VFGRC Chapter 14

TL: Moonlit

---

Without Zhao Yan saying much, Zhao Miaomiao felt like she was doomed.

An unfamiliar man sat beside her, and she wondered if the unfamiliar man beside her was the distinguished guest her mother had mentioned. It was impolite of her to bring fragrant snacks into the car where strangers were seated.

Zhao Miaomiao tightly held the paper box in her hand, but the continuous aroma of teppanyaki still seeped through the gaps in the box, eagerly escaping.

Zhao Miaomiao silently shrank her body, trying to reduce her presence.

“This smell… is it coming from it?”

Ji Rongyu’s deep and powerful voice broke the frozen silence inside the carriage.

Zhao Miaomiao’s body stiffened.

As expected.

The teppanyaki aroma was indeed too prominent in the carriage. It was only a matter of time before the man next to her noticed her.

“Is it coming from it… Does it smell bad?” Zhao Miaomiao struggled to swallow her saliva, “There’s a trash can at the intersection ahead, I…”

But Ji Rongyu interrupted, “I think it smells good. Can you let me have a look at it?”

Both Zhao Miaomiao and Zhao Yan, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, were stunned.

Huh? He actually thinks teppanyaki smells good?

Confused, Zhao Miaomiao obediently handed the teppanyaki in her hand to the front.

The man’s long and distinct fingers firmly grasped the paper box. His neatly trimmed fingertips held the lid of the box and calmly lifted it.

Inside the box, the teppanyaki rice cakes and teppanyaki tofu displayed a beautiful golden-brown color. The misty steam, mixed with the aroma of the sauce, wafted up, making the teppanyaki fragrance in the carriage even more intense.

Ji Rongyu spoke softly, “Can I have a taste?”

Zhao Miaomiao replied, “Of course…”

But Zhao Yan, who was in the front passenger seat, interrupted her, “Brother Yu, this is a street snack near Miaomiao’s school. You can smell that it’s poorly made. How could it be delicious? It’s better not to eat this kind of street food…”

“Hmm?”

Ji Rongyu’s nose emitted a faint hum, and Zhao Yan immediately shut his mouth.

That soft hum was Ji Rongyu’s warning to Zhao Yan.

What qualification did Zhao Yan, who was just Ji Rongyu’s guide in J City, have to influence Ji Rongyu’s thoughts?

Zhao Yan understood that he had overstepped his boundaries and tightly closed his mouth, not saying another word.

There was only one skewer in the box, and Ji Rongyu frowned slightly.

Zhao Miaomiao quickly said, “I haven’t eaten this teppanyaki yet. The skewer is clean.”

Only then did Ji Rongyu pierce the skewer into a piece of teppanyaki tofu and put it into his mouth.

The outer shell of the teppanyaki tofu and teppanyaki rice cake had already been seared to a crisp, golden brown.

The moment Ji Rongyu took a bite of the teppanyaki tofu, a crisp and pleasant sound resonated from the crispy skin.

“Crunch.”

The savory and crispy skin enveloped the tender tofu, slowly spreading on the taste buds. Ji Rongyu’s ink-black eyes narrowed slightly.

Then, he tried a piece of teppanyaki rice cake.

For some reason, Zhao Miaomiao felt that when Ji Rongyu swallowed that piece of teppanyaki rice cake, there was a trace of reluctance in his expression—as if he hadn’t eaten enough teppanyaki rice cakes and tofu.

Tentatively, Zhao Miaomiao said, “If you like it, you can have all of it.”

Suddenly, Zhao Miaomiao noticed a faint gleam in Ji Rongyu’s narrow, black eyes. Even the corners of his pressed lips curled up slightly, an imperceptible arc.

A momentary confusion flickered in Zhao Miaomiao’s gaze.

How did she suddenly feel that the expression he revealed resembled someone she had seen before?

Ji Rongyu’s gaze paused on Zhao Miaomiao for a moment.

“Hmm.”

Ji Rongyu’s cold, rigid voice sounded slightly softer.

“Thank you.”

Zhao Yan, sitting in the front passenger seat, couldn’t help but feel jealous upon hearing Ji Rongyu say “thank you” to Zhao Miaomiao.

He had been serving as Ji Rongyu’s guide in J City for a week, going to great lengths to take him to various restaurants and food summits in the city. However, Ji Rongyu never uttered a single “thank you” and often wore a cold expression, complaining about the food.

But a simple and ordinary snack like teppanyaki in Zhao Miaomiao’s hand could make Ji Rongyu put away his cold demeanor… If Zhao Yan wasn’t completely certain, he would have doubted whether Ji Rongyu, sitting in the back seat, was the biggest culinary investor in China. It almost made him question Ji Rongyu’s taste.

Because during this week, he took Ji Rongyu all over J City, but Ji Rongyu didn’t want to invest in any restaurants. The only thing that caught Ji Rongyu’s interest was the scallion pancake street vendor from a couple of days ago.

And now…

Zhao Yan glanced at Ji Rongyu through the rearview mirror.

Ji Rongyu maintained his usual dignified and composed posture, quickly eating the teppanyaki in his hand…

Suddenly, a ridiculous thought arose in Zhao Yan’s mind.

Could it be that Ji Rongyu couldn’t find that scallion pancake vendor and is considering investing in this teppanyaki stall instead?

At this moment, Zhao Yan had no idea that his seemingly “ridiculous” thought would actually come true later on.

Zhao Miaomiao, sitting in the back seat, was unaware and unconcerned about what Zhao Yan was thinking.

With a smile on her face, Zhao Miaomiao looked at Ji Rongyu… and quickly finished the teppanyaki in her hand!

Oh no! This teppanyaki was especially shared by Ning Ning and Ling Zi with her! She didn’t even get a single bite!

Listening to the crispy sound of the teppanyaki tofu and teppanyaki rice cake, and smelling the aroma, her mouth was watering!

Seeing Ji Rongyu eating teppanyaki, Zhao Miaomiao couldn’t help but saliva welled up at the corners of her mouth.

Ji Rongyu swallowed the last bite of teppanyaki and looked at Zhao Miaomiao.

“Are you Zhao Yan’s sister? What’s your name…”

“Zhao Miaomiao.”

“Hmm. Can I get your contact information?”

Zhao Miaomiao’s smile paused for a moment.

Huh?

Ji Rongyu: “I want to ask you a few things about teppanyaki.”

Zhao Miaomiao: “Oh… okay.”

In the next second, Hang Yuanshu, the assistant sitting next to Ji Rongyu, handed his WeChat QR code to Zhao Miaomiao.

Hang Yuanshu smiled, “Scan mine.”

Zhao Yan, sitting in the front seat, was almost furious.

He had served Ji Rongyu diligently for a week, and only now did he add Ji Rongyu’s assistant Hang Yuanshu’s WeChat. Zhao Miaomiao had just met Ji Rongyu not long ago when she got in the car, yet she was able to add Ji Rongyu’s assistant Hang Yuanshu’s WeChat so quickly!

Was it all because of this seemingly ordinary teppanyaki?!

He couldn’t understand!

—

The parents of Qingqiao Kindergarten were too enthusiastic, and coupled with the students from Qingqiao High School gradually discovering Yu Bai’s teppanyaki stall from between the gaps of the sugar-coated hawthorn and roujiamo street vendors, they came over to line up and buy teppanyaki. As a result, Yu Bai quickly sold out all the ingredients in the stall, closing half an hour earlier than the previous day.

Some disappointed expressions appeared on the faces of the kindergarten parents who didn’t get the teppanyaki.

Today was the kindergarten’s New Year celebration, so the parents had to take time off to attend.

On ordinary days, it was the grandparents who came to pick up and drop off the kindergarten children, while the parents had to go back to work.

“My office is nearby. What time will you set up tomorrow? Tell me, I promise to come and queue up on time!”

“My office is a bit far from here, so it’s inconvenient to come over… It would be great if your teppanyaki stall offered delivery!”

Yu Bai replied, “I set up around 2 p.m. each day, but if something comes up, I might be late or not set up at all. As for delivery… I’m sorry, but I haven’t started offering that service yet.”

Opening delivery service requires going through many procedures. Moreover, for a mobile stall like his, there are even more procedures involved.

Yu Bai’s teppanyaki stall is a personal one.

With limited manpower at a personal stall, he alone is already struggling to handle the customers who come to buy teppanyaki.

If Yu Bai started offering delivery, even if he grew three more heads and six more arms, he wouldn’t be able to handle such a large number of customers!

So, for now, Yu Bai can only set aside the idea of offering delivery.

The winter sky in City J turned dark earlier than in summer.

Yu Bai closed his food stall and pushed the snack cart. Xing Xing, as always, sat on the cart, nibbling on half a scallion pancake while swinging his chubby little legs.

The sun had already been swallowed by the horizon, leaving the sky like a piece of black satin adorned with sparkling stars.

Sitting on the snack cart, Xing Xing placed his small chubby hands on his meaty cheeks. His big, round, clear ink-black eyes reflected the brilliant night.

With a curved brow and eyes, Xing Xing raised his little hand toward the sky. “Daddy, look, the stars in the sky are twinkling!”

“Yes, I see them.”

“But there are so many stars in the sky. Which one is Mommy?”

Yu Bai smiled. “Your Mommy must be the brightest star.”

“Why?”

“Because… shiny stars are very beautiful, right?”

“Yes!”

“You’re so cute, so your Mommy must be the brightest and most beautiful star in the sky.” Yu Bai gently touched his son’s soft face, like a fluffy marshmallow. “I love you both very much.”

Xing Xing blushed.

Xing Xing extended his chubby little hand and lightly poked Yu Bai.

“What’s wrong?” Yu Bai asked.

Xing Xing blinked his eyes, and his chubby face revealed a shy expression.

“Xing Xing is cute, Mommy is beautiful, but Daddy… Daddy is handsome too!”

“I super-duper love Daddy! Mua!”

With his greasy mouth, Xing Xing left a loving mark on Yu Bai’s cheek.

Then, Xing Xing shyly turned his little head and curled up into a ball.

Lowering his head, Xing Xing continued nibbling on the scallion pancake in his hand. His sparkling eyes seemed to be filled with vast stars.

Daddy loves Xing Xing, and Xing Xing loves Daddy too!

 

Author’s note:

Yu Bai 【】: Today, I won’t wash my face after receiving my son’s limited edition love mark!!!

Xing Xing 【】: The internet is not beyond the law! Xing Xing only gives Mua to Daddy!

Author 【】: Let me see how many failed kidnappings there are today and how many unlucky folks got caught by the police. (:з」∠)

—

P.S.: I caught a cold, took a nap, and woke up to write this, so the second update is a bit late or at 2.