Xie Dingyuan drove his car but didn’t leave Yutianhua Residence right away. Instead, he circled once around the Jiang family villa—no lights were on. After exiting the neighborhood, he gripped the steering wheel, his mind momentarily blank.
Where should he go?
Or rather—where might Jiang Fuyue be?
He knew full well that the excuse of “getting some air” was fake. What he really wanted was to see if he could run into her.
Suddenly, he remembered Zhong Ziang mentioning this afternoon that Jiang Fuyue was taking her friend out for dinner…
He immediately turned around and headed for Jiang Ji Private Kitchen.
It was 9:00 p.m. when he arrived. The place was bustling, with a line of customers still outside.
“Take care, fairies! Come again soon!” Cao Dou stood at the door, seeing off customers.
“Brother Dou, no need to send us off. It’s windy outside—we’re afraid what little hair you have left might get blown off!”
The fans were merciless with their jokes, drawing laughter all around.
Cao Dou rubbed his nose. “You people, can’t let me off without teasing, huh?”
Suddenly, his eyes froze—across the street was a very familiar Mercedes-Benz.
Hiss—
Cao Dou walked over and knocked on the window.
The glass lowered, revealing a nationally recognized face.
“It is you, Professor Xie! I thought I was seeing things…”
“Hello. Is Jiang Fuyue inside?”
“She was earlier. Left after dinner.”
“How long ago?”
Cao Dou checked his watch. “Maybe 20 to 30 minutes.”
“Thanks.” Xie Dingyuan started the engine and drove off.
Cao Dou: “?”
Xie Dingyuan drove along the street. The night breeze brushed his face—cool and strange.
Then suddenly, his gaze landed on a dessert shop up ahead.
…
“Besides the mango mille crepe?” Ming Yu looked over at her, his gray-blue pupils filled with a gentle focus. “Want anything else?”
“One is enough.”
“Alright.”
Ming Yu wheeled himself into the store. Despite the curious stares, he calmly paid and took the to-go bag from the staff.
He handed it directly to Jiang Fuyue. “Try it?”
Before she could respond, the glass door behind them was pushed open—a gust of cool air blew in.
Jiang Fuyue instinctively turned around, just as a familiar voice rang out: “What a coincidence.”
Then the man turned to the side: “Uncle Ming, long time no see.”
“Ah Yuan,” Ming Yu nodded slightly.
“Last time we met was at Zeng Chuan’s academic salon. I heard you returned to the Northwest Institute afterward—didn’t expect to run into you in Linhuai.”
Ming Yu: “I didn’t expect it either.”
“You and Jiang Fuyue… know each other?” Xie Dingyuan’s eyes flicked between them, asking the question politely, without overstepping.
Ming Yu looked toward Jiang Fuyue—at that moment, she was looking back at him.
Their eyes met. A silent understanding hung in the air.
The kind of rapport only truly close friends shared.
Of course… it could also mean—
More than just friends.
Ming Yu nodded softly.
Jiang Fuyue smiled—an unspoken confirmation.
“Since it’s such a coincidence, why not sit down and chat? Also, congratulations on the successful Red-7 test, Uncle Ming.”
Ming Yu’s gaze swept over Xie Dingyuan.
Though his eyes couldn’t focus, his tone sharpened just a bit. “So, you know Yueyue too?”
Yueyue…
Xie Dingyuan’s eyes darkened slightly. “We just finished a project together.”
Ming Yu raised a brow. With Xie Dingyuan’s current status, he extended an olive branch to a high school student?
He pondered silently but showed no change in expression. “Yueyue’s research capabilities are exceptional.”
Xie Dingyuan nodded. “Indeed,” he glanced at Jiang Fuyue, “I struck gold.”
The three of them sat inside the shop.
While Xie and Ming talked research—sprinkling the conversation with technical terms—Jiang Fuyue quietly enjoyed her mille crepe.
The thin egg crepe layers, rich cream, and fragrant mango melted on her tongue. The sweetness fermented across her palate.
She squinted contentedly like a lazy, satisfied cat.
Though the two men spoke with apparent focus, neither of them ever let her out of their peripheral vision.
Suddenly, their gazes locked.
Ming Yu asked, “How did you and Yueyue meet?”
Xie Dingyuan: “We got off on the wrong foot at first. You?”
“I’ve known her… for a very, very long time. So long it feels like a past life.”
The latter half of that sentence made Xie Dingyuan frown. He glanced at Jiang Fuyue, who didn’t seem uncomfortable—in fact, she was quite composed.
“How long are you staying in Linhuai, Uncle Ming? Come visit Hanqing when you’re free.”
“No need. I’ll be leaving in a couple of days.”
“What brings you here this time?”
“Some errands. Visiting friends.”
Xie Dingyuan glanced unconsciously at Jiang Fuyue. She, however, stayed focused on her dessert and didn’t join the conversation.
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
At that moment, some cream stuck to the corner of Jiang Fuyue’s lips.
Both men handed her a napkin—at the exact same time.
“Wipe it.”
“Here.”
They both froze.
A subtle understanding flashed in Ming Yu’s eyes. Xie Dingyuan also seemed to grasp something.
Invisible tension surged between them.
Jiang Fuyue, unfazed, took both napkins—used one to wipe her mouth, the other for her hands.
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
Ming Yu: “…”
“I’m done. How much longer are you two planning to talk?”
Ming Yu: “Let’s go.”
Xie Dingyuan stood up too.
Just then, Zhong Hao entered and stood beside Ming Yu.
The four of them exited the shop.
Ming Yu’s hotel was nearby.
“I’ll walk you in,” Jiang Fuyue offered.
Ming Yu didn’t refuse.
Xie Dingyuan quickly added, “I’ll come too.”
Ming Yu declined, “It’s only a few steps—no need to trouble you.”
But you don’t mind troubling her…
Xie Dingyuan narrowed his eyes, then smiled slightly: “I drove. I’ll take Jiang Fuyue home.”
“Together?” Ming Yu raised an eyebrow.
“We live in the same complex.”
Ming Yu’s pupils flickered. “Alright then.”
After seeing Ming Yu off, Jiang Fuyue stopped at the hotel entrance. “Rest well. Goodnight.”
Ming Yu smiled and nodded. “See you tomorrow.”
“Mm.”
As the elevator doors closed, Xie Dingyuan retracted his gaze. “Let’s go.”
Jiang Fuyue followed.
“How did you end up here?” she asked. This wasn’t near Hanqing or Yutianhua Residence.
“Just passing by.”
They reached the parking lot—right across from the dessert shop.
“You parked here just to greet me and Ming Yu?”
“Show some manners. Call him Uncle Ming. Or Professor Ming.”
Pfft—
Uncle?
How did he even come up with that? She wondered what Ming Yu’s expression would be if he heard that.
“I think between friends, first names are fine.”
“You and Ming Yu? Friends despite the age gap?”
Jiang Fuyue thought for a second, then nodded. “You could say that.”
Xie Dingyuan: “…” Fuming internally.
Once in the car, he started the engine.
Midway, Xie Dingyyan suddenly brought up their project: “…The paper is done. We just need more detailed modeling data. When are you free to come to the lab and finalize your part?”
“Sure.”
“How about tomorrow? Old Bai, Old Jin, and Ding Yu will be there too.”
“Tomorrow… hmm.” Jiang Fuyue frowned.
“What, other plans?” he asked calmly.
“Yeah, I’ve already made an appointment.”
He scoffed inwardly. Don’t think I didn’t hear—clearly a date with Ming Yu!
“It’s not the weekend tomorrow. You’re free?”
“I’ve already taken leave from school. No problem.”
“…I see.”
They returned to her villa.
Jiang Fuyue got out. “Thanks.”
“Hey—”
She turned.
Under the streetlight, his sharp features gleamed. His dark eyes twinkled with faint starlight.
“If you ever have questions about research, ask me anytime.”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t know why he brought this up out of nowhere, but she still acknowledged it: “Alright.”
“Go on, goodnight.”
“Bye.”
…
The next morning, Jiang Fuyue went to the airport early.
At 9:00 a.m., Xu Kaiqing and Old Peter arrived.
“Xu, tell me, what does Chou look like? How tall is he? Does he prefer black or white? Oh! Will he like my gift?”
To all these questions, Xu Kaiqing just smiled silently.
When pressed, all he said was: “You’ll see soon enough.”
“Old Xu—over here—”
Jiang Fuyue waved.
“Hey, look at that Chinese girl,” Old Peter spotted her immediately. “Did Chou send her to pick us up? Oh, I bet he’s either a high-ranking executive or a successful entrepreneur.”
“Only people like that would be so thoughtful and considerate. I’m brilliant…”
But in the next second, he watched as Xu Kaiqing smiled, walked up, and hugged the girl: “Long time no see, Chou…”
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