The woman slunk away in disgrace.
Under Director Zhao’s warm reception, Xie Dingyuan and Jiang Fuyue checked into the room with the best view in the hotel’s high-rise section.
After walking all day, both were a bit tired, so they ordered room service for dinner.
After eating, they went out for a stroll to digest, then returned to the room to rest.
The sun set, and night quietly fell.
Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, one could clearly take in the magnificent sight of the tropical plant zone bathed in glowing light at the moment of transition between day and night.
Like a colorful scroll slowly returning to black and white.
“Yueyue…” After finishing his shower, Xie Dingyuan came out in his sleepwear, but his buttons weren’t fully fastened, revealing his sexy collarbone, carrying a somewhat enticing charm.
Jiang Fuyue turned back, and sure enough, her gaze unconsciously fell on his slightly open collar.
“Cough!” The man coughed lightly, the tips of his ears turning red.
He was the one revealing, and also the one getting shy.
Jiang Fuyue: “Finished washing?”
“Mm.”
“Want me to help dry your hair?”
His eyes lit up, and he immediately found the hairdryer and handed it over.
Jiang Fuyue had him sit down while she stood behind him.
For a moment, only the humming sound could be heard, warmth and gentle touch traveling along the scalp, straight to the nerves.
“…Done.”
Jiang Fuyue put down the hairdryer, then turned him around and personally fastened his buttons.
Xie Dingyuan’s Adam’s apple rolled lightly: “…You don’t like me like this?”
“Like what?” Jiang Fuyue raised her eyes with amusement, laughter blooming deep in her pupils.
“Just… showing a little…”
“Aren’t you not used to it?”
A man who always buttoned his shirt to the very last button, being able to do this much was already quite something.
“…In front of you, it’s fine.”
“What? Trying to seduce me?”
He paused, then the corners of his lips lifted as he suddenly leaned closer. “Then are you taking the bait?”
The man’s skin was a cool-toned white, and his eyes were deep and beautiful. When he focused and gazed with affection, the stunning effect and impact he brought could be called immense.
At least Jiang Fuyue froze.
The next second, the man reached out and pulled her into his arms, and the kiss followed.
She responded with equal passion.
Entwined together, the two fell onto the bed.
“Mmph, I haven’t showered yet…”
“We’ll wash after.”
When washing, do it again.
…
The next day, the two woke up naturally.
Thanks to starting early the previous night, they didn’t finish too late either. After their “exercise,” both had a good sleep.
After having breakfast at the hotel, the two set off for the Wangtianshu Scenic Area.
Since it was also in Mengla County, the travel time wasn’t long.
A 500-meter aerial corridor, thick ropes connected to the Wangtianshu trees, suspended by steel cables, with nylon rope nets as guardrails and alloy ladders as steps, thrilling and exciting.
Xie Dingyuan pulled her to take a photo under one of the trees.
Jiang Fuyue thought the lighting wasn’t good and wanted to change places.
But the man insisted: “Right here.”
“Why?”
“This tree is nice.”
Looking closely, Jiang Fuyue realized it wasn’t one tree, but two trees entwined together, intimately wrapped, accompanying each other.
Xie Dingyuan: “Even the trees come in pairs, we should too.”
After saying that, he pulled her into his arms and gestured to the tourist across holding a phone: “You can take it now, thank you.”
A few clicks, and the moment was captured.
Under the couple trees, a couple.
…
That night, the two rented a car and drove away from Mengla County.
It was close to midnight when they arrived at the city center. They found a comfortable hotel, checked in, and by the time they finished showering and lay down, it was already past one.
Xie Dingyuan reached out to turn off the bedside lamp, his other hand pulling Jiang Fuyue into his arms under the covers. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
They slept well through the night.
In the following days, they no longer rushed between scenic spots, but stayed leisurely in the city center.
During the day, they slept until they woke naturally, had breakfast, then went out for a casual stroll.
At noon, when the sun was strong, the two stayed in the hotel, swimming, sauna, back massage, watching movies…
Everything other couples would do, they experienced.
Like two novices who had just pushed open the door to a new world, constantly trying, finding freshness and joy.
At dusk, when the sun set, they went out again, exploring old streets and alleys, tasting local food.
After night fell, they went to the flower market to pick up bargains, buying large bundles of roses or peonies for just a few yuan, bringing them back to the hotel and placing them in vases.
Or they wandered through night market stalls, eating, drinking, walking, stopping.
The pace of life visibly slowed, and with it came comfort and ease.
The two stayed in Banna for half a month, only ending their trip as the New Year approached.
Jiang Fuyue and Xie Dingyuan did not return directly to the capital, but first went to Linhuai.
After discussion, Han Yunru and Jiang Da still decided, as last year, to go to the capital to accompany the old master for New Year’s Eve.
Jiang Fuyue’s trip was mainly to pick them up, and by the way visit old friends and teachers in Linhuai.
She told Xie Dingyuan to return to the capital first, but he refused without a second thought.
He even complained pitifully: “You’re driving me away.”
Jiang Fuyue: “?”
She only felt that since it was almost New Year, the Xie family must want Xie Dingyuan back earlier. Keeping him with her, what kind of situation was that?
Jiang Fuyue was thinking entirely for his sake, yet he was still dissatisfied…
“There are so many people at home, they don’t lack me.”
That wasn’t wrong. In previous years at this time, Xie Dingyuan was usually holed up in the lab, not caring about anything, and the Xie family had never fallen into chaos, everything remained lively as usual.
There was no reason he had to go back this year.
“Fine then.”
In the end, Jiang Fuyue compromised and let him go back to Linhuai with her.
…
Yutianhua Residence, villa district, outside a standalone villa.
“Why are you still following me?” Jiang Fuyue looked baffled.
Xie Dingyuan said righteously, “Going home!”
“Do you need me to remind you? Your house is next door!”
“…Oh.”
Back when the two villas were side by side, Xie Dingyuan had thought he had gained a huge advantage by being so close.
Now, however, the more he looked at it, the more it annoyed him.
Otherwise, he could have openly moved into his future wife’s house.
Jiang Fuyue said, “Keep dreaming.”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t mind. “I’ve met the parents, so I’m already an acknowledged future son-in-law. Living at my fiancée’s house is only natural. Believe it or not, as long as you let me in, Uncle and Aunt will definitely keep me.”
Even if he could only sleep in the guest room…
Jiang Fuyue didn’t fall for it: “Hurry back already!”
Xie Dingyuan, along with his luggage, was sent off next door.
Jiang Fuyue, meanwhile, swaggered back home.
As soon as she entered, she smelled the aroma of food.
Little Brother Jiang heard the noise and came running out of the kitchen with quick steps, an apron tied around him and a spatula in his hand: “Sis, you’re back, ”
This scene made Jiang Fuyue feel as if she had returned to the day she had just been reborn.
Coming home after school, opening the door, Little Brother Jiang had also come out of the kitchen dressed just like this.
Only…
The once old and dilapidated apartment building had been replaced by a spacious and bright villa.
And that skinny, timid little bean of a child from back then had already grown taller and stronger, faintly taking on the appearance of an adult.
The only thing unchanged was probably the way he looked at Jiang Fuyue, still so bright, so full of surprise.
And the way he called “Sis” was still intimate and dependent.
“What delicious food did you make?”
Jiang Chenxing took out slippers and placed them in front of her: “Tomato scrambled eggs, braised chicken wings, sweet and sour pork ribs.”
“All meat dishes?”
“No… there are vegetables, stir-fried loofah and mapo tofu!”
“Oh, right,” he added, “there’s also pork bone and kelp soup!”
Jiang Da and Han Yunru were not home, so the siblings ate lunch together.
Jiang Chenxing first served her rice: “Sis, is this enough?”
“Mm, it’s enough.”
Then he naturally picked up the basin and began eating with his head down.
Jiang Fuyue couldn’t help laughing.
Jiang Chenxing raised his head, blinking in confusion: “Sis, what are you laughing at?”
“Nothing… don’t just eat rice, have some dishes too.”
“Okay.”
He hadn’t been picking up dishes mainly because he was worried he might eat them all and leave none for Jiang Fuyue, planning to let her eat first and then finish what remained.
Jiang Fuyue put some sweet and sour ribs into his bowl, well, basin, “Eat.”
The young man smiled shyly: “Thank you, Sis!”
The moment he lowered his head, he still couldn’t help blushing.
…
In recent months, besides running the shop as usual, Jiang Da and Han Yunru had also been gradually handling relocation matters.
First was staffing. After asking Cao Sanpang and the others, all said they were willing to follow Jiang Da to the capital.
“Wherever Eldest Senior Brother is, that’s where I am!”
“If we wanted stability, we wouldn’t have left Cao’s shop and brought our families to Linhuai back then. Now we’re just walking the same road again. We already have experience, what’s there to fear?”
“That’s right! The capital is under the emperor’s feet. Jiang Ji’s development platform will only get bigger and broader. Maybe we’ll even flourish everywhere, grow stronger, and open branches all over the country!”
“In these three years in Linhuai, Eldest Senior Brother and Sister-in-law have taken care of us in every way. Not only did our salaries keep increasing, they also taught us their skills without holding anything back. If we split up now, are we even human? That would make us ungrateful wolves! Whoever wants that can do it, I won’t.”
“Following Eldest Senior Brother means good food. I’d rather hold tight to this thigh, why split up? Get yourselves together! Let’s go make our mark in the capital! Maybe one day we’ll have official capital residency and become head chefs or bosses!”
Over the years, Sanpang and the others had indeed helped Jiang Da a lot, but Jiang Da had never treated his junior brothers unfairly.
Not only did he raise their salaries, he also gave them shares in the shop and even lent them money to buy homes and settle down in Linhuai.
And they did not disappoint him.
“Alright! Then let’s go give it a try!”
With the staffing issue smoothly resolved, Jiang Da gave them plenty of time to arrange their family matters.
Next was hesitation over publicity.
Many people still didn’t know Jiang Ji was moving, and Jiang Da had never figured out how to announce the news.
After all, Jiang Ji Private Kitchen had been able to open successfully thanks to the support and promotion of local diners in Linhuai, which later led to its popularity across the internet.
Now that they were moving away, it somewhat felt like crossing the river and tearing down the bridge.
Jiang Da was an honest man and couldn’t get past that in his heart.
No one could persuade him otherwise.
In addition, Jiang Ji’s cuisine leaned toward sweet and spicy flavors, which might not suit the capital.
As for the second concern, Jiang Da was confident he could solve it.
Recently, he had been studying and improving northern-style dishes to adapt to local tastes.
But as for how to announce the move, aside from anxiety and headaches, he simply had no solution.
Cao Dou patted his chest and stepped forward: “Leave it to me! I’ve got a way!”
After all, he had specifically learned online operations from Wu Qian, and over the past few years had managed Jiang Ji’s official accounts, accumulating plenty of experience.
Very quickly, he posted a message on Weibo, subtly and tactfully revealing that Jiang Ji planned to move to the capital.
At first, reactions were intense, with most people opposing it.
But Cao Dou wasn’t in a hurry. The next day, he released a video of him talking with Jiang Da, “Eldest Senior Brother, netizens are asking why you’re moving. Do you not love them anymore?”
At the time, Jiang Da was sitting on a small stool, skillfully cleaning intestines: “Actually, your sister-in-law and I struggled with this for a long time. After all, we’ve stayed in Linhuai for so many years, we can’t bear to leave.”
“But considering that Yueyue and Chenxing will both develop in the capital in the future, we have no choice. When Yueyue went to Ming University, your sister-in-law was so upset she secretly wiped tears at night. If both of them leave in the future, won’t we be heartbroken? And if we’re too far away, if something happens to them, we won’t be able to help in time…”
“Little Dou, when you get married and have children in the future, you’ll understand how your sister-in-law and I feel.”
The video ended there.
Cao Dou added text: He loves diners, fans, and netizens, but he also wants to be selfish once, and love his own children.
It turned out quite touching.
Netizens expressed their understanding one after another.
【Isn’t it just moving locations? Jiang Ji is still Jiang Ji, and the taste is still the same. It hasn’t let us down!】
【As a mother, I totally understand their feelings】
【Sister Yue and the professor are both so busy, when they have kids in the future, won’t they need grandparents to help? Please be generous and make way for our future little scientist, okay?】
【Sis, your comment went viral】
…
Lastly was the issue of terminating the lease.
The couple found the landlord, Jiang Guohui, and politely expressed their apologies,
Because they hadn’t fulfilled the agreed lease term, they decided to forfeit the deposit as compensation.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Guohui waved his plump hand: “Oh, it’s no big deal. Was it really necessary for you two to come in person? A phone call would’ve been enough.”
Han Yunru: “No, no, it’s our fault for breaking the contract first, and only informing you when we’re about to move…”
“It’s fine! I’ll still return the full deposit. I can quickly rent the place out again. That location has become popular because of you, it’s now one of the must-visit spots for tourists. Honestly, I should be thanking you. The market value of all my properties in that area has more than tripled.”
His words were sincere, his attitude genuine. In the end, Han Yunru could only agree: “…Alright then.”
Jiang Guohui’s eyes turned: “So you’re closing the shop? Makes sense, your daughter is so successful. Staying home comfortably is easy. Running a restaurant is quite tiring.”
Jiang Da waved his hand: “No, we’re planning to move to the capital and continue the business.”
“The capital?!” Jiang Guohui’s eyes lit up.
“Y-yes…”
“Brother Jiang, let me tell you, when my daughter Hanhan went to study in the capital, I started buying property there. I’m still in the rental business! Actually… I have a few shop spaces on hand, and the locations are quite good…”
What was originally a lease termination discussion ended up also securing a shop location in the capital.
…
The day after returning to Linhuai, Jiang Fuyue went to No. 1 High School.
Mm, to visit her lovely teachers.
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