That morning, Ji Yuxuan arrived at the restaurant earlier than usual. The air was still damp with the remnants of dawn, and the streets of Yunzhou had yet to fully awaken. Warm lights glowed inside the restaurant, casting a soft reflection across the polished wooden floors. There were several menu concepts she needed to revise, along with preparations she wanted to ensure were executed flawlessly.
She always arrived first. Not because she had to, but because the quiet hours were the only time her mind felt truly clear.
Not long after, the front door opened softly. Gu Jinhai stepped in carrying several boxes of ingredients and kitchen supplies. He gave Yuxuan a small nod. She responded with a brief glance before returning to her notes.
One by one, the rest of the team arrived.
As usual, the morning began with routines that rarely changed. Wiping down tables and floors. Checking ingredients. Rearranging chairs. Exchanging casual greetings. And, inevitably, lighthearted banter that somehow started before the first cup of coffee was even finished.
"Our restaurant keeps getting busier. I honestly don't know how my bones will survive the next few months," Lu Yichen complained dramatically, rubbing his shoulder that was clearly perfectly fine.
No one was surprised.
His complaints were practically their morning alarm.
Qin Wanqing, who was organizing knives and checking the refrigerator temperature, shot him a sidelong glance without fully turning around.
"When the restaurant was quiet, you complained. Now that it's busy, you're still complaining. What exactly do you want?"
Lu Yichen snorted.
"I'm just voicing the suffering of the working class."
"Ungrateful," Qin Wanqing replied flatly.
Lu Yichen was about to fire back with a long rebuttal when the atmosphere suddenly shifted.
The office door opened.
Ji Yuxuan stepped out.
As usual, her outfit was simple. A plain white T-shirt and comfortable black shorts. Her hair was tied low, her face free of noticeable makeup. A small bag rested on her shoulder. Without looking at anyone, without saying a single word, she walked steadily toward the exit.
Her steps were light, yet they carried a quiet firmness.
The door closed softly behind her.
A few seconds of silence followed.
They all stared at the door.
"Boss left?" Mo Siyue whispered.
"Without saying anything again," Lu Yichen added.
Their gazes slowly shifted toward one another. Almost instinctively, they gathered closer like a group about to discuss classified information.
Mo Yuxing tugged at Gu Jinhai's sleeve while he was organizing inventory lists.
"Senior, wait."
Their expressions turned serious.
This clearly was not about menus or schedules.
Anything related to Ji Yuxuan was always the hottest topic.
"Senior," Mo Siyue began, clasping her hands together, "don't you think... our boss is getting scarier by the day?"
Gu Jinhai raised an eyebrow. "Scarier how?"
"That expression of hers. So flat. Sometimes if she stares at me a second too long, I feel like my heart might stop," Mo Siyue said dramatically.
Lu Yichen nodded quickly. "I agree. I can't even tell whether she's angry or not."
Gu Jinhai let out a quiet sigh.
"She's always been like that. You just need time to get used to it."
They fell silent, considering his words.
He was about to return to his task when Mo Siyue grabbed his arm again.
"That's not what we mean, Brother Gu."
"Then what?"
Mo Yuxing swallowed before speaking.
"We know she's cold. But that time you mentioned her first love… we're curious."
Lu Yichen impatiently pushed Mo Yuxing aside.
"Yes. About Yan Zeyu. You mentioned him once. Tell us from the beginning."
Four pairs of eyes now looked at Gu Jinhai expectantly. Even Qin Wanqing, who usually seemed indifferent, had stepped closer under the pretense of organizing something.
Gu Jinhai rubbed the back of his neck.
"I don't even know where to start."
"From the beginning," Lu Yichen urged.
Gu Jinhai finally leaned against the edge of the table. His gaze drifted into the distance, as if watching memories unfold before him.
"Ji Yuxuan was once engaged to a man named Yan Zeyu. It started as an arranged engagement. But over time… they truly fell in love."
The room grew noticeably quieter.
"Boss… in love?" Mo Siyue whispered in disbelief.
Gu Jinhai smiled faintly.
"I've known her since we were kids. She was always quiet. She looked strong, but there was always pressure weighing on her. But after she met Yan Zeyu, I saw another side of her. Her smile became more genuine. Her steps felt lighter."
He paused.
"It was as if a light had slowly begun to shine in a life that had long felt dark."
No one spoke.
"One day, she left for London without telling anyone. She cut off contact with everyone. Including me."
Lu Yichen frowned. "Including Yan Zeyu?"
Gu Jinhai nodded.
"After that, she went back to how she used to be. Cold. Closed off. As if nothing had ever changed."
"Wait," Lu Yichen interrupted. "You mean she's always been this cold?"
"Yes," Gu Jinhai replied softly. "But once, there was someone who made her shine."
Silence settled over the room again.
Mo Yuxing finally asked quietly, "So what about Yan Zeyu now?"
"He's successful," Gu Jinhai answered. "He holds several major shares in his family's company."
"That's not what I mean," Mo Yuxing continued. "Have they really never met again?"
Gu Jinhai paused.
He remembered what Yuxuan had said the night before.
"They haven't met again."
The air felt heavier than before.
Qin Wanqing finally spoke softly, "So Yan Zeyu was the light in Boss Ji's life."
Gu Jinhai gave a faint smile.
"Maybe. But time changes people. I'm not sure they'd still be the same as before."
No one argued.
They simply stood there in silence, lost in thought over the story they had just heard.