Why didn't you tell me earlier that my little sister is still waiting for me?

Chen Nanxing thought about it and agreed, nodding, "Alright, then you prepare well." Then she turned to Xu Hongdou, "Hongdou, shall we take Damai out for another stroll? Damai hasn't been out much since he arrived!"

Upon hearing this, before Xu Hongdou could even speak, Lin Bufan immediately interjected, "Hongdou isn't going!"

He spoke so quickly and urgently that Chen Nanxing and Da Mai were both stunned for a moment, looking at him with suspicion.

Lin Bufan remained calm and quickly explained, "What I mean is... I really don't have much experience writing speeches. Hongdou used to work at a big hotel, and she's seen a lot of speeches and client communications. She's more familiar with the process and wording than I am. So we agreed beforehand that she would stay and help me with my ideas and give me feedback, so I wouldn't make a fool of myself tonight."

Chen Nanxing and Da Mai both turned their gazes toward Xu Hongdou, asking questions.

Xu Hongdou knew perfectly well that Lin Bufan was still thinking about what had just happened, so she glared at him in annoyance.

"Who made an appointment with you?" Xu Hongdou's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness: "You can figure it out yourself. Nanxing, Damai, let's go shopping. If some people want to be alone, let them be alone."

The three women left the courtyard chatting and laughing, and even Sang Biao was taken away by Chen Nanxing. The once lively courtyard instantly fell silent, leaving only Lin Bufan alone.

He stared at the two wooden sculptures covered with red cloth in the corner, then looked at the empty courtyard and sighed deeply.

But staying alone is impossible, for the rest of my life... this life is a long time, so it's definitely not going to happen this afternoon!

With nothing else to do, Lin Bufan decided to go find Nana. He had just strolled to the vicinity of the small restaurant when he saw a sizable awning erected outside. Several tables were set up under the awning, almost all of them occupied. Inside the restaurant, it was bustling with activity.

As you get closer, you can see Nana moving nimbly between several tables, carrying plates, her movements quick and efficient, fine beads of sweat already forming on her forehead. She still wears that comforting smile, but a hint of exhaustion and haste is visible in her expression.

Lin Bufan approached the sunshade and, as Nana passed by, raised his hand in greeting: "Nana, business is good!"

Nana looked over at the sound of the voice, and when she saw it was Lin Bufan, her eyes lit up as if she had seen a savior. She put the empty tray on the table next to her, walked over quickly, and said in a low voice with a hint of urgency, "President Lin! You've come at the perfect time!"

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Lin Bufan had a bad feeling when he saw her posture.

Nana clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture, a fawning smile spreading across her face. Her voice softened, carrying a hint of coaxing and pleading: "President Lin, could you please lend a hand? Look how busy the restaurant is right now, we're just short-staffed. Sister Xiaochun is overseeing the catering preparations for tonight's tasting event... I'm so busy I could barely keep my head up. Could you... perhaps temporarily fill in and help serve the dishes and greet the customers?"

Lin Bufan's eyes widened instantly. He pointed his finger incredulously at his nose, his voice rising an octave: "Me? Nana, do you know what you're saying? You're asking a man with a net worth... well, many, many billion, destined to become the world's richest man, to work as a waiter in your little restaurant?"

Lin Bufan seemed to find the suggestion utterly absurd and continued to emphasize in an exaggerated tone: "Do you know how much money I can earn in a minute... no, maybe even a second? Believe me, in the time it takes me to take a nap, I can earn enough to buy your little restaurant, including the premises, tables, chairs, and benches?"

Nana was amused by Lin Bufan's appearance, but her hands didn't stop. While deftly clearing away the dishes left by the other customers, she coaxed him without looking up, "I know, I know, our CEO Lin is the best, young and promising, incredibly wealthy, okay?" After stacking the dishes, she straightened up, wiped her hands, and looked at Lin Bufan: "But the problem is, the restaurant is so busy right now, and a large part of the credit should go to you. Shouldn't you take some responsibility?"

Lin Bufan raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What do you mean by that?"

"Isn't it all your fault for making Yunmiao Village so popular?" Nana counted on her fingers: "The wood carvings caused a sensation, reporters, tourists, artists, just curious onlookers... they all flocked here. And when these people come, they need to eat and drink, right? So they all crowded into the little restaurant! Tell me, isn't this all your doing?" As she spoke, Nana leaned closer, her voice softening: "So, Mr. Lin, just consider it... um, taking some responsibility for the little trouble you caused, please help me out, just for a little while, once things calm down. Please~"

Lin Bufan crossed his arms and didn't immediately agree: "Since they're so busy, don't Xie Zhiyao and Xie Xiaochun know how to hire people? Are they just going to treat you like a donkey?"

"They're already confessing, but... you're the one who's a donkey! Can't you speak properly!"

After lightly tapping Lin Bufan's arm, Nana continued to explain, "Recruiting people isn't so easy. There's always an interview and training process, right? How can you recruit people all at once? Plus, your event caused a stir, which not only increased customer traffic but also got rid of Sister Xiaochun, so we've been too busy all of a sudden."

Just then, another customer called out, "Waiter, I'd like to order!"

"Coming, coming!" Nana called out, then turned to look at Lin Bufan expectantly, clasped her hands together and bowed: "Please help me, Mr. Lin, Mr. Lin the Great Philanthropist, just think of it as experiencing life. Don't all you rich people like to do this?"

Seeing Nana's pleading expression with her hands clasped together, Lin Bufan crossed his arms and deliberately drawled, "Experiencing life? Nana, even if I really wanted to experience life, I would never choose to experience this kind of waitressing life. I've had enough of this kind of life in my past life. But you..."

Lin Bufan's gaze swept over Nana's face, which was pleading yet still undeniably pretty, and he smiled knowingly: "Only a tycoon like you would occasionally enjoy experiencing this kind of ordinary, busy life, right?"

Nana was clearly stunned for a moment. Just as her lips parted slightly, about to say something, Lin Bufan suddenly snatched the menu from her hand: "Alright, I'll help you this once, since you're so pitiful."

In the time that followed, a peculiar scene unfolded at the Windy Restaurant in Yunmiao Village. Lin Bufan, a wealthy man with achievements in multiple fields, dressed in incongruous casual wear, moved with surprising speed and ease throughout the restaurant, though his movements weren't particularly skillful.

At first, the guests didn't pay much attention, but just three minutes later, he was recognized by the guests in the restaurant.

Just as Lin Bufan served drinks to the customers, a young woman at the next table who was scrolling through her phone suddenly looked up, stared at him intently for a few moments, then her eyes widened, and she gasped, covering her mouth in shock: "My God...you, you're Lin Bufan?!"

The sound wasn't loud; someone a little further away might not even hear it. But her male companion, who had come with her, heard it clearly and immediately became alert.

"Lin Bufan? Which Lin Bufan?"

The young woman noticed the change in her boyfriend's tone and immediately retorted irritably, "Are you stupid? Don't you know what we're here for?"

The girl's male companion also came to his senses, and his eyes widened involuntarily as he looked at Lin Bufan: "You...you're President Lin?!"

The man's exclamation caused the entire restaurant to erupt in cheers!

"Where is he? Where is he? Where is General Manager Lin? Quickly, pull him out so I can see him!"

"Holy crap, it really is President Lin. But why is President Lin working as a waiter?"

"I told you, internet celebrities like them who rise to fame through hype can only be popular for a short time. How long has it been? Haven't they already reverted to their original state?"

"Dude, shut up! What you said is awful! They have a wood carving exhibition tonight, what are they talking about? They're obviously just putting on a show, okay?"

"Brother, what you said isn't much better than what he said. If you ask me, given Mr. Lin's personality, he would never put on a show. He's working as a waiter here for a reason. As for what that reason is... As everyone knows, Mr. Lin has two great hobbies: beautiful women and showing off. Showing off is definitely not feasible here, so what is Mr. Lin's purpose... It's hard to guess!"

……

The crowd began to stir; some people had already raised their phones, and others had left their seats to get a closer look. The previously orderly restaurant suddenly descended into chaos, affecting other customers waiting to order or receive their food.

Seeing this, Nana's face flashed with anxiety, and she subconsciously looked at Lin Bufan. Lin Bufan, however, appeared very calm. He quickly placed the tray in his hand on an empty table to the side, then turned around, facing the curious crowd that was beginning to gather, and slightly raised his hands, making a gentle but clear downward gesture.

"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me."

Lin Bufan's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. His voice seemed to carry a kind of soothing magic... not just seemingly, but truly. With the help of his emotional manipulation skills, the somewhat restless crowd involuntarily quieted down, and all eyes were focused on him.

Lin Bufan smiled calmly and said in a composed tone, "First of all, thank you all for getting to know me. I'm also quite sorry to have disturbed your meal. This is Youfeng Restaurant, a place for everyone to relax and enjoy delicious food. Let's not let my presence affect the owner's business or the other customers' dining experience, right?"

"If anyone's curious about me, or wants to chat about wood carvings or the evening's activities, we can meet at the exhibition tonight; there'll be plenty of time. But for now, let's observe public order and let this little museum operate normally, okay?"

Lin Bufan's words were sincere, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant, and coupled with his subtle, calming influence, most of the guests nodded understandingly and retreated to their seats, some feeling embarrassed. A few young people seized the opportunity to raise their phones: "Mr. Lin, can we take a picture together? It'll only take a minute!"

Lin Bufan readily nodded: "Okay, taking photos is no problem, but let's hurry up and not block the aisle." He cooperated by standing to the side and quickly and efficiently took photos with several guests who made requests, with perfect smiles and neat movements.

Just as order was gradually returning to the restaurant and Lin Bufan thought the storm had subsided and was preparing to continue helping, a new disturbance arose near the bar.

A man in his early twenties, wearing glasses and looking like a seasoned internet user, didn't look at Lin Bufan after Lin Bufan was recognized. Instead, he kept his gaze thoughtfully following Nana. The more he looked, the more his brows furrowed, as if he was trying to recall something.

As Nana hurried past his table again, delivering her order and preparing to return to the bar, the man finally couldn't resist and tentatively called out to her, "Um... waitress, please wait a moment."

Nana stopped and turned to him with a polite smile: "Hello, what do you need?"

The man pushed up his glasses, carefully examining Nana's face, especially her eyes and the curve of her mouth. His tone was uncertain, yet also tinged with a sudden excitement: "Excuse me... are you... Nana-chan who loves to sing?"

The words "Nana-chan who loves to sing" struck Nana like a thunderbolt, catching her completely off guard. The smile on her face froze instantly, the color draining from her face at a visible speed, leaving her pale. A clear look of panic and resistance flashed in her eyes, and almost instinctively, she shook her head violently, her voice much more urgent and stiff than usual: "No, no! You've mistaken me for someone else! I'm just a waitress here!"

After saying that, she didn't dare to look at the man's expression anymore. She turned around hurriedly and almost ran back to the relatively enclosed and safe bar. With her back to the hall, her shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly, and her hands were on the counter, her fingertips turning white.

The man was taken aback by Nana's overreaction, but instead of giving up, Nana's denial and outburst only strengthened his suspicions. He stood up and followed her to the bar, his tone inquisitive and subtly persistent: "Wait a minute, you really do look like her! Especially your voice and profile... Nana-chan, I used to watch your livestreams all the time, why did you suddenly disappear? Was it because of those rumors? Don't worry about it, we've always believed in you..."

Before he could finish speaking, a figure had already blocked his way between him and the bar.

It is Lin Bufan.

Lin Bufan still had a smile on his face, but his eyes no longer had the gentleness they had shown when facing the crowd. They had become calm and slightly distant. His figure was not particularly burly, but he had perfectly shielded Nana behind him, blocking the man's probing gaze.

“Sir,” Lin Bufan began, his voice low but carrying an undeniable authority, “you just heard it yourself, Nana said she isn’t. I think we should respect her statement, right?”