To lose weight, Yang Hao dared not consume too many calories, so after eating half a bowl of rice, he had no more.
Xixi, who had already eaten at the kindergarten, let her foodie nature burst forth, happily taking big bites of the meat.
Li Manni watched with a sense of achievement, occasionally picking some fish for the little girl's bowl.
"Brother-in-law, you can go to work with peace of mind later; I can stay home and help Xixi with her homework."
When the meal was nearly finished, Li Manni spoke up.
"Hmm, I'll come back after eight."
"There will still be buses to the school then."
It was only after five now, and Yang Hao decided to go for another three-hour run, which would be just right for digestion.
After a short rest,
Yang Hao changed into his work clothes and went out again.
It was dinner time, and the orders were abundant. With his rich experience, he could manage three orders at once.
He stayed busy like this until almost eight o'clock, when the evening rush had passed.
Beep, a new order was snatched for you.
Just as Yang Hao caught his breath, the Kangaroo takeaway notification sounded again.
He glanced at it; the pickup location was only a few hundred meters from him, at a barbecue restaurant.
Yang Hao started his electric scooter and soon arrived inside the restaurant.
"Is Kangaroo 018 ready?"
Yang Hao called out his order number, asking the server standing behind the counter.
"Wait a bit!"
The server was fiddling with a phone, casually throwing back an answer.
This situation was quite normal, and Yang Hao had no choice but to sit in the waiting area.
"Hao?"
He had just sat down when a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
Yang Hao looked up, slightly startled.
The person calling him was an attractive girl, not exactly beautiful but pleasant to look at, the kind who wears well.
Yang Hao knew this girl all too well; she was Xu Meizhu and had been the manager of Yang Hao's hot pot restaurant. She had started working with him from the opening of his first hot pot restaurant when Xu Meizhu was just 18 years old, a high school dropout who had come to Jiangcheng to work, with her first job being a waitress in Yang Hao's hot pot restaurant.
The smart and hardworking girl had been promoted to manager when Yang Hao opened his second hot pot restaurant, and she had followed him ever since, until the hot pot restaurants closed down last year.
"Meizhu, long time no see."
Seeing his once loyal subordinate, Yang Hao was filled with poignant feelings.
Xu Meizhu had been only 18 when she first arrived in Jiangcheng. Now ten years had passed, and the once naive young girl was no longer youthful; she would be 28 this year.
"Hao, how have you been lately?"
Xu Meizhu sized up Yang Hao with her eyes slightly reddening.
The once spirited boss, the man she had silently admired for many years, had fallen on hard times, and it made her feel sorrowful. She wanted to rush over and give him a hug.
But remembering that Yang Hao was a married man, she suppressed the urge.
"Pretty good, without entrepreneurship, I'm light on my feet."
Yang Hao shrugged with a smile.
Xu Meizhu was about to say more when a waitress came over in a rush: "Manager, there's a customer who wants to return some food."
"Okay, I'll be right there."
Xu Meizhu agreed, then gave Yang Hao an apologetic smile, "Hao, I only came back after New Year. Let's have a meal together some time; we'll contact each other on WeChat."
"Alright, go on with your work."
Yang Hao nodded slightly, thinking that given Xu Meizhu's experience and competence in the catering industry, managing such a small barbecue restaurant was somewhat beneath her abilities.
Back when Yang Hao had five restaurants, she was managing three of them...
"Kangaroo 018 is ready."
At that moment, a server called out to him.
Yang Hao gathered his wandering thoughts, took the packaged takeaway, and left quickly.
Inside the restaurant.
Xu Meizhu finished dealing with a troublesome customer and turned to look at the waiting area, only to find that the familiar figure had disappeared.
She gazed at the spot where the man had just been, feeling somewhat disoriented.
Last year, all of Yang Hao's hotpot restaurants had closed down. Apart from Yang Hao himself, she was probably the saddest.
Initially, she only wanted to work to earn money and stumbled into becoming Yang Hao's employee by chance. Over time, she grew fond of the sunny, capable, and talented boss.
She worked even harder, hoping to gain the boss's appreciation and recognition.
Eventually, Yang Hao did trust and recognize her work ability, promoting her to manager. However, she didn't have the courage to confess her feelings, fearing that a rejection might ruin even the relationship they already had.
Then Li Manshu began to work part-time at the restaurant, and she watched the man she admired get together with Li Manshu, get married, and have children.
Xu Meizhu could only bury her feelings deep in her heart, working diligently, accompanying Yang Hao in another way.
But everything ended last year. She was left without a reason to stay by his side, returned to her hometown heartbroken, and agreed to her mother's matchmaking arrangements. She met a few prospects, but none clicked.
Truth be told, she was aware it might not be about finding mutual interests, but more likely that her heart retained its ties.
Therefore, during the New Year, she returned to Jiangcheng.
"Meizhu, did you know the delivery guy just now?"
While Xu Meizhu was lost in thought, a young female server tapped her arm gently and asked with a smile.
"He's my boss," Xu Meizhu replied offhandedly.
"Ah?"
"Boss?"
The server looked confused, seemingly puzzled about why a boss would be delivering food.
"Oh, my former boss," Xu Meizhu added.
"I see..."
The server laughed, "Meizhu, you must feel secretly thrilled, right? He used to be so imposing, and now he's delivering food!"
"What are you thinking!"
Xu Meizhu knocked on her head, "Not all bosses are like our current one."
"He was very kind to me, and also to the other employees!"
"Huh?"
"So, he was a good boss?" The server was somewhat surprised, having worked as a server for two years, hopping between three different places, and had yet to meet the legendary good boss.
Xu Meizhu smiled, "Anyway, if he opens another restaurant, I'd be willing to work for him again!"
Following that, Xu Meizhu took out her phone, opened WeChat, and looked at her chat with Yang Hao; the last message was sent during the New Year.
She hesitated for a moment, then typed a message and sent it: The environment is gradually improving, waiting for the boss's summons any time!
"Meizhu, he's delivering food now!"
"Do you actually want to join him in delivery?"
The server, who had been eavesdropping, teased her cheerfully.
"If he needs it, I guess it's not out of the question..."
Xu Meizhu spread her hands lightly.
"Huh?"
The server looked slightly stunned, then had a realization, "Meizhu, do you like him??"
Xu Meizhu didn't respond directly but knocked on the server's head again, "Get back to work, always gossiping!"