The mall restaurant fills the old gap and expresses the feelings on the top of the starry sky bridge

The mall restaurant fills the old gap and expresses the feelings on the top of the starry sky bridge

After lunch, Mr. Qiu started chatting with Lin Yiyi.

"Hello, Yiyi. Are you busy lately? I see there are a lot more customers in the store now."

“It’s a bit busier than before.”

"Oh, it just so happens that our company has been very busy recently, so Qiu Nian hasn't been here much. I'm so sorry."

Elder Qiu's polite words made Lin Yiyi feel uneasy. "From what you said, shouldn't Qiu Nian be busy with business?"

"I told Xiaoyue a long time ago to treat Qiu Nian as a member of your team and to look after him more. He left the team for some reason, so how could you not explain the situation in detail? This needs to be dealt with seriously. I'll make him apologize to you."

Lin Yiyi's pretty face lit up, "No need."

Mr. Qiu emphasized seriously, "We must teach him a lesson. This is a sign of a lack of organization, discipline, and team spirit."

Before Lin Yiyi could refuse again, Mr. Qiu gestured to Qiu Nian, who was standing behind the bar and looking over here.

"Have you realized your mistake?" Boss Qiu asked with a stern face.

"Um."

"Then you apologize to Yiyi yourself, and I won't watch you anymore." After saying that, Mr. Qiu got up and left.

"Yiyi, yes, I'm sorry." Qiu Nian hung his head.

"Sorry for what?"

"To make you unhappy."

"I'm not unhappy."

The unexpected reply left Qiu Nian speechless, his face flushing red before he managed to utter, "I, I, I'll treat you to a meal as an apology, okay?"

Qiu Nian's face, which originally had a little baby fat, was now even cuter. Lin Yiyi didn't have the heart to make things difficult for him anymore, so she blurted out a simple word, "Okay!"

Drawing on previous experience, Qiu Nian suggested not driving, but taking the subway, bus, and bicycle to the largest local shopping mall in Xialin.

The store had rental cars of various shapes for children to ride in. Qiu Nian suddenly ran to the service counter to negotiate with the waiter. When he came back, he excitedly told Lin Yiyi, "Pick an animal, and we'll each get in one and go shopping in the mall."

"Can you do it?"

"I asked, and it's okay. I like the second senior brother." Qiu Nian chose one first.

"Birds of a feather flock together. I want a giraffe."

The two adults quickly began to enjoy the joys of childhood. The speed was slow, a far cry from the speed of a motorcycle hurtling across the grasslands, but the mood was filled with a sense of childish innocence and dreaminess. Qiu Nian also relaxed, and for the first time ever, he boldly adopted a childish voice and began playing house with Lin Yiyi.

"Yiyi, Yiyi, there are so many people here, it's so lively."

He thought he would be scolded, but unexpectedly, Lin Yiyi actually cooperated with him. "Yeah, yes, do you want to go and have a look? But I'm a little scared."

"It's okay, I'll protect you."

"Then let's go and take a look."

"Yiyi, Yiyi, there's ice cream over there, do you want some?"

"Well, did you bring your pocket money? How about I buy you something to eat?"

"Okay then, I'll protect you next time."

The two of them were having a great time, but before they knew it, their stomachs were complaining, reminding them that it was getting late. The restaurant was on the top floor of a shopping mall, and the car couldn't get there, so the two of them had to return to reality from their childhood.

"What to eat?" Lin Yiyi took the initiative to ask Qiu Nian's opinion.

"Can we not go Dutch?"

"cannot."

"You, listen to my explanation. If I decide what to eat, then you treat! If you decide what to eat, then I treat." Qiu Nian rarely expressed his opinions in front of Lin Yiyi, and he finished speaking quickly in one go.

"good."

"Then I think the hot and sour noodles you took me to eat last time were good."

"I don't want to eat." Qiu Nian suggested a novel way of playing, and Lin Yiyi also found it interesting. "How about hot pot?"

"Double-flavored hotpot!" Eating spicy food is Qiu Nian's absolute weakness.

"Then it's your decision. It's my treat!"

"Okay." Qiu Nian agreed. "Sesame sauce or oil sauce?"

"It must be an oil dish."

"Haha, it was you who decided it!" Qiu Nian also let go.

"How dare you cheat!"

This hot pot restaurant specializes in traditional hot pot, even seating is traditionally arranged on long benches. The business was brisk, the atmosphere bustling with activity, and the down-to-earth atmosphere allowed the two to not only enjoy a hearty meal but also engage in lively conversation, just like the red soup paired with the garlic oil sauce. Prodded by Lin Yiyi, Qiu Nian also tried the spicy hot pot. Sweat and reddened, the exhilaration sent his heart rate soaring like a race car.

Lin Yiyi handed over another glass of iced cola and said, "Actually, iced beer is the best way to relieve the spiciness."

Qiu Nian explained with a thick tongue, "My dad never drinks, so even though I can drink a little, I won't take the initiative to order a drink."

"Next time, drink with me."

"Okay!" Qiu Nian remembered it firmly.

Dinner was much more substantial, as Xue Jiuyue had requested, and the preparation was significantly more complex. But this was Ke Yike's home turf, and he was confident and composed. There was no midday flurry, and Xue Jiuyue worked in an orderly fashion under his guidance.

What's most remarkable is Ke Yike's meticulous instruction. Not only did he explain the precise ingredients, cooking procedures, and cooking times for each dish, he also patiently explained the specific characteristics of each dish and seasoning. Some of his insights even touched on chemistry and biology. For example, oils require high temperatures to undergo the Maillard reaction, breaking down into various aldehydes and aminoketones with their alluring aromas; fats emulsify easily at temperatures between 65 and 80°C; and he paired sweet dips with bread because sweetness increases dopamine production, which in turn brings pleasure.

"Only by being familiar with the characteristics of each ingredient can we lay a solid foundation for future combinations and innovations. Otherwise, it's just a blind cat catching a dead mouse."

What Ke Yike said also made Xue Jiuyue realize a new world, and his serious and confident expression also added more calm charm to his handsome appearance. The tears that shattered on Xue Jiuyue's face at that time inevitably rippled again, but they soon dissipated like smoke.

But Ke Yike's side was a different story. Xue Jiuyue was wearing a white T-shirt and beige sweatpants. Her perfect curves, explosively displayed in the confined space, were obscured by Xue Jiuyue's focus. The inevitable physical contact was filtered out by Xue Jiuyue's concentration. Ke Yike's Adam's apple rolled repeatedly, barely suppressing his restless mind, but endless fantasies remained, taking root and sprouting.

The hot and spicy dinner brings a pleasant sense of satisfaction, but also leaves you wanting more at night.

"How about we rent a car and play for a while?"

"No." Lin Yiyi refused. Seeing Qiu Nian's disappointment quickly spread across his face, she smiled and added, "I'll take you somewhere."

The place Lin Yiyi described had the distinct character of a water town. A mountain peak on one side supported a star-studded night sky, while the lights on both sides, swaying on the ground, outlined the graceful flow of the stream. A tall stone arch bridge spanned the two banks, and the banks were lined with low-rise shops. Although bustling with people, the lights were subdued, perfectly protecting the tranquility of the night.

Sitting on the top of the stone bridge, looking up at the starry sky, the cool breeze takes away the heat accumulated by the chili peppers, making you feel refreshed and comfortable.

"Yiyi, actually, I, I..."

Qiu Nian struggled for a long time but there was no follow-up. Lin Yiyi could only encourage him: "Well, I'm listening."

"I, I have always been afraid of girls since I was a child..." Qiu Nian finally squeezed out the rest of the content.

"I know."

"oh……"

Qiu Nian was silent again.

Lin Yiyi, who was always concise, was not good at talking. She bit the bullet and found a topic, "Why did you come to me to apologize today?"

"My dad said it was wrong for me to disappear suddenly, as it would easily lead to misunderstandings."

"What do you think?"

"I think he's right."

"Have you always listened to your parents since you were a child?"

"Isn't it good to be obedient?"

Lin Yiyi was furious. "What if they don't let you come to the cafe?"

"No, my parents really like 'Inch of Time'!"

"What if?"

"There's no such thing as a one-time event. Even if there is, I will come." Qiu Nian seemed to have gained courage and said, "Actually, I'm not always obedient. I'm telling you a secret. Don't tell my parents."

"OK!"

"My family originally worked in real estate, so my dad wanted me to study civil engineering. But I wanted to study accounting, and he disagreed. He believed I needed to learn something practical. Later, when I was pursuing a master's degree, I took the accounting exam on my own and told my dad that my school didn't accept me because of my poor grades. In fact, I had the best grades and could have been recommended for a master's degree in my field."

“Why do you like accounting?”

"Humanity has only two disciplines: mathematics and philosophy. For a business, accounting is the core. All other so-called management is based on numbers. Of course, I also studied civil engineering and minored in mathematics and philosophy."

“Why study philosophy?”

"I won't lose my way. From the big things like the meaning of life to the small things like why we make money and the direction of business development, we all rely on philosophy to guide us." Qiu Nian talked eloquently, and the confidence that came naturally made him forget his nervousness.

"It's a good idea. Why not communicate with Mr. Qiu?"

"You also think I'm right? That's great!" Qiu Nian's eyes lit up with excitement. "I don't want to upset my parents. They love me, so they'll definitely give me what they think is right. If we try to communicate, either I'll choose to obey, or they'll feel they're wrong. There's no need for either. Even if I convince them, at most they'll be relieved that their son has grown up and can think independently. But that also means they're getting old. I don't want them to retire. I hope they'll always feel that they can keep up with the times and are still young..."

Seeing that Lin Yiyi was listening attentively with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, Qiu Nian was even more proud. "Let me tell you another secret. It's the same at the company. My dad is indeed a mountain, but although the mountain is majestic, it is not as smooth as the flow of water. Sometimes when he and I have different ideas, I either discuss it with my small group or talk to the people around my dad and let them influence him subtly. The fact that I have a small group is also a secret."

"You are pretending to obey but actually disobeying."

Even as she said this, Lin Yiyi's smile blossomed. Qiu Nian stared at her infatuatedly in the dim light, his previous high spirits frozen by this sudden beauty, then shattered into dust.

A long breeze blew, lifting Lin Yiyi's hair, making her beauty more vivid.

"Oh, I'm blinded."

Lin Yiyi closed her eyes and tilted her head towards Qiu Nian.