Chapter 26 Spring Breeze in Guangzhou 03 He's Not Innocent About You
"Why are you staring at that customer over there?" Zhou Qichen had just come downstairs when he saw Lin Tingyue staring intently at a customer sitting in the restaurant. Curious, he put his elbow on the front desk and leaned against it for support.
Lin Tingyue first leaned slightly towards him, then raised her chin slightly, "Take a closer look, see if she looks like the same person."
The two were standing quite close, but Zhou Qichen wasn't really concerned about why the guest had attracted Lin Tingyue's attention, because his mind was preoccupied with a few strands of hair that had fallen onto his arm.
“…I can’t tell who he looks like,” Zhou Qichen said in a low voice.
Lin Tingyue couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, "Can't you even see that?"
The two were talking in hushed tones, unaware that someone was watching them from behind.
Yu Xingzhou stared coldly ahead, his heart aching with bitterness, his legs feeling like lead, unable to take that step whether he went forward or left.
Yun Qing, having finished her meal, rose gracefully and slowly walked towards them, the rhythmic clatter of her high heels on the floor.
"Zhiheng!" Yun Qing rushed to Yu Xingzhou, placing her hands on either side of his arms, her voice trembling as she asked, "You... what are you doing here?"
"...Mom, it's been so long." Yu Xingzhou looked at his mother, whom he hadn't seen for many years, and the bittersweet emotions he had just felt were temporarily interrupted. "How have you been these past years?"
"Everything is fine except for not being able to see you and your dad." Yun Qing's eyes were brimming with tears, which she struggled to hold back. "Let's go back to our room and talk."
The hall was bustling with people, certainly not a place for reminiscing. Yu Xingzhou followed his mother forward, and as they passed the front desk, he grabbed the hand of the person watching the play, whose hand was hanging by their side. Lin Tingyue, however, refused to comply, her face covered in ink, and even tried to pry Yu Xingzhou's hand away with her other hand.
"What are you doing..." Yun Qing turned around and saw that Yu Xingzhou hadn't followed. She found the two of them arguing at the front desk and thought they had gotten into some kind of conflict, but the atmosphere made her afraid to make any rash moves.
Zhou Qichen suddenly spoke up: "She doesn't want to go up with you, don't force her."
"I'm sorry, this is our family matter." Yu Xingzhou's gaze turned cold as he looked at Zhou Qichen, and he even tightened his grip on Lin Tingyue's hand slightly.
The woman sandwiched between the two remained calm. She first used her clasped hands to gently pull the man forward, then glanced at Zhou Qichen and said, "Keep an eye on things at the front desk for a while. Someone will come to relieve you in a bit."
Zhou Qichen's gaze lingered on her hand for only a moment before he nodded and turned away. He would absolutely follow her instructions when it came to work arrangements.
Lin Tingyue finally breathed a sigh of relief, turned around and met Yun Qing's eyes, which were filled with doubt and a little shock, and called out, "Mom."
Perhaps she was starting to doubt how many years of her son's life she had missed, which caused Yun Qing to sit in the room for a long time without saying a word, while her sister-in-law Meng Rulan asked her questions.
Although the current mistress of the Yun family is a second wife, Yu Xingzhou was already five years old when she married into the family. She liked the child very much and often said that she wanted to have a daughter so that they could arrange a marriage between them. But she did have a daughter, and now they can't be in-laws. She just felt it was a pity. "...It's also your eldest brother's fault. He left in such a hurry. I told him to wait for the child. Otherwise, Zhiheng wouldn't have suffered so much all these years."
These words passed by Yu Xingzhou like a breeze, and he didn't take them to heart at all. He even had some dark speculations that if it weren't for the rush, perhaps the Yun family never intended to take him away, and that his mother, having lost her husband and children, could remarry in Hong Kong.
Seeing that neither the mother nor her son responded, and even Lin Tingyue didn't seem inclined to continue the conversation, Meng Rulan turned her gaze back to Yun Qing, pulled her daughter up, and said, "It's getting late, let's go back to our room and rest, we won't disturb your reminiscing any longer."
Lin Tingyue immediately snapped out of her wooden daze and took the initiative to escort the mother and daughter to the door.
As soon as she left, the mother and daughter quickened their pace as they returned to their room.
"Mom, my cousin is so handsome, I like him." Yunfei said to her mother in a coquettish tone, her expression no different from when she wanted a pretty dress.
So Meng Rulan just thought it was a passing fancy and didn't take her words seriously. "Your cousin is already married. No matter how handsome he is, you can't like him."
Yunfei muttered softly, "Can't they get divorced even if they're married? What if their relationship isn't good..."
"You said it yourself, it's just a matter of chance. Besides, with our family's conditions, you can pick and choose in Hong Kong, right?" Meng Rulan has been looking for a suitable partner for her daughter recently. However, her daughter has always had high standards and is the youngest girl in the family, so no one is in a hurry for her to get married, and the marriage has been delayed.
Yunfei herself wasn't in a hurry, but the moment she saw Yu Xingzhou, her heart couldn't help but flutter.
"I don't care, I just want my cousin. If you don't help me, I'll go talk to my aunt."
"Keep your voice down..." The room where the mother and daughter lived was right next to Yun Qing's. Meng Rulan was worried that the soundproofing wasn't good and the people in that room would hear them. "Your aunt would never agree to this, so don't be silly."
Actually, the hotel's soundproofing wasn't that bad. Although the three people in the next room were silent, they couldn't hear what Meng Rulan and her daughter were saying. Lin Tingyue only vaguely heard the word "cousin." However, she had no intention of eavesdropping on the conversation next door, so she got up to pour water for Yun Qing.
"Don't bother, come and sit down." Yun Qing pulled her hand and sat her down on the chair next to her. She had been so focused on watching her son grieve that she hadn't had a chance to really look at her daughter-in-law. "I originally planned to write a letter to Beicheng to inquire about the whereabouts of the father and son, and also to come here with your aunt to see if there was any business. I didn't expect to run into you here so coincidentally. It seems like it was all fate."
Seeing that Yu Xingzhou remained silent, Lin Tingyue tentatively asked Yun Qing, "Shall we call Dad's school tomorrow and ask him to come and see you?"
Upon hearing that she could see Yu Muchuan, a glint seemed to flash in Yun Qing's eyes. "I... I'm afraid he doesn't want to see me..."
So Lin Tingyue looked at Yu Xingzhou, but Yu Xingzhou had rarely spent time with his father over the years and did not know his father's true thoughts. "Why don't we not tell him for now, and just tell him to come to Guangzhou for the New Year and spend it together?"
"That's a good idea, let's give Dad a surprise."
Yun Qing didn't know if this would only bring surprises and no joy, but she still looked forward to their reunion.
The family of three chatted for a while longer. Yun Qing noticed that Yu Xingzhou was distracted, so she remembered the scene when they first met. She then made an excuse that she was tired and told them to go back and rest as well.
Yu Xingzhou seemed a little impatient, and took his wife's hand to walk out of the room.
Lin Tingyue wasn't sure if Zhou Qichen was still downstairs. If the two of them met later and things got tense again, it would be better to let them avoid each other for now.
She took out a bunch of keys from her coat pocket, took the man's arm and pulled him to her side, then went into the nearest empty room and locked the door behind her.
When only the two of them were left in the room, Yu Xingzhou finally stopped suppressing himself, pulled the other into his arms, and lowered his head to capture those full lips and begin his conquest.
Lin Tingyue's steps went backward until her calves touched the boundary, and the two of them stumbled and fell into it.
So the smooth fabric was first rubbed into wrinkles, then scratched into creases, and finally soaked by the water.
When she looked down, she could only see half of the man's face. His long eyelashes were half-drooping, and he would occasionally look up at her with a captivating gaze.
When they got down to business, Lin Tingyue hooked her arms around Yu Xingzhou's neck and pulled him closer, asking, "Why are you suddenly angry?"
“You didn’t come to my performance.” Yu Xingzhou’s movements were fierce, but his face was full of grievance. “You were standing so close to Zhou Qichen.”
"Sorry... something went wrong with my staff and I couldn't leave." Lin Tingyue wanted to tell him, but even if she could borrow a phone, Yu Xingzhou was performing on stage at the time and couldn't answer the phone. The latter reason also made her slightly helpless. She ran her fingers through the man's hair and gently tugged at it. "But are you going to be jealous of Zhou Qichen too? My relationship with him is completely innocent."
Yu Xingzhou, his head resting on her chest, mumbled, "He's not innocent with you."
"Is this my fault?"
"...It's his fault."
Lin Tingyue thought that she might have to work with Zhou Qichen for a long time, and she couldn't let her husband suffer. She also didn't want to ask Zhou Qichen directly if he liked her, so she could only be more careful with her words. She assured the man, "Okay, I will keep a good social distance from him."
However, no sooner had one misunderstanding been resolved than another arose...
After the school winter break, Lin Tingyue stayed at the hotel, but most of the time she was busy communicating with foreign guests.
"...We still need to hire a few receptionists who can speak foreign languages; you can't handle it all by yourself."
Lin Tingyue then spread the information sheet of applicants on the table. "We're hiring, but they're mostly college students, and they can only work part-time."
The two were discussing the follow-up arrangements when suddenly a head popped up. "Is your cousin looking for someone who can speak a foreign language? I can help you, I can speak one too."
Lin Tingyue glanced at Zhou Qichen, who understood and put away the papers. "You're a guest, how can I ask you for help?"
"But I'm so bored. My mom and aunt went to talk business without me."
"There's a shopping mall nearby, you can go check it out."
"Okay! Sister-in-law, can you come with me?" Yunfei hugged her arms tightly, as if she wouldn't let go until she agreed.
Lin Tingyue glanced at her watch and finally nodded. "Let's go then."
As the two walked and talked, Lin Tingyue learned that Yun Fei was actually eight years younger than Yu Xingzhou.
Do you have any other siblings in your family?
“There are only my eldest sister and me in this house. My second uncle and his family went abroad before I was born. I heard that I have an older brother and an older sister, but they have never come back, so I have never met them.”
Hearing this, Lin Tingyue suddenly understood why it was a woman from the Yun family who came out to discuss business. "Then is your eldest sister in charge of your family's business?"
"Yes, how did you know?" Yunfei's expression seemed genuinely surprised that she could guess the truth about the Yun family. "My father's health has been poor these past few years, and the doctor advised him to rest. In addition, my eldest sister married into the family, so the family business was handed over to her. A couple of years ago, she also gave part of the business to my mother and aunt because of her pregnancy..."
When Yunfei talked about her family, she became very talkative and seemed to have no guile. Lin Tingyue gradually let down her guard and really treated her like an innocent little sister. When she accompanied Yunfei to the mall, she would take the initiative to pay for the shopping.
Just as the two were about to head back after lunch, someone sped by on a bicycle. The water from last night's heavy rain hadn't completely evaporated and was being splashed high into the air. In that instant, Lin Tingyue thought of Yunfei's new clothes that day and instinctively stepped aside to shield herself from the person, causing the black water to splash all over her back.
At 7 p.m., Meng Rulan returned to her room and found that her daughter was not there, so she hurriedly went to the front desk to inquire.
What time did my daughter leave?
"This... I don't know either." The receptionist who came to change shifts in the afternoon hadn't seen Yunfei, so she reassured her, "I'll ask the security guard for you."
Meng Rulan was extremely anxious. She followed the receptionist to inquire and learned that the person had gone out with Lin Tingyue that morning. Knowing their whereabouts relieved her slightly, but she still went upstairs to look for Yun Qing.
"Ah Qing, do you know where Xingzhou and the others are staying?"
Yun Qing looked at her anxious face and asked, "I know, what's wrong?"
"Feifei went out with your daughter-in-law and hasn't come back yet."
Perhaps Meng Rulan's complaint was too obvious, because Yun Qing was also somewhat displeased. "Maybe they're eating out. Let's wait a bit longer."
As a result, Meng Rulan waited for another hour as if sitting on pins and needles before Yunfei returned to the hotel, her face and clothes covered in dust, as if she had rolled on the ground.
"What happened to you? Where's your cousin-in-law? Why didn't she come back with you?"
Yunfei's eyes reddened and she began to cry, "My cousin-in-law said she had something to do and told me to come back by myself. Then I got lost and was chased by a big dog, and I fell down."
"What? How could she let you come back by yourself!" Meng Rulan was both heartbroken for her daughter and angry that Lin Tingyue was so irresponsible. She immediately lashed out at Yun Qing, "How could she do this? Quickly find someone to call her over."
Yun Qing was wiping Yun Fei's face with a damp handkerchief, her eyes filled with heartache, but she still managed to maintain her composure. "This isn't Hong Kong. Who can I ask to call her?"
"It's okay, Mom. It's not my fault, it's just bad luck." The more Yunfei said this, the more heartbroken her mother became, and she insisted on calling Yunfei over to give her a lecture.
As soon as Meng Rulan reached the lobby downstairs, she saw Lin Tingyue push open the door and enter.
Yun Qing was still worried that Meng Rulan would get too agitated, so she sped up and stepped in front of Meng Rulan to block her way, and asked in a low voice, "Why did you leave Feifei alone today? Feifei won't be back until tonight."
The word "abandoned" didn't sound right at all, and Yun Qing's posture seemed to be protecting her. Lin Tingyue thought there might be some misunderstanding, so she honestly replied, "I got splashed with water and went back to change my clothes. Feifei said she knew how to get back, and I even watched her get on the bus."
Meng Rulan angrily said, "You believe her just because she says so? How can you let her come back on her own? What if she runs into bad people!"
Lin Tingyue couldn't help but complain that she was also traveling alone, so why didn't she worry about her encountering bad people? But considering that they had only been in Guangzhou for less than a month, she didn't dwell on it and patiently apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't think it through."
Meng Rulan persisted, "You think a simple 'sorry' is enough?"
"Then what else do you want?"
“You accompanied Feifei wherever she wanted to go until we left Guangzhou.”
Lin Tingyue chuckled lightly, raising an eyebrow and saying sarcastically, "You really think I'm a servant of your Yun family?"
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