Chapter 19: Safe Journey
When he walked out of the classroom, the sun was setting. Shi Yanchen was standing at the door waiting for him. His figure was tall and slender in the backlight.
"Let's go," Shi Yanchen said, "I'll treat you to dinner."
"Go to our store," Pei Song asked.
Shi Yanchen nodded: "Xiao Zhao is the chef today. I asked him to prepare a few new dishes in advance. When the Michelin judges came to the restaurant to taste last month, he performed very well."
On the way, Pei Song kept thinking about the restaurant: "The recent improved version of Dandan noodles has received very good feedback from customers."
"Well, the chef of the western restaurant even came to ask for the recipe." Shi Yanchen said, "Have you ever thought about expanding this series?"
"I've thought about it." Pei Song's eyes lit up, "We can make the fusion of Sichuan cuisine and Western food into a special theme. But..." His voice lowered.
"I'm thinking about returning to China." Shi Yanchen turned to look at him.
Pei Song nodded. The defense was over, the luggage was almost packed, and the visa was about to expire. It was time to say goodbye.
"This is the restaurant..."
"Let's go eat first." Shi Yanchen interrupted him, "I asked Xiao Zhao to prepare some of your favorite dishes."
Pei Song turned his head and looked out the window. Even before he left, he already began to feel reluctant to leave the life here.
A few days later, Pei Song stood in the middle of the room, staring at the room full of luggage in a daze.
Two years of studying abroad is coming to an end and all my belongings need to be sorted and packed.
But every time I pack something, it brings back countless memories.
The set of exquisite copper pots in the kitchen was bought by Shi Yanchen for him to use in making his own dishes.
The desk lamp on the desk was forced upon him by Shi Yanchen when he was studying late into the night.
The treadmill in the corner suddenly appeared in the room one day...
"How's the packing going?" Shi Yanchen asked, leaning against the door frame.
"Still sorting." Pei Song came back to his senses, "There are some things that I may need your help to deal with..."
"Keep it." Shi Yanchen interrupted him, "You're used to it anyway."
Pei Song smiled and shook his head: "I'm going back to my country, I can't take these things with me."
Shi Yanchen did not answer and turned to walk towards the study, but Pei Song seemed to see his shoulders stiffen slightly.
In the evening, Pei Song concentrated on preparing dinner. He decided to make some of Shi Yanchen's favorite Sichuan dishes.
"When does your visa expire?" Shi Yanchen suddenly asked.
"The 15th of this month." Pei Song said as he cut vegetables, "I booked a flight for the 13th."
Shi Yanchen paused for a moment with his chopsticks: "So fast?"
"Well, the airfare was cheaper that day, and my parents said they wanted to see me earlier."
"What are your plans for returning home?" Shi Yanchen put down his chopsticks. "What are the arrangements for the restaurant?"
Pei Song slowed down his chewing speed: "I have talked to the team. The chef can fully control all the dishes, and the service team is also very mature." He glanced at Shi Yanchen, "I feel relieved to have you watching over here."
"It's a good opportunity for you to continue operating." said Shi Yanchen.
Indeed, the restaurant's growth over the past year has exceeded everyone's expectations.
From its original Chinese restaurant, it gradually developed into a well-known high-end restaurant in the local area.
Every month, gourmets from all over the world make a special trip to visit the restaurant, and even the Michelin rating is quite good.
"I know." Pei Song said, "but now at home..."
"Don't worry about the restaurant." Shi Yanchen interrupted him, "I'll take care of it here." He paused, "It's better to go back and take a look at the situation first."
Pei Song nodded and said nothing more.
Over the past year, his collaboration with Shi Yanchen has been much smoother than expected.
The other party's business advice was always accurate and to the point, allowing him to learn a lot of business management knowledge in addition to cooking.
Shi Yanchen looked at his profile and said nothing more, but his eyes looking at the dining table were more thoughtful.
After a moment, he picked up his chopsticks and continued eating, as if the conversation just now was just an ordinary topic.
In the next few days, the students organized farewell dinners.
As a well-known food blogger, Pei Song was naturally invited to participate.
But every time there was a party, he found that Shi Yanchen would find various reasons to appear in the same restaurant.
Although he didn't come over to say hello, he was always looking over here vaguely.
"Is your roommate reluctant to leave you?" a classmate joked, "I've seen him hanging around nearby a lot lately."
Pei Song smiled and shook his head: "He might just have happened to pass by." But he felt a little strange in his heart.
Shi Yanchen did behave a little differently during this period, as if he was worried about something.
After returning home, Pei Song began to check his luggage. His passport, air tickets, daily necessities... everything was packed.
Shi Yanchen stood at the door and looked for a long time, and finally said: "Do you need me to take you to the airport?"
"No need." Pei Song said with a smile, "Aren't you going to have a team meeting that day?"
Shi Yanchen frowned: "It can be postponed."
"Don't be willful." Pei Song said, "Work is important."
"You are more important than your job." Shi Yanchen said suddenly.
This sentence made both of them stunned.
The room suddenly became so quiet that we could hear each other's breathing.
Finally, Pei Song broke the silence: "I...I'll go cook."
But his hands were shaking slightly, so much so that he almost cut his fingers while cutting vegetables.
"Be careful." Shi Yanchen stood behind him without knowing when, and took the kitchen knife directly, "Let me do it."
"Can you cut vegetables?" Pei Song asked in surprise.
"I've been watching you for so long, I guess I should learn something." Shi Yanchen was slicing potatoes seriously. Although he was a little slow, his knife skills were surprisingly good.
Looking at Shi Yanchen's clumsy but focused appearance, Pei Song suddenly felt a little sour in his nose.
That night, Pei Song cooked a table full of Shi Yanchen's favorite dishes.
"We have to pack tomorrow, so let's have a good meal today."
Shi Yanchen looked at the dishes on the table and suddenly said, "Teach me how to cook."
"ah?"
"At least learn a few simple ones." said Shi Yanchen.
Pei Song understood what he meant and nodded: "Okay, I'll start teaching you tomorrow."
Over the next few days, the way the two got along suddenly changed.
Every night, Shi Yanchen would stand in the kitchen and carefully learn how to cook each dish.
The day of departure has finally arrived.
Pei Song stood at the door of the apartment, looking at the place where he had lived for a year, feeling extremely reluctant to leave.
"Have you packed your luggage?" Shi Yanchen asked.
"Yeah." Pei Song smiled, "I just feel a little reluctant."
Shi Yanchen was silent for a while and said, "You can come back anytime."
"You might move out by then, right?" Pei Song said, "I heard you were preparing a new project."
Shi Yanchen looked at him: "I won't move away."
This sentence made Pei Song's heart tremble, and he quickly adjusted his mood: "Then I wish you good luck in your work."
Shi Yanchen didn't say anything, just nodded.
But when Pei Song turned to leave, he suddenly said: "Remember to send me a message."
Pei Song turned around and smiled: "Okay."
The word "OK" finally made Shi Yanchen's tense body relax, and his shoulders slumped.
Pei Song dragged his luggage forward a few steps, and couldn't help but turn back and remind him: "Shi Yanchen, order less takeout in the future and take good care of yourself."
Shi Yanchen raised his eyes to look at him, his eyes deep: "Have a safe journey."