Chapter 270: Chapter 269: Why Are You Working Here?
Before Lu Mian could finish her sentence, Yuren stretched out his finger and tapped her lips.
He didn’t want to listen; afraid that if he heard too much, he wouldn’t be able to harden his heart.
Snatching the menu from Lu Mian’s hands, the man turned and headed to the kitchen, “I’ll make it for you.”
Shaking her head, Lu Mian followed him but ended up saying nothing. She reached the back of the kitchen, took a chef’s uniform out of the cabinet, and put it on herself.
“You go about your business, I’ll do it myself.”
“By yourself?” Yuren’s gaze flickered for a moment before he eventually gave her the lead.
As soon as Lu Mian rolled up her sleeves and dove into the kitchen, the master chefs all started exclaiming, even putting down their work to crowd around and gawk.
“Get back to your work!”
Lu Mian felt like kicking them. It was just cooking; what’s there to be so surprised about. She ignored the jeering crowd, deftly pulled a bass out of the tank, and began to prepare it.
Just as she was wielding the knife, a voice from outside, “Mianmian,” made her pause, causing the bass to flail and drop to the floor.
Someone quickly picked it up.
The knife in Lu Mian’s hand spun full circle, landing precisely on the chopping board. She looked up and saw a young man in a refined suit standing at the entrance of the kitchen, looking unsurely at her.
“Is that really you?” The young man walked straight toward her, with double-lidded, big eyes, and a gentle demeanor. His tone carried confusion and bewilderment, “Mianmian, what are you doing here?”
His eyes fell on the chef’s uniform Lu Mian was wearing, and he was clearly shocked, “Are you working here?”
Lu Mian’s expression was indifferent as she took the bass that someone had picked up, and with the back of the knife, she gave it a couple of smacks. Her demeanor was nonchalant yet not too cold as she called out “Brother.”
This ‘Brother,’ made Yuren freeze for half a second before he remembered that this person was the child from the Lu Family’s second branch, Mianmian’s cousin Lu Xi.
“Mianmian, stop what you’re doing and come with me,” he said, as he watched Lu Mian busily at work and reached out, intending to lead her away.
Lu Mian stepped aside to avoid him.
“Brother, I have no more ties with the Lu Family; you don’t need to worry about me.”
Speaking of which, Lu Mian’s relationship with this cousin wasn’t deeply affectionate, but there was some familial bond. In the past, when the two families gathered to have the New Year’s Eve dinner, and the servants had gone home for the New Year, Lu Xinnuan was unwell, so Lu Mian always ended up doing a lot of work. During those times, this cousin would silently step forward to help her.
Because of these memories, even though she had broken away from the Lu family, she would still address him as ‘Brother.’
It truly hadn’t occurred to Lu Xi that he would bump into Lu Mian here. Returning home this time, he could feel how the family avoided mentioning Lu Mian and sensed that something must have happened.
Two years ago, during the kidnapping, he had been out of town and unaware. Now that she had finally returned, she was working in this mixed mess of a place. Considering the treatment his other sister received at home, he felt quite bitter inside.
Now, seeing her busy with a bass, her skillful knife work and handling suggesting a veteran, his heart ached even more.
“Come with me, I’ll talk to the manager. Even if you’re still in school and you don’t want to depend on the family, I’m earning money now, and I can provide for you!”
Lu Xi grabbed her arm, shooting a warning glance at the kitchen masters, including Yuren, whose expressions were indiscernible.
The master chefs, as well as Yuren, all felt emmm…
Yuren stepped forward, blocking him, “Sir, I am in charge here, whatever it is, you can tell me.”
Lu Xi paused for a moment, slightly embarrassed, and coughed lightly, “Perfect. Lu Mian is my cousin, and she is still in high school. It’s not suitable for her to work here, please make a note and let her leave.”
What’s all this? She just wanted to cook a fish…
Lu Mian sighed, as she started to take off the chef’s uniform, and said helplessly, “Brother, listen to me first.”