Chapter 653 – Afraid to Face Others
“Even you, when you hear this, do you think we’re not a good match?” Yu Wan asked when she saw her expression.
Lu Xia nodded without hiding her thoughts, “Yes, you’re quite different.”
Yu Wan sighed, “Yeah, even you think so… not to mention my family! But he’s really a good person, exceptionally talented. He could have had a promising career. His family is from a long line of chefs, and they used to own a big restaurant in the capital city. Later, when the government mandated that businesses become state-owned, his family donated the restaurant to the state, and his grandfather worked as the head chef there. But, he was falsely accused, and their family was nearly destroyed. His parents passed away during that time, and he had to go live in the countryside with his grandfather. When he returned, everything had changed. He didn’t have an education or a job, so he could only do physical labor to support his grandfather.”
Hearing this, Lu Xia also sighed, realizing it was another tragic story of its era.
“So, what’s your plan? Does your family know about your relationship?”
Yu Wan shook her head, “I don’t know what to do. My family doesn’t know yet, but I have a feeling they suspect I’m in a relationship. My mom has been dropping hints lately, but knowing my mom, she won’t approve of us being together.”
Lu Xia had a similar suspicion. Not just her mom, even she wasn’t very supportive. The age and status difference was too significant. They didn’t seem very compatible.
She liked him now, but after marriage, as they spent more time together, their work environments and the people they interacted with would diverge. The gap would only grow, and it would inevitably create a rift between them.
That’s why the saying “marrying within one’s class” had its merit, it didn’t refer to social status but to having similar worldviews. If there was too much of a gap, it was challenging to make it work.
But Lu Xia didn’t share these thoughts with her. It was clear that Yu Wan was in the midst of a passionate love affair, and these concerns probably wouldn’t register with her.
So Lu Xia asked, “Can’t he find a stable job then? Lack of education isn’t always a problem, and not all workplaces prioritize formal education. There are plenty of private companies nowadays, and if he wants to, he can find a suitable job.”
However, upon hearing this, Yu Wan sighed again, “I understand what you mean, but he’s different. He’s introverted and not very good at communication, probably because of his past experiences in the countryside that made him somewhat averse to people. So, he can only try to find jobs that don’t involve much interaction with others.”
Lu Xia fell silent after hearing this; it made the situation more challenging. What kind of job doesn’t involve any interaction with people?
“So, does he have any skills?”
“He does!” Yu Wan brightened up when talking about this, “He’s an excellent cook. His family has a long history of being chefs, and his grandfather passed down the culinary skills to him. He’s an amazing cook; I’ve had his food a few times, and it’s incredibly delicious!”
Lu Xia nodded; at least there was something promising.
“Why doesn’t he try to find a job as a chef then? That doesn’t require much interaction with people.”
“He did try. He tried finding a job as a chef. But because he’s not good with words, his employers took advantage of him. He worked for months without pay, and in the end, he quit. He figured he’d rather do odd jobs where he gets paid the same day.”
Lu Xia didn’t know how to respond to this.
“So, what do you want me to do today? Find him a job?”
Yu Wan nodded, “Yes, I think my family will figure it out soon. Before that happens, I need to find him a respectable job. Otherwise, they won’t approve of us being together.”
Lu Xia nodded in response, not making an immediate decision. She said, “I can help with finding a job, but I need to meet him first.”
Yu Wan smiled after hearing this, “Great, then I’ll thank you in advance.”
After having dinner and setting a date for their next meeting, the two of them parted ways.
*
Chapter 654 – Choice
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When Lu Xia returned home and reflected on the situation, she found it rather unexpected. She hadn’t realized that Yu Wan was someone who could fall in love, and that finding a partner was such a challenging endeavor!
However, she needed to assess this partner for herself and determine if he truly had the personality Yu Wan had described. After all, having two coincidental “knight in shining armor” moments seemed too convenient, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was intentional.
But her doubts were dispelled shortly after their next meeting. Yu Wan’s partner was indeed just as introverted as she had described.
He seemed to summon great courage every time he looked at her, as if meeting her required a tremendous effort.
Lu Xia sighed softly as she observed the shy, fidgety figure sitting next to Yu Wan.
In truth, she had thought he was a nice person from the first moment she saw him. He was tall, yet his face had boyish features, and he even had a charming dimple when he smiled. One could imagine that, without his previous experiences, he might have grown into a cheerful and sunny young man.
But now, seeing him as he was, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Despite his nervousness around strangers, it was evident that he cared for Yu Wan. Even in the small details during their meal, it was clear that he genuinely liked her.
Lu Xia breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed this and tried to act gently to put him at ease. She talked about Yu Wan’s experiences at school, which gradually helped him relax.
After they finished their meal, Lu Xia broached the topic of work.
“Yu Wan has already mentioned that you’re looking for a job that doesn’t involve much interaction with people, and I do have such opportunities here.”
The first job is at a cosmetics factory, where you’ll be responsible for operating machines. You’ll be facing machines every day, and it’s not difficult. You won’t need to interact with people. The salary and benefits are good. If you’re interested, I can arrange it for you.”
Seeing that he seemed intrigued, Lu Xia continued, “The second job is as a chef.”
Chang Yi, which was Yu Wan’s partner’s name, looked up at her with surprise when he heard this, then quickly lowered his head, feeling a bit shy.
Lu Xia smiled and said, “I plan to open a private restaurant. It’s different from a regular restaurant; we only serve high-end customers and offer private dining. So, I need highly skilled chefs. I’ve heard that you come from a family of chefs, so your culinary skills should be excellent and suitable for the job. If you accept this position, you’ll not only receive a salary but also a share of the profits.
But there’s something you need to consider. If you choose the first job, you can start tomorrow. However, for the second one, you’ll need to wait a bit. I’ve found a location for the private restaurant, but it’s not ready yet. It will take at least a month or even longer before you can start. So, what’s your choice?”
Chang Yi remained silent for a moment and then said, “I choose the first one.”
Upon hearing his choice, Lu Xia didn’t immediately respond, but Yu Wan asked, “Why? You clearly have a passion for cooking, so why not choose the second one? Are you afraid that Lu Xia will treat you like your previous boss did?”
“Don’t worry, she won’t! Lu Xia is my friend, and she’s trustworthy. If you go there, she won’t mistreat you,” Yu Wan assured.
Chang Yi shook his head and smiled at her, “It’s not for that reason. I just want to start earning money sooner.”
Yu Wan fell silent for a moment upon hearing this. Her eyes were slightly red, and she turned to Lu Xia and said, “Lu Xia, can you wait a bit? We want to discuss this decision together and then let you know.”
Lu Xia nodded and understood her intention. “Sure, take your time. Just let me know once you’ve made your decision.”
“Okay!”
