Time rewinds.

Lin Jiahui returned to the bank carrying a takeout box.

As soon as she entered the automatic door, she saw Ling and the others organizing documents.

She took out the portions of Yellow Croaker Noodles and Dongpo Pork meant for them, placed them beside their desks, and said, "Ling, Xinyan, Lu Lu, I brought your meals back for you."

"Oh, okay, thank you, Jiahui."

Busy with organizing, they responded without even looking up.

During document organization, it was always like this. Lin Jiahui knew not to disturb them, so she didn't say more and headed straight to the lounge.

She washed her hands.

Sitting down, she opened her portion of Yellow Croaker Noodles and Dongpo Pork, pouring the croaker soup into the noodles.

Just smelling it, she couldn't help but show a look of rapturous enjoyment.

Just looking at the agate-like Dongpo Pork and the beautiful golden hue of the croaker meat made her even hungrier.

She tasted a spoonful of the creamy white soup.

As the soup entered her mouth, it felt like a fish swimming down her throat, into her stomach.

Rich, pure, delicious.

Amidst the fresh fragrance, a sweet aftertaste lingered.

Once in her stomach, it was warm, sweeping away the chill brought by the cold and the fatigue from the busy work morning.

"Whew..."

She slurped a big mouthful of noodles.

The bouncy, rice-fragrant noodles mixed with the sweet flavor of the croaker instantly filled her mouth.

No words can express such "satisfaction."

Then she gently bit into the pan-fried croaker meat, which was tender and succulent without falling apart, leaving a sweet aftertaste, with no fishiness and not a single bone.

This was truly a boon for someone like her who can't handle fish bones!

"Wow! What smells so good?"

Ling and the others, still organizing, caught a whiff of fresh aroma mixed with a meaty scent.

The scent was indescribable, and their stomachs almost instantly reacted strongly, craving the food.

"Yes, it smells amazing!"

Su Lulu's dainty nose couldn't help but sniffle, "Hmm, seems like it's coming from the lounge..."

Ling nodded in agreement.

Du Xinyan thought for a moment, "Oh yes! Could Jiahui be having her meal in there?!"

"Yes, I'm eating Yellow Croaker Noodles! It tastes great!"

Upon hearing the shout, Lin Jiahui leisurely replied with a mouthful, "This fish is very tender and fresh, and the soup is incredibly fresh too!"

"My goodness, my Dongpo Pork. And the Yellow Croaker Noodles..."

Du Xinyan belatedly remembered her own meal.

In the past, whenever friends asked her what food she desired most,

she would always answer: Grandma's Yellow Croaker Rice Noodles.

This dish had always accompanied her as she grew up.

When Grandma was around, she'd occasionally make a bowl of Yellow Croaker Rice Noodles for her.

The deliciousness of those noodles was so good it was like, as the saying goes, you'd rather take a slap than let go of them.

But Grandma passed away, and no longer could she make those noodles for her.

Along with Grandma's secret techniques, they also vanished!

Her family tried making Yellow Croaker Noodles, but it just didn't taste the same.

Whenever she craved it, she'd try buying it outside.

The noodles remained Yellow Croaker Rice Noodles, with the same rice noodles, small croakers, and salted vegetables.

But the taste was different, always feeling like something was missing.

Today, when she saw Lin Jiahui mention in the group that Boss Huang had introduced Yellow Croaker Noodles,

thinking it was made by Boss Huang, she asked Lin Jiahui to switch the Crab Stir-Fry for Yellow Croaker Rice Noodles.

One reason was to try something new; the other was to search for the familiar taste of the past...

As she thought about this, she quickly set aside the documents in hand, somewhat clumsily opened the lid of her own packaged meal.

In an instant.

A domineering fragrance of freshness and meaty scent filled her nostrils.

With her years of experience eating Yellow Croaker Noodles, she knew this dish wouldn't taste bad, and might even rival her Grandma's cooking!

She impatiently poured the fish soup into the noodle bowl, scooped up some soup with fish meat, and brought it to her mouth.

The next second, she almost swallowed her tongue.

The soup was so fresh, and the fish was snow-white and tender, slippery but not dry, simply delicious beyond compare.

At that moment, she felt transported back to her childhood, standing in the kitchen, eagerly eyeing the pot of Yellow Croaker Noodles.

Grandma would take a piece of tender croaker meat from the pot, blow on it, and feed it to her.

Life was sweet, and so were the memories!

This lunch became even more marvelous.

Ling also started tasting her Yellow Croaker Noodles.

The white, tender wild croaker curled up adorably, with the meat glistening slightly. A gentle press and the fish meat softly blossomed on her tongue, complemented by a broth made from fish bones, salted vegetables, and lard, sheer freshness in every bite, like drinking milk!

And the noodles, initially she thought being delayed so long the noodles would be mushy, affecting the texture.

But the noodles in the bowl remained intact, not mushy, nor soggy.

Smooth and tender texture, like little "fishies," slurpily swimming into her mouth, not just toothsome but also chewy.

It could be called absolutely perfect!

Ling looked up and noticed tears streaming from Du Xinyan's eyes nearby.

What happened...

Was she burned?

Feeling puzzled, Ling pulled out a few paper towels and handed them over, asking with concern, "Xinyan, why are you crying? Did you burn yourself?"

"Ling, I'm okay, I'm just happy!"

Du Xinyan said, her face beaming, accepting the paper towel and wiping her eyes, joyfully saying, "Ever since my grandma passed, I haven't tasted her Yellow Croaker Noodles again, but now, Boss Huang's noodles have let me rediscover that lost flavor."

She briefly recounted her years-long attachment and struggles with Yellow Croaker Rice Noodles to Ling and the others!

Ling suddenly understood, "Oh... so it's Boss Huang who awakened the flavor hidden in your memories!"

"Indeed, Boss Huang's culinary skills have such charm."

Lin Jiahui nodded empathetically.

Back when she ate the Preserved Egg and Lean Meat Porridge, she couldn't help but recall the stories buried in her heart.

Su Lulu nodded again and continued to lower her head and bite into the Dongpo Pork.

It tasted sweet first, followed by a perfectly balanced sauce, the meat texture

Her beautiful eyes sparkled.

Such texture, such taste.

She could say it's the best Dongpo Pork she has eaten over the years.

For most girls,

Dongpo Pork is incredibly tempting.

But most of them only eat the lean meat part, avoiding the fatty part due to greasiness.

Su Lulu was like that, eating just the lean meat, not the fatty parts.

Besides thinking it's too greasy, another reason is fear of gaining weight.

But this time was unexpected, the blend of fatty and lean meat caught her off guard, and that bite of Dongpo Pork had already gone into her stomach before she realized it.

When she realized it, she couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

Oh my goodness!

She actually...

She actually swallowed the part with skin, the fatty meat, without feeling greasy at all!

Only thought it was delicious!

Such tasty Dongpo Pork, her meat-loving boyfriend Meng Yunfei would definitely love it!

She met Meng Yunfei during a friends' gathering, and both of them fell in love at first sight.

Soon enough, amidst his fervent pursuit, they got together.

However, within just a week of being together...

She noticed her boyfriend had a very close female friend.

They communicated every day.

Nothing they said was overtly flirty.

But it was clear they were very familiar with each other.

That darn woman's intuition led Su Lulu to sense a hint of crisis.

So she started investigating their relationship privately.

Finally!

She found out she was dealing with what is known as a 'bosom friend.'

They had been classmates from high school to college, always very close.

But Su Lulu wasn't foolish. She understood clearly what such a relationship implied.

Indeed.

She discovered that this girl appeared in her boyfriend's life at all times.

Like reminding him that today is his sister's birthday so he must not forget to buy a gift for her, lest he gets scolded; like telling him he should go for a medical check-up tomorrow; or like asking if he has time today to accompany her to a concert.

Such a relationship made Su Lulu somewhat frantic, yet she couldn't openly vent in front of her boyfriend.

At this moment, she pondered.

Should she ask her boyfriend to bring his good friend along for a meal and get to know each other?

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