With a heart full of love, I set off with a bento box, and was greeted by long-lost friends.
At the entrance of Fashion Vanguard magazine, Yuan Mu, carrying a crossbody bag, waited for his girl.
"Xiaoyan, over here." He greeted the sunlight with a warm smile.
Jian Yan parked her electric scooter and took a lunchbox out of the delivery box. "Thank goodness you're here today. Here, this is for you."
Yuan Mu was momentarily stunned. Jian Yan had come for three days in a row just to bring him a boxed lunch? "Xiao Yan, this is..."
“It’s a boxed lunch. I made it myself. I heated it up in the microwave at the coffee shop when I came, so it’s still warm.” Jian Yan’s eyes curved into a smile as she spoke, reflecting a gentle tenderness. “You can take it home and eat it. I’ll bring you more tomorrow….”
She lowered her head shyly as she spoke her last words.
"Don't send it tomorrow." Yuan Mu's voice was very low. If he came every day, someone would notice something was amiss, and then he would be exposed.
Disappointment flashed across her eyes. Jian Yan fidgeted with her fingers, a blush rising on her face. "You...don't like it? Don't overthink it. It's just a lunchbox. Dai Dai even told me before that she was afraid you'd misunderstand. Sigh, Zhang Ailing's words are all lies, like 'the stomach is the gateway to a man's heart.' A lunchbox is just a lunchbox, how does it lead to..."
Jian Yan offered a rambling explanation. Little did she know that her attempt to conceal her true intentions only made them more obvious.
Just then, Da Shu, the security guard on duty at the park's security booth, came out to get some water. He saw Jian Yan and greeted her, "Little girl, you had a good day delivering the lunchboxes. Oh, young man, you're such a lucky person!"
The boxed lunch wasn't heavy, but it felt surprisingly substantial in my hand.
In this fast-paced era, most people care about how fast you run, but the person in front of him only cares about whether you're eating well, and even wants to reach his heart through this simple act. His eyes welled up. Yuan Mu wanted to say, "You don't need to reach me, you're already in my heart."
But he didn't move; he couldn't go back to the magazine office. Where was he supposed to eat his lunchbox?
"Xiaoyan, shall we eat together?" he suggested.
"I...can I come to your workplace?" Jian Yan asked cautiously. Would that be equivalent to meeting his colleagues and friends, signifying a step forward in their relationship?
"There's a university nearby, let's go eat there."
Well, Jianyan was surprised, but what does it matter where or what you eat when you're having a meal with someone you like?
The two of them shared an electric scooter and went to the school playground. They specifically found the circular stands, which had canopies to keep out the sun. They could also see people strolling around with umbrellas.
Jian Yan was very happy, as if she had returned to her college days.
Yuan Mu had already opened the lunchbox. There were three dishes: boiled fish, organic cauliflower, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes. The colors were very appetizing. "Xiao Yan, you eat first." He picked up a piece of fish and handed it to her.
To avoid too many bones, Jian Yan specifically chose the belly part of the fish, which has succulent meat. However, there was only one set of chopsticks, and the two of them had to share it. Their relationship didn't seem quite that close yet?
During this stalemate, Yuan Mu's phone rang.
Secretly, Yuan Mu didn't want to answer the phone right now, but Jian Yan was staring at his pocket. "Senior, you answer the phone first."
Yuan Mu awkwardly put down his lunchbox and took out his phone. "It's an unknown number, probably another telemarketer."
He hung up, but the other party persisted and called back. Yuan Mu pressed the answer button and turned on speakerphone. "Hello? I don't want to buy a house or sign up for classes. Thank you, you don't need to call me anymore."
The person on the other end of the phone was probably stunned by Yuan Mu's actions. After three seconds, they replied, "Is this Mr. Yuan? This is The Insider fashion magazine. We'd like to ask if you have time for an interview recently."
Having also come from a publishing background, Yuan Mu was very familiar with this old competitor. He was overjoyed, "Yes, yes, yes, it's convenient anytime."
"Alright, our Editor-in-Chief Kang happens to be here at 2 p.m. today. He is eager to talk to you. Our editor-in-chief greatly admired your previous report, 'Huo Yunchao and His Business Empire'."
Happiness came too suddenly. Yuan Mu hung up the phone and grabbed Jian Yan's hand. "Xiao Yan, you are truly my lucky angel. With you here, I have a job. Xiao Yan, thank you."
Jian Yan was still in shock. "Senior Yuan, are you changing jobs? What about 'Fashion Vanguard'...?"
Since Jian Yan had already overheard everything, Yuan Mu stopped hiding it. "Xiao Yan, I didn't tell you before because I was afraid you'd worry that I had left Fashion Vanguard. The reason was that someone was secretly sabotaging me. But if they don't want me here, there are plenty of other places that will. Look, as soon as you came, I received an interview invitation from The Insider. I'm very confident that I can make a name for myself. That's why I didn't let you continue delivering before."
The misunderstanding had been cleared up, and Jian Yan was genuinely happy for Yuan Mu. "Senior Yuan, congratulations! Now hurry up and eat, so you'll be full of energy. Let's use our talents to win over that Editor-in-Chief Kang."
Yuan Mu checked the time; it was almost one o'clock. It would take about an hour to get to The Insider's headquarters from here. He was running out of time.
“Xiaoyan, listen to me, you don’t need to go through my stomach to reach my heart. Because you are already here.” Yuan Mu pointed to his chest and said solemnly, “I really want to give you a better future, so I can’t be late for today’s interview. I’ll eat your bento next time.”
Jian Yan doubted her ears. All her painstaking efforts were for a clear relationship, for a sincere heart. The bento box was just a means to an end; love was the goal.
"Then go ahead, I'll wait for your good news."
What an understanding girl. Yuan Mu felt that having a true friend in life was enough. He reached out and covered her face, a thought forming in his mind, and then he kissed her.
Jian Yan's pupils were dilating. The person she had been longing for was kissing her. Should she close her eyes in response?
There was no dizzying sensation, no floating on clouds—completely unlike anything described in romance novels. A brief kiss, gone in an instant.
"Xiaoyan, I'm leaving. Be careful on your way back."
Yuan Mu vanished like the wind.
Jian Yan touched her lips, as if in a dream. She started to laugh foolishly, until tears welled up in her eyes. Finally, she packed up her lunchbox and headed towards the electric scooter.
Today, even the electric scooter feels light and cheerful.
Back at the coffee shop, Xue Qiandai told her that Guo Fei had been there. "Since Siwen Design will remove all the emojis, I've decided not to pursue it further. From now on, we'll focus all our energy on the new autumn collection."
Jian Yan blankly replied, then opened her lunchbox and ate it herself.
Xue Qiandai discovered the undelivered lunchboxes again, and she flew into a rage. "Jian, I'm not trying to sabotage you, but maybe you and Senior Yuan aren't a good match..."
Unexpectedly, Jian Yan grabbed her hand, her voice trembling slightly: "Dai Dai, he kissed me today."
Xue Qiandai: "..."
What flavor of dog food is this?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com