twenty two

◎Aroma◎

"Which private room are we in?" Yu Yazhi looked around. The restaurant was full of private rooms separated by aisles that were only three people wide. Without a waiter's guidance, it was really hard for them to find their exact location.

Xu Chi: "I'll go find a waiter."

Before they had walked more than a few steps, they encountered a middle-aged man in a casual suit. Coincidentally, this man was Mu and Qing's boss.

Her boss's surname is Qian, and his given name is Li. He's a middle-aged man with a blend of businessman and scholarly airs, well-preserved despite being over fifty. After the company experienced a major upheaval a few years ago, he's come to terms with things and no longer strives to make the company a global leader. Instead, he's thinking about making as much money as possible before he can no longer work.

Before Mu and Qing could even greet the boss, he stepped past them.

The man who led them into the restaurant was still standing there.

The boss walked up to the man with a speed Mu and Qing had never seen before, his voice filled with excitement and emotion, tinged with a hint of nostalgia, "President Jiang! I thought I was seeing things, but it really is you! It's been so many years!"

The man hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "Long time no see."

Mu and Qing had the feeling that the man didn't even remember who her boss was, and what was the current situation?

Doesn't the boss realize that his benefactor is a bit too young?

Qian Li was clearly unaware of this, and was still excitedly saying, "Ever since you generously saved me and my company last time, I have been especially grateful to you!"

The man lowered his eyes and remained silent. After a short while, he replied, "It's nothing, Mr. Qian. You're here for dinner too?"

The pause was perfectly timed; he almost gave himself away.

Mu and Qing were impressed once again.

Yu Yazi whispered to Xu Chi, "What's going on? Did the boss meet his idol? Is this just small talk or a speech? He's so excited, he might faint."

Xu Chi shook his head slightly.

"Yes! I brought my employees to dinner, hahaha." Qian Li said enthusiastically. He pointed to Mu and Qing and introduced them, "These are my capable assistants. Xu Chi, this is President Jiang, Jiang Mu, whom I've been telling you about."

Xu Chi knew it was his turn to step forward. He strode forward and began to flatter him: "So it's President Jiang. I've heard so much about you. Our company's success today is all thanks to you. I was truly blind to your greatness just now. I never expected someone like you to be so kind as to show us the way."

Mu and Qing were shocked. Otherwise, how could Xu Chi become the boss's favorite? That's real ability.

Jiang Mu smiled helplessly and said, "Just call me Jiang Mu. I'm not really a CEO. The success of CEO Qian's company is due to everyone's hard work. My role in it is negligible."

The three of them ended up chatting like that.

Listening to the conversation between the three, Mu and Qing felt a pang of pain. They had agreed to have a meal, but it had turned into mutual flattery.

Mu and Qing stood there, bored, and began to observe the patterns on the restaurant's decorations.

Perhaps to highlight the restaurant's class, the decorative patterns were quite intricate and beautiful. Perhaps because they stared at them for too long, Mu and Qing even saw a slight double image of the patterns in front of them.

She blinked hard, and the double image disappeared again.

That's strange, she doesn't need glasses. Could it be that she's been too tired from work lately?

By the time she came to her senses, the group had finished exchanging pleasantries, and Qian Li led Mu and Qing to their private room.

Inside the private room was a rustic wooden long table, with several chairs of the same color beside it, and a beautiful landscape painting hanging on the wall.

After the group sat down, the menu was brought over from the counter. Qian Li waved his hand dismissively; he was in a great mood today. "Order whatever you like!"

Since it's self-service anyway, and he's already paid, he's already done it.

Mu Heqing was dazzled by the wide variety of food on the menu, all of which were things she usually wanted to eat but couldn't afford. Without hesitation, she ordered a bunch of seafood and desserts.

Even if she falls asleep on the toilet when she gets home today, she'll still eat all of this!

Yu Yazi, standing to the side, was also overjoyed. Who wouldn't be happy to have a feast?

"Xiao Mu, are you from Huacheng?" While waiting for the food, the owner started chatting. "My daughter is about to start high school in Huacheng. Which high school in Huacheng is the best?"

Mu Heqing: "Let's go to No. 1 Middle School."

"So, are you from No. 1 Middle School?"

"I am from Huacheng No. 13 Middle School."

"Really?" Xu Chi asked doubtfully. "My wife is also from Huacheng, and she said that Huacheng only has No. 12 Middle School."

"No. 13 Middle School is not in the same place as other high schools. It actually belongs to No. 2 Middle School, so it's correct to say there are only twelve high schools. The division of high schools in Huacheng is quite messy."

Mu and Qing hoped this topic would pass quickly.

Fortunately, everyone was just chatting casually, and the topic of high school quickly passed.

Mu and Qing quietly let out a breath.

If they continued talking, she wouldn't know how to make up a story.

The dishes were served quickly. Qian Li stood up, raised his glass and said, "Today, let's not talk about anything else, just thank everyone for their contributions to the company. I'll drink to that first."

Xu Chi was the first to stand up: "Thank you, boss! I'll drink to everyone too."

Yu Yazhi pointed at Mu and Qing and said, "We'll just have some drinks."

"Okay, okay." Qian Li nodded. "The main thing today is that everyone enjoys the meal."

Mu Heqing also stood up with Yu Yazi. After the group clinked glasses, she drank the juice in her glass in one gulp.

After finishing the drink, a faint fruity aroma remained in the glass.

"This drink smells so good!" Yu Yazhi suddenly took a big gulp from the cup.

Xu Chi also said, "My wine smells so good, no wonder it's a high-class restaurant. Wait, why do I feel like it smells like the air, not the wine?"

fragrance.

Mu and Qing also smelled the fragrance.

It's not the fruity aroma from the cup.

It's a different scent.

Double images appeared before her eyes again: the boss's face, Yu Yazhi's face, Xu Chi's face, and a second face appeared for each of them.

This feeling.

Mu and Qing's hearts pounded.

A familiar, intoxicating, sour, and sweet aroma filled the air.

This fragrance.

No, how could that be?

She remembered the invitation again.

Isn't this a prank?

Mu and Qing supported themselves, sweat dripping from their foreheads into the cup.

One by one, the two-faced people in front of her fell down.

No, she wants to leave!

Mu Heqing staggered a few steps and finally touched the handle of the sliding door. She pulled hard, and there was also an unconscious waiter lying in the aisle, with all the high-end ingredients on the plates spilled on the ground.

She stepped out of the private room, and the restaurant, which had been somewhat noisy, was now completely silent. She saw that there were also sleeping figures in the private rooms on both sides of the aisle with their doors open.

Everyone fell asleep.

The corridor in front of them was also a double image. Mu and Qing were walking on the floor with flickering lights overhead. They had no idea where they had come from.

Just then, a plaintive female voice rang out. The voice sounded like someone singing in an open space, "He Qing~"

Someone is calling her name.

Mu and Qing stood in the dimly lit corridor, where a small, dark figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

The dark figure moved nimbly, its clothes trailing on the ground with a rustling sound.

The female voice continued: "He Qing~ How could you be so heartless! You abandoned three years of friendship and haven't heard from me for seven years. Do you know how long I've been looking for you!"

Mu Heqing stood there, stunned, her limbs stiff, her eyes filled with a spinning world.

How did Cai end up here?!

It shouldn't have appeared, it shouldn't have appeared, it absolutely shouldn't have appeared!

Mu Heqing was in a state of utter confusion, and those words echoed in her mind.

The shadowy figure approached Mu and Qing, and a brightly colored girl stood in front of her.

The girl's cheeks were bluish-gray, her eyes were bright red, and her lips were vermilion. She had two braids, one fiery red and the other pink. She was barefoot and wearing a large, lake-green palace costume. Bright and dark colors appeared on her at the same time.

The girl looked up, gazing at Mu Heqing with her unfathomable black eyes. "Heqing, it's been seven years. Don't you recognize me?"

How could I not recognize you?

"Color." Mu and Qing could barely hear their own voices.

The faint fragrance emanating from the girl almost made her nauseous, as waves of past memories assaulted her.

This shouldn't be the case.

Mu Heqing could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground. She was about to close her eyes and, like everyone else, drift into her own sleep.

She was careless; she lived a carefree life for seven years and almost forgot about her high school days.

"Heqing," Cai called softly, her fragrant sleeve brushing against Mu Heqing's face as she tucked something into his arms.

Mu and Qing looked up at Cai's face, and in the blurry vision, the colors of the face appeared even more strange.

Cai, how did you know my location?

Mu Heqing wanted to ask a question, but her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and her consciousness sank into darkness.

When Mu and Qing opened their eyes again, they were still in front of the company's boss, Qian Li, and salesperson, Xu Chi, with Yu Yazi from the same department sitting next to them.

"Xiao Mu, why aren't you eating?" Yu Yazhi was stuffing a lobster into her mouth.

The actual food items from the menu were on the table. They looked tempting and appetizing.

Qian Li also advised, "Xiao Mu, you're young, eat more, don't diet, your health is the most important thing!"

Mu and Qing couldn't muster any appetite. Just a moment ago, she was looking forward to a feast, but now it tasted like cardboard. She barely managed to eat half a meal.

She had a feeling that her perfect weekend was about to slip away.

After finishing their meal, Mu Heqing said goodbye to her superiors and colleagues, dissuading Yu Yazhi from taking her home, and left the restaurant alone.

Mu Heqing stood alone by the roadside, letting the cold wind of early spring blow on her. She buttoned up her coat, and her mind became somewhat clearer.

She put her hand in her pocket and felt something thin.

Oh, right, Cai just put something on her.

Mu Heqing took something out of her pocket, and the two gold-embossed words "Invitation" almost blinded her.

Why is it this again? Didn't she already throw it in the trash?

Mu Heqing opened the invitation, still carrying Cai's fragrance. The message had changed slightly: "We cordially invite Ms. Mu Heqing to attend the wedding ceremony of the groom, Li Shi, and the bride, Bao Yuxin, at 7:18 PM on the 7th of this month. Address: Jiuzhou Manor, Ancheng."

The bride's name appeared on the invitation.

The invitation Mu and Qing received at the company that morning did not have the bride's name on it, and it was very neat, with no signs of being crumpled.

This wasn't the invitation she received that morning; it was a different one.

Mu Heqing felt annoyed again and let out a heavy sigh.

Life has gone off track.

"What's bothering you? Is the food not good? What's wrong with it? This is my friend's restaurant. I'll tell him to improve it." A pleasant male voice with a smile suddenly rang out.