Shinji was jostled and swayed, staring at the face before him—familiar, yet somehow strange. Memories surged back—Phainon, his college roommate, a guy from the countryside.
He had been admitted to a top university and pursued postgraduate studies through sheer perseverance and talent. He was truly an academic powerhouse and a hands-on doer. His personality was cheerful and warm; he had been the "ray of sunshine" in their dorm.
Upon graduation, Shinji had heard that he had been snapped up by a multinational corporation with excellent benefits. He never expected…
"Phainon?" Shinji asked, somewhat surprised. "Is that really you? How… are you here? And why are you wearing a chef's uniform?" He remembered Phainon's major had nothing to do with catering.
Phainon let out a hearty laugh and pulled up a chair to sit at the table. "Didn't expect that, huh? I had several offers when I graduated, but later… by a twist of fate, I met Aglaea. She needed people here, and I thought it sounded interesting, so I came. Starting from the bottom, I'm now called the Deliverer of the Back Kitchen, responsible for several signature dishes."
His tone was relaxed and filled with contentment. "Compared to staring at spreadsheets in an office building… I prefer it here. It's real, lively, and full of the flavor of life."
As he spoke, Phainon's gaze was sincere, his eyes bright, radiating a positive, grounded, and warm aura.
However, this aura caused Kiana to freeze instantly. The glass of lemonade she had just picked up nearly slipped from her grasp; her blue eyes widened. She stared intently at Phainon's face, her mouth slightly open, wearing an expression as if she had seen a ghost.
This… this face…
Apart from that overly enthusiastic smile and the sunshine in his eyes devoid of any shadow, and besides looking only a few years older… the contours of his features, this bearing, and his temperament…
How could it look so much like her cousin—Kevin Kaslana—who always wore a poker face, whose aura was cold enough to freeze people solid, whose seniority was terrifyingly high, and who should currently be presiding over a meeting at some branch of the Kaslana Family?!
No, not just similar… If Kevin's eternally frosty face could melt, adopting such a "foolish" sunny smile… and if the bottomless cold and indifference in his eyes were replaced with this kind of light—the light of someone who looked like they just came back from working in the fields, filled with a simple love for life…
Kiana violently shook her head, trying to dispel this absurd association. Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could that guy Kevin possibly end up being a chef in a place like this?! And smiling so… naively?!
Mei and Bronya also noticed Kiana's strangeness and followed her gaze toward Phainon. A hint of surprise flashed in Mei's purple eyes, and Bronya's lake-blue eyes narrowed slightly. Their gazes quickly shifted between Phainon's face and Kiana's shocked expression.
They had also met Kevin Kaslana. Although not many times, that man's presence was too strong to be forgotten. The similarity in facial features between this chef named Phainon and him was indeed astonishing, leaving temperament and demeanor aside.
But… how could this be possible? They were childhood friends with Shinji, only gradually growing apart after university. How could someone Shinji knew from university be connected to the mysterious heir of the Kaslana Family? And in such… an unbelievable way?
Dan Heng also sensed the subtle shift in atmosphere. His gaze behind his lenses calmly swept over Phainon, then glanced at the unusually reacting Kiana, deep in thought.
Hoshino and March 7th didn't notice the undercurrents at all. Hoshino was still excitedly introducing everyone to Phainon: "Phainon, this is everyone from our studio! This is our Captain Shinji, this is Kiana, Mei, Bronya, Dan Heng, and March 7th! You have to show us your best skills today!"
Phainon greeted everyone enthusiastically, his smile bright and completely unreserved: "Hello everyone! Friends of Shinji are my friends too! Don't worry, I'll make sure you eat to your satisfaction today! Especially Shinji—you need to eat more. Look how thin you are, you must have been staying up late again, right?"
He looked at Shinji with genuine concern.
Kiana finally managed to pull herself slightly out of the massive shock, looking at Phainon's guileless, almost "naive" smile. Then she thought of Kevin's ice-block face… She pinched her own thigh hard. It hurt. She wasn't dreaming.
She picked up her cup and gulped down a large mouthful of lemonade. The icy liquid slid down her throat. She barely managed to suppress the turbulent waves inside her. But her eyes couldn't help but dart toward Phainon's face; the more she looked, the more bizarre it seemed.
Mei gently touched Kiana's hand, giving her a look of comfort and inquiry. Bronya had already regained her composure, though her gaze occasionally swept thoughtfully over Phainon's busy figure as he got up to arrange the dishes in the back kitchen.
Shinji noticed Kiana's lapse and the subtle reactions of Mei and Bronya. He smiled at Phainon: "Then we'll have to trouble you, Phainon. We look forward to tasting your culinary skills today."
"Leave it to me!" Phainon said, slapping his chest. He exchanged a few more words with Hoshino, then hurried back to the kitchen. His back was straight, and his steps light.
Hyacine approached with the menus, her smile as sweet as ever: "What would everyone like to order? I recommend Phainon's signature dishes!"
The ordering process was somewhat distracted. Kiana clearly hadn't fully recovered from the shock of "Kevin possibly being a chef" and left the ordering to Mei. Mei maintained a polite smile but occasionally spaced out while ordering. Bronya remained silent as usual, just looking at the pictures on the menu, lost in thought. Dan Heng casually ordered a few items, while Hoshino and March 7th chatted animatedly.
Shinji looked at the deepening night outside the window and the flowing car lights. But in his mind, Phainon's sunny face and Kiana's ghost-like reaction upon seeing him kept replaying: Golden Grand Hotel… University friend… Aglaea the boss… Phainon…
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