Chapter 15 Substitute

The next day, Xiao Wu and Wen Wen came, and Xiao Wu replaced me in the kitchen.

My mood had already been bad these past few days because of the emotional turmoil with Pei Shiyu. I hadn't even started working when he stood in the center of the kitchen, leaned close to my ear, and said, "Wen Wen and I saw you yesterday."

Xiao Wu's words startled me because I hadn't gone out at all these past few days. I stayed at home after work.

I widened my eyes and asked, "Where did you see me? Were you ambushing me at my door?"

"At the Hangzhou Mansion. Wen Wen saw it too, just a back view. You were with President Pei."

After hearing that, I clearly felt the muscles on my face twitch. It hurt more than being slapped. I didn't even know when Pei Shiyu had contacted that man. Feelings can change so quickly. If she had acted like it was only natural that night, I could have vented my anger, but she looked at me with such apologetic eyes that I couldn't bring myself to scold her.

I didn't answer Xiao Wu. I turned around and slammed the kitchen knife down on the cutting board, as if trying to split the thick cutting board in two. Xiao Wu was startled and quickly moved away from me, watching my crazy actions.

"Did you guys quarrel?"

I asked sarcastically, "Am I qualified?"

"I saw you guys were fine last night!"

"That person wasn't me," I finally blurted out.

"Ah? How is that possible..."

I walked up to Xiao Wu and said very seriously, "That person really wasn't me. It was Pei Shiyu's ex-boyfriend. He looks a bit like me. Maybe she's been looking for his shadow while she's been with me."

"Then you're really miserable. You're just a substitute and got dumped."

"Don't provoke me, and don't rub salt in my wounds."

"President Pei is going too far."

I finally stopped pretending to be angry, relaxed my brows, and teased him, "You don't even have the qualifications to be played by her."

"Lin-ge, I know you're in a bad mood. I'm speaking up for you, and I'll always be on your side."

"I don't care."

Just then, my mom came in and happened to hear the last few sentences we said. She casually asked, "Who doesn't care about whom?"

"Nobody. Xiao Wu will be in charge here from now on. I'm officially going into management mode, right?" I avoided the previous topic.

"Yeah, I'm going to Nanjing in a few days. You should come with me."

"What for? Is there a problem with the business?"

"We need to re-select the location for the store over there and expand the scale."

"Then we'll have to renovate?"

"We'll find a good location first, and then definitely renovate."

Xiao Wu, standing to the side, said obsequiously, "Auntie, thank you for taking care of me. Although I've never done this before, I'll work hard."

"You're welcome. Lin Che told me about your situation. We just happen to be short-handed. We have to find someone anyway."

My mom also spoke politely because she had indeed communicated with him beforehand. She originally didn't allow me to contact my friends outside anymore, with the aim of letting me calm down.

I thought it would be good to go to Nanjing, preferably for a longer period of time. My feelings for Pei Shiyu were deep and real. I definitely loved her, but I didn't dare to think about her feelings for me. If they were deep, things wouldn't have changed so quickly. So now, if I acted like I had lost the whole world, I would only be laughed at by others.

...

At noon.

I stood in the lobby, observing Wen Wen. It was her first day, and the dishes in her hands made her movements seem a bit confused because she hadn't fully memorized the order of the table numbers yet...

I immediately walked over and asked, "Which table is this for?"

"Table 15," Wen Wen smiled, looking a little embarrassed.

"I'll take it."

I took the plate from her hand, my eyes simultaneously looking in that direction. I immediately saw Pei Shiyu and Shen Yi. They seemed to be chatting happily. It was rare to see Pei Shiyu smiling so radiantly. I walked directly to their table and placed the plate on their table with a venting motion.

Only then did Pei Shiyu focus on me and ask, "What kind of service attitude is that?"

"What do you think?" I retorted.

"We're here to spend money."

"I also have the right to refuse this kind of spending."

I knew the expression on my face was stiff, but I was trying my best to talk to Pei Shiyu. If she hadn't been speaking in such a friendly way today, I might have said something outrageous.

"Don't offer membership cards if you want to pick and choose customers."

"I didn't make one for you. Your dad is your dad." My voice was not only unfriendly, but also very loud.

"You little rascal, your temper has grown in the few days since I last saw you."

Pei Xianglong's voice suddenly came from behind...

I couldn't figure out what they meant today. They shouldn't be insulting me like this. Just as I was thinking wildly, Pei Xianglong patted me on the shoulder and said, "Sit down together. Have you been so busy lately? I haven't seen you in a long time."

I glanced at Pei Shiyu and replied, "Do you think there's still a need for that?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Maybe Pei Xianglong was really senile. He was obviously setting up a trap and turned around to ask me. He looked at Pei Shiyu and Shen Yi and said something incomprehensible, "Pei Shiyu, you're playing this chess move decisively."

Pei Shiyu ignored him and calmly picked up the phone on the table and casually looked at it. I really didn't understand the content of their conversation. We hadn't seen each other for no more than ten days, and suddenly this Shen Yi appeared and was brought to the restaurant so openly. I thought the purpose was nothing more than two things: first, to tell me that their relationship had been confirmed; second, judging from Pei Xianglong's words, there was nothing between them!

I began to pay attention to their appearance. Although Pei Shiyu and Shen Yi were sitting side by side, there was a bag placed in the middle. I didn't know if this was intentional or unintentional. I suddenly felt that my brain was a bit inadequate, and no one directly told me. It was even more impossible for me to ask.

Pei Xianglong sat directly in the seat opposite and raised his head to ask, "Aren't you going to sit? If you're not going to sit, then leave quickly. What are you still standing here for?"

Before I could digest the conversation, I blurted out instinctively, "Pei Shiyu, come out here for a moment."

After speaking, I quietly watched her reaction. I saw Pei Shiyu immediately lock her phone, raised her head, and asked, "What's the matter?"

I didn't answer and walked outside on my own. I had already prepared myself for my attitude later. If she and Shen Yi were really going to be together, then I would definitely pretend to be very generous. If not, I would definitely scold Pei Shiyu severely. Unfortunately, I still haven't understood this farce.