Chapter 22

Chapter 22: He Kneels on the Steps Secretary Shen almost blurted out "President Yu," but he held it in. "I'll take you there when the time comes." Whether he'd actually take her to the finance department or "accidentally" take the wrong turn to President Yu's office would depend on how drunk he was that day. Lin Meiyan didn't think much of it. She thanked Secretary Shen. "Then I'll go to Jianghai Dicai tomorrow and just drop your name." Secretary Shen thought to himself—dropping my name isn't nearly as useful as dropping the boss's name. But of course, he wouldn't say that out loud. He looked up at Zhou Ran. Zhou Ran was just about done with the photos. Qiaoqiao had taken an interest in his Sony camera, and he was crouching in the sunlight, explaining it to her. Secretary Shen's brow twitched. This wouldn't do. Youth Lin belonged to his boss. And so did Qiaoqiao! What did Zhou Ran have to do with any of this? He strode over quickly. "Engineer Zhou, photos are done. We should head back now." "President Yu has three more renovation jobs for you. You need to be on-site this afternoon." It was clear Zhou Ran had been scheduled to the brim. He looked a little disappointed but packed away his Sony camera into its black case. He reached out and patted Qiaoqiao's head. "Alright, that's it for today." "If you're interested, once I'm done with this busy stretch, I'll come back and teach you how to take photos." "Or I could come find you at Linji." As he said this, Zhou Ran stole a careful glance at Lin Meiyan. Seeing no sign of rejection on her face, he breathed a sigh of relief. Sister Lin looked so beautiful today. She wore a red polka-dot fitted long dress, her figure slender and elegant. But what was most striking was her face—her hair pulled back perfectly revealed her features, soft and lovely, her eyes bright and clear. Her fair skin stood out dazzlingly under the sunlight, radiant beyond words. So beautiful! Zhou Ran thought happily to himself—back in Xiangjiang, people used to mock them for having no beauties in the mainland. They really ought to see Sister Lin. It would blind their dog eyes. Qiaoqiao hadn't yet answered Zhou Ran's offer. She looked at Lin Meiyan, seeking her mother's opinion. Before Lin Meiyan could respond— Secretary Shen panicked. He stepped forward, grabbed Zhou Ran, and pulled him back, using his own body to block the distance between him and Lin Meiyan. "My dear Engineer Zhou, you really have no idea how much work you have on your plate." "Yesterday you signed three contracts. From what President Yu was saying, even Jiangcheng Baire Daluo is thinking of having us redo their renovation. Look at you—you've got no fewer than ten orders in hand. Where would you find time to come to Linji and teach a kid photography?" Even if someone were to teach her, it would be his boss! What business did some random man have teaching her? Did he even deserve a key to that door? Zhou Ran, a fresh graduate of only two years, was no match for a seasoned operator like Secretary Shen. He was naturally led astray. "How did I get so many orders? Don't I get four days off every month?" Secretary Shen didn't bat an eye. "How famous is Jianghai Dicai? The newly established renovation department is naturally impressive too. Don't worry—the better the Jianghai Dicai renovation department gets, the more opportunities you'll have to grow. In a few years, won't you be an internationally renowned renovation designer?" When it came to painting rosy pictures, no one could beat Secretary Shen. Zhou Ran was duly swept up in the fantasy. He gave a grunt of acknowledgment. Secretary Shen seized the opening and dragged Zhou Ran away. But Zhou Ran, usually so simple-minded, showed a stubborn streak this time. He turned back to Lin Meiyan and said, "Sister Lin, if I get a day off and come to Linji for a meal, save some for me, alright?" After a month of getting to know each other, Lin Meiyan was already familiar with Zhou Ran. She smiled and nodded. "No problem." Secretary Shen's radar was screaming. Problem. Problem. Problem! Definitely a problem. He pulled Zhou Ran along like a donkey turning a millstone, dragging him out with all his might. "You're still thinking about eating? You can't even finish this month's orders." Zhou Ran muttered under his breath. Secretary Shen suppressed it all. Youth Lin belonged to his boss! And so did Qiaoqiao! No one was going to tear their relationship apart! After the Linji renovation was finished, only some cleaning remained—work that Ye Qiuju and Gu Kaihua could handle between them. But when they arrived, they noticed the loquat trees planted by the entrance and were a bit surprised. "These loquat trees look pretty lively. Quite nice." Lin Meiyan gave a soft "mm" and sat to the side, tallying the accounts. Qiaoqiao helped nearby. "Mom, how much money do we have left?" Lin Meiyan didn't hide it from her. "Four thousand three hundred yuan." Qiaoqiao began counting on her fingers, converting the value of a "ten-thousand-yuan household" in the 80s, then calculating what four thousand yuan was worth in the 90s. It sounded like quite a lot. But Lin Meiyan tapped her forehead. "Sounds like a lot, but this time, renovating and refreshing Linji—without two thousand—" She paused. "No, without three thousand, we can't pull it off." Qiaoqiao let out an "ah." "That's so much money." Lin Meiyan looked up at everything about Linji and nodded. "Yeah, otherwise where do you think such a beautiful Linji came from?" All of this had been bought with money. "Mom, are you going to Jianghai Dicai to pay tomorrow?" Lin Meiyan nodded, and Qiaoqiao let out an "oh." "Then after I go to after-school care, I'll have Granduncle pick me up." "You don't need to rush back to pick me up from school." She remembered that last time she was late, her mom had rushed back in a panic—it seemed like Uncle Yu had come with her mom, and it caused rumors about her at kindergarten for days. Some people said Uncle Yu was pursuing her mom. Others said she was Uncle Yu's illegitimate daughter. What a mess. She couldn't clear her name even if she jumped into the Yellow River. If she were Uncle Yu's illegitimate daughter, then the sun would rise from the west. Lin Meiyan was surprised by how considerate her daughter was. "Alright, if I'm too busy to make it back in time, I'll have Granduncle pick you up." She didn't know how much this would cost in total, so she could only say she'd bring all her money. She had calculated it carefully—if she kept about seven or eight hundred yuan for ingredients, her Linji could open, because Linji was alive, the business was alive, and the cash flow was alive too. As long as Linji opened and had business, she wouldn't be short on money. Of course, that was assuming everything went smoothly. Gu Kaihua overheard and muttered, "You still have to make the trip yourself? Weren't Secretary Shen and Engineer Zhou here before? You could just give the payment to them and save yourself the trip." Lin Meiyan shook her head, her porcelain-white face full of gentleness. "Secretary Shen and Engineer Zhou each have their own duties—it wouldn't be right to trouble them." "Besides, I haven't opened for business yet, so I'll just make the trip ahead of time." Gu Kaihua thought to himself, where did all these rules come from? He let his gaze rest on his niece's overly beautiful, gentle face and formed a suspicion in his mind. No way, right? No way? The boss of Jianghai Dicai couldn't still have feelings for his niece, could he? Of course, Gu Kaihua wouldn't say that out loud. After Lin Meiyan left carrying her bag, Qiaoqiao scrambled up onto a stool and whispered something into Gu Kaihua's ear. Gu Kaihua reached out and flicked her forehead. "Little girl, you're not trying to trick me, are you?" Qiaoqiao stomped her foot. "Granduncle, why would I lie to you about something like this?" Gu Kaihua stared at her face for a moment. "You really came up with a menu?" "Not yet—I just thought up a framework in my head, but I can't read." Qiaoqiao pressed her palms together. "Granduncle, please." "My mom's already busy enough. I don't want to bother her with something this small." Gu Kaihua figured she had a point, so he picked up a pen and paper. "You say it, I'll write it." Qiaoqiao took out her notebook. "You need to write it like this—the menu goes from top to bottom, left to right." "Write the dish name in front, and the price behind it." Gu Kaihua's plump face was full of impatience. "Got it, got it. You're so naggy." Qiaoqiao really wanted to punch him, but he was still her elder, so she held back. When you need someone's help. You have to butter them up. And so Qiaoqiao called out dish names while Gu Kaihua wrote them down. As he wrote, he noticed something off. "What's Kung Pao Chicken?" Qiaoqiao covered her mouth. "My mistake." "It should be Waguan Weitang, pork rib and lotus root soup, pork belly and chicken soup, Bagua Tang, and pig trotter soup." Gu Kaihua said, "How hard are these dishes to make? Your mom would exhaust herself to death trying to make all of these alone." Qiaoqiao argued confidently, "Waguan Weitang can be made in advance—you can make a whole bunch of pots at once, and when customers order it, you just bring it out." This was semi-finished pre-made food. Well, not exactly. Pre-made food wasn't this good—this could be simmered overnight. Gu Kaihua figured she had a point, so he kept writing. "Also braised dishes and cold dishes." "We need braised pork, braised pork hock, braised pork offal, braised chicken wing tips, braised chicken feet, braised chicken wings—oh right, the big ones are braised duck necks, braised duck heads, and braised duck racks." Gu Kaihua listened with a bewildered look. "Braised duck necks? What the heck is that?" "How is your mom supposed to make all these braised dishes by herself?" Qiaoqiao opened her big eyes wide. "Granduncle, even if you can't cook, you can still eat. All these braised dishes can be braised in one pot—it's no trouble at all." When Linji only had one cook, making all the dishes pre-made was naturally the most convenient option. As for braised duck necks—that was a famous Jiangcheng dish, renowned nationwide in later generations. Sorry, Brother Duck! She was bringing out Zhou Heiya ahead of schedule. Gu Kaihua figured she had a point. "You really inherited it—you got your grandfather's cooking skills." The last person who knew this many dish names was his late brother-in-law. As for Meiyan, though she had some cooking skill, her ability was still far behind his brother-in-law's. Qiaoqiao said proudly, "Of course." Her mom had later found Grandfather's recipe book, but by then her mom was older and had lost the drive. Later, that recipe book was carried forward and expanded in her hands. She had grown Linji from a thirty-square-meter little shop into a two-story establishment. But of course, she couldn't say that to Gu Kaihua. "Also, after you finish writing the braised dishes, you should write the cold dishes next." Gu Kaihua said, "Got it, got it." By now, he was truly convinced by his four-year-old grand-nephew. It was fortunate that Gu Kaihua was thick-skinned; if it had been anyone else, Qiaoqiao would have been exposed long ago. "Cold dishes are even simpler—braised lotus root slices, braised potato slices, braised edamame, braised crystal vermicelli—" The more she spoke, the more puzzled Gu Kaihua became, because many of these dishes he had never even heard of. "Where did you hear all this?" How could a four-year-old know such things? Qiaoqiao stared wide-eyed and lied through her teeth, pointing at the sky. "Grandpa taught me." The moment she said that, Gu Kaihua nearly pissed himself in fright. He scrambled off his chair, rolling and crawling under the table, clutching his head in panic. "Brother-in-law, vengeance has its target—don't come after me!" "I've been raising your daughter and granddaughter for you—I'm your benefactor!" "You can't repay kindness with enmity!" Qiaoqiao: "..." Qiaoqiao bent down and poked her head under the table. "Grand-uncle, Grandpa is right here." She waved her hand. "See, right here." Gu Kaihua screamed in terror, yanking Qiaoqiao into his arms and hiding her away. "Damn you, Lin Tonghe, you bastard! Scaring me is one thing, but how dare you scare the child too?" "Have you forgotten your roots? Do you know who Qiaoqiao is? She's your Yanyan's daughter!" "If you scare her, if you scare her, I'll call my sister over to strangle you!" At the mention of his sister, he stopped being afraid himself. "You bastard! Now you know how to play tricks with ghosts! Back when the accident happened, you just kicked your legs and died, leaving my sister and two kids all alone and helpless." "If you really know how to haunt people, why didn't you show up earlier? When my sister was bullied and dunked in the toilet, why didn't you come out? When my sister was starving to death, why didn't you come out? When your daughter was in difficult labor, why didn't you come out?" "And now you show up!" As he spoke, Gu Kaihua somehow found courage and crawled out from under the table. "What are you showing up for now? Does my Gu family need you? Scram, scram, scram, scram!" He said "scram" himself, but halfway through, he felt a bit reluctant. "Before you scram, teach Qiaoqiao all your skills." "If you don't teach her, don't teach her—just watch me go dig up your grave tomorrow!" Qiaoqiao: "..." Qiaoqiao realized she had taken the joke too far and fooled her grand-uncle. But more than that, she felt touched—her grand-uncle truly cared for her. Even though he was scared out of his wits, his fat body trembling all over, he still remembered to pull her into his arms to protect her. "Grand-uncle." She suddenly called out. Gu Kaihua jumped three feet in the air, screaming. "Ahhhh!" "Lin Tonghe, don't you dare actually come for me!" "Grand-uncle!" Qiaoqiao reached out and pinched his arm. Gu Kaihua looked down at her, and their eyes met. "You called me?" "Who else?" Gu Kaihua let out a heavy breath. "I thought it was your grandpa calling me." "That's what I was thinking—how did the generation get mixed up?" If Lin Tonghe were calling him "grand-uncle," that would be a disaster. That would make him Lin Tonghe's ancestor. Qiaoqiao's expression was subtle. Sensing that he had lost all face in front of the younger generation, Gu Kaihua stroked his non-existent beard. "Back in my younger days, your grand-uncle here went up and down mountains and slept on graves." Qiaoqiao said, "Then do you dare dig up my grandpa's grave?" Gu Kaihua gave her a soft slap, light as cotton. "You little brat, always bringing up what shouldn't be brought up." Qiaoqiao covered her mouth and laughed. "My grandpa said he forgives you." "Really?" "Really." Gu Kaihua puffed up with pride. "See, I told you—after all these years of raising your grandpa's daughter and kids for him, how could he come after me?" "Sure enough, good deeds are rewarded." Qiaoqiao said nothing. Qiaoqiao simply smiled. Grand-uncle is so cute. This time around, grand-uncle absolutely must not die young. Lin Meiyan took the No. 7 bus from Simenkou and arrived at Jianghai Dicai. The entire route was lined with low, squat buildings. Only the tall building of Jianghai Dicai stood out conspicuously. Even though this wasn't her first time here, she still stood at the base of the building, gazing up at it. For a long time, the apartments at Jianghai Dicai had been something Lin Meiyan desperately longed for. Because back then, she couldn't get Linji back, and she lived with her uncle's family with Qiaoqiao in tow. She knew she was a burden to her uncle. She was trying to find a way out. The child needed to go to school and needed a household registration. At Jianghai Dicai, buying a house meant you could settle your household there—it was practically tailor-made for Lin Meiyan. But now, Lin Meiyan didn't need it anymore. She had Linji. At the thought, Lin Meiyan pressed her lips together and smiled. Everyone has obsessions. Lin Meiyan's obsession was a house, and now that obsession had been resolved. So her mood was calm and relaxed as well. She walked over to the front desk and said to the receptionist, "Comrade, I'm the owner of Linji, here to pay the renovation fee for Jianghai Dicai. Could you please help me contact Secretary Shen?" Xiao Chen at the front desk looked at her with a complex yet delighted expression. The female lead of the Jianghai Dicai rumor was here!! Xiao Chen invited Lin Meiyan in with an extremely enthusiastic attitude, "You're Boss Lin, right?" "You're here to see my master?" "Your master?" Xiao Chen had an apple-shaped face, round and plump, quite adorable. "Yes, yes, Secretary Shen is my master." —I've also seen your photo in the boss's office. Of course, that was something she couldn't say. Hearing that she was Secretary Shen's apprentice, Lin Meiyan smiled gently, "Then you have a bright future ahead. Secretary Shen is a very capable person." "Right, right, I also think my master is amazing." She still couldn't catch up to her master's pace for now, but that was fine—she'd definitely catch up in the future. After confirming the other party's identity, Xiao Chen immediately picked up the front desk phone and dialed the internal line. In a moment, it connected. "Master, Boss Lin is here, now at the front desk." The person on the other end said to wait. Xiao Chen was a bit confused, so she said to Lin Meiyan apologetically, "Boss Lin, you'll have to wait a moment." Lin Meiyan nodded, her face gentle, "No problem, a little time won't matter." When she smiled, it was like pearls emitting a soft, subtle glow. This made Xiao Chen's eyes light up, "Boss Lin, you're really beautiful." No wonder even though she was married with kids, our boss still wanted to be the mistress. Lin Meiyan smiled and said softly, "You're beautiful too." Like a woman under the misty rain of Jiangnan, she exuded a gentle aura from the inside out. Being complimented always lifted one's spirits, especially being praised by a great beauty. Xiao Chen touched her face, "Boss Lin, you really know how to talk." She changed the subject, "Boss Lin, with someone as gorgeous as you, your spouse must be outstanding too, right?" I wonder, can our boss successfully become the mistress? How was Lin Meiyan supposed to answer that? "Ahem." Fortunately, Secretary Shen arrived. He shot a glare at his apprentice, and Xiao Chen immediately mimed zipping her lips, signaling she'd shut up. Secretary Shen's head ached, regretting ever taking on Xiao Chen, the biggest gossip, as his apprentice. He decisively put that matter aside and extended his hand to Lin Meiyan in invitation, "Youth Lin, let me take you upstairs." Lin Meiyan nodded. She carried her bag, her figure graceful, her back view slender. Xiao Chen stood at the front desk, unable to help herself, "Just from her back view, she's a great beauty." "No wonder our boss would become a mistress for love." "Who's the mistress?" In the early 1990s, a wave of nouveau riche and wealthy people rose up in the country. Once they had money, keeping mistresses and side pieces was everywhere. So, everyone was very sensitive to the word "mistress." Xiao Chen turned around and saw Lu Qingyuan standing behind her. She was so startled her soul nearly left her body, "P-P-P-President Lu, n-n-n-no one." "I'm on front desk duty today, just received Boss Lin." She couldn't handle being scared—one fright and she confessed everything. Lu Qingyuan adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, glanced at Xiao Chen, and said in a refined manner, "Your boss became a mistress for love?" Xiao Chen's face turned pale instantly. "N-n-no, no." Anyway, deny it to the death. "President Lu, you must have misheard." Lu Qingyuan didn't confirm or deny. He curled his lips, looking every bit the refined scoundrel, "Work hard." He turned and left. Xiao Chen clutched her pounding chest and huffed angrily, "My boss could still be a mistress for love." "You damn fox spirit, no one would want you even as a mistress for love!" Lu Qingyuan suddenly turned around. Xiao Chen looked up at the sky, playing dead, "That episode of Journey to the West yesterday, 'Three Strikes of the Fox Spirit,' was really good." Lu Qingyuan, "That was the White Bone Demon." Xiao Chen, "..." No difference? Fox spirit, White Bone Demon—aren't they both spirits? Lin Meiyan followed Secretary Shen to the elevator entrance. She had just stood there, watching Secretary Shen press the button. Her face turned slightly pale. The last elevator ride was still vivid in her memory—like soaring into the clouds, then plummeting into hell. Rising and falling, every time was a challenge for her. Secretary Shen didn't know she was afraid of elevators. He introduced with a proud expression, "Youth Lin, in all of Jiangcheng, only Jianghai Dicai has elevators." "Jiangcheng Shangchang and Jiangkou Train Station do have elevators too, but theirs are too old, and Jiangkou Train Station's elevator is still a staircase type." "They simply can't compare to our Jianghai Dicai elevator." The numbers on the small elevator screen were jumping, descending slowly from the fourteenth floor. Lin Meiyan nodded with a smile. Secretary Shen continued chatting away, "Back then, my boss wanted to import Xiangjiang elevators and install them in our Jianghai Dicai office and residential buildings." "President Lu absolutely refused, saying the cost was too high." "But my boss was determined to have his way, forcing the office and residential buildings to be constructed up to fourteen stories, and he went directly to Xiangjiang to purchase the elevators." "Youth Lin, you have no idea—the reason Jianghai Dicai's properties sell like hotcakes is largely due to our office buildings being equipped with elevators." This was their biggest selling point at Jianghai Dicai. The first floor and the fourteenth floor were office space, while the second through thirteenth floors were residential units. This was also the first project in Jiangcheng to combine office and residential buildings. How could Lin Meiyan not know? She had known ever since Jianghai Dicai first ran their advertisements. Back then, she had longed to own her own home and had even visited Jianghai Dicai several times on her own. She had held Qiaoqiao in her arms, gazing up at the tall building, and made a promise to her: "Give Mommy a little more time, and Mommy will buy us a home of our own." At that time, she hadn't known that Jianghai Dicai belonged to Yu Jianghai. But now she did. However, times had changed. She had Linji and a place to call home, so she no longer yearned for a Jianghai Dicai property. She smiled and offered a sincere compliment. "Your boss is very impressive." Just then, the elevator descended from the fourteenth floor to the first. With a ding, the doors slid open. —Your boss is very impressive. Those were the first words Yu Jianghai heard. His usually stern face shifted subtly at that moment. "Boss, why did you come down personally?" Secretary Shen, like a loyal right-hand man, was the first to react, rushing over to lay on the flattery. Before Yu Jianghai could even answer, he began muttering to himself. "Were you worried I wouldn't take good care of Youth Lin?" "You came just in time. I was still thinking about how to report things to the finance department. Now that you're here, they'll follow whatever you say." With that, Secretary Shen pursed his lips, convinced that his flattery had been executed to perfection. But the scene fell rather quiet. The two subjects of his flattery, the man and woman in question, both remained silent. As the elevator doors opened, Lin Meiyan looked up at the other party. Today, Yu Jianghai wore a white dress shirt and black trousers, his figure tall and straight, impeccably upright. His hair was combed back, revealing a clean, handsome face that was both stern and distinguished. He was truly striking. Lin Meiyan had always felt that people who wore their hair slicked back looked overly greasy, but that wasn't the case with Yu Jianghai. Not only that, but his clean aura and fair complexion lent him an added air of refined elegance. They locked eyes. Lin Meiyan paused briefly, then greeted him. "President Yu." At least in public, that was always how she addressed him. Yu Jianghai's brow furrowed slightly. He said nothing, merely stepping out of the elevator with measured strides, making the small waiting area feel suddenly more crowded. "The finance department is upstairs. I'll take you there." His voice was indifferent, carrying a note that brooked no argument. Before Lin Meiyan could react, Yu Jianghai had already pushed open the corridor door and headed for the stairwell. Lin Meiyan was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered and hurried after Yu Jianghai. Leaving Secretary Shen standing alone at the elevator entrance, bewildered in the wind. He muttered to himself. "What's going on here?" "Is this how people date these days?" "The finance department is on the fourteenth floor. He's planning to walk up all those stairs?" Just then, Lu Qingyuan returned from signing a contract outside, a black briefcase tucked under his arm. He asked casually, "Who's planning to walk up to the fourteenth floor?" "Isn't that a complete idiot?" With a perfectly good elevator available, someone would choose to climb fourteen flights of stairs in the sweltering heat of July. He really feared the person would die of heatstroke or exhaustion. Secretary Shen stopped smiling. He stared at Lu Qingyuan. Lu Qingyuan felt uncomfortable under his gaze. Seeing Secretary Shen's murderous expression, he ventured cautiously, "The one climbing fourteen flights of stairs in this heat... it's not your boss, is it?" People often said Secretary Shen was a good dog by Yu Jianghai's side—point him at someone, and he'd bite. On ordinary days, he'd greet everyone with smiles and pleasantries, but if anyone dared to say the slightest thing against his boss, he'd flip his face on the spot. Secretary Shen smiled without warmth. "President Lu, a bachelor like you naturally wouldn't understand my boss's joy." "As long as he can be with Youth Lin, never mind climbing fourteen floors—even jumping off the fourteenth floor, my boss wouldn't hesitate for a second." Lu Qingyuan said, "Is your boss really that foolish?" Secretary Shen replied, "President Lu, would you even get the chance to be that foolish? After all, true lovers are rare in this world. Devoted men like my boss are nearly extinct." "So, President Lu, don't compare. Comparing is just asking for humiliation." Lu Qingyuan: "..." Truly, mad people keep mad dogs. A pair of lunatics. "Forget it. If they won't take the elevator, I will." Lu Qingyuan turned and stepped into the elevator, and Secretary Shen followed him in. The two of them stood alone in the spacious elevator, dressed in suits and looking every bit the picture of professionals. Lu Qingyuan, briefcase in hand, openly mocked him. "I thought you'd be climbing the stairs with your boss." "I don't have a lover to keep me company, so I don't need to take the stairs—just like President Lu." How was that not a veiled jab? Lu Qingyuan didn't want to deal with him. Watching the numbers on the elevator display change floor by floor, Lu Qingyuan stood inside, utterly at ease. "We're already at the eighth floor. I wonder how many floors Old Yu has climbed by now." At that moment. Inside the stairwell. Lin Meiyan followed Yu Jianghai out and only then realized he intended to take her up the stairs. She hesitated, then asked softly, "Yu Jianghai, do we have to climb fourteen floors?" Yu Jianghai turned around, standing on the steps, looking down at her from above. Lin Meiyan was wearing a V-neck dress with a slightly loose neckline. From his angle, he could just see a stretch of her fair chest and slender neck, like the mouth of a blue-and-white porcelain vase—smooth, white, and lustrous. His gaze darkened. After a long moment, he looked away and gave a grunt in acknowledgment. He didn't explain, didn't answer, just turned and walked ahead. Just like all those years ago. Lin Meiyan stood still for a moment. She thought to herself, what a sin this is. She'd run into the silent Yu Jianghai again. So annoying. She lightly stamped her foot, but that stamp was a mistake—the heel of her high heel snapped with a crack, and she twisted her ankle. Lin Meiyan: "..." She felt like it was raining on top of a leaky roof. She took a deep breath and called out to the figure on the stairs, "Yu Jianghai, I'm wearing high heels." At this point, she felt a bit embarrassed. "The heel broke." Yu Jianghai stopped and looked down at her. "Then take the elevator?" Other than the elevator, there was only the stairs. But Lin Meiyan was afraid of the elevator. Only Yu Jianghai knew that. Lin Meiyan hesitated. "Forget it, I'll take the stairs." She bent down, crouching, and limped as she took off her high heels, holding them in her hand. Without the restraint and cover of her shoes, Lin Meiyan's pair of fair, rounded feet was exposed to Yu Jianghai's eyes without any warning. Like a fine work of art—pale, delicate, with smooth lines, even her toenails carrying a healthy light pink hue. Yu Jianghai stared at her jade-like feet for a long time, until his gaze deepened, as if recalling those overly sensual scenes from the past. He finally looked away, his Adam's apple bobbing, and said coldly and ruthlessly, "Then walk barefoot." How outrageous! Lin Meiyan followed behind him, watching as he climbed the stairs step by step without any pause or hesitation. All those little temper tantrums she'd suppressed for so many years suddenly burst out with a bang. "I won't," she said. Standing at the bottom of the steps, she looked up at him, raising her hand to point at Yu Jianghai's shoes. "Take off your shoes. I'll wear them." Imperious and commanding. Just like so many years ago, when she'd done this countless times. But the memories deliberately forgotten, the emotions deliberately suppressed, now erupted like a volcano. Yu Jianghai paused. His usually stern expression flickered with a moment of shock as he turned to gaze at the stubborn face before him. "What did you say?" Her temper had truly flared up. She hadn't been able to control it at that moment. But now, being questioned by Yu Jianghai, the little bit of anger Lin Meiyan had managed to muster instantly dissipated like smoke. Like a balloon that had been fully inflated but then pricked and deflated. Pfft, pfft—all the air vanished completely. Leaving only a flat, shriveled balloon. Just like her and Yu Jianghai—completely empty. The balloon between them had long since burst. She was no longer the young Zhiqing Lin Meiyan, and he was no longer the "stinking intellectual" Yu Jianghai. Now, their positions were vastly different. She was a single mother running a small restaurant to make a living with her child. And he had become a real estate tycoon, the famous wealthy bachelor of Jiangcheng. Looking down at her from his lofty position, making things difficult for her. The more Lin Meiyan thought about it, the more wronged she felt. Why? Why? She didn't speak. She just lowered her head and let the tears fall, one, two, three. One after another, they fell like pearls from a broken string. The always-composed Yu Jianghai, the moment he saw her cry, his body reacted faster than his mind. There were nine steps in total, and he covered them in just three strides. He stood before Lin Meiyan, silently and skillfully bending down to take off his expensive leather shoes and hand them to her. Lin Meiyan was still crying. Seeing this gesture, she froze. "Sit down." Still the tone of giving orders, leaving no room for refusal. For a moment, Lin Meiyan felt as if she were back on the island—on the beach, in the cave, in the salt fields—where he seemed to have done this countless times. She stood there dazed, large tears hanging on her lashes, looking soft and pitiful. She didn't move. Yu Jianghai repeated, "Sit down." Still a command, but one could hear that he was being very patient. Even though it was the second time, there was no hint of impatience in his voice. White shirt, black pants. His presence was even more imposing than five years ago, even colder and sharper, like a sword about to be drawn from its sheath. Extremely sharp. Lin Meiyan pressed her lips together and slowly sat down on the steps. After Yu Jianghai saw that she was seated steadily, he took his shoes, which were far too long for her, and measured them against Lin Meiyan's feet. "They're a bit big. Can you wear them?" Lin Meiyan hesitated, then nodded. Five years ago, ten years ago, she could always wear Yu Jianghai's shoes. That was her answer. Yu Jianghai did not hesitate. He knelt on one knee on the steps, his posture still upright and tall, yet all the cold hardness had been stripped away. He reached out and gently took hold of her ankle, his fingertips pausing almost imperceptibly—the skin beneath them was cool and smooth. This made Lin Meiyan stiffen as well. But Yu Jianghai seemed not to notice. Still half-kneeling, he slowly slid the leather shoe onto her foot. It was a size too large, which only made her feet look smaller and more delicately fair. "How is it? Does it fit?" His voice was low and cold. As if he weren't kneeling there putting shoes on Lin Meiyan, but rather heading into a negotiation for a ten-million-dollar contract. Lin Meiyan drew her foot back slightly and said softly, "The front isn't on right." Yu Jianghai held her ankle, gently adjusted the position, then lifted his gaze and looked at her quietly. Lin Meiyan sat on the steps, watching him kneel on one knee, and her heart gave a sudden lurch. She reached out into the air, stopping one centimeter above his head, and murmured, "Yu Jianghai."