"It's not that I'm chasing you away, I've been intending to do this for a while," Xiao Jun said, "Now that you've learned Wang family cuisine well, you should go back to your own family's restaurant. It doesn't look right for you to keep staying here like this."
"What doesn't look right about it?" Wang Wenhao shook his head, "I just like staying here. Please let me stay, Master."
"Your father came today wanting to call you back too," Xiao Jun said, "I don't know why he didn't say it outright, but he wants you to go back and inherit the business."
"I don't want to," Wang Wenhao pouted, "I'm stubborn by nature. I don't want to go back. I think this is good. I just want to stay here."
"You little brat," Xiao Jun laughed at him, "You don't want the family business anymore? You don't want your parents anymore?"
"My dad has already taken on disciples. The restaurant can definitely keep operating. My dad is only in his fifties and still hale and hearty. If I really made him go back home to retire, he would be unhappy," Wang Wenhao said, "Just let me stay here for now. When it's time to go back, I'll go back myself."
Xiao Jun didn't insist on persuading him further and agreed.
Du Rourou walked out from the door, "Wang Wenhao, are you leaving?"
She had gotten up to get some water and overheard the conversation between the boss and Wang Wenhao unintentionally. Her heart was in turmoil and she couldn't help but come out to ask for clarification.
Wang Wenhao shook his head, "I'm not leaving."
Du Rourou seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "Not leaving, that's good."
"Would you miss me?" Wang Wenhao teased her.
Du Rourou hopped three feet into the air, "Don't be so full of yourself, of course not!"
"I'm leaving tomorrow, going back home," Wang Wenhao suddenly said.
"Didn't you say you weren't leaving?" Du Rourou was stunned for a moment.
"I was kidding you. I have to leave eventually, just like Master said. I can't stay here forever," Wang Wenhao said.
"Then...then..." Du Rourou unconsciously started fiddling with her clothes.
"You have to come back and visit from time to time..."
Wang Wenhao asked her again, "Would you miss me?"
Du Rourou didn't speak at first, but seeing Wang Wenhao's unusually serious face, she finally nodded lightly, "Mm."
"Why?" Wang Wenhao relentlessly pursued.
"We...we're colleagues, friends, of course I would feel reluctant to part..." Du Rourou said.
"Just colleagues? Just friends?" Wang Wenhao took a step towards her, frightening Du Rourou into unconsciously taking a step back.
Wang Wenhao stared fixedly into her eyes. Du Rourou felt a little nervous, opened her mouth wanting to say something but didn't say it.
Wang Wenhao just kept staring at her, motionless.
Du Rourou finally seemed to give up and say, "No, not just..."
Before she could finish speaking, Wang Wenhao interrupted her.
"I understand now," Wang Wenhao said.
"Understand what?" Du Rourou didn't react for a moment.
"I understand your thoughts," Wang Wenhao said, "Let me continue from here."
"Rourou, I've liked you for a long time. Can you be with me?" Wang Wenhao said very solemnly. His usually casual face now looked deeply affectionate.
Du Rourou felt somewhat at a loss.
Wang Wenhao said, "Although I'm just a cook, I swear that from now on I will always put you first. You are my number one priority."
Du Rourou's face flushed slightly red. She didn't expect that just getting up at night for some water would lead to this. She bit her lip and finally agreed.
Who made her unknowingly fall for Wang Wenhao too?
Du Rourou had a smile at the corners of her mouth, harboring the private thoughts of a young girl as she went back to bed, while also carrying a trace of sadness over the impending separation.
The next morning when she woke up, she saw Wang Wenhao in the kitchen as usual, practicing his knifework.
"Weren't you going to leave?" Du Rourou ran over and asked him.
"I was kidding you," Wang Wenhao breezily said before swiftly running off before Du Rourou could react.
Du Rourou was stunned for a moment. "Wang! Wen! Hao!"
She angrily clenched her fists.
"You bastard, go die!!!"
