Chapter 25

Chapter 25: She Said, Would She Lin Meiyan stood there, not moving for a moment. Ye Qiuju noticed she hadn't come in for a while and yawned before asking, "Yanyan, what's wrong?" Lin Meiyan snapped back to reality, pressed the red silk ribbon further inside, and shook her head as she called back, "Aunt, it's nothing." With that, she lowered her gaze to the flower basket. The roses inside were in full bloom, carrying a faint fragrance that drifted into her nose with the night breeze. Her gaze sharpened slightly as her thoughts scattered. He had sent a flower basket on his own—not from Jianghai Dicai, not from the renovation department, just from him personally. During the day, Jianghai Dicai had already sent four pairs of flower baskets, with proper names and proper reasons attached. So what about this rose basket before her? What did it mean? Lin Meiyan didn't dare to think too deeply, nor could she. She simply tightened her grip on the red silk ribbon, tighter and tighter. Moonlight spilled in through the door, falling upon her, making her seem all the more solitary. "Mommy?" Qiaoqiao had wandered over at some point, rubbing her eyes as she asked softly, "Who sent this flower basket?" Lin Meiyan snapped out of her thoughts and instinctively tucked the red silk further inside. She said quietly, "A guest sent it." Qiaoqiao blinked, then stood on her tiptoes to look. Before Lin Meiyan could stop her, the little girl had already seen it clearly. "These flowers are so pretty. They look like roses from TV." Since she'd already seen them, Lin Meiyan couldn't very well hide it anymore. She simply gave a soft "mm" in acknowledgment. Qiaoqiao looked at the flowers, then at Lin Meiyan. Her little mind worked quickly, and soon she'd zeroed in on the target. "Did Uncle Yu send them?" Lin Meiyan said nothing, and Qiaoqiao took that as confirmation. She tilted her little head, her small face full of confusion. "But Mommy, didn't Uncle Yu already have Uncle Shen deliver some?" "Jianghai Dicai sent so many baskets. Why would Uncle Yu send one himself?" A string of questions left Lin Meiyan stumped. She'd been pondering the same thing herself. But hearing it spoken in a child's words made it even harder to answer. She fell silent, weighing how to respond, when the commotion outside reached the room inside. Gu Kaihua sat on a stool rubbing his legs. Hearing this, he immediately craned his neck over. "What? Yu Jianghai sent a basket personally?" "Don't your legs hurt?" Ye Qiuju found him exasperating—he never knew when to play deaf—so she deliberately changed the subject. "They hurt." Gu Kaihua said they hurt, but his neck stretched out long anyway. "But that doesn't stop me from enjoying the gossip." "Yanyan, tell your uncle all about it." The look on his face suggested he wanted to be the first to sink his teeth into this juicy tidbit. Lin Meiyan's ears grew warm. She moved the basket toward the wall and used the row of large baskets beside it to block the small one from view. "He was just being polite." "Uncle, don't overthink it." "I'm not overthinking anything." Gu Kaihua let out a scoff. "Polite? Jianghai Dicai already sent baskets. If he's sending one on his own, you call that polite?" Lin Meiyan didn't respond. Qiaoqiao stood nearby and nodded along. "Granduncle is right." Lin Meiyan looked down at her, and Qiaoqiao immediately shut her mouth, hands clasped behind her back, looking as if she'd said nothing at all. But those darting eyes had already given her away. Seeing the child being led astray as well, Ye Qiuju couldn't watch any longer. She reached over and smacked Gu Kaihua. "Say a little less. Yanyan's been busy all day, and you're still teasing her." Gu Kaihua rubbed his nose. "Isn't this just me showing concern?" "That's called having a loose tongue." Gu Kaihua: "..." He felt a bit deflated. He knew it—he was the extra person in this family. Lin Meiyan said nothing, quietly arranging the basket. But as she crouched down, she caught sight of the roses in full bloom again. The red was a bit eye-catching. She didn't know why Yu Jianghai had chosen roses. Who sent rose baskets for a business opening? Yet he'd done it anyway. Lin Meiyan looked for a while, then felt it wasn't appropriate to keep staring. She turned to tidy the account books on the table, but as she gathered them, her gaze couldn't help drifting back toward the flower basket. Qiaoqiao took all of this in. She was so sleepy her little head kept bobbing, but she still couldn't help asking, "Mommy, when are you going to return Uncle Yu's shoes?" Lin Meiyan's movements paused. The shoes were still under the counter. She'd polished them yesterday and planned to return them today, but she'd been running around all day without a moment to spare. She said softly, "Tomorrow." Qiaoqiao gave an "oh." She thought for a moment, then said, "Should Mommy bring Uncle Yu some braised food?" Lin Meiyan didn't answer, only lowered her gaze to look at her. Her eyes were usually gentle, but now they carried a hint of scrutiny. Qiaoqiao guiltily lowered her head. Lin Meiyan pinched Qiaoqiao's little cheek. "You little rascal, what exactly are you trying to say?" Qiaoqiao didn't like that nickname. She mumbled, "The braised lotus root sold the best today. Didn't Mommy say that when you borrow something from someone, you should say thank you?" There was absolutely nothing wrong with what she said. Lin Meiyan didn't even have a reason to refuse. She nodded and said perfunctorily, "We'll talk about it tomorrow." Only then did Qiaoqiao feel at ease. She lay by the table and yawned. "Mommy, I'm going to sleep now." Lin Meiyan patted her head. "Go to sleep." Gu Xiaolin and the others were already so sleepy they were swaying from side to side. Ye Qiuju shooed them up one by one. "Go home to sleep. Don't lie around here. Xiao Lin has to work tomorrow, and Xiao Yue has to go to school. Hurry up and don't waste my time." Only then did Gu Xiaolin and the others get up, yawning. Gu Kaihua also said, "I'll go to the factory early tomorrow morning." Ye Qiuju looked at him. "To apply for leave without pay?" Gu Kaihua nodded, with a hint of decisiveness. Lin Meiyan heard this and couldn't help but say, "Uncle, think about this again." "Once you apply for leave without pay, there's no chance to change your mind." "I'm not thinking about it anymore." Gu Kaihua waved his hand. "I've thought it through very clearly. The biscuit factory's profits are getting worse and worse. There's no point in me staying there. I might as well come to Linji and help you." Lin Meiyan felt a little guilty about this. Gu Kaihua could tell, and he smiled. "Yanyan, don't overthink it. I'm not coming to Linji to work for free. You'll pay me a salary." "Uncle." "Even brothers settle accounts clearly, let alone me being your uncle." Gu Kaihua said with confidence. "Besides, I can eat a lot and work a lot. You're getting the better deal." Ye Qiuju clicked her tongue twice. "Being able to eat a lot is true. Being able to work a lot is up for debate." Gu Kaihua didn't want to deal with her, so he put his hands behind his back. That was his protest. Seeing that they were about to leave, it was already quite late—almost ten at night. Lin Meiyan tried to persuade them to stay. "Uncle, Auntie, there's a place to stay on the second floor of Linji. Why don't you sleep here tonight?" Ye Qiuju refused without a second thought. "The Gu family home isn't far from Linji. Besides, a golden nest or a silver nest isn't as good as one's own doghouse. I can't sleep in a different place." Lin Meiyan knew it wasn't that she couldn't sleep, but that she didn't want to take advantage of her. After the Linji building was renovated, many people had their eyes on it. For Ye Qiuju and Gu Kaihua, they were Lin Meiyan's closest relatives, and they couldn't be the first to come and act like wolves and tigers. The two of them were in agreement—they both wanted to go home to sleep. Once they left, Gu Xiaolin and the others naturally had to leave as well. Lin Meiyan came out to see them off. After watching them leave, she returned to Linji and checked the entrance to make sure there were no problems. She was just about to lock the door when Qiaoqiao poked her head out. "Mommy, that rose flower basket is too short. If you put it outside, no one will see it. Why don't we put it by the bedside instead?" Such beautiful roses would be a waste to leave outside. Lin Meiyan paused for a moment. "No need." "But I want to put it by the bedside to smell the flowers." Qiaoqiao acted cute, pulling at her hand. "Mommy, Mommy, I want it." Lin Meiyan couldn't resist her, so she picked up the rose flower basket. As she lifted it, a gust of wind happened to blow by, and the red roses swayed gently in the night breeze, as if they were swaying against her heart. When they reached the second floor, Qiaoqiao was the first to place the rose flower basket on the bedside table. She even lowered her head to smell it, looking completely satisfied. "So fragrant." She was living that kind of bourgeois life now. Qiaoqiao had been frugal in her past life. Even after she started making money, she never spared any for buying herself a bouquet of flowers. To her, flowers were pretty but useless things that served no purpose. They couldn't fill your stomach like a steamed bun could, but there was no denying that flowers were beautiful, and she liked them very much. Most importantly, they didn't cost any money. Seeing Qiaoqiao like this, Lin Meiyan asked, "You like flowers this much?" Qiaoqiao nodded. "The flowers smell so good and look so pretty." She stuck out her tongue. "They're free and don't cost any money. How could I not like them?" "Little cheapskate." Lin Meiyan pinched her nose. Qiaoqiao babbled as she climbed onto the bed and rolled around on it. "Mommy, I feel like I'm dreaming right now." A bright and spacious room, beautiful decor, a private room, a pretty bed, and most importantly, being together with her mommy. This was a dream she wouldn't have dared to have in two lifetimes. Lin Meiyan understood what Qiaoqiao meant by those words. She stepped forward and hugged her. "This isn't a dream. This is reality." Reality—with her, with her child, living in a big house. Her daughter would never have to wander around with her again, nor would she have to live under someone else's roof. Qiaoqiao nodded heavily. She hugged her pillow. "Good night, Mommy!" Lin Meiyan softly hummed in response. Children fell asleep quickly—one moment she was still talking, and the next she was already asleep. She had clearly been exhausted during the day. Lin Meiyan was about the same, but at this moment, there wasn't a trace of sleepiness in her mind. She turned off the light, and moonlight streamed in through the window, landing right on that basket of roses. Lin Meiyan paused slightly. She deliberately closed her eyes and didn't look. But the fragrance of the roses drifted through the air, unconsciously burrowing into her nose. Lin Meiyan vented her frustration by pulling the blanket over her head, hiding herself completely inside, and only then did she feel the air around her thin out a bit, completely cutting off the scent of roses. But her mind was uncontrollable, and the images were all of Yu Jianghai putting on her shoes for her. Lin Meiyan let out a soft sigh, pulled the blanket down, and took a deep breath, murmuring, "Yu Jianghai." She had to admit that Yu Jianghai's appearance, in an extremely forceful manner, had shattered her current life. Early the next morning, Lin Meiyan woke up very early. When she opened her eyes, she was still a bit dazed, with a feeling of not knowing where she was. This was the first time she and Qiaoqiao had moved into Linji to live. The house was big and spacious, and so was the bedroom. Lin Meiyan stared blankly for a while before her thoughts finally focused. She wasn't staying at the Gu family's house. Instead, she had moved to Linji, living in a house that belonged to them. After sorting this out, Lin Meiyan got up. She didn't wake Qiaoqiao but slowly got out of bed, tidied herself up, and then went downstairs to open the front door. It was just about five o'clock, and the sky was barely light. When she opened the door, there weren't many people outside at Simenkou yet, only the breakfast stalls had already been set up. Steam rose from the steaming baskets, and the alley was filled with the aroma of Reganmian and doupi. As soon as Linji's door opened, her first glance went to the few flower baskets at the entrance. The flower baskets sent by Jianghai Dicai were still placed at the door, the leaves and petals slightly dampened by the night dew, still looking fresh. She deliberately averted her gaze and turned to wash up. Only when the water hit her hands did she feel a bit more awake. It was the second day of Linji's opening, and there was still a pile of things waiting for her. She had no time to let her mind wander. She stood at the kitchen entrance, holding a notebook and pen, and began making a list. The braised duck necks, braised lotus root, and mung bean soup that sold best yesterday all needed to be prepared in larger quantities today. The clay pot soup sold out too quickly yesterday, and a few regular customers missed out, so today she needed to simmer a few more pots. Lin Meiyan tied on her apron and first went to check the lotus root that had been soaking overnight. The lotus root had been sent over by Gu Kaihua last night through someone, a big basin full of plump, white pieces. She took a knife, cut off the lotus root joints, rinsed them in water, and set them aside to soak. Then she bent down to check the fire. The flames in the stove had just started, and the coal briquettes weren't burning hot enough yet, so she used the fire tongs to poke at them. In no time, the kitchen at Linji began working in an orderly fashion. By nearly six o'clock, footsteps sounded at the door. "Yanyan?" It was Gu Kaihua, arriving even earlier than usual. Lin Meiyan poked her head out from the kitchen. "Uncle, why are you so early?" Gu Kaihua held a bag in one hand and a folded piece of paper in the other, his forehead covered in sweat. She couldn't tell if he had walked quickly or run over. "It's done." Lin Meiyan was taken aback. "What's done?" Last night, he had been with her, and even if he went to the biscuit factory early in the morning to apply for leave without pay, it shouldn't have been this fast. "Leave without pay." Gu Kaihua slapped the paper onto the counter, still panting. Seeing Lin Meiyan's puzzled look, he explained, "After I went back last night, I went straight to Director Cao's house." "The factory isn't doing well now. Every extra worker means an extra salary, so Director Cao couldn't wait to get rid of me." That explained it. Director Cao was worried about delays and also worried that Gu Kaihua might change his mind. He had almost taken Gu Kaihua to the biscuit factory office that very night to complete the entire process for the leave without pay. After hearing this, Lin Meiyan put down the knife in her hand, walked over, and picked up the paperwork to look at it. The paper was stamped with the biscuit factory's seal, bright red and eye-catching, hard to ignore even if one tried. She was silent for a moment. When Gu Kaihua had brought this up last night, she had thought he would at least think it over for two days. She hadn't expected it to be done first thing in the morning. She murmured, "Uncle, you were way too fast." "What's so fast about it?" Gu Kaihua wiped his sweat. He was a heavy man who hated the heat, and after looking around, he spotted a palm-leaf fan hanging on the wall and immediately grabbed it to fan himself vigorously. "I made up my mind last night. Staying at the biscuit factory, not only do I not get my wages, but I'm also fighting with people every day for work. You know how little the factory produces. Sooner or later, it's all the same." Lin Meiyan pressed her lips together, clutching the leave-without-pay paperwork. After a long moment, she said softly, "But that was still a proper job." Gu Kaihua didn't like hearing that. "Isn't Linji a proper job?" Lin Meiyan paused. Gu Kaihua puffed out his belly, which looked like he was six months pregnant. "From today on, I, Gu Kaihua, am a man of Linji. Boss Lin, give me some work." Just as he finished speaking, Qiaoqiao, who had woken up at some point, yawned and said, "Granduncle, you should wipe the tables first." Gu Kaihua turned to look at her. Qiaoqiao had also come down early today, her hair a messy bird's nest. Gu Kaihua pointed at himself. "I just started work, and you're telling me to wipe tables?" Qiaoqiao nodded seriously. "If the tables aren't wiped, where will the customers sit?" Gu Kaihua was at a loss for words. Lin Meiyan couldn't help but laugh. "Then we'll listen to the little boss." Gu Kaihua picked up a rag, muttering under his breath, "Fine, fine, the little boss has spoken—how dare I not listen?" When Qiaoqiao heard the words "little boss," her face flushed slightly. She pretended not to hear and ran over to Lin Meiyan. "Mommy, tie my hair." Her arms were too short—she simply couldn't reach it herself. Lin Meiyan didn't let her come into the kitchen to comb her hair. Instead, she went outside, fetched a comb, and while combing Qiaoqiao's hair, she watched her uncle wiping tables in the back, her heart still feeling a little heavy. Her uncle was willing to take unpaid leave, and in the end, it was all to help her. Linji's business was good, and they were short-handed—too busy to keep up. But with her uncle here, he really had solved a big chunk of her problems. It was just that she owed her uncle's family more and more. Ye Qiuju arrived a little later, bringing a few dishes with her. The moment she stepped through the door, she saw Gu Kaihua wiping tables in the front hall with a rag and burst out laughing. "Oh, who's this? So diligent?" Gu Kaihua puffed out his chest proudly, like a plump, fair-skinned poached chicken. "Official employee of Linji." Ye Qiuju glanced at the thin piece of paper on the counter but didn't say anything more to him. She set the basket down in the back kitchen and called out to Lin Meiyan, "I picked up some edamame and cucumbers at the market this morning. If we run out today, I'll go buy more." Lin Meiyan hurried over to take it. "Auntie, let me." "You tend to your own things." Ye Qiuju tied on an apron and got straight to work. "I can see you've got even more on your plate today." Indeed, there was more. On the first day of opening yesterday, many things had been organized amid the chaos. Today, it couldn't be that messy anymore. The menu needed to be finalized—which dishes to prepare in larger quantities, which in smaller ones, when to serve the soups, when to sell the braised goods, who would greet customers in the front, who would pass dishes in the back—all of it needed a proper system. Lin Meiyan asked, "Auntie, if you're here, what about your shift today?" Ye Qiuju waved her hand dismissively. "You know our factory—it's only a little better than the biscuit factory, and not by much. More than half the people in my workshop have taken leave. It won't matter if I'm one more." She was planning to stay and help at Linji too. Lin Meiyan stepped forward and hugged Ye Qiuju. "Thank you, Auntie." Ye Qiuju shook her head. "We're family—no need for two kinds of talk." Lin Meiyan gave a soft "mm" in response. She took out yesterday's ledger and looked over the menu board again. Qiaoqiao dragged her little stool over and sat beside her, watching just as seriously. She really wanted to say that the braised duck necks and braised lotus root should be placed in the most prominent spot. The mung bean soup should go by the entrance. The clay-pot soup should be limited in quantity so customers wouldn't have to wait too long. But she couldn't sound too much like an adult. So she reminded him in a small voice, "Mommy, the duck necks sold the fastest yesterday. Should we write it bigger?" Lin Meiyan glanced at her. "Why?" Qiaoqiao blinked. "Everyone's asking about them." That reason was simple enough. Lin Meiyan picked up a piece of chalk and traced over the words "braised duck neck" again. "Is this okay?" Qiaoqiao nodded. "Okay." Then she slyly pointed at the mung bean soup. "Make this one bigger too—it's hot outside." Ye Qiuju laughed from the side. "Our Qiaoqiao really does have a knack for business." Qiaoqiao felt a little embarrassed and lowered her head, picking at the edge of her small bowl. "I just saw that everyone likes to drink it." Lin Meiyan looked at her, and her heart softened. She didn't call her out on it—she just reached out and gently ruffled Qiaoqiao's little head. "Then Mommy will listen to you." Qiaoqiao immediately looked up, her eyes brightening. The front hall had just been tidied up when customers started arriving outside. The first one was Uncle Zhang, who hadn't gotten his clay-pot soup yesterday. He walked in with his hands behind his back and glanced at the menu board first. "Meiyan, do you have a lot of clay-pot soup today?" Lin Meiyan smiled. "I've prepared a bit more than yesterday." "Good. Save one for me first, and give me a serving of Reganmian too." Lin Meiyan gave a cheerful "alright" and immediately went into the kitchen to get to work. As she spoke, two young workers came in—one looking at the flower baskets by Linji's entrance, the other at the menu. "Do you still have braised duck necks?" Qiaoqiao immediately stood up from her little stool. "Yes, we do." She was small, but her voice was crisp. "Just braised—we still have a lot today." The young worker looked down at her and laughed. "The little shopkeeper is still here." Qiaoqiao blushed and corrected him. "I'm the little boss." Everyone laughed. "Give me two braised duck necks, and pack up two servings of Reganmian to go." Gu Kaihua gave a cheerful "alright" and picked up his pen to start writing down the order. Although the morning had gotten busy, today wasn't as chaotic as yesterday—it was much more orderly. Yesterday was opening day, and everyone had come with a sense of curiosity, asking questions left and right the moment they walked in. Today, many of the customers were people who had eaten there yesterday—they knew what was good and how to order. Some customers walked in and said directly, "Give me a serving of braised lotus root, one duck neck, and a bowl of mung bean soup." Gu Kaihua took the orders, Ye Qiuju passed the dishes, and Lin Meiyan held down the stove. They were busy, sure, but it went much more smoothly than yesterday. By the time it was almost noon, Lin Meiyan was slicing braised pork when Gu Kaihua came in carrying a stack of empty bowls. "Yanyan, I think we really need to prepare more of these duck necks, braised lotus root, and mung bean soup every day." Lin Meiyan didn't pause her work. "Mm." "We made more today than yesterday, and they still sold out even faster." Ye Qiuju was washing dishes nearby and chimed in, "We should also stock up on clay-pot soup, though it does take up the stove." Lin Meiyan set down the knife and thought for a moment. "Soup can't be rushed." "It's fine if we sell less. If the soup is rushed, the flavor won't be right." Gu Kaihua nodded. "Right, that sounds just like your father." The moment those words left his mouth, the kitchen fell quiet. Lin Meiyan kept her eyes lowered, plating the sliced braised meat. After a moment, she finally smiled faintly. "Makes sense that I'm like him—he raised me single-handedly." She said it lightly. But Gu Kaihua felt a pang of unease in his chest as he listened. Yanyan was exactly like her father, Lin Tonghe. Willing to earn less, but never willing to tarnish the family name. No wonder they managed to get Linji up and running. As Linji's business picked up, Simenkou Hengjie grew livelier along with it. Most of the neighbors were happy about it. After all, with Linji reopened, the street had more foot traffic, and the small shop owners nearby got to share in the benefits. But where some are happy, others are displeased. After the lunch rush, the front hall of Linji finally had two empty tables. Lin Meiyan carried a basin of dishes to the back courtyard, where there was a well for drawing water—washing dishes there could save on the water bill. She had just reached the back door when she heard voices coming from the alley entrance. The speaker was none other than Auntie Cao. After Lin Meiyan had driven Auntie Cao's family out, they hadn't moved far—after all, they didn't know anyone else in the area. After much deliberation, they'd chosen to stay in Simenkou, renting a cramped room of about ten square meters, with seven or eight family members squeezed inside. The worse their circumstances became, the more they missed the big house they'd had at Linji—at least thirty or forty square meters for the family. Cracking sunflower seeds between her teeth, Auntie Cao said sourly, "Linji's really taken off this time." "You're telling me—yesterday I walked past the door, and there wasn't even room to set foot inside." Auntie Cao didn't like hearing that. She spat out a seed shell with a clatter. "If you ask me, it's Jianghai Dicai that's the real power. Newspaper ad, flower baskets—who doesn't know about Linji now?" "Come on now, Lin Meiyan's cooking is good in her own right." "Good cooking is good cooking, but without Jianghai Dicai, could it have gotten this popular this fast?" "I also heard that President Yu from Jianghai Dicai sent her a flower basket personally." "Really?" "Would I lie about that? I saw it with my own eyes—red roses, no less." "Tsk, that's not exactly an ordinary relationship, is it?" "Boss Lin's a good-looking woman, and she's got a kid. If she could really latch onto President Yu, that'd be quite the feat." "Don't say that. Someone like President Yu—would his family ever agree? Boss Lin's not bad, but she does have a daughter." "So what if she has a daughter? He still sent the flower basket and ran the newspaper ad, didn't he?" Auntie Cao said with a nasty sneer, "Selling your ass always pays faster than selling food." That was truly ugly. Everyone fell abruptly silent. "Auntie Cao, that's going too far." "What's too far about it? She's a widow—if she weren't selling her ass, would the boss of Jianghai Dicai help her like this?" "I'll say it a hundred times—she opened Linji by selling her ass!" Lin Meiyan stood behind the door holding the basin, her face expressionless. She flung the basin of water out—aimed directly at Auntie Cao. A basin of greasy dishwater came crashing down from above, drenching Auntie Cao and leaving her dizzy, water streaming down her face so she couldn't even open her eyes. Soaked like a drowned rat, she blustered, "Who? Who dares splash your Auntie Cao?" Lin Meiyan walked up to Auntie Cao, her face blank. "Me. Lin Meiyan splashed you." "Your mouth's so filthy, I'm washing it out for you." Auntie Cao froze, never expecting Lin Meiyan to show up at that moment. The others around her immediately shut their mouths. "Oh dear, I've got something stewing on the stove." "I'm off too." Footsteps scattered quickly, and the back door fell quiet. Only Auntie Cao remained. Watching them all abandon her, leaving her to face Lin Meiyan alone, she felt a flicker of fear. Pushing her greasy, dripping hair out of her face, she shouted, "It wasn't just me saying it—everyone said it!" "Besides, if you've got the nerve to do it, you should have the nerve to own up to it!" With that, she turned and ran, as if chased by a wolf, disappearing in no time. They were gone. Lin Meiyan stood there for a while, then slowly looked down at the bowls in the basin. Soup residue clung to them, and a thin film of oil floated on the water's surface. She set the basin by the sink and scooped half a ladle of water into it. The water was a bit cold. When she reached her hands in, her fingertips drew back slightly. The truth was, she hadn't heard these words for the first time. Ever since Jianghai Dicai had started renovating Linji, people had been whispering behind her back. But back then, they'd spoken more vaguely. Now that Linji had made the papers, Jianghai Dicai had sent flower baskets, and Yu Jianghai had personally sent that rose basket. Put all of it together, and she knew exactly what outsiders would think. She wasn't afraid of what people said about her. She'd heard far worse before. What she feared was Qiaoqiao hearing it. What she feared was Linji, barely reopened, being dismissed as a shop built on a man's backing. What she feared even more was that some things she couldn't refute cleanly. Because Yu Jianghai had indeed helped her—so much, so very much. He helped with the renovation, he helped with the publicity, the Jiangcheng Daily connection came through Jianghai Dicai, and the flower baskets were from him too. And those shoes— Lin Meiyan's dishwashing movements grew slower and slower. The rushing water soaked her hands until they turned pale, and she didn't even notice. Ye Qiuju came in from the front and saw her standing by the sink, lost in thought. She called out, "Yanyan?" Lin Meiyan snapped back to reality. "Aunt." Ye Qiuju looked at her, then glanced toward the back door. "You heard them?" Lin Meiyan kept her eyes lowered and said nothing, just quietly washing the dishes in a mechanical rhythm. Ye Qiuju set her rag aside, her expression souring. "Those people just love to gossip. When your business wasn't doing well, they said you were wasting your time with a failing shop. Now that business is picking up, they say you're riding on Jianghai Dicai's coattails." She lowered her voice. "They always have something to say, no matter what." Lin Meiyan said softly, "That's not what's bothering me." "Then what is?" Lin Meiyan didn't answer. Ye Qiuju watched her for a long moment, and slowly, understanding dawned. She sighed. "Yanyan, let me say something honest. Don't take it the wrong way." Lin Meiyan nodded. "Go ahead." "President Yu—I can't figure him out," Ye Qiuju said slowly. "But the way he treats you... it's not ordinary." Lin Meiyan's fingers tightened. Ye Qiuju continued, "Your uncle and I aren't blind. If a man were just doing business, he wouldn't go this far." "Aunt—" "I know what you're going to say." Ye Qiuju cut her off. "You're going to say there's nothing between you two. And that it's all business. Right?" Lin Meiyan lowered her eyes. Ye Qiuju's voice softened. "But Yanyan, a lot of things—just because you say they're nothing doesn't mean they're really nothing." Lin Meiyan didn't respond. She bent her head and continued washing the dishes. The white porcelain reflected her slender red fingers—quite beautiful. Ye Qiuju didn't push further. She knew Lin Meiyan hadn't had it easy these past few years. Coming back from the island, pregnant, and then raising Qiaoqiao alone. She never said it out loud, but how much fear she carried inside—others might not know. She also knew Lin Meiyan's nature. She liked to keep everything accounted for, never owing anyone a single thing. She was like that with her own relatives. And probably the same with that boss, Yu Jianghai. But feelings—how could those ever be written clearly in a ledger? Ye Qiuju patted her shoulder. "Forget it. Don't overthink for now. Just focus on keeping Linji steady." Gossip, men—none of it was as reliable as the money in your pocket. Lin Meiyan gave a soft "Mm." "I know." After Ye Qiuju went into the back kitchen, she still couldn't help glancing toward the counter. Those shoes were still under the counter. Yesterday she'd said she would return them today. No matter what, today she had to return them. Over at Jianghai Dicai, things weren't much quieter than at Linji. The renovation department's phone rang from morning until noon. At first, whoever picked up thought it was a wrong number. Then they realized—every call was asking about renovations. "Did you guys do Linji's renovation?" "We've got a storefront too. Can you do ours like Linji's?" "We want to repaint our house. Do you take that kind of job?" "How do you price it? Can you send someone to take a look first?" The renovation department had only just been set up as a trial, with not many staff. Suddenly, with all these calls coming in, the few people there were so busy they didn't even have time for tea. Secretary Shen happened to pass by and heard someone inside shout, "Write another one down—there's a tailor shop on Jiefang Lu that wants a renovation too." He paused mid-step, a smile spreading across his face. It wasn't just Linji that was booming. Even Jianghai Dicai's renovation department was booming along with it. It wasn't until past three in the afternoon that Lu Qingyuan walked into Yu Jianghai's office with a stack of order forms. He wore a white shirt and black trousers, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He looked refined, but when he smiled, there was a hint of shrewdness. Especially those eyes—when they looked at you, you couldn't help feeling like he was calculating something. When Lu Qingyuan came in, Yu Jianghai was studying the blueprints for Jianghai Dicai's second phase. A large spread of drawings covered half the desk. Yu Jianghai was slightly bent over, holding a fountain pen, circling the plot outside Simenkou in red ink. Lu Qingyuan glanced at it and chuckled. "Still looking at that?" Yu Jianghai didn't look up. "If you've got something to say, say it." The implication: cut the nonsense. Lu Qingyuan set the order forms on his desk, his expression turning serious. "Old Yu, our renovation department at Jianghai Dicai just blew up." Only then did Yu Jianghai lift his gaze. Lu Qingyuan pulled out a chair and sat down, his voice carrying an excitement he could barely contain. "Over a dozen inquiries this morning, another seven or eight this afternoon. Storefronts are the most common, but residential too. At this rate, those few people in the renovation department will be run off their feet by tomorrow." Secretary Shen, standing by and assisting, couldn't help chiming in. "And this is just the beginning." Lu Qingyuan shot him a look. "Secretary Shen certainly knows the ropes now." Secretary Shen immediately said modestly, "It's all because the boss arranged things well." Lu Qingyuan let out a laugh. He looked at Yu Jianghai. "I admit, I misjudged you before." Yu Jianghai didn't say anything, just flipped a page of the order sheet. Lu Qingyuan continued, "I originally thought you set up the renovation department for Youth Lin." Secretary Shen's eyelid twitched. That was something he wouldn't dare say. Only Lu Qingyuan would. Yu Jianghai finished reviewing the order sheet and had a clear picture in mind. He raised his eyes and asked in a cool, detached tone, "And now?" "I still think so now." Secretary Shen nearly coughed. But Lu Qingyuan remained unhurried. "But that doesn't stop you from having done the right thing." He picked up the order sheet and tapped on the names listed there. "Ordinary people can't understand our property planning blueprints, nor do they understand things like unit layouts, natural lighting, or traffic flow." "You could tell them ten times how good Jianghai Dicai's renovation department is, and they might not believe you." "But Linji is right there. They can see it." "That old, shabby little restaurant—after a fresh renovation, it's clean, bright, and still doing business." "The moment they see it, they know the money was well spent." Lu Qingyuan smiled as he said this, his tone carrying a rare hint of pride. "This one showpiece is more useful than ten marketing campaigns we could run." Secretary Shen nodded repeatedly as he listened. What he said made sense. Although he knew in his heart that the boss definitely had personal motives at the start. But results were results. Linji had taken off. The renovation department had taken off too. Who could still say the boss was just using public resources for private gain because of Youth Lin? Lu Qingyuan pushed up his glasses and praised sincerely, "President Yu, you truly have foresight." Yu Jianghai set the order sheet back on the table, his expression composed, his tone indifferent. "Less flattery." "This isn't flattery. It's the truth." After saying this, Lu Qingyuan added another line, "Though, your calculations are pretty loud too." Yu Jianghai looked at him. Lu Qingyuan wasn't afraid at all. "Linji is thriving, the renovation department is thriving, and you've also sent out a favor. Public matters, private matters—you haven't neglected a single one." The office fell silent for a moment. Secretary Shen looked down at the floor. The floor was really clean. He hadn't heard anything. Yu Jianghai's voice was faint. "You're very free?" "Not free." Lu Qingyuan smiled. "But some things still need to be said." He placed another document on the table. "The permits for phase two are almost through. On the outer street at Simenkou, construction can start by the end of the month at the latest." The moment Secretary Shen heard Simenkou, he couldn't help but glance up. The outer street at Simenkou was too close to Linji—close enough that a few steps would take you there for a meal. Once construction started, didn't that mean the boss would be one step closer to Youth Lin? Lu Qingyuan noticed this too. He said slowly, "After phase two starts, there'll be more workers there and more people on the project. Linji is right next door—business will only get better." Yu Jianghai said, "That's her own skill." Lu Qingyuan smiled. "I didn't say it wasn't." After saying this, his expression turned slightly more serious. "But there's one more thing." Yu Jianghai looked up. Lu Qingyuan said, "Linji has been too much in the spotlight these past couple of days. People are saying all sorts of things." Yu Jianghai's pen paused. "What are they saying?" Lu Qingyuan didn't beat around the bush. He continued, "They're saying Linji rose because of Jianghai Dicai, and also that your relationship with Youth Lin is something special." Hearing this, Yu Jianghai's expression didn't change—no joy or anger showed on his face. Lu Qingyuan offered a half-hearted consolation. "Don't just think about getting angry. People's mouths are on their own faces—you can't control them." Then he shifted his tone, speaking with implication. "But isn't this the situation you wanted?" The office went silent instantly. Hearing this suddenly, Secretary Shen wished he could disappear. He didn't want to hear this. He really didn't want to hear this. Yu Jianghai slapped his fountain pen down with a crack, his gaze suddenly sharpening as he demanded coldly, "What are you trying to say?" Lu Qingyuan felt his scalp tingle too, but he still offered a veiled reminder. "Old Yu, if you really want what's best for her, there are some things you can't push too hard." "Don't forget—five years ago, this is exactly how Youth Lin left." She left secretly. Overnight, without a sound, vanishing completely. If Old Yu kept going like this, it wasn't impossible for Youth Lin to suddenly disappear again. After he said this, the office was quiet for a long while. Secretary Shen stood nearby, not daring to breathe loudly. He wanted to vanish on the spot! Vanish on the spot!! Yu Jianghai lowered his eyes, his gaze obscure and unreadable. The office clock ticked away. The atmosphere grew increasingly stagnant. After who knew how long, Yu Jianghai opened his eyes. He looked at the order sheet on the table, and after a moment, he suddenly asked, "How's Linji doing today?" Secretary Shen immediately replied, "Business is very good. I sent someone to check this morning—there were plenty of customers. Uncle Gu seems to have taken unpaid leave as well; he's now officially helping out at Linji." Yu Jianghai gave an "mm." Lu Qingyuan looked at him like this and couldn't help shaking his head. "I talked for ages, and this is the only thing you took in?" Yu Jianghai raised his eyes to look at him, saying nothing. Lu Qingyuan immediately stood up. "Fine, I'll shut up." He picked up the documents and headed for the door. At the threshold, he glanced back at Secretary Shen. "Secretary Shen, good work." Secretary Shen's smile was stiff. Good work my ass. This man says whatever the hell he wants. And leaves me here to clean up his mess! Lu Qingyuan!!! I curse your ancestors eight generations! Only after Lu Qingyuan was gone did the office fall quiet. Yu Jianghai didn't resume looking at the blueprints. He set down his pen and tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. Tap after tap. Each tap made Secretary Shen's heart pound with unease. After a long moment, Yu Jianghai suddenly asked, "Secretary Shen, do you think I did the wrong thing?" Secretary Shen didn't answer. He couldn't answer. Just as he was racking his brain for a response— Yu Jianghai swiveled his chair to face the window. His voice was low and cold. "From the very first day I met her, I knew this day would come." He didn't say anything more. And Secretary Shen didn't dare ask. He stole a quick glance at his boss, then immediately lowered his head again. I think I just heard something I shouldn't have. "Do you think she'll come looking for me?" Author's Note: Recommending a fully-stocked ancient-style romance novel by a fellow writer. If you like it, feel free to add it to your collection. Riding the Bamboo Horse by Huang Jing Blurb: The one in power bows his head for love | The male lead fights and schemes, unwavering | Childhood sweethearts, everyday life flowing like water | Both first loves, both pure Shen Niannian's whole life—her grand chancellor grandfather, her vice minister father, her marquis childhood sweetheart—everyone held her in the palm of their hands. Before she'd even come of age, her mother had already prepared a marriage candidate roster. The finest young men in the capital, all hers to choose from. The roster— Included a gentle and refined erudite from the Imperial Academy. And a promising new top-three scholar. Even a prince's legitimate son from the imperial clan. ... But before she could even choose, the candidates on that roster were one by one "dealt with" by her childhood sweetheart, who held military power. The top-three scholar became a princess's consort, the Imperial Academy erudite vanished without a trace, and even the prince's legitimate son was sent out of the capital... Later, the childhood sweetheart that every noble lady in the capital was dying to marry only ever showed off for her alone, lowering himself to the dust, waiting for her to pick him. ———————— Shen Niannian had clung to her childhood sweetheart and shared a bed with him since she was little, calling him "Brother Heng" for fourteen years. She thought he only saw her as a little sister. Until she stumbled upon him changing clothes—broad shoulders, narrow waist, muscles clearly defined. She fled in a panic, realizing belatedly: her heart was blooming for the first time. She needed to find herself a man—but it couldn't be her "brother." When she and Brother Heng stumbled upon a pair of wild mandarin ducks frolicking in the water—that night she had a spring dream, pressing him down and kissing him. Waking up, she covered her face: Damn it, she was so desperate she'd take anyone. She needed to speed up finding a man—but it couldn't be her "brother." After she finished reading the illustrated manual on avoiding fire, she drank courage wine, planning to battle him in her dreams until dawn. Who would've thought—Lu Zhihang, sneaking into her fragrant boudoir at night. Instead, he was pressed against the door by her drunken self, who stood on tiptoe and kissed him forcefully... When she woke from her drunken stupor, he was already looming over her, his voice dangerous: "Be good, Niannian. Tell Brother Heng—who was that bastard who kissed you?!" She was terrified—she'd just said that all her kissing experience came from what he'd taught her in her dreams. Little did she expect, he was insatiably greedy. One night left her body completely wrecked, her waist nearly broken from being pressed down.