Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Nyoi-Bo Studio

  Han Xiao was startled.

  The name on the signboard brought back a lot of memories.

  That was because the Little Munchkin liked this restaurant’s wonton noodles.

  Back then, he would frequent the small shop with Little Munchkin because she enjoyed eating the food served by the establishment.

  He could still remember the taste of the wonton noodles he shared with her eight years ago.

  –


  Inside Aunty’s Wonton Noodle Restaurant…


  Fu Tingyu led Qin Shu to a vacant seat.

  A waitress attended to them as soon as they were comfortably seated. The waitress had met all sorts of people in her line of work, with tourists being the store’s primary customers. Yet, none of those she had served before could hold a candle to the man and woman’s good looks. It caused a momentary lapse in her composure.

  Qin Shu nodded at the waitress by way of a greeting. The waitress was a young girl around sixteen named Xiao Jiu, as reflected by the name tag pinned to her uniform. She was quite pretty, and the faintly discernable dimples that showed when she smiled lent her an endearing look.

  She wore a white apron stained with oil around her waist.

  It did not take a genius to know she worked for the noodle store.

  When Qin Shu realised that the young girl was staring transfixed by the sight of Fu Tingyu, she covered her mouth with her hand and coughed twice. “Ahem, hmm!”


  Fu Tingyu was pouring out some hot water from a thermos when he heard his wife coughing. Nervously, he asked, “Are you okay? Does your throat itch?”


  Qin Shu shook her head with her dainty hand still covering her mouth. She sent a surreptitious glance in the direction of the waitress, hoping to have broken her trance-like state.

  Fu Tingyu missed the inconspicuous byplay and handed his wife the cup of hot water he had poured. “Drink some water. It’ll moisten your throat.”


  Qin Shu accepted the glass of hot water preferred and took a sip. Peering at Fu Tingyu through her lidded eyes, Qin Shu traced the sculpted lines and polished looks of the man seated opposite her. His long eyebrows were drawn, framing his eyes and nose bridge in a picture of concern. Paired with his chiselled jaw, Fu Tingyu was perfectly proportioned.

  He was only wearing a white button-down shirt with a crystal brooch pinned to his shirt’s collar, yet it was more than enough. No one who saw him would think him underdressed in the least, looking every bit the noble that he was.

  As someone who had been in business for a long time, Fu Tingyu’s gaze was steady and reserved, shining with wisdom that did not match his age.

  He oozed a masculine charm that woman, let alone a young girl, failed to resist.

  Qin Shu realised that Jun Li was right about one thing – he was too good at attracting women.

  Only after Qin Shu’s prompt did the waitress react. She turned to Fu Tingyu shyly and asked with a cherry-red face, “Excuse me, would you like to eat wonton noodles or just wonton?”


  “Two bowls of wonton noodles, please.” Fu Tingyu did not bother looking up as he placed his order. He did not have anyone but his wife in his eyes, relieved that she was no longer coughing.

  The waitress was stunned. “O-okay. Please hold on. Your two bowls of wonton noodles will be ready soon.”


  She hurried away with the order, stopping by the kitchen window and hollered, “Two bowls of wonton noodles.”


  Fu Tingyu stared dreamily at his wife as she sipped from the glass of hot water. “Don’t drink too much, or else you won’t have room to eat the noodles when it arrives.”


  Qin Shu pouted in response, putting down the glass of water. Meeting his steady gaze, she asked, “Do you know the waitress?”


  Fu Tingyu answered quickly, “No,” before countering with a question of his own, “Did you remember something?”


  Qin Shu shook her head. “No, I was just curious. You seem quite familiar with this shop, and I could not help but wonder. Do you know the owner?”


  “No.”


  “Oh…”


  Fu Tingyu laughed. “I may not know the boss, but I recall you used to be pretty close with the boss.”


  “Me?” Qin Shu’s quirked brow betrayed her scepticism.

  “Yes.”


  Not long after, the waitress returned with two bowls of wonton noodles. She placed a bowl in front of Fu Tingyu and the other in front of Qin Shu.

  Casually, he asked the waitress, “Have you had a change of boss?”


  The waitress did not expect to be addressed so suddenly after the cold shoulder he gave her earlier. For an odd reason she could not place, the waitress felt her face flush crimson. ” The boss hasn’t changed. My family has been running this noodle shop for more than ten years. My parents are in the kitchen; I usually help around the store on weekends or after I finish my homework.”


  Fu Tingyu flashed the young girl a winning smile. “I wonder if the Lady Boss still remembers you…”


  The young waitress felt her heart flutter in excitement. His words, his smile, his very demeanour, everything about Fu Tingyu ensorceled her maiden heart. She could have sworn that those black chips of obsidian had sucked in her soul.

  The young waitress swayed on her feet.

  Qin Shu glared daggers at Fu Tingyu. The way he smiled at the young girl grated on her nerves. Tightening her grip on her chopsticks, she growled, “Eat your noodles. Stop smiling like a loon!”


  She attacked her noodles with furious gusto like a woman with a vendetta.

  Fu Tingyu did not know why his wife was suddenly glaring at him. He turned around and said to the waitress, “Please ask the Lady Boss to come over for a while.”


  The young waitress did not know why the customer wanted to see his mother, but she complied, her heart beating like a drum threatening to burst out of her chest. “Okay, I’ll call my mother over.”


  The waitress rushed away with a bashful look.

  Qin Shu watched the waitress leave and continued eating her wonton noodles.

  In her memory, this was the first time she had eaten wonton noodles.

  It was more delicious than she had imagined.

  Fu Tingyu clenched his chopsticks and took a bite of the wonton noodles. The taste was almost as he recalled it to be. Qin Shu had not stopped eating her wonton noodles. Even if she could not remember her past, her liking of wanton noodles had remained unchanged.

  The bowl of wonton noodles, left at Qin Shu’s mercy, was cleaned spotless. She had not even spared the soup. “This family’s wonton noodles are delicious. If there’s a chance in the future, I’d like to eat it again.”


  Fu Tingyu smiled indulgently, feeling a sense of nostalgia wash over him. Just like before, Qin Shu finished her bowl of wonton noodles without leaving any waste behind.

  Beaming happily, he said, “If it’s not enough, shall I order another bowl?”


  Qin Shu quickly shook her head. “No, no. I won’t be able to finish another bowl. I don’t want to throw away such good food.”


  Fu Tiingyu’s smile became more pronounced. “Then… would you like to finish what’s left in my bowl?”


  As he spoke, he deliberately slid his bowl in front of Qin Shu.

  He had barely touched his bowl of wonton noodles, having eaten only two mouthfuls.

  Qin Shu licked her lips, struggling to resist the tempting offer. “B-but… if I eat it, won’t you be hungry?”


  “That’s alright. There are still plenty of other things I can eat.” Fu Tingyu exchanged his bowl with Qin Shu’s, keeping a small portion for himself.

  “Eat.” He gestured at the bowl with a knowing look. He never failed to enjoy the look QIn Shu wore whenever she got into one of her gluttonous moods.

  “If you insist… It would be rude not to eat it.” Qin Shu eyed the steaming bowl of wonton noodles hungrily. Clenching her chopsticks in between her fingers, she wolfed down the delectable bowl of noodles, a look of satisfaction colouring her expression.

  Fu Tingyu stared at Qin Shu for a long time before eating the wonton noodles left in his bowl. It was not the same.

  Qin Shu savoured her bowl of noodles. When she finished eating, she wiped her mouth on a paper napkin.

  At this moment, the waitress returned with the Lady Boss. “Sir, this is my mother. She is the Lady Boss of our little noodle shop.”


  The Lady Boss was in her forties. Leading a hard life from a young age, the Lady Boss looked much older than she was. Some might have mistaken her for a woman in her early fifties, instead.

  “Sir, how may I help you? I heard you were looking for me.” When her daughter pulled her over, the Lady Boss was busy in the kitchen, so she thought something serious had occurred, leaving her anxious.

  One look was enough for Fu Tingyu to recognise the Lady Boss who chatted happily with Qin Shu all those years ago. Quietly, he asked, “Lady Boss, do you remember her?”


  The Lady Boss followed Fu Tingyu’s line of sight and sized up his companion.

  While the Lady Boss scrutinised Qin Shu, she did the same as the other……