Chapter Forty-One: The Reward of Lu Yimeng

About a month had passed since the incident, and Chen Xin had been so busy with the shop and her translation work that she had nearly forgotten all about Lu Yimeng when, out of the blue, she received a call from her.

"An interview?" Chen Xin was taken aback, unable to fathom how such a great opportunity could have landed on her lap.

"Yes, I’m working behind the scenes now, and our TV station is producing a program featuring local student entrepreneurs. I recommended you. But keep in mind, even if we film, it might not necessarily make it to broadcast—it could just be a passing mention. The show has a strong political slant, and your kind of project isn’t exactly mainstream at the moment. They might shoot for half an hour and only use one line in the end."

"That’s fine—even a single line is good! At least I’ll be on TV, right?" Chen Xin agreed with a laugh, arranging a rough schedule with Lu Yimeng. The exact date would be confirmed a day in advance.

Afterward, Chen Xin went to talk to Cheng Jie about it, only to find that Cheng Jie had already caught wind of the news and had been planning to brief Chen Xin once she’d gotten the details.

"I’ve heard that Director Lu is a very strict and rather eccentric person. The fact that she mentioned you on her own means she must think quite highly of you." Cheng Jie had already heard about Chen Xin cooking for Lu Yimeng, though she still didn’t quite understand why such a simple gesture had earned Chen Xin so much goodwill.

Chen Xin didn’t dwell on the dangers of anorexia, nor did she say that Lu Yimeng would be beyond saving if her condition persisted. She merely explained that Qiao Wenbing must have put in a good word for her, and she’d simply helped out at the right moment, so Director Lu had jotted her name down in her little notebook.

"There really are more good people than bad in this world. Wasn’t it the same with you and Professor Song? If you two hadn’t helped me, Zhang Zhang and I wouldn’t be living as well as we are now."

"Well, you had to be worth our help." Cheng Jie gently ruffled Chen Xin’s hair. "You know how to be grateful. Whenever you come across something good or make something delicious, you always think of us. That’s what your Grandpa Liu and Grandma Liu think too—otherwise, do you think they’d be so willing to look after just anyone’s child?"

Chen Xin smiled shyly, lowering her head.

The interview was scheduled for Saturday morning. By Thursday, Lu Yimeng had confirmed the exact filming time with Chen Xin. She wore her own clothes, dressed up just a bit to look energetic and refined—more polished than the average student.

The whole process took about an hour, including twenty minutes of interview footage and shots of the café’s interior design and its exquisite dishes.

They had recently hired a new chef skilled in Western cuisine—a handsome man with a chef’s certificate, who had even studied abroad. This was a major selling point. During the interview, they specifically filmed a segment of the chef preparing a Western dish.

"Where did you find him?" Lu Yimeng asked in a low voice after scrutinizing the chef with a critical eye. She was concerned he might have ulterior motives and wanted to discreetly warn Chen Xin.

"He used to work for a business firm I collaborated with, handling imports and exports with Europe. Later, he found the pressure and lack of freedom too much, so he quit and traveled around. When he heard I needed a chef for my café, he volunteered."

"Is he reliable?" Lu Yimeng remained skeptical. Who would give up such a good job without another, better option lined up?

But Chen Xin didn’t find it that hard to believe. After all, she understood his mindset quite well.

"He’s trustworthy. He never touches the takings, and Uncle Tie handles the purchasing. Besides, Song Yi genuinely enjoys creating food that makes people happy. With his standards, our little café suits him better than a big hotel."

"Alright, just be careful. Men like him are very good at charming young women—you wouldn’t want all the girls in your shop falling for him." Chen Xin nodded with a smile, appreciating Director Lu’s concern. As for what might happen in the future, she’d deal with that if and when it came to pass.

After discussing the interview, Lu Yimeng mentioned her ongoing treatment with her doctor.

"My attending physician said your menu is great, but he thinks I’m not getting enough protein and fat. I’m a bit hesitant."

"You’d better consult a qualified nutritionist who can calculate exactly how much protein and fat you need at a minimum. As long as you’re within ten percent above that, it’s fine. If you want to maintain a slim figure, you’ll need to combine controlled eating with physical training."

Chen Xin suggested she reach out to the sports academy to find a certified fitness coach, have the coach coordinate with a nutritionist, and then design a scientific, individualized recovery plan based on her medical diagnosis.

"You’re not truly resistant to eating, to begin with. The reasons for your illness were complicated and closely tied to your mental state at the time. I think your recovery should be easier than for someone with pure anorexia. But I’m not a doctor—proper diagnosis should always come from professionals."

Lu Yimeng took a small sip of her vegetable-and-fruit juice, followed by a dish of fruit salad Chen Xin had prepared especially for her. The total was less than fifty grams, but it was the largest single meal she’d had in a while.

"I always eat more here than at home," Lu Yimeng sighed as she set down her fork. She still had work that afternoon, but her spirits had improved markedly. She felt secure enough to take on behind-the-scenes assignments, and occasionally even serve as an interview host—which had greatly aided her ongoing recovery.

"Come by whenever you have time, Sister Lu. The platform upstairs is nice and quiet—I’ve enclosed it with glass, so as long as it’s not raining or snowing, it won’t be cold."

Lu Yimeng nodded. Though she’d transitioned to behind-the-scenes work, she was still busy. Her abilities spoke for themselves, and her supervisors genuinely wanted to help her overcome her illness quickly. With her therapist’s guidance, Lu Yimeng had made a conscious effort to embrace life and find joy in the everyday, thereby correcting the missteps that had led to her malady.

Aside from Lu Yimeng, the rest of the film crew also dined at the shop, enjoying Song Yi’s Spanish seafood paella. There was no lobster, so they used chilled shrimp instead. Song Yi’s cooking was quite reliable; no customer who had tasted his food had ever complained. He did, however, enjoy experimenting with unusual recipes, much to the delight—and occasional dismay—of the young women tasked with trying his creations.