After having dinner with Jiyang and playing for a while, Zhan came back to the Xiao residence with Fei.
When they got back, the grandmother had already gone to bed. Only Jingtong was in the living room. When she saw Zhan, she was more enthusiastic than before, “Zhan and Fei, good evening. Have you eaten yet?”
“Yes.” Zhan held Fei and was about to leave.
Jingtong asked him again, “I heard that you have gone to Beijing on business.”
“Yes.”
“Have you met Mr. Yibo?” Jingtong was concern about their relationship now.
“Yes.” Zhan knew clearly what Jingtong meant, “He even put off his social intercourse to climb the mountain with me. We had a good time.”
“It sounds great.” Jingtong laughed, “It’s getting late, Go upstairs and rest now. Good night.”
Zhan then remained calm and took Fei upstairs.
Jingtong stood still and watched them go upstairs, frowning in confusion.
There seemed to be something wrong. Lingjiao said that she had asked someone to go to the Wang family to reveal the fact that Zhan was Yibo’s mistress.
So, Zhan shouldn’t be able to climb the mountain with Yibo happily.
Or Lingjiao was fooled by that person?
At that moment, Jianmin, who had returned from a dinner party, walked in and elbowed Jingtong who froze, “What are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Jingtong did not dare to tell Jianmin about what Lingjiao had done. Because she was afraid that Jianmin would destroy their plan.
She did not agree with Lingjiao. But she also did not want Zhan to become arrogant because of Yibo in the Xiao family. So, she turned a blind eye to what Lingjiao had done.
***
Time flied.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
Zhan must offer the design of the Beach Hotel in two weeks. So, he had to be busy with his work.
He and Yibo had no contact on the surface. But they would chat on WeChat.
Yibo sent this to him at noon: [Even if you’re busy with work, you should eat.]
Zhan replied in a playful and amusing way: [I’m not as busy as Mr. Yibo. I should be the one who is worried about whether Mr. Yibo has a good meal.]
Yibo then got up and went to the round table by the sofa. There were several dishes on the table, all of which were the lunches Fanxing ordered for him every day.
Yibo: [Would you like to join me?]
Zhan sent an emoji: [The big boss’s working meal is so rich! I suddenly feel I am so poor.]
Yibo sat down in the sofa: [You want to eat? It’s only fair that you give something in exchange, right? Mrs. Wang.]
Zhan sent an emoji of kiss to bribe Yibo.
Yibo smiled: [I’ll remember that Mrs. Wang owes me a kiss. Wait.]
Wait? What should I wait for?
***
Zhan propped his head, frowned, and thought. He put down his pen, got up, and went to the cafeteria. Just as he served his meal, he saw Mianmian waving at him.
Zhan then walked to her. Mianmian was the only one who was the most enthusiastic to him in the company and always helped him. Lixian also helped him.
“This drumstick is for you.” Mianmian took a drumstick from her plate and gave it to Zhan.
“Then I’ll share some of these sweet and sour pork chops with you?” Zhan said.
“No. There were only two drumsticks when I was there.I took one for you.” Mianmian liked drumsticks the most. “Relax, we should help each other as colleagues.”
Zhan felt that Mianmian was reasonable and secretly remembered her kindness.
“Let’s enjoy it.”
Just as they began to eat, a man in Scent Pearl Restaurant’s take-out clothes came with Scent Pearl Restaurant’s special antique rectangular food container.
Scent Pearl Restaurant was a national chain of popular high-end restaurants.
The delivery man walked in. Everyone fixed their eyes on the beautiful retro food container and could not help but swallow.
The delivery man stood in front of Zhan’s table and studied him.
Seeing his work ID on his neck, he said, “Are you Mr. Zhan?”
“Yes.” Zhan lightly put down the chopsticks in his hand.
“Please sign for it.” The delivery man handed him the delivery note.
Zhan signed it and handed it back to the delivery man. The man put it away, opened the food container, and took out several dishes, including sweet-and-sour fish, stir-fried tofu in hot sauce and fried beef with pepper, braised bamboo shoot and fried shrimps with Longjing tea, braised chicken with chestnuts, and egg soup with tomatoes.
These dishes were exactly the same as the ones in the photo Yibo had sent him.
So, this was what Yibo had meant by waiting. He ordered the same dish for him. Zhan was touched by Yibo’s kindness.
Yibo had caught his(xz) heart and let Zhan fall in love with him in such an unexpected way.
After the delivery man left, Mianmian looked at the rich dishes on the table. It smelled so good that it made her hungrier now.
The other people looked at the food on the table, smelled the aroma, and envied.
Only Chen Zhouxuan and her best friend were jealous. Since Zhan had been working in Company, his position had been higher than that of Zhouxuan, so Zhouxuan hated him ever since.
Once time before Zhouxuan made trouble for Zhan with her friends and Lixian said infront everyone, “Because Zhouxuan gathered a crowd in the office to cause trouble, six months of bonuses will be deducted; As for other people, three months of bonuses will be deducted for punishment. If you make such a mistake again and make it serious, you will be fired immediately!”
Six months of bonuses? There was so much money in total.
Zhouxuan really felt angry because her bonuses were deducted. She thought that she had to take revenge on Zhan, so that Zhan dared not to bully her anymore.
***
“Zhan, did your husband order all this for you?” Mianmian could only think of this.
“I guess so.” Zhan just smiled lightly.
“Zhan, your husband is so nice to you.” Mianmian looked envious, “I’ve never eaten the dishes in Scent Pearl Restaurant. I heard that it is very expensive. The price of some dishes is equal to my monthly salary.”
Zhan took sweet-and-sour fish for Mianmian, “Then you’ve tried it today.”
“Zhan, you are so kind.” Mianmian was touched, “But is this okay? This is a gift from your husband.”
“Good things should be shared with friends. Just help yourself.” Zhan thought Mianmian was too cute.
“Well, thank you,”
Zhouxuan at the next table watched this and was so angry that she had no appetite all.
“Does he really have a husband when he says?” Zhouxuan looked angry and said rudely, “Maybe he’s the mistress of someone.”
“Yes, he looks dissipated. A mistress who destroys people’s families will come to no good end.”
Mianmian was particularly angry to hear Zhouxuan and her friends slander Zhan. She said to Zhouxuan, “Zhouxuan, it is just sour grapes. Do you think you are better than others?”
“Sour grapes? What a joke.” Zhouxuan snorted coldly, “If he has a husband, why does he not bring him here and let us see him? He declines with all sorts of excuses, Even if his husband sends him dishes and flowers, so what? Does he dare to bring his husband here? I’m afraid his husband will be too ashamed to see us, right?”
“Yes. At least, Zhouxuan and the young master of Vortex Corporation are aboveboard and are not afraid of anyone speaking ill of them.” Niamh, Zhouxuan’s friend, spoke for her, “Last time, the young master invited us to Clond Club. You won’t forget how generous the young master was to Zhouxuan, will you?”
“Mianmian, do you think you are a good guy? Zhan drove a Ferrari and gave you some dishes from Scent Pearl Restaurant. Then, you’re like a dog and flatter him. I hope that it will not be all in vain, or you’ll be miserable.”
Niamh really had a silver tongue.
Mianmian was angry and anxious after being scolded by Niamh. She also felt especially aggrieved, “You … you guys are the dogs which bite people everywhere.”
“You’re a pug which follows a mistress.”
They answered with sarcastic rebuttal, making Mianmian almost cry with anger, “You guys… I’m going to tell Mr. Lixian you guys are going too far.”
“Suit yourself. It is now lunch break, Mr. Lixian will not care so much.” Ximena, another member of them, fought back, “Besides, Zhouxuan and the young master of Vortex Corporation are very intimate.”
They seemed to be arrogant and do as they pleased to Zhouxuan’s relationship with the young master of Vortex Corporation.
Zhan had not intended to bring trouble on himself. But what they said and did were going too far.
They did not like him and bullied him. But just because Mianmian was close to him, they humiliated Mianmian like this. It was too abominable.
If he always endured it all the time, he would be treated as a punchbag.
“Leave room for manoeuvre, okay? We are colleagues. Why are you guys so aggressive? Zhouxuan, do you forget that you have been deducted six months of bonuses by Mr. Lixian?” Zhan reminded them with a good attitude.
“Zhan, how dare you mention this? If it were not for you, would I have been deducted six months of bonuses? I know that Mr. Lixian was partial to you. I do not believe that there is nothing between you and Mr. Lixian.” Thinking of her bonus, Zhouxuan felt distressed.
Zhan was about to say something when he noticed a familiar figure approaching. Looking at the person coming, he was shocked and then surprised.
“Zhouxuan?” the handsome man stood in front of Zhouxuan and glanced at her work card.
“I… I am,” Zhouxuan looked at the handsome man in front of her. Although the man looked gentle and soft, Zhouxuan felt a little scared and panicked, “Who are you?”
“I am the leader of Liu Group’s head office. Please repeat what you just said.” The man’s voice was cold, “If it’s true as you said that there is an improper relationship between subordinates and boss, I will apply for the headquarters to fire him.”
“Really?” Zhouxuan was astonished.
“Zhouxuan.” Niamh, however, pulled Zhouxuan, telling her to calm down, “How can we believe that you are the person from the headquarters? Who are you?”
“I am Cao Yuchen.”
Zhouxuan, Niamh and Ximena, and the others in the cafeteria were all surprised.
The man was the legendary design director! He looked handsome and gentle. He was also an excellent talent who graduated from the best design institute and returned from abroad. He amazed everyone here.
Yuchen always kept a low profile in life and work. Although he had taken over many big cases and dealt with them it perfectly, he never gave interviews and never cared about the branch office. So, few people had seen him as a real person.
He actually came to the branch office in Chongqing, which was a rare opportunity for Zhouxuan.
“Mr. Yuchen?” Zhouxuan smiled flirtatiously.
“You can talk to me anything you want to say.” Yuchen smiled gently.
“I…” Zhouxuan was about to say something. But she stopped and looked at Zhan, “Mr. Yuchen and Zhan know each other, right?”
Zhan used to work in the design department of the headquarters. He naturally had worked with Yuchen, the design director.
“We used to work together in the headquarters. So, we of course know each other.” Yuchen was sensible and clever while mentioning their relationship.
“Mr. Yuchen, this is my first meeting with you. Would you believe what I said?” Zhouxuan wasn’t that stupid.
“I only believe in evidence.” Yuchen was reasonable, “Give me the evidence and I will deal with him according to the evidence.”
“We have seen with our own eyes that when Zhan just transferred to Chongqing, he has taken Mr. Lixian’s car a few times to go to and get off work. Soon, he drove a Ferrari sports car. He can’t afford to buy such a car worth of million at his wage level. If he did not have background, how could he get the position of design director after coming here?” Ximena was excited and said.
“Everyone can talk, What I want is evidence.” Yuchen reminded them again.
“I didn’t think too much at that time. So, I didn’t take pictures.” Ximena now felt very regret.
“You have no evidence. That means you’re speculating and doubting your boss!” Yuchen became cold and angry.
Ximena was frightened by such Yuchen. She lowered her head and did not dare to look at him, “I… I do not think so.”
“Did you not say that?” Yuchen’s eyes flicked from face to face, “Everyone can testify that I don’t wrong you, right?”
Ximena bit her lip and looked at Zhouxuan with some fear, asking Zhouxuan for help.
“What does Miss Zhouxuan think should be done about this kind of behavior?” Yuchen, however, asked before Zhouxuan could speak anything.
Zhouxuan was in a dilemma, thinking that Ximena was really stupid.
“Mr. Yuchen, she’s just a bit straightforward and bears you no malice. Why don’t we just forget it?” Zhouxuan spoke up for Ximena because Ximena had helped her a lot.
“Forget it? Then the company’s by laws and rules are just for show!” Yuchen coldly snorted, “She can suspect Zhan and Mr. Lixian have an affair today. Then she will suspect that I have an affair with Zhan tomorrow, right?”
“No, no. Mr. Yuchen, I don’t dare.” Ximena shook her head.
“You don’t dare?” Yuchen laughed and his handsome face was cold, “What you said is still echoing in my ears! I can’t stand people like you who stir up enmity and frame your boss staying in Liu Group.”
“So, you should not just be deducted half a year’s bonus for framing your boss. You deserve to be fired.”
When Ximena heard that she was going to be fired, she was dumbfounded.
“Mr. Yuchen, isn’t this punishment too tough?” Zhouxuan still wanted to keep Ximena, After all, Ximena was her capable assistant and she could not lose her.
“I don’t think so. This punishment is very fair.” Mianmian stood out at the right time, “We should not make irresponsible remarks. Slander can also cause personal attacks.”
“And it’s not the first time you guys talk like this. I still remember that a new girl left her job crying because of your verbal attack and humiliation. You guys also forced away a newcomer who had two more words with Mr. Lixian…..”
“You guys have done so many bad things. Shouldn’t you be punished?”
“Stop talking nonsense.” Zhouxuan’s face was pale.
Niamh did not dare to speak and Ximena looked worried.
“I am telling the truth. If there is any falsehood, I will be struck by lightning and split into two halves.” Mianmian was firm and swore.
At this point, the crowd began to whisper. Now that someone was going to punish her, they were all cheerful.
“Mianmian is right. We also know these things.” Someone supported Mianmian.
“As long as someone does not obey Zhouxuan in the company, they will scold and bully him. It’s really unbearable.”
“Mr. Yuchen, please deal with them.”
Yuchen nodded as he listened to the crowd, “So, Ximena has to leave the job right now.”
“No, Mr. Yuchen, Please don’t fire me.” Ximena stepped forward and pleaded, “I need this job.”
“It seems that you do not cherish this job at all.” Yuchen didn’t show any mercy, “After lunch, go to the finance office to settle this month’s salary and three months’ salary as compensation.”
At this time, Lixian also came. He heard from the assistant that something happened in the cafeteria and rushed here.
“Mr. Yuchen,” Lixian greeted him.
Yuchen nodded, “I think you know what happened. Do you think I’m handling it appropriately?”
Ximena pinned her hope on Lixian and pleaded, “Mr. Lixian, you are the one in charge of this branch in Chongqing. Mr. Yuchen’s decision cannot be equal to yours. Mr. Lixian, for the sake of my years for the company, please give me a chance.”
“Opportunity is reserved for those who cherish it. It is obvious that you are not such a person. I think Mr. Yuchen’s decision is appropriate. Even if he does not do it, I will do so. Executing one as a warning to a hundred is the best way to let more people know what the rules are!” Lixian was domineering and supported Yuchen.
Seeing that Lixian said like this, Ximena had no hope at all..
Her body went weak and she fell to the ground.
Seeing this, Zhouxuan tried to help her.
But Ximena pulled her tightly and refused to release her hand, “Zhouxuan, help me. Please speak something up for me in front of Mr. Lixian and Mr. Yuchen….”
“Ximena, this is the company’s rules and the decision of Mr. Lixian and Mr. Yuchen, I am sorry, I cannot do anything about it.” Zhouxuan glanced at Zhan, implying that Zhan was the one who could help Ximena.
Ximena knew that this thing happened because of Zhan. So, she could only ask Zhan for her help.
But asking Zhan for her help meant that she had to admit was wrong.
Besides, Zhan naturally would not help her. She was afraid that Zhan would only laugh at her. Even if she was humiliated by Zhan, she could not keep the job and would only make more people laugh.
“Zhouxuan, you have to help me. I did it all for you. I said those words on your behalf.” The only person Ximena could ask for help was Zhouxuan.
Zhouxuan became angry, “I didn’t ask you to say that. Why are you framing me?”
“I… don’t you think so? You said Zhan was Mr. Lixian’s lover……
“What are you talking nonsense? I didn’t say anything!” Zhouxuan saw that Ximena began to speak without careful diction and was afraid that Ximena would say more against her, “What good is your nonsense to you? If you lose this job, you can just find another one. Why do you pursue a vendetta against me?”
“Yes, Ximena.” Niamh stepped forward to help Ximena up and took the opportunity to lower her voice, “It will not be good for you to say more. Stop speaking and I will ask Zhouxuan to persuade Master Ethan to find you a job. Stop being stupid now.”
Ximena had no choice but to do so. Otherwise, if she really offended Zhouxuan, she would not be able to have a good job in Chongqing.
Thus, Zhouxuan, Niamh and Ximena left first, and the people in the cafeteria also left one after another. It had blown over.
***
Only Yuchen and Zhan were left in the cafeteria.
“Zhan, long time no see.” Yuchen’s charming voice echoed in the quiet cafeteria, making people feel good.
“Yeah, long time no see.” Zhan sighed that time flied.
Zhan looked at Yuchen, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time. It was as if he had gone back to the years when they used to work together.
Yuchen had accumulated some work due to his hospitalization. He had to spend time to deal with it. So, he only had time to come to see Zhan in Chongqing after these days.
“You insist on going back to Chongqing. Is this what you want?” As soon as Yuchen came, he saw people who were bullying Zhan, making him angry and distressed.
“Mr. Yuchen, you are so domineering this time.” Zhan expressed appreciation for him. He had never seen such a merciless Yuchen, “I almost thought you weren’t the Yuchen I knew.”
“What’s the harm in being a bad guy for you?” Yuchen didn’t care what people thought of him. He just wanted to protect his beloved.
“I do not deserve it.” Zhan reminded him once more.
“I said it’s my business whether you deserve it or not. You don’t have to feel burdened.” Yuchen just wanted to be nice to him.
“Yuchen, I have to tell you something.”
Zhan looked at Yuchen seriously with a light in his eyes. He looked complicated and firm.
“Listen to me before you say it, okay?” Yuchen said softly.
“Okay. You say it first.” Zhan pursed his lips, giving him a chance and showing respect.
Yuchen sat opposite Zhan.
“Why do not you ask me the reason why I came to Chongqing?” Yuchen asked rhetorically.
“Business trip? To attend a meeting? Or to see me?” Zhan guessed.
“The first thing is to see you. It is also a business trip. Besides, I am here to attend a party.” Yuchen switched the order of things Zhan said.
“Then you’ll be here for a few days. Is there anywhere you want to go? I can be your guide.” Zhan wanted to perform the duties of the host. This was also a small reward for Yuchen’s care for him for so many years.
“I used to come to Chongqing. But I always came and left in a hurry. This time, I really want to take a good look around and see this city where you grew up.” Yuchen wanted to know more about Zhan’s past, “Of course you have to take care of me. This is your territory.”
“No problem.” Zhan said.
“Zhan, I will stay in Chongqing for a week. A month later, I will be your colleague again.” Yuchen’s point was this.
Zhan was a little confused, “We are colleagues now too. We are just not in the same place.”
“That’s not what I mean, I’ve submitted a transfer order. I want to come to Chongqing and to your side.” Yuchen smiled, “Zhan, kindly give me your advice at that time.”
“Yuchen, don’t do it. Your family, friends and contacts are all in Tianjin. You will get a better future. Don’t leave everything you have for me, It’s really not worth it. I won’t feel happy for you when you do that, but distressed, you know?”
Zhan knew very well that Yuchen would only be demoted if he left the headquarters of Liu Group to come to Chongqing.
“Zhan, I could not retain you when you decided leave before. Then, I will come over to accompany you. This is my determination.” Yuchen had made up his mind.
“Zhan, even if I can just look at your figure and your smile every day, I feel cheerful. Do you understand?”
“Yuchen, I understand. But please stop being nice to me. Don’t be so silly to give up everything you have for me… I am sorry. I only treat you as a friend.” Zhan took a deep breath and controlled his volume and emotions.
“Zhan, I can wait for you.” His time was only for her, “I have waited for four years and don’t care about the next four years….
“You can’t.” Zhan’s eyes were red, “I… am married.”
His voice was very soft, which was just like a butterfly flying by. But it reached Yuchen’s ears and shocked him.
Yuchen just sat there.
Zhan also did not move. The two were like a pair of statues. Time was frozen and it seemed to have fallen into a world of ice and snow.
After a long wait, Zhan could not bear the oppressive atmosphere and slightly said, “Yuchen, are you okay?”
“Zhan, you’re lying to me, aren’t you?” Yuchen forced a smile in disbelief, “You don’t want me to delay my career and leave my parents and friends. So, you say such things to lie to me, right?”
“Tell me you are telling a lie and you aren’t married. You just don’t want me to pester you like this, do you?”
“No.” Zhan had mixed feelings, “I’m really married. I’m not lying to you, and I don’t want to lie to you.”
“Don’t say that about yourself either. You didn’t pester me. It’s just that I don’t deserve your love and care. Yuchen, in this life, you are my friend and my mentor. But he is the one I want to spend my life with and I love.”
Yuchen was silent again. His eyes became completely dull. He looked so painful that he was totally different from before.
“Yuchen, I’m sorry.” Even a million apologies could not heal his wounds.
Yuchen gradually calmed down and smiled lightly. He looked cold and sad, “No need to say sorry. This is perhaps the fate.”
It was God who didn’t want them to be together. He could only feel better by thinking that.
“It’s my fault for making you carry this pressure.”
Zhan didn’t know what to say. Yuchen was always like that. Even when he was hurt, he didn’t want Zhan to blame himself for it.
“No pressure. It’s an honor.” It was an honor that such an excellent man loved him.
“Who is he?” Yuchen clenched his fists, restraining himself.
“It’s someone you know.” Zhan said, “Yibo.”
“Yibo?” Yuchen was shocked, and then gave a relieved smile, “It is unexpected and reasonable. I’m just too unreconciled.”
He stayed with Zhan for four years and Zhan only treated him as a friend. Zhan and Yibo had only known each other for less than three months. But they could get married and spend their lives together.
How could he not be jealous and sad?
“Actually, we’ve known each other for a long time.” Zhan knew what Yuchen was thinking and slowly spoke of the past, “Three years ago… So, we have only recently established a relationship. Yuchen, I know I should have told you about my relationship with him. But I couldn’t because of the contract’s restrictions. I didn’t expect that things would come to this… I fell in love with him, and he also had feelings for me.”
“This is the best result. Otherwise, I would have beaten him up.” Yuchen felt relieved after listening to what Zhan said, “When can I come to your wedding?”
“We haven’t decided yet. But the formality doesn’t matter. What matters is the determination to be together.”
“You are right. But if he treats you badly, I will take you away and never give him a chance again anyway.”
Zhan felt relaxed after telling Yuchen everything. They were more suitable to be friends.
“I haven’t seen Fei for a long time. How about I pick her up from school with you after work and then go to dinner?” Yuchen suggested.
He was no less fond of Fei than Yibo. But Yibo was Fei’ father. This was the point where Yibo had the advantage over Yuchen. So, Fei felt Yibo was kind the first time they met.
“OK.” Zhan agreed.
In this way, Zhan and Yuchen made arrangements. Yuchen did not leave and went to Lixian to talk about some things.
After they finished talking, Yuchen didn’t leave and sat on the sofa in Lixian’s office drinking tea.
“Mr. Yuchen and Zhan are very familiar.” Lixian picked up the kettle and poured the brewed tea into his cup.
“Yes.” Yuchen was not shy, “I thought he was very special from the moment he joined the company. He has special ideas and talent in design. For cherishing talent, I gave him some opportunities and he completed them very well.”
“Zhan is indeed young and talented.” Lixian also thought so.
“I didn’t expect him to return to Chongqing. So, please take care of him in the future, Mr. Lixian.” Yuchen said.
“Don’t mention it, Mr. Yuchen, Zhan is so excellent and capable. He doesn’t need other’s care at all.” Lixian was telling the truth, “Of course, I will treat a talent like him kindly.”
As a supervisor, he definitely wanted to keep his excellent employees. While as a colleague, he naturally should keep his distance from Zhan.
After all, Yibo and Zhan were somewhat ambiguous. He did not want to be a thorn in Yibo’s side.
After taking a sip of the sweet tea, Lixian got up, “Make yourself comfortable, Mr. Yuchen. I’m going to work now.”
“OK” Yuchen nodded and sipped his tea, waiting until Zhan got off work.
***
Yuchen saw that it was almost time. Lixian was also already packing his things,
“Zhan is going to pick up his daughter after work, Mr. Yuchen will come with him?” Lixian picked up the suit jacket on the back of the chair and put it on.
“Yes. I haven’t seen Fei for a long time.” Yuchen was gentler while mentioning Fei.
Lixian walked to Yuchen.
“My son is in the same class as Zhan’s daughter. Why don’t we go there together?” Lixian said.
“Let’s go.” Yuchen stepped out and Lixian followed.
They went to find Zhan just as Zhan came out. Lixian smiled and said, “We’re going the same way anyway. So, let’s go pick up the kids together.”
Zhan nodded. The three of them took the elevator to the underground parking lot, where Zhan walked to his red Ferrari and pressed the key to unlock the doors.
Yuchen was naturally drawn to Zhan’s cool sports car. He approached it and pulled the door open to sit in it.
“Fasten your seat belt.” Zhan reminded him.
Lixian drove the car out of the underground parking lot first, and then Zhan followed.
“Looks like he’s fond of you and so generous.” Yuchen thought that the car was a gift from Yibo to Zhan.
Zhan was frugal and would not waste his money on such an expensive means of transportation. Secondly, his income was not enough for him to buy such an expensive car.
Zhan was very proud who never accepted gifts from anyone for no reason. He didn’t want to owe anyone a favor, including Yuchen.
But he accepted Yibo’s car, which meant he really accepted Yibo and did not treat Yibo as an outsider.
Yuchen felt complicated and bitter. He was too late after all.
“He didn’t buy it for me.” Zhan knew he would misunderstand and explained, “I came home and found out my sister had such a nice car. So, I asked my dad to buy it for me too. That was fair.”
Yuchen was startled, not expecting Zhan’s father to be so rich, “Who is your father?”
“It doesn’t matter who he is at all, What matters is that he should make it up to me for what he owes me.” Zhan did not want to mention who his father was. Anyway, there was no family relationship between them. It would only make people laugh.
Yuchen did not ask further questions. Since Zhan didn’t want to say it, he wouldn’t ask.
Zhan did not continue the topic. Soon, they arrived at the kindergarten.
Zhan’s car was parked behind Lixian’s.
They got out of the car and entered the kindergarten. Then, they went to the class and picked up Fei and Yaxin and parted at the gate.
Yaxin was loath to part with Fei, Zhan invited them, “Mr. Lixian, why don’t you go to dinner with us?”
“Forget it this time. Mr. Yuchen seldom comes to Chongqing. You guys must have a lot to say. I will not bother. There will be an opportunity for me to invite Mr. Yuchen and you to dinner.” Lixian was sensible and did not want to bother and spoil the catch-up between them.
“Yaxin, say goodbye.” Lixian pulled his son.
Yaxin said to Fei, “Bye.”
With that, they left. Zhan took Fei to the car.
“What do you want to eat?” Zhan asked Yuchen.
“A guest should suit the convenience of the host. Whatever you want, I’ll eat.” Yuchen wasn’t picky.
Zhan then drove to a fine restaurant with a wide and simple layout, which made people feel good.
***
They sat in the lobby and was next to the window of the inner courtyard. Outside, there were green bamboos and the view here was good.
Zhan asked Yuchen to order, but he let him make the decision.
Zhan then ordered four dishes and one soup, which was suitable for them.
He served tea for Yuchen and chatted with him while waiting for the dishes.
They didn’t notice that someone had been watching them for a while at the stairs and had taken out his cell phone to find some tricky angles to take pictures.
Zhan and the other two did not notice it at all. Then, the dishes were served.
“Fei, there is steamed egg with minced meat you like. Have some more.” Zhan gave Fei the spoon.
“Alright.” Fei ate quietly.
Zhan greeted Yuchen, “Enjoy yourself. They are all home-cooked meals. If you don’t like them, order another.”
“It all looks very good.”
Zhan served a bowl of soup and put it in front of Yuchen, “Try the soup first.”
Yuchen drank the soup and thought it was delicious.
Zhan had just taken a bite of the dish when a message popped up in his phone from Yibo.
Yibo: [Where are you? Guess where I am.]
Zhan had a premonition. But he didn’t dare to think too much. So, he replied: [Where are you?]
Yibo quickly replied: [I’m at the airport in Chongqing.]
Zhan’s hand was weak and he almost dropped the phone: [You come to Chongqing? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?]
Yibo: [I just want to give you a surprise.]
It’s not a surprise, but a shock, okay?’
Zhan tried to calm down.
“What’s wrong?” Yuchen saw Zhan looking at his phone. Something seemed to be wrong.
“Nothing.” Zhan looked up at Yuchen and continued to reply to Yibo: [It is indeed a surprise.]
Yibo said again: [I’ve decided on the fly and did not arrange a car. Come to pick me up, okay?]
How could I leave now? I could not just leave Yuchen behind and go away.
Otherwise, what would Yuchen think of that? I would be a man who was more interested in sex than friends.
Zhan replied, hoping that Yibo would not insist: [I can’t leave now. You can take a taxi to the hotel. I’ll come to you later.]
Yibo was extremely “aggrieved” as Zhan expected: [What’s more important than your husband? Mrs. Wang, do you want to refuse to take the responsibility?]
Zhan exhaled lightly, looking at Yuchen opposite him. It seemed that he could only tell the truth. Besides, he and Yuchen were innocent and just friends. It was normal for friends to have dinner together.
Zhan weighed his words: [Yuchen has come to Chongqing on business. I’d like to perform the duties of the host and thank him for taking care of me all these years.]
Ten seconds, half a minute, a minute… two minutes passed and Yibo did not reply.
Zhan felt that the waiting time was lengthening and was a little anxious.
☆~~~~~◇~~~❌~~~◇~~~~~☆
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I am obsessed with WangXian and YiZhan so much… currently love to read and write stories about them…
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I hope the author will finish this story. It’s almost two years yet no update