Ren Jie smiled, first gently scratching Dundun’s chin, then asked with a smile, "Is Chef Chen busy upstairs?"
"No, she took advantage of the National Day holiday to head back to her hometown."
Shu Yun felt that after coming to Lin Ji, she hadn’t learned much else, but she was becoming smoother and smoother at lying.She had intended to say Chef Chen was on vacation. However, considering that the service industry was looking forward to recovering its losses during the seven-day National Day holiday, how could they let someone take a vacation at such a critical time? So she told a lie.
"Went back to her hometown?"
Ren Jie was somewhat surprised. This junior chef, returning home when the restaurant is at its busiest... isn’t she afraid of being fired?
He casually asked, "Where is Chef Chen’s hometown?"
"The Hulun Grassland."
Ren Jie was taken aback. "For real? She’s from the Hulun Grassland?"
Shu Yun took out her phone, opened the "Good Sisters’ Cups Stay Full" group chat, and scrolled to the vanity photo Chef Chen had posted yesterday. She showed Ren Jie the full-screen image. "Look, she just got home and already changed into a Mongolian robe. Pretty, isn’t it?"
Ren Jie looked and agreed that it indeed looked much better than that ill-fitting chef uniform.
Thinking about a girl from the grasslands braving the journey to make her way in Beijing alone, she must have endured a lot of hardship and suffered many grievances.That’s why you never see this kind of smile at the restaurant.Only when she’s back home can she let down her guard and her insecurities to peacefully enjoy the warmth of family.
Because of his preconceived notions, Ren Jie had already concocted a whole narrative in his mind about a grassland girl’s struggles and hardships in Beijing.The more he thought about it, the more moved he felt.If only he had met the junior chef sooner.
After another glance, Ren Jie curiously asked, "This photo doesn’t look like it was taken with a phone."
Shu Yun was momentarily stumped. Didn’t Chef Chen say Officer Ren was just a local beat cop? This kind of observational skill doesn’t seem like that of a regular officer from a local station.
Taking a deep breath, her mind racing, she said, "Yesterday, soon after Chef Chen got home and changed into her Mongolian robe, a group of photographers happened to be nearby doing some location shooting. Since her birthday is coming up, she asked one of them to take a picture of her as a birthday gift to herself. The artistic conception and composition of the photo are quite good, right? It cost her five hundred."
After speaking, Shu Yun internally regretted her words. I shouldn’t have spun such an elaborate tale. If he keeps asking, I won’t know how to get out of this.
However, Ren Jie didn’t dwell on it at that moment. Instead, he inwardly grumbled, Five hundred for one photo? That’s more expensive than a traffic police snapshot.
Speaking of traffic police, the image of the white sports car he had seen at the entrance popped into his mind.He hadn’t seen that car this time and wondered if it had been improperly parked recently.
"What would you like to eat, Officer Ren? I’ll have someone arrange it." To prevent further questioning, Shu Yun calmed herself and decided to change the subject.
Ren Jie pointed to the walkie-talkie hanging on his waist. "I’m on patrol nearby, so I can’t eat now. Maybe after I’m off duty... Manager Shu, I have a little question I’d like to ask you, but I feel it might be a bit presumptuous..."
Presumptuous? What does he mean?
Curious, Shu Yun asked, "Just say what’s on your mind, Officer Ren. Chef Chen and I are good friends privately. Just say it; no need to beat around the bush."
Ren Jie cleared his throat and asked softly, "I was wondering... what shoe size does Chef Chen wear?"
Shoes? Shu Yun was surprised. What’s going on? Why would a police officer suddenly ask about shoe sizes?
She raised an eyebrow. "Officer Ren, why are you asking about our Chef Chen’s shoe size?"
Ren Jie looked somewhat embarrassed. "I’ve noticed she always wears the same pair of shoes. The weather is getting cooler, and her birthday is coming up. So, I thought I would buy her a new pair. I just want to make sure I don’t get the size wrong, which is why I’m asking you."
So that’s it, Shu Yun thought. She said, "Our Chef Chen wears size 39 sneakers."
Only after saying it did she realize. Is this young cop mistaking our number 00001 member, Chen Baiwan, for Cinderella?But this Cinderella is far from being downtrodden.Her wealth even surpasses that of you, the ’Prince’.
Tsk, tsk, tsk... I’m really looking forward to what happens next!
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I inadvertently wrote six thousand words. I hope everyone enjoys it. At the end of the month, there are double Monthly Tickets, brothers. Save them up if you can, and if not, vote for me!