Married the Tough Guy After Transmigrating

Chapter 116: Chapter 117 The Lobby Manager’s Surprising Move

“What did you say, Director Hong told you to take over as the restaurant manager?” Gao Guihua’s voice trembled slightly as her complexion suddenly changed drastically.

She looked at Chen Chunfeng in utter disbelief. How could it be her?

She thought it would be Sun Lifang competing with her; she hadn’t expected it to be Chen Chunfeng. When had she started cozying up with the leaders, and since when was a country bumpkin like her worthy of the position?

With her head bowed, Chen Chunfeng looked frightened: “I don’t know either. Director Hong said it himself.”

Gao Guihua was on the verge of collapse. She had been at the restaurant for so many years, with qualifications that outstripped Chen Chunfeng’s by far.

She had waited for this day for so many years, and just as the old manager had finally been worn down, she thought she could be the manager. Unexpectedly, she was robbed by this upstart girl.

All of a sudden, Gao Xianghong rushed over, looking at her sister-in-law with irritation, she asked, “Where did you run off to just now? Director Hong came by and you weren’t there—he even got angry.”

“Perhaps Director Hong wanted to promote you to manager, but there you go, absent without leave.”

Upon hearing this, Gao Guihua quickly turned around, her eyes sharply fixed on Chen Chunfeng: “Chunfeng, when I stepped out just now, I explicitly told you that if anyone asked for me, you should say I had to go home because of a family emergency.”

As soon as she heard this, Chen Chunfeng hurriedly explained, “Sister Gao, I didn’t hear you say that at all just now. I really didn’t even know when you left.”

“I clearly told you so. Why are you like this?” Gao Guihua was so upset she started to cry.

Chen Chunfeng still looked like the picture of innocence, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, the epitome of aggrieved.

Xu Ying watched the drama unfold from the window, a feeling of disgust towards Chen Chunfeng building inside her. Indeed, she had seen Chen Chunfeng saying something when Gao Guihua had left in a rush.

She hadn’t heard it very clearly, but now matching the lip movements with the faint words she had caught.

Was it not exactly what Gao Guihua had said about having to step out for a bit?

Sure enough, the dogs that bite don’t bark.

She had underestimated Chen Chunfeng.

Sun Lifang had also heard the commotion and curiously asked Xu Ying, “Who do you think is telling the truth; who’s lying?”

“Be wary of Chen Chunfeng in the future,” Xu Ying replied without getting involved in the argument. After all, she had no proof; who would believe her based on lip-reading alone?

Sun Lifang wasn’t a fool. She understood the implication at once but knew that without evidence, speaking out was pointless.

What’s more, since Chen Chunfeng was now the manager, she was their superior. Offending the boss could lead to no good.

She hadn’t expected such scheming and intrigue at the modest Guoying Restaurant.

Fortunate for her, her parents had found someone to help her take a test to get into the textile factory soon.

Initially, she hadn’t wanted to move into a new environment, having just gotten familiar with this place, starting over somewhere new felt daunting.

But now, thinking about Chen Chunfeng, that unbearable type of person…

She’d be better off in a new place. Otherwise, with her quick temper and no inclination to curry favor, she would definitely clash with Chen Chunfeng.

“I see, Yingying,” Sun Lifang’s mood seemed notably downcast.

Xu Ying heaved a sigh. The girl was good at heart but tended to idealize things too much.

Faced with some darker realities, it was easy for her to take them to heart and struggle to come to terms with them.

It was somewhat reminiscent of her own past.

Being overly kindhearted and carefree was a blessing, as it meant little worry, but if it resulted in suffering for her loved ones, then it became a serious matter.

“Right, don’t be too upset. Everyone makes their own choices, and as for what they will endure later, heaven has eyes.”

Sun Lifang nodded and resumed her work.

Gao Guihua was now crying very sorrowfully.

Xu Ying, however, was puzzled by what the old woman had said earlier.

If she hadn’t misheard, that woman had mentioned Sister Qiu Ye.

Gao Guihua was crying so miserably that Xu Ying felt awkward about approaching her to ask what was wrong.

By the time she finally finished her tasks, she washed her hands and ran towards Huo Chen.

Huo Chen felt her approach and tensed up in an instant.

Remembering the dream from before, he dared not lift his eyes to Xu Ying.

“Huo Chen, what would you like to eat? I’ll cook it for you,” Xu Ying ran over, pulled out a chair, and sat down opposite him.

Huo Chen’s cheeks were faintly flushed. Under her gaze, he felt somewhat at a loss, his fingers curling and fidgeting: “I—I’m not hungry yet, I just had lunch.”

“That’s fine, tell me when you’re hungry, or we can go to my place after work, and I’ll cook for you.” Xu Ying wasn’t being stingy—she was simply frugal and good at managing her household.

Even though she packed a lot of food for her relatives at the restaurant, she never took advantage of the state.

Every time she cooked, she would secretly add some stuff from her own supplies.

Eating at the restaurant was not as economical as cooking at home. Cooking herself didn’t attract unnecessary attention and saved money.

Upon hearing he could go to her place, Huo Chen’s heartbeat suddenly sped up: “Alright, I’ll come to your place after work.”

“Mhm!” Xu Ying nodded and continued her busy work.

The kitchen was now short of one person, making it far busier than before.

Fortunately, Chen Chunfeng had come to help, or else it would have been even more hectic.

But don’t underestimate the work of washing and cutting vegetables. Without the proper preparation of ingredients, how could the cooks whip up dishes so quickly?

The afternoon might have been too busy, flying by in a blur.

After work, Xu Ying slung her small shoulder bag and walked over to Huo Chen, knocking briskly on the tabletop when she reached him: “Let’s go home.”

Huo Chen looked up abruptly, his expression softening the moment he saw Xu Ying.

“Yeah, let me carry your bag for you!” Huo Chen said, reaching out his hand.

Xu Ying touched her slung bag and refused: “It’s light. You can just give me a ride on your bike.”

Huo Chen nodded. They left the restaurant, he glanced at his own bike but then his gaze quickly shifted, and he walked straight to Xu Ying’s bike: “Get on.”

Xu Ying hopped onto the bike, and as Huo Chen got on and pedaled, she stealthily poked at his well-developed muscles and then quickly withdrew her hand, pretending it was an accidental touch.

She certainly took advantage of the moment, but poor Huo Chen frowned, his belly knotted with a fiery discomfort.

“We’re here.” Huo Chen’s voice was hoarse as he braked, his legs steadying them on the ground.

Xu Ying jumped off and ran through the front door: “I’ll start cooking. Just come in later.”

After she sprinted to the kitchen and while Huo Chen was still parking the bike, she immediately took out the ingredients she needed.

Considering Huo Chen’s appetite and wanting to increase his goodwill value, Xu Ying planned to make several of her best dishes.

She turned two pounds of pork into five stir-fry dishes and a hen into three dishes.

That wasn’t all—she also prepared various types of steamed buns.

Regular steamed buns, as well as ones with brown sugar, white sugar, and purple sweet potato fillings.

It was quite time-consuming.

By the time Xu Ying finished, it was already half-past seven.

And that was with both burners going.

Huo Chen had been so hungry his stomach was grumbling. He had been hungry since the afternoon, but to be able to eat alone with Xu Ying at home, he had endured until now.

As soon as the food was ready, he couldn’t care less about being shy—he started eating heartily.

Xu Ying looked at him with anticipation, waiting for this time’s goodwill value.