61. Dare Not Appear

Tang Yiyi and Xiaoxiao wandered around, sampling snacks and treats until they were full. When they saw it was about time, they slowly made their way toward Magnolia Alley. Upon arriving at Qin’s Noodle Shop, they were genuinely surprised. Business was usually decent, but never to the point of queues out the door. Yet today, crowds had seemingly materialized from thin air.

Ertong was at the entrance handing out number cards, even moving the benches from the clinic next door for people to sit while they waited. Inside, most customers craned their necks to peer into the kitchen.

Unable to hide her curiosity, Tang Yiyi joined them in peeking. Uncle Chen was busy preparing noodles, Xiao Xie was deftly serving dishes, and after each round, she would loudly call for Ertong to collect payment. In the midst of the bustling chaos, Qin Baike was nowhere to be seen.

“It looks like we won’t be able to eat today,” Xiaoxiao said. “I’ll come back another time.”

Seeing the situation, Tang Yiyi could only nod. “Next time, I’ll treat you.”

After Xiaoxiao left, Tang Yiyi walked into the kitchen. Xiao Xie, beads of sweat on her forehead, greeted her, “Yiyi, all these people came after seeing the video—they want to see the boss in person.”

“What?”

“They’re hoping to snap photos of him.”

“…”

“Yiyi, could you help me deliver this bowl of noodles to table three, to that woman in white?”

Tang Yiyi picked up the tray and headed out. Meanwhile, Xiao Xie delivered two bowls to table one, quickly tabulating bills for those ready to pay. Ertong collected the money, then ushered in the next customer, loudly calling their order into the kitchen.

With Tang Yiyi joining in, there was hardly a moment to rest. One group left, another arrived. Without Qin Baike at the helm, and with only Ertong and Tang Yiyi—both relative amateurs—they still managed to handle the business.

Normally, they would sell noodles until three in the morning, but tonight, everything sold out by ten. Uncle Chen declared, “Let’s close up.”

Ertong courteously apologized to their regulars, posted a notice about the early closing on the door, and invited everyone to come early tomorrow.

Exhausted, the group gathered upstairs around Qin Baike. “Baige,” Ertong began, but a glare from Qin Baike silenced him.

“Let’s take a few days off,” Qin Baike said. “Treat it like the New Year—let’s have a holiday.”

But Uncle Chen, Xiao Xie, and Ertong all shook their heads. “With business this good, why close?” Ertong argued. “We should double our noodle stock tomorrow and stay open until the usual hours.”

Uncle Chen and Xiao Xie nodded in agreement.

“They’re here for me,” Qin Baike said calmly. “I don’t want to be photographed.”

“Why not just wear a mask?” Tang Yiyi recalled how Xiaoxiao once had her band wear masks.

“I don’t want them to see me at all. Otherwise, it’ll never end—it’s too much.”

“Normally, the flow is steady and three people can manage. But with so many at once, we can’t even keep up with washing dishes, and Ertong’s still not proficient,” Uncle Chen pointed out.

Just then, a knock came from downstairs. Ertong went to the window and called out, “We’re closed, come back tomorrow!”

“It’s me, Exhibition Bro,” Liu Xin’s voice replied. Xiao Xie jumped up and dashed downstairs to open the door.

Liu Xin came up and said to Qin Baike, “Bro, seeing the heated arguments under your video, I figured people would come looking for you.”

Qin Baike smiled wryly and shook his head. Ertong said sourly, “So you came to gawk too?”

“No, I came to see if I could help,” Liu Xin said, finding a seat.

“You can! Work a few shifts and you’ll be a big help,” Ertong said.

“Alright, I’ll work a few days.”

Everyone stared at him in surprise. Ertong said, “I’m serious, don’t think I’m joking.”

“I’m not joking either. My day job is in the daytime, I’m not on the night shift yet—I can work here till midnight, like back when we were students.”

“See?” Ertong clapped him on the back excitedly. “That’s what I call a timely rain. Baige, with your popularity, the business will definitely multiply in the next few days.”

“I’d like to say something,” Tang Yiyi raised her hand. “Baige, curiosity only grows when you hide. The more you avoid them, the more they’ll want to see what you look like. Why not just let them see you openly and satisfy their curiosity?”

Qin Baike thought for a moment in silence. “But I really don’t want them pointing their phones at me. Their stares make me uncomfortable.”

“How about this,” Ertong suggested, “I’ll take a photo of you, but hide all your handsomeness—make you look like just an ordinary single guy. We’ll put the photo up at the entrance, life-sized, with a sign: ‘Welcome.’ If anyone asks, we’ll say you—the boss—are away traveling. That way, their curiosity is satisfied and you don’t have to face them. After a few days, the fuss will die down.”

“Looking like a loser? With a ‘Welcome’ sign?” Qin Baike glanced at Ertong with a half-amused, half-annoyed smile.

“But the boss is so handsome—why make him look ugly?” Xiao Xie pouted.

Ertong hurriedly said, “Baige, you decide the style. Here are the options: down-to-earth, rich and handsome, Korean style, aloof, business elite, homey and warm, muscular, rugged uncle, sporty type—take your pick! Or suggest something else.”

Everyone fell silent. None of these really fit Qin Baike; every option felt like he’d be putting on an act.

Tang Yiyi, looking at him, recalled his appearance atop the bamboo sea mountain. After a moment, she said, “Ertong, didn’t you just say the boss is traveling? Why not take a photo of Baige out hiking? His image is somewhere between homey and sporty—healthy, positive, and very handsome.”

Liu Xin and Uncle Chen both agreed. Ertong turned to Qin Baike, “Bro, it’s your decision.”

Qin Baike nodded. “Alright, hiking it is.”

“Let’s shoot it now—on the rooftop, with the studio lights ready. I promise, it’ll look like you’re climbing the Alps,” Ertong said.

“Are you going to Photoshop it?” Liu Xin asked.

“Of course! Name the mountain and I’ll put you on it,” Ertong boasted.

“No,” Qin Baike said. “I can’t act. If we’re doing hiking, I’ll actually hike. Let’s turn in early tonight—tomorrow morning, we’ll go to Cuiwei Mountain, be back in an hour and a half. Done. If crowds still show up tomorrow night, I’ll wash the bowls upstairs. I just won’t appear in the shop for the next few days. That’s settled—everyone get some rest.”

Qin Baike saw Uncle Chen, Liu Xin, and Tang Yiyi downstairs. After watching Uncle Chen and Liu Xin leave, he turned to Tang Yiyi. “Thanks for your help tonight—I hope I didn’t interrupt your studies.”

Tang Yiyi smiled. “Studying is a lifelong thing—what’s a day or two?”

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

Tang Yiyi patted her stomach. “I almost forgot—I haven’t even had dinner yet. I was so busy, I didn’t notice. I’m starving.”

Qin Baike chuckled. “Come in.”

“But aren’t we out of noodles?” For a moment, Tang Yiyi thought she saw a trace of fondness in his eyes.

“There will be some,” he replied.

Tang Yiyi followed him into the kitchen. He lit a small stove, set a pot of water to boil, took out half a bag of flour from the pantry, poured some into a bowl, and started kneading the dough. With just a few movements, a round dough formed in his hands.

Sitting beside the countertop, Tang Yiyi rested her head on her hand, watching his skilled movements. Every gesture was focused, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, as if the dough in his hands were a beloved little pet—soft and endearing. When the dough was ready, his hands were spotlessly clean.

He sprinkled flour over the board, flattened the dough into a thin sheet, then cut it into finger-width strips. When the water boiled, he stretched the noodles and dropped them into the pot one by one.

“Baige, you really love being a noodle shop owner, don’t you?”

“What makes you say that?”

“I’ve never seen you stressed in the shop. You always seem to enjoy it.”

“Enjoy?” Qin Baike glanced at her.

“Yes. Even now, with all this sudden fame and the crowds it’s brought, you say you’re annoyed, but you don’t seem upset.”

Qin Baike smiled. For the first time, someone had noticed how much he enjoyed the simple life of a noodle shop owner.

Since taking over Qin’s Noodle Shop, friends, classmates, and childhood buddies had all tried to rope him into various ventures, but he’d refused every time, choosing instead to follow his heart—turning fresh ingredients into delicious food, doing what made him happiest.

He liked working out and held himself to strict standards—not just for himself, but for the friend who had saved his life, on whose behalf he now lived.

Fifth Uncle had tried to lure him into business, offering him shares, but compared to watching men and women sweat and groan through painful workouts, he preferred serving noodles to chubby customers and watching their eyes light up with joy.

He truly did enjoy being a noodle shop owner.

He scooped out the noodles, and with the few seasonings left, made a simple bowl of hand-pulled noodles. As Tang Yiyi saw the noodles brought over, her mouth watered uncontrollably.

With the remaining noodles, Qin Baike made himself a bowl. The two of them quietly ate at the counter. Tang Yiyi was too busy eating to speak, and Qin Baike was always a man of few words. In this peaceful silence, Qin Baike suddenly thought of a poetic phrase: “the years pass quietly and gently.”

Tang Yiyi finished every bite, not even leaving a trace of seasoning at the bottom of the bowl. She set down her chopsticks and sighed contentedly. “Baige, will you make noodles for me again in the future?”

“If you want to eat, I’ll make them for you.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

Looking at Qin Baike’s smiling face, Tang Yiyi wanted so badly to hug him and kiss him.

She sighed inwardly, stood up to say goodbye, and Qin Baike reminded her not to study too late and to get some sleep. She agreed and left.