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Chapter 44: Refusing to Apologize

“Thank goodness there weren’t many customers tonight, and all the orders are finally done.”

Chu Zining wiped the fragrant sweat from her forehead and let out a long breath.

“I smell awful; the first thing I’ll do when I get home is take a shower.” She sniffed her clothes and blushed.

After cooking all evening, her body reeked of grease and smoke.

Her wrist ached and throbbed from all the wok-tossing, and what she wanted most was a hot bath to wash away the fatigue.

“Earning 300 yuan and paying back Lu Li’s favor is already great.”

At that thought, she felt that all her effort tonight had been worth it, and even the air around her seemed fresher.

“I don’t know what he likes to eat; tomorrow I have to work up the courage to ask him. With his Culinary Arts, he probably doesn’t care about a mere bite of food anyway.”

Thinking about this, she walked out of the back kitchen, intending to pour herself a cup of tea at the table.

Yet the moment she looked up, she saw Lu Li… and Shao Linlin sitting right beside him.

“What a beautiful girl…” Chu Zining froze on the spot.

Why was there such a pretty girl next to Lu Li, and why were they eating so closely together?

Could it be…

Could that girl be his girlfriend?

Then why did he help me before… was it just pity?

All at once the air felt thin, and even breathing became a little difficult for Chu Zining.

No wonder he turned down the doctor sister; it turns out he already has a girlfriend.

Biting her lip, she backed up two steps; she wasn’t sure what was wrong with her, she just felt stifled and uncomfortable.

“Tomorrow, I’d better just give him the money directly.” She leaned weakly against the wall and buried her small head between her knees.

“Little Chu! Little Chu! Something’s wrong!” Auntie Zhao hurried over.

“W-what is it?” Chu Zining shot to her feet.

“A table of customers is making trouble, insisting there’s hair in the dish you cooked,” Auntie Zhao said quickly.

“N-no way, I tied my hair up, it couldn’t have fallen in.” Chu Zining grew nervous.

“It’s not your fault, they’re just picking a fight!” Auntie Zhao said angrily, then suddenly paused. “Little Chu, why are your eyes red?”

“A-are they? Maybe the smoke got to me.” Chu Zining lowered her head. “Auntie Zhao, w-what should we do?”

Smoke in your eyes… Auntie Zhao didn’t think further; her face darkened. “They’re forcing you to apologize, Little Chu. They look fierce, and your Uncle Zhao isn’t here. Could you put up with a little grievance? They said if you don’t come out, they’ll tear the shop apart; I… I’m a bit scared.”

Chu Zining was frightened too, but seeing the timid look on Auntie Zhao’s face, she could only agree. “T-then I’ll give it a try.”

Auntie Zhao was overjoyed; she had been planning to dock the girl’s 300-yuan wage if she refused.

Now relieved, she hurriedly said, “Good child, don’t worry, it’s nothing big. If they go too far, I’ll call the police at once.”

Chu Zining nodded, though she didn’t believe it.

Auntie Zhao was the most timid person she knew; if something really happened, the woman would hide far away, and calling the police would be too late.

Clenching her fists, Chu Zining mustered her courage and walked outside.

“Tsk, what a hot chick!” The moment she appeared, the delinquent partner’s eyes lit up.

The tall, skinny punk elbowed his friend and raised an eyebrow. “Well? Didn’t I tell you?”

The partner nodded enthusiastically. “You were right! She’s a knockout! I’ve never seen a girl this fine!”

The two exchanged a glance and grinned wickedly in unison.

Leading Chu Zining over, Auntie Zhao stopped at the punks’ table and apologized. “Brothers, this little girl cooked the dish; it was an accident, so please don’t blame her. Little Chu, hurry up and apologize.”

With her head lowered, Chu Zining glanced at the table. “May I ask which dish had the hair in it?”

The tall punk pointed casually. “That one!”

Looking carefully, she saw the strand was thick and short; it definitely wasn’t hair.

She shook her head. “That isn’t my hair.”

The tall punk slapped the table and stood. “What, are you saying we brothers are framing you?”

“Yeah, why would we bother framing you?” his partner added, kicking the table.

Chu Zining bit her lower lip. “But that really isn’t my hair.”

“Oh, so this is how you apologize?” The tall punk cracked his knuckles. “Believe it or not, I’ll smash your shop.”

Auntie Zhao panicked and pushed Chu Zining’s head down. “Hey, hey, don’t get upset; this kid isn’t too bright and is just spouting nonsense. Little Chu, don’t be stubborn. An apology won’t cost you a piece of meat, and do you still want tonight’s pay or not?”

Fear crept over Chu Zining too, but she didn’t want to be bullied and then pitied afterward, especially not by Lu Li.

She clenched her fists and lifted her chin. “I-I don’t need the pay. I didn’t do it, so I won’t admit it. My hair was tied up; it couldn’t have fallen into the food.”

“Heh! The little girl has a backbone!” The tall punk flew into a rage, rolled up his sleeve to show his tattooed arm, and barked, “Old woman! Is this how your lousy shop treats customers?”

His partner also rolled up his sleeve, but when he saw the scratches left by the cat’s claws, he pulled it back down and took a fruit knife from his pocket.

At the sight of the knife, Auntie Zhao’s legs went weak and she pleaded repeatedly, “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, I’ll make the brat apologize right away.”

The tall punk was pleased with her attitude and snorted. “It’s no big deal, really. Just have the little girl drink with us to apologize, and we’ll let it go.”

The partner pushed over the already-dosed liquor. “Girl, whether it’s your hair or not, we found hair in your family’s food. You should toast us to make amends, right?”

“That’s fine, that’s fine.” Auntie Zhao let out a huge sigh of relief. “Little Chu, hurry and drink; they’re willing to forgive us, so don’t be ungrateful.”

Chu Zining bit her lip, her fair throat bobbing several times, and gathered all her strength to say, “I-I won’t apologize. I didn’t do it, so I won’t.”

“Little Chu!” Auntie Zhao was furious; the child had never been this mule-headed before.

The tall punk never expected her to be so stubborn. His eyes spun and he laughed, “All right, all right, you’re something! Look, I don’t care whose hair it was, and I admire a girl with spine, so I won’t blame you. Drink this glass with me and we’ll be friends, how about it?”

“I don’t drink.”

“It’s only a glass, nothing serious. First time’s awkward, second time’s easy. If you really can’t, just one sip is fine. I’ll finish mine first; do as you like.” With that, the tall punk lifted a glass and drained it.

He turned the empty glass upside down to show it was dry. “Your turn.”

After thinking it over, Chu Zining felt that one sip might be all right. “T-then I’ll just take one sip.”

Carefully, she accepted the glass and slowly raised it to her lips.

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