Chapter 43
The Cantonese restaurant was the same one Qiu Dan had taken Ji Ting to last time. It was near the supermarket, within walking distance. Once they left the supermarket, Qiu Dan stopped Ji Ting from linking arms with her and walked alongside the landlady instead.
Ji Ting lagged a step behind. Fang Yu stepped forward and walked beside Ji Ting. The winter sunlight was quite warm, falling on Ji Ting’s eyelashes.
Fang Yu glanced at Ji Ting and asked with a smile, “I heard from Auntie that you opened a café at Zhuoyue?”
Ji Ting looked up, using the sunlight, and replied, “Yes.”
“It’s great that you could open a café there.”
Ji Ting smiled, “It’s okay. And you? I heard you just returned to the country?”
“Yes, I just joined Hongxiang.”
Ji Ting knew about Hongxiang, which was also near Zhuoyue. They had once boasted that their only competitor was the Fuheng Holdings Group, making news for a while.
Ji Ting nodded and said, “It’s not easy to get into that company.”
“Indeed. Do you know much about investment banking?” Fang Yu smiled and tilted his head to look at her. Ji Ting smiled and shook her head, glancing at him, “No, not really.”
“Oh, no worries. Investment banking is actually quite simple.” Fang Yu replied.
Ji Ting smiled gently. The four of them pushed open the door and entered the restaurant. This restaurant had a second floor, which was more private but generally suited for couples. Therefore, the four of them could only choose a round table on the first floor. At this moment, sunlight was shining through the glass, falling onto the table. Qiu Dan arranged for Ji Ting to sit next to her.
The landlady sat with Fang Yu opposite them, so Ji Ting and Fang Yu ended up facing each other.
The landlady smiled as she picked up the menu and said, “This place has many soups that are good for girls to drink. Ji Ting, should I order for you?”
Ji Ting smiled and replied, “Sure, thank you, Auntie.”
The landlady glanced at the menu with Fang Yu and gestured for him to order for Ji Ting. She probably knew Ji Ting’s preferences from Qiu Dan, so she selected dishes that Ji Ting liked.
Qiu Dan observed Fang Yu and leaned in close to Ji Ting, “He’s nice and loves to smile.”
Ji Ting whispered, “You should have told me. I didn’t prepare anything.”
Qiu Dan replied, “Didn’t I call you last night?”
Ji Ting was silent for a few seconds.
Alright.
After they finished ordering, the landlady started a conversation with Qiu Dan. As a mother, she couldn’t help but praise her son. The landlady casually praised Fang Yu, and Qiu Dan smiled and joined in, naturally praising Ji Ting as well. Ji Ting, sitting across from Fang Yu, looked a bit helpless, but the sunlight was nice.
Ji Ting averted her eyes and looked at the scenery outside.
Qiu Dan was engrossed in the conversation when the restaurant door behind her opened. She turned to see Tan Yucheng, with his coat draped over his arm, walking in with a young man.
Tan Yucheng also saw Qiu Dan, and then noticed Ji Ting sitting beside her. He recognized her back instantly. Across from her was a young man, and next to him, a middle-aged woman.
This scene.
It was a blind date.
Chen Fei exclaimed, “Brother Tan, is Sister Ting on a blind date?”
Tan Yucheng remained silent.
He raised his eyebrows and greeted Qiu Dan.
Qiu Dan was a bit surprised but immediately smiled and called out, “Yucheng, what a coincidence.”
At the mention of “Yucheng,” Ji Ting was startled and turned to look.
Tan Yucheng handed his coat to Chen Fei and walked over. He had his black sleeves rolled up, giving off a relaxed vibe. He smiled at Qiu Dan, “Auntie Qiu, having a meal?”
Qiu Dan looked up and smiled, “Yes, are you here for a meal too?”
“I’m here to settle a bill.”
Qiu Dan nodded and asked, “Have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet.” Tan Yucheng glanced at Fang Yu and then briefly at the woman beside him before replying to Qiu Dan. Qiu Dan was about to suggest he eat quickly when the landlady, noticing the handsome young man speaking so familiarly with Qiu Dan, asked with a sixth sense, “Who is this?”
Qiu Dan looked up at the landlady and replied, “A friend’s son.”
She paused for a second and then added, “He’s kind of like Ji Ting’s brother.”
She was trying to dispel any potential misunderstanding between Ji Ting and Tan Yucheng, as two single young people could easily be misconstrued.
“I see,” the landlady said, visibly relieved.
Hearing the word “brother,” Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat, and she looked up at the man beside her.
Tan Yucheng’s lips curved slightly, his smile unwavering, as he greeted the landlady, “Hello.”
The landlady, who thought her own son was very handsome, couldn’t help but notice that this man’s good looks were of a different kind—relaxed and nonchalant. His arm, gripping the chair back, showed defined muscles under his perfectly rolled-up sleeves, exuding a sense of strength.
“Hello, are you planning to eat here?” the landlady asked.
Tan Yucheng, patient as ever, nodded.
He looked at Fang Yu, extended his hand, and stepped forward slightly, “Hello, I’m Tan Yucheng.”
Fang Yu initially felt a bit threatened, but upon hearing that Tan Yucheng was considered a brother, his sense of crisis diminished. He stood up, extended his hand, “Fang Yu.”
They shook hands briefly.
Then, Tan Yucheng said to Qiu Dan, “Auntie Qiu, you all enjoy your meal. I have to wait for a guest.”
Qiu Dan nodded, “Go ahead.”
Tan Yucheng acknowledged with a sound, then looked at Ji Ting. When Ji Ting met his gaze, they were backlit, and for some reason, she felt a sense of guilt. Tan Yucheng’s hand was on the back of her chair. He looked at her for a few seconds, then glanced up and looked at Fang Yu.
He took out his phone and said, “Mr. Fang, since we’ve met, let’s exchange contact information.”
Fang Yu was slightly taken aback but quickly took out his phone and stood up to scan Tan Yucheng’s WeChat.
Ji Ting glanced at Tan Yucheng, who looked down to accept Fang Yu’s request. This was unusual behavior for him; he rarely took the initiative to add someone. After exchanging WeChat contacts, Tan Yucheng finally left.
He walked over to Chen Fei.
Chen Fei, who was observing his expression, followed him upstairs cautiously.
After he left, Ji Ting also felt slightly relieved.
The landlady was still curious. She leaned forward a bit and smiled, “Qiu Dan, from your conversation, it sounds like your families have known each other for a long time?”
Qiu Dan smiled and replied, “Almost ten years. The two kids were classmates, and I got to know his mom by chance. We got along well, and our relationship grew closer over time.”
“I see,” the landlady said, feeling reassured.
If their relationship hadn’t developed into anything more after so many years, there was nothing to worry about.
Just then, their ordered dishes arrived. Fang Yu lifted the lid off the soup tureen and moved it in front of Ji Ting. Ji Ting smiled and thanked him. Qiu Dan watched their interaction with a smile.
The landlady started chatting again and asked Fang Yu to share some interesting stories from his time studying abroad. Fang Yu smiled and talked about the life of international students. He had interned on Wall Street and his boss was a very strong and capable person. He said he learned a lot from her, and his Wall Street experience helped him secure his position at Hongxiang upon returning to China.
Ji Ting listened while eating.
It was clear that Fang Yu was very confident. He was proud of his career, which not only paid well but was also respectable.
Ji Ting didn’t talk much.
She rarely took the initiative to talk about herself and preferred to be a listener. Midway through the meal, she needed to use the restroom. When she reached the restroom, she found a “Maintenance” sign hanging on the door. She hesitated for a moment, then remembered that her family’s supermarket was nearby and decided to go there instead. She turned and pushed open the restaurant door.
Tan Yucheng was standing outside by the glass window. His hands in his pockets while talking on the phone.
Ji Ting paused, realizing she had to pass by him. As she walked over, Tan Yucheng looked up and saw her approaching. She stopped and softly asked, “Have you eaten?”
Tan Yucheng turned off his phone and replied, “Yes.”
Ji Ting nodded.
Standing in front of him, she thought about how he had just added Fang Yu on WeChat and said, “You really did act like my brother just now.”
Tan Yucheng raised an eyebrow, “Brother?”
Ji Ting looked at him. He had his hands in his pockets and was looking down at her. They stared at each other for a few seconds before Ji Ting said, “Quite like.”
Calm, imposing, polite, and gentleman.
Tan Yucheng’s expression didn’t change as he looked at her. After a few seconds, he asked, “In what way do we look like siblings?”
Ji Ting pressed her lips together, took a step forward, and was about to say something.
Tan Yucheng suddenly leaned in close, his voice very low, “You can step closer, Auntie Qiu is watching.”
Ji Ting’s heart skipped a beat.
She instinctively took a step back and glanced inside the restaurant. Sure enough, Auntie Qiu was peeking out, as if curious about what they were talking about. Ji Ting decided not to get into it with him and was about to take another step back.
Tan Yucheng’s lazy voice came to her ear, “Do siblings sleep together?”
Ji Ting turned sharply to look at him. Tan Yucheng straightened up, casually staring at her.
Ji Ting wanted to kick him.
But she held back.
She glared at him, then turned and walked toward her family’s supermarket, her ears inevitably feeling a bit warm. Some sealed memories were quickly unearthed. She shouldn’t have provoked him, even if she really thought his behavior just now was like that of a brother.
After using the restroom at her supermarket, she found that Tan Yucheng was no longer outside the restaurant.
At the table, desserts had been served, specifically for Ji Ting. She wiped her hands and explained to Qiu Dan, the landlady, and Fang Yu that the restroom in the restaurant was out of order, so she went to the supermarket instead.
Qiu Dan and the landlady both understood, and Fang Yu smiled as he watched her eat.
Ji Ting finished her dessert.
The four of them chatted a bit more. Fang Yu had to go to work, and the landlady needed her afternoon nap since they didn’t live nearby. Ji Ting and Qiu Dan walked them to their car.
Fang Yu waved his phone at Ji Ting and said, “Let’s stay in touch on WeChat.”
Ji Ting nodded.
After the car drove away, Ji Ting finally felt relieved, her shoulders relaxing. Qiu Dan looked at Ji Ting, recalling the main reason why Ji Ting and Lu Hai didn’t work out before. She said to Ji Ting, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just take it easy and see if you can take it a step further.”
Ji Ting met Qiu Dan’s eyes, paused, and said, “Okay, I’ll work on it.”
After her entanglement with Tan Yucheng ended, she knew she should get back on track. Although she wasn’t in a hurry, since her mother had arranged this, she decided to go along with it.
She also wanted to know if she could connect with new people again. When she thought about it, it seemed like a significant issue.
After saying goodbye to Qiu Dan, she drove back to Sunset. When she arrived, a customer was ordering eight cups of coffee. Xiao Wan was busy and struggling to keep up. Ji Ting put away her bag and phone, tied on an apron, and stepped behind the counter to help.
After watching her daughter’s car drive away, Qiu Dan went into the supermarket. At noon, the supermarket was usually quiet since it wasn’t the weekend, and most people were at work, leaving only a few scattered customers browsing.
Qiu Dan thought of Ji Lindong and wondered what he had for lunch. After putting on the supermarket apron, she picked up a plate of fruit and pushed open the door to Ji Lindong’s office.
As soon as the door opened, she saw Ji Lindong sitting on the sofa, eating from a takeout container. A chessboard was on the coffee table, and Tan Yucheng was sitting across from Ji Lindong, playing Go with him.
Qiu Dan paused for a second, walked over, and placed the fruit on the table, saying, “I thought you’d be starving, so I brought you some fruit, but it looks like you’re already full.”
Ji Lindong, eating his meal, smiled and said, “Yucheng said he was passing by, so he brought me lunch.”
Qiu Dan looked at Tan Yucheng and asked, “Don’t you have to work this afternoon?”
After placing a stone on the board with his long fingers, Tan Yucheng sat up straight and replied to Qiu Dan, “I’ll be working late tonight.”
He glanced at the door and asked, “Aunt Qiu, did Ji Ting return to Sunset?”
Qiu Dan nodded.
She sat down and didn’t rush to leave.
Ji Lindong continued eating and playing Go, enjoying some fruit as well. He clearly looks comfortable. Qiu Dan watched them play and observed Tan Yucheng. He was sitting in a single-seater sofa, his long legs apart, slightly leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, intently studying the game.
Qiu Dan thought about asking Tan Yucheng about Ji Ting’s situation but decided against it for now.
Looking at Tan Yucheng’s handsome features, she paused and said, “Yucheng, what do you think of Fang Yu?”
Tan Yucheng paused with the black stone between his fingers. He looked up, his collar slightly open, his Adam’s apple sharp, and asked, “Which aspect are you asking about, Aunt Qiu? Do you need me to investigate him?”
Qiu Dan considered it.
Today, the main decision-maker had been the landlady, and Fang Yu seemed a bit passive.
She said, “There’s no need to investigate him. We can’t just go around investigating people. Just keep an eye on him for me.”
Tan Yucheng placed the black stone on the board and said in a low voice, “Sure.”
Ji Lindong continued eating and said, “I’ve told you not to get too involved with the landlady. People like her, deeply rooted in the local community of Li City, have complex backgrounds we can’t fully understand. You know how chaotic the investment banking circle is. Fang Yu seems sunny when he smiles, but he’s almost too sunny.”
Qiu Dan shot him a sharp look.
“If you had concerns, why didn’t you mention them earlier? Why wait until now?”
Ji Lindong paused, deflated a bit, and said somewhat sheepishly, “I saw that Ji Ting didn’t have much of an opinion yet, and since it was just you two fussing over it, I didn’t say anything.”
“You thought he looked fine in the photo back then,” Qiu Dan retorted.
Ji Lindong immediately replied, “He did look fine, but now that you’re asking Yucheng for his opinion, doesn’t that mean you have doubts?”
“I don’t have doubts,” Qiu Dan snapped back.
Ji Lindong fell silent.
Tan Yucheng quickly handed Qiu Dan a piece of fruit, “Aunt Qiu, I’ll keep an eye on things.”
Qiu Dan took the fruit, put it in her mouth, and then glanced at Ji Lindong.
Ji Lindong sighed heavily, lowered his head, and continued eating. Qiu Dan, after glaring at him enough, turned to Tan Yucheng. “Yucheng, please keep an eye on things. Your company is close to Hongxiang, so if you hear any news, let me know.”
Tan Yucheng placed another stone on the board with his long fingers, and in a leisurely tone, replied, “Sure.”