CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: HOT SOUP, RED VELVET CAKE WITH A SURNAME

Ping—

[Li Baiyu]: I’ve ordered hot soup, I’ll come over for some once I’m done.

"Dean, my senior sent me a message, I’ll head over first."

Shen Jingqi glanced at the notification on their phone and hurriedly picked it up.

"Alright, you go first."

Dean Zhang’s thoughts were brought back.

Watching Shen Jingqi’s hurried departure, Dean Zhang seemed to have thought of something.

"Huh, that’s strange. The person in that video just now seemed a bit like President Yu."

Dean Zhang’s mind began tracing back to the distant past.

[Shen Jingqi]: Senior, I’m coming over now.

After replying to Li Baiyu’s message, Shen Jingqi jogged all the way to the VVIP room.

Two round boxes were placed on the table.

"Senior, I was a bit busy this afternoon, just finished, and then saw your message."

"I know."

"Zhao Xin’an reported the work progress to me."

"He also praised you."

Li Baiyu’s expression relaxed as she opened the lid of the soup box.

The aroma immediately filled the entire room.

"What is this? It smells so good."

"Yunnan mushroom soup."

"Actually, I’m not even hungry at night, but since it’s quite cold in winter, a bit of mushroom soup can warm you up."

Li Baiyu scooped a spoonful and gently blew on the clear soup.

Gulp~

Shen Jingqi felt the saliva in his throat being swallowed uncontrollably.

Growl growl!

The stomach couldn’t help but rumble.

It was already almost 6 PM.

The afternoon meeting was quite long.

Along with searching for Li Yuanshin’s information, even afternoon tea was missed.

Moreover, after three pretty intense activities at Sensory Paradise, some energy was expended.

Seeing a fragrant and flavorful hot soup now stimulated the appetite.

Shen Jingqi picked up the soup bowl and drank more than half of it in one go.

Various ingredients revealed themselves.

Sliced mushrooms, bean sprouts, tomatoes, all purely vegetarian.

Although there was no meat, it was, after all, ordered by Li Baiyu.

"How is it, enough to eat?"

Li Baiyu pointed to another box on the table.

"Open this and have some."

Shen Jingqi took a look.

A red velvet cake was lying elegantly in the box.

Even its size was impressive.

A full six inches.

With this size, it seemed like today’s cake cravings could be satisfied.

Shen Jingqi happily picked up a knife and started cutting the cake.

Horizontal cut, and four vertical cuts.

The cake was evenly divided into six pieces in the middle.

Shen Jingqi picked up a small plate, placing one piece on it, handed it to Li Baiyu.

Took another piece to eat himself.

"Delicious! Not greasy at all!"

Shen Jingqi quickly finished one piece and reached for the second.

"Is not being sweet or greasy now the hallmark of a good cake?"

Li Baiyu joked.

"Not greasy so you can eat it, otherwise, just a few bites would be overwhelming."

Shen Jingqi was already on the second piece.

Seeing Li Baiyu’s plate was empty, Shen Jingqi helped her with another piece.

"I want another piece, it’s really too good."

As Li Baiyu was expressing this, Shen Jingqi had already placed the cake on her plate.

Perfect timing.

Li Baiyu’s lips curved into a smile, feeling the cake tasted even better.

Quickly, Shen Jingqi ate three pieces.

"Wow, it’s really delicious!"

Shen Jingqi rubbed his satisfied belly.

"I’m done eating."

"Here, can you still eat this piece?"

Li Baiyu pointed to the last piece of red velvet cake on the plate.

"I can."

"Go ahead."

"This cake was prepared for you, celebrating your joining the Sensory Paradise team."

"Look at the writing on top."

Li Baiyu smiled gently.

Shen Jingqi curiously took the cake.

Examined it up and down, left and right, finally saw it.

In the very center, small words were printed.

[Shen · Sensory Paradise]

Is this?

A surprise from Li Baiyu?!

Shen Jingqi looked up and saw Li Baiyu watching him, a seemingly sly smile on her lips.

Unexpectedly, the usually stoic senior had a mischievous side too.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Holding the fork, Shen Jingqi hesitated to eat it in one bite.

Click—

Took out the phone, capturing the red velvet cake stamped with his last name.

Then began to savor it cautiously.

It seemed to have a unique flavor now.

Somehow, it even felt a little sweet.

"Today noon, Zhao Xin’an said your team had a lunch gathering, and you didn’t participate, for my sake."

Li Baiyu took a sip of water from her cup, staring at Shen Jingqi.

"Of course, for you, Senior!"

"As soon as I saw your message, I came over immediately."

Shen Jingqi was candid.

Li Baiyu tightened her grip on the cup.

"Great, it seems I can rely on my status to get your prompt response."

Shen Jingqi nodded.

At least, there was no one else who could make him do that.

"If it were someone else looking for you, would you go?"

Someone else?

If Dean Zhang asked, he would certainly go right away.

However, the lunch gathering was initiated by Dean Zhang, and he had declined.

Perhaps, he just really wanted to see Li Baiyu.

"I’ll have to see what it’s about. If it’s necessary work matters, I think I would go. But if it’s personal, I would consider it."

"I would only do it for the people and things I care about."

Shen Jingqi said openly, with his head held high.

"Caring."

"Isn’t it said, ’With nothing to impede, thus, with no fear,’ should one really care?"

Li Baiyu’s voice sounded somewhat melancholic in the night.

"Senior, my understanding is, one should live in the present. Not be saddened by the past, not anxious about the future. This way, one won’t be bothered by emotions. Instead, focus on the task at hand, and find solutions when encountering difficulties or stress."

Shen Jingqi’s tone was calm, with a slight magnetic quality, and more of a clear, youthful energy.

Perhaps it was because of the freshly eaten red velvet cake, but the corners of Shen Jingqi’s mouth were a rosy hue, tinged with a bit of the cake’s fiery passion.

Shen Jingqi was immersed in sharing his insights when he suddenly saw Li Baiyu getting up and leaning towards him.

Li Baiyu had an inherently tall and slender figure, wearing a loose-fitting casual outfit that evening, appearing very stately.

Only to see Li Baiyu extend her jade-like fingers, tapping gently at his mouth corner.

"There, done."

Li Baiyu studied his mouth corner and smiled.

Like a crescent moon blossoming before the eyes.

Shen Jingqi’s mind buzzed for a moment.

Wait a second.

Senior, are you initiating contact?