Sure enough, the gossiping employees were struck dumb at her words. They glanced at each other, not daring to speak.
One of them even gave Luo Huimei a little bow. “Sorry, Madam. We were just curious and we didn’t mean any harm. After your explanation, we won’t say a word about it anymore.”
Luo Huimei glanced at her. This girl was one of the newer employees, and she was good at her job. Hence, Luo Huimei waved her hand and said, “Forget it. I didn’t mean to be fierce at you, but this was about my daughter’s good name and your speculations were disrespectful to someone’s late wife so I had to set the record straight. It’s good that you know now.”
“Okay, Madam, we won’t do it again.”
The rest nodded.
Thus, Luo Huimei averted a misunderstanding.
Upstairs in the lounge, Yan set down the noodles before Lin Xuzheng. He looked up at her and smiled. “Thank you.”
Yan returned his smile and said, “Well then, I won’t not bother you now, Mr. Lin.”
This was his first time being in here ever since she opened up for business. He seemed to be in deep thought. Maybe he had a lot of memories with his wife here, making him reluctant yet compelled to come.
Of course, this was just Yan’s guess. Whatever it was, Lin Xuzheng probably didn’t want to be around anyone apart from his late wife. She had wanted to tend to him a little more, but thought it was probably best to leave him alone.
Ten minutes later…
The supply truck arrived. The staff came to help, but Yan was quick and managed to move most of the boxes herself.
Suddenly, Yan noticed someone among the staff that was bustling about. It was Lin Xuzheng who had just come down from the first floor. “Mr. Lin, what are you doing here?” she quickly went up to him and asked.
Lin Xuzheng was a strong man. While Yan was only able to carry a box each trip and had to go back and forth numerous times, he effortlessly carried several boxes at once.
Yan heaved up a box and caught up to him.
“Mr. Lin, you are my guest and also my boss! Please leave these be. I can do it myself.”
Mr. Lin replied nonchalantly, “It’s alright. I just happened to see you moving these supplies so I thought I’d help, so don’t worry about it. Also, when did I become your boss? The shop is yours while I only collect rent. Simple as that.”
“Well, but these things…”
Yan wanted to say more, but Lin Xuzheng was adamant, so she fell silent. She could only hasten her footsteps and call for the other staff to join them so that they could all finish the job quickly before Lin Xuzheng had to carry too many boxes.
Five minutes later, all the supplies had been moved. Luo Huimei poured Lin Xuzheng a cup of genmaicha, then smiled and said, “Thank you, Mr. Lin; you’ve worked hard. Here, have a cup of tea.”
Lin Xuzheng took a sip of tea and replied, “Thank you, Madam. By the way, why don’t you find a guy to help you in the restaurant? You have to carry these heavy things all the time?”
Before Yan could reply, Luo Huimei said, “Yan’s father would usually do the heavy lifting, but today he has gone out.”
“Oh, I see.”
Lin Xuzheng glanced at Yan.
Although this girl looks young and petite with barely any muscle, she works hard. When she knew he couldn’t be dissuaded from helping out with the supplies, she actually rushed so she could take on most of the work herself. She seems full of vigor and energy. No wonder that boring guy Han Qing is attracted.
However, recently, he felt puzzled. He thought his friend would at least make a move, but a few months had passed and he had not even once visited the noodle restaurant. Lin Xuzheng asked about his schedule, and was told he had been working overtime at the company every day.
He’s finally found an attractive target but he is taking such a long time. He is such an old maid.
He would be happy to help out his friend if he could, but his friend was such a passive fool that he didn’t even have a chance to make a match. What a headache.
“Miss Zhou, perhaps it’s about time you find a long-term worker who’d work for free,” Lin Xuzheng said this with an unreadable expression on his face as his fingertips tapped lightly on the table.
Yan was stunned for a moment before realizing with a start. A long-term worker who would work for free? Did he mean a husband?
She gaped. “Mr. Lin, for now I haven’t…”
Unexpectedly, it dawned on Luo Huimei too. She rushed forward and asked, “Mr. Lin, do you mean to be a matchmaker for my daughter?”
A matchmaker?
Lin Xuzheng never thought he’d ever be a matchmaker, but if it was a favor for his good friend, he thought it was worth a shot.
“Now you’ve said it, I do have a friend that I can introduce to Miss Zhou. Although, he is quite a bit older.”
“A bit older?” Luo Huimei had a fleeting impression of a shaggy-bearded, sloppily dressed, cranky old guy. Otherwise, why would he still be unmarried at his age? It was either that he was too rich, had too high standards, or he himself was problematic.
However, Luo Huimei quickly considered. Lin Xuzheng himself is quite a bit older too, but he is an image of strength and class, much better than many other younger men. People in his circle surely wouldn’t be too shabby? Ah, maybe I’m overthinking things.
“He’s a little older, and quite eccentric. He has never dated anyone before.”
“What? Never dated anyone before?” Luo Huimei was alarmed. How is it possible for a person of his age to not have dated anyone at all? Is he secretly sick or something?
“Yep,” said Lin Xuzheng with a smile and a nod. “When the rest of us have all started families, only he remains single and unchanged all these years.”
Yan stood on the side, a strange look on her face.
Old, eccentric, never dated. Strange, why does Lin Xuzheng’s description make me think of someone in particular? No, it can’t be him. Lin Xuzheng wouldn’t know Han Qing.
Recently, as the days went by, Yan thought of Han Qing less and less. She became very busy with the restaurant every day, and after work she was either constantly researching new recipes or sourcing for supplies. Sometimes, she was dead on her feet by the time she had showered, and slept like a log.
Only when she dreamed at night did Han Qing appear.
And when she awoke, her pillow tear-stained, Yan would realize that she was still in love with Han Qing.
But during the day, she convinced herself that she was over him.
So, it surprised her now, that at a few words from Lin Xuzheng, she should think of him.
“Does he even intend to marry at all, what with him being single for so long? My daughter Yan wouldn’t have a chance, would she?”
