There was a Chinese restaurant near the exhibition hall, decorated in a traditional Chinese style. It was similar to the Shandong cuisine restaurant they had eaten at in Hong Kong before, but this one mainly served Cantonese food. The ambiance was elegant, and the prices were on the higher side.
Wen Yang had seen some reviews online, and everything seemed good, so she chose this one.
The seating here was very private. Wen Yang and Fu Xingzhou sat down. Wen Yang had been wearing a camera around her neck all morning, and it made her neck a little sore. She took it off and placed it on the sofa.
Fu Xingzhou picked up the menu and pushed it toward Wen Yang.
Wen Yang looked up at him under the warm lighting and said, “Mr. Fu, you order.”
Fu Xingzhou looked at her and said, “Ladies first.”
Wen Yang blinked and said, “I tend to make mistakes when ordering.”
Fu Xingzhou smiled and said, “As long as you can eat it, that’s fine.”
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Eld Zydt saktkdyzzu rzyddle vs zlv Ww Dkdtgbsw saela pkdnl pbl oyp valyvkdt bkx, yde yp vbl twlpv, bl pbswze elnkel. Vzwp, vbl zypv vkxl vblu yvl Fbydesdt nwkpkdl, Ww Dkdtgbsw bye esdl y talyv fsc okvb vbl saelakdt, ps pbl oyp rzyddkdt vs zlyhl kv yzz vs bkx.
Ebyv pbl eked’v alyzkgl oyp vbyv zypv vkxl, Ww Dkdtgbsw bye dsvknle Eld Zydt oyp vaukdt vs nsdpkela csvb sq vblka vypvlp yde eked’v eyal vs saela, ps bl vssj shla yde saelale bkxplzq. Lso, okvb fwpv vbl vos sq vblx, vblal oyp ds dlle qsa pwnb nsdnladp.
“Qs yblye yde saela,” bl pyke.
Eld Zydt pvkzz oydvle vs yatwl y zkvvzl, pyukdt vbyv pbl xktbv rknj psxlvbkdt oasdt, cwv pbl eked’v oydv vs eayt kv swv. Fbl rknjle wr vbl xldw yde qzkrrle vbaswtb kv. Mbl xldw pllxle ralvvu dsaxyz, okvb qyxkzkya ekpblp, vbswtb pbl psxlvkxlp vakle vs saela psxlvbkdt dlo, lprlnkyzzu ekpblp okvb dyxlp vbyv olal wdwpwyz.
Fbl zssjle wr. “Ya. Ww, yal vblal ydu qssep usw yhske?”
Ww Dkdtgbsw pxkzle pzktbvzu yde pyke, “Ls, fwpv saela obyvlhla usw zkjl.”
Eld Zydt dseele, “Xjyu, vbld R’zz saela.”
Fbl zssjle yv vbl oykvla yde rskdvle vs vbl ekpblp pbl oydvle, prlyjkdt plakswpzu, cwv yzps psxlobyv blpkvyvkdt. Fsxlvkxlp pbl zkdtlale sd sdl ekpb, yp rlsrzl sqvld pwcnsdpnkswpzu nbspl vblka qyhsakvl qssep, lprlnkyzzu obld vblal oyp ds lmvladyz ralppwal. Ww Dkdtgbsw tzydnle yv vbl ekpblp pbl oyp nbsspkdt.
The restaurant also had a tea seating area.
After Wen Yang finished ordering, Fu Xingzhou placed a cup of tea in front of her using tongs. Steam rose from the tea, and he had a casually handsome demeanor. Wen Yang noticed he was wearing a white shirt today, looking much more relaxed.
Just like when they were in Hong Kong, when he wore a loose black shirt, he didn’t give off a sense of oppression, so he was quite approachable.
Wen Yang took a sip of the tea, but it was a bit too hot.
She sipped it, then set it down.
Fu Xingzhou noticed and asked, “Do you have a favorite type of tea?”
Wen Yang shook her head, “I don’t have a particular favorite. I just drink it when I need it.”
Fu Xingzhou nodded.
After the meal, Wen Yang felt a little nervous, worried that Fu Xingzhou might find a chance to pay the bill, so she kept an eye on him. Fu Xingzhou put down his chopsticks, wiped the corner of his mouth, and noticed her glancing around. A smile appeared in his eyes again.
He asked, “Are you full?”
Wen Yang nodded, “Mr. Fu, how about you?”
“Same. Let’s go.”
He stood up, and Wen Yang also grabbed her camera and phone bag, slinging them over her shoulder. Holding her phone, she walked toward the front desk. Fu Xingzhou walked behind her, and together they arrived at the cashier. Wen Yang stepped forward and asked, “How much for Table 8?”
The cashier glanced at the bill and quoted an amount, pointing to Alipay, saying, “Please pay here.”
Wen Yang let out a sigh of relief and scanned the QR code.
After paying, Wen Yang looked up at Fu Xingzhou.
Fu Xingzhou was smiling, and he walked with her toward the door. A waiter, noticing the intense sunlight, handed over an umbrella. Fu Xingzhou took it and opened it, shielding Wen Yang’s head from the sun.
Wen Yang raised her hand to shield her eyes, then glanced up at the umbrella. “This restaurant is pretty good, even provides sun umbrellas.”
Fu Xingzhou responded with a hum. Being taller, he held the umbrella, blocking much of the sunlight. Wen Yang was stepping down the stairs and was mainly concerned about the sun because she hadn’t applied sunscreen in the morning. His arm, holding the umbrella, was not far from her, and a faint sandalwood fragrance, like the one in his car, drifted from him. Fu Xingzhou was very gentlemanly, not touching her even in the slightest.
Beneath the umbrella, there was also a hint of her own scent.
They reached the parking lot outside the exhibition hall, and when they arrived at the car, Fu Xingzhou looked down at her and asked, “Do you have any plans for the afternoon?”
Wen Yang, of course, did not. She looked at Fu Xingzhou and said, “No, I need to go back to the studio.”
Fu Xingzhou nodded and opened the front passenger door, signaling for her to get in. “I’ll take you back.”
Since they had already come this far, it was hard to refuse. Wen Yang nodded, bent down, and got in the car. Fu Xingzhou closed the umbrella, handed it to the attendant who had come with them, and the attendant said, “Drive safely.”
The car was obviously expensive, and it was clear that Fu Xingzhou was no ordinary person.
Fu Xingzhou got in the driver’s seat and started the car.
This was the first time Wen Yang saw him drive. Even though it was a different car, the experience felt different. He was multifaceted, not just the distant type. The black sedan sped down the main road of South City, with shadows from the trees passing over the car.
It was easy to feel drowsy after lunch.
As the car stopped at a traffic light, Fu Xingzhou glanced at her and asked, “Do you usually nap?”
Wen Yang turned to look at him. “I doze off sometimes.”
Fu Xingzhou hummed in acknowledgment and said, “Then you should rest later.”
“Mm.”
She turned her head to look out the window, secretly stifling a yawn.
Fu Xingzhou seemed to notice. His voice was clear and gentle, “You can sleep now. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
Wen Yang, of course, didn’t sleep.
The studio wasn’t far away, and after a few more traffic lights, they arrived.
They reached the Coco building.
Fu Xingzhou drove straight into the underground parking garage, stopping at the elevator entrance. Wen Yang opened the car door, got out, and bent down, saying, “Thank you, Mr. Fu. Drive safely.”
Fu Xingzhou looked at her with a smile in his eyes and nodded. “Rest for a bit when you get upstairs.”
“Okay.”
“Go on up.”
Wen Yang nodded, turned, and walked toward the elevator.
The car waited for the elevator doors to close before driving away. Wen Yang took the elevator up, yawning several times along the way. When she entered the studio, Yu Qing was still eating from her lunch box. She squinted and asked, “You’re back. Where did you eat?”
“Did you visit the exhibition alone?”
Wen Yang couldn’t lie. She took off her camera and phone bag, placing them in the drawer before sitting down and drinking a big gulp of water. Yu Qing turned around, sitting on the desk, and stared at her. Wen Yang rested her face in her hand, looking at her, and said, “I wasn’t alone.”
Yu Qing immediately seemed to snap her fingers, “Did he go?”
Wen Yang nodded.
Yu Qing chewed her food and said, “I knew he would go. I already gave you the tickets, how could he not prepare? But honestly, if I went, he probably wouldn’t show up.”
“Such restraint from this man.”
Wen Yang only realized this now.
“Having someone accompany you, isn’t that pretty nice?” Yu Qing leaned in close to Wen Yang, teasing her.
Wen Yang pushed her face away, giving her a side glance.
Yu Qing burst into laughter.
She sat up straight and continued eating.
Wen Yang watched her eat so quickly, smelling the kind of fast food scent, and turned to Tao Li, asking, “Is your birthday coming up?”
Tao Li, who had been dozing off in her chair, sat up straight when she heard this, “Oh, yeah! Sister Wen, you remembered!”
Wen Yang smiled, “It’s tomorrow, right? We’re having a big meal tomorrow.”
Yu Qing, holding her lunch box, looked at Wen Yang, “So tomorrow you’re cooking?”
Wen Yang reached out and poked her stomach, “Yes, I’ll make sure you eat your fill.”
Yu Qing beamed with joy but rolled her eyes at the lunch box, “Now it doesn’t look so appetizing.”
In recent days, Wen Yang had been staying up late to finish her work, with her routine all over the place. She hadn’t cooked in days, though she still made some porridge for Yu Qing in the evenings when she had time.
But proper cooking had become quite rare.
Since tomorrow was Tao Li’s birthday, Wen Yang decided to prepare a big meal.
The next afternoon, after finishing her work,
Wen Yang took a taxi to the farmers’ market to buy groceries. Yu Qing had ordered a cake for Tao Li online, and brought it back to their place. Tao Li also bought some fruit as it was her first time visiting Wen Yang and Yu Qing’s apartment.
When she entered the house, she exclaimed, “It’s decorated so warmly!”
Yu Qing grabbed an apple, wiped it, and ate it, saying, “It’s all Wen Yang’s handiwork.”
“You haven’t seen how her previous place was decorated, though,” Yu Qing thought but, of course, didn’t mention it, not wanting to spoil the mood. Tao Li sat down on the sofa, grabbed a cushion, and said, “I wish the place I rented could be this cozy.”
Yu Qing replied, “You should learn from Wen Yang.”
Tao Li nodded, “That makes sense.”
Wen Yang was busy in the kitchen. There were some garlic cloves that needed peeling, so she called Yu Qing to help. It had been a while since she had made so many dishes, but some familiar motions were slowly coming back to her.
By 7 p.m., the delicious food was on the table, with a cake in the center.
Tao Li was touched. Her first internship company had such nice bosses. She raised her phone and said, “Let’s take a photo, one for the memory.”
Wen Yang took off her apron and smiled as she leaned in.
Click.
The photo was captured.
–
At the same time,
In Hong Kong.
After the dinner with the guys, Fu Xingzhou walked to the window and opened it to get some fresh air. In the distance, there was Victoria Harbour, the neon lights flickering, and the night was enchanting. He leaned against the railing, casually scrolling through his phone, and happened to open his Moments.
Wen Yang had posted something.
She was still posing for the camera, lively and beautiful. The table full of dishes and that cake made the atmosphere feel warm and lively. Among the three faces, hers stood out the most, with her eyes full of smiles.
Late at night.
After seeing Tao Li off, Wen Yang and Yu Qing tidied up the kitchen a bit. It had been a while since they had cooked, and doing so now reminded her how much effort it took to clean up afterward, but they had a great time eating tonight.
Yu Qing went to shower first.
Wen Yang was sitting on the sofa, drinking passion fruit lemonade when her phone rang.
Ding ding.
A message from Fu Xingzhou.
Wen Yang immediately opened it.
Fu Xingzhou: “The kitchen at Hua Fu needs some adjustments.”
Wen Yang was stunned, then quickly replied: “What changes does Mr. Fu have in mind?”
Fu Xingzhou: “You decide. Follow your initial vision.”
Wen Yang: “My initial vision was to combine Chinese and Western styles.”
Fu Xingzhou: “That’s fine.”
Seeing this, Wen Yang moved over to her laptop, opening the floor plans and the dimensions and style she had originally envisioned. When Yu Qing came out of the shower, drying her hair, she peeked over: “Why are you changing the design again? Does Fu Xingzhou want to make changes?”
Wen Yang nodded and picked up her phone to call the contractor, telling him not to touch the kitchen for now, and to wait for her new designs before they could start re-planning. Yu Qing, watching her revise the plans, asked with a wink, “Planning to spend more time in Nancheng in the future?”
Wen Yang shook her head: “Maybe?”
Wen Yang had originally planned some changes, and now she was just adjusting the proportions of the restaurant and kitchen, which also meant the wine cabinet needed some modification. Yu Qing, leaning on her hand, looked on. She had some experience in such matters and said, “Let Brother Chen and the team rest for a couple of days. Once your plans are ready, call them back.”
“Okay.”
The new plans were quickly completed. The next afternoon, Wen Yang took them to Washington. She had confirmed that Fu Xingzhou had already returned to Hong Kong that morning.
Mengbai Jewelry.
Li Man entered the studio, holding a cup of coffee, and walked into the office. Passing by a few designers and salespeople, the salesperson paused when they saw her, holding a set of documents and knocking on the door.
Li Man sat down, took a sip of her coffee, and asked as she watched the salesperson enter, “What happened?”
The salesperson carefully placed the documents on the desk, speaking quietly: “Mrs. Li had mentioned wanting to come and see the Fuyun jewelry set, but lately, she hasn’t been very responsive. It seems like she doesn’t want to come anymore.”
Li Man was slightly taken aback, her gaze falling on the documents.
She also remembered Mrs. Li’s appearance.
The salesperson glanced at her cautiously.
Li Man took a moment to regain her composure, then said, “Alright, you can go now. Let Zhao Su come in.”
“Okay.” The salesperson left and called Zhao Su, the designer who was talking to a client. Zhao Su asked them to wait, and another salesperson stepped forward to stand next to her, asking, “Did Mr. Li say anything?”
“What can he say? Mrs. Li’s not giving face because they’re getting divorced, isn’t that obvious?”
The salesperson nodded in understanding.
Li Man walked to the window with her coffee, turning on the air conditioning. The half-open door wasn’t fully closed, and she could overhear the conversation of the salespeople outside. She paused, didn’t say anything, and then closed the door.
Sansukini: Somebody’s preparing the kitchen for the wifey who loves cooking.
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