The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

Chen Mengyao and Ouyang Han slowly walked out of the third-floor online shop selling handicrafts, which was filled with a unique artistic atmosphere. The exquisite handmade products in the shop seemed to be telling them stories of creativity and craftsmanship. They descended the smooth staircase and soon arrived at the first-floor medicinal cuisine and health center, which was filled with the fragrance of herbs and a warm atmosphere.

Upon entering the medicinal cuisine restaurant, the rich and mellow aroma of herbs immediately enveloped them, instantly relaxing their minds and bodies. Their gazes quickly settled on Qian Haochen, who was busy at work, and they approached him, calling him to a relatively quiet corner. Chen Mengyao frowned slightly, her eyes revealing concern and seriousness, and softly asked, "Manager Qian, how are the preparations for the upcoming medicinal cuisine pastry and beverage competition on the 18th going? Could you tell us in detail?"

Qian Haochen quickly straightened up and began to report with a focused and serious expression: "The number of people who have signed up has reached 150. Everyone is very enthusiastic about this competition."

Regarding the judges, we initially invited three distinguished guests. The first is Professor Lin Wenyuan, a renowned expert in traditional Chinese medicine diet therapy. He has profound knowledge in the theory and clinical application of medicinal cuisine, and his professional knowledge and rich experience will undoubtedly add authority to the competition. The second is Ms. Zhou Wanyi, a well-known domestic pastry master. She not only excels in the innovation of traditional pastries but also pays special attention to the health benefits of ingredients. We believe that under her guidance, the entries will find a perfect balance between taste and health. The third is Mr. Zhao Qiming, a national-level nutritionist, who has a precise grasp of nutritional combinations.

In addition, we invited several internationally acclaimed chefs specializing in medicinal cuisine, as well as several food critics who have long studied medicinal cuisine culture. We also made considerable efforts in promotion and publicity, contacting *Food & Lifestyle* magazine, which agreed to send a senior editor to provide full coverage; the health channel will also send a reporter to film a special feature; furthermore, I connected with three mainstream online live streaming platforms, which will broadcast the entire competition live, allowing more people to pay attention to this grand event.

At this point, Qian Haochen paused, then continued, "There's one more thing. President Ouyang asked me to contact the manager of Renxin Baicaotang, and I've already made arrangements. Zhang Huating will send a Western medicine doctor with a first-aid kit that day. I'll also bring one of the store's traditional Chinese medicine doctors to the site, just in case any contestants use the wrong incompatible herbs. This will ensure that any unexpected situations that arise during the competition can be dealt with promptly."

As Chen Mengyao listened, she nodded gently, a satisfied expression gradually appearing on her face. She turned to look at Ouyang Han, and the two exchanged a smile, clearly pleased with the current preparations. Afterward, they bid farewell to Qian Haochen and left the medicinal cuisine restaurant.

Since they hadn't driven here, they had no choice but to take a taxi back. Sitting in the car, Chen Mengyao suddenly remembered the prize money she was preparing for the handicraft competition winners. Since they were already out, she figured she might as well go to the bank to withdraw the money before heading back. So, she leaned out and said to the driver, "Sir, could you please take us to the nearby Post Office Bank?" The driver readily agreed.

Soon, the taxi stopped in front of the Postal Savings Bank. After Ouyang Han paid the fare, the two got out and walked into the bank lobby. The bank was elegantly decorated, and the staff greeted each customer with smiles. When they reached the counter, a sharp-eyed staff member recognized Chen Mengyao as a VIP customer and immediately and warmly guided them to the VIP room.

After entering the VIP room, Chen Mengyao calmly took out a bank card from her backpack and handed it to the manager, saying, "Hello, I need to withdraw 1 million yuan in cash. Of that, 500,000 yuan will be in 100-yuan bills, and the remaining 500,000 yuan will be in 20-yuan, 10-yuan, 5-yuan and 1-yuan coins."

Upon hearing the amount, the manager was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained his professional smile and said, "Okay, Ms. Chen. However, we may not be able to meet your request for such a large amount at the moment. I need to transfer some from other branches. Please wait a moment." After saying that, he hurriedly instructed the staff to pour them steaming hot tea and bring them a plate of fresh fruit, politely saying, "It will probably take about half an hour to process. Please have some tea and fruit and rest for a while."

Chen Mengyao smiled and nodded: "It's okay, we can wait." So, she and Ouyang Han sat leisurely on the comfortable sofa and began to chat about the handicraft competition and the medicinal cuisine competition.

Ouyang Han asked curiously, "Mengyao, why did you divide the change into such small amounts? Wouldn't it be more convenient to just take out 100-yuan bills?" Chen Mengyao took a sip of tea and explained, "The winners of this handicraft competition come from different backgrounds and levels. Some may be students or just starting out as entrepreneurs, and they might need different denominations of money to cover various expenses. Also, preparing some small change shows that we are more thoughtful and considerate. And the remaining change can be used at the gym, the security company, and the martial arts school." Ouyang Han nodded approvingly, "You've thought of everything."

Time passed slowly in a relaxed atmosphere. About half an hour later, the manager hurried back to the VIP room, followed by several staff members carrying several boxes full of cash. The manager said apologetically, "Ms. Chen, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. We have prepared the cash as you requested. Please check it." Chen Mengyao got up and went over, carefully checking the amount and denominations of the cash. After confirming that everything was correct, she smiled and said to the manager, "Thank you for your hard work. Everything is fine."

The manager's slightly tense shoulders slowly relaxed, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He let out a long sigh, and a relieved smile immediately spread across his face. Looking sincerely and humbly at the customer before him, he said gently, "It's truly our honor to serve you! Rest assured, if you need any further assistance, whether it's business advice or any difficulties you encounter, please feel free to let us know. We will do our utmost to ensure your satisfaction."

Chen Mengyao thanked them profusely, her voice clear and melodious: "Thank you so much! Everything went so smoothly thanks to your professional assistance." Ouyang Han nodded slightly in agreement. Then, the two of them worked together seamlessly to lift the boxes full of cash. They politely said goodbye to the manager and other staff members, their eyes filled with sincerity and respect, before walking calmly out of the bank.

Once they reached a secluded corner where no one was around, Chen Mengyao, with Ouyang Han's skillful and natural concealment, carefully placed the heavy boxes she was carrying into her personal storage space. Keep in mind, those boxes contained a full million yuan in cash!

In this complex and ever-changing social environment, if one is not careful and is targeted and robbed, the loss would be too great and irreparable. After all, this money is of great significance. Part of it is to be distributed as prize money to the winners of the handicraft competition to encourage artisans who have dreams and work hard to create; the other part is the necessary funds for the daily operation of several shops that are about to open, which is related to the livelihoods of many employees and the future development prospects of the shops.

It was midday, and the warm sunlight poured down on them without reservation, as if coating them with a dazzling golden light, casting long shadows on the ground. In the soft light, the two walked and talked quietly, their conversation gradually turning to the children at the orphanage.

They thought that since they still had plenty of time, they might as well visit the orphanage to see the lovely children and find out if anyone had adopted any children from the orphanage since that wonderful performance, or if any professional teachers from art academies had come to select talented children and take them to school for more systematic and professional learning and training.

So, Chen Mengyao looked around again and found a quiet alleyway where there were no pedestrians or surveillance cameras. Under Ouyang Han's skillful and cautious cover, she took out an ordinary-looking but high-performance car from her spatial storage. Then, she naturally got into the passenger seat, let Ouyang Han drive, and sped off towards the Rainbow Bridge Welfare Home.