The two arrived at a hot pot restaurant near Ming University and quickly ordered their dishes.
Ming Yu: “You’re still the same as before, liking hot pot.”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t look up and continued ticking items on the menu, her movements extremely fast: “I remember you like it too.”
“Mm,” Ming Yu nodded. “I do.”
“See if there’s anything else you want to add.” Jiang Fuyue pushed the menu over.
Ming Yu gave it a rough glance. “That’s about enough.”
“Okay.” Jiang Fuyue called the waiter over and handed him the order sheet.
Waiter: “What kind of pot would you like? Split pot or red broth?”
Ming Yu: “Red broth.”
“Alright, please wait a moment.”
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow: “I remember you used to like ordering the split pot.”
Ming Yu gave a soft “mm,” but you like red broth.
“What, did you really think I hadn’t made any progress over the years?” The corner of his lips curved up, his tone teasing.
Jiang Fuyue gave him a thumbs-up: Impressive.
After eating, Ming Yu went to pay the bill, and Jiang Fuyue didn’t argue with him.
Ming Yu had a seminar in the afternoon, so Jiang Fuyue drove him back to Ming University.
“Just stop here. No need to drive in.”
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Fuyue looked puzzled.
“I’m going to the municipal lecture hall later. I’ll wait at the gate for Xiao Shan’s car and go together.”
“Alright.” Jiang Fuyue stopped at the school entrance.
Ming Yu got out of the car, stood steady with his cane, and said goodbye to her.
Jiang Fuyue: “Keep up the rehabilitation and recover soon.”
“Okay.”
Ming Yu stood where he was, watching the car drive away.
Two minutes later, Xiao Shan’s car arrived. “Let’s go.”
“Mm.” He opened the door and got in.
“After the meeting, are we going straight back to the apartment or back to the school?”
Ming Yu pondered for a moment. “Back to the school. There’s still a document I haven’t picked up.”
Xiao Shan nodded.
…
After separating from Ming Yu, Jiang Fuyue didn’t go straight back to the Han residence. Instead, she went to an office building in the city center.
Following the address Wu Qian gave her, she found Tower A, 12th floor. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she smelled the dusty scent of renovation. Looking inside, two workers were currently working.
“Hey? Who are you looking for?”
“I’m here on behalf of Wu Qian to inspect the completion.”
“Oh! The boss!” As soon as the worker heard that, he immediately put on a smile and handed over a receipt. “This is the project list. Please check it. We’ve already finished laying the wall and floor tiles, and the plumbing and electricity are all completed. If there aren’t any problems, please sign here. Only then can we start the next project. Otherwise it’ll keep dragging and we won’t be able to continue…”
This was the new office location Wu Qian had found for Xingyue Entertainment.
Previously, although Jiang Chenxing had participated in Star-Making Camp, something happened midway, the program was canceled, and he was forced to withdraw. But the number of fans he had accumulated was no less than those contestants who had successfully debuted as center positions in previous seasons.
The outside world was clamoring,
Let the younger brother shine alone! Solo debut!
Originally, everyone thought these fans were just riding the wave for a moment and their enthusiasm would cool after a while. But unexpectedly, the voices only grew louder. There was even a super topic called #JiangChenxingDebut#, with discussions already exceeding one hundred million.
Seeing this situation, after careful consideration, and after specially coming to the capital to discuss it with Jiang Fuyue, Wu Qian made a bold decision,
He would move the entire business of the management company to the capital and develop there from now on.
Previously, although some of the business was developed in the capital, it only accounted for a very small portion. This time he decided to move the entire company over.
At the same time, Jiang Chenxing would transfer schools to the capital, studying while preparing for his solo debut.
Jiang Fuyue had no objections. It mainly depended on Jiang Chenxing himself.
First, whether in educational resources or industry resources, the capital was richer than Linhuai.
Second, if nothing unexpected happened, she would spend most of her time in the capital in the future. If Jiang Chenxing was here as well, perhaps Jiang Da and Han Yunru would also be willing to move over.
Besides, when Chenxing went to university later, he would most likely attend one under the imperial capital anyway.
Since that was the case, better sooner than later.
After probing Jiang Fuyue’s opinion, Wu Qian turned around and went back to Linhuai to discuss it with Jiang Da and Han Yunru.
Their opinion was the same as Jiang Fuyue’s, let Jiang Chenxing decide himself.
After getting approval from both sides, Wu Qian felt the matter was already seventy to eighty percent settled. Finally, he went to find Jiang Chenxing.
Little Brother Jiang: “Go to the capital?”
“Mm. Your parents and your sister both said they respect your choice.”
Little Brother Jiang only thought for two seconds before saying firmly, “I want to go.”
Because the capital has my sister.
And just like that, the school transfer was settled. Once this semester ended, he could go straight to the capital next semester, just in time to start his first year of high school.
A new school and new classmates wouldn’t feel as unfamiliar as transferring midway.
At the same time, Wu Qian also found a new office location in the capital, the very floor in front of them.
After looking through the densely packed list of nearly thirty sub-projects on the document and inspecting the place in person, Jiang Fuyue confirmed there were no problems and signed her name without hesitation.
The worker politely escorted her to the door. Having seen many sharp-tongued and nitpicky clients, complaining about this and that, it was rare to encounter someone this straightforward.
“No need to see me off. Go back to work.”
“Alright! Take care!”
After leaving the office building, Jiang Fuyue went to a milk tea shop across the street and ordered two drinks, leaving the address and the money, asking the staff to help deliver them upstairs.
For this, she paid an extra ten yuan delivery fee.
Next door was a shopping mall. Seeing that it was still early, Jiang Fuyue went in to browse.
She bought clothes for herself and for Xie Dingyuan, along with two scarves in the same color scheme.
Sales clerk: “Although they’re sold separately, they really look like a couple’s set.”
Passing by a pet supermarket, Jiang Fuyue stopped, stepped inside, and asked the sales assistant for a shopping cart.
When she came out, the cart was already filled with all kinds of dog snacks and small dog toys.
These were for Little Mang.
Considering that Han Ting would be returning home today, since even Little Mang had a gift, if he didn’t get one, who knew how high he would pout his lips, Jiang Fuyue went to a sporting goods store and bought him a new basketball.
By the time she finished shopping, it was already 4:30. Jiang Fuyue prepared to go home.
The paper bags with clothes were light enough for her to carry herself, but the dog snacks, dog toys, and the inflated basketball had to be delivered to the parking lot by the store staff.
However, Jiang Fuyue had already been waiting downstairs for more than ten minutes, and the items still hadn’t arrived.
She called the mall’s front desk and asked them to help urge the delivery.
“Alright, please wait a moment. After verifying here, we will reply to you.”
About two minutes later, they called back:
“Dear customer, hello. A small accident occurred during the delivery of your items, causing them to be sent to Parking Area B. Therefore, you will need to wait about another ten minutes. We apologize for the inconvenience… Alternatively, you can leave an address and we can deliver them directly to your home…”
Ten minutes wasn’t too long, so Jiang Fuyue decided to wait a little longer.
She leaned against the front of her car and took out her phone. Just as she opened WeChat, preparing to ask Xie Dingyuan what he was doing,
Suddenly, her fingertips paused, and she turned her head sharply.
Jiang Fuyue’s sharp gaze swept across the surroundings, not missing any corner.
Quiet. Not a single person in sight.
But just a moment ago, that feeling of being watched had appeared again.
Exactly the same as the time when her car broke down on the way home not long ago.
Just like…
as if a venomous snake from the darkness, tongue flicking, had locked onto its prey!
Jiang Fuyue’s brows knitted tightly. She got into the car, shut the windows, and locked the doors.
Through the windshield in front of her, she carefully and vigilantly watched the surroundings.
Soon, ten minutes passed, and the mall delivery staff arrived.
They placed the items in the trunk and then left.
Jiang Fuyue didn’t linger. She slammed the accelerator down and quickly drove away.
After she left, a Mercedes G-Class parked not far away also started its engine and drove off.
If Jiang Fuyue had seen this scene, she would definitely have been extremely surprised, because when she was observing earlier, she had clearly seen that there was no one inside that car!
…
After Ming Yu finished the meeting, he returned to the school in Xiao Shan’s car.
It happened to be the end of school time, and along the way teachers and students greeted him.
“Professor Ming…”
“Hello, Professor…”
“Classes are over, are you still heading back to the teaching building?”
“…”
For all these greetings, Ming Yu responded with a smiling nod.
His leg had not fully recovered yet, so going up and down stairs wasn’t very convenient.
It just so happened to be Friday, the day the elevator underwent routine maintenance, so he couldn’t use it and could only take the emergency stairwell.
Fortunately, the office was located on the fourth floor, not too high.
Even so, by the time he climbed to the fourth floor, he was already panting heavily, his forehead covered in sweat.
He placed his hands on both knees and rubbed them to relieve the discomfort.
Fortunately, most people on this floor had already left, and no one saw his current disheveled state.
After resting for more than ten minutes and feeling a little better, Ming Yu picked up his cane again, walked over, and unlocked the office door with his key.
He found the document he needed, first put it into a file bag, then wrapped another layer of plastic film around it, and only then placed it into his backpack.
Turned off the lights, locked the door, and left.
But before that, Ming Yu drank a cup of warm water to replenish the fluids lost through sweat, and used a tissue to wipe the sweat from his forehead, face, and neck.
Composed and meticulous.
The sun was setting, the afterglow of dusk spilling onto the ground, spreading a layer of orange-red everywhere.
Students walked out of the school gates in twos and threes.
Ming Yu called a car with his phone and stood quietly by the roadside waiting.
Just then, a black G-Class slowly slid to a stop in front of him.
The window rolled down, revealing a face that made him frown.
“Lou Mingshen?”
“It’s me. Long time no see. I’m surprised you still recognize me.”
The last time the two met was at the entrance of the cemetery, nearly two years ago.
Ming Yu’s brows drew even tighter, and he said nothing.
Lou Mingshen rested one hand on the window and the other on the steering wheel, smiling with his eyes, completely ignoring Ming Yu’s rejection.
“Recently someone told me a joke. They said that Professor Ming, who took root in the Northwest and couldn’t be called back no matter how much people begged and schemed, is actually planning to settle in the capital? Tell me, isn’t that funny?”
“…”
“Heh… At first I didn’t believe it. After all, twenty years ago you made up your mind never to come back. Why?”
Ming Yu answered with a cold look but no words.
Lou Mingshen said word by word, “Why come back? Or rather, who has the ability to make you leave even the Northwest and come scurrying back to this place of sorrow?”
“That has nothing to do with you.”
“Doesn’t it?” Lou Mingshen curved his lips in a smile, his dark eyes heavy and cold.
At that moment, the car Ming Yu had called arrived.
He moved as if to go around the G-Class and get into the car.
But Lou Mingshen directly tossed the driver two hundred yuan. “No need. Just drive away.”
“Huh?” The driver hesitated, glanced at him, then looked at Ming Yu. “Sir, do you still need the ride?”
Displeasure had already appeared on Ming Yu’s face. “Of course I…”
Lou Mingshen interrupted, “Fine. If you leave today, I’ll come again tomorrow, and the day after that too. Anyway, I have plenty of time.”
Ming Yu frowned. He seemed somewhat puzzled by Lou Mingshen’s current behavior, and a little baffled. “What exactly do you want to do?”
“Chat.”
Ming Yu thought for a moment and told the driver to leave.
He knew Lou Mingshen’s personality, if things weren’t made clear today, he would keep making trouble.
“What do you want to talk about?” His expression was stern, his tone cold.
Lou Mingshen still wore that carefree smile, but something seemed to churn in the depths of his eyes, about to overflow.
“Professor Ming’s complexion is rosy, and you speak with vigor. Looks like you’ve been doing quite well lately?”
Ming Yu stepped back two steps, somewhat guarded. “I don’t think we’re the kind of relationship that can exchange pleasantries.”
Hearing this, Lou Mingshen seemed not to notice the sarcasm in his words. His gaze swept over Ming Yu’s straight legs, the smile at his lips deepening.
“After twenty years of being unable to walk, how does it feel to stand up again? Pretty good, right?”
Ming Yu said, “For a cripple in a wheelchair, being able one day to stand and walk like a normal person, it is indeed very good.”
“Well then, congratulations. But….” Lou Mingshen suddenly changed the tone of the conversation, and his gaze instantly became sharp. “Why? After sitting in a wheelchair for twenty years, why did you suddenly want to treat your leg?”
“No comment.”
“Is it because, she came back?!”
Ming Yu’s pupils shrank suddenly, but it lasted only a tenth of a second. By the time Lou Mingshen’s sharp gaze locked onto him, he had already returned to normal.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The other man suddenly laughed out loud. Because it was so brief, it sounded somewhat harsh.
“Do you really not know, or are you pretending to be confused while understanding perfectly well? You know best in your heart.”
Ming Yu’s face turned cold. “I don’t have time to get tangled up with you talking about meaningless things.”
“No hurry.” Lou Mingshen waved his hand, smiling. “You may not want to say it, but there will always be ways to pry your mouth open.”
Ming Yu said expressionlessly, “If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”
“Leaving? Going where? This isn’t over yet.”
“Lou Mingshen, don’t push people too far!”
“Is that anger? That’s really rare. Professor Ming has cultivated himself all these years, when did you become so unable to control your temper? Or did my words touch the secret hidden in your heart, and you can only cover your panic with anger?”
Ming Yu’s face remained cold. At times like this, a thousand words are not as good as silence.
Lou Mingshen looked at him deeply. There seemed to be some other emotion within that gaze, but it quickly returned to calm, without a ripple.
Only a false smile remained.
“Let’s go. We need to find a place to have a proper talk, former prospective brother-in-law.”
…
Twenty minutes later, at the apartment.
Lou Mingshen sat on the sofa and looked around the room before his gaze returned to Ming Yu’s face.
“I didn’t expect you to invite me to your home as a guest.”
“What exactly do you want to say?”
“I’ll ask you— Is she my sister?”
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