The sun had passed its zenith.
Zhu Zi closed the novel in her hands and turned once again to look at the table not far away, her expression growing increasingly conflicted.
It was already past mealtime, but the boss was still sleeping.
According to the boss's previous instructions, she should have woken him up an hour ago.
But the boss's peaceful sleeping face as he lay on the table made her reluctant to wake him.
Zhu Zi reached out to touch her stomach, feeling hungry.
This won't do!
If they delayed any longer, Wanmin Restaurant would enter its afternoon rest period.
It wouldn't matter if she went hungry, but she couldn't let the boss go hungry.
Moreover, the boss had promised yesterday evening to try Xiangling's new dishes today. It wouldn't be good to stand her up.
She must wake the boss up right now!
With this thought, Zhu Zi decisively stood up and walked to the table.
She bent down, lowering her head to look closely at Xia Zhi's sleeping face.
This was the first time she had been this close to him.
The boss looked quite cute when he was sleeping.
His face looked so young too. How old was the boss? Surely he couldn't be younger than her?
With his eyes closed like this in sleep, you couldn't tell at all that the boss was blind.
Zhu Zi's thoughts wandered several times in that short moment, then she called out softly near his ear: "Boss? Boss? It's time to wake up for lunch..."
After a moment, Xia Zhi's eyelids moved, slowly revealing a pair of gray, sightless eyes.
Zhu Zi found herself meeting those eyes directly. At such close distance, she could see her own reflection in those clear eyes, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.
"Is it?"
Xia Zhi lazily raised his head, feeling numbness in both hands. He frowned, then began massaging them like a professional.
"Zhu Zi, how long was I asleep?"
"Boss, it's almost one o'clock!"
"So late? Why didn't you wake me earlier?"
"You were sleeping so soundly, I wanted to let you rest a bit longer."
Xia Zhi smiled, feeling the discomfort in his hands dissipating, and stood up.
"Are you hungry?"
"It's not too bad."
"I'll go wash my face, then we'll go eat right away."
"Mm."
Xia Zhi went to wash up in the back of the shop while Zhu Zi stood quietly waiting.
In her boredom, she reached out and slowly traced her finger across the table surface, touching a spot where she could feel a faint warmth.
It was the remnant of Xia Zhi's body heat.
Zhu Zi paused, suddenly recalling those gray eyes of his. She inexplicably sighed and slowly withdrew her finger.
A few minutes later, Zhu Zi locked up the shop, and they went together to Wanmin Restaurant.
Unlike dinner time, most people were busy returning to work at noon, so there weren't as many customers eating at this hour.
Xiangling came over and asked curiously, "Mr. Xia, why are you both so late today?"
"I took a nap this morning and accidentally overslept."
"Is it because you've been busy with opening the shop? Although work is important, Mr. Xia needs to take care of his health too."
"Mm, thanks for your concern."
Then Xiangling enthusiastically began discussing her new dish ideas with Xia Zhi.
Xia Zhi listened to her very attentively, pondered for a moment, then gave her some suggestions about the spice combinations.
Xiangling immediately gained new insights.
And so, as expected, Xia Zhi didn't have to pay for lunch again today.
Because they came late, by the time he and Zhu Zi finished eating, there were few customers left in the restaurant. Xiangling, Chef Mao, and Guoba had also come out from the kitchen to sit at a nearby table to eat and rest.
While Wanmin Restaurant's business was flourishing, it was truly hard work.
Xia Zhi didn't hurry to leave, and took the opportunity during casual conversation to increase Guoba's progress bar: [Progress: 5%].
At the same golden tier, Guoba was much slower than Qiqi and the little crane.
Mainly because Guoba couldn't speak, and there was no physical contact between them.
He could only slowly grind it out.
Leaving Wanmin Restaurant, walking on the street, Zhu Zi suddenly spoke up: "Boss, you should head back first. I need to go to the tailor's shop to pick up my uniform that I ordered."
Xia Zhi thought for a moment and said, "I'll go with you."
Zhu Zi nodded: "Alright."
The tailor's shop was on another street, not far away, and they soon arrived at the store.
Zhu Zi tried on the uniform and found it fit perfectly. The workmanship wasn't rushed at all, and the style was currently the most fashionable in Feiyun Slope.
Zhu Zi was very satisfied with the uniform. She instinctively looked toward Xia Zhi, wanting to ask the boss's opinion, but when her gaze met the black glasses on his face, she swallowed the words that had reached her lips.
She'd forgotten the boss couldn't see...
Xia Zhi stood to the side, silently admiring Zhu Zi's beautiful figure in the cheongsam-style uniform and black stockings from all angles with his god's-eye view, and couldn't help giving an internal thumbs up.
Usually she wore her old clothes, which were pleasing to the eye, but far from as stunning as now.
By current standards, even among the beautiful young ladies Xia Zhi had criticized during his first visit to Feiyun Slope, she would be considered outstanding.
Beautiful appearance, diligent work ethic, considerate and gentle personality—Zhu Zi was truly a treasure of a girl.
Too bad she didn't have a progress bar.
Otherwise, she would have truly lived up to the name "treasure girl."
After paying the considerable balance, they walked out of the tailor's shop.
Zhu Zi glanced at Xia Zhi's expressionless face and said weakly, "Boss, you don't think I bought something too expensive, do you? I chose the most expensive fabric as you told me to..."
Xia Zhi looked at her with some surprise and said, "Not at all, how is this expensive? It's just the price of a few dozen fruit juices."
Zhu Zi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded: "I suppose you're right."
Xia Zhi casually added, "But your uniform is too thin. You can wear it now in autumn, but in a month or two when the temperature drops, it won't be enough. Later you'll need to order two more winter uniforms, thicker ones. Choose the best, don't worry about the cost."
Zhu Zi felt a warmth pass through her heart and smiled, nodding: "Alright, boss."
Just as they returned to the shop, several workers delivered the signboard Xia Zhi had ordered.
After inspection and installation, a sign reading "Xia's Summer Shop" was added to the front of the store.
It looked ordinary, completely different from the flamboyant style of other Feiyun Slope merchants, more similar to the plain and simple style of the neighboring Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Zhu Zi stood outside looking up at their shop name, appearing excited: "Boss, now that the sign is up, are we preparing to open tomorrow?"
Xia Zhi nodded and said, "Mm."
Zhu Zi asked again, "Do we need to make any other preparations?"
Xia Zhi thought for a moment and said, "We should pay respects to Rex Lapis."