In the bank's break room.
The operations manager, Ling, noticed Lin Jiahui sitting absent-mindedly, not taking up her chopsticks.
There seemed to be traces of tears on her face...
Concerned, she asked, "Jiahui, are you okay?"
Lin Jiahui turned her face away and brushed away the tear marks with her hand, responding hoarsely, "I... I'm fine..."
"Oh... as long as you're fine... you should eat now, or it will get cold."
"Okay, thank you, Ling."
Lin Jiahui nodded, opened the porridge lid of her century egg and lean meat porridge, and untied the food bag of the pan-fried buns.
The long-sealed aroma wafted out instantly.
The rich scent of the meat mixed with the fresh smell of sesame and green onions, along with the savory aroma of the rice porridge.
"Smells good! What is it?"
The sushi in Du Xinyan's mouth suddenly lost its appeal.
She stood up and followed the scent to its source, seeing the still steaming century egg lean meat porridge and pan-fried buns on Lin Jiahui's table.
These pan-fried buns were golden in color, each one round and plump.
The green onions and sesame seeds decorated the golden white dough, with the golden side being slightly thicker yet crispy.
And the century egg and lean meat porridge.
The rice was white and crystalline, the meat strips tender and red, appealing green vegetable bits, and smooth century egg pieces hidden in the colorful porridge.
It was mouthwatering~
But, why did this aroma feel familiar?
"Jiahui, where did you buy these pan-fried buns and century egg lean meat porridge? I could smell it from afar, it's even more appetizing than my sushi."
Su Lulu: "..."
I treated you to sushi, yet you run to someone else saying their pan-fried buns are more fragrant.
Aren't you trying to embarrass me on purpose?
Ling, who had long been tempted by the aroma, was smiling as she heard Du Xinyan speak up:
"Can they even be the same? Your sushi has a light aroma, while their pan-fried buns smell incredibly enticing. That's the charm of Huaxia cuisine!"
Su Lulu said, "Hey! Ling, you just don't understand the deliciousness of sushi."
"I think Ling makes a good point too..." Du Xinyan accidentally voiced her true feelings.
Oh!
Du Xinyan, whose side are you on?
Su Lulu shot her a death glare, and Du Xinyan gave an awkward smile.
"I bought it from a new shop called 'So Delicious' on West City Old Street," Lin Jiahui replied politely.
So Delicious?!
Oh my!
After searching thousands of times, suddenly looking back, that shop was on West City Old Street.
Moreover, she had visited there...
Du Xinyan pouted, looking at Su Lulu with mixed feelings.
Why look at me?!
Isn't the luxury sushi platter worth over 300 yuan not appetizing?
Su Lulu stuffed the sushi from her hand into Du Xinyan's mouth.
While eating the sushi, in her mind, Du Xinyan could only think about the pan-fried buns.
Looking to foster good relations with her colleagues, Lin Jiahui smiled and invited them, "Ling, Xinyan, Lulu, I haven't started eating yet; do you want to try some?"
"Then I won't be shy..." Ling rubbed her hands together.
Upon hearing this, Du Xinyan's eyes lit up.
Is it really possible for me to taste it?
Su Lulu kept waving her hands: "No thanks, I actually hate century eggs, I don't even touch century egg lean meat porridge."
"Lulu, then you should try the pan-fried buns!"
Looking at the pan-fried bun being handed over, Su Lulu initially wanted to refuse, but if she refused again, it seemed she was being too unfriendly.
She accepted it: "Thank you."
She took a gentle bite.
The fragrant soup flowed out from the thin dough, a taste of sesame and green onion filling her mouth.
Besides the savory taste, there was a hint of sweetness.
As she chewed, the soft dough enveloped the delicious, fragrant meat filling, the bottom baked to a golden crispness...
Having tasted numerous delicacies since childhood, she never expected to be captivated by a small pan-fried bun at this moment.
A satisfied smile inadvertently appeared at the corner of her lips.
Du Xinyan and Ling each took a disposable plastic spoon, scooped up a spoonful of century egg lean meat porridge.
They slowly put it in their mouths.
They savored it carefully.
Delicate, silky, tender, it tasted soft and glutinous in the mouth, the pork was fresh and meaty.
The century egg was smooth, appetizing, and the vegetable bits soft and fragrant.
Together, it seemed to burst like electricity on the tongue, directly impacting the taste buds and brain.
Ahhh~
So delicious!
Boohoo~
This is the best century egg lean meat porridge Du Xinyan has ever tasted in her life!
With just one bite, her tongue felt like it might be bitten off.
But she once had a sincere recommendation right in front of her that she didn't appreciate; it was only when it was gone that she regretted it deeply—there's no greater sorrow in life than this.
If heaven could give her another chance, she would say three words to those customers: "I trust you."
At this moment, she finally understood what those customers were talking about.
Indeed, she now felt she'd missed out on a fortune.
Indeed, she now regretted not going in to buy!
"Wow, it's too good to drink, Lulu, you have to try it."
"Is it that exaggerated?" Su Lulu said dryly.
Du Xinyan beamed, calling out, "Lulu, come try it, it's really so good."
Ling also enthusiastically recommended, "It's really good, no eggy smell at all."
Already conquered by the pan-fried bun, Su Lulu hesitated for a while and walked over, "Is it really that delicious? I must state beforehand, I don't want century egg."
She was persuaded and tried a small spoonful, intentionally avoiding the century egg.
Then...
Her eyes gleamed.
The taste was flavorful and chewy, with a particularly soft texture, the porridge broth infused with the century egg's flavor—not eggy, but rich and aromatic.
Despite always hating century eggs, she even scooped up a few pieces of century egg and ate them.
The century egg pieces were soft, slippery, fresh, and bouncy, completely overturning her understanding of century eggs.
Ling teased, "Isn't the century egg delicious?!"
"Delicious."
These two words were already her highest praise.
After tasting, they quietly returned to their seats.
Although still wanting more, it wasn't possible to eat more, as it was Lin Jiahui's lunch.
But the feeling of tasting without being satisfied was truly tormenting!
Du Xinyan decided right away, "Tonight I'll eat this pan-fried bun and century egg lean meat porridge and enjoy it to the fullest."
"Alright! Then at that time, Xinyan, call me, and we'll buy it together."
Ling quickly agreed, then turned to ask Su Lulu and Lin Jiahui, "Lulu, Jiahui, do you two want to join us?"
Lin Jiahui was a bit bewildered.
Considering Ling was the most senior and highest-ranking in the break room.
She usually only greeted her with a "Jiahui" casually when they met, lacking any personal interaction.
Yet she's so talkative.
But work is like this; in a bank, you have to slowly get familiar with people.
She had worried about this for a long time but had never found the right breakthrough.
She looked down at the half-eaten, disheveled but still tempting century egg lean meat porridge and slowly smiled.
Unexpectedly, she managed to have the leader inviting her to dinner, just with a small bowl of century egg lean meat porridge and a few pan-fried buns.
Unexpectedly, to blend into the leader's circle, sometimes you only need a pan-fried bun and a bowl of century egg lean meat porridge.
She readily agreed: "Sure!"
Su Lulu hesitated for a moment: "Okay."
"Yay... then it's settled happily, after work, let's meet in the lobby."
Thinking of the enjoyable evening feast, Du Xinyan was as happy as a 200-jin kid.
Lin Jiahui lowered her head, slowly savoring the half-bowl of century egg lean meat porridge.
So fragrant!
It really is so fragrant!
However, life always has so many regrets, only after a long time has passed, do you realize the meaning of that person and the value of that time.
Yet that person, that time, has long gone far away in life, never to be encountered again...