Xu Yanxia was speechless.
Lu Jingming nodded and said to her, "Sure."
As he spoke, he set the spray aside and truly looked as if he was about to pick her up and carry her.
"I’ll stick with the wheelchair," Xu Yanxia blurted out immediately.
She sat down.
Manager Wei smiled and said, "I'll push you."
But CEO Lu beat him to it. "I’ll do it."
...
And so, Xu Yanxia experienced a wheelchair for the first time in her life as she was pushed to the dining table in the courtyard.
The waiter served a lavish breakfast: century egg congee, shrimp dumplings, durian puffs, walnut buns, beef rice rolls, and stir-fried noodles with shredded meat and vegetables.
The clubhouse restaurant specialized in local Cantonese flavors. The chefs had worked in major hotels, so the food was consistently excellent.
More importantly, as late September approached, Rong City was entering its most pleasant season, with noticeable temperature differences between day and night.
Enjoying a breakfast she didn't have to lift a finger for in the cool, twenty-something-degree morning air was a rare treat.
While they were eating, Lu Jingming's phone suddenly vibrated.
He picked up, and Wen Jiajun's voice came through the speaker. "President Lu, I'm not sure if your stomach is holding up after that heavy hotpot last night, but I have to remind you that there are several important meetings today. Please make sure to be on time."
"I know."
Lu Jingming took a bite of a durian puff and said, "I'll be at the office on time, don't worry."
Then Wen Jiajun asked, "Are you having breakfast? What delicious things did Xiao Xu make this morning? Bring some leftovers for me."
Xu Yanxia, who happened to overhear, couldn't help but chuckle. Why did he sound like he was begging for food?
Lu Jingming glanced at her with a smile and said to Wen Jiajun, "Sorry, Xiao Xu is enjoying someone else's breakfast today. She sprained her ankle and needs to rest. If you want to eat, I can bring you some of the other food."
"Never mind then," Wen Jiajun declined immediately, then questioned him, "What kind of pursuer are you? You rushed off to have hotpot with her yesterday, making us stay late to work, and you ended up letting her get hurt?"
Cough...
Xu Yanxia nearly choked.
So even Assistant Wen knew he liked her...
Lu Jingming remained calm. "It was my fault. That’s why I might have to ask you all to work overtime again today. I need to get back early to make amends."
Wen Jiajun: "...Forget I said anything. Goodbye." He hung up.
Lu Jingming put his phone away. Xu Yanxia said to him, "I'm fine now. You don't have to rush back. Besides, you could just go home today."
He smiled and said, "This is what I want to do."
He put down his chopsticks and stood up. "Take your time eating. I'm heading to the office."
Manager Wei stepped forward. "I'll see you out, President Lu."
"No need."
Lu Jingming told him, "Just take good care of Miss Xu. If anything else happens, watch your bonus."
...
The day passed in a blur of work.
By the time CEO Lu finally caught a breath, the late afternoon sun was casting long shadows from the skyscrapers.
Seeing it was past five, he quickly packed his things and said to Wen Jiajun, "Keep an eye on the initial reports for those European projects. I’m leaving early to avoid traffic. Contact me on WeChat if anything comes up."
He hurried out of the office.
Once he stepped into the elevator, the secretary, Xiao Hu, whispered to Wen Jiajun, "Did President Lu move? Why is he suddenly worried about traffic?"
Wen Jiajun gave a short laugh. "Maybe. Hurry the project department along. Let's try to get off work on time today."
The drive from the downtown office building to the East Lake Clubhouse was over thirty kilometers. Fortunately, Lu Jingming managed to beat the rush hour.
As he parked and walked into the clubhouse, the golden sunset was draped over the white walls and grey tiles of the gardens.
Ignoring the scenery, he went straight to the kitchen. There, he saw Xu Yanxia, now in her work uniform, teaching a group of clubhouse chefs how to cook.
"You must sauté the aromatics for the braising liquid until fragrant first. Add the fresh ingredients first, then the dried ones once the aroma comes out. Remember to sauté over low heat; don't let it burn."
"We only want the gelatin from the pork skin for this braising broth. The oil must be skimmed off, or the color won't look right and it will taste fishy."
"The mustard sauce shouldn't be too thin, or it won't coat properly. Once mixed, seal it with sesame oil and let it ferment at room temperature for over six hours."
...
She was propped up by a crutch under her left arm, explaining as she demonstrated. Several pots of various sizes were bubbling on the stove, filling the air with rich aromas.
The chefs were listening intently, and some were even recording with their phones.
When someone noticed him, they greeted him, and everyone turned to look.
"President Lu."
"President Lu, you're here."
Xu Yanxia also said, "You're back."
Lu Jingming hummed in response and walked over to her. "How is it? How's your foot?"
"It's great," Xu Yanxia said with a smile. "Everyone helped me out a lot today."
"Miss Xu is too modest!" the chefs exclaimed. "You taught us so many useful things today!"
"Yes, we've learned so much from you. We saw techniques today we'd only heard of before. It's been very rewarding!"
Lu Jingming said, "Miss Xu is a true professional in the industry. This is a great opportunity, so make sure you all learn well from her."
He then asked Xu Yanxia, "How much longer will you be busy here?"
Xu Yanxia glanced at the clock on the wall. "Maybe another two hours. You can go ahead and eat first."
"It's fine," Lu Jingming said. "I'm not hungry yet. I'll go handle some work. Let me know when you're ready."
"Okay."
Xu Yanxia gave him an "OK" gesture. He left the kitchen, leaving her to her craft.
By the time they met again, night had fallen.
