188: Untitled

"From today on, we're the best of friends!"

"Ahem, Xinyang, your sales volume last quarter was just a little short of the target, but it's fine, Brother Li will make up for you. Consider it my thanks for bringing me here today."

"Xinyang, thank you for taking me out to eat! Are you free tomorrow? I'd like to invite you to see a movie?"

After Ding Xinyang said goodbye to his friends and colleagues one by one, not long after, his phone received a flurry of messages, making him beam with delight, almost laughing his teeth out.

"What are you looking at? Why are you laughing so happily?"

Lu Chuan had just finished washing the dishes and came out to see Ding Xinyang holding his phone and laughing non-stop, so he couldn't help but ask.

Who knew that when Ding Xinyang saw him, he immediately put down his phone and executed a perfect sprint and knee slide, appearing in front of Lu Chuan in the next moment.

Lu Chuan looked at Ding Xinyang, who was hugging his calf with a face full of reverence and gratitude, and black lines streamed down his forehead.

"What are you doing? Get up quickly!"

Ding Xinyang said excitedly:

"You're my real brother! I won't even mention how my friends and colleagues thanked me after eating, even the girl I've been pursuing for so long actively asked me to go to the movies!"

Lu Chuan's face showed understanding, but he still pulled Ding Xinyang to his feet, then walked to the side, wiping the dining table as he chuckled:

"My shop is right here, anyone can come to eat, so they're not thanking me, but you, who brought them here. So, no need to thank me."

Ding Xinyang was stunned for a moment, then rubbed the back of his head and laughed as well.

He looked at the mess on the floor after dinner in the shop, and his eyes immediately lit up. He quickly walked behind the door, grabbed a broom and dustpan, and started helping to clean up.

Lu Chuan saw this and did not stop him.

It wasn't mealtime, so this was mutual help between friends.

The shop wasn't big, and it was cleaned up in just a few minutes.

Ding Xinyang saw that it was getting late, and he still had training tomorrow, so he bid farewell and left.

"See you tomorrow night~"

"Mm, see you tomorrow, get some good rest."

After Ding Xinyang left, the shop returned to its quiet state.

Lu Chuan brewed a cup of tea for himself, then gently tapped the tabletop.

Only when a nearly inaudible tapping sound came from upstairs did a smile appear on his face.

The night flowed like water, silently.

After a busy period, the ensuing free time often makes people feel more melancholy.

But Lu Chuan had no melancholy, only a restless feeling hidden beneath his calm exterior.

A formidable enemy lurked nearby; every moment without business was a torment to his will.

Whether the opponent would make a move, and when, were unknown.

He had to be constantly on guard, not relaxing for a second.

Taking a sip of tea, feeling the polyphenols massage his tense mind, Lu Chuan slowly closed his eyes, carefully sensing everything around him.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of a motorcycle braking sharply rang out at the entrance, followed by the voices of several young people.

"Brother Zhen, is this the place you were talking about? Why does it look like it could collapse at any moment!"

"Hey, the boss really looks young, and he's a handsome guy, with smooth, tender skin. The little sisters in the circle would definitely love this type."

"Aunties would definitely love him too, okay? Oh no, I have to ask him if he has a partner, so I can introduce him to my aunt! Hehe, if it works out, the red packet will be enough for me to buy a new motorcycle!"

"Ahem, to be honest, I'm also single. Can you introduce your aunt to me?"

"Get lost, get lost!"

Listening to the inappropriate chatter outside the door, Lu Chuan helplessly opened his eyes, then stood up and walked towards them.

The young people outside also walked in. The one leading them was the hip-hop guy he had met at the buffet earlier in the day.

The hip-hop guy, A Zhen, enthusiastically pointed to his companions behind him and smiled at Lu Chuan:

"Boss, these are all rappers I know, uh, hip-hop singers. After I told them about you, they all clamored to come and try the delicious food you make, hahaha."

A smile appeared on Lu Chuan's face, and he nodded at the group.

"Welcome, welcome. Our shop just opened not long ago. Thank you for coming to support us."

A Zhen waved his hand and chuckled:

"With such good skills, your shop would be a hit wherever you open it. Alright, let's order first!"

Lu Chuan handed them paper and a pen, gesturing for them to write down the dishes they wanted to eat.

"As long as the shop has the ingredients, I can make it."

A Zhen had already heard Ding Xinyang say it once during the day, and at that time, he was so impressed by the deliciousness of the teppanyaki that he didn't think much of it. But hearing it again now, he was somewhat pleasantly surprised and was about to write down the dish names.

However, a young man next to him asked with some doubt:

"Boss, Brother Zhen said your teppanyaki is exceptional, but from what you're saying now, does that mean your skill in making other dishes is also not inferior to teppanyaki?"

Lu Chuan didn't speak, but simply nodded.

The others, seeing Lu Chuan's confidence, immediately became interested and decided to order a few more difficult dishes to see if Lu Chuan was really boasting.

A Zhen, seeing their actions, felt a little annoyed.

It was both his dissatisfaction with them not trusting him, and his embarrassment that they were testing the boss's skill in front of him.

"Ahem, stop messing around, hurry up and order."

With A Zhen's interruption, the young people also stopped fooling around and were about to order properly.

Lu Chuan, however, smiled and said:

"It's fine, go ahead and order. If you think the dishes aren't delicious, I'll waive the bill for you."

Hearing this, A Zhen's expression was somewhat surprised, and the young people also exchanged glances.

The atmosphere became somewhat stagnant.

After a few seconds, the young people looked at each other and said hesitantly:

"Then we'll... order, okay?"

Lu Chuan smiled and nodded.

"Order."

Just as the young people were about to speak, A Zhen quickly spoke to Lu Chuan first:

"Boss, please don't mind them. They're young and very playful, they're not intentionally targeting you."

Then, he turned to the others, frowning, and said:

"The boss is running a business, so don't be too excessive. You can order, but don't order dishes with overly complicated procedures. Firstly, the shop's operating hours are limited, and the boss can't possibly serve only us. Secondly, I don't want to wait too long with an empty stomach, understand?"

"Understood, understood."

The group laughed awkwardly, then each wrote down a few dish names on the paper.

They actually didn't have any malicious intent; they just thought it was fun. So, only one of the dishes they ordered was quite difficult, while the others were of average difficulty.

Lu Chuan took the paper, glanced at it, said he'd be a moment, and then walked into the kitchen.