Mercenary’s War

Chapter 2292 - 2268: The Test

Just as Gao Yang was about to head out with Karima, he suddenly remembered there was someone standing outside.

Joseph was on guard outside. When Gao Yang finally remembered his bodyguard, and realized the racket he had made, his face flushed instantly.

Then, feeling awkward, Gao Yang said to Karima: "Could you, could you go back to your office and then I’ll call you from outside, um, I..."

Karima smiled helplessly, pressing her hand to her forehead as she laughed, then said, rarely expressing helplessness: "Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh, but you really are, I don’t know what to say, you’re too shy."

Karima returned to her office, and after Gao Yang checked repeatedly to ensure there was nothing wrong with his clothes, he opened the door and walked out of his office.

Joseph turned his head to glance at Gao Yang, then turned his head back.

Gao Yang felt that Joseph’s smile when looking at him was full of meaning, but Joseph’s expression was actually very normal because he had undergone long-term professional training and couldn’t lose control over his expressions.

Still, Gao Yang now felt like Joseph was laughing at him, a typical guilty conscience.

So Gao Yang lowered his voice and said: "It’s not what you think..."

A completely normal-faced Joseph was momentarily taken aback, and then he pulled a serious face.

Gao Yang swallowed again, lowered his voice, and said: "Really, it’s not what you think, we didn’t do anything."

This is called covering up, or an unconvincing protest.

Joseph had no choice; having a blank face didn’t work, nor did a stern one, so Joseph said in a low voice: "Boss, I’m just here to protect you. If you’re not in danger, then I’m a lifeless, brainless wooden dummy with no eyes or ears, you get it?"

Gao Yang looked at Joseph, opened his mouth, then lowered his voice and said: "But I’m afraid you’ll misunderstand."

Joseph smiled bitterly and said in a low voice: "Alright, alright, boss, I’m a bodyguard. Sometimes, inevitably, I’ll encounter some of your more private affairs, but during those times, just pretend I don’t exist. Other than having no eyes, ears, or brain, I also won’t have a mouth. This is my professional ethic; don’t doubt it."

Gao Yang rubbed his face, saying: "I, I didn’t mean that, I just..."

Joseph took a breath and said in a low voice: "Looks like we’re really going to need a long time to sync up, boss. Besides being a bodyguard, I’m also a man. I understand, I get it. You don’t need to explain anything to me, alright? Moreover, if I can say something I shouldn’t, your taste is very good, just leave it at that."

Gao Yang opened his mouth again, then nodded, and walked to Karima’s office door, knocking twice. After Karima came out, he hung his head and walked ahead. After a few paces, realizing he didn’t actually know where to go, he stopped, then kept his head down and followed after Karima.

Karima hid her mouth with a hand, trying not to laugh, making Joseph struggle hard to keep himself from laughing as well.

The three of them descended a floor, left the office building, and crossed a small courtyard to reach the back area of single-story buildings.

"This is our canteen, which can accommodate up to a hundred people eating at the same time. Originally, it was a warehouse, then converted into a canteen. Over there is the kitchen, where Liang Dong works."

There was a buffet hot dish heating tray stand in the canteen, with a utensil cabinet next to it hosting stainless steel plates and cutlery. Near it, tables fixed with four chairs each were set up, with a notice board showing today’s menu.

Everything was particularly tidy, very orderly arranged, even the self-service cutlery wrapped in napkins was packed into the cabinet in neat sets, seemingly measured for uniform spacing between each set.

As soon as Gao Yang saw this, he immediately said: "Ha, this familiar style. Is the canteen managed by Liang Dong too?"

Karima nodded and said: "Yes, the cleaning is done by janitors, but all cutlery and cookware are personally cleaned and organized by Liang Dong."

"Kung Pao Chicken, Cola Chicken Wings, Garlic Stir-fried Cauliflower, Cold Mixed Vegetables, hmm, all chicken, and only four dishes."

After Gao Yang read the menu, Karima smiled and said: "There’s only one person, serving lunch for sixty people. More can’t be asked for."

Gao Yang curiously said: "But we don’t have sixty people in our company, right?"

"But their appetites are big."

Gao Yang nodded and said: "Let’s go check it out."

Gao Yang walked over to the kitchen door, and knocked, then a voice loudly said from inside: "Lunch is served at 11:30. It’s currently my working hours, and the kitchen is off-limits!"

Gao Yang turned to Karima and Joseph with a smile, then shouted: "It’s me! I’m coming in!"

Gao Yang pushed the door open and stepped into the kitchen, seeing Liang Dong wearing a rather clean white jacket, washing something at a large sink.

"No entry here, you..., boss!"

Turning his head and seeing Gao Yang, Liang Dong, whose face was initially angry, quickly changed his expression, saying: "Oh, it’s the boss. Well, can we chat later? I need to finish cooking first."

Gao Yang waved his hand and said: "No worries, you just do your cooking; I’m just looking around, won’t disturb you."

Looking troubled, Liang Dong still said: "No can do, the kitchen is off-limits to non-operating personnel, including the boss."

Gao Yang knew how to deal with Liang Dong, just like he knew how to handle Li Jinfang. So Gao Yang waved his hand and said: "I’m just inspecting the work here, carry on with your task."

Liang Dong stood up straight and loudly said: "Welcome... boss inspecting work! But could you please put on a mask and hair cover?"

You should respect subordinates who value rules, so Gao Yang went out, put on a mask and hair cover, and then returned to the kitchen.

Liang Dong was washing a sink full of chicken wings and breast meat. When Gao Yang returned, Liang Dong, while washing, said: "These are frozen, need to be cleaned and soaked in water to thaw before cooking; otherwise, they’ll taste bad."

Usually, Gao Yang dislikes visiting kitchens because once he’s seen them, he loses his appetite. However, Liang Dong’s kitchen was extremely clean, very invitingly clean, leaving no detest for eating due to a filthy kitchen.

Gao Yang looked at the pile of washed vegetables in a big basin and smiled: "Are you doing all this by yourself?"

Liang Dong nodded and said: "Yeah, me alone. Originally the chairman’s assistant mentioned getting me an assistant, but I thought earning one hundred thousand US dollars a year, I’d better work a bit more, especially since it’s just one lunch; one person can manage."

Gao Yang nodded. Then he looked around the kitchen and asked: "What’s the main dish?"

"Rice."

"Oh, rice, no flour?"

"None, finished yesterday; supplies coming this afternoon, all planned quantities, knowing exactly when everything will run out."

Gao Yang nodded and said: "Ah, okay then, those dishes are fine, but I’d like to have some steamed buns, whip them up for me at lunch time, alright?"