Chapter 19: Provincial City Roast Goose Lai Fun with Its Unique Salty…

After greeting Zhou Weihao, Bai Yuanzhi smiled at him and prepared to leave.

But Zhou Weihao stopped her. “Ah Zhi, I have something… I’d like to ask for your help. May I… have the chance to treat you to a cup of coffee?”

After a pause, he added with a bitter smile, “Ah Zhi, you don’t need to be so guarded against me. If you really don’t trust me, you can bring your cousin along.”

It had been over a month since Bai Yuanzhi started working at the Bilanting Hotel.

Whether by coincidence or not, Zhou Weihao often ran into her.

Sometimes he wondered if Bai Yuanzhi was like those girls who secretly had crushes on him, deliberately creating chance encounters or meetings just to see him and find opportunities to flirt.

After experiencing this several times, Zhou Weihao finally concluded—Bai Yuanzhi had no intention of currying favor with him.

The reason she frequently crossed paths with him was that, besides working part-time as a cleaner at Bilanting, she seemed to have other side jobs. To adjust her shifts, she often swapped with colleagues. As a result, he sometimes saw her three or four times in a single day…

Since realizing Bai Yuanzhi had no ulterior motives or inappropriate thoughts about him, Zhou Weihao’s fondness for her grew even more.

Indeed, who wouldn’t appreciate a young, beautiful, intelligent, generous, and tactful girl who knows when to advance and when to retreat?

Now, in a difficult situation, he had come up with an idea—whether good or bad, he couldn’t say—to extricate himself.

After much thought, he believed Bai Yuanzhi was the most suitable person to help him.

So today, he deliberately intercepted her on her way home from work.

However, Zhou Weihao never expected that Bai Yuanzhi’s first reaction upon seeing him would be to leave as quickly as possible and distance herself from him!

This left Zhou Weihao both amused and exasperated.

To keep Bai Yuanzhi from leaving, he had no choice but to bring up her cousin.

Faced with Zhou Weihao’s persistence, Bai Yuanzhi felt a headache coming on.

The “cousin” he mentioned was Li Yongzhen.

Previously, Li Yongzhen had failed her interview for a front desk position at the Bilanting Hotel. Later, she begged Bai Yuanzhi for help. Bai Yuanzhi took Li Yongzhen to stake out near the Bilanting Hotel to wait for Zhou Weihao, eventually helping Li Yongzhen secure an offer and successfully join the Bilanting Hotel restaurant as a service staff member in the food and beverage department.

Now, with Zhou Weihao bringing up Li Yongzhen’s situation,

Bai Yuanzhi couldn’t refuse. She had no choice but to say, “How could I let Mr. Zhou spend money? This cup of coffee should be on me!”

Zhou Weihao smiled as he looked at Bai Yuanzhi.

So, Bai Yuanzhi took Zhou Weihao to the same cha chaan teng where she had treated Li Yongzhen last time.

She ordered a buttered French toast again, paired with a cup of silk-stocking milk tea.

—At this stage, when she lacked the energy to cook for herself, high-sugar, high-fat foods deeply appealed to her.

Thus, once the food arrived, Bai Yuanzhi happily dug into the rich, creamy French toast.

Zhou Weihao ordered a red bean ice.

The ingredients for the Hong Kong-style red bean ice are quite simple.

Simple ingredients, but the preparation method is anything but simple.

—First, the red beans are placed in a pressure cooker with water and brown sugar, then simmered until tender. After simmering, the red beans still look plump and round on the outside, but inside, they are incredibly soft and mushy.

Take half the amount of red beans, grind them into a paste, and strain through a sieve to achieve a smooth red bean puree.

When making the drink,

first fill the bottom of a tall, transparent glass with plenty of ice;

scoop in a spoonful of plump, distinct red bean grains;

then add two spoonfuls of red bean puree into the glass;

pour in three spoonfuls of the pinkish red bean water from boiling the beans;

finally, add a spoonful of melted creamy ice cream water…

and a glass of red bean ice is complete!

In appearance,

the bottom of the red bean ice is filled with crimson red bean grains, followed by a layer of smooth, soft red bean puree, then transparent pink red bean water, and at the very top, milky-white ice cream water.

The entire drink presents a beautiful gradient color, very enticing.

However, Zhou Weihao didn’t seem to have much interest in savoring this visually and aromatically pleasing drink.

He only took a small sip of the red bean ice,

then shifted his gaze to Bai Yuanzhi.

Bai Yuanzhi was fully focused on enjoying the delicious French toast.

It must be said, sweetness can indeed bring joy.

Although today’s butter French toast seemed slightly overcooked, it had a rich, toasty aroma, and the surface was even crispy…

A serving of French toast had nine small pieces,

and she had already eaten four in one go before finally looking up at Zhou Weihao,

only to freeze.

—Why was he staring at her?

Zhou Weihao saw Bai Yuanzhi’s lively and clever expression and couldn’t help but smile.

“Is this French toast… really that delicious?” he asked with a chuckle.

Bai Yuanzhi choked slightly.

This seemingly ordinary question was actually quite difficult to answer.

First, she and Zhou Weihao weren’t that familiar yet.

Second, Sister Lily’s instructions still echoed in her ears…

Bai Yuanzhi thought for a moment and answered evasively, “Mr. Zhou, shall I order a serving of French toast for you too?” After saying this, she raised her hand to call over the waitress.

Zhou Weihao quickly stopped Bai Yuanzhi, “No need, no need, I was just asking.”

The waitress had already hurried over,

but Bai Yuanzhi ignored Zhou Weihao and directly said to the waitress, “Excuse me—”

Zhou Weihao interrupted Bai Yuanzhi and said to the waitress, “No need, thank you!”

The waitress left.

Bai Yuanzhi looked at Zhou Weihao with confusion.

Zhou Weihao smiled helplessly and explained, “I really was just making conversation… I’m not like you girls who enjoy these sweet, fragrant little snacks.”

Bai Yuanzhi bit her lower lip and remained silent.

Zhou Weihao waited for a while, but seeing that Bai Yuanzhi still hadn’t responded, the smile on his face was almost impossible to maintain.

He took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and was about to speak—

when suddenly someone exclaimed in surprise, “Young Master Zhou”?

Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao both turned their heads at the sound and saw a slightly chubby young man wearing bell-bottoms, a floral shirt, and dyed yellow hair.

The yellow-haired young man had his arm around a heavily made-up modern woman.

He looked Zhou Weihao up and down, seemingly confirming he hadn’t mistaken the person, quickly released the woman in his arms, and walked over to Zhou Weihao with a smile, plopping down on the chair next to Bai Yuanzhi.

Bai Yuanzhi stared wide-eyed at the yellow-haired man.

Although the yellow-haired man was smiling and greeting Zhou Weihao, he was also observing Bai Yuanzhi.

He glanced at Bai Yuanzhi, thinking she was dressed plainly, just a girl with delicate features;

Then he couldn’t help but glance at Bai Yuanzhi again. This time, he noticed that Bai Yuanzhi actually had delicate and beautiful features. Though her clothes were plain, she wasn’t without charm.

After that, the blond-haired guy couldn’t help but stare intently at Bai Yuanzhi.

The more he looked, the more he thought—this girl is really pretty! Her features were exquisite and lovely, and her skin was tender, smooth, and delicate.

And the more he looked, the more reluctant he was to tear his gaze away from this girl…

“Smack!”

The blond-haired young man was suddenly hit.

It was the fashionable woman who had come with him.

Seeing the blond-haired guy staring at Bai Yuanzhi, the woman was displeased. She hit him again and then glared with wide eyes, asking, “Ah Bin, if you’re sitting here, where am I supposed to sit?”

—Earlier, Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao had been sitting at a four-person table, but they were facing each other.

Now, with the blond-haired guy sitting beside Bai Yuanzhi,

the only remaining seat was next to Zhou Weihao.

After questioning the blond-haired guy and seeing him stammer without an answer, the woman simply plopped herself down next to Zhou Weihao. In a sweet, coquettish tone, she greeted him, “Young Master Zhou, long time no see… How have you been lately?”

As she spoke, she leaned closer to Zhou Weihao.

Zhou Weihao uncomfortably shifted away.

The woman shot a fierce glare at the blond-haired guy, then turned her gaze to Bai Yuanzhi. After confirming that Bai Yuanzhi was a pretty girl, her expression soured even more. She turned back to Zhou Weihao with a smile and asked, “Young Master Zhou, are you here today… picking up girls? Wow, this little sister is so pretty! It’s rare for Young Master Zhou to change his ways…”

Zhou Weihao’s expression instantly turned cold.

“Ah Bin, I’m busy right now and can’t chat for too long,” he said coldly to the blond-haired guy.

Only then did the blond-haired guy tear his gaze away from Bai Yuanzhi. He responded obsequiously with “Oh, oh, oh,” then immediately stood up, grabbed the woman, and tried to pull her away.

The woman, likely resentful that the blond-haired guy had been staring so intently at Bai Yuanzhi earlier, was still angry and struggled incessantly. “What are you doing? I still want to have a good chat with Young Master Zhou!”

She even rolled her eyes at the blond-haired guy!

The blond-haired guy quickly apologized to Zhou Weihao, “Sorry, Young Master Zhou, we have things to do and won’t disturb you anymore…” Then, ignoring the woman’s struggles, he pushed and shoved her as they hurriedly left.

And so—

Only Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao were left at the scene again.

Bai Yuanzhi wasn’t without thoughts,

but right now, she really wanted to get away from Zhou Weihao.

So she neither asked nor spoke, silently eating her French toast and occasionally sipping the rich, smooth, and mellow milk tea.

Zhou Weihao, however, hesitated.

He had originally wanted to have a good chat with Bai Yuanzhi.

But with the blond-haired guy’s interruption—

coupled with Bai Yuanzhi’s attitude, which was all too clear.

—Even though Bai Yuanzhi hadn’t said or done anything, her “avoidant” posture already conveyed her stance.

Zhou Weihao was thin-skinned.

Several times, he wanted to speak, but the words reached his lips… only to be swallowed back.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, took a banknote from his pocket, placed it on the table, and said to Bai Yuanzhi, “Ah Zhi, I have something to attend to and need to leave first. Take your time.”

With that, he left.

Bai Yuanzhi glanced at the banknote he had left on the table—it was a fifty-dollar bill.

But the French toast and milk tea she ordered, along with the red bean ice she got for him, only added up to twenty-five dollars in total.

Bai Yuanzhi decisively put away the fifty-dollar bill, then took twenty-five dollars in loose change from her own wallet and placed it on the table. She seriously finished the last piece of French toast and drank up the milk tea before getting up to leave.

However, what Bai Yuanzhi didn’t expect was,

as soon as she stepped out of the cha chaan teng, she saw Zhou Weihao.

To be precise, she saw Zhou Weihao’s back.

A scantily dressed, slender young woman was pestering him, not only cooing “Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou” in a sweet voice but also trying to pull at Zhou Weihao…

Zhou Weihao, meanwhile, kept blushing and backing away.

How to put it? In Bai Yuanzhi’s eyes,

Zhou Weihao really was a decent and shy young man.

As soon as that young woman tugged at him,

Zhou Weihao was like the Tang Monk who had mistakenly wandered into the Spider Cave—flustered, blushing, and carefully avoiding the woman, afraid he might accidentally touch her…

It was just too comical.

Bai Yuanzhi couldn’t help herself and let out a laugh.

Zhou Weihao immediately turned around, and when he saw Bai Yuanzhi, his eyes lit up. “Ah Zhi!”

Little did he know, the woman who had just been all over him also looked over and called out, “Ah Zhi”…

Bai Yuanzhi froze.

She took a closer look at the woman and realized it was actually—Li Yongzhen?

Now the three of them were left staring at each other.

Li Yongzhen knew Bai Yuanzhi well—given Bai Yuanzhi’s current financial situation, she wouldn’t be willing to spend money on a meal at a cha chaan teng!

Besides, it wasn’t even mealtime.

So why was Bai Yuanzhi here?

Most importantly, Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao had left the cha chaan teng one after the other.

Could it be that Bai Yuanzhi had been on a date with Zhou Weihao just now?

Li Yongzhen’s expression instantly turned sour.

And as soon as Zhou Weihao saw Bai Yuanzhi, it was like he had found a lifeline!

Especially when he realized Bai Yuanzhi was trying to slip away,

Zhou Weihao said loudly, “Ah Zhi, where are you going? Let me take you!”

Bai Yuanzhi quickly waved her hands. “No, no, it’s fine! You two go ahead with your business. I have something to do, so I’ll be going now!”

With that, she dashed off as if fleeing.

“Ah Zhi! Bai Yuanzhi! Stop right there!” Li Yongzhen stomped her feet angrily and desperately called out to Zhou Weihao, “Mr. Zhou! Mr. Zhou, don’t go… Let me explain!”

Bai Yuanzhi thought it was strange. She figured Li Yongzhen wanted to stop her from leaving, so calling out to her made sense.

Still, she wasn’t going to stay.

But why was Li Yongzhen also telling Mr. Zhou not to leave?

Could it be that Zhou Weihao had run off too?

Bai Yuanzhi felt even more certain she shouldn’t stay there.

Besides, if she could get to the mall a bit earlier, she might still be able to snag a promotional job for the evening shift!

So she quickened her pace and headed toward the street corner without looking back.

But what Bai Yuanzhi didn’t expect was—

“Ah Zhi!”

Zhou Weihao’s voice suddenly sounded close by.

Bai Yuanzhi paused, turned around, and realized Zhou Weihao had run after her.

“You—” For a moment, Bai Yuanzhi didn’t know what to say to him.

Zhou Weihao glanced back, then turned to Bai Yuanzhi anxiously and said, “Ah Zhi, come on, let’s go! Hurry, get in the car. We need to leave here first…”

Bai Yuanzhi followed Zhou Weihao’s gaze and saw that Li Yongzhen was already chasing after them in a furious huff.

In that instant, Bai Yuanzhi’s mind raced through countless scenarios.

—Based on her understanding of Li Yongzhen, if Li Yongzhen managed to latch onto them, she would likely pester both Bai Yuanzhi and Zhou Weihao, demanding that Zhou Weihao treat her to meals, shopping, and the like.

Bai Yuanzhi had no opinion on how Li Yongzhen chose to pursue Zhou Weihao.

But Bai Yuanzhi didn’t want to lose her part-time work hours today.

At that moment, Zhou Weihao had already opened the passenger door of a car parked by the roadside and urged Bai Yuanzhi anxiously, “Ah Zhi, get in the car, quick!”

Bai Yuanzhi gritted her teeth and got in.

Zhou Weihao closed the door for Bai Yuanzhi, then quickly circled around to the driver’s seat, got in, and started the car…

Li Yongzhen finally rushed over, shouting anxiously, “Ah Zhi, where are you going? Take me with you! Mr. Zhou! Mr. Zhou!”

Just as Li Yongzhen was about to pull open the rear car door,

Zhou Weihao stepped on the gas, and the car roared away at high speed.

Li Yongzhen was left behind, stomping her feet in anger.

Bai Yuanzhi patted her chest, still shaken.

Suddenly, she heard Zhou Weihao say, “Ah Zhi, fasten your seatbelt.”

Bai Yuanzhi fell silent, realizing that the thing she least wanted to happen had finally come to pass—she was stuck in such a confined space with Zhou Weihao, and worse, Li Yongzhen, who was both gossipy and jealous, had seen it!

She sighed, pulled over the seatbelt, and buckled it.

Zhou Weihao added, “Ah Zhi, help me buckle mine too.”

Bai Yuanzhi glanced at him and saw that Zhou Weihao was steering with one hand while holding the seatbelt buckle with the other, but after several attempts, he still couldn’t find the buckle slot.

Bai Yuanzhi had no choice but to take the buckle from his hand and insert it into the slot.

Zhou Weihao suddenly chuckled softly, “Are you afraid of your cousin?”

Bai Yuanzhi replied honestly, “It’s not that I’m afraid of her… well, I suppose I am afraid of her. It’s hard to explain things to her in a short time, and it would end up affecting my part-time work.”

Zhou Weihao looked surprised, “Haven’t you already been promoted to a full-time position? Why are you still doing part-time work?”

Bai Yuanzhi said matter-of-factly, “I officially start the day after tomorrow. I can still do part-time work today and tomorrow!”

Zhou Weihao glanced at her.

Bai Yuanzhi said, “Mr. Zhou, please pull over and let me out. I’m really in a hurry.”

Zhou Weihao remained silent for a moment before asking, “Where are you going for your part-time work?”

Bai Yuanzhi named the mall and added, “Just stop the car and let me out.”

Zhou Weihao hummed in acknowledgment but showed no intention of stopping.

Bai Yuanzhi couldn’t help but look at Zhou Weihao.

—He was pursing his lips tightly, his brows furrowed, looking as though he was about to make a major decision.

“Mr. Zhou, you… pull the car over. I want to get out,” Bai Yuanzhi repeated.

Zhou Weihao took a deep breath, “Ah Zhi, I’ll drive you to the mall. It’ll take about ten minutes. I… I want to use these ten minutes to discuss something with you.”

Bai Yuanzhi first checked the road and confirmed that he was indeed driving toward the mall before relaxing, “Please go ahead, Mr. Zhou.”

Zhou Weihao took another deep breath and then asked Bai Yuanzhi, “Ah Zhi, how much can you earn from your part-time work?”

Bai Yuanzhi was taken aback.

She turned her head, frowning at Zhou Weihao, not wanting to answer the question.

Zhou Weihao was also taken aback for a moment.

A few seconds later, he suddenly laughed, “Did you think I wanted to steal your business?”

Bai Yuanzhi: …

Well, not exactly.

But being questioned about her income by someone she wasn’t familiar with was quite presumptuous.

After being amused by Bai Yuanzhi’s reaction, Zhou Weihao seemed much more relaxed.

He said to Bai Yuanzhi, “Don’t be nervous, I don’t want to compete with you for business. But since you’re so hardworking, you must want to earn a little more money, right?”

Bai Yuanzhi remained silent, listening quietly.

Zhou Weihao continued, “So I thought… I could introduce you to a part-time job. It definitely won’t interfere with your formal work at Bilanting Songhe Tower, and this job isn’t tiring at all. You could say you hardly need to do anything to have a stable income. What do you think?”

Bai Yuanzhi was half-convinced and half-doubting: Could such a good thing really exist?

Her skeptical and distrustful expression greatly amused Zhou Weihao.

He even couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Ah Zhi, you’re really adorable.”

Bai Yuanzhi frowned.

—Already having a girl he likes, yet still praising another girl to her face—this wasn’t a good sign.

So she kept a straight face and said nothing.

Zhou Weihao’s bad mood seemed to have completely vanished.

He said to Bai Yuanzhi, “Ah Zhi, if you don’t object, then I’ll… lay things out clearly!”

“Ah Zhi, I hope you can… pretend to be my girlfriend.”

Huh?

What!!!

Bai Yuanzhi was utterly shocked!

Zhou Weihao went on, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you, and I don’t need you to do anything for me either. You just need to take on a nominal role.”

Bai Yuanzhi widened her eyes.

She wanted to refuse,

But Zhou Weihao said, “…I can pay you ten thousand Hong Kong Dollars a month as compensation!”

What?

Ten thousand Hong Kong Dollars a month!!!

Bai Yuanzhi’s heart immediately raced with excitement.

But soon, Bai Yuanzhi came back to her senses, “Mr. Zhou, you have excellent conditions. If you just want to deal with your family pressuring you to get married, you could easily find a young lady from a suitable background. Why come to someone like me, whose conditions aren’t appropriate?”

—Although she had already roughly guessed Zhou Weihao’s intentions, it was still necessary to hear why he had made such a decision.

Zhou Weihao sighed, “To be honest, I already have a girlfriend.”

Bai Yuanzhi raised an eyebrow.

Zhou Weihao continued, “But my family… doesn’t approve of my girlfriend. I’m not afraid of you laughing at me—you might think your personal conditions aren’t good, but in my parents’ eyes, your personal conditions might be much better than my girlfriend’s.”

“Perhaps you also want to ask, if I just want to find a shield, why not find someone with conditions similar to mine…” Zhou Weihao asked.

Bai Yuanzhi nodded.

Zhou Weihao smiled bitterly, “Ah Zhi, then I’ll be completely honest. Don’t get angry—I really don’t mean to look down on you.”

Bai Yuanzhi shot him a sidelong glance.

Zhou Weihao took a deep breath, then with the determination of a warrior severing his own wrist, he spoke word by word: “I just want to find a girl with not-so-great conditions, bring her before my parents, and then I hope this nominal girlfriend can put on a performance in front of them… This way, my parents will be put in a difficult position. Hmm, do you understand what I mean?”

Zhou Weihao was afraid he hadn’t made himself clear enough and might cause Bai Yuanzhi to misunderstand, so he stammered as he explained further, “Uh, what I mean is… you don’t need to perform too well, you… you even have to perform poorly… so that it highlights how good Duoluoxi is.”

Bai Yuanzhi suddenly understood!

She couldn’t help but glance at Zhou Weihao, thinking to herself what kind of love-struck fool he was.

The fact that his parents hadn’t been angered to death yet truly showed they were open-minded and thick-skinned.

Zhou Weihao felt utterly ashamed under Bai Yuanzhi’s piercing gaze. “Ah Zhi, you… you’re not angry, are you?”

Bai Yuanzhi held back again and again but ultimately couldn’t resist asking, “Mr. Zhou, you really did a lot, a lot… just so your parents would accept your girlfriend.”

Zhou Weihao sighed heavily.

Bai Yuanzhi asked again, “Does your girlfriend know about this?”

Zhou Weihao was taken aback. “Know what?”

Bai Yuanzhi said, “Does she know you’ve done so much to make your parents accept her?”

Zhou Weihao nodded with certainty. “Of course she knows!”

Bai Yuanzhi pressed further, “Mr. Zhou, it’s clear that you’ve been very proactive and hardworking in trying to make this happen. But what about your girlfriend? Has she made any efforts to win your parents’ acceptance? Has she taken any concrete actions for this?”

Zhou Weihao: …

These words hit Zhou Weihao like an ice sculpture in Harbin during the coldest days of winter, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

Bai Yuanzhi immediately regretted what she had just said.

—If her words really managed to wake up this ultimate love-struck fool, wouldn’t she immediately miss out on this immense fortune!

So she quickly asked, “Mr. Zhou, you’re offering ten thousand a month to hire me to play the role of your girlfriend…

I’m very grateful that you think so highly of me, but you must admit, this is a very difficult task.

First, this nominal girlfriend of yours can’t be too cheap, or people will question your judgment, wondering why you keep digging through the trash for shit, and you’ll become a laughingstock in your social circle.

Second, I must always maintain the right balance—I can’t let your parents dislike me too much, or they’ll resent you even more, damaging your family ties. But I also can’t let them like me too much, or if the fake becomes real, what will happen to your real girlfriend?

Third, I can’t let your girlfriend become jealous, lest it affects your relationship with her.

Finally, once you achieve your goal, it’ll be time for me to step back gracefully. Not only must I not cling to you, but I must also sacrifice my own reputation to ensure the union between you and your real girlfriend…

Mr. Zhou, you should know how difficult this is.” Bai Yuanzhi spoke earnestly and persuasively.

Zhou Weihao nodded repeatedly.

Bai Yuanzhi smiled. “Thank you so much, Mr. Zhou, for believing that an eighteen-year-old girl like me, who just moved from the mainland to Hong Kong, can handle such a complex and daunting task.”

Zhou Weihao: …

He inexplicably felt his face flush.

Bai Yuanzhi smiled and said, “It’s not impossible, but I have conditions.”

Zhou Weihao straightened up. “Go ahead.”

Bai Yuanzhi said, “Ten thousand a month isn’t enough… I need you to pay me one hundred thousand Hong Kong Dollars in one lump sum, in cash, and you must give it to me in advance.”

Zhou Weihao was shocked.

“…Otherwise, if your parents find out you’re giving me ten thousand Hong Kong Dollars every month, how could they possibly believe I’m your girlfriend?” Bai Yuanzhi explained.

Zhou Weihao thought for a moment and nodded. “You make a good point.”

Bai Yuanzhi said, “Now that we’ve settled on the price, we need to discuss the timeline. Mr. Zhou, I have my own plans and goals, and I can’t afford to spend too much time and energy on your love story. So, at most, I can only be your nominal girlfriend for six months. After six months, even if your parents still can’t accept your real girlfriend, I will still ‘break up’ with you.”

“Of course, during these six months, I’m happy to play my part, but only as an act. There can be no physical contact between us, and you can’t say anything inappropriate to me. Is that okay?”

This time, Zhou Weihao remained silent for a long while.

Bai Yuanzhi tried to persuade him, “Don’t worry, Mr. Zhou. During these six months, I won’t just take your money without doing my part. I’ll do my best to help you achieve your goal, just as you requested.”

“And you don’t need to think six months is too short. In my opinion, six months is more than enough. Even if I accomplish nothing during my time as your nominal girlfriend, after six months, when we ‘break up,’ you can get back together with your ‘ex-ex-girlfriend.’ To others, that would seem perfectly reasonable.”

Zhou Weihao thought it over, and his expression softened slightly.

Bai Yuanzhi then raised her final and most important condition. “But—Mr. Zhou, the prerequisite for our agreement is that I must meet your girlfriend in person. If your girlfriend and I can’t come to an understanding, then our agreement is invalid!”

With that, she unbuckled her seatbelt.

Yes—

Zhou Weihao had already driven and parked in front of the mall where Bai Yuanzhi worked part-time.

Bai Yuanzhi got out of the car and said to Zhou Weihao, “Mr. Zhou, if nothing unexpected happens, I’ll be working a part-time shift at this mall tomorrow afternoon. Perhaps I can chat with your girlfriend for about half an hour.”

After saying this, she smiled at Zhou Weihao. “Goodbye, Mr. Zhou!”

Bai Yuanzhi gently closed the car door and walked away.

Zhou Weihao sat in the car, dazed, watching Bai Yuanzhi stride briskly into the nearby mall.

Right now—

His mind was a mess.

His relationship with Duoluoxi… had lasted nine years, starting from the second year she came into his life until now.

—From when he was sixteen to now, at twenty-four.

Yet his parents still refused to accept Duoluoxi.

Zhou Weihao was growing increasingly anxious.

He had come up with this plan only because he felt he had no other options.

But just now, Bai Yuanzhi had posed a soul-searching question to him:

“Has she ever made any effort to win your parents’ acceptance? And has she taken any concrete actions for it?”

Zhou Weihao couldn’t help but recall the day he interviewed Bai Yuanzhi.

A beautiful, hardworking young woman was actually competing with a group of middle-aged women for a part-time room cleaner position.

He thought her appearance and figure were quite good, so he sincerely suggested she switch to a more relaxed, better-paying job—for Bai Yuanzhi, this would be a good thing; for Bilanting Hotel, having another young, beautiful, and clever receptionist would be a win-win situation.

But how had Bai Yuanzhi responded at the time?

He remembered it clearly.

She said, “Thank you, but I have my own plans and goals.”

Zhou Weihao’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

How should he put it?

He came from a wealthy family. Although a few years ago, his parents had deliberately cut off his allowance and barred him from working in the family business to force him to break up with Duoluoxi,

Zhou Weihao never lacked money.

The safety net of the family trust fund ensured that even without working, he received a substantial monthly income, allowing him to maintain a dignified and affluent lifestyle.

Yet, Zhou Weihao still hoped his parents would accept his Duoluoxi.

To that end, he had originally co-founded an international trading company with a friend, aiming to grow and strengthen it through his own efforts, so his parents could see his capabilities. At the same time, he wanted to prove to them that being with Duoluoxi would lead to a better future.

In the beginning, everything flourished.

Zhou Weihao provided the capital, while his friend brought extensive work experience. Their trading company quickly expanded and thrived.

Then—

Problems emerged.

Zhou Weihao’s friend hired over a dozen young, attractive, and highly educated women as sales representatives.

Due to the booming business, these professional women were often overwhelmed with work.

Zhou Weihao, who was fluent in English, frequently had to leave Duoluoxi behind and rush to the company to help.

However, Zhou Weihao was only proficient in English and lacked work experience, so the assistance he could offer was limited to taking foreign clients out for entertainment…

As a result, Duoluoxi began to feel insecure.

She grew suspicious, convinced that Zhou Weihao always returned home drunk, his clothes often carrying the scent of women’s perfume.

She cried through the nights, threatened to break up, and frequently entertained extreme thoughts.

To reassure Duoluoxi, Zhou Weihao created a position for her at the trading company.

Duoluoxi went for just one day and never wanted to return.

—Because in that upscale and luxurious office, every professional woman wore expensive, well-fitted clothing, had flawless and beautiful makeup, exuded an elegant and assertive demeanor, spoke with confidence and fluency, and their English was impeccably standard.

Thus, Duoluoxi felt intensely inferior. Although she could speak English, her heavy accent made her incomprehensible to anyone except Zhou Weihao!

Most importantly, Duoluoxi tearfully complained to Zhou Weihao, saying that the professional women at his company spoke to her as if they were ordering around a Filipina domestic helper!

And so, Duoluoxi never went to his company again.

She also forbade him from going.

She wanted him to stay at home with her all the time,

as that was the only way she could feel secure.

Zhou Weihao could certainly avoid the company, but he couldn’t remain idle all day either.

Seeing him sink into depression, Duoluoxi eventually came up with a solution—she asked her sister, who worked at the Bilanting Hotel, to find Zhou Weihao a job there.

At first, Zhou Weihao was reluctant to go,

but Duoluoxi insisted,

so he went.

After starting work at the Bilanting Hotel, Zhou Weihao began to glimpse the lives of those at the bottom of society.

Somehow, he and Duoluoxi suddenly found many topics to discuss.

They could talk about how to tidy the house, how to cook meals, whether to use polite language when speaking to others, how many teeth to show when smiling to convey proper etiquette…

His relationship with Duoluoxi grew stronger and stronger.

He loved Duoluoxi more and more.

He longed to marry Duoluoxi.

But Zhou Weihao couldn’t simply marry any woman.

After all, he was the heir to a wealthy family.

If his marriage did not receive his parents’ blessing, he could even lose his eligibility as the heir in severe cases.

Therefore, getting his parents to accept Duoluoxi as soon as possible had become Zhou Weihao’s most important task at the moment.

Now, the words Bai Yuanzhi had spoken:

“Has she ever made any effort to gain your parents’ acceptance? And has she taken any concrete actions for it?”

Played over and over again automatically in Zhou Weihao’s ears.

For some inexplicable reason, he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.

Perhaps because he had been parked here for too long,

a police officer came over to check the situation, “Sir, you can’t park on this street, please move along.”

Only then did Zhou Weihao snap back to reality, start the car, and slowly drive away.

As if guided by some unseen force, he actually drove back to the old family mansion.

At this time, his parents were not at home, still at work in the company.

The old butler came forward, calling out excitedly, “Little Hao,” with tears streaming down his face.

Zhou Weihao wandered around the house for quite a while.

He saw that the room he used to live in was still kept tidy, the wardrobe filled with new clothes for the season, not only in styles that matched his taste but also from the brands he used to love buying;

He saw the spacious villa adorned everywhere with photos of him and his parents, his equestrian trophies, fencing awards, debate competition prizes, and campus singer certificates, all displayed in the most prominent places in the house;

He saw his father’s blood pressure medication on the cabinet in the corner of the living room and his mother’s walking cane placed beside the sofa…

Zhou Weihao’s eyes suddenly reddened at the corners.

The butler hurried over, “Little Hao, I’ve already called the master and madam, they’re rushing back now… How about having a meal together today? Madam said she wants to personally cook your favorite Provincial City Roast Goose Lai Fun. I’ve already told the cook to prepare the rice noodle batter right away. As for the roast goose, the master has already left the company and is driving to Kowloon to buy it.”

Zhou Weihao initially wanted to refuse because Duoluoxi was sensitive by nature.

If he returned home even an hour later than his usual work hours, she would suspect he was out on a date with another woman.

But the butler’s mention of “Provincial City Roast Goose Lai Fun” made Zhou Weihao nod unconsciously.

After the butler left,

Zhou Weihao strolled around the villa.

Unconsciously, he found himself at the music room.

After standing at the door for a few minutes, Zhou Weihao mustered the courage to walk in.

The grand piano in the music room still stood quietly, waiting for its long-absent owner.

Zhou Weihao reached out and carefully touched it.

His falling out with his parents wasn’t just because of Duoluoxi,

but also because of his own dreams.

—Zhou Weihao wanted to become a musician in the pop music industry.

But he was the only son and the heir to a wealthy family.

His parents were unhappy with him lowering his status by being with Duoluoxi and even more opposed to him focusing on songwriting instead of managing the family business.

Thus—

One day many years ago, when his parents returned home late and saw him and Duoluoxi in disarray on the bed,

all the conflicts erupted at once!

Later, he protected Duoluoxi like a hero and left…

With these thoughts running through his mind, Zhou Weihao’s hands seemed to have a mind of their own, automatically lifting the keyboard cover and hovering over the keys.

A moment later, his slender fingers pressed down on the piano keys.

Familiar memories flooded back.

As the piece ended, Zhou Weihao began panting heavily.

He hadn’t touched the piano since angrily leaving home three years ago.

After all, the apartment he rented with Duoluoxi was too small for a piano.

But he never expected his body to remember the composition he wrote so vividly…

An inexplicable sense of joy welled up within him.

“Hao Zai!” The familiar call made Zhou Weihao freeze instantly.

Zhou Weihao turned his head slowly and saw his parents standing together at the doorway of the music room.

Come to think of it—

Even though he had been staying in Hong Kong City all along, he hadn’t returned home in three years.

He never realized how much his parents had aged!

“Dad! Mom!” Zhou Weihao exclaimed, his voice trembling.

The elderly couple silently wiped away their tears.

Mr. Zhou looked at his son with reddened eyes, his voice hoarse, “It’s good to have you back.”

Mrs. Zhou asked, “Are you hungry? The Roast Goose Lai Fun is ready…” Her voice trailed off, choked with emotion.

Zhou Weihao accompanied his parents to the dining room.

It had been a long time since the three of them sat quietly together at the same table for a meal.

Zhou Weihao still took his usual seat.

Before him was a bowl of fragrant Roast Goose Lai Fun.

Lai Fun is a traditional Cantonese dish.

Freshly harvested rice is cooked into rice, then pounded with water into a rice paste. A pot of broth is prepared, and the thick rice paste is poured through a large-holed strainer, dripping down to form noodle-like strands. These are cooked in the broth and then ladled out.

This is Lai Fun.

The rice produced in the Guangdong region is fragrant but less glutinous, making the rice paste almost non-sticky.

Once cooked, Lai Fun tends to break easily, and the broth it’s cooked in becomes thick like porridge.

Yet, precisely because of this, a bowl of Lai Fun offers varied textures—the rice broth is smooth and rich, while the Lai Fun itself is refreshing and chewy.

Additionally,

The accompaniments for Lai Fun are uniquely flavorful.

First, the broth used to cook Lai Fun is typically made by simmering fresh pork ribs, chicken carcasses, and fish heads. Dried ingredients like octopus, dried oysters, and dried shrimp are also added. This results in a broth that combines the sweetness of fresh meat with the intense, savory aroma of dried seafood.

Second, the ultimate pairing for Lai Fun is Roast Goose, as its distinctive aroma and flavor can cut through the richness of the broth.

Moreover, due to the sticky texture of Lai Fun, people often enjoy it with fried fish skin or fried peanuts, adding layers of crunch and variety to the dish.

The old butler stood nearby, attending to the Zhou family as they ate. He couldn’t help but say to Zhou Weihao, “Hao Zai, Mr. Zhou drove out himself to buy this Roast Goose… and Mrs. Zhou cooked the Lai Fun herself. Try it quickly and see if it tastes just like before.”

Zhou Weihao glanced at his parents.

They were looking at him with hopeful, smiling eyes.

Zhou Weihao lowered his head and began eating the Lai Fun.

It was delicious.

It had been his favorite food since childhood.

However, for the past three years, he had been accommodating Duoluoxi’s dietary preferences and hadn’t eaten his beloved Lai Fun in a long time.

Zhou Weihao finished the entire bowl in one go.

His parents beamed with joy.

Mrs. Zhou asked hopefully, “Will you stay tonight? I’ll ask Auntie Wei to bring some new towels to your room later.”

Mr. Zhou added, “Jiayao has been coming home every day lately. Why don’t you go to the back hill after dinner and hang out with him…”

Zhou Weihao fell silent for a moment. “I have to go back… I have to leave soon.”

Upon hearing this, his parents also fell silent.

Mrs. Zhou sighed. “Go if you want to! You’re grown up now, and we can’t control you anymore.”

Zhou Weihao didn’t know what to say.

But he knew that if he didn’t return to the rented apartment soon, Duoluoxi would be crying uncontrollably!

He had no choice but to stand up. “Dad, Mom, I… I’ll come back to see you when I have time.”

He didn’t even dare to look his parents in the eye before hastily fleeing.

Behind him, his father’s sigh and his mother’s soft sobs left Zhou Weihao’s heart in turmoil.

Zhou Weihao hurried to the garage, got into his car, and drove away from the villa.

However, just as his car left the gate, a black sedan approached from the opposite direction, seemingly heading toward the back of the mountain.

Zhou Weihao yielded, stopping his car in place.

The black sedan slowly came to a halt, and the rear window rolled down, revealing a refined and handsome face.

“Brother Hao?” the young man asked with delight. “You came back today?”

Zhou Weihao looked at his good friend Ming Jiayao and smiled. “A Yao!”