18 Awareness

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Lu Yu: “I’ve already placed the order. Brother Jian, haven’t you finished looking yet?”

He reached out to pull the chair in front of him, but although Lv Changfeng lacked other strengths, his sharp eyes were undoubtedly top-notch. He pulled the chair out before Lu Yu could.

He wore the complete attitude of someone ready to serve Lu Yu.

Lu Yu hesitated briefly, then nodded and said “Thank you” before taking his seat.

Once Lu Yu was seated, Lv Changfeng smiled warmly and said, “Here’s the thing: I’m the manager of this hotel. We’re currently running a promotion, and the front desk just told me that you happen to be our one hundredth table today. So we’re planning to offer…”

Song Jianli glanced at him calmly without a trace of emotion.

This clumsy excuse had already been used once at the amusement park; if repeated, even Lu Yu—slow as he was—would sense something was off, right?

Lv Changfeng swallowed the words that had formed on his lips.

“What’s wrong?” Lu Yu hadn’t yet understood why the manager had approached.

Lv Changfeng didn’t realize his mind had never been so sharp. In those brief ten seconds, his brain raced, operating as fast as a computer program.

Finally, carefully choosing his words, he smiled and said, “We’re holding a lucky draw event. You can win discount coupons, and if you’re lucky, even a free meal voucher. How about it? Would you two like to try?”

“Us?” Lu Yu pointed at himself, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Lv Changfeng silently wiped the sweat from his temple. “Yes! Just wait a moment; I’ll prepare it right away. Meanwhile, why don’t you go ahead and order your meal?”

Although he was speaking to Lu Yu, his eyes flicked toward Song Jianli, as if seeking his approval. Song Jianli said nothing, which amounted to tacit consent.

Lv Changfeng held his breath and made his way to the front desk, only to have his legs go weak. Sister Zhang steadied him. “I told you, I told you—Mr. Song Junior just arrived, and you didn’t even alert me? Who did you have set this up? If Mr. Song finds out about this, you’re all done for.”

“I didn’t realize it was Mr. Song Junior,” Sister Zhang said remorsefully.

No wonder she didn’t recognize him; both were dressed plainly in casual wear, looking like students—extremely inconspicuous among the elite staff.

Moreover, when Song Jianli came with his father Song Chen, Sister Zhang usually didn’t attend to them; Lv Changfeng handled it personally.

Leaning on the counter, Lv Changfeng grabbed two tissues and wiped his sweat, sighing deeply. “Forget it. Now go and get the box from the anniversary lucky draw.”

Right now, it was best to keep this revered figure and his friend happy.

—

“Brother Jian, I’m so excited! I really want to draw a hidden prize ticket,” Lu Yu said, watching Lv Changfeng walk away before turning to Song Jianli.

His eyes shone brightly with excitement.

Song Jianli smiled faintly. “The odds of drawing a hidden prize are always slim. Just draw casually. Besides, since Sang Sang’s luck has been good today, I believe you.”

“Don’t believe me—I don’t even believe myself…” Lu Yu lowered his voice.

He was usually obedient and spoke softly. Before Song Jianli could respond, Lv Changfeng arrived with Sister Zhang and another waiter.

“The lucky draw box is here. Who will draw?” Lv Changfeng waved, and the other waiter brought the box to the table.

Song Jianli looked at Lu Yu. “Sang Sang, you should do it.”

“I don’t want to,” Lu Yu shook his head.

“It’s just a try. Even a ten-percent discount is a win, right?” Song Jianli wanted to give Lu Yu this little surprise, confident Lv Changfeng would arrange everything properly.

Lu Yu said firmly, “If it’s you, maybe it would be twenty percent off?”

His attitude was unwavering. A good employee knows how to ease the boss’s worries. Lv Changfeng’s mind lit up again. “Then how about this: both of you draw together!”

“Together?” Lu Yu was puzzled.

Lv Changfeng said, “Yes! Like this—”

He demonstrated by threading the fingers of one hand through the gaps of the other.

Song Jianli snorted softly. Seeing his smile, Lv Changfeng knew the matter was settled.

“What do you think, Sang Sang?” As expected, Song Jianli sought Lu Yu’s opinion.

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Lu Yu had no objections. At least if they drew a worse ticket, he could bear it.

So Song Jianli came over to Lu Yu’s side. Lu Yu extended his hand with fingers spread wide. His frame was slight, hands small with slender, delicate fingers that looked like spring bamboo shoots. His nails were neatly rounded, and the knuckles were prominent.

“I wish to draw the hidden prize!” Lu Yu whispered after Song Jianli grasped his hand.

A doting smile lingered at Song Jianli’s lips, impossible to wipe away.

“How about this ticket?” Song Jianli’s hand was warm. Although Lu Yu’s attention wasn’t on his hand, when the heat transferred to the back of his hand, his heartbeat quickened.

How strange. Why were his ears warm too?

“Mm,” Lu Yu answered softly, afraid Song Jianli would notice his odd reaction.

Song Jianli noticed the sudden flush around Lu Yu’s ears and smiled even more. Lu Yu took out the ticket and handed it to Song Jianli, who glanced at it: [Reward: Two weeks paid leave].

He passed it to Lv Changfeng without any expression.

Lv Changfeng felt awkward, but since Song Jianli said nothing, he bowed and took it, then said seriously, “You two are so lucky! You’ve won a fifty-percent discount and a commemorative gift!”

Lv Changfeng was sharp enough to realize Song Jianli didn’t want them to waive the bill completely. After some thought, he chose the fifty-percent discount and the limited-edition gift.

Lu Yu stood up excitedly, repeating, “Fifty percent?!”

“See? Sang Sang is amazing,” Song Jianli said as he reached to ruffle Lu Yu’s hair, but only pinched his cheek lightly.

Lv Changfeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the matter was settled.

“We’re so lucky!” Lu Yu emphasized “lucky,” smiling innocently.

From the morning at the nearly empty amusement park, with half-price tickets, to now winning a fifty-percent discount and a souvenir, all signs pointed to incredible luck.

They sat back down, and Lu Yu added two more dishes to the original order. Knowing Lu Yu’s preferences well, Song Jianli ordered four dishes.

At that moment, Lu Yu was speaking with Sister Zhang, his attention elsewhere.

Song Jianli held the menu with Lv Changfeng standing beside him. In a good mood, Lv Changfeng casually said, “Well done.”

Sang Sang was slow to react, but if too many coincidences piled up in one day, he would surely realize later. If he found out today’s luck was staged, he’d be upset for a long time.

“Not at all. As long as you and your friend are happy,” Lv Changfeng swore he’d sweated at least three pounds in just a short while.

The dishes soon began arriving one after another.

They sat by the window, needing only to tilt their heads slightly to see the ground seventy or eighty meters below, where pedestrians and vehicles looked like ants. The scorching sun wilted the greenery.

Lu Yu quietly gazed downward, one hand resting on the glass, eyes serene and dim, as if the passing breeze could not disturb the stillness within. Song Jianli didn’t know what he was thinking; he appeared to be in a daze.

“Sang Sang.”

“Sang Sang?” Song Jianli called twice.

Lu Yu finally snapped out of it, adjusted his posture, and his eyes regained their color. “What’s up?”

“What were you so absorbed in? The food’s all here.” Song Jianli sensed something wrong—those lifeless eyes made his heart flutter.

Lu Yu shook his head. “Nothing.”

“I’m hungry! Let’s eat.” Worried Song Jianli would ask more, Lu Yu picked up his fork.

Song Jianli frowned slightly, using the serving chopsticks to pick a peeled steamed shrimp for Lu Yu. “Eat more. We’re going to the beach later.”

—

*Knock knock knock—*

The office door was tapped, and the secretary spoke, “Boss, a woman downstairs says she’s your aunt and brought you a lunchbox.”

“…” At the desk, Lu Jinlü glanced at his wristwatch and noted Lu Yu’s lunch delivery was late.

Then the secretary said lunch had arrived from home, but the deliverer was the house aunt.

“Let her come up,” Lu Jinlü set down his files.

The secretary then informed the front desk.

Soon, Aunt Hui arrived with the lunchbox.

Two years ago, Aunt Hui’s son became bedridden due to illness, so she had to return home at noon to cook for him, and another woman, Aunt Zhou Wenxiu, was hired to prepare the family’s lunch.

When Aunt Hui was around, Aunt Zhou rarely stayed at the Lu residence, only occasionally helping during family gatherings.

Seeing Lu Jinlü, Aunt Zhou placed the lunchbox on a side table, offering an apologetic expression. “Sorry, Young Master. The bus was stuck in traffic for a while.”

As she spoke, she opened the insulated bag, laying out the dishes on the table. Each looked appetizing and still steaming.

“Why did you come? Where’s Lu Yu?” Although delivering lunch wasn’t Lu Yu’s official duty, he had been doing it until now. The change unsettled Lu Jinlü.

Aunt Zhou said, “Liu said Second Young Master isn’t home today.”

Right. Lu Jinlü had seen Lu Yu and Song Jianli leave that morning.

“Thank you for your hard work,” Lu Jinlü didn’t complain; he wasn’t insisting Lu Yu deliver lunch.

He moved to the table as Aunt Zhou wiped the chopsticks before handing them over.

As Lu Jinlü reached to pick at a dish, he immediately noticed glaring garlic and ginger.

He switched to another dish, but it contained whole Sichuan peppercorns.

Out of four dishes, two had scallions and garlic, and one had peppercorns.

He set the chopsticks down, a nameless irritation rising inside.

“What’s wrong, Young Master? Not to your taste?” Aunt Zhou asked anxiously.

“Don’t you know I don’t eat scallions, garlic, or peppercorns?” Lu Jinlü could tolerate their flavor but not eating them.

Sometimes the lunch smelled of these condiments without containing them, and he thought Aunt Zhou had thoughtfully removed the parts he disliked.

Aunt Zhou’s heart skipped. “That shouldn’t be. The meals I made before had those seasonings in some dishes.”

Lu Jinlü looked at her silently.

“It’s true. I don’t know if Second Young Master added them when cooking for you, but when I make your meals, I always include them. I’m not lying,” she said honestly.

In the Lu household, apart from Zhuang Ningyue and Lu Chengming, Aunt Zhou knew whose words carried weight, so she hid nothing.

Lu Jinlü grasped the key point: “Lu Yu cooks for me?”

“Yes. Didn’t he tell you? When I’m busy, Second Young Master personally cooks for you,” Aunt Zhou explained, seeing Lu Jinlü’s surprised expression.

Lu Jinlü was silent for a while, then closed his eyes, leaning back on the sofa.

“No wonder when you’re home, Second Young Master tells me to make some dishes without scallions or garlic. He said he doesn’t eat them, but… why didn’t he say it’s you who doesn’t eat them? What am I to do? I’ll go make you a new meal now,” Aunt Zhou fretted, seeing Lu Jinlü’s discomfort.

She thought he disliked her cooking.

Why didn’t Lu Yu say anything? Because Lu Jinlü never wanted others to know he was picky, so Lu Yu preferred to take the blame himself, protecting Lu Jinlü’s pride.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Ningyue openly teased him for being picky.

He wondered why some delivered meals smelled of garlic and scallions, while others didn’t. It turned out Lu Yu had made many meals for him without his knowledge.

Why did Aunt Zhou’s dishes lack those seasonings? The only explanation Lu Jinlü could think of was that Lu Yu carefully picked them out on the way.

“Aunt Zhou, stay to make dinner tonight. I’ll pay you triple,” Lu Jinlü suddenly said.