Xu Yanxia couldn't help but think of what Luo Jiajia had said last night.
—Could this also be because he liked her?
...He couldn't be that love-struck, could he?
Just as she was pondering this, she saw her brother run over from next door to call her. "Xiao Xia, someone from President Lu's company just called me. They asked me to go over for an in-person meeting regarding the investment."
"So fast?"
Xu Yanxia was even more surprised.
It had only been forty minutes since Lu Jingming messaged her saying they might need to meet in person, and the call was already here?
Xu Zhanpeng, however, said, "Big companies like theirs value efficiency. Since you have the day off today, let's go together. If we head over now, we should be back by noon. It won't delay us setting up the stall tonight."
—Although he was the nominal boss of Xu's Teppanyaki, the actual backbone of the business was his sister. He was especially not good at things like negotiating contracts.
"Alright then."
Xu Yanxia gave Luo Jiajia some instructions on when to turn off the heat for the beef offal, and then went to the Lu Group with her brother.
Just as Lu Jingming had said, in order to run Jiu Shan, he had specially established a dedicated catering investment company. The people receiving them this time were several managers from this new company.
Perhaps because President Lu had informed them in advance, the meeting went exceptionally smoothly. Before the lunch break, both parties had already agreed on the main framework and details.
Manager Chen from the project department personally escorted them downstairs and specifically told them, "The next step for the company is to go through some necessary procedures, which will take about three or four working days. We can keep in touch if anything comes up."
"Okay."
Xu Yanxia nodded. Seeing that the elevator had reached the first floor and the doors were opening, she stepped out with her brother and Manager Chen.
Coincidentally, another elevator nearby also arrived at the lobby, and several people walked out of it as well.
Xu Yanxia spotted Lu Jingming at a glance.
He was wearing a light khaki Italian-style suit today, which looked sharp yet carried a hint of artistic flair. He had been conversing with the others, a trace of seriousness between his brows.
But when his gaze inadvertently swept over and he saw her and her brother, he immediately interrupted his conversation with the others and walked toward them, asking with a smile, "You came over so quickly?"
—Ahem, after Luo Jiajia's pointers last night, Xu Yanxia actually felt a little... awkward seeing him right now.
But in front of so many people, he didn't show anything unusual, and she tried her best to speak to him in a very natural tone. "Yes, we received the call shortly after you sent the message. We just finished the discussion and are about to leave."
"So how did the discussion go?" he asked again.
Xu Zhanpeng hurriedly replied, "It went very smoothly. Thank you, President Lu."
Manager Chen also quickly reported to him, "The main framework and details are all set. The next step is just to refine a few things and go through the procedures."
"That's good."
Lu Jingming nodded.
Manager Chen and the others, being very tactful, bid him farewell together. "President Lu, please take your time talking with these two. We will take our leave first."
Then they went their separate ways.
"..."
Xu Zhanpeng secretly wondered if he should also leave some space for his sister and this President Lu to speak alone.
Before he could make a decision, he saw Lu Jingming asking his sister, "Have you read the contract for Jiu Shan? Is there anything that needs to be changed?"
Xu Yanxia paused and decided to ask him directly. "Everything else is fine, but why has the salary increased again?"
She saw him smile. "Didn't Jingxi negotiate it for you?"
Xu Yanxia let out an "ah," almost believing it.
But then she saw him say seriously, "It was decided after a comprehensive evaluation of your abilities. You are worth this annual salary."
"Oh,"
Xu Yanxia then nodded. "Thank you then."
Looking at his expression, he didn't seem like someone who was completely love-struck.
Perhaps Luo Jiajia had gotten it wrong.
Then she heard Lu Jingming ask the siblings in a relaxed tone, "It's just about noon. How about we have lunch together?"
Xu Zhanpeng quickly waved his hand. "We won't trouble you. There are still a lot of things to do back home."
Xu Yanxia also told him, "I haven't finished recording my video for today. I have to go back and wrap it up."
Lu Jingming became curious. "What's the content for today?"
Xu Yanxia smiled and said, "I plan to make our family's signature teppanyaki beef offal, and drive some traffic to it while I'm at it."
"Good idea,"
Lu Jingming nodded. "The beef offal yesterday was indeed delicious, but it's different from the one you made at home last time."
Xu Yanxia explained to him again, "Because the one I made for you last time was Cantonese-style beef offal, which has a savory and sweet sauce flavor, and it's stewed to be much softer and more tender. Our family's version is pan-fried and roasted with a five-spice flavor, so the braised texture has a little bit more chewiness to it."
"I see."
Lu Jingming added, "Then remember to let me know in the group chat after you finish filming. I'll go take a look."
Xu Yanxia also smiled and nodded. "Okay."
"..."
Standing to the side, Xu Zhanpeng increasingly felt like a brightly shining third wheel.
Seeing them chatting so well, he should have gone to wait on the side earlier.
Fortunately, just at that moment, Lu Jingming's phone rang.
Xu Yanxia bid him farewell, saying, "You go ahead and get busy. We'll head back first."
"Mhm."
He waved to the siblings as well, and then answered the call.
...
Finally walking out of the Lu Group, the siblings drove back to their rented house.
Xu Zhanpeng recalled Lu Jingming's words in the lobby just now and quickly asked his sister, "Xiao Xia, what was that about the annual salary President Lu mentioned?"
Xu Yanxia told him about how she was going to be the Quality Director for Jiu Shan.
After hearing that she could still get an annual salary of half a million just by working part-time, Xu Zhanpeng almost slammed on the brakes.
"Xiao Xia,"
He frowned and asked, "President Lu... he couldn't be expecting some inappropriate favors from you, could he?"
Pfft...
Xu Yanxia was instantly amused. "It's not like that. His character is still trustworthy."
"But,"
Her honest, upright, and kind-hearted brother still felt a little uneasy. "Isn't this a bit too much..."
Xu Yanxia smiled confidently. "How much I get paid depends on my abilities. As long as I can improve the quality of the dishes and bring them profit, then it's worth it."
...
Over the course of the afternoon, Xu Yanxia finished the video and drafted the menu.
She posted the video on Douyin and sent a copy of the menu to Aunt Zhang and Lu Jingming respectively.
The hour hand was already pointing to five-thirty. Considering that Aunt Zhang might be cooking at this time, she messaged Lu Jingming: "This is the menu for Wednesday. If it's convenient for you, please send it to Madam to take a look. If there's anything unsuitable, I will change it."
Lu Jingming quickly replied with an OK.
A while later, he asked her again: "Is it convenient for you to take a call now?"
Thinking that the menu needed adjustments, she immediately replied: "It is."
He then made a voice call to her.
"My mom looked at the menu and said she is very satisfied. What time are you free tonight? She said she ordered a few outfits for you at Baihui and asked me to take you to try them on."
"Outfits?"
Xu Yanxia hurriedly tried to decline. "I've only worn the one Madam bought for me last time once."
But she heard him chuckle and say, "She said she has already ordered them. She just wants you to go and try them on for size. There's still time before Wednesday, so if they don't fit, there's still time to alter them."
"...Alright then."
Since Wednesday's family banquet was so important, and as the head chef she represented the Lu family's image, she would probably be expected to make an appearance and greet the guests.
Given Mrs. Lu's style, she would never wear the same outfit twice when meeting guests.
She couldn't afford to embarrass Mrs. Lu, either.
Xu Yanxia then said, "I am free right now. What time is convenient for you?"
"I am just about to get off work." Lu Jingming's voice over the phone was relaxed and pleasant. "Let's meet in half an hour, then."
Xu Yanxia agreed. "I will wait for you at the teppanyaki stall."
...
Half an hour later, Xu Yanxia arrived at the teppanyaki stall right on time with her friends who were setting up for the night.
She immediately noticed Lu Jingming's car parked there as well.
The car window rolled down, and he waved at her.
She could see that he was still wearing the same Italian-style shirt, though his sleeves were rolled up, giving him a much more casual look.
Xu Yanxia waved back and was about to walk over to him when someone nearby suddenly called her name.
"Xiao Xia."
She froze for a moment, shifted her gaze, and saw Lin Hengnan.
