Chapter 38: Dining in the Company Cafeteria

Upon entering the cafeteria, Wen Jiu realized that everything she had heard earlier was in no way an exaggeration. The dining hall was spacious, divided into several smaller canteens, each carefully marked with its signature dishes.

Wen Jiu chose the Hakka cuisine canteen and ordered two Hakka specialties: stuffed tofu and braised pork with preserved vegetables, along with a bowl of corn and pork rib soup.

With her very first bite, Wen Jiu’s eyes lit up—the flavors were truly authentic! Since her mother, Lin Sheng, was Hakka, all the Hakka dishes Wen Jiu had eaten at her grandparents’ house were the real deal. So, she could immediately taste the genuine flavor.

Just then, Wen Jiu received a message from Gu Zehuai.

“Where are you now? Have you returned to the company? Want to have lunch together?”

Reading his message, Wen Jiu replied with a single sentence.

“In your company’s cafeteria.”

After replying, Wen Jiu raised her phone and recorded a video, so Gu Zehuai would know exactly where she was.

After sending back an “OK” emoji, Gu Zehuai didn’t reply further.

Wen Jiu wasn’t sure whether it was because she was already eating and he decided not to join her, or if he was planning to come find her.

She didn’t dwell on it and continued to eat.

About three minutes later, someone sat down opposite her at the table.

Even before looking up, Wen Jiu knew it had to be Gu Zehuai.

Sure enough, when she raised her head, it was him.

Gu Zehuai had also ordered food and now sat across from Wen Jiu.

Wen Jiu smiled teasingly, “With food this good in your company, I’m amazed you’re not gaining weight.”

Gu Zehuai chuckled and replied, “You’re the one who’s thin, you should eat more.” Then he added, “Since you like it, you’re welcome to come often. Just remember to invite me along.”

Wen Jiu was amused by his words and nodded in agreement.

They chatted naturally, but the employees around them were not quite as calm.

Someone snapped a photo of the two eating together and posted it in the office gossip chat; the group instantly exploded with speculation about the girl who was having lunch with President Gu, chatting and laughing.

“Could she be President Gu’s girlfriend? This is the first time I’ve seen him eat with a woman, and he looks so happy!”

“Maybe not. They could just be friends—people can have lunch together without being a couple.”

After a few exchanges, the gossip died down. After all, it wasn’t really their business; they were just curious about the president’s lunch companion.

Meanwhile, after finishing their meal, Gu Zehuai offered to drive Wen Jiu back to her company, but she declined, saying she had brought her car.

So Gu Zehuai accompanied her to the parking lot, reminding her to message him when she arrived at her office.

Wen Jiu nodded and drove off.

After watching her leave, Gu Zehuai returned to his office.

Chen Yi, seeing Gu Zehuai return, handed him a stack of documents that needed his signature. As he did so, he sneaked a glance at Gu Zehuai.

He’d heard the office rumors too and was a bit curious himself. However, he didn’t dare ask outright, so he simply tried to gauge his boss’s mood from his expression.

From the looks of it, President Gu was in a very good mood.

Gu Zehuai didn’t notice Chen Yi’s series of glances and gestures. Once he’d signed the documents, he handed them back.

After Chen Yi left, Gu Zehuai went into the break room for a brief rest.

When Wen Jiu returned to her company, she noticed that Ye Yu was still at the kindergarten handling some matters and hadn’t come back yet.

She sent a message to check in, and once assured that everything was fine, she threw herself into her work.