Chapter 246: Lovers in an Embrace
Faced with Qi Han's invitation, Feng Yi didn't refuse. In fact, he was curious about the "special dish" Qi Han mentioned.
Qi Han, however, didn't reveal any details, only responding with a mysterious smile and asking Feng Yi to return on time the next day. Then he turned and headed back into the kitchen to resume his work.
Feng Yi's story was just a brief interlude, but it seemed to affect the atmosphere in the dining area. The mood that evening felt warmer than before.
After a harmonious conclusion to the evening's business, Qi Han glanced at the three women in the restaurant. His gaze lingered on Ji Yunruo's slightly tired expression, and he suddenly remembered something.
He had almost forgotten due to Feng Yi's story.
With the growing number of delivery orders, it was becoming urgent to hire more delivery personnel.
"Yunruo, I think having just one delivery worker in the shop might not be enough," Qi Han said earnestly as he looked at her. "How many more do you think we should hire?"
Qi Han wasn't familiar with agility-based spirit masters, so this question was best answered by Ji Yunruo, who had experience with deliveries.
Ji Yunruo gave the matter some serious thought.
To be honest, she had already been feeling the strain of handling deliveries alone. Small Shop was now a household name in Shrek City, and naturally, the number of orders was growing rapidly. Even with her agility-based speed, it was becoming challenging to keep up.
Tonight's surge in orders only underscored the difficulty.
Hiring additional delivery personnel had become an urgent priority.
But… How many?
After careful consideration, Ji Yunruo decided that hiring one more person should suffice.
If someone else could take on half her workload, it would make things much easier.
Of course, the ideal candidate would also be an agility-based spirit master.
Taking Ji Yunruo's suggestion into account, Qi Han nodded.
He planned to prepare a job posting immediately and hoped to find a suitable candidate before tomorrow's lunch service.
After tidying up the restaurant, the three women left together.
Once they were gone, Qi Han retrieved a signboard, thought for a moment, and wrote the exact same notice he had used when hiring Ji Yunruo. It simply stated that time and pay were negotiable. He then hung it outside the shop.
With that done, Qi Han closed the shop, carried Pururu upstairs, and lay on his bed. He quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
After walking together for a while, Fu Ya and Ying Shuang parted ways with Ji Yunruo, heading toward Shrek Academy's rear gate.
"Fu Ya, what's wrong?" Ying Shuang tugged on Fu Ya's hand. "You've been awfully quiet since earlier."
"I…" Fu Ya's eyes turned red. "I just miss my mother a little."
"Was it because of that customer, Feng Yi?" Ying Shuang suddenly realized. "Your family was short on money before because your mother was sick, right? How is she doing now?"
Unlike Fu Ya, Ying Shuang didn't feel particularly homesick; she had visited her parents not long ago while Fu Ya was away competing with the school team.
"She's completely recovered," Fu Ya replied with a smile. "Shuang, I'm thinking of going home for a visit soon to see my parents."
"That's great," Ying Shuang said with a nod, then hesitated. "But the food festival is coming up soon."
"I won't miss the food festival," Fu Ya quickly shook her head. "I'm planning to take leave for a few days afterward. By then, business probably won't be as busy as it is now."
"Alright. With Pururu around, I can handle your tasks too—it shouldn't be a problem," Ying Shuang said, estimating the workload and nodding.
"Ah! Fu Ya, look, look!" Ying Shuang suddenly exclaimed, her eyes wide as she pointed discreetly to the side, lowering her voice.
"Huh?" Fu Ya followed Ying Shuang's gesture, and in the next moment, a blush crept up her cheeks.
In the soft, dim glow of the lights outside Shrek Academy's rear gate, a pair of lovers stood locked in a tender embrace, their figures melding together as if surrounded by an invisible aura of pink bubbles.
The dim lighting made it impossible for Fu Ya and Ying Shuang to make out the couple's faces, but the dark red uniform of the Shrek inner court worn by the man was unmistakable.
"Come on, stop staring," Fu Ya said, flustered, tugging at Ying Shuang, who was curiously peeking at the scene and reluctant to move. Her steps quickened involuntarily.
How embarrassing!
Fu Ya's heart raced. This was her first time witnessing such an intimate scene in person.
It wasn't until Fu Ya dragged her past the rear gate, leaving the lovers out of sight, that Ying Shuang reluctantly averted her gaze, muttering, "That's strange. There's only a week left until the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival. Why wouldn't that senior wait to meet her there?"
There was an air of secrecy about the couple.
Fu Ya, still flushed, replayed the scene in her mind before shaking her head. "That girl wasn't wearing an inner court uniform. Maybe… she's not a student at Shrek."
"Ah, I see." Ying Shuang sighed softly, feeling a twinge of regret for the pair.
If one wasn't a Shrek student, they wouldn't be able to receive the blessings at the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival.
"By the way…" Ying Shuang's eyes sparkled mischievously as she nudged Fu Ya with her shoulder. "Do you have someone you like, Fu Ya?"
"Shuang, you—" Fu Ya's cheeks reddened even more. "What are you saying?"
"I knew it!" Ying Shuang teased with a giggle. "Is it the boss? You always seem a little different when you're around him."
"You're talking nonsense!" Fu Ya stomped her foot in embarrassment and anger. "Shuang! Don't say such things! The boss is a respectable elder."
"Elder?" Ying Shuang's expression turned incredulous. "The boss is only about ten years older than us, isn't he?"
"That still makes him an elder!" Fu Ya shot her an indignant look. "The boss has always taken good care of me, so I've always thought of him as an elder. Don't say that again. Besides…"
"You already know who the boss likes."
At those words, Ying Shuang fell silent for a moment.
"Fu Ya…"
"Hm?"
"Do you think… the boss feels like Senior Sister doesn't understand his feelings?"
Both their minds conjured an image of Qi Han awkwardly delivering dishes directly to Yue Lengxin. A few seconds later, they both burst into laughter.
Who would have thought the boss's way of expressing affection could be so… adorable?
<+>
Ping Xinyan pushed gently against her lover's chest, creating a small distance between them.
Their lips parted, and a shy blush spread across her face, making her appear even more radiant under the dim light.
"You silly Zhu!" she murmured, lowering her voice as she gave him a light punch on the chest. "I think someone saw us just now."
"So what if they did?" Qin Yuezhu said, stroking her silky hair, though a trace of sadness flickered in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Xinyan. I can't take you to the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival—"
Before he could finish, Ping Xinyan raised a hand to cover his mouth.
"Don't say that," she said with a smile. "It's my fault. I still haven't reached the five-ring level and can't get into Shrek's inner court."
"But even without the blessings of the Sea God, we're still happy together, aren't we?" Taking his hand in hers, she guided it to the back of her head, leaning into his chest. Her eyes closed slightly, and her radiant smile deepened as she felt his familiar presence.
"I've withdrawn from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
"What?" Qin Yuezhu's eyes widened in shock, but before he could speak, Ping Xinyan covered his mouth again.
"I know what you're going to say, silly," she said, lightly bumping her forehead against his chest. "I've thought this through. Staying there wouldn't help me much anymore. I'm too old to compete in the next Advanced Spirit Master Academy Fighting Tournament. So rather than linger there, I came to Shrek City."
Her gaze softened as she looked at the man she had grown up with. "At least here, I can be closer to you, right?"
Qin Yuezhu tightened his arms around her. "Then… where are you staying?"
"Come on!" Ping Xinyan burst into laughter. "I'm a level 48 agility-type Spirit Master. I'm not going to be sleeping on the streets!"
"I've already rented a place nearby," she added, noticing the strange look in Qin Yuezhu's eyes.
"You…" Ping Xinyan blinked, then laughed and glared at him. "Did you forget our rules?"
Qin Yuezhu scratched his head sheepishly. "Right. No crossing the line before we're married."
"Good." Ping Xinyan gave him a playful pinch. Seeing his exaggerated grimace, her eyes sparkled mischievously. "But… this goddess is missing a pillow tonight. You look like a perfect candidate."
"I'll do it! I'll do it!" Qin Yuezhu's eyes lit up as he nodded fervently.
"Pfft!"
Ping Xinyan pushed him away and turned to leave.
"Xinyan? Where are you going?"
"Silly Zhu, going home!" she called back with a smile.
<+>
if you want to see more chapters of this story and don't mind playing $5 per month to see my latest update, please go to my Patreon[1]
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed[2]
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 345: This Boy—He Must Not Be Allowed To Live![3]
Link to the latest chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/collection/67255?view=condensed
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207
[4] https://www.patreon.com/posts/131359207