Chapter 467 - 223: Wait, What Gives Zhou Yan the Right?

Chapter 467: Chapter 223: Wait, What Gives Zhou Yan the Right?

"Hello, sir," Duan Yu Yan said with a smile.

Huang Ying and Huang Bing said their hellos, then turned to Zhao Dong with wide smiles. "Hello, Uncle!"

Zhao Dong didn’t know how the siblings had met Xia Yao, but he thought it was a good thing. After all, Director Lin’s niece was a top student from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. Befriending her might just improve his own niece and nephew’s aesthetic sensibilities.

"Wait for me to finish eating, and I’ll take you to get your employment paperwork sorted," Lin Zhiqiang said to Xia Yao as he pulled out his wallet and paid the bill for their table.

"Okay, thank you, Uncle," Xia Yao said with a smile.

"Thank you, Uncle Lin," Duan Yu Yan, Huang Ying, and the others chimed in.

"You’re welcome." Lin Zhiqiang smiled and waved his hand. ’These kids can really eat,’ he thought. ’This one meal just cost me half a month’s breakfast money.’

’Well, what could he do? She was his own niece.’

’Zhao Tieying had offered to comp the meal, but that was out of the question. Nothing was settled between them yet; he couldn’t take advantage of the situation.’

’I’ll just have to get An He to reimburse me tonight.’

The line of waiting customers was long, so once the bill was paid, Xia Yao and her friends stood up to let the next people have their table.

Huang Ying and Huang Bing got on their bicycle and left first. The two siblings both held positions at Feiyan Restaurant now—one was the receptionist, and the other was in the kitchen learning Knife Skills.

"So graceful! Absolutely graceful! Xia Yao must have read a ton of books, and her upbringing must have been wonderful. Even the way she eats is so elegant. When will I ever be like that?" Huang Ying lamented as she rode her bike.

"Try again in your next life. It doesn’t look like you’ve got much of a chance in this one. If you tried to act like her, I’m pretty sure I’d have to smack you," Huang Bing said earnestly.

"Get lost!" Huang Ying seethed.

Duan Yu Yan was full and didn’t feel like getting in a car, so she, Xia Yao, and Zhou Momo went for a walk along the river embankment.

The two, being around the same age, hit it off as if they were old friends. Their conversation flowed happily from Mountain City to Hang City and then to Xiangjiang, from painting to literature.

Duan Yu Yan was a Chinese literature graduate from Xiangjiang University of Chinese Language. As an avid reader, she rarely met other young people who were on her wavelength.

"Xia Yao, why didn’t I meet you sooner? If I had, I would’ve visited you in Mountain City all the time. I’ve been in Jiazhou for almost a year, and the first ten months were so incredibly dull. All I did every day was read and sleep." Duan Yu Yan had already taken Xia Yao’s arm, her voice tinged with a playful grievance.

Xia Yao smiled. "Next time you come to Mountain City, I’ll show you around everywhere. We’ll eat hotpot, Bishan’s rooster stew, Tai’an Fish..."

Duan Yu Yan swallowed. "That all sounds so delicious," she said, a little worried, "but I’ve heard Mountain City is even more numbing and spicy than Rongcheng. I’m not sure I can handle it."

"Don’t worry, I can’t handle super spicy food either. As long as I’m the one taking you, you can eat to your heart’s content," Xia Yao reassured her.

"You’re the best!" Duan Yu Yan was touched. "I’m flying to Xiangjiang on Friday. You absolutely have to write to me. I’ll definitely come and visit you next year."

"Okay, leave me your address," Xia Yao nodded. "I’ll mail you one of my mother’s paintings and ask her to write a short inscription for you."

"Her actual signature?! That’s incredible! Starting today, you’re my best friend!" Duan Yu Yan was deeply moved. "You give me your address too, so I can mail you some of my favorite little things when I get back."

"Okay," Xia Yao agreed with a smile.

The three of them walked for a while before returning to the restaurant’s entrance.

Lin Zhiqiang was already waiting for them at the entrance.

"Goodbye, Xia Yao. Don’t forget to write," Duan Yu Yan said.

"I will. Goodbye," Xia Yao replied with a nod and a smile.

"Goodbye, Momo." Duan Yu Yan knelt and gently hugged Zhou Momo. "I’ll miss you."

"Goodbye, Yuyan," Zhou Momo said, wrapping her arms around her neck and kissing her cheek. Her eyes shimmered with tears, and her small, childish voice trembled. "Remember to come back and see Momo, okay? I’ll miss you too..."

"Okay, I promise I will." Duan Yu Yan kissed her cheek in return, then stood and walked to the car. Only after she was inside did she gently wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

’I can’t believe a grown woman like me is crying over a simple goodbye.’

’Momo is just too precious!’

’I just want to take her home with me.’

’Zhou Yan has it way too good!’

’To think Momo is his sister!’

’Damn him...’

Zhou Momo watched the car drive off into the distance, her little lip pushed out in a pout. She was feeling a little down.

"It’s okay. She’ll be back," Xia Yao said gently, taking her hand. "Just like I was."

The little girl’s eyes lit up, and she nodded with a smile.

"Yaoyao, where’s your luggage?" Lin Zhiqiang asked, getting up from a stone bench near the entrance.

"I have one bag, but I left it on Zhou Yan’s counter. It’s fine to pick it up later. All my documents are here in my satchel," Xia Yao said, pointing to the small bag she was carrying.

Lin Zhiqiang nodded. "Alright, let’s go. I’ll take you to get the paperwork done."

Xia Yao said a quick goodbye to Zhou Momo and followed Lin Zhiqiang toward the textile factory’s main gate.

After the lunch rush ended, Zhou Yan untied his apron and came out of the kitchen. He grabbed a large enamel mug from the counter and GULP, GULP, GULP, downed half of it before letting out a long sigh.

’Every meal service is a high-stakes battle.’

Mrs. Zhao told him, "Xia Yao went to take care of her employment paperwork. Her bag is still here, so she’ll definitely be back for it later."

"Got it," Zhou Yan nodded.

"Brother, Yuyan went home," Zhou Momo said, sidling up to Zhou Yan and looking up at him with her sweet, childish voice. "But she said she’ll come see us again."

"She said she’ll be back when our restaurant opens a branch in Jiazhou," Zhou Yan said with a smile and a nod. He hadn’t managed to say a proper goodbye to Duan Yu Yan.

’Then again, knowing her, she probably doesn’t care for that sort of thing anyway.’