Chapter 4: Ramen for dinner

Xiaoqi walked around to look for the financial department; there she stumbled upon their office seeing Yuyan in front of her computer being handed with piles of files.

("That must've been tiring,")

Xiaoqi felt a bit concerned seeing her friend being buried in work. Thinking back, she didn't even get enough sleep the night before and she didn't see her at the cafeteria at lunch either. Her friend might be hungry and tired with all the work she's doing and she doesn't even have the time to stop, yet all she could do was look from afar and just think of how she was doing.

As to not interrupt her hard-working friend, she decided to look around the building. There were no other restricted areas she couldn't go except the CEO's office so she had her time to look for other places. Over all, the building had thirty-one floors in total. From the second floor, she ended up strolling around for three hours until she ended up the last floor where you can see a rooftop garden. Being there was relaxing; you can even see the city from up there.

Though she had reached the highest floor, Xiaoqi didn't actually stop in every floor. After the tenth floor, she eventually got tired of looking around and she picked floors to go randomly. There, she learned that The 30th floor was off limits to outsiders and only employees with higher positions and allowed persons are the only ones who are able to enter that said floor; well, it was what the operator of the elevator explained as she suspected Xiaoqi to be a new comer.

"Which floor do you wish to go, miss?" the operator asked as Xiaoqi went inside it again after the tenth time.

"The 30th floor please,"

"I'm very sorry miss, however, only employees assigned there and persons who are allowed by the CEO are allowed to go there. Unless you make an appointment or are allowed by the higher ups, you will not be able to step foot in that floor." She explained.

Now that you think of it, that elevator operator might've been stressed out having Xiaoqi in and out of that same elevator. However, she was kind enough to be patient and take her to whichever floor she wanted to go to, and even explaining to her where she could and couldn't go.

Looking around this huge building, Xiaoqi felt suffocated and decided to end the stroll at the highest floor which led her to see a wonderful ambiance, where the sunset can be clearly seen from there as it slowly hides itself behind the huge buildings of the city. A fresh cold breeze swept against her hair and an abundant air far from pollution, directly from the trees can also be smelled from there making you feel more relaxed by the minute. It was simply wonderful, she thought as she walked along a path paved with a layer of brick looking in front of a dazzling view.

It was a shame to see that no one can be seen going up there; it seemed like every person in the company are too busy to have time to relax, they're really missing the best place of this building.

("I wonder if Yuyan also goes here as well…")

A click from the door can be heard, where Xiaoqi looked behind reflexively. It looked like she was wrong about anyone not going there; there was another person who went there beside her, unfortunately she couldn't see who it was. Either way, it doesn't really matter. She walked back inside the building and went down back to the second floor where Yuyan was just about to finish her work. Xiaoqi waited outside for her.

"Xiaoqi! Sorry to keep you waiting, it was urgent and I really needed to finish it today. Did you wait long?"

"No, it's alright. I just got here; I looked around the place, it was really huge."

"Oh, that's good. How did your interview go?"

"It was great,"

"You think you'll get the job?"

"You bet! You must be tired, let's go home I'll make us dinner."

"Dinner sounds good, what would you make?"

"Mmm, what do you want to eat? I'll make it up to you for helping me get the job,"

"I thought the results wouldn't be out yet until the day after tomorrow? Are you really that confident?"

"Come on, I thought you believed in me. Well, I know I'll get it. But if you insist, then just think of it as repaying you for letting me stay in your apartment; I'll cook you the most delicious dinner you can ever have."

"That sounds better…"

And the two friends went on their way back to Yuyan's apartment. After changing back to their pajamas, Xiaoqi went straight to the kitchen to get ready to cook something delicious for them to enjoy only to see an empty fridge wave 'hi' to her.

"Really Yuyan? I don't know what to cook without any available ingredients."

"Oh right, I forgot. I didn't have time to buy groceries these last few months, though I have ramen on top of the cubicle."

"I see you still don't cook that much, you still spend your days eating ramen and ready-made bento."

"How'd you know?"

Yuyan turned to Xiaoqi as she was at the living room watching TV when she saw Xiaoqi point her finger directly to the trashcan filled with empty cups of noodles and plastic bento.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. What about you? You want to brag about how good you've become at cooking you offered to cook our dinner?"

"… Well… that's one reason, but I really wanted to sincerely repay you for helping me,"

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Why? Don't you believe me?"

"Alright I believe you. Besides it's been long since I tasted your cooking; I want know how good you've become. But I guess that can wait later…"

"Yeah,"

A few moments later, Xiaoqi served them a ramen topped with poached egg and some green onions for dinner. They sat down in the living room as they both watched a movie.

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I can't believe it, Yuyan's still the same as ever. Though she's not a good cook, she loves to eat food, so I'm thinking that I'll cook delicious foods for her. Do you also wanna try my cooking?

Well, the day after tomorrow will be the announcement if I was accepted for the job or not. I just hope I'll hear good news… and oh, also a big sum of salary.