The next day, the couple left early to open the shop as usual.
But Jiang Da noticed that his wife was speaking less than usual.
He wanted to ask her about it, but didn’t know how to begin.
Han Yunru went about her tasks as usual, greeting customers with a smile, skillfully preparing ingredients, making pancakes, and chatting with Aunt Liu.
Yet, when it came to interacting with Jiang Da, she was unusually silent.
Around midday, when business slowed, Jiang Da lifted the curtain and went into the back kitchen.
Han Yunru was sitting on a small wooden stool, head down, plucking vegetables.
Jiang Da walked over, squatted in front of her, and said, “Wife, let me help you.”
“Mm.”
As he helped with the vegetables, Jiang Da kept stealing glances at her.
The silence between them felt stifling.
He opened his mouth several times, but no words came out.
Han Yunru, however, remained calm, focusing on her task, neither refusing his help nor engaging him in conversation.
Even after they finished plucking the vegetables, Jiang Da couldn’t manage to start a conversation with her.
Just then, Aunt Liu called from outside, “Little Han!”
“Coming!” Han Yunru replied, leaving Jiang Da to watch her go, the curtain swaying in her wake.
“Sigh…” He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping.
Outside.
Aunt Liu said, “The flour delivery is here. I counted it; everything’s good. Just need your signature.”
Han Yunru took the paperwork, gave it a quick glance, and signed her name before handing it back to the delivery boy. “Thank you. Want to try some of our rice wine?”
The boy quickly waved his hands, “No, thank you, really!”
Aunt Liu chuckled and encouraged him, “Go on, try it. Our boss’s wife makes it really well. Here, sit and take a break—you’re all sweaty…”
Shortly after, Han Yunru brought out a bowl of rice wine.
The delivery boy took a sip and immediately gave her a thumbs up, “This is amazing!”
Han Yunru’s eyes curved in delight, her expression warm and gentle.
The boy was momentarily dazed, thinking, The boss’s wife is really beautiful.
Aunt Liu smiled, “Didn’t I tell you? Her desserts are something special.”
The boy laughed, “No wonder this place is so popular. People check in every day! I’ll do the same!”
With that, he took out his phone, eagerly inviting Han Yunru and Aunt Liu to take a picture with him.
Click—
The atmosphere outside was light and cheerful.
Inside, Jiang Da peeked through the curtain, his eyes gloomy.
That afternoon, Hu Ben came to the store, calling out, “Mom!”
Aunt Liu greeted him happily, “How come you’re here today? Hungry?”
“A little.”
Jiang Da happened to come out and greeted him, “Hu Ben! Want me to make you a pancake?”
“That’d be great! I was craving it!”
Jiang Da quickly lit the stove and prepared the batter, serving Hu Ben a hot pancake just a couple of minutes later.
Hu Ben ate while subtly observing Jiang Da and Han Yunru.
He was here with a mission today.
After finishing, he scanned the code to pay. “Mom, Uncle Jiang, Aunt Han, I’ll get going. Still have things to do.”
The three watched him leave, the sound of a car engine revving up in the alleyway.
Jiang Da commented, “Hu Ben’s really doing well now, coming and going in his car, busy as can be.”
Aunt Liu waved modestly, “He’s just running around to make a living. Honestly, he owes it all to his boss, who’s kept him on the right path. Otherwise, he’d still be wandering around aimlessly.”
Jiang Da nodded in agreement.
Han Yunru turned, went back into the store, took out her phone, and called her daughter—
“Yueyue, was it you who asked Hu Ben to come?”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t plan to hide it. Besides, her mother’s intelligence was far above Jiang Da’s, so there was no point trying to cover it up. “Yeah.”
“What’s this about?” Han Yunru asked, feigning a scold.
She had noticed Hu Ben’s glances at her and Jiang Da.
“Uh…just wanted to see what’s going on between you two. Did you have a fight?”
Han Yunru replied, “No. With your dad’s cluelessness, it’s pointless even if I were upset. He just doesn’t get it.”
“You two seemed tense this morning. Are you sure there’s no issue?” Jiang Fuyue sounded unconvinced.
“Really, there’s nothing. Just giving him some time to figure things out. Sometimes, you can hear advice from others a thousand times, but it’s better to realize things on your own.”
Jiang Fuyue pondered for a moment, sensing her mother had a plan in mind.
“All right, I’ll stay out of it, then.”
Han Yunru blushed a bit and mumbled, “These aren’t things you kids should get involved in…”
Jiang Fuyue replied seriously, “I’m not a kid.”
Han Yunru: “…”
Outside, Hu Ben’s car had pulled up to the gate, and he honked repeatedly.
Ending the call, Jiang Fuyue grabbed her bag and went out.
Just then, the old lady, disturbed from her nap, grumbled, “…What kind of luxury community is this with such rude people?”
Jiang Fuyue opened the door, got into the passenger seat, and Hu Ben reported what he observed, “…There does seem to be some tension between them—they’re barely talking.”
Jiang Fuyue already knew this and nodded, dismissing the matter.
The car sped along and finally arrived at Yufeng Kitchen.
The first floor was open for business, a few tables occupied, and a pleasant violin tune filling the elegant, refined atmosphere.
On the second floor was Yufeng Group’s Linhuai base, previously Longtian’s stronghold, now under Liu Jinzhong’s management.
“Miss, you’re here,” Liu Jinzhong, dressed in a suit and tie, was waiting outside the elevator, his hair perfectly groomed, his demeanor refined.
The metal doors opened, revealing him.
He exuded an air of old-fashioned elegance and decorum.
“Uncle Liu,” Jiang Fuyue greeted him.
Her calling him “Uncle” confirmed his unshakable position at Yufeng.
Hu Ben felt a pang of envy.
He and Little Six had challenged the old man repeatedly recently. Though they hadn’t lost, they hadn’t gained much either.
The saying held true: age brings wisdom.
Jiang Fuyue strode in, and Liu Jinzhong followed closely, “Congratulations, Miss, on scoring perfect wins at IPhO and IOI—a historic feat.”
“You knew?”
Liu Jinzhong smiled, “The media’s flooded with reports, and it’s all over the news.”
Besides, he always kept track of her achievements, never missing a single update.
“Thank you, Uncle Liu.”
“It’s my duty.”
Hu Ben thought, Never knew this old man could be so flattering. But…what’s IPh…something?
In the office, Jiang Fuyue settled at her desk, quickly reviewed some important documents, and handed them to Liu Jinzhong.
Hu Ben sat on the sofa, feeling a little tense.
Soon, Little Six arrived.
The two of them sat side by side, glancing at each other.
Jiang Fuyue was talking to Liu Jinzhong, not paying attention to them.
Little Six raised his brows: Bro! What’s going on?
Hu Ben: How should I know?
Little Six: Why did Miss call us here? Is something wrong at the bar?
Hu Ben thought for a moment: No…except someone caused a scene the other day and we caught a guy with K last night…
Just as they were exchanging glances, Jiang Fuyue spoke up—
“You two, come over here.”
Hu Ben and Little Six exchanged a look, walked over, and sat down across from her.
Jiang Fuyue examined them seriously.
It had been a month since she’d seen them, and they’d shed much of their previous restlessness, now looking steady and mature.
Hu Ben, who used to look uncomfortable in a suit, now wore it with ease, looking sharp.
Meanwhile, Little Six, who could never tie a proper necktie, now wore a neat bow tie, looking refined.
“Sister Yue….”
They met her gaze, nervousness clear on their faces.
“As of today, one-third of the time we agreed upon has passed. I’m here to check on how the two bars are doing.”
She gestured to two ledgers on the desk.
Clearly, Liu Jinzhong had prepared them.
The two of them immediately straightened up.
Jiang Fuyue opened the first ledger. “King’s.”
Hu Ben instinctively sat up, his eyes sharp.
“Revenue of 3.62 million, a 5% year-on-year increase—not bad.”
Hu Ben sighed in relief, but—
“Sixty-two incidents, eighteen security call-outs. This means that on average, there were two disputes and half a security intervention per day this past month—ten times more than before.”
“That’s because some people just didn’t know their place, even—” Hu Ben started to explain, but seeing Jiang Fuyue’s cold look, he swallowed his words.
He muttered gloomily, “…Sorry, I handled it poorly and got too emotional.”
This was something Liu Jinzhong had warned him about before.
But Hu Ben hadn’t taken it to heart.
Jiang Fuyue asked, “What’s the most important thing about running a bar?”
Hu Ben looked confused. “Are you asking me?”
Jiang Fuyue replied, “I’m asking both of you.”
Hu Ben thought for a moment. “…Making money.”
Little Six added, “Making money steadily and securely.”
Jiang Fuyue then turned to Liu Jinzhong.
He smiled warmly and said, “Harmony brings wealth.”
Ugh, the mother-in-law thinks she runs the home that Yueyue bought?! Hell nah.