Chapter 104: Let Us Begin Anew

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The sun was setting in the west.

The crimson sunlight pouring down from the sky dyed the entire Maple Leaf City red, as if draping this inland city in a veil of delicate scarlet gauze.

At this moment, Jiang Hao was in the back kitchen of Qingli Health Diet Restaurant, helping Su Qingli.

Seeing Su Qingli carrying a stack of bowls and dishes, about to set them on the nearby counter, Jiang Hao hurried over: "Let me take care of that. It's heavy—can you even carry it?"

Su Qingli didn't waste any words. She simply handed the entire stack of bowls and dishes straight to Jiang Hao.

This stack of tableware weighed about twenty jin—no light burden for an ordinary person. But for Jiang Hao, it was as light as a feather.

Thanks to the nourishment of the Red Jade Ring, Jiang Hao's strength now far exceeded that of a normal person. Twenty-odd jin of weight was nothing to him at all.

"Why haven't you hired a male waiter?" Jiang Hao asked curiously. "The shop must occasionally have some tiring work. Having a male waiter would make things easier for you."

Su Qingli said indifferently, "Hiring a waiter costs money too. Better to save where we can."

Then Su Qingli began washing vegetables, and even cut them into segments.

"What's this for...?" Jiang Hao asked, puzzled.

Su Qingli replied calmly, "I'm preparing for tomorrow. Once these vegetables are cut, I'll put them all in the freezer. When we open the shop tomorrow, they'll be ready to use directly."

"Oh, I see." Jiang Hao nodded.

And so Jiang Hao continued helping Su Qingli while chatting with her.

Though the topics were ordinary, as time passed, the tone between the two gradually became more amicable.

They were still far from the intimacy of lovers, of course, but it was certainly much better than the former icy coldness between them.

Jiang Hao also knew he couldn't afford to rush.

Although Su Qingli no longer brought up divorce, their relationship had already sunk to freezing point because of their past conflicts.

Now, they were essentially starting over, beginning anew.

So, to mend their feelings and fully reconcile, he absolutely couldn't be hasty.

"How much capital did you invest in opening this shop in total?" Jiang Hao asked as he helped Su Qingli cut meat.

Su Qingli answered without hesitation, "Eighty thousand in total, with most of it going to rent and renovations."

For a small restaurant of about forty square meters in the city center, eighty thousand was a reasonable amount—a normal price.

"Then where are you living now?"

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Jiang Hao asked again.

Su Qingli glanced at Jiang Hao before answering, "I live right here."

"What?" Jiang Hao turned his head in surprise, staring blankly at Su Qingli.

She actually lived in the shop?

How could anyone live here?

Although Jiang Hao already knew that Su Qingli had left the Su family and cut ties with them, he never imagined she would be in such dire straits now!

"You're surprised? I don't think it's a big deal. It's fine living here." As Su Qingli spoke, she opened a cabinet in the farthest corner.

When the cabinet opened, Jiang Hao saw inside a set of bedding, various daily toiletries, a handful of cosmetics, and a few plain changes of clothes.

"After the waitress and the kitchen assistant go off work at night, I close the shop and rest in the dining area. It's more spacious there, and the floor has no grease stains, so it won't dirty the bedding." Su Qingli explained calmly.

"This... this is just too—" Jiang Hao hesitated for a moment, then spoke rapidly, "Qingli, why not come stay at my place? Of course, I don't mean living together—I know you wouldn't want that... I have plenty of spare rooms. You can pick whichever one you like."

Hearing this, Su Qingli shook her head.

"No need. I think it's fine living in the shop, and it's very convenient—no commute on foot."

Jiang Hao immediately added, "I can drive you to and from work."

"Forget it. I wouldn't dare trouble you." Su Qingli refused with firm determination.

Jiang Hao felt helpless and bitter. Her rejection was undoubtedly a blow to him.

"Then... alright. I won't force you. But if you ever change your mind, just come to my place. You're welcome to stay with me anytime." Jiang Hao said earnestly.

Su Qingli neither agreed nor refused. She said nothing, keeping her head down as she chopped vegetables.

Jiang Hao let out a sigh and continued helping her.

Just then, a series of banging sounds suddenly came from outside.

Jiang Hao glanced through the window at the dining area, then said, "Looks like some customers have arrived."

"I've already closed the door. Why would there be customers?" Su Qingli dried her hands and walked outside.

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The entrance of Qingli Health Diet Restaurant had two layers of doors—the outermost was a steel roll-up shutter, and behind it was a glass door once the shutter was raised.

Su Qingli had already closed the glass door at noon. Although she hadn't pulled down the roll-up shutter, she had hung up the "Closed" sign. By all rights, no customer should have come knocking.

Now, Su Qingli walked to the front dining area to see who had arrived.

Only a few seconds passed before she hurried back to the back kitchen and said to Jiang Hao, "My parents have come to see me. You stay in the back kitchen and don't come out."

"Only your parents?" Jiang Hao asked, noticing that Su Qingli's expression was unusually grim.

"And Pan Yixuan." Su Qingli hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Then how can I possibly stay in here?" Jiang Hao set the knife he was holding on the rack and prepared to head to the front, but Su Qingli immediately pulled him back.

"Will you just listen to me? If you won't, then leave right now!" Su Qingli said irritably.

What else could Jiang Hao do?

He could only nod and agree to Su Qingli's request.

Still not reassured, Su Qingli made a point of closing the back kitchen door before going to the front to open the door for her parents and Pan Yixuan.

The moment the glass door opened, Zhang Liping, Su Bingming, and Pan Yixuan barged straight in.

"Daughter, so this is the shop you opened? The decoration is way too plain!" Zhang Liping started wandering around the moment she entered, eyeing the decor of the front area before clicking her tongue in criticism.

Su Qingli brushed her hair from her forehead and said indifferently, "I didn't have enough funds, so I kept the decoration simple."

No sooner had Su Qingli finished speaking than Pan Yixuan sidled over with a fawning smile.

"Qingli, if you're short on money, just ask me! It's not like I wouldn't give it to you!"

"Forget it. Young Master Pan's money, I wouldn't dare accept, let alone spend." Su Qingli cast him a sidelong glance.

At her words, Pan Yixuan's expression immediately soured.