Chapter 59 Good, good tea
Looking at the calm-looking girl, Huang Surong couldn't help but feel that it was all very magical.
But at this moment, she was incredibly curious about the marketing plan Meng Er had mentioned, and it felt like a cat's paw was constantly scratching at her, making it impossible for her to calm down and think about it.
Huang Surong wasn't oblivious to Meng Er's words; they were like bait being thrown out, just waiting for her to take the bait.
But Qingque's current situation is like that of a large tree that has lost its nutrients and space to grow. Its crown may seem magnificent, but it is only a matter of time before it becomes a dead tree.
She was ambitious; otherwise, why would she have divorced back then, why would she have rejected so many men, sought employment opportunities, accumulated enough connections, and then resolutely resigned to start her own business?
Qingque is Huang Surong's life's work, and even if she continues to follow the conventional path, it is a 'failure' that she absolutely cannot allow to be seen.
Before hearing Meng Er's words, Huang Surong had already subconsciously made up her mind that no matter where the funding came from, she would lead the entire Qingque through its transformation.
Rather than clinging to existing achievements and allowing them to decline, it would be better to leverage reputation advantages and try to seize new market share.
But now.
Huang Surong's eyes flickered slightly, and she sighed softly with a complicated expression.
If there were someone holding money in their left hand and a cake in their right, willing to give you money and let you smell how delicious the cake is, who could resist being tempted?
The phrase "a shining example of Chinese products" alone was enough to make Huang Surong's heart flutter.
It wasn't just the significance of the title, but also the confidence Meng Er had in uttering it. Having keenly sensed this, she simply couldn't refuse the other party.
"Miss Meng..."
Huang Surong straightened her expression and pursed her red lips. "If it's convenient, can we discuss the specifics of the investment now?"
Meng Er smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Of course."
…
…
"Ugh! Waaah... Waaah!"
The muffled sound was indistinct, yet rapid and intense.
Cai Zhicang was in complete darkness. He could clearly feel something stuffed in his mouth, his face tightly bound with tape, and the cloth tied in front of his eyes was causing him a headache. Even his ears were stuffed with something he didn't know.
He seemed to have completely lost his sense of his surroundings, and could only hear the sound of his own heart pounding.
But none of that is as frightening as not knowing where he is now and who did these things to him.
Cai Zhicang struggled incessantly, trying to attract attention by making sounds even though he couldn't speak.
He didn't know how much time had passed—it felt like an instant, or perhaps several long hours—when Cai Zhicang felt a sudden, sharp pain in his arm, followed by the injection of a cool liquid into his body.
This caused his struggle to intensify instantly.
Until the needle was removed from his body, the obstruction in front of him suddenly fell. Cai Zhicang was so overwhelmed by the sudden burst of light that tears welled up in his eyes. He only had time to see a flash of cold light disappear from his sight.
"Ugh!" He looked at the woman in front of him, his face a mixture of fear and shock.
The woman, dressed in a suit and with her hair tied in a neat ponytail, calmly tossed the syringe onto a tray and then turned the syringe inside out, putting it in her pocket.
Cai Zhicang could only see her mouth opening and closing, but he couldn't hear a sound.
The woman paused for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening and bent down slightly, reaching towards his ear.
"Excuse me, Mr. Cai, I forgot to remove your earplugs." She expressed her apology very politely.
"Ugh! Ugh!" Cai Zhicang's eyes moved downwards forcefully, frantically signaling.
"I'm sorry, we can't remove the obstruction from your mouth yet because we don't need you to speak."
After explaining, the woman walked to a table and began tidying up the syringes and small, transparent bottles filled with liquid on the tray.
"Please rest assured, I will not do anything illegal to you. I just invited you to be my guest and have a chat." She took the remote control from the table and pressed the button on the television on the other side.
"You are now on a plane to the Maldives. In five hours, the plane will land, marking the start of a wonderful seven-day trip."
On the screen, Cai Zhicang's eyes widened in astonishment. He saw a man of similar build, wearing a hat and mask, checking in at the bustling airport.
Perhaps because Cai Zhicang's struggle after his dazed state was too intense, the woman turned around, smiled slightly, and spoke with a professional yet patient tone.
"What I just injected you with was glucose, Mr. Cai. As I said, you can rest assured that I will never do anything illegal to you."
"The following conversation may not be very friendly, but I will uphold the above guarantee and will not take any measures to harm you. Once you have calmed down and are willing to tell me what I want to know, I will let you end this wonderful trip."
"Of course, this does not include food and drinking water."
The woman smiled and touched the glucose in the tray. "One vial a day."
Cai Zhicang was almost going crazy. He was just an ordinary person. His aunt's family was relatively wealthy, but that had nothing to do with him!
Besides what happened some time ago...
He suddenly grasped the key information and struggled violently, groaning incessantly.
“Very good, Mr. Cai, you are very clever. It seems you already know what we’re going to talk about next.” The woman smiled. “Then, I won’t waste any more time.”
"As far as I know, Mr. Cai recently purchased a property worth 1.2 million and took out a mortgage on a BMW 5 Series, while also making a down payment."
"And purchase a safe and place it in the newly purchased property."
“Mr. Cai, you currently do not have a legitimate job. Although your parents’ annual income is between 200,000 and 300,000, they do not seem to have any intention of handing over their assets to you.”
The woman asked softly, "So, would it be convenient for you to disclose the source of funds for your recent large expenditures?"
"..."
Cai Zhicang felt a chill. Although the woman spoke politely and addressed him with respect, compared to his current situation, it only made him feel more frightened and terrified.
He had considered the possibility of Lian Yi's retaliation, but he had already been released on bail for several days, so why was she only now coming to settle scores with him?
"To prevent our conversation from being disrupted, let me clarify something else for you."
The woman wasn't in a hurry to hear what he had to say. She smiled and said, "From what I know, you and your cousin Cai Dongming have never had a good relationship. Because of him, last year Cai Dongming's mother intended to give you a property, but in the end, she was unable to do so."
"Since your motives aren't based on family affection, please remember not to waste time lying, okay?"
After she finished speaking, she walked gracefully to Cai Zhicang. A gun appeared in her hand at some point, its metallic sheen reflecting the light as she pointed it upwards along Cai Zhicang's chin.
"I...I'll tell you everything, as long as I know it..." Cai Zhicang was devastated, his hair soaked with cold sweat.
"Okay, please go ahead." The woman put away her gun and smiled slightly at him.
…
…
Unlike the usual tranquility when she was still asleep, Lianyi's villa was filled with subtle, indescribable noises that gave it a different kind of liveliness.
After taking a shower after getting up, Lian Yi still couldn't help but feel sleepy, thanks to Xiao Hao's help.
Huang Surong truly lives up to her reputation for entrepreneurial ability.
He chatted with Xiaohao from afternoon until evening, and the more they talked, the more radiant she became. He took her to a private restaurant for dinner, and after dinner, he couldn't wait to take Xiaohao to the factory for a walk.
The gazes fixed intently on the smaller account were, in a sense, a return to the proper relationship between those seeking investment and those who are investors.
Especially after she briefly explained her marketing ideas, Huang Surong's bright and beautiful eyes almost lit up.
After exchanging only a few words, he took her hand, drank two glasses of red wine, and looked at Meng Er with hazy, shimmering eyes, wanting to consider her a confidante.
Ultimately, Meng Er signed numerous agreements with her.
In addition to finalizing the investment amount and shares, Qingque's next marketing direction will also be determined. Although Meng Er will not participate in the management, he will serve as a consultant for Qingque.
Furthermore, Qingque will engage in strategic cooperation with the two companies she controls to develop a brand-new product series.
They chatted all night long, even though Lianyi's phone was already 'off'.
But in her dreams, she always saw her older sister, who smelled wonderful, very close to her, calling her "darling" and "little sister" repeatedly, as if she couldn't wait to meet her sooner.
Lian Yi yawned as she walked downstairs, but suddenly her nose twitched slightly, and she stopped in her tracks, puzzled.
Did they make a cake in the kitchen today?
The butler was still quietly reporting the movements of the other two young ladies in the house when he heard this, he stopped and bowed slightly, "I'm sorry, Miss, I didn't inform you of Mr. Jiang's arrival immediately."
"oh……"
Lian Yi scratched her head. "What does his arrival have to do with it? He doesn't eat sweets. Who told the kitchen to prepare a cake?"
After yesterday's outing, Jiang Yu drove her back, and didn't forget to remind her to make plans with Xie Ling sometime.
Lian Yi certainly wouldn't delay if she could resolve the issue as soon as possible, so she asked him to come over today. As for Xie Ling, she didn't consider whether he had time or not, sent him a message, and then went to sleep.
"It's Mr. Jiang in the kitchen," the butler explained in a low voice after a pause.
Before he was promoted to Lian Yi's private butler, he worked at the old mansion for quite a few years, so he naturally knew that Jiang Yu's status in front of Lian Yi was different from others.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have allowed Jiang Yu into the kitchen. Of course, the main reason was also Jiang Yu's attitude when he arrived.
Despite being gentle and polite, she... made it impossible for people to subconsciously say no or refuse.
The butler was slightly uneasy when he reported this matter.
After all, letting guests into the kitchen was already a dereliction of duty on his part.
"Little Jiang is here?"
Lian Yi inhaled the faint, warm aroma of fruit, flour, eggs, milk, and sugar mixed together in a baking process, and said lazily, "Why don't you close the door when you're making food?"
"...Mr. Jiang probably forgot for a moment," the butler explained.
Lian Yi walked down the stairs, still somewhat surprised.
She had never seen Jiang Yu go into the kitchen to tinker with anything, but she had to admit that just by smelling it, it really looked like the real thing.
As she approached the kitchen doorway, she found the space bright and airy. A tall, slender young man stood with his back to her, seemingly intently watching the oven emitting a warm yellow light. The countertop was cluttered with various items, arranged neatly and cleanly.
There was a man in a suit next to Jiang Yu speaking in a low voice.
Upon seeing Lian Yi approach, he paused in his low voice, then nodded politely, "Hello, Miss Lian."
"Yi-yi." Jiang Yu turned around, his eyes seemingly filled with laughter, and greeted her.
"When did you learn to bake cakes? They smell so good."
Lian Yi leaned against the door frame, tilted her head slightly to one side, nudged the door sill, and leisurely sized up Jiang Yu.
His recovery over the past two years has yielded remarkable results; he looks to be in good health.
Because it was indoors, after taking off my coat, I was only wearing a white imperial collar shirt, and my slightly muscular build didn't look too out of place.
His long legs were encased in Gurkha trousers, a business-style outfit, but the relaxed feel he exuded made it seem less serious and formal.
She was wearing a brown apron, the ties binding her shirt tightly around her waist, creating a tapering line from top to bottom.
Lian Yi almost couldn't help but whistle at Jiang Yu, but she restrained herself because there was someone who seemed to be his assistant or subordinate next to her.
"This apple cake is very easy to make. I thought you would like it when I tasted it before."
Jiang Yu smiled gently, nodded to the man in the suit, who tactfully nodded back, bid farewell to Jiang Yu and Lian Yi, and left the kitchen.
"I don't know if your taste is still the same as before, that you don't like eating whole apples but still like the taste of apples." He walked over and washed his hands naturally, and after drying them, he casually reached out to untie his apron.
"Hey, don't untie it yet," Lian Yi called out, stopping his movements.
Jiang Yu turned around to look at her, puzzled.
"Aren't we going to eat cake later? Just wear it like this, so you don't get your clothes dirty." Lian Yi put a fist to her lips, her eyes crinkling as she looked at him, her gaze completely open.
To be honest, Xiao Jiang is indeed quite devastatingly handsome, and Lian Yi suddenly realized this when she saw his outfit today.
Broad shoulders, slim waist, and long legs, all while wearing an apron, looking all gentle and sweet... tsk...
Lian Yi stared at it for a while, then looked away with some regret. After all, she was a decent person, how could she lust after her younger brother's body?
"Dressed so formally, just came from the company? The Li family's business is quite large, and now all the pressure is on your shoulders. How does it feel? The power of money, huh?"
He glanced down at his clothes, a hint of helplessness in his smile. "I went to two companies owned by the Li family this morning. It's closer from there, so I didn't have time to change."
Jiang Yu saw that Lian Yi's eyes quickly returned to normal, and her tone was as casual and smiling as ever.
His long eyelashes drooped slowly down his eyelids, partially obscuring his dark pupils, and he chuckled softly.
“In the past, the Li family did not choose to consolidate its industries into a group, but instead had each member of the family take charge of their respective businesses, gradually consolidating control at the top. However, a series of unexpected events in recent years have led to the need for the reintegration of various industries.”
"Then how come you still have time to come over and bake a cake?" Lian Yi blinked, puzzled.
“If it’s something I want to do, of course I’ll have the time.” Jiang Yu looked up at her, his gaze slightly surprised.
“The Li family’s businesses are located in various places and they are well-established. Apart from the procedures that require my involvement, if I interfere in other aspects, it will only make things more chaotic.”
Jiang Yu smiled, his gaze fixed on Lian Yi with gentle focus, "Besides... one shouldn't be too greedy and want everything."
“I took over the Li family because of the responsibility that comes with blood ties, but rather than focusing on the progress of my net worth and dealing with various official duties, I prefer to stay here like this.”
Lian Yi nodded noncommittally, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Xiao Jiang, if word gets out that you're just indulging in frivolous pursuits, I wonder how many people will say you're wasting your time and lacking ambition."
Jiang Yu chuckled lightly, "You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of a fish?"
Lian Yi stared at him for a moment, then chuckled.
She wasn't surprised that Jiang Yu had such a relaxed attitude.
From childhood to adulthood, I've never seen him care about anything in particular. He always has a good temper. If the servants in the house lose something, at most they'll just fire him.
If Jiang Yu weren't still breathing, Lian Yi would sometimes wonder if he was secretly cultivating and preparing to become an immortal.
“That’s right, a mere hundred million in assets.” Lian Yi patted his arm, her expression serious. “It’s already impressive that you can keep it. It’s not easy to get your body back to good health, so don’t overwork yourself.”
As long as Xiao Jiang isn't as foolish as the Li family heir in the plot outline, and doesn't have any ulterior motives towards the real heiress.
With the current scale of the Li family's business, even if they raised another hundred Xiao Jiangs, they could still raise them to be plump and healthy.
"Did you invite Xie Ling over today?"
The oven beeped, and Jiang Yu turned around and opened it.
Steam billowed out, accompanied by the warm and enticing aroma of cake.
Lian Yi gently inhaled the pleasant scent and nodded, saying, "Hmm, they should be here soon. The butler arranged for a driver to pick him up about an hour ago... Hey, it smells pretty good."
"Let it cool down a bit before you try it; it's too hot now." Jiang Yu put on gloves and took the tray containing the cake out of the oven.
Seeing that she was about to get closer, he subconsciously pulled the tray closer to his body, but the corner of the tray bumped against the inside of his arm.
"Hiss..." He frowned slightly, gripping the tray tightly to prevent it from falling due to his subconscious reaction.
Lian Yi was stunned for a moment, blinked slightly, and then realized, "I was just smelling it... I'm not stupid enough to not know its temperature. Put it down quickly, where did it burn?"
"Housekeeper, just send someone over and bring over some burn treatment supplies—" she called out to the kitchen door.
"It's nothing, just a bump, nothing serious." Jiang Yu pursed his lips and slightly lowered his arm, gesturing for her to move aside.
"It's a bit stuffy in here, let's go to the restaurant and talk."
"Huh?"
Lian Yi tilted her head, puzzled, as Jiang Yu walked past her, bringing with him a warm aroma of baked apples and cakes.
"What are you doing, Xiao Jiang? Why are you walking so fast?" She paused for a moment, then followed after her, her slippers clattering as she went.
"To treat a burn, you must first put things away properly."
Jiang Yu spoke calmly and gently. He only took off his gloves after placing the cake and tray on the table, intending to find some burn ointment.
As soon as she turned around, Lian Yi pushed her down and made her sit on the dining chair.
Lian Yi reached out her hand, and the housekeeper, who had come running at the sound, immediately opened the medicine box, took out a newly opened tube of burn ointment, and handed it to her.
She waved the burn ointment behind her back, and the butler, understanding the situation, hurriedly picked up the medicine box and left.
"Little Jiang, do you know what karma is? Sit up straight!" Lian Yi looked down at him, smiling slyly, her eyes gleaming with smugness.
If Jiang Yu hadn't left so quickly, she would have almost forgotten about this.
When she was little, Lian Yi took advantage of her young age and caused a lot of trouble. She would catch fish, climb trees, and lead a group of notorious troublemakers to play with cats and dogs. No matter how careful she was, bumps and bruises were common when she got into the fun.
She didn't care. If she didn't take advantage of her young age to play around, why would she wait until she was older to pluck the flowers from other people's gardens?
But when she was injured, it was also the only time Jiang Yu would show her a serious expression without any pretense.
Even when Lian Yi, relying on his usual good temper, showed her a cold shoulder and became angry and impatient, he would only purse his lips and apply the medicine to her.
Even though the wound was going to heal in a little while, he acted as if it were a major threat.
Since it was finally Jiang Yu's turn to be 'careless', Lian Yi naturally wanted to have some fun.
She snorted, toying with the burn ointment between her fingers, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Unbutton your sleeve. You need to apply medicine to heal faster when you're injured. Be a good girl."
“…Yiyi, I never said I didn’t want to apply the medicine.” Jiang Yu looked up at her helplessly, realizing that she was joking, and found it amusing.
"Then hurry up and unscrew your sleeves." Lian Yi raised an eyebrow. "Or did you burn more than just your arms? Well, with the tray in that position, you might have burned your chest or abs too."
"Um……"
Her expression gradually turned serious, and she pondered, "How about you unbutton them all so I can see your abs... and whether you're injured?"
Jiang Yu's eyes widened for a moment, then her cheeks flushed slightly. She seemed about to say something but hesitated, then said in a gentle voice, "Give me the medicine, I can apply it myself."
He reached out to take the burn ointment from Lian Yi's hand, but she deftly dodged him.
"No way." Lian Yi's eyes curved into crescents, her lips curled slightly upward, her expression both smug and malicious.
The burn ointment swayed in front of Jiang Yu as she moved her hands.
"If you won't do it yourself, then I will."
Lian Yi smiled, but her hand still rested on his cufflinks. Her fingertips pressed against the cufflinks, and after skillfully unbuttoning them, she pulled up the shirt sleeves before Jiang Yu could react.
"One..." Jiang Yu's words of protest dissipated into the air.
Lian Yi's smile faltered slightly, then gradually turned cold.
She stood in front of Jiang Yu, looking down at him with her gaze fixed on his arms, which were slightly tense and revealed muscle definition due to nervousness.
Jiang Yu has been unable to tolerate wind or sun exposure for many years, resulting in a consistently pale and somewhat fragile complexion.
Therefore, even casual brushes can leave light or heavy marks on his body.
The spot where the tray touched the ground was bright red, but fortunately, it didn't blister because of the layer of clothing covering it.
On his arm, deep and shallow, were crisscrossing scars hidden in the sleeves rolled up to his knuckles.
Lian Yi's eyes were icy as she stared at the wounds and said in a low voice, "What did the Li family do to you?"
"Yiyi, it's okay, it's all in the past." Jiang Yu came to his senses, looked up at Lian Yi with focused eyes, his gaze soothing.
He raised his other hand and gently grasped her hand, which was tightly clutching the burn ointment.
"Don't be angry. These injuries didn't happen for no reason. Let me apply the medicine first, and then I'll explain it to you slowly, okay?"
"you say."
Lian Yi pursed her lips, pulled her hand away, lowered her eyes and leaned against the dining table. She took up his burned hand, twisted open the burn ointment with one hand, and shoved the seal against the lid that had fallen onto the table.
"...The pillars of the Li family suffered accidents one after another. After Li Jingcong became a vegetable, the old man was greatly affected and became even more worried about the future succession of the Li family."
He knew Lian Yi was unhappy at the moment, and her voice was so gentle that it seemed she wasn't talking about her own situation.
“He is old-fashioned, while I grew up in Yunhai. There are many things that a member of the Li family should know and be able to do. It is not an easy thing to learn them as soon as possible.”
"The old man just hopes that I can take over the important responsibility of the Li family as soon as possible, so..."
Lian Yi applied ointment to his arm, the cool ointment melting gently with her fingertips. Upon hearing this, she sneered, "Old-fashioned ideas? Hoping your son will become a dragon?"
"Tell me about the injuries on your hands."
“You didn’t do a good job of dining etiquette, or your calligraphy didn’t get the teacher’s praise…” Jiang Yu looked at Lian Yi’s expression, shut his mouth, and didn’t continue.
"What about other things? If you don't do a good job, he'll slap your hand; if your walking posture doesn't meet his standards, he'll slap your leg? If you say the wrong thing, will he hit your mouth?"
Lian Yi felt a surge of anger; she hadn't expected the Li family to treat Jiang Yu this way.
“It’s all in the past, Yi Yi. These scars will fade soon. It’s just that I’ve been busy with the funeral arrangements for the old man and a lot of other things lately, so I haven’t had time to apply any medicine.”
Jiang Yu gently comforted her, his beautiful phoenix eyes fixed on her, his expression calm and relaxed, without the slightest hint of reluctance.
“The scars will fade, but what about the pain you felt back then?” Lian Yi closed her eyes. “Xiao Jiang, even if we respect the dead, even so, I’m still very unhappy.”
Why should the Li family abandon Jiang Yu in Yunhai for over a decade just because of the words of a so-called master?
They needed him to take over the business, so they rushed to find him, only to hurt him like this.
Lian Yi suddenly felt a little regretful. She shouldn't have tacitly agreed to Jiang Yu's idea of not contacting him again after leaving Yunhai over the past two years.
She always felt that everything she had now would be lost little by little after the story began.
Xiao Jiang is a character who doesn't exist in the plot outline; his departure is perhaps the inevitable direction the plot should take.
Therefore, she didn't want to involve her best friend, who had been by her side the longest, because of her own willfulness.
Lian Yi had also thought of an excuse to do so, and Jiang Yu hadn't contacted her proactively, had he?
It wasn't until the visible scars on his arms, and the invisible ones, came into clear view that Lian Yi realized that Jiang Yu's life over the past two years hadn't been as easy as he had appeared.
"It's alright, Yi Yi."
Jiang Yu smiled gently, "If you're really unhappy... could you please stop reaching into my sleeve?"
"Let me feel how many more scars there are, and how serious they are." Lian Yi lowered her eyes.
She knew Jiang Yu was an emotionally stable person, but why should the person who was hurt have to deal with it on their own, while the perpetrator… This was also the reason that made her feel most frustrated.
Even though Jiang Yu has now taken over the Li family, he seems completely unaffected by these past pains.
The result was good, but Lian Yi could never ignore the suffering he had endured.
But now that things have come to this, she doesn't want Jiang Yu to comfort her anymore.
"What's wrong with touching it? I didn't touch your abs." She snorted and reprimanded Jiang Yu for his reservedness.
"good--"
Jiang Yu's hand was still being held by her, and he seemed completely unaware of it. "However, Yi Yi, I'm also very worried about your current situation."
"Worried about me?" Lian Yi looked at him, puzzled.
“I heard that… Uncle seems to value Lian Zhongyue highly, has always admired him, and arranged for him to work in the group. His performance in recent years has been remarkable, and he has a good reputation in the Lian Group.”
Jiang Yu and Lian Yi looked at each other, their gazes calm and composed.
“Although you have never been interested in business, I am worried that Lian Zhongyue might see you as an obstacle to his advancement. This situation is not without precedent.”
Lian Yi paused in her action of applying ointment to his hand.
"Lian San'er?"
She scoffed, "My dad thinks highly of him, so let's just follow their example of filial piety."
Lian Zhongyue's little schemes were well hidden beneath his calm and mature exterior, but Lian Yi could see that he harbored great ambitions for the Lian family.
That's only natural, but unfortunately, it all comes to nothing in the end.
He was willing to go through all sorts of trouble and engage in underhanded schemes just to become the right successor in Lien Tak-sing's eyes.
If he handles this matter well, Lian Yi might even present him with a banner of appreciation.
Lian Yi paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered she should remind him, "Now that you've taken over the Li family, I know you're capable of doing some things. But even if we're the best of friends, don't interfere in my family's affairs."
"Whether Lian San'er becomes the heir of the Lian family through legitimate or illegitimate means, you should not speak up for me."
She looked intently at Jiang Yu, her eyes bright.
"Just as you don't value the Li family's money, I don't care about the Lian family's things either."
"Don't do anything stupid because of me, okay?"
Jiang Yu paused for a moment, of course he knew this, he knew Lian Yi’s personality, she did not like to be arranged and controlled by others.
Therefore, he could tolerate the presence of Xie Ling in her life.
In everything she encountered, he only did things behind her back, in a way that wouldn't let her notice.
But people always have selfish desires, and Jiang Yu is no exception.
He wanted to give her the best of everything; everything she deserved and everything she wanted should belong to her.
"I don't want to say anything that would spoil the atmosphere at this time, but if I find out that you're using the Li family's influence to do something for me, even if your intentions are good, then I'm worried."
Seeing that he seemed unwilling to answer for a long time, Lian Yi, even though she was still holding his hand, narrowed her eyes without any restraint and said, "Then, Xiao Jiang, we won't even be friends anymore."
"I don't need self-righteous friends."
She could clearly feel the muscles in her arm tighten for a moment between her palms.
“Okay, I won’t do things you don’t like.” Jiang Yu nodded helplessly.
Lian Yi then smiled with satisfaction.
She knew Jiang Yu wouldn't understand, but after so many years of relationship, it didn't matter whether he understood or not, as long as he didn't fall headlong into this pit because of the predetermined ending.
"How about I take you to Beishan for vegetarian food in a couple of days? They've changed the head chef there, and the vegetarian food they make is quite good."
Lian Yi was carefully applying the ointment when she suddenly let out a soft exclamation.
“You are from the Li family, and Xi Lai also has the surname Li, so you are from the same clan.”
Jiang Yu kept his eyes fixed on her. When he heard her jump around to change the subject several times in a short period of time, he smiled and said, "Perhaps if we look through the family tree, we are from the same clan."
"It's really amazing, but Xi Lai has never liked playing with you. If she knew about this, she'd probably be speechless." Lian Yi found the thought of that scene amusing.
Jiang Yu found her words amusing. Just as he was about to speak, a figure appeared in his line of sight facing the restaurant entrance, led by the butler.
He casually ignored it, looking up at Lian Yi with a relaxed and easy demeanor. When he smiled, he quickly drew Lian Yi's attention to his face.
"Yiyi, you've already applied half a tube of ointment. I think that should be enough for this burn," Jiang Yu said with a slight smile.
"Oh, okay."
Lian Yi leaned down slightly, sighed, and helped him roll up his sleeves. "Little Jiang, don't smile at me like that anymore."
"Hmm?" Jiang Yu's smile was slightly faint, his expression somewhat puzzled and at a loss.
After re-fastening her cufflinks, Lian Yi was not exactly close to him, but she could still easily see his face clearly.
At 21, Xiao Jiang has truly proven what it means to shed one's immaturity and exude a mature charm.
He seemed completely oblivious to everything. He was handsome and alluring, yet his manners and behavior were impeccable. These two seemingly contradictory impressions were intertwined.
Some things, after all, are still just things between friends. At most, Lian Yi might take advantage of this relationship to gain a little benefit, but she would still be mindful of boundaries and tactfully avoid overstepping them.
Lian Yi sighed again, "Even a rabbit won't eat the grass near its burrow."
"You look so easy to bully when you smile. Don't smile like that anymore, or I'll feel like bullying you." She made a fierce expression and wrinkled her nose.
Jiang Yu's stunned expression faded, and then he lowered his head and smiled helplessly.
A few strands of black hair fell down, but they couldn't hide his superior, high nose bridge and slightly curved lips.
"Lian Yi?"
"Are you occupied……"
Behind them, a young man suddenly asked a question with slight hesitation, but his deep, cold voice made the hesitation in his words seem somewhat distorted.
Lian Yi and Jiang Yu looked at each other.
She suddenly realized that she seemed to be getting a little too close to Xiao Jiang.
Then she suddenly remembered that Xie Ling was still her nominal boyfriend, and that she had recently caught him and told him that she liked him.
But looking at Jiang Yu, her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of doubt.
Lian Yi's inexplicable guilt vanished instantly. She and Xie Ling were completely innocent, and he had no romantic feelings for her whatsoever. Why was she feeling guilty?
"You're here, Teacher Xie."
Lian Yi straightened up, turned around, and smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Let me introduce you, this is my friend, Jiang..."
"Jiang Yu." Jiang Yu was beside her. Because Lian Yi was standing in front of her, he could only sit down and add to Lian Yi's hesitation about which name to give. Then he politely nodded to Xie Ling.
"Yes! Xiao Jiang, he's my classmate Xie Ling, you know him." Lian Yi lowered her voice slightly for the last few words.
"..."
Xie Ling's eyes, gleaming with a cool light, watched them quietly.
Lian Yi stood beside the young man, her legs almost touching his knees, a very close and familiar distance.
The light in his eyes gradually dimmed, dissipating until only pure black and white remained.
"Yi-yi, why don't you take your classmate to the living room to sit for a while? I'll cut the cake and then come over."
Jiang Yu didn't move, but looked at Xie Ling and smiled, "Xie Ling, I don't know if you like sweets. This is a cake we made ourselves. If you don't mind, you can try it later."
"Just let the housekeeper do it."
Before Xie Ling could answer, Lian Yi frowned slightly. "Although the burn isn't serious, let's stay away from it for now."
"It's alright, Yi Yi." Jiang Yu looked up at her, his brows and eyes relaxing with a smile. "Just consider it fulfilling my insistence on making you the first cake I ever made, okay?"
"Don't keep the guest waiting, go and serve him first."
Perhaps because they were close, Jiang Yu lowered his voice, making it so low that only the two of them could hear it.
"...Alright then."
Having grown accustomed to Jiang Yu's meticulous planning in everything he did, Lian Yi was too lazy to argue with him over such a trivial matter.
She walked towards the restaurant entrance, casually reminding them, "The tray is still hot, don't forget to wear gloves before you pick it up... Butler, go prepare some tea, did you get the black tea I asked you to prepare yesterday?"
“It’s all ready, Miss.” The butler nodded slightly.
"Um."
Lian Yi was about to walk past Xie Ling when she saw him just staring at her, seemingly lost in thought. So she reached out and waved in front of him.
"What are you thinking about? You're just spacing out."
She looked at her suspiciously, "Did that drink last time make you stupid? Come on over, we'll be busy later."
"Mmm." Xie Ling responded softly, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and he followed behind her with his eyes lowered.
Thinking that she still needed their help, Lian Yi suppressed her nonchalance and coughed lightly, "I'll trouble you today. You only need to learn a few very simple dance steps. As for the rest... it doesn't really seem necessary."
Although Lian Yi didn't plan to cause trouble at her grandfather's birthday banquet, that didn't mean she would take Xie Ling to play the social etiquette game with others.
With the lesson on banquet etiquette crossed off in her mind, Lian Yi confidently said, "Anyway, when the time comes, if you don't like someone, just show your true self!"
"...I don't think I've seen that person before."
Xie Ling listened silently to Lian Yi's cheerful voice as she spoke. After she paused, Xie Ling pursed her lips slightly and couldn't help but ask a question.
Are you talking about Xiao Jiang?
Lian Yi smiled and turned to look at him, "Because he was very busy before, so he didn't have time to play with me."
"..."
Xie Ling couldn't quite describe the emotions that were filling her heart at that moment.
The anticipation he had felt since Lian Yi sent him a message last night had been slowly fading away.
Regardless of Lian Yi's familiarity and relaxation towards that young man.
It was the subtle sense of antagonism the young man gave him, and the things he said... Xie Ling didn't know if he was overthinking it, but it was undeniable that it was only a brief encounter.
With just a few words, the young man had already casually defined him as an 'outsider'.
"Lian Yi..." he called out to the person in front of him instinctively.
"Um?"
Lian Yi was getting impatient. Turning around, she frowned and said, "Xie Ling, what's wrong with you today? Are you trying to skip work? Or are you planning to run away?"
"..." Xie Ling was speechless.
"We... are going to play a couple, right?"
“Yes.” Lian Yi tilted her head, walked around the potted plant, and casually sat down on the sofa.
"If you want others to believe it."
Xie Ling paused, a strange emotion supporting him, and the words that came out of his mouth were so unfamiliar that he almost felt a sense of detachment as if they were not spoken by him.
"Instead of learning how I should behave at a party, we should probably learn... how to act as a couple."
"...Huh?"
Lian Yi paused for a moment, then seriously considered Xie Ling's words.
She couldn't help but look in surprise at the boy standing not far in front of her.
Beneath his black hair, his eyes were calm, clear, and composed, and his expression was normal, though his pursed lips made him look a little serious. But that was Teacher Xie.
"Xie Ling." Lian Yi's smile grew wider and wider.
"You truly deserve to be called a genius! As a reward, you'll get two extra pieces of cake later. Come on, tell me in detail how you study?"
What does it mean to draw inferences from one instance and to have a coherent train of thought?
Xie Ling looked at her bright, clear amber eyes, brimming with laughter and unable to hide her joy, and lowered his gaze slightly, giving a soft "hmm."
cake.
He never liked eating that kind of food.
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