Chapter 45 Back then, she was…
Located on the second floor of a newly built commercial building in the city center, the restaurant has an understated exterior and a simple and restrained signboard with a matte black background and only a line of small gold lettering. Southeast Asian elements are intentionally incorporated into the details, such as rattan lampshades, wooden archways, mottled wooden tabletops, and tropical green plants and cotton and linen cushions. Everything is soft and just right.
The chandelier is shaped like a tropical rainforest leaf, suspended in mid-air in layers, casting dappled warm light, making each tabletop feel like it's in a miniature sunset.
“This place is pretty good, isn’t it?” Zheng Xiaotian walked at the front, his tone smug. “It was opened by my ex-girlfriend. Her brother hired someone to do the design. She’s not in Beijing now, so she handed the shop over to my friend to manage. You won’t find another one like it in all of Beijing.”
As he spoke, he pushed open the door to the private room. "Zhiyao, sit here." Zheng Xiaotian pulled out the chair on his left with practiced ease. "Zhou Yue, you sit opposite me. It'll be easier for you two to banter."
Everyone burst into laughter, but Xia Zhiyao sat down with a faint smile, her tone natural: "I'm too lazy to argue with you all, I'm exhausted after a long day."
As Zhou Yue sat down, his gaze swept lightly across her face without speaking. Zheng Xiaotian flipped through the menu, "I'll order a few of the restaurant's signature dishes first: Tom Yum seafood soup, lemongrass grilled cod, ox tongue with perilla sauce, and crispy tofu rolls. The roast duck is similar to usual, just with a different dipping sauce. Let's try them all..."
He turned his head and looked around, then raised his chin: "Zhiyao, you don't eat cilantro?"
"Alright, let the kitchen know." He then looked at Zhou Yue: "Mr. Zhou, who just returned from New York, is there anything you need to avoid?"
Zhou Yue, who was looking down at the drinks menu, looked up when he heard this, his eyes calm: "I'm fine with anything."
"What would you like to drink?" Zheng Xiaotian opened the wine list. "We have plum sake, coconut wine, lychee rose sparkling wine, and some special cocktails. There are no outsiders tonight, so the main thing is to have a good time. A welcome party can't be without drinks, but don't drink too much, and no one is allowed to cause a ruckus."
Several assistants laughed first, and one joked, "Mr. Zheng, you make it sound so easy. Who knows who will start making a fuss later?"
“I’m selective about who I start a toast with.” Zheng Xiaotian’s tone was languid and joking, but he glanced at the two people sitting opposite him without making a sound. His eyes flashed, and he deliberately slowed down his tone, then changed the subject, as if there was a needle hidden in his words, “I’ll toast whoever has a lot on their mind lately.”
Xia Zhiyao, her expression calm as still water, smiled and said, "Then you should go first. President Zheng has been very troubled lately. He has too much money and doesn't know where to spend it."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone at the table burst into laughter, their laughter tinged with good-natured teasing.
Zheng Xiaotian laughed, a relaxed yet sly smile, and smoothly continued, "Now that Zhou Yue is here, I don't have to worry about where to spend the money." He raised his hand and handed over the wine list, his voice gentle yet slightly mischievous, "So, the first glass should still be for our President Zhou."
Zhou Yue took the wine list, concealing the fleeting ripples in his eyes, and simply smiled slightly, saying in a low voice, "Then I won't be polite."
His long, slender fingers paused for a moment on the wine list: "This one, plum jasmine wine."
At that moment, the light slanted down, casting a soft shadow on the back of his fingers. The cup remained untouched, yet the air seemed to be filled with the tartness of plums and the delicate fragrance of jasmine.
"Good choice." Zheng Xiaotian smiled and snapped his fingers at the waiter. "This wine is refreshing, slightly sweet but not cloying, just right to balance out the sour and spicy flavors on our table."
As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze returned to Xia Zhiyao without making a sound, a smile playing on his lips: "What about you? Would you like a drink too? Don't just focus on President Zhou, you need to relax too."
“I’m not like you guys, you need to have something on your mind to drink. I can sleep, I don’t need alcohol.” Xia Zhiyao paused after saying that, and then added casually, “At worst, I’ll just wake up a few more times.” She spoke lightly.
Zheng Xiaotian clicked his tongue after hearing this, and laughed even more unrestrainedly: "You're kidding me. Everyone knows that if you really want to drink yourself to sleep, you'll have to down two vats of this wine."
As he spoke, he picked up his water glass, made a polite gesture towards her, and said in a teasing tone that only old friends would have, "You just have too many things on your mind, you can't even figure them out, and you expect a glass of wine to help you relax?"
Zhou Yue, sitting opposite her, tilted his head slightly and glanced at her. She had her head down, the light falling on her hair and casting a shadow on her cheek, making it impossible to discern her emotions.
But Zhou Yue knew that her earlier statement, "I can fall asleep," was a lie.
The conversation at the dinner table unfolded in lively chatter. Some talked about a recent major project, while others jokingly revealed who had been scolded by their boss or who had been dragged to a blind date last weekend. The clinking of glasses and the clattering of bowls and chopsticks filled the private room.
Xia Zhiyao remained seated, drinking quite a bit of wine but not saying much, never creating an awkward silence. Occasionally, she would chime in with a few words, perfectly igniting a laugh, and then smoothly steer the conversation to others, maintaining the atmosphere steadily without being overly assertive or impolite.
She seemed completely at ease, her eyes always warm, and her tone consistently gentle yet firm. Even when she wasn't speaking, she would listen attentively, nodding slightly or chuckling softly.
Zhou Yue sat diagonally opposite her, the wine glass in front of him changing twice, his voice always gentle and his reactions appropriate. He didn't joke much, but he listened very attentively, occasionally glancing at her, but each time it seemed as if he was trying to understand some kind of silence he was once familiar with.
As the time passed past eight o'clock, the hot dishes were mostly finished, and when the last few desserts were served, a few people were already quietly chatting about their weekend plans.
Zhou Yue sat there calmly, drank some plum wine, his expression unchanged, only his tone was a little slower than before.
After finishing, Zheng Xiaotian leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh: "I feel much more comfortable today. Let's move on to another location."
He said it casually, "The KTV is already booked. Those who can leave can leave. Those who get up early tomorrow can go back first. I'm not forcing anyone." Zheng Xiaotian said with a smile, "Those who want to go home should hurry up and leave. Tomorrow, we'll sing and chat and drink until we're completely drunk."
One by one, three or four people said they had things to do at home or their children were still alive, and they all said goodbye. The crowd dispersed, leaving only Zheng Xiaotian, Zhou Yue, Xia Zhiyao, and a few assistants and friends, about seven or eight people in total. The atmosphere became more relaxed.
As Zheng Xiaotian put away his phone, he looked at Zhou Yue and Xia Zhiyao and said in a natural tone, "By the way, I just wanted to let you know that my brother just finished eating and said he'll be coming over in a bit."
Xia Zhiyao looked up: "President Zheng is here too?"
“Yes, he was having dinner with clients nearby. He said the wrap-up was almost done and he came to check on us.” Zheng Xiaotian smiled and added, “Don’t be nervous, it’s not an inspection. Zhou Yue just arrived on his first day, and he said he had to come and see us.” He spoke casually, as if his brother was just passing by and exchanging pleasantries.
As Zhou Yue listened, his hand holding the wine glass paused almost imperceptibly. His single eyelids blinked, and his eyes showed a hint of surprise. But a thought rose in his mind that he didn't say aloud: Could he be here to watch the show?
After all, Zheng Yaotian was never a talkative person, and he didn't like to join dinner parties for outsiders. Zhou Yue knew all too well that if Zheng Yaotian really wanted to see him, he could easily arrange a private meeting in the office, but he chose this particular time.
Zheng Xiaotian glanced at the time, then patted the table: "Let's go, the car's downstairs."
So, the group walked out of the restaurant in a grand procession. The entrance lights shone on the floor tiles, casting a warm, orange glow. The night breeze was cool, dispelling some of the effects of the alcohol and ruffling the stray hairs on Xia Zhiyao's forehead.
Two black minivans were already parked side by side on the roadside. Zheng Xiaotian waved while making a phone call, saying, "It's just ahead, a newly opened shop with pretty nice decor. Don't worry, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
About ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of a commercial building facing the street. The KTV entrance was brightly lit with neon lights. The host recognized Zheng Xiaotian at a glance and immediately came up to him with a smile.
The front desk manager also rushed over quickly, bowing and exchanging a few pleasantries. Zheng Xiaotian merely raised his chin, not even stopping, and walked straight through the corridor: "Same place, the same fruit platter and wine as last time."
The corridor lights were dim, faintly reflecting the vibrations of musical notes. Xia Zhiyao, walking at the back, suddenly turned to look at him and asked in a low voice, "You've also invested in this company?"
Zheng Xiaotian raised an eyebrow at her, smiling casually: "How do you know everything?"
She pursed her lips, too lazy to pay him any attention, but inwardly rolled her eyes: He nodded to the manager as soon as he entered, without even stopping, knowing exactly where each private room was, what the lighting level was, and how many bottles of drinks were on the table—he knew the place better than he did his own office.
The door to the last private room was open. The room was spacious, with sofas arranged in a circle to form a small stage. In the center was a huge curved screen displaying a system-provided public service announcement: "Reject pornography, gambling, and drugs."
Zheng Xiaotian gestured for everyone to come in and take their seats. Today is all about singing, chatting, and having a few drinks. Forget about the professional atmosphere. This place is purely for young people. I've personally tested the decor, the drinks, and the system. Don't worry, there's nothing messy about it. It's just karaoke and drinking.
As soon as they sat down, before the waiter even had a chance to bring the fruit platter, Zheng Xiaotian excitedly patted the coffee table: "Come on, come on, this KTV has a new way to play tonight, which I, Zheng, have specially arranged for you."
Seeing his posture, everyone immediately became alert: "Is he up to something again?"
“That’s right.” Zheng Xiaotian half-stood up from the sofa and pointed to the song selection screen. “Today, it’s not about who can grab the song first—I made a request to the backend beforehand that everyone open their own music app and scan the QR code to import their personal playlist system.”
"And then?" an assistant asked.
"Then the system automatically assigns who gets to sing. Can't sing?" He shrugged, a wicked smile on his face. "Then have a drink. Want to switch? Sure, have a drink first, then switch!"
"That's too cruel!" someone wailed. "I'm doomed! My playlist is full of traditional Chinese style instrumental music!"
"Don't worry, the system only scans those with lyrics." Zheng Xiaotian waved to his assistant, "Bring up the QR code scanner and scan them one by one. Don't even think about running away."
Xia Zhiyao leaned back on the sofa, took out her phone and glanced at it. Her fingertip paused for a moment, but she still scanned it.
Zhou Yue sat to the side without moving or saying a word, but simply lowered his head, slowly opened his app, and scanned the code.
Zheng Xiaotian walked around like a patrolman, and after seeing that everyone had finished scanning, he nodded with satisfaction: "You guys, don't cheat. There are records in the system, and I can check very quickly."
Before he could finish speaking, a young assistant on the sofa grabbed the microphone, stood up confidently, and started singing. His voice wasn't perfect, but he was full of energy, which made everyone laugh and cheer.
Then they sang "Simple Love," "She Said," and "Back to Back Hug," each song eliciting applause and playful banter. Everyone took turns singing along, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
But when he sang the fifth song, Zheng Xiaotian leaned back on the sofa, took a sip of wine, and suddenly raised an eyebrow: "No, no, this is too safe. These songs that anyone can sing are a bit boring."
He suddenly turned to look at Zhou Yue, who was sitting in the corner drinking beer, and smiled provocatively: "Shall we have a match?"
A chorus of cheers erupted in the private room: "Yes, yes, Mr. Zhou, give us one!"
“The rules are simple,” Zheng Xiaotian said seriously, raising his finger. “Whoever can’t sing goes first. Nobody can sing? Then we’ll all drink together!” Zhou Yue raised his head slightly, glanced at him, and said in a light voice, but with a hint of nonchalant provocation: “You go first.”
The next second, a gentle intro suddenly started playing from the speakers: "I'm Not the Kind of Person Who Just Loves and Forgets".
"What the hell is this?" Zheng Xiaotian frowned as he stared at the screen, his face filled with shock. "This music video must be at least 20 years old. Who could possibly sing this?"
He glanced around. "Whose playlist is this? Step forward! This is incredibly unsportsmanlike!"
People around shook their heads, no one claimed it, until under the light, Xia Zhiyao slowly raised her hand.
"You actually listen to this?" Zheng Xiaotian stared at the screen, his face full of shock. "What year is this song from?"
Before the words were even finished, Zhou Yue, who was sitting to the side, had already taken the microphone and started singing, "I can't light the lamp in your heart."
"I waited and waited on that windy night..." His voice was clear, low and husky, with a touch of cool magnetism.
The private room fell silent instantly, and the assistants who had been laughing and joking all fell silent.
"I'm not someone who just loves and forgets; every moment I've loved is eternal. Even if the wind grows colder, even if love leaves scars, you will still be the person I miss the most..."
He didn't sing with great passion, but every word was precise, and his emotions were controlled in the most appropriate way, as if he were telling a story that had long been forgotten, yet every note was full of emotion.
After singing half of the song, he stopped at the end of the note, raised his hand slightly, and gestured to Zheng Xiaotian: "President Zheng, please."
Zheng Xiaotian was taken aback, then gave a wry smile: "Fine, I admit defeat."
He lifted the beer bottle, tilted his head back, and downed the whole bottle, giving Zhou Yue a thumbs up: "You're good, you've been hiding it well."
"This song is really hard to sing," an assistant muttered. "Who knew that President Zhou could sing old songs?"
Zhou Yue put down the microphone and said calmly, "This is the ending theme song from the TV series 'Mulan' that I watched when I was a child."
"TV series? Which version?" Zheng Xiaotian read aloud while scrolling through his phone, "...The 1999 version?"
He raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhou Yue: "How old were you back then? Four or five?"
Zhou Yue didn't answer him, but his gaze fell on Xia Zhiyao at the other end of the sofa. She was sitting back with a calm expression, and the fruit wine in her glass was reflected in a faint peach-colored halo by the light.
Zhou Yue suddenly whispered, "Five years old."
The moment I lowered my eyes, a very distant scene flashed into my mind: nine-year-old Xia Zhiyao, with her hair neatly cut and wearing a T-shirt with a cartoon print.
She nestled in the corner of the sofa, her eyes fixed intently on the television screen, which displayed scenes of horses galloping through the air, amidst flowers and trees. She held a copy of the *Ballad of Mulan* with pinyin in one hand, reading, "Chirp, chirp, chirp, Mulan weaves at her loom."
He nodded and recited it carefully. She listened, her eyes crinkling into a smile, and nodded, saying, "That's right, do it again."
He recited it over and over again, just to get a smile from her, as if he were some kind of amazing person.
That was the first time he felt that someone had expectations of him, and that he wanted to live up to those expectations.
On the other side of the sofa, Zheng Xiaotian was drinking juice and couldn't help but laugh: "You were watching TV dramas when you were five? Did you even understand them?"
Zhou Yue snapped out of his daze, looked up, his expression calm, and his voice indifferent: "Yes, that's why I could recite 'The Ballad of Mulan' when I was five years old."
He paused, but didn't add the sentence, "She taught me."
At that time, she was the light, the direction, and a world more exciting than any TV drama.
The name of the next song, "Cola Ring," has already appeared on the screen.
Lin Qianfan immediately burst out laughing: "Oh my, isn't this the 'National Anthem of Love-Brain'?"
"Why do you say that?" Zheng Xiaotian asked lazily, leaning back on the sofa.
"You'll understand once you listen to the lyrics," Lin Qianfan said, taking the microphone and humming along to the intro.
Zheng Xiaotian narrowed his eyes: "Then I'll have to see which love-struck person's playlist this is."
He reached for the song selection screen, swiped it casually, and the moment he saw the name, his smile widened immediately: "Oh, Mr. Zhou's?"
"President Zhou, you're so girly!" Zheng Xiaotian teased.
Zhou Yue lowered his head and drank, not responding. He simply raised his eyelids, his gaze falling lightly on Xia Zhiyao. In that instant, she seemed to be pricked by something. She pretended to be focused on flipping through the drinks menu, but then she heard the lyrics of a song slowly playing in the private room: "I don't want a big house, nor do I want big gemstones, I will cherish the Coca-Cola ring..."
Zheng Xiaotian couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Damn, you guys can't be like this, obsessed with love. Poverty makes everything miserable for couples. You still have to work hard to make money."
A burst of laughter immediately erupted in the private room, but Xia Zhiyao remained silent. Lin Qianfan's singing filled the air, light and sweet with a hint of teasing.
Her mind had already drifted back to a few years ago, when she and Zhou Yue had both drunk too much. Under the dim bar lights, he suddenly looked up in the crowd and shouted out one clumsy yet sincere confession after another to her.
She laughed carefree, slipped the soda can tab onto his hand, and deliberately sang the song in a serious tone. The light shone on his profile, and he was leaning back on the sofa, his eyes focused as if he were listening to a solemn vow.
Later, he held onto that cheap pull tab, waiting for the day he would exchange it for a real diamond.
"I don't want your explanation, I don't want your vow, I just want you to remember how I look in your eyes right now..." Lin Qianfan sang the chorus, the last note trailing off with a smile.
Zhou Yue sat in the corner of the sofa, half-hidden in the dim light. He didn't look at the screen, nor at Lin Qianfan; his eyes were lowered. She knew that he, too, had heard the voice of her past.
Zheng Xiaotian put down his wine glass, and as if giving a concluding speech, shook his head with a smile: "Love-obsessed people never end well. Listen to me, work hard, make money, and you'll have a good life."
Xia Zhiyao lazily looked up at him, a lukewarm smile playing on her lips: "Stop taking advantage of your employees."
Laughter filled the private room again, the atmosphere was so relaxed that it was as if nothing had happened. But in the corner, Zhou Yue lowered his eyes, brought the wine glass to his lips, and drank it all in one gulp.
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