Chapter 40: Chapter 40 No Refusal
Just when Chen Yu was trying to think of another reason to refuse, Tong Ya suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"After all that talk, you still haven't said it's because you don't like me. You have feelings for me too, don't you?"
Chen Yu took a deep breath and answered very truthfully, "Yes! But with your qualifications, you could find someone better."
"You are the best!" Tong Ya's arms slowly tightened: "No one could be better than you."
Chen Yu didn't speak again, nor did he push Tong Ya away from his embrace.
"You don't have to worry so much!" Tong Ya looked up at Chen Yu: "I will help you resolve all your concerns, just as long as you don't reject the kindness I have for you, okay?"
Actually, Tong Ya didn't necessarily need Chen Yu to accept her right then and there.
As long as Chen Yu didn't refuse, she would consider it a success.
She could then be openly nice to Chen Yu in the future, even spoil him, without having to avoid their relationship in public anymore.
Chen Yu was silent for a long time: "Then you should at least bring over your personal belongings."
A glimmer of excitement shone in Tong Ya's eyes. Although Chen Yu hadn't explicitly agreed, he hadn't refused either.
And he had even agreed to let her stay here.
"Okay! Then you can't go back on your word. I'll go get my things now and be back in an hour. Wait for me."
Having said that, Tong Ya turned and left the house.
But the girl played a little trick as she left—she took Chen Yu's car.
Chen Yu was still in a daze at that moment.
Having such a sincere woman in this world who cared for him, what more could he ask for?
After adjusting his emotions, Chen Yu went straight into the kitchen and started kneading dough.
As soon as Tong Ya got back, she began to pack up, which gave Tang Xiaowei a fright.
"What are you doing? Moving out?"
Tong Ya was busy stuffing clothes and daily necessities into her bags.
"Yeah, from now on, you'll be living here alone."
Tang Xiaowei's mouth hung open: "Where are you going? You're not going home, are you? We had agreed to stick together..."
"Who said I'm going home?" Tong Ya's face was filled with joy: "I'm moving in with my future boyfriend."
Tang Xiaowei was stunned for a moment: "Future boyfriend? Did he agree to be with you?"
Tong Ya hesitated for a bit: "Sort of!"
While speaking, Tong Ya had already finished packing, a handbag, and a backpack ready to go.
"And remember to visit the shop sometimes."
Tang Xiaowei couldn't believe how quickly things had developed between Tong Ya and Chen Yu.
But she didn't say much; Chen Yu's character had truly impressed her over time.
Not only was he diligent and hard-working, but his fried cakes and turnovers were made so well that she also felt the urge to offer them to him for free.
"Humph, out of sight, out of mind! Don't forget to bring me some goodies when you have time."
Tong Ya nodded, then suddenly put down the backpack she was holding and stepped forward to hug Tang Xiaowei.
"Xiaowei, if you feel lonely living by yourself, I can rent you an apartment behind the shop, and you can move in too."
"Alright!" Tang Xiaowei patted Tong Ya on the shoulder: "Let's go, I'll see you out."
...
When Tong Ya returned to the shop, Chen Yu was still busy there.
In just that little while, Chen Yu had already kneaded two large buckets of dough.
Tong Ya didn't disturb him, treading lightly as she went up to the third floor.
She didn't directly place her personal belongings in Chen Yu's room, but instead tidied up another room.
Tong Ya was clear in her heart; Chen Yu allowing her to move in was already his biggest concession.
The two of them were not yet at the stage of sleeping together.
Tong Ya was also consciously maintaining this tacit understanding.
Just as Tong Ya was about to go down to help, Chen Yu had already come up to the third floor.
He was actually a bit worried that Tong Ya would move directly into his room.
"How come you're up here? Are you done with your work?" Tong Ya asked, somewhat puzzled.
Chen Yu smiled slightly, "It's very late, let's go to sleep."
"You should go to sleep early too."
After responding, Tong Ya went back to her own room.
At half-past three in the morning, when Chen Yu opened the store, six young girls had just arrived.
With the experience from the first day, they didn't need much direction from Chen Yu and got busy on their own.
Chen Yu found that he only needed to make the dough and sprinkle seasoning into the filling for the vegetable pockets, and he didn't need to do anything else.
When Tong Ya came downstairs, she simply sat there, joining in to wrap fried cakes and vegetable pockets.
"Hey, Sister Tong, did you sleep here last night?" Chu Hong suddenly asked.
"Yeah!" Tong Ya didn't avoid the question.
The six young girls were taken aback simultaneously, their eyes gleaming with the light of gossip.
However, they didn't ask any more questions, and Chu Hong felt she had been a bit too nosy.
Tong Ya just smiled, "From now on, I will be living here, so I can help everyone in the morning."
With that explanation, the six young girls understood.
Without explicitly stating her relationship with Chen Yu, Tong Ya played it smart.
And there was nothing Chen Yu could do about it.
A bit after four in the morning, customers started to trickle in.
Usually, those who came at this time were internet-addicted teens from the neighborhood.
But lately, it seemed that these internet-addicted teens weren't as interested in internet cafes.
By four or five in the morning, they would come in groups to Chen Yu's place to eat.
Today, Chen Yu also made specific work arrangements.
Chu Hong was in charge of frying, Li Yu managed the counter, and Zhang Qian served as a full-time waitress in the lobby.
Su Qing, the fastest at making semi-finished fried cakes and vegetable pockets, stayed in the kitchen exclusively to prepare them.
Han Cai and Zhao Meng acted as floaters, helping out in the lobby when it was too busy, and returning to the kitchen when needed.
This arrangement greatly improved work efficiency.
By six in the morning, semi-finished products were piled up like a mountain, adequately covering the needs for the day.
And the whole shop operated smoothly and orderly.
Chen Yu immediately decided to store all these semi-finished products in the cold storage.
Then he took out flour and raw materials and started working on them again.
At forty-five minutes past six, Tong Ya took off her gloves and went upstairs.
Tuan Tuan was already up, but she was a little surprised to see the extra personal items in the bathroom.
"Miss Tong, did you bring your personal items over?"
Tong Ya rubbed Tuan Tuan's little head.
"Yeah, from now on, I'll be living with Tuan Tuan."
Tuan Tuan's mouth opened wide: "Did Dad agree to you living here?"
"What? Do you not want me to?"
"Of course, I want it!" Tuan Tuan excitedly grabbed Tong Ya's hand. "Does that mean you and Dad are together?"
"Sort of!" Tong Ya blushed a little. "I confessed to your dad."
"Really?" Excitement was written all over Tuan Tuan's little face.
Tong Ya pinched Tuan Tuan's little cheek, "So do you agree for the teacher to be your mom from now on?"
Without a second thought, Tuan Tuan threw herself into Tong Ya's arms.
"Mom!"