At the top floor of the O'Rei Grand Hotel, inside the CEO's office, Land at the tea bar, Lu Xiyao sat quietly on a high stool, watching an animated movie on her tablet. Secretary Song Xuanxuan was accompanying her.
Shen Mu Yan was not there. Recently, the hotel's room service had been lax, so Shen Mu Yan had gone to hold a meeting with the staff. Lu Xiyao had gotten used to her mother's busy schedule, and she found weekends spent with her mother rather boring. If she wasn't waiting to see her grandparents, she wouldn't have come.
Once her grandparents arrived, Lu Xiyao planned to go to the amusement park. Although she really wanted her father to take her, he was busy working and didn't have much time. She didn't want to tire Lu Qin out, plus going to the amusement park cost money, and her grandparents were really rich.
After watching Frozen for about ten minutes, Shen Mu Yan hurriedly entered the office, followed by four middle-aged men who seemed to be department heads. Shen Mu Yan, looking rushed, walked straight to Lu Xiyao, patted her head, and apologetically said, "Yaoyao, mommy still has some work to do, I'll come and spend time with you later. Be a good girl and stay here watching cartoons. If you need anything, just ask Sister Song."
"Got it." Lu Xiyao nodded mechanically.
"Sister Song, please stay with Yaoyao." Shen Mu Yan said, then immediately turned and walked toward the desk, the department heads following closely behind her.
Lu Xiyao rested her small hand on her cheek and turned to Song Xuanxuan. "Hey, I'm already used to it."
Song Xuanxuan pinched Lu Xiyao's soft little face, helplessly saying, "I'm used to it too."
The two exchanged a light laugh.
"Yaoyao, don't just watch cartoons. There's a lot of food over here. Let's eat and watch together."
On the bar counter, there were various pastries, snacks, and fruits: macarons, cake cups, chocolates, preserved plums, and various fruits.
Song Xuanxuan grabbed a green macaron and offered it to the little girl. "This was made by the hotel's pastry chef. It tastes really good, try it."
"Sister Song, I'm not eating it." The little girl shook her head.
She had eaten these kinds of things before and liked them, but now she wasn't as interested. Perhaps it was because her father, Lu Qin, had spoiled her taste.
Song Xuanxuan, a true food lover, couldn't help but take a bite of the macaron when the little girl refused.
"It's really delicious! Yaoyao, aren't you going to try it?"
"No interest," Lu Xiyao replied, still shaking her head.
"Huh? Not interested in the strawberry cake cup either?" Song Xuanxuan was puzzled. These beautiful Western-style pastries usually had a strong appeal to children.
"The younger generation is so picky these days," Song Xuanxuan muttered, picking up a small spoon to take a bite of the strawberry cake. "Yaoyao, you're not eating, but Sister Song is going to eat. Look, it's so good."
She ate with exaggerated enjoyment.
The pastry was indeed delicious. The hotel's pastry chef, who was hired by Italy, had superb skills.
Lu Xiyao glanced at Song Xuanxuan, sighed, and said, "Sister, you don't understand."
"What?" Song Xuanxuan froze. What didn't she understand?
She had never tasted Lu Qin's cooking, so she couldn't blame herself.
It was then that Lu Xiyao remembered she had brought a few boxes of "white sugar cakes" with her before leaving.
She immediately became excited. "Sister, where are the things I brought?"
"Oh, you mean the white sugar cakes? They're in my drawer." Song Xuanxuan had just scooped the last of the strawberry out of her cake cup and shoved it into her mouth.
"Could you get them for me?" Lu Xiyao asked eagerly.
"Yaoyao, those probably don't taste very good. There's so much food here, we can just eat these," Song Xuanxuan suggested, her voice soft. The "white sugar cakes" were wrapped in white plastic bags and looked like street snacks. It was no surprise they probably weren't very good.
These cakes were brought by Lu Xiyao for her grandparents. They weren't high-end treats.
Song Xuanxuan thought to herself, Lu Qin, being a single man now, must be going through a tough time. He probably couldn't afford expensive gifts, so he just had Lu Xiyao bring whatever she could get.
Sighing, she thought that when the chairman and his wife arrived, it might be better to not take the cakes out.
"Please, Sister, you don't understand! Just get them for me, please!" Lu Xiyao insisted.
Song Xuanxuan rolled her eyes. The little girl was acting all grown up. Was there anything she didn't understand? But despite her thoughts, she went ahead and fetched the boxes.
Lu Xiyao eagerly took the boxes and placed them on the table. "One's mine, I'll eat it first."
She was clever enough to make sure her grandfather wouldn't try to take it, thinking one box wouldn't be enough for him.
She opened the box, and when she saw the delicate square cakes inside—translucent and white—she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Wow~! So beautiful!" Lu Xiyao said in awe.
Song Xuanxuan, still eating her strawberry cake, turned her head when she heard the exclamation. Inside the simple plastic box were some beautifully crafted, translucent cakes.
This... wasn't white sugar cake. It actually looked pretty good.
"Yaoyao, what is this?" Song Xuanxuan leaned closer, curious.
As she did, a rich fragrance wafted through the air. The aroma was delightful.
"Daddy said this is called Ice Crystal Cake," Lu Xiyao answered.
"Ice Crystal Cake? Never heard of it. Is it tasty?"
"Of course it is! Everything my dad makes is super delicious!"
It wasn't bought from the street?
Song Xuanxuan was now surprised. She had assumed it was some cheap street food, but it seemed she was mistaken. Lu Qin had made it himself?
Her stomach growled at the thought. The cake looked so delicious. But she had already said it was bad earlier, so she felt embarrassed to ask for a bite.
It wasn't hers to begin with, and it was a treat for a child. Could she really just ask for a taste?
Lu Xiyao picked up a piece and eagerly bit into it. The texture was soft and chewy, with the smoothness of jelly and the delicate texture of a sugar cake. It had an unbeatable taste that children especially loved.
She chewed quietly, savoring every bite. Her big, round eyes narrowed into crescent moons as she enjoyed the delicious treat.
"So good!" Lu Xiyao sighed, after finishing the first piece. She licked her fingers, still savoring the sweetness.
Song Xuanxuan couldn't help but purse her lips. Was it really that good?
Children never lie.
She really wanted to try it, but how could she ask?
Lu Xiyao quickly grabbed another piece and stuffed it into her mouth, enjoying it noisily. Song Xuanxuan couldn't hold back any longer.
"Umm… Yaoyao, could I try a bite?"
"Didn't you just say that these weren't as good as the cakes?" Lu Xiyao remembered the earlier comment. She wasn't about to give her any.
Song Xuanxuan immediately laughed and apologized. "I'm sorry, Yaoyao, I didn't recognize it earlier. I'm sure your dad's Ice Crystal Cake is amazing!"
"I'm so hungry just looking at it!"
After hearing Song Xuanxuan's pleading and praise, Lu Xiyao finally relented.
"Alright, but you can only have half a piece. Just a little taste!"
"Half a piece is fine, hehe, thank you, Yaoyao!"
Lu Xiyao took a fork and cut half a piece for Song Xuanxuan.
Song Xuanxuan immediately popped it into her mouth.
It was soft, sweet but not overwhelming, with a rich fragrance of rice and osmanthus. Some flavors were indescribable.
Song Xuanxuan finally understood why Lu Xiyao said she didn't understand. Because she really didn't.
How could something be so delicious?
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]