Work Prophet
Chapter 310 - 68 Are you guys keeping something from me?

Chapter 310: Chapter 68 Are you guys keeping something from me?

Li Yu didn’t explain any further. He had also found it difficult to get used to the rules and regulations here when he first joined the company.

Such things could only be gradually adapted to. Anyway, after working for a while, one would naturally come to understand the company’s corporate culture.

Zhang Yanlin first updated Li Yu on the current progress of the renovation and then asked him, "Have you had dinner yet?"

Li Yu wanted to say that he had, but remembering that Zhang Yanlin had been supervising the work here and probably hadn’t had the chance to eat, and even seeing a half-pack of Oreos on the windowsill next to her—he didn’t know if it was her lunch—Li Yu changed his mind, "Not yet, let me treat you."

"Sure, what shall we eat?"

"How about hot pot? I know a place nearby that has really fresh ingredients."

"Hmm, then let’s go for the hot pot. Also, tell me about the upcoming work so I can learn in advance."

"Okay."

The two then headed to the hot pot restaurant Li Yu had eaten at alone before.

Zhang Yanlin seemed to be in a particularly good mood today, mainly because Li Yu had been practicing a hands-off approach with her since she started. Since her employment, she had barely seen Li Yu, her boss.

Moreover, he didn’t require her to write weekly reports or work summaries. After confirming the design drawings, he entrusted the renovation work to her completely and then disappeared again.

If it wasn’t because she had worked with Li Yu for a while and knew his character, Zhang Yanlin would probably have started to doubt if she had encountered some new kind of scam at work.

She proactively brought up work discussion with Li Yu not only because she wanted to integrate into the company sooner but mainly out of curiosity about what Li Yu had been up to during this time, always so secretive.

However, just after they settled down and ordered the food, before they even had the chance to talk about work, Zhang Yanlin nudged Li Yu, "Hey, there is a young female student constantly looking at us. Do you know her?"

Li Yu turned around and saw An Yixin standing outside the glass window, eagerly gazing at the copper pot that had just been brought to the table.

"I know her, but not very well, we’ve only spoken a few words. She’s the child of the neighbors upstairs."

"Since she’s someone you know, why not invite her to join us? She looks hungry too."

"No need, her mother will order her takeout." Li Yu said.

"Don’t be so stingy. It’s not good for a child to always eat takeout. Besides, we ordered plenty." Zhang Yanlin spoke while she was already waving at An Yixin.

Seeing the gesture, An Yixin immediately turned and walked into the hot pot restaurant with her backpack on.

"Hello sister, hello uncle." An Yixin approached, took off her headphones, and greeted them both.

"What a polite child," Zhang Yanlin laughed, "Are you hungry?"

"Yes." An Yixin nodded, and then hesitated, "Sister, are you and uncle on a date...?"

"It’s not a date, just a meal after work." Zhang Yanlin’s face turned slightly red as she quickly clarified, "We’re friends and colleagues."

An Yixin responded with an "Oh," and then she was pulled by Zhang Yanlin to sit next to her. Zhang Yanlin then called the waiter over and added another set of utensils.

Zhang Yanlin was too preoccupied to continue discussing work with Li Yu and asked An Yixin, "Do you usually eat takeout at night?"

An Yixin nodded. "Mom is busy playing mahjong and doesn’t have time to cook."

"What about your dad?" Zhang Yanlin curiously asked.

"He got divorced from mom." An Yixin lowered her head, then rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a piece of Dove chocolate, "Since you invited me for hot pot, I invite you to have some chocolate."

"What a sweet child," Zhang Yanlin said as she affectionately patted An Yixin’s head, "No wonder you’re so mature for your age."

But then they heard Li Yu say, "Keep an eye on your phone and wallet."

"Hmm?" Zhang Yanlin was somewhat confused by Li Yu’s seemingly out-of-the-blue remark.

Li Yu continued to address An Yixin, "I asked the convenience store owner. He said you didn’t return the next day, and after that, you never showed up again."

The junior high school girl bit her lip.

Zhang Yanlin, though he did not quite understand what was happening, sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat off and quickly tried to smooth things over, "Ah, the sheep meat has arrived; let’s eat first."

Li Yu did not say anything further upon hearing this.

Zhang Yanlin ladled out half a plate of sheep meat, picked a few slices for both An Yixin and Li Yu, placing them in their bowls, and then began to eat himself.

Then he added tofu and bamboo shoots to the pot.

Li Yu had already eaten at Green Field and only nibbled a few bites before setting down his chopsticks, whereas Zhang Yanlin and An Yixin appeared truly hungry. They kept fishing out food from the pot, also passing dishes and pouring water for each other in harmonious cooperation.

However, with a third party present, Zhang Yanlin found it inappropriate to continue discussing business with Li Yu, so he merely talked about the latest popular movies and anime.

Yet, An Yixin didn’t interject much until Li Yu stood up, ready to go to the front desk to pay their bill. Only then did she put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and said, "Wang Jiaqi was bullied again."

"Wang Jiaqi, who is that?" Zhang Yanlin asked, puzzled.

"The child of one of my mom’s mahjong friends."

"Uh... Does he have anything to do with Li Yu?"

"Nothing at all," Li Yu said and then added to An Yixin, "If he’s being bullied at school, he should go to the teacher for help."

An Yixin nodded and closed her mouth.

Zhang Yanlin was utterly confused, and he looked from An Yixin to Li Yu, "Are you keeping something from me?"

"No," Li Yu and An Yixin said in unison.

"Sister, it’s getting late. You should be heading home," An Yixin said after glancing at the street lights outside.

"Ha, shouldn’t I be the one saying that to you?"

"I’m not as pretty as you, sister. During dinner, half the men in the hot pot restaurant were looking at you."

"Don’t talk to me using my dad’s tone."

However, afterwards, she heard Li Yu say, "It is getting late; you should head back. I will explain things to you later."

"Alright, since you are the boss," Zhang Yanlin shrugged, not pressing further. She put on her backpack, left the restaurant, and walked toward the nearby bus station.

As for An Yixin, she was in no rush. Only after Zhang Yanlin boarded the bus did a flash of excitement cross her eyes. She spoke again, "I know where Wang Kai and Song Xiaofei are now."

Li Yu showed no reaction upon hearing this.

"I know Wang Jiaqi has nothing to do with you, uncle, but you’ve also talked about taking revenge," An Yixin continued.

"Chocolate..."

"The chocolate, I’ve already followed your advice and had a classmate secretly return it," An Yixin said. "The piece just now was one I bought myself. I can show you the WeChat payment receipt. As for why I didn’t return it myself, it’s obviously because I was worried about getting caught as soon as I entered."

"Alright then, tell me the place," Li Yu said. He had been so busy lately that he had almost forgotten about the revenge matter.

But since An Yixin had reminded him, he decided it was time to settle the score.

"I’ll take you there," An Yixin eagerly offered.

"No, you go home. I can go by myself," Li Yu said.