Chapter 15

Tang Yiling looked at Tang GeYun and swallowed on reflex.

As expected of the villain in the book.

That expression, that voice, that gesture—the pressure she gave off was far too strong.

Her mind raced, and she finally came up with the best answer.

“Because you told Mom and Dad I could come back and live here, and I was so happy.”

“Really?”

Tang GeYun stepped back, giving Tang Yiling a little breathing room.

She studied her from head to toe.

“Then when are you moving back?”

Huh?

Tang Yiling froze again. What did Tang GeYun mean by that?

She looked up at her and asked directly, “You want me to move back?”

This time, Tang GeYun was the one caught off guard.

Anger flashed in her eyes, mixed with something else. She glared at Tang Yiling. “You’re the one who wants to come back.”

She probably thought that sounded a little awkward, too.

After saying that, she turned and left.

Tang Yiling stared at Tang GeYun’s back, completely baffled.

She tidied the things on the desk and sent He Wenwei a message.

“Mom, I’m going to work a part-time job.”

“Later, can you and Dad help me put my suitcase in a storage locker at the mall near school?”

Tang Yiling copied Tang GeYun’s coquettish tone: “Mommy, you’re the best.”

“You definitely love me the most.”

Not long after, He Wenwei sent back an OK emoji.

“Right, right, right, I love you the most. Are you seriously competing with a script character for attention?”

Tang Yiling was worried Tang GeYun might see it again. She wanted to laugh, but didn’t dare.

She slung her backpack over her shoulders and walked out of the Tang family home with her head down, looking gloomy.

The part-time job Chang Yuruo had introduced was at the mall near school.

Because it was a weekday and there were few customers, the hourly wage was low, so it was hard to hire people.

Tang Yiling fit perfectly with the mindset of “every extra yuan counts.”

Besides, she had done similar work before, so she counted as experienced.

The restaurant was tucked into a corner on the mall’s top floor.

At this hour, there were only four tables of customers in the shop.

Chang Yuruo was standing near the cashier chatting.

She waved Tang Yiling over and introduced her to the boss.

The boss didn’t have many requirements.

Besides the chef, there were only the three of them in the shop, so things could be kept relaxed.

Tang Yiling changed into the work uniform and was assigned to a different area from Tang GeYun.

Basically, she only had to refill tea and clear the side plates.

Not busy at all.

Tang Yiling took the opportunity to observe the restaurant.

Because she had been working with Li Lan these past few days, she had picked up some knowledge about decorative materials too.

The restaurant’s interior must have cost a fortune.

It was a Cantonese restaurant.

The decor was styled like an old street-side shop, with a strong sense of everyday bustle.

But in fact, the patterned floor tiles were custom-made, and the tables and chairs were mortise-and-tenon redwood.

Even the broken ceramic shards on the walls were smoother and more refined than ordinary ones.

Such a large restaurant, such a huge investment, and so few customers.

Yet the boss didn’t look anxious at all; he sat at the cashier’s counter playing games.

Oh, and the computer at the cashier’s counter had very high specs, too.

This was clearly some rich second generation from who-knew-where, here to experience life.

Tang Yiling seriously doubted how long she’d be able to work here.

Even if the owner could hold out, malls usually had a last-place elimination system for stores, didn’t they?

Two tables of customers in the restaurant paid and left one after another.

The dinner rush was basically over, so they would definitely be able to get off work early today.

Just as she was thinking that, the welcoming mascot by the door made a noise.

Chang Yuruo went out to greet them. “Hello, welcome, wel—come.”

Her voice faltered; it sounded a little off.

Tang Yiling also looked up.

A woman in a linen suit walked in from behind the folding screen.

She held out her hand to guide the person behind her. “President Li, this place looks the quietest. Let’s try it.”

Tang Yiling only caught a glimpse of the hem of a skirt and immediately turned her back to the cabinet.

This sweater dress of Li Lan’s was something she had hung up after drying.

She silently prayed, Sit over there, sit over there.

The two sections were separated by a carved window lattice, so the privacy was still pretty good.

But the boss was probably testing her work ability, because he seated Li Lan and the others in this area anyway.

He waved at Tang Yiling. “You there, Little Tang, come pour tea for the customers.”

Tang Yiling kept her back turned; her movements were painfully slow.

She tried hard to remember whether their agreement had included anything about taking side jobs.

Couldn’t remember, so that meant it didn’t, right?

But running into her sugar mommy while working part-time was awkward, too!

There were so few people in the restaurant that it was hard not to notice.

Tang Yiling looked up and happened to meet Li Lan’s searching gaze.

Li Lan’s eyes landed on the shop logo on the work uniform.

She looked as if she didn’t know Tang Yiling at all, scanning her several times in disbelief.

If that was the case, then Tang Yiling had nothing to hide, either.

She picked up the teapot and generously poured water for Li Lan and the woman opposite her, then handed over the menu as well. “Hello, what would you like to eat?”

The boss cast Tang Yiling an approving look.

He left with peace of mind and handed everything over to her.

Li Lan leaned back in her chair.

Her brows drew together, and she lifted a hand to point at Tang Yiling. “You...”

Tang Yiling was afraid she might say something earth-shattering, so she hurriedly cut her off.

“Senior, you still remember me? What a coincidence!”

After all, Chang Yuruo was still here.

When the two female leads met, she had to be more careful; if they both awakened in a bad way, that would be troublesome.

Tang Yiling pointed toward the other side and quickly came up with the best wording.

“I’m here with my roommate to experience working life.”

Li Lan’s gaze swept over Chang Yuruo, but she said nothing.

From Tang Yiling’s title and expression, it wasn’t hard to tell she was trying to act unfamiliar with her.

Li Lan gave a slight nod and kept up the proper courtesy.

She passed the menu to the woman opposite her. “Take a look and see what you’d like to eat.”

Tang Yiling followed her gaze.

The woman looked a little older than them, but she treated Li Lan with particular respect.

The woman took the menu. “Do you have any recommendations?”

Recommendations?

This was actually Tang Yiling’s first time looking at the menu.

She glanced at Li Lan and flipped to the first page.

“These are the recommended dishes, especially this rose char siu. The other two tables ordered it too.”

The customer gave no response, so she pointed to the garlic lobster and beef clay pot beside it.

“Also a serving of stir-fried morel mushrooms with asparagus and some blanched seasonal vegetables.”

Tang Yiling wrote everything down.

Still a little unsure, she confirmed once more. “Do you still want the rose char siu?”

The woman lifted her head slightly.

She seemed to have some foreign blood; her brow ridge was pronounced, her eye sockets deep, and she was striking in a way that hit hard at first glance.

“No need.”

She withdrew her gaze and looked at Li Lan. “My guest doesn’t like sweets. I’m afraid she won’t like it.”

Tang Yiling’s hand froze. Li Lan didn’t like sweets?

But for the cold dishes she’d made for her on the weekend, she had used a sweet-and-sour flavor, and Li Lan hadn’t said anything about it.

She looked back at the woman.

Li Lan was wiping her hands with a wet tissue, while the woman’s gaze remained fixed on her.

What exactly was the relationship between these two?

Business partners, or former colleagues? Surely not an ex-lover?

At that thought, Tang Yiling’s professional smile stiffened on her face.

That level of familiarity and concern really didn’t seem like an ordinary working relationship.

The woman looked up at her. “Miss, please help us with something else.”

“If we need anything, I’ll call you again.”

Tang Yiling made a quiet “oh.”

Her chest felt a little tight, and she left almost looking back every three steps.

Just after she walked away, the woman called her back again.

“Do you have any white wine recommendations?”

This was outside Tang Yiling’s area of expertise.

She instinctively looked at Li Lan, and Li Lan waved her off. “No alcohol.”

The woman insisted on drinking anyway, so the boss was called over to recommend a few options.

Tang Yiling felt she was in the way, so she retreated to the tea station.

The other side quickly chose a wine.

After the boss left, the woman finally spoke slowly.

The restaurant was quiet.

Even their soft conversation could be heard clearly in fragments.

The woman chatted with Li Lan about how she’d been doing lately.

Li Lan still didn’t say much; with her expressionless face, it was impossible to tell whether she was listening.

The dishes and wine were brought up one after another.

The woman poured two glasses and pushed one to Li Lan.

Her hand did not withdraw; it stayed three to five centimeters from Li Lan’s.

“Our factory’s final payment..."

“I know. Don’t worry.”

Li Lan nodded. “The last installment will be transferred tomorrow.”

The woman shook her head. “That’s not what I mean.”

Li Lan didn’t respond, so she could only continue, “What I mean is, I’ll be leaving here in a few days.”

Li Lan nodded.

Her gaze swept over Tang Yiling, who was listening in with great seriousness, then landed on the woman’s face. “I wish you all the best in the future.”

“That’s not what I mean, either.”

The woman moved her hand a little and lightly rested it on the tip of Li Lan’s finger. “After that, we’ll have far fewer chances to meet.”

Li Lan said nothing more, waiting quietly.

For some reason, Tang Yiling also held her breath.

It seemed the two of them really were business partners.

But beyond that, there was also the possibility of developing into something else.

The woman was here to confess.

Tang Yiling understood; she didn’t believe Li Lan couldn’t.

Then... would Li Lan agree?

If Li Lan agreed, would the contract be terminated?

With the bag He Wenwei had given her today as a cushion, Tang Yiling wouldn’t exactly be unable to survive.

But for some reason, she still felt especially uneasy.

“So, can I call you Ah Lan?”

“I mean, when I go to the next wor—”

Li Lan abruptly pulled her hand back.

With a sharp crack, the wine glass was knocked over and shattered on the floor.

The restaurant instantly fell silent.

Everyone was startled and turned to look at them.

“Oh, it’s fine.”

The boss reacted first. He called Tang Yiling and Chang Yuruo over to clean it up.

Li Lan stood up; wine had splashed onto her skirt, leaving it wet.

Her gaze was icy, with none of the joy one would expect after being confessed to. She raised a hand and pointed at Tang Yiling.

“Junior, I need to use the restroom. Could you show me the way?”