A bowl of noodles heals the pain, two pieces of pork cutlet reveal the truth

Xue Jiuyue answered Ke Yike's question directly, "Oh, I slept here last night."

"Didn't you go home yesterday? Why are you in the store again?"

This time there was no answer. Xue Jiuyue raised her eyebrows and opened her eyes wide, "Curiosity will deduct the bonus!"

"You're busy, I'll go prepare lunch."

Xue Jiuyue's reaction was a relief to Zhou Ying and the others, but it only deepened Ke Yike's doubts. Especially when he thought about it carefully, the suspected vehicle he had just glanced at that morning didn't seem to be very spacious.

"Ying'er?" It was another habitual call.

"uh-huh."

After a long time of wording, Ke Yike finally asked tentatively: "Have you ever liked someone, but someone else also liked him?"

“No.”

"No way, you haven't been in love before, have you?"

"No. What I mean is, I just know that I like him, so why should I care if anyone else likes him?"

"At least we have to find out who our love rival is!"

"Love rival? How can there be such a concept? Does love have to be so humble that no one else likes him for him to like me? Or does it mean that as long as someone likes him, our relationship will be vulnerable? Then is this still love? It's not even charity. Love is not about choosing a commodity, it's not a multiple-choice question. Love is simply the mutual understanding between two people. It has nothing to do with others. Just be yourself!"

Zhou Ying has a sweet voice and a sweet appearance. Although she is soft and boneless, she exudes a fragrance that reaches the sky. She challenges the secular concept, impresses Ke Yike and also points out a way out for him.

"Thank you, Ying'er, you are the best!"

Ke Yike's cheerful voice brought a gentle smile to Zhou Ying's face, which once again turned red...

Although it was Sunday, Qian Jianjun still came to the company to sort out the work he had missed recently and make full preparations for returning to work in full force tomorrow.

"Xiao Gu, why are you here?"

Qian Jianjun's voice was still as charming as ever, but his rising tone and expression still revealed his inner joy.

"A person should never forget his position. If the boss arrives before me, I won't be long before I pack up and leave." It sounds like a joke, but also like self-pity.

"I told you to rest the night before last, why didn't you listen?"

Her honest tone, sincere gaze, and charming memories brought a rosy glow to Gu Quyu's pretty face, and she spoke more casually. "It's the weekend now, and I think it's my freedom to work. Whatever you say is my destiny. Why are you so overbearing? No wonder people call you 'Little Bully' behind your back."

Qian Jianjun still looked at Gu Quyu steadily, his words tactfully and heartwarmingly, "You are the female Gongjin, and I am the little overlord. We are not only the commander-in-chief and the military advisor at work, but also soulmates, friends, and family!"

"No, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu both didn't live past forty. We both want to live to be a hundred!"

Gu Quyu was anxious, shy, and playful, which drew Qian Jianjun's hearty laughter. "Hahahahaha, good, good, we will live a hundred years."

With Gu Quyu's assistance, the work of nearly a month was presented to Qian Jianjun in a clear and organized manner. After a little review, and with Gu Quyu by his side to answer his questions, Qian Jianjun soon had a clear plan.

"Thank you, Xiao Gu, you are really an indispensable helper to me." Qian Jianjun praised sincerely.

"Then give me a reward!"

"Okay, tell me what reward you want."

"Please treat me to lunch!"

"No problem, you decide what to eat!"

"Okay, take me to eat what you think is the most delicious..." Gu Quyu thought for a moment, looked up at Qian Jianjun and said straightforwardly, "Shacha noodles!"

"The best shacha noodles?!" Qian Jianjun already knew the answer, "I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

…

Upon entering the kitchen, Ke Yike felt as if he had stepped onto a familiar stage, standing center stage. Dressed in plain white, with a tall white hat, he appeared taller and his skin fairer. His confident and focused expression made him look exceptionally handsome, even his narrow eyes gleaming with a unique brilliance.

Zhou Ying's words, intentional or not, pointed Ke Yike in the right direction. At this moment, he was completely focused on the inspiration he had just grasped and took action in a hurry...

From a distance, you can tell this is going to be a foodie journey. Starting from the alley entrance, the improvised tables and chairs filled with diners obscured the original mottled surface on both sides of the alley.

After a long trek through dense aromas, dodging and weaving between people and tables and chairs, I finally arrived at the bustling shop entrance. The shop is small and deep in an alley, but it is a holy place for many people to resolve the entanglement between emotion and taste.

The accumulation of time and the longing for the past intertwine to create a thick mist, like homesickness. Ultimately, it all melts into a single flavor, forming a bowl of noodles, a delicacy, a city, a home, a peaceful harbor. Each bite is a satisfying taste bud and a solace to the soul.

Waiting in temptation will make time longer and temptation more deadly. After a lot of effort, a bowl of satay noodles with good color, aroma and taste is finally in hand. What you get is not only delicious food, but also satisfaction and full of memories.

Qian Jianjun and Mei Rugu's love began over a shared bowl of satay noodles. Unlike today's romantic couples, who often have exclusive passenger seats, exclusive food, and so on reserved for just one person, Qian Jianjun had brought colleagues and friends here before. Back then, he believed that so-called exclusivity was superficial; only the best things held in the heart truly mattered. But back then, he never imagined, nor could he imagine, that one day when he returned, Mei Rugu would no longer share her company. That place in his heart would be empty. The pain was so intense that it throbbed through the meridians of his left arm.

Qian Jianjun forced himself to smile, trying to distract himself from the discomfort. "How's it? It's the best shacha noodles in the city, right?"

"It's truly delicious! The most common home-cooked flavor is the most difficult to make, yet also the most classic and timeless! Mr. Qian, you truly are a gourmet!"

"Yes, high-end ingredients and stimulating flavors are relatively easy to obtain, but the plain and authentic flavor is the most difficult! Just like life, we can weather the storms together! On ordinary days, it is easier to get tripped up." Qian Jianjun couldn't help but bring out his bitterness.

Gu Quyu keenly noticed the dimness in Qian Jianjun's eyes and gently counseled, "That's not necessarily the case. It's possible that it wasn't the passage of time that tripped us up, but rather that time revealed or magnified what was initially hidden! Not every bowl of satay noodles is our favorite. Perhaps we're simply loyal to habit or too lazy to try, and end up believing it's our favorite. But not every habit formed should be continued, and not every taste in our memories is worth savoring. After repeated attempts, only those that remain are classic and timeless."

"That makes sense!" Qian Jianjun was touched, and soon he kept saying, "Eat noodles, eat noodles! Give me some advice later, there's a prize!"

…

It was almost lunchtime when Ke Yike changed his clothes and walked out of the kitchen, holding a plate in his hand.

"Ahem..." He reported habitually, then whispered, "Sister Yue, lunch."

"Oh, thank you." Xue Jiuyue thanked him politely first, then sat up straight. When her eyes fell on the plate, she was instantly surprised.

On the plate was a white, slightly golden chicken cutlet and a brown, pinkish beef cutlet. The two cutlets were woven into the shape of two hearts, interwoven together, a sauce steeped in black pepper like Cupid's arrow. The plate was adorned with leafy greens and small hearts made from split cherry tomatoes.

The overall composition, harmonious proportions, and appropriately hued colors are both pleasing to the eye and appetizing. Yet, even with such a straightforward pattern, the meaning Ke Yike wants to convey is self-evident.

"Hmm, it looks pretty good! What a creative idea! Are you adding another signature dish to the restaurant?" Before the stunned Ke Yike could react, Xue Jiuyue nodded and commented, "It's just that to create such a beautiful shape, it must cost a lot of ingredients, so won't the price be a bit high?"

The long reflex arc brought about a delayed reaction at this time, "Ahem, this plate of loving steak is made by me for..."

"Hmm?" Xue Jiuyue hummed softly, her tone slightly cold.

Ke Yike looked up at Xue Jiuyue's raised eyebrows - this was not a sign of happiness - and changed the second half of his sentence, "It's a test product for the store, there's no waste. I made a dish of minced meat noodles with the leftover scraps, a northern-style hand-rolled noodle. I'll make it for you to try right away."

When Ke Yike came back with a bowl of steaming and fragrant minced meat noodles, the three girls in the store had already gathered together to taste his painstakingly created dish.

“Ahem…”

"Ahem, we couldn't help but try it first. It tastes really good. I'll give you a bonus later! Don't worry, I saved a portion for you." Xue Jiuyue said, and her attention was drawn to the noodles in Ke Yike's hand. "I went to college in Dongyuan for a few years, and I have a special liking for northern noodles! Bring it here and let me try it."

Lin Yiyi took the bowl from Ke Yike and divided it into four portions. The plate she handed to Ke Yike contained not only noodles but also a piece of pork steak.

Ke Yike was very confident in his cooking skills. The food before him was impeccable in both texture and taste, but it just tasted strange when he ate it...

Although lunch was tasteless, under the clear sky, when the night breeze refreshed the tiredness after sweating profusely, the dinner at this time was full of flavor.

Because of Lao Zhou's return, everyone was in high spirits and chatting and laughing.

Xue Jiuyue also presented her gift—a family package including a hot spring hotel stay and a health checkup, available for check-in at any time within two years. This package allows the Zhou family, including his parents, to enjoy health and happiness together. A beauty card valid for three years was given to Zhou's wife. And an online art tutoring account with renowned teachers was also given to Xiao Zhou's daughter, allowing her to freely choose from a variety of online art courses, including musical instruments and painting, based on her interests, and continuing to use the service until she graduates from elementary school.

These gifts were not only generous but also very sincere. With Qian Jianjun's support, Lao Zhou finally accepted them after repeatedly refusing.

Because Lao Zhou wasn't good with words, he, who was originally the center of attention, fell silent after a few rounds of toasts. Everyone then quietly chatted with their companions. Qian Jianjun also kicked off his performance.