Xu Yanxia agreed immediately, saying, "I happen to have the night off tonight. Is there something you need?"
The young man on the other end of the line could be heard saying, "There is something. What time can you come out? Where would be a convenient place for us to meet?"
"I might need a little while,"
Xu Yanxia told the person on the phone. "Are you at the university right now? I can just go over and find you."
The other side replied, "Okay."
Then she hung up the phone.
Lu Jingming immediately adjusted his expression. When she walked closer, he feigned casualness and asked, "Heading out for something?"
Xu Yanxia didn't hide anything from him. She nodded directly and said, "The senior we ran into at Huanong University the other day needs to see me for something. President Lu, have you eaten yet?"
Lu Jingming was speechless.
Judging by her words, did she plan to make dinner for him and then go see that guy?
He immediately told a lie, "I've already eaten. If you're in a hurry, you can leave right now."
"Alright."
She nodded and said, "Then I'll go pack my things. For tomorrow's breakfast, please ask Aunt Zhang to make it for you. I'll come back as early as possible tonight."
"It's fine,"
Lu Jingming smiled. "I can go to the cafeteria for dinner. The cafeteria has been revamped quite nicely these past few days, so you don't need to rush."
"Okay."
Xu Yanxia smiled at him, then went to get the guest information Mrs. Lu had just mentioned from Aunt Zhang, and returned to her room to pack.
When she came out again, she found that Lu Jingming had changed into casual clothes and was waiting for her at the door with his car keys.
"I'll drop you off."
Xu Yanxia was taken aback. "I can just take a taxi. Huanong isn't close, and you just got back from Gangcheng. You don't have to take me."
Who knew he would reply, "I happen to have to go to the company later. It's on the way anyway, and my car is faster."
On the way?
Xu Yanxia was a bit puzzled. "...But the company is still quite a distance from Huanong."
It should be known that the Lu family's mansion was located in the east of Rong City, while Huanong was situated towards the west. The two places were nearly forty kilometers apart. The Lu Group's office building was located between the two, meaning it was still at least a dozen kilometers away from her university.
However, before Lu Jingming could speak, Aunt Zhang also chimed in to persuade her, "It's getting dark. It's not very safe for a girl like you to take a taxi for such a long trip. Besides, President Lu is heading out anyway, so it's no big deal for him to drop you off."
Xu Yanxia said, "...I'm just afraid of taking up President Lu's time."
"It's nothing,"
Lu Jingming said with a relaxed look on his face. "I'm just going to pick up some documents. It won't delay anything. Let's go."
Saying that, he walked ahead to lead the way for her.
"Then I'll have to trouble you."
Xu Yanxia had no choice but to follow him.
...
Forty minutes later, the CEO's Maybach pulled up to the gates of Huanong.
At a glance, Xu Yanxia spotted Lin Hengnan standing under a streetlight.
She unbuckled her seatbelt and said to Lu Jingming, "Thank you so much for the trouble. If there's anything you need tomorrow, just contact me directly. I can come back early."
With that, she reached for her backpack in the back seat.
Lu Jingming immediately said, "I have to head back later anyway, and the company isn't far from your senior's place. I'll wait for you so we can go back together."
Saying this, he glanced at the young man and added, "It's so late, you two probably won't be going anywhere else, right?"
That made sense.
Xu Yanxia nodded. "Probably not. Then I'll have to trouble you to wait for me."
"Mhm."
Lu Jingming nodded, watching her open the passenger door and step out.
She walked all the way up to the young man.
"Senior,"
Xu Yanxia greeted him. "What did you need to see me for?"
At the university gates on a weekend, pedestrians came and went, making the area quite bustling.
Sitting inside his car, even with the air conditioning off and the windows rolled down, Lu Jingming still couldn't hear her conversation with the young man.
But he could clearly see the other party glance in his direction and ask Xu Yanxia a question, his facial expression seeming less than relaxed.
To avoid looking like a peeping tom, Lu Jingming took out his phone and pretended to scroll through the screen.
...
Under the streetlight not far away, Xu Yanxia answered Lin Hengnan's question with a smile, "My boss happened to be going to the company to pick something up, so he gave me a ride on the way. Senior, what did you need to see me for?"
Lin Hengnan said, "The other day you told me you found a job, and forgive me for not asking for details. I only found out today when I saw the trending searches that you went to work as a private chef for the Lu family?"
"Ah, yes,"
Xu Yanxia nodded with a relaxed expression. "They happened to be hiring a chef, and an acquaintance of our family recommended me for the job."
With that, she asked in slight surprise, "You couldn't be looking for me just because of this, could you?"
Lin Hengnan did not deny it.
With a somewhat heavy expression, he said, "It's my fault. During that time, I was only focused on my own affairs and neglected to care about you. A capable girl like you shouldn't be doing that kind of work."
"..."
Xu Yanxia couldn't quite understand what he meant.
She could only say, "This job is actually quite good, and I like it a lot. Besides, I found it myself, so you don't need to take the blame, Senior."
To her surprise, he went on, "I spoke with Professor Zhou today. His lab currently has a vacant position that suits you perfectly. Why don't you come over?"
"???"
Why was he finding a job for her now?
Xu Yanxia had no choice but to reply, "Thank you, Senior, but I'm doing quite well at my current job, and I don't have any plans to change jobs for the time being."
All in all, she just felt that he was acting a bit strange tonight...
"Xiao Xia,"
Lin Hengnan suddenly called her name with a serious look on his face. "I've always felt that you're different from other girls. You have this pure and clean aura about you. Those wealthy families living in luxury and extravagance are from a completely different world than you."
"You shouldn't become their sacrifice."
"???"
Sacrifice???
Xu Yanxia was completely dumbfounded.
Why would Senior Lin suddenly say something so serious???
She thought about it quickly, and suddenly, it dawned on her—
Could it be that he saw people shipping her and Lu Jingming online and misunderstood the situation?
She immediately wanted to clear up the rumor with him.
Who knew that just as she opened her mouth, she heard Lin Hengnan say, "For kids from ordinary families like us, isn't studying hard all about getting ahead in the world? Your grades are so good, and you have so much potential; you shouldn't be doing a job like this."
"As the saying goes, a gentleman stays away from the kitchen. In ancient times, this profession was considered one of the lowest classes in society."
Xu Yanxia froze instantly.
She even doubted her own ears.
—Lin Hengnan was saying that being a chef was a lowly profession???
She never expected that today, more than a hundred years after the end of feudal society, someone would still say such a thing.
And the other party was even a top student from a prestigious university.
...
"Is that what you think too?"
She asked with a frown. "Even though society has progressed to where it is today, you still believe that the culinary profession is inferior to others?"
She watched as Lin Hengnan paused for a moment, but still said, "After all, it involves serving others to earn a salary. At the end of the day, there is no essential difference from the past."
"???"
Xu Yanxia actually laughed.
She said, "You are right, the nature of this profession hasn't fundamentally changed from the past. It is still about keeping company with pots and stoves, with the ultimate goal of making delicious food. But our society has moved forward."
"Professions may differ, but our human dignity is exactly the same. I am simply earning a living through my own hard work. There is absolutely no difference between me and an office worker or a lab researcher."
"Oh, and by the way," she added, "did you forget that my grandfather and my brother are also chefs? My grandfather raised us by cooking, and my brother paid for my college tuition by cooking. So, in your eyes, they are also from the lowest rung of society, worthy only of your contempt?"
Forgive her for her sharp words, but she was genuinely a little angry.
"I didn't mean it like that," Lin Hengnan hurriedly explained. "I fully understand their hardships. My parents are also from the ordinary working class. That is exactly why we need to work even harder to climb up in the world. Your academic grades are so outstanding. As long as you persevere, you will definitely have a bright future. Why throw away such great prospects for a bit of fleeting vanity?"
"Vanity?" Xu Yanxia's brows furrowed even tighter. "I don't quite understand what you mean."
She watched as Lin Hengnan cast a glance at the Maybach parked behind her, and at Lu Jingming sitting inside, before turning back to her. "That man is indeed very rich. Any one of his cars is worth an entire apartment in Rong City. But will he really marry you?"
"In the eyes of wealthy men like him, pretty young girls like you are nothing more than playthings to be beckoned and dismissed at will."
Xu Yanxia, "???"
