Nana coughed hard. She felt like her question gave a very lewd meaning to it.
“What ‘how far’? We are good friends now.”
Over there Serena’s mouth twitched.
“…That’s great but haven’t you thought about wanting more? More than just friendship? At this rate, you will become a grandma before anything happens.”
Nana felt wronged.
“Don’t you feel even a tiny bit for him? Or maybe…”, she teased, “you found someone else?”
She immediately thought of Liu Jinhai.
What? Why did I think of him? Stop Nana!
“N-no! What nonsense are you talking about?”
Serena found something odd. Her eyes widened in realization.
“What!? So you did find someone else? It’s not Chen Jianyu? Who is it then? Don’t even try to hide. The manner you spoke told me everything.”
Did I get caught so fast?
“It’s really nothing. You are overthinking it.”
“Oh please! How long do you think we have known each other? You are definitely hiding something.”
“I told you it’s nothing so it’s nothing. Alright, I have to go now. The rush hour has started. Bye.”
“Hey, I have not finished yet-“
And Nana hung up. She breathed hard. She thought if Serena had kept on pestering her, she would have acknowledged something that can bring chaos in her life.
—
The next day Nana signed the contract of her collaboration with Liu Corps.
“I will introduce you to our canteen chefs.”, Jinhai said.
“Okay.”
He told his assistant to call them in his office.
The two chefs nervously stood in front of Liu Jinhai. This was the first time they were called in the CEO’s office.
Did we do something wrong? Was the food not good today? Are we going to get fired? They cried.
“Miss Nana. They are our two head chefs – Bo and Zhemin.”
Nana greeted them. “Hello. I’m Nana. It’s nice to meet you.”
The chefs were stunned. What a beauty!
“And Bo, Zhemin.” They immediately straightened up.
“She is Nana, the head chef, and owner of Natsukashi. She will be working with us to introduce some breakfast and lunches menu in our canteen. Guide her properly.”
Father Liu had given her responsibility to Jinhai so he made it a point to personally introduce her to his staff. Otherwise, these things are left with the assistant.
“Yes, sir.”
Nana said, “Mr. Liu. I will take my leave now. I will make myself familiar with all the kitchen staff.”
“En.”
Nana left with Bo and Zhemin.
He told Assistant Xin, “If she comes across any problem, report it to me immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
—
It was a long day for Nana before she finally wrapped up at five pm. Bo and Zhemin got her acquainted with all the kitchen staff, the meal timings, their preparation method, and everything. And then they started discussing the additions in the canteen menu.
They made a whole plan for it where Nana didn’t fail to impress the two chefs. At every step, their respect for her grew seeing her meticulous planning.
She bid them goodbye and stood at the entrance waiting for a cab.
Should I meet Mr. Liu once before leaving? She thought.
As she was contemplating this, a car stopped in front of her. Its windows drew down and she could see Liu Jinhai royally sitting like a king.
“Mr. Liu.”
“En. Come inside. I will drop you.”
“Ah, it’s alright. I will be fine by myself. Thank you for asking.”
“No, actually I have to drop by your place. Dad has ordered me to ‘deliver’ your Shoyu ramen to him. He is stuck in some work.”
It was subtle but Nana could see how he was displeased being treated as a delivery guy.
She held back her chuckle.
“Okay.”
She was about to open the door but then thought it would be inappropriate to directly sit beside him. So she stepped ahead to sit in the front passenger seat.
“Why are you going over there? Sit in the back.”, Jinhai said.
Her hand froze in mid-air. She smiled awkwardly and got in the back seat with him.
Nana started to get conscious of him. She sat rigidly like how a student sits in class paying full attention. Although here she did so to divert that attention from her drumming heart.
Jinhai noticed this. “Why do you look so uptight?”
“No. It’s nothing. I-its my first time sitting in such a…big car.” She gave an excuse but was genuinely curiously checking it out.
He was amused.
She had no look of excitement or greed. Only pure adoration.
On the way back there was silence for a few minutes and then Jinhai asked, “Did my father bother you today?”
“No. I didn’t meet him today. And honestly, he does not bother as much as you say he does. He is a really sweet person.”
Jinhai coughed hard. For the first time, he was speechless.
Sweet? Who? My dad? Are we talking about the same person?
“Are you okay Mr. Liu? What happened? Wait, here drink some water.”
Nana didn’t understand why he suddenly choked so hard. But she got scared.
“No. I’m fine. It’s okay. You are…really something else Miss Nana.”
Huh? Did I say something strange?
But Nana started to get a little comfortable with him now.
“So Mr. Liu. How is your little brother like?”
Jinhai raised his eyebrows.
“Why? Are you planning to leave Jianyu after all?”
