The night passed.
Even though it was Sunday, Lu Jingming still had to work overtime due to the heavy workload at the company.
After finally finishing most of his work for the day, he drove all the way to the new Xu's Teppanyaki branch. Upon arriving, he saw Xu Yanxia leading a group of chefs in the back kitchen, observing Grandpa Xu cooking.
Nearby, staff from the marketing department were shouldering cameras and filming the process.
"Stir-fried pork liver and quick-fried pork kidneys are two dishes that perfectly demonstrate the mastery of heat control in our Chinese cuisine."
Grandpa Xu explained to the onlookers in Mandarin tinged with his hometown accent as he cooked. "Moreover, the main ingredients for both dishes are offal, so removing the gamey smell is absolutely crucial. Otherwise, these two dishes will be complete failures."
"The pork liver needs to be soaked and marinated with seasonings, while the pork kidneys must have the glands completely removed, not leaving a single trace."
"The liver should be sliced into willow-leaf shapes, and the kidneys scored with a phoenix-tail pattern. The knife work isn't just for aesthetics; it's also to maximize flavor absorption during the final cooking stage, so it must be taken seriously."
...
Seeing that the prep work was done, Grandpa Xu nimbly heated oil in the wok, stir-frying the base ingredients over a roaring flame to release their fragrance. He quickly tossed the pork liver into the wok in two batches over high heat. As various seasonings and side ingredients were added one by one, it took less than a minute for a bright, glossy, perfectly shaped, and vibrantly colored stir-fried liver dish to be plated.
The other quick-fried dish took even less time. Under the intense heat of the professional stove, the scored kidneys were blanched in oil and then stir-fried. In less than half a minute, the beautifully scored, slightly curled, and glistening quick-fried pork kidneys were ready.
An enticing aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.
However, just as the cameraman finished recording the appearance of the final dishes, his younger brother, Lu Jingyao, strode into the kitchen. Waving at the camera, he picked up a pair of chopsticks and began tasting each dish.
As he ate, he offered serious commentary: "Delicious! The liver isn't gamey at all; it's savory and incredibly flavorful. The texture is absolute perfection!!! So tender and smooth!!! I could easily down three bowls of rice with this!!!"
"Wow, these kidneys!!! So crisp and tender!!! There's a slight tanginess to it that is so appetizing!!! Guys, I swear to God I rarely ate kidneys before, but this is just too good!!!"
With that, he opened his mouth wide and shoveled nearly half a plate of the liver and kidneys into his mouth.
Lu Jingming: "???"
Waiting until the cameraman finally finished shooting, he immediately walked over and frowned at his younger brother. "Why are you here?"
Having just polished off two delicious dishes and still wanting more, Lu Jingyao wiped his mouth and said, "Sister Xia was short on taste testers today, so I naturally stepped up to the plate."
Lu Jingming: "???"
Xu Yanxia also told him, "Didn't I promise Mrs. He yesterday that I would film these two dishes? Since both require precise heat control, the stoves here at the restaurant are more professional, so I brought Grandpa Xu here to cook."
"Jingyao happened to be free, so I asked him to be the taste tester."
"..."
Lu Jingming said, "If you were short on taste testers, I could have come back early."
Unexpectedly, his younger brother frowned and said, "Bro, don't be so stingy! I didn't even get to eat the pigeon yesterday, and now you won't let me eat what Grandpa Xu made today?"
"Why can't you eat it?"
Grandpa Xu, standing to the side, immediately chuckled and said, "Grandpa has nothing else to do right now. If you want to eat, just come find me, and I'll make it for you!"
"Thank you, Grandpa! Your culinary skills are amazing! These two dishes are undeniably delicious!"
Third Brother Lu immediately said sweetly.
Lu Jingming also smiled and said, "I'm just joking with him. Grandpa, these two dishes are made with such care; they smell amazing just looking at them."
He then added, "We're going to my sister's concert later. Would you and Grandma like to come along?"
Tonight was Lu Jingxi's concert. As previously arranged, a group of friends would be going with him and Xu Yanxia, including Third Brother Lu beside him, who had just enjoyed a great feast.
Grandpa Xu waved his hand and smiled, "We won't meddle in young people's activities. I'll be heading back in a bit."
"Alright then,"
Lu Jingming smiled and looked at his younger brother again. "Since you're full now, you can skip the barbecue later."
"Who said that? I'm not full yet. Don't even think about leaving me behind!"
Lu Jingyao immediately stood up to follow them out.
Xu Yanxia then asked him, "Did Assistant Wen not come with you?"
"He went home to change clothes,"
Lu Jingming said, "He said he smelled like work and insisted on changing."
"Poor Assistant Wen."
Xu Yanxia couldn't help but laugh.
Lu Jingyao then asked his brother, "Bro, why didn't you change?"
Lu Jingming raised an eyebrow. "Because I prepared this specifically."
That's right. Today, he was wearing a dark gray casual suit jacket paired with oatmeal-colored trousers, while Xu Yanxia was wearing an oatmeal-colored knitted dress with a cinched waist.
Standing together, they looked like a perfect match.
Lu Jingyao couldn't help but click his tongue. "People in love are really different! You even know how to coordinate couple outfits!"
"Exactly. When you start dating in the future, you'll know how too."
Saying this, Lu Jingming took Xu Yanxia's hand, and they walked out together.
Little did they know that just as they stepped out of the restaurant, they would run into an acquaintance.
It was Chu Hao, whom they hadn't seen for a while.
In late October, the weather in Rong City was getting cooler. He was wearing a trendy jacket and trousers, but his hair was still the same black color as last time.
Meeting so suddenly, everyone was a bit surprised.
Chu Hao was the first to greet them, and then he handed a black card to Lu Jingyao.
Lu Jingyao took it, and afraid that his Big Brother might misunderstand, he quickly explained, "Chu Hao came back from Jingbei the day before yesterday and borrowed my equestrian club card."
Lu Jingming hummed in acknowledgment and didn't say much else.
Instead, Chu Hao took the initiative to speak to Xu Yanxia again, "I heard the Teppanyaki restaurant opened. Congratulations. I also saw your program yesterday; it was filmed very well."
"You guys will come to Jingbei again, right?"
Xu Yanxia nodded politely and said, "Yes."
The other party then told her, "Let me know when you arrive. I'd like to treat you to a meal if there's a chance."
"..."
Before Xu Yanxia could speak, Lu Jingyao quickly interjected and said to Chu Hao, "The next time you see my Sister Xia, you'll probably have to call her sister-in-law. My brother and Sister Xia are getting engaged soon."
"...Alright,"
Chu Hao paused, then nodded at Xu Yanxia and said, "Congratulations then."
He then glanced at Lu Jingming and added, "Big Brother sure acts fast."
With that, he left.
Lu Jingyao coughed somewhat awkwardly and said, "Why is this guy acting so deeply affectionate?"
Not to mention anything else, ever since his confession was rejected by Sister Xia last time, it seemed he really hadn't pursued anyone else...
But his Big Brother, Lu Jingming, chuckled and said, "Deep affection isn't something you just talk about."
He then took Xu Yanxia's hand and said gently, "Let's go. Everyone is still waiting for us to eat barbecue."
He led her to the car in the parking lot.
...
After a lively barbecue dinner, the large group rushed to the stadium where Lu Jingxi was holding her concert this time.
Due to the popularity of Queen Xixi, a massive crowd of fans had already gathered outside the stadium.
But thanks to CEO Lu, they easily avoided the crowds and arrived at the VIP section under the guidance of a dedicated receptionist.
Xu Yanxia, attending a concert for the first time, only then realized that the VIP section was a box-like area.
It was separated from the other infield seats by metal railings, with dedicated staff guarding the entrance. Even the seats were made of leather, and it featured a private mini-bar stocked with various drinks and snacks.
The view was in the prime spot of the entire venue; the panoramic view of the stage unfolded before their eyes without any obstruction, allowing them to see everything crystal clear.
"So this is what the VIP area looks like."
Xu Yanxia was just marveling when she saw Ye Shu beside her looking like she was about to cry.
She excitedly grabbed her hand and said, "Xiaxia, the luckiest thing in my life is meeting you! If it weren't for you, how could I have eaten at the same table with Xixi last time, and now be sitting in such a great seat to watch her concert!!!"
You have to know that seats like this cost at least five or six thousand each, and you can't even buy them just because you have money!!!
Ye Shu excitedly hugged Xu Yanxia and said, "I love you, Xiaxia!!!"
As her voice fell, Wen Jiajun quietly coughed at Lu Jingming and said, "It's over, someone beat you to it."
"It doesn't matter."
Lu Jingming also cleared his throat in a low voice.
What he was going to call her was different from Ye Shu anyway.
Xu Yanxia, still unaware of the inside story, smiled and said to Ye Shu, "I'm just riding on someone else's coattails. We have to thank CEO Lu for this."
Saying that, she cast a smiling glance at him.
"Right, right, right,"
Ye Shu quickly looked over as well, even giving him a solemn bow, and said, "Thank you, CEO Lu, for bringing us to enjoy VIP treatment!!!"
This prompted Xiaozhen and her husband to also thank him, "Thank you for your hospitality tonight, CEO Lu!!!"
Lu Jingming smiled and said, "You're welcome, this is what everyone deserves. Thank you all for your dedicated efforts in helping our Xiaxia get on the show this time. Keep up the good work; next time there's an opportunity, we can have another team-building event."
"Alright, alright,"
Right after he finished speaking, Wen Jiajun quickly said with a speechless expression, "I've already worked overtime for a whole day today. Please, Mr. CEO, be a decent human being and stop with the corporate talk."
Lu Jingyao offered him an idea, "Brother, you can sponsor our competition. We have VIP seats too, and you can bring everyone to watch when the time comes."
Saying that, he stuffed a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
Lu Jingming looked at him speechlessly. "If you keep eating like this, I'm afraid all everyone will see is you being unable to run."
"How could that be,"
Lu Jingyao said pitifully, "I have to go to school tomorrow. Three days at school will starve me right back into shape."
...
As everyone chatted, the opening moment of the concert soon arrived.
As the venue's dome suddenly went dark, thousands of suspended crystal lenses appeared on the central stage, refracting a cold blue light.
Immediately after, another bright light split the darkness. The big star, Queen Xixi, appeared in the center of the stage wearing a silver fringed gown, and began to sing her first song to the accompaniment of the musical intro.
Cheers immediately erupted one after another throughout the venue.
"Xixi, I love you!!!"
Ye Shu shouted excitedly along with the crowd.
Xu Yanxia also stared intently at the stage, not forgetting to say to Lu Jingming, "Xixi is amazing! She doesn't have stage fright at all in front of so many people, and she sings so beautifully!!!"
Lu Jingming looked at her with a smile and said, "Everyone has their own specialty. You're very amazing too."
...
Accompanied by Queen Xixi's clear voice performing moving songs, both fast and slow, along with the stunning visual effects on stage, the concert had unknowingly reached its halfway point.
After a fast-paced dance track ended, the stage lights gradually softened.
Lu Jingxi, who had changed into a light blue floor-length evening gown, walked to the edge of the stage with a microphone in hand. She smiled and said, "Everyone knows I'm from Rong City. Returning to my hometown truly makes me feel incredibly warm and moved.
"What moves me especially today is that my family has also come to the venue."
"Next, I'd like to trouble the cameramen and lighting crew to help me find them."
As her voice fell, Lu Jingyao froze for a moment. "Damn, is my sister trying to pull off some tear-jerking moment?"
Saying that, he quickly put down the snack bag in his hand and sat up a bit straighter.
Immediately after, the image of their VIP seating area appeared on the main screen.
But the camera's focus landed on his brother, and Sister Xiaoxia beside him.
Following that, a wave of cheers echoed through the venue, with many audience members shouting their names—
"It's Xiaxia and Big Brother!!!"
"Ahhh, my ship has appeared!!!"
...
Then they heard his sister in the center of the stage smile and say, "That's right, this is the best ship that the whole internet is obsessing over! Today is a sweet stage, so I also want to invite everyone to witness a sweet moment with me."
"Next, I'll hand it over to you, Big Brother!"
As her voice fell, Lu Jingming on the big screen gave an OK gesture to his sister in the center of the stage, and then stood up from his seat.
Solemnly, with a face full of smiles, he got down on one knee in front of Xu Yanxia.
