Chapter 417: Chapter 337: Together

Cheng Zhu’s sudden remark almost made Lin Lu’s brain shrink.

She was already immersed in her huffy emotions, having eaten two fewer spoonfuls of black rice porridge for breakfast.

Just yesterday, while writing in her diary, she drew a big pig’s head on the page.

Today, she was determined to show Cheng Zhu her silent treatment; saying “good morning” only because they had a long-standing routine of greeting each other every day.

The girl didn’t want to break that habit. She even kept track of the day they first started saying good morning to each other, with the streak visible in an app.

Each time the number of days increased, she felt a bit of sweetness in her heart.

However, when Lin Lu saw Cheng Zhu and Little Youzi at Star City, her petty anger started to deflate.

“Let it go, he’s just like that–so annoying, so obnoxious, never taking initiative.”

“Maybe it’s related to his last relationship?” She was making excuses for Cheng Zhu in her own mind.

Based on what she learned from Jiang Wanzhou, she felt there was a good chance Cheng Zhu was indeed nursing a broken heart.

“Alright, alright, then I’ll swallow my pride once more and take the initiative to ask him again.”

“Who made me fall for such a bad boy like Cheng Zhu!”

Thus, Lin Lu’s final act of pettiness was to greet only Little Youzi and not Cheng Zhu.

As long as he initiates the conversation, I’ll interact with him as usual, just like always.

–Silent treatment initiated unilaterally and then abandoned without resistance, just as miserably.

Who would have imagined Cheng Zhu pulling such a stunt?

The phrase, “Not even greeting your boyfriend,” not only dumbfounded Lin Lu but also left Little Youzi beside them completely stunned.

With the wisdom of a kindergartner, she stood there, frantically digesting and trying to comprehend.

The little girl tilted her head back, looking up at the two adults beside her, shifting her gaze between her brother and Sister Lu, with her mouth slightly agape.

Inside her little head, there were big question marks.

Once Lin Lu regrouped, her heartbeat sped up, unable to handle Cheng Zhu’s antics.

Everything happened so abruptly; she had no mental preparation, but the last wisp of annoyance in her heart dissipated instantly.

She was feeling a bit aggrieved just a moment ago.

Now, she couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed, especially with a kiddo watching her with wide eyes.

“Sister Lu, your face is red!” Little Youzi suddenly exclaimed.

These siblings sure know how to drop bombs out of nowhere.

Out of the mouths of babes! Out of the mouths of babes!

“No, it’s not!” Lin Lu, even more embarrassed, blushed even harder.

Cheng Zhu didn’t tease her on purpose, instead, he naturally took her hand and inquired, “Why did you stop queuing the moment you saw me?”

“Because with you here, someone’s there to make it for me, and they don’t recognize me when you’re not around,” Lin Lu replied matter-of-factly.

“They do know you. The staff has been secretly paying attention to you for quite some time, gossiping behind your back,” Cheng Zhu said with a smile, saying it on purpose.

Of course, he was telling the truth.

But the staff’s attention wasn’t solely on her, nor was it just about gossiping about her.

Upon hearing this, Lin Lu was invigorated, feeling a prod in her heart as a flirtatious atmosphere spread around, promptly questioning, “What are they gossiping about?”

“What do you think?” Cheng Zhu didn’t answer directly, but this approach was sure to have a better effect than a straightforward answer.

“Pfft! Like I would know!” Lin Lu let him hold her hand, but uttered such words nonetheless.

Yet, while she claimed ignorance, she didn’t continue to press the issue.

Most likely, she was already bubbling with pink happiness in her heart.

“Let’s go. What would you like to drink? I’ll make it for both of you,” Cheng Zhu said, holding a hand of each, addressing both the young and the older one.

“Succulent Grapes!” Lin Lu claimed her girlfriend privileges, requesting a new product not yet on the market.

“Baked Black Sugar Boba!” Little Youzi’s request was due to her mom’s advice, to have a hot drink because the weather was too cold.

“Alright, I’ll make them for you secretly,” Cheng Zhu said with a laugh.

Once they arrived at the store, Cheng Zhu, the big boss, still made a point of calling out Wang Wei, the store manager, and bringing her over to Lin Lu.

Wang Wei immediately greeted Little Lu and Little You.

“Boss, what can I do for you?” she asked with a smile.

Wang Wei, too, had grown a lot since then, and of course, her salary had grown quite a bit as well.

Even though she’s as busy as a dog every day, she finds life fulfilling and is energized about her future.

She’s well aware that Cheng Zhu is a golden thigh, and she must work diligently and attentively in every task.

Being just an ordinary woman, since she’s careful and rarely makes mistakes, that’s why he’s willing to keep her on.

Opportunities like this may only come once in a lifetime.

When fate throws one your way, you’ve got to grab it!

Otherwise, it would be a bit ungrateful.

Cheng Zhu looked at his store manager from Youu Tea and said with a smile, “Nothing much, just bring you to recognize someone.”

That was an interesting statement.

Wang Wei had just greeted Lin Lu, yet he insisted on bringing her over to recognize someone.

As he said this, Cheng Zhu was still holding Lin Lu’s hand.

This filled Lin Lu’s heart to the brim, causing her little heart to thump wildly once more.

Wang Wei instantly got the hint and her face broke into a knowing smile: “So, should we start calling her Madam Boss from now on?”

But Cheng Zhu playfully retorted, “Not yet, she’s still on probation.”

Irritated, Lin Lu couldn’t help but raise her hand to give him a light punch.

The punched Cheng Zhu promptly said, “I’m going to make the milk tea now, just wait here.”

The spirited girl, watching Cheng Zhu and Wang Wei head inside, said to Little Youzi, “Little Youzi, don’t you think your brother can be quite bad sometimes?”

“Nope, brother is very nice to me,” the little girl asked, puzzled, “Sister Lu, is my brother bad to you?”

“Ah? Well, it’s not that he’s bad to me.”

Of course, what would a kindergartener know about the kind of ‘bad’ I’m talking about.

At this moment, inside Youu Tea’s prep area, Cheng Zhu was making milk tea with Wang Wei diligently assisting on the side.

She spoke in hushed tones, careful not to be overheard by the other staff members:

“Boss, are you two dating now?”

Cheng Zhu, holding a milk tea cup and glancing at her, said with a smile, “When working, focus on work; when working, focus on work. Isn’t it a bit out of line to pry into the boss’s private life?”

He wasn’t actually scolding Wang Wei, after all, it was he who deliberately called her over to Lin Lu, and she certainly wanted to be sure for future interactions.

Wang Wei had already seen a bevy of beauties around the boss while working at the claw machine store.

Several great beauties, and countless more who idolized him as a male god.

At this moment, Cheng Zhu had finished preparing one of the drinks, whispering, “Anyway, when she comes by, just treat her with the Madam Boss level of service.”

“Got it!” Wang Wei responded.

Cheng Zhu gave her a look, unsure whether she really understood or just pretended to.

In reality, Wang Wei had the most fondness for Lin Lu.

Because the youthful girl was lively and adorable, the least distant.

After all, she was just an ordinary employee; if someone like Shen Qingning stood in front of her, she’d be more reserved in speech and feel the pressure of her presence.

So, she had a soft spot for Lin Lu.

“What a cute girl; if I were a guy, I’d dote on her terribly!”

“Even if I were angry, she’d just have to smile, and her dimples would appear, and I’d stop being mad,” Wang Wei thought to herself.

Clearly, she and Cheng Zhu’s die-hard fan, Liu Feng, might find some common ground.

In Liu Feng’s eyes, anything aside from the “Cheng Zhu and Lin Lu” pairing was heretical.

Of course, the class president had no idea that within his Computer Science Class 2, there lurked a secret supporter of “Jiang Wanzhou and Cheng Zhu.”

While making the second milk tea, Cheng Zhu suddenly remembered the kindergarten New Year’s performance for Little Youzi and instructed, “By the way, for New Year’s, I need 30 cups of milk tea. I’ll tell you when to pick them up in advance. Have someone ready to make them.”

“Make them all hot drinks, and remember to make them hot,” Cheng Zhu instructed.

“Sure thing, boss,” Wang Wei complied with the arrangement.

After both milk teas were ready, Cheng Zhu stepped out of the prep area with them in hand.

Handing Lin Lu her drink, he asked, “You haven’t had lunch yet, have you?”

“Mhm, not yet,” Lin Lu replied.

“Coincidence, I haven’t either,” Cheng Zhu responded.

“Why haven’t you eaten? Didn’t you just go for pizza?” Lin Lu asked.

Of course, Cheng Zhu hadn’t eaten because he guessed Lin Lu would likely show up, knowing that his fishing plan would succeed and the fish would bite, so he purposely waited to have lunch with her.

But he wouldn’t say that outright, simply commenting, “I wasn’t hungry just yet. I was full from breakfast, but now I’m hungry.”

Lin Lu knew he was probably talking nonsense, but she was pleased that he would accompany her for lunch.

“Then let’s go! I want to eat dim sum at that place on the fifth floor!”

“Alright, as you wish,” he said.

As they took the escalator, he held Lin Lu’s hand, listening to her chatter about what to eat later, while Little Youzi beside them listened with a watering mouth.

He could tell that Lin Lu was extremely delighted by their relationship confirmation.

Her happiness was visible, and she made no attempt to hide her joy over the confirmed relationship.

Cheng Zhu had thought about it; a girl’s first courageous confession was probably one of the most reckless events of her life.

Lin Lu was straightforward, passionate, lively, bright… but her initiative was not cheap.

Such a girl, if you don’t immediately give her a response, years later, he wouldn’t be sure who would regret it more–her or himself.

Cheng Zhu’s thoughts were simple. In Little Lu’s most emotionally fervent moment, he should accept her.

–“When you reach the south at the height of spring, be sure to stay amidst the blooms.”

…

(ps: First update, seeking double monthly votes!)