Mo Ke saw Lin Qi pretending to be unfamiliar with him and smiled, "Since no one’s here, I’ll reserve two seats. Remember to save one for me, I’m going to get some food."
After saying that, Mo Ke headed to the queue at the service window.
Han Na, seeing Mo Ke leave, asked Lin Qi in a lowered voice, "Why would someone from the president’s office come to the canteen for lunch?"
Lin Qi replied, "I don’t know... Maybe it’s because it’s particularly busy today that there isn’t time to eat out, so they’re settling for the canteen."
No sooner had her words fallen when the vast canteen suddenly quieted down, to the point where you could hear a pin drop.
All eyes swiftly turned toward the direction where Lin Qi was sitting.
The table where Lin Qi sat instantly became the center of attention.
She looked up to survey her surroundings and saw Huo Tingdong, who had without notice appeared at her table, about to sit down.
Han Na also looked up, and upon seeing Huo Tingdong, her eyes nearly popped out: "Huo... Mr. Huo..."
It was a shock for her to see Huo Tingdong going to sit with them. She became nervous, unsure whether to sit or stand, her face turning crimson with awkwardness and her body stiffening repeatedly. She attempted to stand but at the mere glance from Huo Tingdong, who looked thoughtful, she got so scared that her legs gave out and she plopped back down in her seat.
Lin Qi couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation at Han Na’s unease, "Han Na, what’s the matter with you?"
Han Na stammered, "Huo... Huo Huo Huo Huo Huo..."
She looked towards Lin Qi, "That’s Mr. Huo!"
She was so nervous that she couldn’t get her words out.
After all, she never dreamed that one day she would have a chance to sit at the same table and dine with Huo Tingdong!
Her blushing face resembled that of a young fan who had just seen a major celebrity.
Huo Tingdong also did not anticipate such a dramatic reaction from her.
Not just from Han Na.
Other employees in the canteen also had strong reactions.
After all, some employees who had been with the company for four or five years had never seen Huo Tingdong come to the canteen to eat.
Soon, Mo Ke returned with two servings of food: "Mr. Huo, your meal is ready."
Lin Qi’s attention was quickly drawn to the plates of food Mo Ke was holding.
He had gotten two servings, each with two large chicken drumsticks.
As soon as Mo Ke sat down, he noticed Lin Qi incessantly staring at the chicken drumsticks on his plate.
He appeared taken aback and asked, "Miss Lin, why are you staring at my chicken drumsticks? Aren’t you full?"
Han Na’s expression, as if she had seen a ghost, snapped her eyes towards Lin Qi: "Lin Qi, do you know each other?"
Lin Qi awkwardly replied, "Oh, we’ve met once before."
She then quickly added, "I’m not quite full, but the canteen is too crowded, and I don’t want to line up."
Mo Ke picked up a pair of unused chopsticks, intending to pass a chicken drumstick to her.
Huo Tingdong gave him a meaningful glare.
Mo Ke, startled, retracted his hand swiftly, and the chicken drumstick nearly dropped onto the table.
Only then did he realize his presumptuousness and quickly bowed his head to devour his rice.
Huo Tingdong turned to Lin Qi, seeing her plate was void of any meat dish, then picked up his chopsticks and placed one of his plate’s chicken drumsticks onto hers: "Eat more."
Han Na’s face showed an even deeper mystery.
Mr. Huo was actually giving Lin Qi a chicken drumstick!!
Lin Qi, however, contentedly lowered her head and picked up the chicken drumstick with her chopsticks, heartily enjoying her meal.
Huo Tingdong turned to Mo Ke, "Besides chicken drumsticks, are there other meat dishes today?"
He worried that one drumstick might not be enough for Lin Qi, who looked starved like a famine-stricken refugee.
Mo Ke hastily stood up, his mouth still bulging with food, and hurried to the service window to see if there were any other meat dishes.
Han Na couldn’t help but find the situation somewhat odd.
Looking at Huo Tingdong and then at Lin Qi, seated in a row, they didn’t seem like a boss and a subordinate but rather like a respectful couple, akin to husband and wife.
Huo Tingdong’s natural action of putting a chicken leg on Lin Qi’s plate didn’t make her feel uneasy as it would others. Normally, employees would feel nervous and restrained in front of Huo Tingdong, but she didn’t!
Qi Lichuan walked over, surprised to see Huo Tingdong having a meal in the cafeteria: "Did the sun rise from the west today? You rarely honor us with your presence for a meal in the cafeteria!"
Huo Tingdong retorted: "If you can come here, why can’t I?"
Qi Lichuan replied: "Since it’s such a rare occasion, let’s eat together!"
Saying this, he looked towards Han Na, noticed her empty plate, and asked: "Have you finished eating?"
Han Na hurriedly offered her seat to Qi Lichuan: "I’ve eaten already. I’m just waiting for Lin Qi to finish so we can go back together."
After Lin Qi finished her chicken leg, she stood up, but under the table, Huo Tingdong held her hand back: "Sit down, keep me company."
Qi Lichuan got the hint and immediately said to Han Na: "Han Na, you go back first! Lin Qi hasn’t had her fill yet."
Lin Qi also said: "Han Na, you go ahead."
Han Na nodded, picked up her empty plate, and left.
Qi Lichuan took a seat opposite Lin Qi.
He instructed his assistant: "Get me a meal, I want braised lamb."
Mo Ke returned with a portion of meat dishes.
He knew what Lin Qi liked to eat - besides chicken legs, there were also beef short ribs.
Lin Qi asked: "Where did you go early this morning?"
Qi Lichuan smiled: "Tingdong, your wife is checking in on you."
Lin Qi said: "We aren’t married yet, what wife?"
Huo Tingdong suddenly dropped a bombshell: "Lin Qi, let’s pick a good date to register our marriage."
He didn’t seem to mind that Qi Lichuan and Mo Ke were sitting right across from them.
Lin Qi didn’t react at first, but after a moment, she opened her eyes wide, gaping at him: "Register for marriage?"
Huo Tingdong stated: "Let’s get the certificate first. As for the rest, I’ll arrange everything properly."
Lin Qi countered: "Isn’t marriage registration something that can be done at any time? Why are you suddenly in a hurry to register with me?"
Qi Lichuan touched his nose: "Probably... maybe... he’s afraid you’ll run away."
Huo Tingdong glared at Qi Lichuan.
Qi Lichuan quickly corrected himself: "I misspoke, sorry! Lin Qi, there’s no escape for you now. Once Tingdong sets his eyes on someone, even with wings, they can’t fly away."
Lin Qi asked: "Are you being serious or just saying that casually?"
Huo Tingdong affirmed: "Serious."
Lin Qi thought for a moment: "Is this your way of proposing?"
Qi Lichuan immediately seriously declared: "No, no! A proposal is a significant matter and shouldn’t be taken so lightly; it should have some sense of ceremony! After all, marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime event."
Lin Qi burst out laughing: "Not necessarily, what if there’s a next time?"
Huo Tingdong looked at her solemnly: "Next time? You’re thinking about a next time? With whom would you have a next time?"
Qi Lichuan could almost taste the jealousy spilling out of Huo Tingdong with that remark.
He had seen people get jealous before, but never over a non-existent person.
Especially someone like Huo Tingdong!
He couldn’t believe Huo Tingdong could actually be jealous!
Qi Lichuan couldn’t believe his eyes.
Unbeknownst to him, the cafeteria gradually filled with more people.
Huo Tingdong knew that this public setting wasn’t the right place to continue this topic, so he turned to Lin Qi and said: "Come to my office this afternoon."