An hour later, he poured the soaked rice into the rice cooker. This rice cooker takes one hour to cook, so Lu Lin could eat right when he returned.
Yan Heqing had already made the pork meatballs, prepared the vegetables, and peeled the pineapple.
This variety of pineapple doesn't need to be soaked in salt water, but Yan Heqing prefers a slightly salty taste, so he soaked it in lightly salted water anyway.
With everything prepared, Yan Heqing went to the restaurant and opened his notebook to organize the experimental data.
He was so focused on his studies that the only sound in the house was the aroma of bone broth, and there was no other noise, so Yan Heqing lost track of time.
By the time he finished organizing the data, he glanced at the bottom right corner of his notebook and realized it was almost 7:30.
Yan Heqing closed his laptop and picked up his phone.
At 6:55, Lu Lin sent a WeChat.
"I'll be back late if something comes up. Eat first if you're hungry, don't wait for me."
Yan Heqing's eyes flickered.
Lu Lin's incident must have been an unexpected event, something that happened to him after he got off work.
6:55.
Yan Heqing replied "okay," then opened his laptop again, intending to use the time to earn some extra money.
After paying back Lu Lin's money for three installments, and earning a few extra bucks, he would pay Lu Lin back the remaining amount in one lump sum.
Buzz.
Lu Lin's phone beeped slightly. He didn't take it out, his dark eyes deep. "Speak, what is it?"
Twenty minutes ago, Lu Lin had just left Lu Group when Lin Fengzhi rushed up to him.
"My brother has a secret," Lin Fengzhi lowered his voice, "Can we find a quiet, secluded place to talk?"
Lu Lin didn't care about Yan Heqing's secret.
Lin Fengzhi a hint of madness. After a couple of seconds of contemplation, he took Lin Fengzhi to a coffee shop.
Lin Fengzhi treated this as their first date and happily ordered a cappuccino.
He sipped his coffee, finding it sweeter than honey.
Lu Lin spoke first, and only then did he raise his eyes, his gaze intense as he asked Lu Lin a question, "When did you and my brother start dating?"
Lu Lin did not answer. "I don't have much time left, just ten minutes."
Lin Fengzhi. "Are you in a hurry to see my brother?"
Lu Lin glanced at his watch. "Nine minutes."
"Stop calculating..." Lin Fengzhi bit her lip in grievance, "Would you be this impatient with my brother too?"
Lu Lin still didn't respond to him. Lin Fengzhi even started to hallucinate. The second hand was ticking in his ear. He looked at Lu Lin and finally got to the point.
"I like you!"
Lin Fengzhi instantly, her face turning bright red. " Uncle Lu, I like you so much! I've liked you for a long time, I promise! I liked you even before you started dating my brother."
Lu Lin got up and left, saying, "Don't bother me with this kind of trivial matter again."
His last sentence was particularly emphasized. "Mind your place."
Lin Fengzhi's temples throbbed with pain.
He stared at Lu Lin's back, and when he caught up, he tried to grab Lu Lin's arm, but Lu Lin dodged him.
Lu Lin frowned.
His upbringing meant he rarely showed his likes or dislikes in public; this was the expression he detested most.
Lin Fengzhi was deeply hurt by Lu Lin's disgust, and his heart felt as if it had fallen into an abyss. He didn't want this!
He didn't want to expose it because Yan Heqing was his older brother, but now he has no choice!
He cried out, "I'm the only one who truly loves you!" Tears welled up in his eyes, "You've been deceived! Yan Heqing doesn't love you at all!"
The shouting stopped.
Lu Lin said calmly, "It's enough that I love him."
Chapter 97
Lin Fengzhi's pupils shattered instantly.
He couldn't believe those words came from Lu Lin's mouth.
The aloof and noble Lu Lin... actually uttered such humble and degrading words.
impossible!
Lin Fengzhi didn't believe it. He tried to deceive himself by reaching for his phone, but in his haste, it slipped from his grasp. He nervously crouched down to pick it up, tears streaming down his face as they fell to the ground. "Don't you believe me? I'm not lying to you. I have video footage. Yan Heqing went yesterday..."
By the time he grabbed his phone and eagerly opened the video to take a screenshot, he looked up and saw that Lu Lin was already gone. His assistant pushed open the glass door, and Lu Lin walked out. The doorway was brightly lit, and it was at this moment that Lin Fengzhi caught a glimpse of the bracelet on Lu Lin's wrist.
Red bean bracelet.
Lin Fengzhi had seen it before; in the city where he traveled after graduating from high school, red bean bracelets were everywhere, and his friends teased him to buy one to give to his sweetheart.
He refused outright at the time; how could Lu Lin possibly be willing to wear a red bean bracelet?
Lin Fengzhi's gaze gradually faded, until finally only emptiness remained.
The whole world turned black and white. My phone fell to the ground and didn't react. I slowly got up and walked out of the coffee shop.
The city center was just as lively at night, with a constant flow of traffic. Lin Fengzhi walked forward like a walking corpse, lost and dejected.
Suddenly, a blinding white light flashed, and Lin Fengzhi was forcefully pulled back. Several screeching brakes followed, and someone rolled down the window, yelling, "Go somewhere else if you're looking to die! Don't come out here and harm people!"
Lin Fengzhi finally regained his senses and realized that he had just run into traffic. His heart was pounding with relief. He turned his head, pale-faced, to look at the person who had saved him. He was still clinging to a last glimmer of hope that Lu Lin, worried about him, had come back to find him.
As soon as he turned his head, a slap landed heavily on his face.
Through his blurry vision, he saw Mother Lin crying for the second time, " Zhizhi, are you crazy! Lu Lin is your brother's man!"
Lin Fengzhi's mind went completely blank with a bang.
Mom found out...
--
As the elevator doors opened, Lu Lin first smelled the rich aroma of bone broth. After changing his shoes and entering the room, he saw Yan Heqing typing on a keyboard. Meatballs and vegetables for hot pot were already laid out on the dining table, and the bone broth was bubbling away.
Yan Heqing knew Lu Lin was back, but with work almost finished, he stared at the screen, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Without turning around, he said, "Are you hungry? I have five more minutes..."
Before he could finish speaking, a weight settled on his shoulder. Lu Lin rested his chin on his left shoulder, placed the blueberries on the table, and wrapped his arms around him, chair and all, his warm breath brushing against his ear. "I'm not hungry. We'll wait until you're done."