My Wife is a Frustrating Genius!!! - Chapter 29

During the few days Lu Jiahe rested at home, she had to run errands for Cheng Yi every day, buying things and writing recruitment notices. Day and night, she wished time would pass faster so she could escape this “sea of suffering” and return to the academy as soon as possible.

“Have you heard? A place has opened near the city gate that serves lunch specifically for academy students.”

“I know. I also heard from others that the owner is the girl who used to sell mashed potatoes at the street corner. I wonder how she suddenly got rich and opened such a large restaurant.”

“Shh!”

“Haven’t you heard? The restaurant owner is Lu Jiahe’s fiancée.”

Lu Jiahe, walking ahead of the two, listened carefully to their conversation. She hadn’t expected them to know about her and Cheng Yi’s identities. Once she returned home, she would have to ask who had spread the news.

“Jiahe, why are you so late?” Jiang Huai stood at the academy entrance, watching Lu Jiahe approach, and hurried over.

“Oh, I woke up a bit late today,” she said as she walked into the classroom with Jiang Huai.

“Have you heard? The new restaurant near the city gate is having a promotion today. Academy students get a discount if they go for lunch!” Once inside the classroom, Jiang Huai pulled Lu Jiahe to sit beside him.

Lu Jiahe glanced at him, thinking to herself that her third brother was usually so well-informed about matters in the world, yet now he didn’t even know the simple identity of the restaurant owner.

“I know,” Lu Jiahe replied expressionlessly as she took out the books she needed for the day’s lessons.

“Then let’s go there for lunch together at noon. I heard the restaurant’s decor is extraordinary, even more luxurious than that brothel from the other day. I really wonder where this owner came from to be so extravagant.” Jiang Huai couldn’t help but express his admiration as he spoke.

“Mm, sure.” Lu Jiahe’s tone was completely flat. She thought to herself that she might as well introduce the restaurant owner, Cheng Yi, to him “formally” during lunch.

Seeing Lu Jiahe agree, Jiang Huai immediately broke into a smile. After all, his younger brother was usually such a bookworm, getting him to go out even once out of ten invitations was an achievement. He hadn’t expected him to agree so easily this time without any persuasion. “Then it’s settled.”

Time flew by like flowing water. Lu Jiahe felt as if she had only been reading for a short while before it was already lunch break at the academy. After packing up her things, she stood up to head back to the restaurant for lunch with Jiang Huai.

“Wait, little brother, don’t be in such a hurry. The others haven’t finished packing up yet!” Jiang Huai called out to Lu Jiahe and pointed to the seats at the front of the classroom.

?

“Isn’t it just the two of us?” Lu Jiahe followed his gesture and glanced over. Wow! There were quite a few people!

If she had known Jiang Huai had invited so many people to eat at the restaurant, she would never have agreed.

“Hey! It’s livelier with more people. Besides, we’re all classmates. It would be awkward if we didn’t invite them and ran into them at the restaurant.”

Lu Jiahe was at a loss for words. Before her relationship with Cheng Yi was confirmed, she didn’t want outsiders to know about it. What if Cheng Yi found someone she liked before they married? If they were to part ways then, it wouldn’t affect either of their reputations.

“Let’s go. Wang San just sent his attendant to queue up and reserve a private room at the restaurant.” The young man in white, carrying his book bag, walked over to the two of them.

Jiang Huai laughed upon hearing this. “Whoa! I totally forgot about that. Good thing you remembered. Let’s hurry over, it’s bound to be crowded today. If the food takes too long, we won’t make it back to the academy in time.”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

With that, the group of young men quickly made their way out of the school. Lu Jiahe trailed behind them with a dejected expression. Cheng Yi had promised to prepare lunch for her early that morning, but now that she was following this crowd back, there was no way she could enjoy the special meal he had made just for her.

“Number fifty-eight!”

“Over here! Over here!”

A large crowd had gathered at the entrance of Yiju, waiting in line. Panda Eyes was handing out pre-written queue numbers to those in line, while Missing Tooth, who looked intimidating, stood at the door calling out numbers and letting customers inside.

“How many in your party?” Missing Tooth checked the number fifty-eight tag in his hand.

“Five people.”

Missing Tooth glanced around the person in front of him. “Where are they? Aren’t you the only one here?”

“My young master and his classmates will be here soon. I came to queue up for them.”

“No, no.” Missing Tooth frowned deeply. “Our restaurant is packed. You can’t go in until your whole party is here.”

“Come on, buddy, they’ll be here any minute. Can’t you make an exception? I’ve been waiting in line for two hours already.”

Missing Tooth was no pushover. “No. It’s the restaurant’s rule. If your party isn’t all here, you can’t enter. If you want to eat, go in by yourself.”

“Wait!” Number fifty-eight anxiously turned around, scanning the area for his young master. Spotting the young master and his classmates approaching, he quickly said, “They’re here, they’re here! Look over there.”

Missing Tooth followed the direction the man was pointing.

?

The boss is back!

“Young Master, you’re finally here. If you’d been any later, we wouldn’t have been let in.”

Wang San looked at him, puzzled. “What’s the matter?”

“This guy says we can’t go in until our whole party is here.” The attendant, seeing his backup had arrived, immediately put on a pitiful act, hoping his young master would stand up for him.

Missing Tooth was stubborn and unyielding, even with the boss present, he wasn’t intimidated. “If the party isn’t all here, you can’t enter. That’s our restaurant’s rule.”

The attendant was no easy mark either. Puffing himself up, he glared at the much taller Missing Tooth and shouted, “Pah! What kind of stupid rule is that? If you don’t want customers, then don’t run a restaurant!”

Lu Jiahe, standing behind the group, reached up and rubbed her forehead, wondering if she should discuss with Cheng Yi whether assigning Missing Tooth to greet guests at the door was really the best idea.

As the two men argued more fiercely, on the verge of coming to blows, Lu Jiahe quickly stepped forward. She didn’t want any “ugly incidents” on the restaurant’s opening day. She walked up and fixed her gaze on Missing Tooth blocking the entrance, saying nothing.

With the boss herself intervening, Missing Tooth couldn’t be bothered to engage further. Grudgingly, he stepped aside to let the group in.

“Private room Jia on the second floor.” Missing Tooth felt deeply wronged. Even though his own boss was right there, he had to swallow his anger toward that attendant.

Lu Jiahe glanced back at the gap-toothed man upon hearing his trembling voice. Seeing that he was on the verge of tears, she shook her head helplessly before leading the group upstairs.

“Eh? Little brother, have you been here before?” Jiang Huai asked curiously as Lu Jiahe effortlessly guided them upstairs into a private room.

Sitting down on a chair, Lu Jiahe picked up the teapot and poured tea for everyone. “Yes, I’ve been here before.”

Wang San couldn’t help but scrutinize Lu Jiahe. “You’ve always been the type to focus solely on studying. This shop has only been open for a few days, and you’ve already visited.”

Hearing this, Lu Jiahe raised an eyebrow slightly but didn’t respond. She knew Wang San was the kind of person who always wanted to be first in everything and particularly enjoyed being surrounded by others. But Lu Jiahe wasn’t one to compete, so she couldn’t be bothered to answer his question.

Knock, knock, knock!

A moment later, a waitress entered the room carrying two menus.

“Greetings, esteemed guests. Our shop only offers set meals at noon. Please take a look and see what you’d like to order.” She placed the menus in front of the group.

Everyone except Lu Jiahe huddled together to examine the menus, while Lu Jiahe kept making meaningful glances at the waitress, trying to signal her to bring the lunch Cheng Yi had prepared for her.

Unfortunately, the waitress had only been working for two days and was also face-blind. Seeing Lu Jiahe winking and making faces at her, she assumed Lu Jiahe had improper intentions and quickly covered herself in alarm.

“Sir, this is a respectable dining establishment!”

The waitress’s loud and stern tone immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

Jiang Huai and the others were stunned by her words. They looked from the waitress to Lu Jiahe.

Lu Jiahe gritted her teeth as she stared at the waitress. If she hadn’t been personally hired by Cheng Yi, Lu Jiahe would have fired her on the spot!

“Hurry up and order,” Lu Jiahe snapped irritably at her companions before turning to Jiang Huai. “I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

Seeing Lu Jiahe’s unpleasant expression, Jiang Huai knew she was angry and quickly urged everyone to place their orders so the waitress could leave.

Wang San, noticing the situation, opened his folding fan and sneered at Lu Jiahe, “I never expected Jiahe to have such, unique tastes.”

Lu Jiahe shot him a fierce glare, her eyes as cold as countless icy blades piercing through him.

Jiang Huai quickly interrupted, “Don’t talk nonsense! My little brother is already engaged.”

“Oh? I didn’t know Jiahe had already arranged a marriage so soon after returning to Bianjing. Which fortunate young lady is it who gets to marry into the Lu family?” Wang San resented the Lu family’s wealth, but knowing that Lu Jiahe wasn’t particularly favored, he directed all his bitterness toward her.

“Oh my! Excuse me! Of course, it’s me who’s fortunate enough to marry into the Lu family.” Cheng Yi, who had been eavesdropping outside for a while, entered the room carrying Lu Jiahe’s lunch. “Here, could you make some room for me?” She walked over to Lu Jiahe and tapped the table in front of Wang San.

Wang San didn’t know who this woman was, but under her imposing presence, he still stood up and moved aside to make space for her.

“And who might this young lady be?” Wang San asked, his mind already brewing improper thoughts as he gazed at the beauty before him.

“This is.” Jiang Huai started to introduce the person, but before he could finish, he was interrupted.

Cheng Yi opened the food containers one by one and placed them in front of Lu Jiahe. “You didn’t tell me in advance. If it weren’t for Que Ke Ya coming to complain to me, I’d still be waiting for you downstairs.”

All of Lu Jiahe’s earlier frustration vanished the moment she saw Cheng Yi. She pursed her lips, took the chopsticks Cheng Yi handed her, and said softly, “I’m sorry.”

Hearing this, Cheng Yi twisted her body like a shy little woman and playfully tapped Lu Jiahe’s arm with her delicate fist. “Why are you apologizing between us? I’m your wife, and I’m happy to wait for you.”

Everyone in the room felt their teeth ache from the sweetness.

“Wait, Miss, who are you? I booked this private room. Isn’t it a bit rude for you to barge in like this?” Wang San was annoyed that the stunning girl was only focused on talking to Lu Jiahe and ignoring him.