Chapter 10: “Sis, Give Me a Chance!” – The High School Girls Were Stunned. “Is This Your Wife?!”
“Teacher, eat up!” Jiang Youyou’s voice snapped Rong Shuang out of her daze.
The little girl’s cheeks bulged with a stuffed bun, resembling a squirrel hoarding food.
“Slow down,” Rong Shuang said, patting Youyou’s back before hesitantly picking up another bun. She usually ate lightly at night, but these buns were irresistible!
Ten buns vanished, seven into Rong Shuang, three into Youyou. The two beauties leaned back in their chairs, satisfied.
Unnoticed, a line had formed outside again.
The door swung open as a group of high school girls walked in.
“Boss! You still have buns, right?”
“Awesome! Give us ten beef, ten chive-and-egg, and ten pork-with-scallion!”
The girls huddled together, stealing glances at Jiang Feng.
“Xiaoya wasn’t lying, he’s so handsome!”
“His movements are so smooth. I never thought a guy cooking could look this good!”
“He’s prettier than celebrities!”
“Wait till you taste the buns. Xiaoya’s group practically waddled back to school after lunch. Rumor is the ones they brought back got devoured.”
One bold girl blurted out, “Boss, how old are you? Got a girlfriend?”
Elderly customers turned to stare. The girls flushed but kept their eyes glued to Jiang Feng.
Rong Shuang’s grip tightened on her chopsticks.
Even teenagers are rivals now?!
“My daddy’s twenty-nine,” Youyou announced in her tiny voice, clutching Rong Shuang’s hand.
The high schoolers blinked at them.
Rong Shuang’s beauty hit like a lightning bolt, even the girls felt their hearts skip. One slightly queer-leaning student nearly choked on her words:
Sis, give me a chance?
And Youyou? Adorable.
“Little sis, you’re so cute!”
“Ugh, Boss, your wife’s gorgeous. Guess I’m out of luck.”
“Hey, does your wife have a sister? Hook me up!”
Jiang Feng paused mid-motion, about to clarify, when Rong Shuang arched an eyebrow, a simple gesture that somehow dazzled. “Only child here. Dream on, kid.”
The hopeful girl deflated with a sigh.
Jiang Feng shot Rong Shuang a surprised look. She hadn’t corrected the “wife” assumption? Probably just helping him dodge trouble, he decided, resuming his work.
Steam rose as tray after tray of buns cooked. Soon, his system points crossed 10,000.
“Primary lottery draw unlocked,” the system chimed.
At 5:30 PM, Jiang Feng addressed the remaining crowd: “Sorry, folks. Sold out for today. We reopen tomorrow at 7:20 AM.”
Groans filled the shop.
“Boss, hire some help! You’re leaving money on the table!”
“Yeah, waiting forever just to miss out sucks.”
Jiang Feng shook his head. “Different hands, different flavors. Come earlier tomorrow.”
The crowd’s frustration turned to respect.
“Turning down profit for quality? Rare these days.”
“Fine, I’ll camp your door at 7:20. Someone’s getting buns tomorrow.”
As they filed out, Rong Shuang watched Jiang Feng, her pulse erratic.
Why does he have to look so good when he’s focused?
Jiang Feng stretched his sore arms and caught her gaze. Rong Shuang quickly looked away.
“Full? I saved ten more buns for you.”
Youyou patted her stomach mournfully. “My tummy says no, but my heart says yes. Daddy, take me home to pee, then I’ll eat more!”
Jiang Feng fake-gagged. “Ew.”
“Don’t ew me!” Youyou huffed.
Rong Shuang laughed. “I’ve never eaten this much for dinner. They’re incredible. Let me pay.”
Jiang Feng waved her off. “You’ve helped with Youyou, this is my thanks.”
“But it’s dozens of yuan!”
“My costs are low, really.”
As Rong Shuang insisted, Youyou cut in: “Teacher, how about this? You bring me here after school every day, and we eat together! Then Daddy won’t have to pick me up.”
Jiang Feng frowned. “Youyou.”
Rong Shuang bit her lip. Tempting.
Youyou gave him puppy eyes. “Pleeease?”
Jiang Feng relented. “Would that work for you?”
“If I’m on dismissal duty, I’ll be slightly later, but it’s manageable.”
“Then it’s settled. Just tell me if it’s ever inconvenient.”
Rong Shuang smiled. “As long as you don’t mind me eating you out of house and home.”
“Pfft. Buns are cheap.”
“Also, drop the formal ‘you.’ I’m only 25, not some elder.”
Jiang Feng nodded. “Deal. Take these leftovers for breakfast tomorrow.”
“I should thank you,” he said earnestly. “If you hadn’t played my ‘wife,’ I’d be drowning in admirers.”
Rong Shuang’s cheeks pinked. “No big deal. I’ll head out now. Bye, Youyou!”
As she turned, the door burst open.
Cui Hao rushed in, despairing. “Boss Jiang! Sold out already? Nooo!”
Seeing the departing crowd, he’d feared the worst.
Jiang Feng laughed. “Relax. Yours are here.”
He pulled out thirty reserved buns.
Cui Hao nearly wept. “Brother for life! Need anything, just ask!”
“Don’t mention it. A promise is a promise.”
After a theatrical refusal-to-pay routine (Jiang Feng won), Cui Hao left, touched by the neighborly kindness.
Watching Jiang Feng’s profile, Rong Shuang’s lips curved.
Another plus point: a man who keeps his word.