People came and went, the atmosphere noisy and lively.
After lecturing Fang Nianchen and venting her anger, Yin Chi finally felt a bit relieved. She hummed a tune contentedly.
“That last sentence carried a bit of personal emotion. You can choose not to listen.” Buoyed by the alcohol, Yin Chi was feeling happy, and in her good mood, she naturally became more generous and tolerant.
“Two pints of draft beer.” Her cheeks flushed slightly as she called over the server for more beer.
“One is enough.” Fang Nianchen looked up at her seriously. “I’m not drinking anymore. I have to go to work tomorrow.”
Yin Chi pouted in disappointment. “Fine, just one then.”
A few minutes later, the server brought the beer and cleared away the empty bowls and plates from the table. With the surface clean now, Fang Nianchen’s mind was a tangled mess.
She watched the fine bubbles rising in the glass and spoke gravely. “I rejected you not because of any imbalance. It’s because I genuinely don’t like you that way.”
She had never liked stringing people along. After learning of Yin Chi’s feelings, she refused her on the spot in less than two seconds.
Perhaps her decisive words had made Yin Chi think they were premeditated.
In other words, Yin Chi felt like she was the shrewd one, that all her previous actions were to lure her in, only to cut the line the moment she bit.
But in reality, she didn’t have that many schemes. She just felt Yin Chi had been good to her and wanted to repay the favor as best she could.
“Cough…” Yin Chi seemed to hear something outrageous and was caught off guard, choking on her beer with a pained expression.
Well played. She returned the blow without holding back.
But thinking of how merciless Yin Chi had been when roasting her earlier, Yin Chi surprisingly felt balanced. “Fine, we’re even.”
Not loving each other didn’t stop them from verbally sparring.
Her earlier accusation of Fang Nianchen being harsh toward her had indeed been a spur-of-the-moment thing.
The day after the rejection, she had already figured it out—even if they got together, it wouldn’t last.
Their families’ elders were on good terms, and setting aside her own side, she had heard how rigid Fang Nianchen’s parents were. Otherwise, Fang Nianchen wouldn’t have hidden it from her family and come to North City to suffer.
Giving herself one last shred of dignity, Yin Chi had intended to gradually forget Fang Nianchen. But the heavens were unfair, forcing them to cross paths again.
Coming to North City, she got doused with cold water the very first day she saw Fang Nianchen. No one had ever dared treat her like that in thirty years, yet Fang Nianchen did, and so righteously.
It was precisely that line—”regret can’t replace liking”—that truly sobered Yin Chi.
Fang Nianchen was fun, sure, but she couldn’t provide exceptional emotional value. They said a forced melon isn’t sweet, and after two years, even the sweetest melon would rot in the field.
Once she stopped obsessing over making Fang Nianchen like her, life suddenly felt brighter.
She ate this meal to her heart’s content, leaning back in her chair, suddenly feeling that this trip to North City wasn’t a loss.
After finishing her second beer, Yin Chi asked lazily, “You done eating?”
“Yeah.” Fang Nianchen took a napkin to wipe her mouth. “How are you getting back?”
“The driver’s waiting in the parking lot behind. I can drop you off on the way.” Yin Chi stood to pay, but Fang Nianchen beat her to it.
Yin Chi glared at her unhappily. “What are you doing?”
“Paying the bill.”
“You’re out eating with me and you want to pay?” Yin Chi had the illusion that she was deliberately going against her.
“I can’t always let you treat.” Fang Nianchen explained, “I’m earning money too.”
“Is your money that plentiful?” Yin Chi was in a fiery mood tonight, poking at her sore spots every other sentence. It was like backlash from her fondness— she felt uncomfortable if she didn’t tease Fang Nianchen.
Seeing her being stubborn again, without a trace of an elder’s demeanor, Fang Nianchen had no choice but to say, “I’ll treat this meal. Then, could Miss Yin accompany me to the mall next door to buy something? That should be fine, right?”
Whenever Fang Nianchen was out of moves, she’d call her Miss Yin—a signal of surrender.
Yin Chi thought it over. It was reasonable enough, so she relented. After paying, they headed to the mall together.
North City’s largest shopping center was right next door, less than five minutes on foot. She thought Fang Nianchen was going to buy clothes or something, but she headed straight for the beauty section.
After a couple steps, she stopped, seemingly hesitating.
“What do you want to buy? Tell me, I can give you some advice.” Yin Chi looked around; it was all luxury brands for fancy ladies, nothing that caught her eye.
“It’s not for me. A birthday gift for Senior. Her birthday’s next week.” That date was like a brand, unforgettable. Fang Nianchen’s note for Yu Wan hadn’t changed in all these years, always reminding her.
Yin Chi eyed Fang Nianchen, wondering how she could still think about these things so calmly. Especially after hearing what she said.
“Fang Nianchen.” Yin Chi grabbed her arm, forcing her to look at her. “Did you even listen to me? Your feelings right now aren’t true lik…”
“Then what do you want me to do?” Fang Nianchen’s emotions, bottled up all evening, finally burst. “I know she has someone she likes, and I know her family is pushing her to go on blind dates.”
Yin Chi was stunned. “She has someone she likes?”
She’d actually worried for Yu Wan for a bit. Turns out Fang Nianchen was the one getting the short end.
Her gut told her Fang Nianchen was trapped in some weird loop, unable to escape.
“Of course.” Fang Nianchen shook off her hand. “I have no confidence she’ll like me back, so knowing she has someone she likes gives me an excuse for my failure later.”
Fang Nianchen thought she was indeed selfish, thinking of herself again.
“Are you satisfied now?”
So Yin Chi thought all her words came from some weird jealousy?
Yin Chi felt she was hopeless and shook her head. “Do whatever you want.”
But she couldn’t help asking, “So what are you planning to give her?”
Fang Nianchen tilted her head thoughtfully. “What do you think is good?”
“Hmph. Beg me nicely, and maybe I’ll tell you.” Yin Chi crossed her arms, standing domineeringly. After Fang Nianchen’s outrageous words, this was her show of defiance.
Unexpectedly, Fang Nianchen didn’t even glance at her and walked straight to the counter.
Yin Chi: …This brat is so annoying.
“How about a reed diffuser? There’s a famous store nearby that does them.”
“A reed diffuser…” Fang Nianchen hadn’t considered that. She nodded. “Sounds good.”
—
Meanwhile, on the other side of the mall.
“What gift do you think that pretty little sister will give you?” Quan Cige sidled up to Yu Wan, teasing cheerfully. “But whatever she gives, you’ll like it anyway.”
She wore a mask and hat—the downside of fame was how inconvenient it was to go out; she had to disguise herself. Even with the mall’s AC, it was stuffy.
Yu Wan didn’t respond.
Whether Fang Nianchen would give her a gift, she didn’t know. The last birthday present had been four years ago.
Whether she even remembered her birthday was another question.
Taking advantage of the sparse crowd, Quan Cige pulled her mask down a bit. “But your birthday’s on a Monday. How do you plan to celebrate? Dinner out?”
So it was next Monday.
Yu Wan suddenly realized Fang Nianchen had already given her a big gift—her “resignation.”
A more depressing Monday than usual. She probably wouldn’t be in the mood to celebrate.
“Mondays are busy.” Yu Wan turned down Quan Cige. Every birthday in the past, she’d spent alone anyway.
This year was a bit better; at least Little Briquette would keep her company.
“No way, you’re finally by my side. I have to celebrate with you no matter what.” Quan Cige pulled out her phone. “I’ll ask Qing-jie for time off right now and have her push all my schedules for the 20th.”
Shao Qingyun, her sister’s good friend, should be understanding about this.
That’s what Quan Cige thought, but Yu Wan didn’t want her delaying work.
She pressed down her hand. “Really, no need.”
“With your personality, people want to care for you, but you keep saying no. Can’t you be a little romantic?” Quan Cige rolled her eyes inwardly countless times. “If Little Sunflower was celebrating your birthday, would you turn her down too?”
Last time she’d used Fang Nianchen’s nickname, Yu Wan had scolded her with a cold face. She’d been holding back since.
But Little Sunflower was such a cute nickname. Especially now, dissatisfied with Yu Wan, she said it on purpose.
“Situations vary.” Yu Wan replied primly.
“You’re so annoying.” Quan Cige enunciated clearly.
Just then, Yu Wan’s phone rang. She glanced at it and hung up without answering.
Quan Cige found it odd. Her sister was so polite; she’d even answer spam calls and patiently say “Sorry, no need.”
“Who is it? Chen Yuyang?”
Quan Cige had just made a reasonable guess, but Yu Wan’s face darkened.
She knew she’d guessed right.
After saying that, she felt it was ridiculous. How was Chen Yuyang starting to harass her again? Truly, a shameless person is invincible under heaven.
Back when her sister was doing her graduate studies at Qingyuan, Chen Yuyang was in his second year of grad school, staking out the cafeteria every day. More than a few times, her sister skipped meals entirely just to avoid him.
Quan Cige had always known that her birth mother, Shi Yumei, seemed to have a peculiar obsession with this Chen Yuyang.
It had been a long time since she’d chatted with Yu Wan about life stuff. Seizing the chance to bring up a certain someone, Quan Cige boldly guessed: “She wouldn’t still want to pair you up with Chen Yuyang, would she?”
“She” referred to Shi Yumei. Quan Cige had no good impression of this birth mother whatsoever and never deigned to call her “Mom.”
Just mentioning such an utterly irresponsible person made her mouth go dry.
Before Yu Wan graduated with her master’s, Shi Yumei had forced her on blind dates more than once—every time with coercion—and on Valentine’s Day, she’d inevitably show up at the school gate to drag her out.
If she couldn’t find her, she’d threaten to kick up a huge fuss right there at the gate.
Back then, Yu Wan was still in school and at her mercy, so she could only go along with it.
It wasn’t until after graduation, when Yu Wan landed a job and diligently paid off Shi Yumei’s massive debts, that she fled to a faraway place. She was forced to cut off contact with everyone.
Only then did Shi Yumei finally back off.
Chen Yuyang was the one she’d been set up with the most times, bar none. If Shi Yumei bore the main responsibility for how things had blown up like this, then Chen Yuyang was the accomplice, aiding and abetting.
“Her goal is obvious, right?” Actually, Yu Wan had suspected it for a while.
That day at the wedding, she’d run into him by chance. Chen Yuyang had spouted all sorts of nonsense while trying to cozy up. She was certain that without Shi Yumei’s instructions, even if they were in the same place—with North City being so huge—Chen Yuyang never would’ve found her that easily.
“I told you from the start: you come back to North City, Chen Yuyang’s family business is here too—it’s bound to be trouble,” Quan Cige said, looking every bit the prophet, her earlier joking tone gone as she got serious. “How long has he been harassing you?”
She had a premonition—not just Chen Yuyang, but more troubles were surely on the way.
“One week.” This past week, Chen Yuyang’s calls had come nonstop; even when she hung up, he didn’t get discouraged.
“If he harasses you again, call the cops, then slap him on the hot search. I’d love to see if his family has enough face left after he’s done tossing it!” Quan Cige fumed. “Or I can get Qing-jie to round up some bodyguards and give him a beating!”
“Alright, it’s not that serious,” Yu Wan soothed her, smiling. “Just focus on your work. Don’t worry about me.”
Suddenly, Yu Wan patted her back with a gentle expression, leaving Quan Cige terribly embarrassed.
She turned her face away, gazing around aimlessly.
“Sis.” Abruptly, Quan Cige asked very seriously, “Have you looked into whether Little Sunflower is actually single?”
“She said she doesn’t have anyone she likes right now.” Yu Wan looked puzzled. “What’s wrong?”
“Call me paranoid if you want, but that woman…” Quan Cige glanced over again, confirming she wasn’t seeing things. “Yin Chi—she came out publicly on overseas media before.”
“So…” Yu Wan was totally baffled and about to ask when she casually looked over.
In that instant, time seemed to freeze.
Through the aromatherapy shop’s display window, Fang Nianchen held a small item with a leisurely expression, offering it to the woman for her opinion.
It was a woman she’d met—Yin Chi. A few weeks ago, they’d exchanged business cards.
Yin Chi pondered for a moment, then picked up another one from nearby and showed it to Fang Nianchen. The two seemed to be bargaining, exchanging a few words.
It didn’t look like a pleasant conversation. Yin Chi appeared annoyed and raised her hand as if to swat Fang Nianchen.
Fang Nianchen dodged to the side on instinct, laughing helplessly. A few seconds later, she nodded.
Yin Chi immediately lit up with a grin, delighted like a teenage high school girl. She circled around to Fang Nianchen’s other side, reached out, and ruffled her hair, her smile full of indulgence.
Quan Cige was at a complete loss for words to describe her current mood. She tried calling out tentatively: “Sis?”
Her voice was barely louder than a mouse squeak.
She was scared—how could she not be? She could feel the icy aura radiating from Yu Wan; even Zeus would’ve gotten slapped twice.
“Director Yu? Yu Wan?” Quan Cige grabbed her arm in a panic. “Don’t do anything rash—it might be a misunderstanding!”
Yu Wan calmly withdrew her arm. “What was it you said you wanted to eat?”
“Uh… pickled fish?” Quan Cige ventured carefully.
Yu Wan looked away. “Let’s go eat.”
