It was at this moment that Yang Zhen saw Yan Heqing's hands, which were completely different from his delicate face. These hands were clearly worn down by life, not only having been touched by the sun, but even soaked in the sun for a long time.
As it turned out, Yang Zhen was right; soon, a lifelike rose took shape in Yan Heqing's palm.
"You're very modest," Yang Zhen commented. "This isn't just simple carving; you must have worked in the kitchen for at least five years."
Yan Heqing thought back for a moment, and realized that he had indeed worked at the small restaurant for more than five years, from elementary school to junior high. He smiled and said, "You have a good eye."
Yang Zhen was quite disappointed because she had guessed correctly. Yan Heqing looked like he had just come of age, not much older than her daughter, but he had the hands of a forty-year-old.
She gently shook her head. "We're not hiring temporary workers right now, but there's a wedding banquet this Saturday and we're short-staffed. You can come and help out if you'd like; you'll be paid daily."
Yan Heqing smiled, "Thank you, I'm willing."
After the job interview, Yan Heqing took the subway back to work at the coffee shop. Weekday mornings are usually very busy.
In particular, Yan Heqing can create different beautiful patterns according to the customer's needs. Customers always ask him to make coffee, so Yan Heqing is always busy.
Zhang Qing was alright; he could handle the cashier duties. The other male waiter basically had nothing to do, so he was happy to slack off, occasionally wiping the table with a towel while he did nothing.
Just then, the shop's landline rang. The male waiter hesitated for a while, and seeing that Yan Heqing and Zhang Qing were both busy and had no time to answer the phone, he finally went over to answer it.
"Hello, Light and Shadow Coffee." The male waiter lazily picked up the notebook for taking out orders.
"Hello, a cup of black coffee and a small cream square, delivered to the 81st floor of Lu Group during your lunch break."
The woman's voice was sweet and pleasant on the other end of the line, just like listening to a song. The male waiter's attitude immediately improved, "No problem, it'll be delivered to you shortly!"
The woman then said, "Please have Yan Heqing deliver it."
Male waiter, "..."
The male waiter, harboring resentment, reluctantly took over Yan Heqing's job.
Yan Heqing ignored it, made a cup of black coffee, packed a small cream square, and took it to Lu Group's to deliver the takeout.
Black coffee with cream squares, plus the top floor of the Lu Group — Yan Heqing knew it was Lu Lin.
The receptionist answered the phone in advance and politely smiled as she led Yan Heqing to Lu Lin's private elevator.
This elevator is located on the other side of the lobby. Unlike the crowded staff elevator during lunch break, it doesn't require a card and no one else uses it. It only takes two minutes to reach the top floor.
The receptionist pressed the button to open the elevator, and only after Yan Heqing went inside did she reveal a gossipy expression.
The secretariat specifically arranged for the takeout delivery to take President Lu's private elevator, which was unprecedented.
President Lu likes this coffee cake?
Is it really that delicious?
The receptionist decided to order coffee and cake for lunch later.
They went straight to the top floor quickly. As Yan Heqing stepped out of the elevator, he passed the secretariat and was about to go over when the secretary smiled and said, "Please come forward and I'll take you to your office."
Yan Heqing nodded and walked a little further inside to the general manager's office.
He gently knocked on the door, " Mr. Lu."
Lu Lin put down the report. "Come in."
Yan Heqing pushed open the door, carried the things to the desk, gently placed them down, and said, "Your coffee and cake, please enjoy."
He didn't use the formal "you" this time.
As she turned to leave, Lu Lin called out to her, "Have you eaten?"
Yan Heqing turned around, a hint of doubt in his eyes, "Not yet."
Lu Lin nodded to his left, "It's only fair to return the favor; I'll treat you to dinner today."
Yan Heqing looked in the direction indicated and saw several sofas, a coffee table, and several boxes of food on the coffee table.
Yan Heqing couldn't figure out Lu Lin's intentions. Did he invite him to lunch on purpose?
He turned back again, "I'm eating alone?"
Lu Lin picked up the report and continued reading. "Hmm, I've already eaten."
Yan Heqing paused for a moment, then walked to the sofa and sat down.
There were five dishes in total: lotus root and pork rib soup, lettuce with oyster sauce, stir-fried corn and green beans with cashews, pineapple and black pepper beef cubes, and shredded pork with sweet bean sauce.
There was also a box of fruit.
Everything is untouched.
Yan Heqing glanced at Lu Lin out of the corner of his eye; the man was intently flipping through reports.
The office was quiet. Yan Heqing looked away, sat down, and picked up his rice.
It was different from the rice he usually ate.
It has a rich, natural rice aroma, each grain is plump, and it even has a slightly sweet taste when you chew it.
The lotus root was also stewed until it was very soft and tender, leaving a lingering fragrance in your mouth. The spare ribs were top-quality, cut evenly and precisely, falling off the bone in your mouth, and the meat melted in your mouth.
The other dishes were also light and sweet, and nutritionally balanced.
The amount of rice was just right, not too much, not too little; one box was just enough for two bowls.
While Yan Heqing was focused on eating, Lu Lin kept glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.
The boy ate quietly and quickly, and wasn't picky about food; he ate whatever he could get his hands on.
Every person has preferences and foods they don't like to eat. If they don't, then they don't have the means to be picky about food.
"I don't know your tastes," Lu Lin said. "If there's anything you don't like, don't force yourself."
Yan Heqing paused slightly as he chewed; this was the first time someone had told him that he could be a picky eater.
After a moment, he pushed away the shredded pork with sweet bean sauce, saying, "The shredded pork is too sweet; I don't like it."
Lu Lin turned the page. "Then we won't eat it."
Yan Heqing indeed didn't pick up any more shredded pork with sweet bean sauce; there were only occasional sounds of bowls and chopsticks rubbing together in the office.
In the past twenty minutes, Yan Heqing finished off a box of rice and four boxes of vegetables, except for the shredded pork with sweet bean sauce.
He packed up the lunchbox and repackaged the shredded pork with sweet bean sauce. " Mr. Lu, may I take the rest of the shredded pork with me? There are a lot of stray cats where I live."
Lu Lin's gaze swept over the untouched fruit. "There's still fruit."
"They don't seem to eat fruit."
Lu Lin turned another page, his head slightly lowered, so the emotion in his eyes could not be seen. "Eat the fruit yourself."
Yan Heqing left with a box of fruit and a box of shredded pork with sweet bean sauce.