Chapter 19: Chapter 16: I Pick Up the Chopsticks Again
After purifying this, remove the other impurities, and then purify this medicine as well, we only need this element." While Li Chen was explaining to the other staff, the laboratory door suddenly burst open.
He glanced up and, to his surprise, it was Lin Yi.
Li Chen, aren't you developing a new drug? This is a new employee at our company, I saw that she has a medical background so I transferred her over to assist you with the potion," Lin Yi said.
Li Chen's gaze followed Lin Yi's to the person behind him, and just as he was about to speak, he suddenly froze. Holy shit, could it really be such a coincidence?
Wang Qianqian, who had followed Lin Yi in, also froze when she looked up—it was Li Chen, the same person she had met yesterday at Central Park, wasn't it?
Upon seeing Li Chen's familiar eyes, Wang Qianqian's face inexplicably flushed red.
Today, Wang Qianqian was not like she was yesterday.
How could it be him? Wang Qianqian thought frantically, her hand unconsciously twisting the hem of her garment.
It was her? Really, what a coincidence, Li Chen couldn't help but reveal a mischievous smile.
"What's wrong?" Lin Yi asked curiously, glancing at Li Chen and then at Wang Qianqian, "Do you know each other?"
"We just met yesterday," Li Chen said with a smile. "She was fishing, and I gave her a little help."
As Lin Yi turned his gaze back to them, Wang Qianqian hurriedly nodded, "Yes, President Lin, I really have to thank him for getting me out of a tight spot yesterday."
"Good, it's even better that you know each other, saves a lot of adjustment time," Lin Yi said. "Carry on with your work."
As Lin Yi walked out of the laboratory, Wang Qianqian bravely said, "What a coincidence!"
"What a coincidence!"
They both said at the same time, then paused and laughed.
Wang Qianqian immediately felt the previous awkwardness vanish, her cheeks flushed as she said, "I didn't properly thank you yesterday. I was thinking of calling you tonight, but I didn't expect to meet you now."
"So it seems we are fated," Li Chen blinked. "Fate brings people together no matter how far apart they may be, whereas without it, they do not meet even when face to face. Look at how much fate we must share."
Wang Qianqian nodded vigorously, "To express my gratitude for your help yesterday, I'd like to treat you to dinner." She finished speaking and looked at Li Chen anxiously.
Li Chen, gazing into Wang Qianqian's beautiful eyes, said with a smile, "You want to treat me to dinner? It just so happens, I'm hungry, and it's mealtime, let's go now."
"Okay." Wang Qianqian was overjoyed, but then she worriedly said, "But what about the laboratory..."
"It's fine," Li Chen leaned in and said, "I'm in charge of this laboratory, just follow my lead, okay?"
Feeling Li Chen's breath so close, Wang Qianqian couldn't help but feel a wave of bashfulness.
After giving a few instructions to the perfumers, Li Chen went out to have dinner with Wang Qianqian.
...
Restaurant.
The two sat opposite each other, chatting and eating.
Qianqian, why did you come to Lin's Group?" Li Chen asked curiously, "I heard from President Lin that you are a new perfumer?"
Wang Qianqian's lips curled up into a sweet smile, "Because I love perfumes. I've always enjoyed collecting all sorts of them."
Li Chen nodded, devouring his food and said, "I didn't expect President Lin to transfer you to my lab."
At this, Li Chen smiled slightly, "Doesn't that mean you can't work on perfumes anymore?"
"Not at all," Wang Qianqian hurriedly said, "Actually, I didn't expect President Lin to transfer me to your laboratory either, but I'm quite content."
"Oh? Content with what?" Li Chen's lips twitched into a teasing smile.
Seeing his familiar smile, Wang Qianqian felt a flush of embarrassment. How could she say it out loud, that just seeing him was enough?
Seeing Wang Qianqian's shy and hesitant manner, Li Chen wiped his mouth with a napkin and then said with a smile, "Qianqian, do you know why I have a laboratory?"
Wang Qianqian shook her head innocently.
"Because I am a very talented perfumer," Li Chen said earnestly, "I'm the best perfumer at Lin's Group, so President Lin specially set aside a laboratory for me."
"Really?" Wang Qianqian's beautiful eyes were full of stars.
"Of course," Li Chen didn't feel like a big bad wolf at all; if anyone dared to say he was trying to deceive a girl, he'd absolutely leap up and spit in their face, because Brother Cheen was totally speaking the truth, okay?
"So Qianqian, I can teach you how to make perfumes privately," Li Chen said with a mischievous smile, "I will make you into the most incredible perfumer."
Wang Qianqian's face flushed red, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
"Come, Qianqian." Li Chen reached out and half-grasped Wang Qianqian's hand, smiling and saying, "I can tell what perfume you're wearing just by smell, you know?"
When Li Chen touched her, Wang Qianqian's heart fluttered, and then she let him hold her hand.
Her hand felt really comfortable, Li Chen thought to himself as he admired Wang Qianqian's skin, then he leaned in and sniffed carefully.
Wang Qianqian looked at him with anticipation. Li Chen lifted his head and said with a smile, "Qianqian, I might need to get a little closer to make it out, do you mind if I get closer?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Qianqian felt shy. She immediately knew Li Chen wanted to take advantage of her, but why did it feel so comfortable, and why was there even a hint of anticipation?
Seeing Wang Qianqian looking down without speaking, Li Chen said with a naughty smile, "Qianqian, if you don't say anything, I'll take it as your consent."
After he finished speaking, Li Chen stood up and slowly walked over to the seat next to Wang Qianqian, who didn't say a word from the beginning to the end; her head was already hanging low with embarrassment.
Li Chen slowly sat down next to Wang Qianqian, his heart confirming, it seemed this girl really did like him.
"Come, Qianqian, let me smell what perfume you're wearing."
"It's so fragrant!"
Li Chen couldn't help but exclaim.
"So, did you figure out what it is?" asked Wang Qianqian.
"Of course I figured it out," Li Chen said with a slight smile.
Li Chen smiled faintly, released her hand, and sat back in his seat, "Qianqian, eat your meal quickly, I still need to take you to make perfumes later."
When Wang Qianqian saw Li Chen moving away from her, she breathed a sigh of relief but also felt like she had lost something.
"Hmm." Wang Qianqian picked up her chopsticks. As Li Chen reached for his chopsticks, he accidentally knocked them to the ground.
The crisp sound echoed. Li Chen apologized and then bent down to pick up the chopsticks. In that moment, he caught a glimpse of something and was immediately stunned.
"Qianqian!" Just then, Li Chen spoke up, and Wang Qianqian raised her head, seeing his smiling face, and the nervousness in her heart disappeared.
"That, can I pick up the chopsticks again?" Li Chen asked with a smile.
"Don't." Wang Qianqian exclaimed in alarm.
Grasping Wang Qianqian's hand, Li Chen reassured her with a mischievous smile, "Qianqian, it's okay, I didn't see anything."
"Stop it, I don't want to hear it." Wang Qianqian really wanted to crawl into a hole.
Li Chen sat down next to Qianqian and said soothingly, "Alright, I truly didn't do it on purpose. How about you hit Brother Cheen, it might make you feel better."
"No." Wang Qianqian immediately refused; she couldn't bring herself to do it.
It took a while before Wang Qianqian lifted her head.
"That, you can't tell anyone else," Wang Qianqian said.
"Don't worry, this kind of good stuff, I'm okay with keeping all to myself," Li Chen said with a naughty smile.
"You." Wang Qianqian felt a wave of embarrassment again.
"Alright, we're done eating; we should head back," Li Chen said.
However, just at that moment, a ruckus erupted outside, accompanied by the sound of tables and chairs falling over and glasses breaking.
"Someone's taken a hostage! Someone's taken a hostage!"
The shouts filled the air, and in an instant, the entire restaurant was thrown into chaos.