The bonus injected a new vigor into the long-emptied bodies of He Xiaoqian and Shen Yue.
After cleaning up the store, they left one after another. Ma Lu didn't hurry off; instead, he and Old Wang checked the remaining ingredients, noted what needed to be restocked, and also tidied up the sanitation in the kitchen area.
Overall, the first day of the store opening went smoothly, yet Ma Lu couldn't shake the feeling that he had forgotten something.
It wasn't until he turned off all the lights and was about to lock the door that he looked up unintentionally at the pitch-dark second floor and smacked his forehead in realization.
"Oh shit, Zhen Ye!"
Zhen Ye's old room had been remodeled, finishing up around the same time as Ma Lu's store renovations, and it had been airing out for nearly a week, the smell almost gone.
Most of the better quality paints these days are zero-VOC, and of course, some furniture and auxiliary materials still contain formaldehyde, but as long as ventilation is maintained, the concentration can generally be kept within a healthy range.
Ma Lu had planned to bring Zhen Ye along for the store's opening to send her back home, but after witnessing the burning of the Witch, he forgot about it upon his return and also forgot to deliver a meal to Zhen Ye.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
So, he hurriedly reopened the store door, had Old Wang prepare another rice dish, then hopped on his tricycle and rushed to the housing complex where he rented an apartment.
Only after the tricycle vanished at the corner did a figure emerge from behind a roadside paulownia tree.
Yu Yitong quietly approached the entrance of Universe Infinite Canteen, placed the flower basket she was carrying there, with a card that bore no name, just a line reading "I'm sorry."
After positioning the basket, Yu Yitong turned to leave like a thief, but after a few steps, she returned, took the card away.
That apology was too conspicuous, instantly revealing who it was from.
And Ma Lu was likely to recognize her handwriting.
Yu Yitong retrieved the card, walked to the corner, but once again returned and took the flower basket too.
She called for a Didi, rode back to her rented apartment, swapped her shoes for slippers, set the flower basket next to the fridge.
Then, she pushed open her bedroom door, swiftly removed her coat and skirt suit, one-handedly unclasped her bra, and collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in the duvet.
About half a minute passed, and her phone started vibrating.
Yu Yitong picked it up to see a message from Xiao Ji asking where she was.
Yu Yitong typed back—in home.
Soon, Xiao Ji sent another message—Did you apologize?
—I didn't see him.
Yu Yitong lied.
Yu Yitong felt embarrassed, and after a moment continued typing, "I'm just a newbie who has just joined the company, and there's not much I can do. I have no power to modify or take down the draft, and anyway, many people have already seen it."
——Giving up so easily doesn't sound like the Yu Yitong I know.
Xiao Ji said.
——Now you're working at the review site, and he happens to have opened a restaurant. You should be able to find an opportunity to make it up to him.
Yu Yitong took a deep breath.
Xiao Ji reminded again.
——And remember to apologize.
She sent an emoji of a relaxed bear with crossed arms.
——I'll... look for an opportunity then.
But Yu Yitong chickened out again, trying to be evasive, which the ever-perceptive Xiao Ji on the other side of the screen easily saw through.
——Don't wait for another opportunity. You've been waiting until his new shop has already opened. You should clear things up quickly, otherwise the longer you wait, the greater the misunderstanding.
——Got it, busybody.
——Hehe, wasn't it you who sent me 'I'm doomed' ten times after that article went up? If you don't want me to meddle, then perk up yourself.
——Fine, enough nagging. I'm going to sleep, I have a ton of work tomorrow.
After chatting with Xiao Ji, Yu Yitong did indeed feel a bit more relaxed.
She went out to get a glass of water to drink, then saw the flower basket leaning against the fridge.
"It really... should be left there, I guess."
Experience exclusive tales on empire
Yu Yitong murmured to herself.
"But could it arouse his girlfriend's suspicions? Come to think of it, which of the two who left last was really his girlfriend? One of them looked somewhat familiar, like she might also be a student at Aerospace University... This guy, how many girlfriends did he have?
"Wait, why am I concerning myself with this? It's not like it has anything to do with me."
Yu Yitong drank her water, and since her mind was elsewhere, she bumped her shin against the coffee table in the living room on her way back to the bedroom, causing a loud clang and leaving a bruise on her leg.
Yu Yitong winced with pain, squatting on the ground and rubbing vigorously at her leg.