Let's call Chapter 65 "Bread".
"Never mind," Jiang Yizhuo avoided her gaze, lowered her head and scooped all the cooked meat from the pot into Mu Yan's plate, a bit abruptly changing the subject, "Xiao Yan, are you full? Would you like another plate of meat?"
Jiang Yizhuo rarely said something wrong and was at a loss for words. In Mu Yan's impression, he had always been lively and talkative, and there was rarely any awkward silence when he was with him.
"I'm full." Mu Yan smiled and helped him out of the awkward situation, continuing along with his words, "This place is so delicious! Thank you for bringing me here, senior. If I were alone, I definitely wouldn't have been able to find such authentic hot pot."
“Really?” Jiang Yizhuo couldn’t help but smile when he heard him say that. “I asked my friend to recommend him. He’s a local.”
Mu Yan didn't know why Jiang Yizhuo didn't continue. Judging from his tone, Lu Chong must have entrusted him with something. People tend to side with their own people, regardless of right or wrong. Even if he really wanted to say something good about Lu Chong, Mu Yan wouldn't have any emotional reaction to it.
It was just that he didn't say anything, which made Mu Yan feel more at ease.
He truly disliked Lu Chong, but he was far from having let go or being completely indifferent. Hearing Lu Chong's name was like something he remembered from his heart; even if he didn't want to, he would still recall all the past emotions—fluttering, anger, and grievances.
It's impossible not to hold a grudge, impossible not to dislike. And it's impossible to deny that I used to like someone, even though I don't like them anymore.
He stood up to pay the bill. Jiang Yizhuo had taken care of him for four years of college. Now that he was working, Jiang Yizhuo was still studying. It was only right and proper for him to pay the bill.
However, Jiang Yizhuo had already paid the bill in advance. When Mu Yan said she needed to go to the restroom but was turned away by the waiter, he smiled and pulled Mu Yan away, saying, "This is your first time in the capital. I've been here many times. I even have a student discount. Besides, I was the one who wanted to bring you here to eat. You can treat me next time we go back to City A."
In March in the north, the temperature is still not high, and the temperature difference between day and night is large. Mu Yan was still wearing the same clothes he wore during the day, and he couldn't help but shiver when he walked out of the restaurant.
Jiang Yizhuo pushed him back into the hotel: "Wait for me here, I'll drive over and pick you up."
Even in the capital, Jiang Yizhuo's friend's car was a rare sight. When they stopped, many passersby stared at them. Mu Yan was a little embarrassed, so he lowered his head and quickly opened the car door and got in.
The air conditioning was set quite high, and the car was very warm, like a different world from the outside.
Jiang Yizhuo turned off the heavy metal music downloaded by the original car owner and continued chatting with Mu Yan as if he had never mentioned Lu Chong.
He didn't have any other thoughts at first. He came from a good family, had good grades, and an outgoing personality. He had made many friends through various channels, and he had dated and broken up with countless friends, but none of them had affected his relationship with them.
But this time, for some reason, he felt a strange, inexplicable unease.
Perhaps it was because Lu Chong and he had indeed grown up together and were quite good friends, but Lu Chong's actions regarding Mu Yan were something he couldn't agree with. There are many people in the circle who like to have fun, but most of the time it's just that fun-lovers find fun-lovers, and everyone is willing.
If he only wants to be a lover, why should anyone suffer with him? Mu Yan's grades are so good; if you just think a little bit about him, you should give him some money to support his studies.
“I am now working in Professor Zhang’s research group. He often scolds my juniors who don’t do their jobs well, saying that they are not as good as an undergraduate he once supervised.”
They were just talking about other things when Jiang Yizhuo's words came out a bit out of context. Mu Yan guessed what he wanted to say and just smiled: "When he used to scold me, he also said that if he went to the pigsty and caught a pig, he would have learned how to be a pig."
"Senior, don't try to persuade me. I'm fine as I am now."
The night was dark, and the traffic lights were particularly glaring. Jiang Yizhuo stepped on the brake and turned to look at Mu Yan.
He wasn't sure if he had said something inappropriate, since he hadn't drunk a single drop of alcohol.
He seems to be saying the wrong thing all day; he shouldn't have been meddling in other people's business. Whether to pursue graduate studies or not, whether to work or not, who can be sure that the path they've chosen is the right one? Mu Yan has always been very thoughtful, and he's managed to get by on his own for so many years.
Mu Yan is a very good person. Whether he chooses to work or pursue graduate studies, or who he chooses to be with, he will live a good life.
Jiang Yizhuo stopped talking and quietly drove the car to the hotel. Jiang Yizhuo also packed a hot pot meal for the professor to take over, and asked Mu Yan if he wanted to go and say hello together.
Mu Yan hesitated for a moment. He knew that the professor was actually quite disappointed in him when he learned that he did not plan to pursue a master's degree. However, the professor had indeed taken good care of him. It was really impolite and ungrateful that he did not even greet the professor when they met in the capital.
While he hesitated, Jiang Yizhuo pulled him down when the elevator stopped on the 6th floor. He followed Jiang Yizhuo nervously to greet Professor Zhang.
Professor Zhang still remembered him, but perhaps because he no longer treated him with the same expectations as a student, he spoke to him in a particularly amiable manner, a stark contrast to the unpleasant parting when he learned that Mu Yan did not intend to pursue graduate studies.
He poured tea for Mu Yan and invited him to sit and chat for ten minutes. Jiang Yizhuo was afraid of disturbing his rest, so he pulled Mu Yan away.
It was Mu Yan's own decision not to continue his postgraduate studies, and he didn't regret it at all. However, seeing Professor Zhang being so harsh and rude to Senior Jiang but so gentle and kind to him, he still had an indescribable feeling in his heart.
The summit lasted for five days. By the fifth day, there wasn't much left to discuss, so my colleague took Mu Yan to explore the city's tourist attractions.
In Wang's own words, paid travel is something you never get bored of, no matter how many times you do it.
The two wandered around the unfamiliar city. Mu Yan followed Brother Wang to several tourist attractions he had heard about since childhood. The two big men, who had little sense of aesthetics, took many tourist photos of each other making a peace sign with one hand.
He bought enamel ornaments and jasmine tea for his brother and Xiang Zhuo, and on the last day, he went to buy a gift for Jiajia.
Mu Yan had told Jiajia beforehand that she should remember to answer the phone when her smartwatch was called, and also told her to name the owl in advance and not to tell her father.
If Lin Yi had known beforehand, he definitely wouldn't have allowed Mu Yan to buy such an expensive toy for Jiajia. He could only wait until Mu Yan bought it and then try to fool his brother by saying that he bought it with his colleagues and that buying more would get him a discount.
In reality, not only is there no discount for buying more, but there's also a limit of two per person. Brother Wang couldn't help but sigh to Mu Yan that whoever bought this was really foolish and had too much money, especially since his little darling insisted on having it. Mu Yan smiled and said, "Who can argue with that?"
The tickets weren't cheap either, but thinking they might as well come, Mu Yan and her colleague went on a wild ride in the amusement park, getting all sweaty from the experience.
Brother Wang's son named the owl Wang Jiale. A few days ago, when they were chatting, he told Mu Yan that they also had a dog named Wang Jiahao, and his son's name was Wang Jiashu. Brother Wang took the owl and told the staff to put it back in the box.
"Brother Wang, the family's expecting a third baby?" The two had gotten quite familiar with each other these past few days, and Mu Yan joked with him with a smile.
"That's right, you buy it first, I'll go browse and see what else my wife likes, she likes these kinds of things like a child."
The owl was snow-white, with smooth and soft feathers and bright black eyes. It looked very intelligent. Mu Yan video-called Jiajia and had her call out the owl's name herself. Then, she asked someone to put it in the box as well.
Mu Yan held the box in his hand and looked at it for a while, then suddenly remembered that he hadn't brought Shang Qiyue a gift yet.
Shang Qiyue said to bring it home and not to buy it for him, but Shang Qiyue is always one to say one thing and mean another, so it's hard to say he wasn't saying something against his will.
“Is it limited to two per person?” Mu Yan called out to the staff member, “Can I have one more?”
“Of course,” the staff member said, letting him take another one. “Have you named it yet?”
Mu Yan immediately forgot about this: "No need, no need to open it, I'll just take it with me."
Behind Mu Yan was a cheerful young girl. She stepped forward and reminded Mu Yan, "Take it apart. Some of them have poor quality control and won't respond when you call them."
The girl's voice wasn't quiet, and the saleswoman seemed to have heard it too. The woman didn't seem embarrassed at all and smiled generously: "Yes, we still recommend that you participate in our adoption ceremony."
The girl came with a friend, who was also chuckling and whispering, "Handsome, don't be shy. If you haven't thought of a name yet, how about 'Four Hundred Yuan'?"
Mu Yan's face immediately turned bright red. This kind of occasion was more nerve-wracking for him than the college entrance examination or the driver's license test. The more nervous he was, the less he could come up with a name.
He vaguely remembered that the girl's companion seemed to have given him a name, but he was so nervous that he forgot it as soon as he heard it.
"...Let's order bread."
"Okay, bread, right? It's a cute name." The shop assistant, who had seen many strange and unusual names, smiled and opened the box.
"Um... thank you." Mu Yan responded softly, his ears turning red. He left the counter as if fleeing, to find Brother Wang, who had disappeared to some corner.
After picking out his items, Brother Wang stood at the end of the line again and explained apologetically to Mu Yan, "I'm sorry, Mu Yan, your sister-in-law just saw something else she liked. I'll join the queue again. You can go find a place to sit... Your face is so red. These young people's love for rituals is just embarrassing and a hassle."
Mu Yan touched his face; it was indeed burning hot. He really didn't want to stay there any longer. He went out of the store, found a bench, and sat down to sort out the bills that could be reimbursed for the past few days.
Since the cost of round-trip airfare and accommodation wasn't included, they didn't spend too much money and still had a great time. Mu Yan quietly noted down the good restaurants they ate at over the past few days, planning to bring Mu Juanhua over when the opportunity arises.
The plane landed smoothly in City A the following evening. Mu Yan took off his seatbelt and followed the crowd out.
My colleague, Brother Wang, has someone coming to pick him up from his home. He's going to collect his checked luggage, so he told Mu Yan to go ahead and not wait for him. He also told her to be careful on her way back and to see her at the company next time.
Mu Yan nodded, said goodbye, and dragged his small suitcase away from the exit. His phone had been switched off on the plane, and now that it was switched back on, the screen vibrated several times as soon as it lit up.
He looked down and was almost stunned.
The eight missed calls and countless messages all came from Shang Qiyue's assistant, Luo Cheng.
[Author's Note]
Yan Yan verbally agreed that people who buy expensive things are foolish and have too much money, but she honestly bought two herself.
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