**Chapter 24: Starving on the Train Isn’t a Good Way to Count Work Hours…**
And so, the two “righteous” individuals pretended as if nothing had happened. After smoothly completing the ticket check, they found their respective seats in the same carriage and sat down one after the other.
When Lin Siyi booked the tickets on her phone that afternoon, she chose seats in the same row with consecutive numbers. However, since the ticketing system didn’t have any specified seating conditions, their seats ended up being separated, placed on opposite sides of the aisle.
Lin Siyi tried to lift her suitcase to place it on the overhead luggage rack. The man with glasses sitting next to her saw her struggling and eagerly asked, “Need a hand?”
In the moment Lin Siyi hesitated, Cheng Yixiu, who was behind her, interjected, “No need.” Then he swiftly and neatly lifted Lin Siyi’s suitcase and placed it on the rack.
The entire action was smooth and efficient, without any unnecessary fuss.
The man with glasses looked a bit embarrassed, carefully observing Cheng Yixiu’s attire, which gave off a professional elite vibe. He seemed to match well with Lin Siyi.
Haha, so she already has someone. He thought he might gain some favor by helping out, maybe even have a spontaneous romantic encounter.
Lin Siyi was unaware of the colorful world in the glasses man’s mind. Her attention was entirely on her boss at this moment. “Thanks a lot.”
Cheng Yixiu waved it off, “Just a small favor.”
Lin Siyi originally planned to sleep through the journey, but after just a few minutes, she was woken up by hunger.
She opened her eyes and glanced at Cheng Yixiu beside her, seeing that he was also resting his eyes. She thought it would be best not to disturb him so late as a subordinate.
Then Lin Siyi pretended to sleep again, but unfortunately, her stomach growled even louder than before. She felt the sound was loud enough for the glasses man next to her to hear.
At this moment, she heard her boss calling her name. Lin Siyi opened her eyes to see Cheng Yixiu handing her a pack of chocolate.
“If you’re hungry, why didn’t you say so? Starving on the train isn’t a good way to count work injuries.”
Lin Siyi: “…Boss, where did you get the chocolate?”
“Sometimes when I’m busy and forget to eat, I get low blood sugar, so I keep some chocolate in my briefcase. I just remembered and found some, perfect for now.”
“You eat this first. If it’s not enough, you can order more food.”
Lin Siyi: “But I saw the staff with the lunch boxes already passed by.”
Cheng Yixiu explained, “Didn’t you know? You can now order food by scanning a QR code on your phone. There’s a QR code on the armrest, it’s very convenient.”
“Oh, I usually buy food in advance when taking the train, so I didn’t notice this change. I’m really out of touch. Boss, can I order instant noodles or self-heating hot pot?”
Cheng Yixiu mercilessly refused, “No, I can’t stand the smell in such a confined space. If you really want to eat, just stay hungry.”
“…”
“I don’t like the fast food on the train either. Eat the chocolate first, hold on, and when we arrive, I’ll take you for a proper meal.”
Lin Siyi continued to bargain, “Can I have barbecue and spicy crayfish?”
Cheng Yixiu gave her a meaningful look, “I advise you to take it easy, we have serious work tomorrow. If you get knocked out tonight, this trip would be for nothing. That wouldn’t count as a business trip, and I’d have to count it as a work delay.”
Lin Siyi: “…”
Weren’t monks supposed to be compassionate? Why are you, Yixiu, the opposite?
By the time they arrived at the station, it was around ten in the evening.
The night was clear with a bright moon, suggesting good weather for tomorrow.
Even at this late hour, there were still many taxi drivers near the train station exit looking for passengers. Cheng Yixiu randomly chose a taxi.
Considering the location of tomorrow’s meeting, he instructed the driver to find a hotel with a decent environment nearby. It would be even better if there were many restaurants around.
The driver quickly agreed and drove them to their destination. “That’ll be 89 yuan. Would you like to pay in cash or scan the code?”
“Scan the code, please. Where’s the QR code?”
“It’s on the backrest, do you see it?”
Cheng Yixiu scanned the QR code on the back of the taxi seat, entered the amount of 89, and confirmed the payment.
As soon as he confirmed the password, the driver’s phone rang with a payment notification.
They entered the hotel lobby and approached the front desk.
Cheng Yixiu told Lin Siyi, “Get your ID ready, we need to check in.”
Lin Siyi, feeling weak and dizzy from hunger, struggled to find her ID from the zipper compartment of her bag and handed it to the front desk clerk.
Cheng Yixiu: “Please book us two single rooms.”
Front desk clerk: “Hello, please wait a moment while I check for available rooms.”
Soon, the clerk replied, “Sorry, there’s only one single room left. Is one large and one small room okay?”
Lin Siyi had no say in the matter and remained silent throughout.
Cheng Yixiu considered for a moment, “Alright.”
Lin Siyi quickly offered, “Boss, I’ll take the smaller room.”
Cheng Yixiu found it amusing, “I didn’t say I was going to put you in the larger room.”
Lin Siyi: “…” Oh, come on, you pighead!
Your assistant is about to starve on the street, don’t you know? She then forgot about her suitcase and headed straight for the elevator.
After the front desk clerk completed the check-in, Cheng Yixiu took their IDs and room cards. He caught up with her, asking, “Are you not planning to take your luggage?”
Lin Siyi didn’t hold back, “Thanks, boss, for bringing my luggage. Could you also swipe the elevator for me?” She realized she couldn’t open the elevator door without a room card.
Cheng Yixiu: “Let’s go upstairs first, put our luggage away, and then go out for dinner.”
After swiping the room card and entering her room, Lin Siyi took out an air-conditioning shirt from her suitcase. Although it was summer, it was a bit chilly at night. To be safe, she decided to keep warm.
While looking in the bathroom mirror, she heard her phone ringing.
She ran out to see it was a call from Song Yunxiao.
Lin Siyi realized they hadn’t talked on the phone for several days. Ignoring Cheng Yixiu’s earlier instructions, she answered the call.
Before Song Yunxiao could speak, Lin Siyi asked, “Song Song, guess where I am right now.”
“At this hour, if you’re not at home, where else could you be?”
“Hehe, I’m at a hotel with my boss right now.”
As soon as she said that, she heard Song Yunxiao coughing violently on the other end, probably choking on water.
Song Yunxiao was shocked, “I was just joking last time, but you guys are really efficient, huh?”
Lin Siyi: “…Your mind is too dirty, I’m ashamed to be associated with you! We’re just on a business trip, the boss is in the room next door. We just arrived at the hotel, and now we’re about to go out for dinner. I’m starving.”
“Oh, oh, oh, I thought something was really going on!”
“What were you thinking? Do you really want me to livestream eating poop for you? You’re so young and already so vicious.”
“Alright, just make sure to let me know in advance, so I can prepare the poop for you. But don’t worry, I won’t poison it. Hahaha…”
Lin Siyi: “…”
Song Yunxiao: “But you’ve only been working for a few days, and you’re already on a business trip?”
“Hehe, the boss just brought me out to see the world.”
“Ugh, I’m so jealous. Why do I have to sit glued to my seat staring at a bare computer screen every day, while you get to drool over your handsome boss and travel around? We’re both human, why is there such a big difference?”
Lin Siyi didn’t want to discourage her, but her mouth was faster than her brain, and she blurted out, “Maybe it’s because I’m better looking?”
Song Yunxiao: “…”
Lin Siyi wanted to continue, but at that moment, Cheng Yixiu came over and knocked on the door.
“Let’s talk another time, we’re about to go out for a free dinner.”
“Get lost!”
Lin Siyi asked Cheng Yixiu, “Boss, what are we going to eat now?”
“Anything but barbecue, hot pot, and spicy crayfish.”
Lin Siyi: “…” Are you playing ‘Boss is Picking a Fight’?
“Then I want to eat spicy hot pot.”
“What’s the difference between spicy hot pot and regular hot pot? Isn’t one just a bigger portion and the other smaller?”
“There’s a big difference, okay?” Lin Siyi silently added in her heart, “Yixiu, you old man wouldn’t understand.”
In the end, Lin Siyi, the little assistant, compromised with her boss and chose a Hong Kong-style restaurant. The dishes came quickly, each portion was small, but eating several together felt a bit greasy.
Sitting there, Lin Siyi guiltily touched her belly, thinking she might surpass 100 pounds tonight.
Since she was freeloading on someone else’s meal, she couldn’t let the conversation die. Lin Siyi took the initiative to start a topic, “Boss, I just realized this is our first proper meal together.”
Cheng Yixiu wiped his mouth with a napkin, “What about the two breakfasts we had before? Were those not proper?”
Feeling misunderstood, she quickly explained, “I meant a proper meal, not like the casual breakfasts we had before.”
“And ever since my mom passed away, I haven’t had a meal with an elder in a long time.”
Cheng Yixiu: “…I’m just your boss, OK? When did I become your elder?” He felt like he was being called old.
Although men age better than women, having been called old by his sister a few days ago and now by Lin Siyi, Cheng Yixiu felt a bit sensitive. At this age, calling a man old is like saying he’s not capable anymore.