Chapter 1: The First Chapter is About How Men Look at Women

Who shares your love and hate?

By Shou Chunguang

Chapter 1

Spring came later in the north than in Wen Yining's hometown, but it was more magnificent. She had only been away for five days, and the huge white magnolia tree outside the side gate was already in full bloom, covered with blooming white flowers. Taking a deep breath, her nostrils were filled with the cool fragrance of magnolia flowers.

Without even taking the time to appreciate it, Wen Yining glanced at it briefly before looking away, her brows furrowed, her usually cool and quiet face now showing signs of anxiety.

She wasted too much time at school, and she was about to be late for clocking in!

As her gaze inadvertently swept over the spot again, Wen Yining was surprised to find that the side door under the magnolia tree, which was almost never open, was actually open today.

It's much closer to go in through the side door than to turn into the back door.

Wen Yining hurriedly got off the shared bicycle, parked it under the magnolia tree and locked it, then turned and rushed into the small side gate with red doors and black tiles.

She was running too fast, and only when she reached the top of the steps did she see three or four people coming out from inside. She was about to bump into them, and in a flash, she could only vaguely see a row of people in black suits on the other side. In the next instant, she couldn't stop in time and was about to collide with the leader.

The person shifted slightly, and Wen Yining reacted quickly, twisting her shoulder and shifting her body to avoid it. In that instant, she seemed to smell a faint, cool scent, which instantly reminded her of the chilly early spring month of March.

The man was very tall. As they brushed past each other, her gaze shifted horizontally, only catching a glimpse of his black cashmere coat, underneath which was a crisp black executive jacket and the collar of a light-colored shirt. Above the collar, the pale skin of his throat and neck flashed before her eyes.

Her long hair, which hung down to her chest, was lifted by the wind as she turned to the side, the ends of which gently brushed against his black coat.

Suddenly, it seemed that the person glanced at her face.

Everything happened in an instant. Wen Yining didn't even see what the other person looked like. After passing by him, she looked up again and saw the remaining people clearly: professional bodyguards.

Wen Yining's heart sank.

She wanted to stop and apologize, but she had run too fast, and the momentum carried her as she stumbled past several people and rushed straight into the side door. She gritted her teeth and didn't stop, leaving only a hurried back view and a hasty apology.

She ran too fast and didn't see the person turn their head slightly.

—

The restaurant where Wen Yining works part-time is jokingly called "the palace" because the guests who come here are all rich and powerful, almost all of them are the top tier of people in Beicheng.

Therefore, the salary here is as high as the requirements, and because of the clientele they serve, the strictness of the onboarding process is comparable to a political vetting process.

Although most of the guests appeared low-key and approachable, Wen Yining knew very well that she, an ordinary person who had worked hard to get into the bustling North City S University from her remote and backward hometown, could not afford to offend any of them.

After staying there for a while, she gradually became able to distinguish the importance of the guests: those without bodyguards, those with ordinary bodyguards, and those with... retired professional bodyguards from specific places. Their levels were completely different.

The person she just spoke to was clearly one of those she absolutely could not afford to offend.

This side door is almost never opened. Employees rarely use it, and customers never pass through it. I don't know how that person ended up here.

Ignoring any worries about offending any powerful figures, Wen Yining hurriedly passed through security and rushed to clock in. Reaching the back hall, she quickly stopped and started walking briskly again.

Slightly out of breath, Wen Yining hadn't even stepped through the door when she heard the stern voice of her supervisor, Sister Zhang. Once inside, her gaze swept over the old-looking clock on the table, and a chill ran through her.

I was 3 minutes late.

Their requirement is to clock in 10 minutes early and be on duty before the hour. The first time will result in a deduction from the full attendance bonus, and the second time will result in a deduction from pay for being late.

"Two minutes is still late! What's the use of apologizing? Stop dawdling and go change and get to your post!"

The male colleague walked quickly into the men's locker room, looking dejected.

Facing the foreman's stern gaze, Wen Yining, without bothering to wipe her sweat, gritted her teeth and quickly walked over to scan her face to complete the check-in.

The supervisor turned his gaze to Wen Yining. The girl was young, with a cool and quiet temperament, and a scholarly air about her.

It's not dazzlingly bright, but it's so delicate and beautiful that you can't take your eyes off it.

She looked like she had rushed over; her ears were red from the cold, and a strand of her dark hair was slightly damp with sweat and stuck to her temples, making her skin appear surprisingly fair and delicate.

Her eyes were clear and bright, and she looked at people calmly and seriously, but at this moment they carried a hint of unease and apology.

The girl was always honest and reliable; this was the first time she had ever been late.

Sister Zhang unconsciously softened her expression and said gently, "Be careful next time, go change your clothes quickly."

Wen Yining breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and said politely and gently, "Okay, Sister Zhang."

"Xiao Wen."

Sister Zhang suddenly called her again.

Wen Yining turned her head in confusion, "Sister Zhang?"

"We're short-staffed in the kitchen. Go to the kitchen now and come back after the evening shift."

Wen Yining was taken aback, but didn't ask any further questions. She nodded seriously, "Okay, Sister Zhang."

The girl was tall and slender with fair skin. Even when wearing a bulky down jacket, she still gave off a delicate and frail impression.

Sister Zhang added gently, "If you can't stand it, come back, and I'll find someone else."

Wen Yining smiled slightly and nodded, "Okay, Sister Zhang, I will definitely do my best to complete the task."

Wen Yining's job here is to greet guests. However, she doesn't stand at the door or in the corridor to greet guests. Instead, she stands at the entrance of the parking lot garden and is responsible for the guests in the parking lot and the garden.

The kitchen and their reception area are completely separate departments.

Wen Yining was a little nervous. She had only been there a short time and didn't like socializing. She didn't know anyone in the kitchen and had no idea about the work process.

Following the signs, she found the kitchen with some difficulty. It was noisy and bustling, with everyone working in an orderly and enthusiastic manner. A few people saw her, but they only glanced at her and ignored her.

After looking around, she spotted someone who seemed to be in charge. Carefully avoiding the busy people, she walked over and politely introduced herself.

The chubby supervisor heard her voice, looked her up and down, and immediately frowned.

"..." Wen Yining paused for a moment in her introduction, pursed her lips, and looked at the supervisor with her clear and calm eyes, seemingly puzzled.

The supervisor seemed too lazy to say a word to her, and immediately called Sister Zhang in a hurry, "At least find me a young man, what am I supposed to do with this skinny girl? Be a cheerleader? I need someone to do the work, not a page. Look at her, she's like she's made of glass, she probably can't even lift a plate!"

His tone was undisguised, his blatant disdain for her was so harsh that it caused the two boys who were setting the plates to turn around and secretly observe her expression.

"..."

Wen Yining paused, and upon hearing this, she subconsciously looked down at herself.

Where does she resemble a pageboy or glass?

She looked up at her supervisor, but didn't seem angry; she just looked away with a hint of helplessness.

Sister Zhang: "Don't even mention it. I can't spare any more people. The small side door at number 4 is open, and I still need to send two more people over there."

The supervisor raised an eyebrow: "Wasn't the side door supposed to be opened briefly? Why is it still open?"

Hearing them talking about the side door she had run through that afternoon, Wen Yining looked up at her supervisor.

As if she had touched a switch, Sister Zhang's voice was low and indistinct: "Manager Wu said again that someone just instructed that it should be kept on all day."

Suddenly, the image of the person she had encountered when she entered her mind flashed into Wen Yining's mind.

The supervisor's eyes flashed, and he immediately fell silent and stopped asking questions.

Wen Yining had overheard their private conversations. When they talked about things that couldn't be spoken aloud, their words were vague and secretive, but their eyes held a glimmer of light, and their tone was filled with undisguised excitement, like an undercurrent surging beneath a calm surface.

After saying that, Sister Zhang returned to her normal tone: "Anyway, Xiao Wen is already the most reliable person, much better than some young men. If you're not satisfied, I'll bring her back right now."

The supervisor hung up the phone and turned to look at her, his eyebrows furrowed tightly, looking very reluctant. He waved his hand and said, "Someone find her a set of clothes and a hat."

But their impression of the girl quickly changed. She seemed frail, but she was quick and efficient, quiet, and unpretentious. At first, when she made a mistake and was scolded, she didn't get angry; she would just purse her lips and immediately ask for a way to make amends.

Moreover, he is smart and willing to learn, and he quickly got the hang of things. What's rare is that he has a good memory; he can remember some things after seeing them only once, and he knows the location of items better than some of the senior employees in the kitchen.

When praised, she would just purse her lips and smile shyly.

Wen Yining had been vaguely worried that the important person she almost bumped into at the side door might be angry and do something to her, but she was quickly too busy to think about it anymore.

She discovered that the reason the kitchen was overwhelmed was because the head chef was personally leading a few people to prepare dishes for Hall 9, while the remaining guests were handled by them, which meant they were short-staffed.

Wen Yining was plating the dishes when the young man next to her suddenly leaned closer and asked, "I heard you're from S University?"

Wen Yining wasn't used to this distance, so she moved a little further away almost imperceptibly, glancing at the number of cameras in the kitchen that were more numerous than people.

Wen Yining nodded without saying anything.

"Wow! A top student."

Wen Yining smiled somewhat shyly, but still didn't say anything, keeping her eyes down and focusing on what she was doing.

The girl was arranging the food with her head down, her eyes lowered in serious concentration. Her beautiful profile looked serene and composed.

The boy, trying to make conversation, asked again, "Hey, who's here in Hall 9 today? Such a big fuss! You're from the reception department, do you know?"

Wen Yining shook her head.

She wasn't interested in the gossip about these guests.

She glanced at the camera and gestured for the boy to stop talking.

He seemed not to understand Wen Yining's hint, and lowered his voice mysteriously, using a homophone to very cryptically say a name that often appeared on TV: "I heard that his nephew has also been here."

Wen Yining paused, just about to whisper a reminder to the boy not to say those things, when he was hit on the head.

Another, older chef glared at him and muttered in a low voice, "Shut up! Don't you want to quit? Don't you even know the basic rules?"

The boy shut his mouth in embarrassment, and Wen Yining, as his "accomplice," also lowered her head even further in shame.

The busiest time had passed, and it wasn't good to leave her there indefinitely. The supervisor pulled her to a corner and, without a word, handed her a packaged snack, whispering, "There's a rule in the kitchen that you can't eat. Take this with you and eat it when you get home."

Wen Yining stood there blankly, holding the pastries. Someone nearby laughed and said, "You didn't steal them, they were leftovers. Eat them without worry, you don't usually get to eat these." He then gave her a number, which shocked Wen Yining – half a month's living expenses.

Seeing that no one seemed to mind, Wen Yining sincerely thanked them and carefully put the snacks into her coat pocket.

—

When I went outside, it was already dark. The setting sun had only left its last rays, and large swathes of black occupied the sky.

As darkness fell, the night air grew cooler.

At this time, there were hardly any people outside. The buildings in front were brightly lit and bustling with activity, while the night here was cool and quiet. Wen Yining enjoyed this peaceful feeling and walked back along the path in a good mood.

This hotel is said to have been converted from the mansion of a prominent figure from the previous dynasty. With its carved beams, painted rafters, gray walls, and black tiles, it is full of the architectural features of the northern city.

As I approached the pavilion, I saw a flock of pigeons that should have gone home long ago, but instead they were eating birdseed on the ground and making "coo-coo" sounds.

As Wen Yining watched, a wicked idea suddenly came to her.

Looking around and seeing that the night was quiet and no one was around, she deliberately turned towards the pavilion and quickened her pace.

Wen Yining tilted her head, couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth, and her eyes curved into two crescent moons.

The surrounding light was dim, and in front of the brightly lit second-floor floor-to-ceiling window, through a thin gauze curtain, a tall, slender black figure stood by the window, staring in her direction, the smoke from his fingertips flickering, it was unclear how long he had been watching.

Wen Yining's smile froze.

She glanced up again at the exquisite and luxurious two-story building, and then she recognized it as Hall 9, the place that made the kitchen staff feel so threatened...

Wen Yining gasped for breath.

It's hard to fathom the intentions of those in positions of authority. She didn't know if this person was unhappy with her behavior just now. If he casually said something to anyone and it reached the manager's ears, she wouldn't need to come in tomorrow.

It's not because her matter is so serious, but because for people like them, even a casual word or a glance can feel like a thunderbolt.

It's too late to regret it.

Wen Yining took a breath, immediately lowered her head, composed herself, and tightly gripped her sleeves as she stepped out of the pavilion's path.

Whether it was her imagination or not, that gaze seemed to be fixed on her face, so real that it made her scalp tingle.

After taking a couple of steps, Wen Yining casually glanced up. Sure enough, the figure was still looking in her direction. Warm orange light shone from behind him, casting a tall, slender black silhouette. He raised his hand and took a drag of his cigarette, looking relaxed and nonchalant.

She was completely exposed to him, but from her angle, she couldn't see his face at all.

But his intrigued gaze was almost tangible, possessing a chilling penetrating power.

She could clearly sense that it wasn't a look of dissatisfaction with the employees, but rather the look she had been most familiar with since childhood.

It's the kind of possessive, scrutinizing gaze a man has when he's interested in a woman.

A note from the author: