Lin Wan stood there wearing a classic black-and-white maid outfit, the hem of her skirt and the white apron stained with faint marks that looked suspiciously like coffee—clearly, she had rushed over halfway through her shift.
She clutched a tray used for taking orders tightly in her hands, her eyes wide as saucers, fixed intently on Lu Yuan and Qing, the corners of her mouth twitching uncontrollably.
“Lin Wan?” Lu Yuan exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing here? And in that outfit?”
Lin Wan didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze darted back and forth between Lu Yuan and Qing, finally settling on Lu Yuan’s face.
She noticed the delicate steamed fish on the plate in front of Qing, and the unmistakable piece of grilled ribs and fish on Lu Yuan’s plate that she clearly hadn’t ordered.
A sudden rush of panic, like someone stealing her home, swept over Lin Wan.
“This question should be for me, Lu Yuan! Why are you having a meal here with Qing?! And why does it feel so… strange?!”
She actually wanted to say “ambiguous,” but she refused to admit that Lu Yuan was dining with anyone besides herself.
If she admitted that, wouldn’t she be confessing to being a blue-haired loser?!
***
Lu Yuan was caught off guard by the question and instinctively explained, “Oh, it was Liu Zhe who invited me. He said I owed him a meal, but then he left halfway through, saying he had an urgent matter. So it was just me and Qing left.”
“Liu Zhe?!” Lin Wan frowned in confusion. “The Talent Scout? Why would he leave Qing alone with you?! This is obviously…!”
She stopped herself from saying “creating a world for two,” but her expression said it all.
Today, she had deliberately chosen to work at this restaurant—reputed to have excellent food but a bit pricey—because the hourly wage was high. She wanted to save up quickly to buy a gift for Lu Yuan!
And now, here she was, carrying plates, pouring water, and flashing smiles, while Lu Yuan and Qing were enjoying a cozy lunch together?
Wow! That was brutal!
***
Qing quietly observed the suddenly appearing Lin Wan, then glanced at Lu Yuan, whose expression was a bit awkward, seemingly not understanding why Lin Wan was so emotionally charged.
She tilted her head slightly, eyes filled with a hint of confusion.
Lu Yuan looked at Lin Wan in her clear restaurant maid uniform and the faint beads of sweat on her temple and suddenly understood something.
“You’re working here? Or…”
“Absolutely not!” Lin Wan immediately denied it, her face flushing slightly as she hid the tray behind her back. “I—I’m just experiencing life! Yeah, experiencing life.”
“Experiencing life…?”
The waiter, watching this strange three-way standoff—especially the girl in the maid outfit claiming she wanted to pay for the guests—carefully spoke up again.
“Um… ladies, may I ask who will be settling the bill?”
“I will!”
“I’ll pay!”
Me.
The voices almost overlapped.
***
Lu Yuan felt she had already said she’d treat everyone; Lin Wan was holding back a ‘main wife’ (self-proclaimed) determination not to lose; and Qing quietly raised her phone, the screen displaying a QR code for a payment app, her eyes as calm but resolute as ever.
“…”
Lu Yuan pressed down on Qing’s hand and told the waiter, “I said I’m paying.”
She then turned to Lin Wan, “Stop making a fuss and go experience your life properly.”
Lin Wan glared at Lu Yuan, nearly bursting with anger. “Who’s making a fuss! I… I have an employee discount! I get a discount! Let me pay!”
Lu Yuan was speechless:
You’re ‘experiencing life’ and have an employee discount?
“Because the manager’s nice, okay!”
Qing watched the two arguing, silently raising her phone even higher, nearly pressing the QR code against the waiter’s face.
The waiter, facing two beautiful girls fiercely debating and a third quietly holding up her phone with undeniable presence, felt almost suffocated. She had never seen such a scene before.
In the end, the battle ended with Lu Yuan forcibly handing her card to the waiter.
“Charge it to me! Hurry!”
The waiter felt like she’d been granted a great mercy, quickly took the card, and rushed to the register.
***
Lin Wan scowled at Lu Yuan and glanced over at the quietly seated Qing, feeling like her hardworking efforts to save money had been overshadowed. Hurt and angry, her eyes grew a little red.
Lu Yuan sighed as she looked at her. She reached out and rubbed Lin Wan’s hair gently. “Alright, I know you mean well. Next time—when you get your paycheck—treat me to something better, okay?”
Lin Wan’s face was still puffed up with anger, her voice muffled, “Who, who wants to treat you! Narcissist!”
But her tone had clearly softened quite a bit.
Just then, the waiter returned with the card and receipt.
Lu Yuan put her card away and looked at Lin Wan, who was still sulking, and Qing, who quietly waited, feeling a headache coming on.
“Let’s go, Qing. Time to take you home,” she said, then glanced at Lin Wan, “You… working until what time?”
“None of your business!” Lin Wan turned her head.
Lu Yuan had no choice but to lead Qing away first. As they reached the door, she glanced back to see Lin Wan still standing in place, watching their backs with a complex expression, clutching the tray tightly.
The maid outfit looked especially eye-catching on her, somehow a little pitiful too.
Lu Yuan couldn’t help but smile and shake her head.
***
Liu Zhe’s somewhat outdated business car was already quietly parked by the roadside outside the restaurant.
Lu Yuan took Qing’s hand and walked out, opening the car door and carefully helping the somewhat dazed Qing into the back seat, bending down to fasten her seatbelt.
“Bang.”
After closing the door, Lu Yuan lightly tapped the driver’s window in annoyance.
The window rolled down, revealing Liu Zhe’s face wearing a flattering smile.
“Well, Miss Lu Yuan, you’re personally delivering her? Such hard work!”
“Cut it out,” Lu Yuan rolled her eyes, her tone teasing but laced with a trace of helplessness. “Wasn’t someone supposed to have an emergency and rush off? What happened, the crisis is over?”
Liu Zhe didn’t blush or skip a beat, seriously spinning nonsense. “Hey! You said it! Just a coincidence! I just got here, and then I got the message saying the crisis can’t be risked!”
“Are you doing stand-up? I think you’re just itching to find a crisis,” Lu Yuan laughed at him, “Alright, enough joking. You’ve met her, got the meal, now hurry and take Qing home to rest. Isn’t there a shoot this afternoon? Drive slower on the way.”
“Got it! Don’t worry! I’ll make sure Miss Qing gets home safe and sound!”
Liu Zhe promised repeatedly, about to roll up the window.
***
At that moment, the rear window suddenly slid down slowly.
A pale, delicate hand reached out from inside and grabbed Lu Yuan’s sleeve.
“Hm?” Lu Yuan looked back in confusion, bending down to look at Qing inside the car. “What’s wrong, Qing? Did you forget something?”
Qing shook her head, her small face flushing lightly.
“U… u…”
Lu Yuan’s heart tightened a little, her voice softening further, “Don’t rush, take your time. What do you want to tell me?”
“U… short…”
Qing’s eyes glistened with effortful moisture as she took a deep breath, as if summoning all her strength.
“Ni…”
【I… love… you…】
Lu Yuan froze noticeably. She hadn’t expected to hear that.
Then, a gentle, indescribable warmth flooded her heart, making her eyes slightly moist.
She couldn’t help but smile, her expression so soft and tender as she reached out and gently stroked Qing’s hair. “Silly, at a time like this, you’re supposed to say ‘goodbye.’”
Her voice was as gentle as if comforting a child.
After speaking, Lu Yuan straightened up and patted the driver’s door, signaling to Liu Zhe that it was time to go.