Chapter 271: 270: The Master Wanders

Lu Mian looked at Lu Xi, casually tossing his chef’s uniform onto the coat rack.

“Big brother, I’m just here to cook a dish.”

Lu Xi couldn’t help but laugh. MM Ji Restaurant wasn’t just any place; this was a high-end restaurant in Wucheng where even many of the city’s elites couldn’t easily get a table. Besides the high standards of the restaurant, the internal management was also strict and meticulous. How could they possibly allow her to enter the kitchen at will?

For her to be standing in this kitchen cooking, she had to be either an employee of the restaurant or the owner.

“I know it’s inconvenient for you.” Lu Xi looked at the Yuren standing beside them, smiled apologetically at him, understanding Lu Mian’s predicament, “Mianmian, I have something to tell you. Come out with me for a moment.”

Lu Mian knew she couldn’t avoid the conversation today. After instructing someone nearby to “marinate it for ten minutes,” she followed Lu Xi out of the kitchen.

...

She led the way as if she knew the place by heart, taking Lu Xi to a quiet outdoor terrace.@@novelbin@@

Lu Xi couldn’t wait and asked the first question, “Mianmian, the past two years must have been really hard for you.”

Because he was out of town, he only knew snippets of her situation. He felt remorseful for his helplessness, guilty for being oblivious, and even more distressed and sympathetic for what she was currently going through.

He remembered seeing her draw when they were kids, at a small booth on the street that specialized in flower and bird paintings and personalized signatures.

The kindly old man sat there, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan, while she took the brush and spontaneously started to paint.

She was a child brimming with creativity, her paintings full of unrestrained imagination and magnificent beauty. Her young age attracted many onlookers.

The stall owner chuckled and said, “Kiddo, if you entered a contest, you’d definitely win first place!”

But Lu Mian, with a stoic expression, calmly replied, “Rather than competing, I’d prefer to be a wandering artist.”

At that moment, he was taken aback and deeply moved. In the Lu Family’s philosophy, only those who won prizes were considered good or valuable. He and Lu Xinnuan had always practiced this belief.

In that instant, a phrase came to his mind: Masters wander, fools bask in glory.

Now, seeing those hands that were skilled in painting busily preparing food, how could he not feel pity?

Lu Mian had no idea what was going on in his head. She simply leaned casually against the railing, hands resting on top, swinging them back and forth with a decadent air.

She answered Lu Xi’s question with a smile, “I’ve been getting by alright.”

“Mianmian,” Lu Xi came back to his senses and pressed on, “What’s going on with you and the family?”

“Just cut ties with them,” she answered nonchalantly with a smile, “It’s a done deal; you don’t have to try to convince me. You haven’t been through what I have, so please hold your peace. And from here on out, please don’t bring up the Lu Family to me again.”

All the words Lu Xi had prepared got stuck in his throat. He nodded with difficulty and was about to say something else when he was interrupted.

“I just got back, and my parents mentioned that the Bai Family accused you of destroying their business. They said that if the Lu Family doesn’t deal with you, they will take action themselves. Mianmian, the Bai Family is not to be trifled with…”

“Them?” Lu Mian didn’t take it to heart, “I’ll handle it myself.”

“They are a whole family, stronger than the Lu Family! How can you, still a high school student, handle it?”

Lu Xi didn’t get an answer, as several figures walked over to the entrance of the terrace.

The girl in the lead had a gentle and elegant demeanor, knocking on the doorframe and calling out, “Lu Xi?”

Following her were several young men exuding the air of wealthy young masters, around the same age as Lu Xi, joking among themselves.

“Oh, we thought you went to find the restaurant owner! Didn’t expect you to be here on a secret date!”

“Lu Xi, what would Miss Zijin think of this?”

“Come on, introduce us!”

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