Chapter 43
Huanyu Technology's cafeteria is renowned in the industry for its luxury. Located at the back of the building, it spans three floors. The first floor offers a variety of pastries, including dumplings, steamed buns, noodles, wontons, fried dough sticks, and spring rolls. The second floor features rice and stir-fried dishes; however, the actual menu includes, but is not limited to, various cold and hot dishes, including boiled fish, spicy blood curd, and braised chicken—a complete range of frying, boiling, and stewing options. The third floor houses hot pot, casserole dishes, spicy hot pot, rice noodles, hot and sour noodles, and a halal restaurant. Huanyu has approximately two thousand employees, with nearly a thousand permanently based at the company, excluding those on business trips. To demonstrate its humanistic care, the company allows employees to bring their families for lunch. Therefore, every lunchtime, the cafeteria becomes a bustling hub, with employees from all walks of life gathering there.
Originally, Shen Hanyang and several vice presidents had their lunches prepared separately from the cafeteria and delivered to their offices on the 30th floor, saving them the trouble of queuing. On Tuesday, Shen Hanyang returned from a business meeting in the morning, arriving at the company at 1 PM. By this time, the cafeteria was almost out of food, with only a few dishes remaining at the noodle stall on the first floor. Shen Hanyang's stomach was upset, so he decided to buy some lunch on the first floor. Upon entering the cafeteria, he saw Yan Qing had just finished getting a serving of wontons and was looking for a place to eat. The cafeteria wasn't crowded after 1 PM; the first floor was mostly filled with employees either working overtime or waiting for their families to arrive late—the tail end of the main group of employees looking for food.
Yan Qing found an empty table and sat down.
Shen Hanyang had a sensitive stomach and had originally intended to ask the kitchen to cook some easily digestible soft noodles. However, for some reason, he impulsively went to the wonton window. At that time, the staff member on duty at the canteen had already slipped back to prepare for his lunch break, so Shen Hanyang's arrival didn't cause much of a stir.
He carried the plate to Yan Qing, who was still looking down, absentmindedly stirring the wonton soup in her bowl.
Is anyone here?
Yan Qing looked up upon hearing this and was taken aback when she saw Shen Hanyang. In the instant she came to her senses, her gaze swept around and she saw that most of the people eating in the cafeteria had left, leaving many empty tables.
"Nobody's here." She lowered her head and didn't say anything more.
Shen Hanyang sat down in the diagonal position.
He glanced at her bowl and, trying to make conversation, said, "You like wontons too."
This was actually Yan Qing's first time buying wontons, because all the other stalls had closed, and only wontons and noodles were available. She wasn't very hungry, and the large bowl of hearty noodles was far beyond her appetite.
"Hmm, it's pretty good," she replied dismissively.
The conversation hit a dead end again, and the two ate in silence.
"I knew you'd be here!" Xiao Guo plopped down opposite Yan Qing, shaking the plastic bag in his hand, emitting a pungent smell. "Got it! It was worth skipping work half an hour early to queue! Xu Ji's popularity is no joke, that queue snaked around three corners, I almost melted from the heat! I was too late today, next time I'll have to be there by 11 o'clock..."
Xiao Guo rattled off for a while like a firecracker before noticing Yan Qing's gaze was off, constantly drifting to the side. Turning back, the remaining half of her firecracker-like chatter abruptly died in her throat, making her choke with pain: "Mr...Mr. Chen..."
Shen Hanyang nodded.
Xiao Guo's hand, still gesturing to show off his spoils, froze in mid-air. He tugged at his stiff cheek and said, "Xu's durian pastries, Mr. Shen, you should try some..."
Shen Hanyang subtly moved aside, maintaining a polite smile: "Thank you, but I'm not used to this taste."
At that moment, Xiao Guo was torn between two conflicting thoughts. She couldn't afford to worry about saving face. The most important thing now was what to do next. Should she stay and continue the awkward conversation? Would it affect her appetite to have the big boss watching her, a slacker who skipped work? Leaving would seem too deliberate, like she'd done something shameful. In the time it took Yan Qing to take a bite of wonton, Xiao Guo had already done a thorough analysis of her situation. Finally, she decided to stick her bottom on the chair a little longer and started making small talk to find topics to discuss.
"Qingqing, next time I'll take you to try the second and third floors. The second floor has healthy meals, the kind without a drop of oil, and the spicy mixed dishes on the third floor are also particularly good. Don't always stick to these two windows on the first floor."
Shen Hanyang asked casually, "Haven't you been to the restaurant upstairs yet?"
Xiao Guo felt pleased with herself for successfully diverting Shen Hanyang's attention, and became even more enthusiastic as she chatted: "Yes, Qingqing always comes down to eat very late. There's no food left on the second and third floors, so she has to come down to the first floor."
Xiao Guo keenly caught the ambiguous smile on Shen Hanyang's lips, and her heart skipped a beat. She didn't know if it was because he wasn't interested in the topic or if it was just a normal reaction from the refrigeration machine.
She cleared her throat, then, displaying her social skills, calmly came up with the next topic: "By the way, Qingqing, who was that uncle from yesterday?"
Yan Qing dropped the spoon from her hand with a clatter; her momentary panic did not escape Shen Hanyang's notice.
Yan Qing picked up the spoon and touched the tip of her nose to cover up her embarrassment: "A relative from my hometown."
Xiao Guo laughed and said, "I see. He looked fierce, and I almost thought he wasn't a good person."
Yan Qing didn't speak, a barely perceptible bitter smile appearing in her eyes.
Xiao Guo felt the time was right, tightened his grip on the plastic bag, stood up, and said, "Um, I have to go back now. I still have some PPT to revise. Enjoy your meal, Mr. Shen." He then dashed off as if he had accomplished something important.
After Xiao Guo left, only Yan Qing and Shen Hanyang remained in the cafeteria. In the vast space, they sat facing each other in a corner, a scene that at first glance could easily lead to speculation.
However, Yan Qing was thinking about something else. Ever since Shen Hanyang sat down, she had been considering how to bring it up. Now that the area was empty, it was a good time to speak.
However, Shen Hanyang spoke faster than she did: "Are you getting used to being here?"
Yan Qing stopped midway through her sentence, paused, and replied, "I'm used to it. Everyone takes good care of me."
Shen Hanyang smiled knowingly: "Do you still need me to run errands to pick up packages and takeout?"
"President Shen, I..." Yan Qing stammered, unconsciously circling the spoon in her bowl.
"Hmm?" Shen Hanyang stopped eating and looked at her intently, as if patiently waiting for her to continue.
Yan Qing's words were on the tip of her tongue, but she was stopped by his gaze. Shen Hanyang's eyes were actually quite deadly; such eyes shouldn't be on such a face, and such a face shouldn't have such a serious expression. In short, Yan Qing's carefully prepared remarks were completely ruined.
"It's nothing," Yan Qing said, her lips twitching slightly. "How's Jiaming been lately?"
Shen Hanyang stared at her until she was powerless to resist and lowered her head.
“If you could share half of the care you show for Jiaming with me, no, not even half, just half of half, I would be satisfied,” Shen Hanyang said.
Yan Qing suddenly felt a wave of heat emanating from her collar, extending all the way to her hair. She reached up to wipe her forehead, but it was dry and without sweat.
She was a little embarrassed and annoyed, and was about to say something when Secretary Gao's loud voice suddenly interrupted her like a thunderclap.
"President Shen, Xiao Guo said you were here. I thought she was mistaken. The cafeteria is so chaotic, why didn't you have them bring it up?" Secretary Gao brought a bowl of noodles, clearly having just arrived just before the cafeteria closed.
"What is it?" Shen Hanyang's expression was calm. The hint of charm in his eyes and brows just now had vanished without a trace after this startled sound.
Secretary Gao saw Shen Hanyang at first glance, and Yan Qing at second glance.
The third glance revealed a bowl of wontons in front of each of them.
Secretary Gao paused for a moment without speaking. Yan Qing immediately said, "I'm full, I'll go upstairs first." Then, sensibly, she took her plate and walked away.
Before I walked away, I heard Secretary Gao sit down in the seat he had just been sitting in and say, "Little Wu, she..."
Shen Hanyang's gaze followed Yan Qing's departing figure until she was out of sight, then he turned his attention back from the doorway.
"What's wrong with Xiao Wu?"
Shen Hanyang's undisguised gaze surprised even Secretary Gao. She suddenly forgot what she was going to say, stammering, "She...she..." She quickly regained her composure before continuing, "This child, I don't know if it's too much pressure at school, seems to be showing signs of depression. She called the other day saying she wanted to take some time off and come stay at our house for a while..."
Secretary Gao probably also felt that the suggestion was too abrupt. After speaking, he lowered his head to stir his noodles, occasionally glancing quickly at the person opposite him from above his glasses.
Shen Hanyang didn't show any particular attitude on his face, but he didn't agree directly either. He just said indifferently, "Let's talk about it in a couple of days."
Huanyu suddenly received Huang Qian's request to replace her. This was not a big deal, and after a brief discussion between the two parties, the matter was settled.
Shen Hanyang hadn't noticed anything until one day, he inexplicably dialed Yan Qing's landline in office 1903. The person who answered the phone had a somewhat familiar, raspy voice that sounded like a castrated man's. Only then did he realize that Yan Qing hadn't come in for three days.
Shen Hanyang immediately rushed to the 19th floor, but calmed down the moment he stepped out of the elevator. He pressed the close button and returned to the 30th floor.
That evening, Shen Hanyang arrived at the special needs ward of the First Hospital of S City.
Qiao Yi leaned against the headboard, feeling drowsy. A dust cover was carefully placed over the computer screen, indicating that it hadn't been turned on for several days.
Before coming in, he had already seen the attending physician, and Qiao Yi's condition was not optimistic. Qiao Yi's face was ashen, his haggard appearance tinged with melancholy. This kind of illness was beyond cure; it could only be futilely worn down little by little, and he probably sensed it himself.
"Qingqing isn't here," Qiao Yi said, his voice weak and unsteady.
Shen Hanyang casually placed the nutritional supplements he had brought on the table. "Can't I have come here specifically to see you?"
Qiao Yi was thin and bony, but his face and head were swollen. His pale lips barely maintained an upward curve, making him look like a bitter lollipop.
He said weakly, "My eyesight is getting worse and worse, but I can still see right through you."
Shen Hanyang: "You siblings are both incredibly capable."
Qiao Yi sighed softly, "Actually, I haven't seen her for several days either. I wonder how she is."
Shen Hanyang said calmly, "The school sent her to help out at our company. I'll keep an eye on her, so you don't need to worry."
"Is that so?" Qiao Yi raised his eyelids in surprise.
“Yes,” Shen Hanyang said, “Don’t worry, I won’t mistreat her. It’s better for her to stay with me than to go out and find part-time jobs.”
Qiao Yi said in a deep voice, "I've dragged her down. She's working so hard to save money for my medical treatment and to arrange a place for me to stay."
Shen Hanyang didn't quite understand what he meant: "Don't you have a house in the Anchuan Waterworks residential compound? It's a bit small and a bit far from S City, but it's quiet."
Qiao Yi's Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to speak, but he didn't in the end. He just gave Shen Hanyang a meaningful look. He reached forward a little, but his arm wasn't long enough, so Shen Hanyang handed him the half-eaten orange. Just as it was about to reach his hand, he pulled it back, peeled off the peel, and put only the pulp in his palm.
Qiao Yi looked at the surface that had been sitting for half a day and was already a bit dry, and his throat inexplicably became dry as well.
He swallowed hard and looked at Shen Hanyang, who seemed completely unaffected: "Do you truly like her?"
Shen Hanyang gestured with his chin towards him: "Eat."
Qiao Yi shook his head helplessly, broke off a segment of orange, and worriedly put it in his mouth. The top segment was a bit dry, and he swallowed it with a choking sensation. He broke off a second segment and put it in his mouth; this one was much juicier.
Shen Hanyang suddenly said, "She has a boyfriend, and it seems very stable. I guess they'll be getting married soon."
Qiao Yi choked on a mouthful of orange juice, coughing violently. He coughed so hard he could barely breathe, his shoulders shaking violently. Shen Hanyang quickly patted his back gently. Qiao Yi's spine was juicy and bony, his thinness alarming. After he had endured a bout of intense spasms, Shen Hanyang picked up a trash can from the ground and helped him spit out the orange stuck in his throat.
Qiao Yi, head bowed and panting heavily, grabbed Shen Hanyang's arm with a withered hand: "She...she told you?"
After this thrilling interlude, Shen Hanyang thought back for a moment before remembering that they had just been talking about Yan Qing's boyfriend.
"I've seen that person before, without her saying anything."
How is he?
Shen Hanyang relaxed his brows. "Well, not bad, right? It has a nose, eyes, and all four limbs are intact." After thinking for a moment, that was all.
Qiao Yi scrutinized him suspiciously for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up: "To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that you're a second-time bride with a son, you would actually be a very good candidate."
Shen Hanyang changed the bag in the trash can, and seemed to glance at him out of the corner of his eye.
Qiao Yi leaned against the headboard, exhausted: "Speaking of which, she already has a boyfriend, yet you're still so persistent. I can't help but be moved by your dedication. I think if you two really got together, you would treat her well."
Shen Hanyang smiled but didn't say anything.
"Will you treat her well?" Qiao Yi seemed unsure after his smile and sought confirmation from him.
Shen Hanyang did not answer, but sat back on the sofa, his gaze seemingly fixed on nowhere.
His ambiguous attitude immediately made Qiao Yi regret his words. He put on a stern face and said in a serious tone, "I take back what I just said. In the end, I still don't know you well enough. Generally speaking, young masters like you don't lack money, and you certainly don't lack women. If you're just looking for something new, please don't mess with her. She's not easy to deal with and can't take any more trouble. If you dare to bully her, I'll haunt you even as a ghost." As if he felt that wasn't enough, he added a heavy threat with a gloomy expression, "We have three ghosts in our family. They'll give you a hard time. Watch out."
Qiao Yi didn't see the expected surprise or fear on Shen Hanyang's face; on the contrary, he didn't even blink. This made Qiao Yi look like a pretentious charlatan.
The atmosphere remained awkwardly frozen for a moment.
Shen Hanyang spoke up: "Can you tell me about her past?"
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