Qiu Mang shook her head. "Senior, it's okay. Those guys are quite straightforward."
She looked around and, seeing that there wasn't a single customer in the store, frowned and said, "Senior, didn't you do any promotion for your opening today?"
Ji Lun scratched his head, somewhat frustrated. "The flyers we printed have already been distributed, but I don't know why no one has come."
"Is it because your promotional efforts aren't strong enough?"
"It's alright, isn't it? Our drinks are free, and we offer a buy-ten-get-ten-free deal on grilled skewers, even the grilled fish is buy-one-get-one-free," Ji Lun said.
"Maybe the store isn't lively enough. Why don't we call more people over?" Qiu Mang said, taking out his phone and opening his contacts.
"Yay! Sister, hurry up and call big brother over! And Aunt Lu Nian and Yangyang too!" Little Qiu Li danced around excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Ji Lun quickly reached out to stop him, "A Mang, why don't we not call President Lu? He's so busy, it's not good to bother him. Besides, we're just a small, unassuming restaurant, and I'm afraid President Lu won't be used to the food."
Hearing Ji Lun address Lu Yanting differently now, from the familiar "Old Lu" to the distant yet polite "President Lu," Qiu Mang met Ji Lun's eyes and asked softly, "You know everything?"
Ji Lun nodded. "Yes, I never imagined that he would be the person in charge of the Lu family."
Qiu Mang pursed her lips, "Then what about other things..."
Ji Lun gave a wry smile and shrugged. "Qiu Mang, that's your own business. Everyone has their own choices. I believe you have your own reasons. In my heart, you're still that lovely and ambitious girl. Our friendship will never change..."
"Jilun!"
Just then, a clear female voice interrupted their conversation.
The two turned their heads and saw Han Bing, Han Feng, and Lu Yanting standing at the door.
"You... why are you here?" Ji Lun was taken aback.
"What? We can't come? Aren't we open for business? You're not even serving customers?"
Han Bing's youthful face wore its usual indifferent expression, but upon closer inspection, a hint of displeasure could be seen in her eyes.
"No, no, please, Mr. Lu, and Mr. Han, please come in!" Ji Lun turned slightly to the side, extended his arm, and gestured for them to come in.
"I've already told you, you can call me President Han at the company, but outside, just call me by my name!" Han Bing glared at him angrily.
Ji Lun scratched his head, a little embarrassed, "Okay, Han Bing, please come in!"
Qiu Mang raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between the two of them. "When...did you two become so close?"
Han Feng crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. "You still have the nerve to say that? Isn't it all because of you?"
Qiu Mang was puzzled. "What does this have to do with me?"
Han Feng rolled his eyes at her. "If it weren't for that trip to the amusement park last time, how would those two have met? You know my sister is the kind of person who always stands up for what's right. Last time she saw your friend being tricked by that scheming woman, her chivalrous instincts kicked in, and she taught that green tea bitch a lesson."
"So, you and Tian Jingjing broke up?" Qiu Mang asked.
Ji Lun led the group to a table and, while pouring water, said, "Yes, I've realized that we are actually from two completely different worlds. I misunderstood and forced the two of us together. Forced relationships are never sweet."
After we got together, I realized I was always subservient and trying to please her, never truly able to be myself. And she didn't love me either; she had her own life she wanted, something I couldn't give her. I thought, rather than being bound by this pain, it's better to separate. That way, we can both be happy.
Qiu Mang vaguely guessed some things, but didn't say anything. She just smiled bitterly and said, "That's true. Some people are destined to be missed."
Used to miss out?
Lu Yanting raised his eyes, staring intently in Qiu Mang's direction, as if trying to see through her.
Qiu Mang sensed the man's gaze, then smiled at him from afar, giving him a reassuring look.
Qiu Mang thought to herself, "Men are so hard to please. She was just commenting on her senior's relationship; what does it have to do with him? Besides, can the two of them be compared? Her relationship with Lu Yanting is nothing more than a transaction!"
"Here, this is our menu. What would you like to eat?" Daqiang walked up with a smile and handed the menu to Han Bing.
Just as Han Bing picked up the menu to order, another tall, burly man smiled and refilled her tea.
No, she only took one sip, so why did they refill her glass? The service is just too good!
"Come on, everyone, this grilled fish is a gift from our boss for you to try! Please give it a taste and see how it is. If you have any suggestions for improvement, please feel free to let us know."
Li Wei, wearing heat-resistant gloves, walked over carrying a plate of sizzling, steaming hot grilled fish.
When the grilled fish was served, Han Bing used her chopsticks to pry open a piece of tender meat from the fish's belly, eagerly picked up a piece of fish, put it to her mouth, blew on it twice, and then stuffed it into her mouth to eat.
At this moment, Li Wei, Da Qiang, and Zhang Peng, who had just helped refill the cup, all had their eyes fixed on Han Bing.
After she finished eating, the others asked in unison, "How was it?"
Only then did Han Bing realize that she was being watched like a monkey in a zoo.
She put down her chopsticks somewhat awkwardly and looked at the group of people waiting for her to speak. They looked like students waiting for their college entrance exam scores, their eyes full of anticipation.
Seeing that Han Bing didn't speak, Zhang Peng immediately brought over a bottle of juice. "Is it too spicy? Would you like something to drink?"
"Let me give you a back massage!" Li Wei immediately darted behind Han Bing.
"Clang!"
With a soft, gentle sound, a transparent glass fruit plate was gently placed on the table.
Another plate of cut fruit was placed in front of Han Bing. The transparent plate contained a variety of colorful cut fruits. However, it looked like the knife skills of a grown man, as if he was afraid that one bite would not be enough, as the fruits were cut into very large pieces.
Han Bing looked at the man who had just brought the fruit platter. The man was very tall and wore black trousers and a black vest. Perhaps due to years of fitness training, the muscle lines on his arms were very beautiful.
"Um...don't you guys need to do anything else?" Han Bing asked.
Ah Long, who had just put down the fruit plate, did not hear Han Bing's words. He gestured to Han Bing, indicating that she should not be shy and should eat more, as there would be more after she finished.
"How... how come there are deaf-mute people here?" Han Bing looked around in confusion.
“Miss Han, please excuse our appearance. We all used to work in underground boxing gyms, earning a meager living. This is Ah Long. He's deaf and mute, so it's hard for him to find work. It was Old Ji who kindly opened a barbecue restaurant, considering Ah Long and Da Qiang's situation, so we can all work together,” Zhang Peng explained.
Han Feng frowned at the group of burly men who had gathered around him. "You all don't need to crowd around like this! It's making us uncomfortable to watch us eat!"
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