Chapter 23: Let Him Come to You

Of course, Tao Yu would leave the cafeteria.

If she didn’t leave the cafeteria and didn’t go to the third floor office building, how could she get closer to Song Hecheng?

Look, after so many days without showing up in front of him, he didn’t react at all.

Maybe he had already realized she had been deliberately getting close to him, but so what?

Tao Yu wanted Song Hecheng.

If she was interested, she naturally had to take action.

Since he showed no reaction, she would change her strategy and take the initiative.

Did Song Hecheng really not notice Tao Yu’s absence?

Only he knew the truth.

Was it that the office lacked that faint fragrance?

Or that he missed the soft words of concern every day?

Had his peace of mind been disturbed because of it?

No one could guess.

But there was one time…

Xu Guochao had been asked by Song Hecheng,

“How’s the cafeteria lately?”

Xu Guochao Couldn’t React in Time

“The cafeteria? The cafeteria is fine, the food is good, there’s no problem… I guess.”

Strange, why did Mr. Song suddenly start asking about the cafeteria?

He answered like this… is it… is it okay?

Well, that’s exactly how it was.

Song Hecheng wasn’t really interested in the cafeteria; no one had told him the answer he was hoping for.

So Tao Yu must have been trying something…

In the past when she came to the third floor, Tao Yu had already noticed that the translator named Chen Jiefang encountered the most problems and worked the slowest. He was always scratching his head, struggling with his translations.

So, one day, she specifically decided to help him solve his problems.

As for why that day, there was no special reason. Tao Yu probably just thought the weather was nice that day.

She was always like that—sometimes detached and following her instincts.

As Tao Yu’s reputation grew on the third floor, it naturally reached Song Hecheng’s ears.

Or rather,

Tao Yu had probably already caught his attention when she was translating for others outside his office.

After all, the applause that followed her translations had been so loud…

But whether Song Hecheng had intentionally kept quiet about it, that’s hard to say.

At this moment,

Director Li, the head of the third floor’s translation team, was holding back his excitement as he entered Song Hecheng’s office.

“Mr. Song, I’d like to make a suggestion. The cafeteria worker Tao Yu, we’d like to promote her to the third floor!”

Song Hecheng set down the pen in his hand, raised an eyebrow, and pondered for a few seconds. He then spoke in a low voice, “Go on.”

Director Li eagerly detailed Tao Yu’s excellent translation work over the past few days.

He ended with excitement:

“One of the translations was for a core blueprint from our department, one of the core documents you brought back, Mr. Song. I had someone test her on a small part of it.”

Director Li’s eyes shone.

“Tao Yu not only translated it accurately and quickly, but she did it even more thoroughly and precisely than the best translator in our department!”

“If Tao Yu joins us, our translation progress will certainly double in efficiency!”

In his view, Tao Yu’s abilities could easily outperform ten average translators!

She might even become an invaluable asset in their future mechanical development…

Once Director Li finished speaking, he stared at Song Hecheng, full of hope.

Clearly, such a rare talent had been something they had longed for but couldn’t get.

But Song Hecheng, after hearing this, remained silent and didn’t immediately agree.

He picked up the pen he had set aside earlier and began to absentmindedly fiddle with it.

This was a gesture known to those familiar with him—it meant he was facing a tricky issue.

After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice deep.

“Okay, but have her come to my office first.”

In the Cafeteria

Tao Yu was quietly sitting on a stool, helping Master Ding sort the vegetables.

Master Ding, smiling brightly, was very happy for Tao Yu.

“Little Tao, I’ve known from the start you’re no ordinary girl. From now on, work hard! Strive for success, and I’ll shine too!”

“If you ever want something to eat, just come to the cafeteria. As long as the kitchen has it, I can make it for you!”

Tao Yu smiled and nodded in response.

The other cafeteria workers were also very fond of Tao Yu and shared in her happiness!

Speaking of which, although Little Tao didn’t talk much during her time at the cafeteria, she worked hard and always listened attentively to everyone’s gossip—she was sincere and honest.

Thinking about Tao Yu leaving and not working in the cafeteria anymore made them feel a bit reluctant.

On the other hand, Chen Mei, who was organizing the dishes, was not feeling the same way.

She was already so angry that her teeth were grinding!

What was she angry about?

Of course, she was angry at that “fox spirit” named Tao!

Chen Mei glanced at Tao Yu, whose expression was calm, and felt her blood boil.

Pretending!

Just now, Director Li had come to notify her that she was being promoted to the office, and she was probably secretly thrilled, pretending to be so calm!

Tch! That “fox spirit” might be pretty, but what does she have that’s better than her?

Everyone’s blind, they’re all biased towards Tao! What’s wrong with me, Chen Mei?

After muttering insults in her heart, Chen Mei glared at Tao Yu.

When her eyes landed on Tao Yu’s chest, she couldn’t help but glance down at her own.

But it seemed…

That Tao Yu not only looked better than her,

Her figure was also much better…

Chen Mei felt a heavy pang in her heart. She immediately threw the chopsticks in her hand down.

She wasn’t going to serve these dirty dishes anymore!

With a tilt of her head, a twist of her waist, and stomping her feet, she stormed out of the cafeteria.

The other cafeteria workers muttered among themselves.

“Chen Mei’s lost it again…”

As for the culprit, Tao Yu herself…

Actually, Chen Mei wasn’t entirely wrong.

Tao Yu was indeed feeling a little pleased with herself.

Look, it hadn’t been long,

And wasn’t Song Hecheng now letting someone come find her…?

But the entire afternoon passed,

And Tao Yu didn’t show up in his office.

She didn’t appear until the evening, when most of the workers at the mechanical factory had already finished their shifts.

The lights in the factory came on, but Tao Yu still hadn’t arrived.

Song Hecheng sat alone in his office,

Still holding that pen in his hand,

Gently tapping it on the desk.

Finally,

The entire third floor, except for one brightly lit office, was empty.

At this moment,

Tao Yu stepped into the third floor, her silhouette outlined by the fragmented light from the streetlights outside the window.

When she reached the door of the office,

She saw Song Hecheng bent over his desk, absorbed in his work.

Tao Yu politely knocked on the door and, without hurrying, said,

“Sorry, Mr. Song, I was helping out in the cafeteria and came late.”

Was she really late, or was she deliberately keeping him waiting? That remains unknown…

Song Hecheng Stopped Writing, His Expression Calm

He extended his hand toward the chair across from him, his voice low and magnetic as he gestured.

“Please sit.”

Tao Yu gracefully sat down opposite Song Hecheng, but she didn’t speak immediately.

After all, from this moment on, she was about to enter a contest with him.

And since it was a competition, she naturally needed to control the situation.

Even though they were on Song Hecheng’s turf, she wasn’t going to back down.

Tao Yu resumed her poised and elegant demeanor, as if she wasn’t the one who had kept him waiting.

She sat there quietly, behaving obediently, across from Song Hecheng.

Ultimately, it was Song Hecheng, the more courteous one, who spoke first.

“Tao Yu, according to Director Li, you’re quite impressive in translation.”

Tao Yu humbly responded.

“I’m not that great, I’ve just self-studied… for a few years, and I’ve read some books on machinery, so I know a little.”

After all, the English books she had found in the scrapyard had kept her busy for years.

Then, without warning,

Song Hecheng looked at her and began speaking in a long passage of English.

Yes, with a very standard British accent.

He was testing her.

Testing her knowledge on the basics of hydraulic machines.

Tao Yu looked at the serious Song Hecheng across from her, glancing at the pen in his hand.

She didn’t seem to need any time to think.

In fluent English with the same British accent, she replied in detail.

She didn’t miss any terminology or key points.

She switched effortlessly between American and British English.

Of course, she personally preferred the American accent.

Finally, Tao Yu smiled and asked in English,

“Excuse me, is this an interview?”