag into the cart. “Just say so! No need to be polite with me.”
Jiang Heng bit his lip, deciding not to expose Jin Ze’s obvious lie.
So childish.
“What about this?” Jin Ze bent down and picked up a giant diamond-shaped candy ring.
Jiang Heng wanted to say he’d outgrown those when he was three.
But seeing Jin Ze’s expectant look, he nodded.
“I want it.”
Jin Ze happily grabbed two and tossed them in the cart.
From then on, whenever Jin Ze saw something childish on the shelves that he wanted but was too embarrassed to admit, he’d ask Jiang Heng if he wanted it.
And Jiang Heng? He’d just silently nod, saving Jin Ze’s dignity.
Back home, Jiang Heng went straight to the kitchen. As he cleaned and prepped the fish, Jin Ze, feeling guilty about just waiting for food, asked, “Need help?”
“No, you can just sit.” Jiang Heng, now wearing an apron, didn’t even look up as he scraped fish scales.
“That doesn’t feel right… I can wash the veggies.”
“If you want.”
Jin Ze sat on a small stool, skillfully trimming chives.
Jiang Heng hadn’t expected him to be so good at it. At first, he only gave him a small batch to keep him busy, like a mom handing a kid a bit of dough while making bread.
But Jin Ze quickly finished and asked, “Need help with anything else?”
“You can cook?” Jiang Heng asked in surprise.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“You just… don’t seem like the type.”
Jin Ze laughed. “You know what people call me?”
“Jin Ze, right?”
“They call me ‘New Money’ behind my back. A flashy, rich upstart.” He leaned against the fridge, amused. “Apparently, I reek of money.”
“Why?” Jiang Heng hesitated.
“Because I was dirt poor and got rich fast. A kid from the mountains making more in ten years than they will in a lifetime? They can’t fault my success, so they go after my background.” Jin Ze smirked.
“I’m no ‘young master’—not even close.”
Jiang Heng had assumed Jin Ze was some rich second-gen businessman. He never expected him to be completely self-made.
And honestly?
Jin Ze didn’t smell like money.
He smelled like pure success.
