Chapter 77: If I can’t find you, I’ll come
God of Wealth Master: 「You didn’t know I was a man before sleeping, but you found out after?」
He was referring to the first time she treated him to noodles, questioning why she didn’t have such principles.
Lian Li tapped her fingers lightly on the white wooden table, pondered for a moment, and decided to explain: 「You were my benefactor when you helped me find my bracelet last time.」
It’s perfectly normal to treat a benefactor to a meal.
Lian Li exited the chat window, propped her chin with one hand, and opened her Moments with the other.
All normal posts, nothing special.
Her fingertip paused as she scrolled.
Duan Shiqing had posted a new update. The picture showed a star-rated restaurant located on the central axis, with the dazzling Capital City night view as the background.
Neon lights illuminated the entire city, making it sparkle like countless stars. The distant buildings were also adorned with splendor.
The caption was concise, still two words: 「Celebration」
Lian Li had thought Duan Shiqing added her on WeChat because she needed something, but after their initial simple greetings, they hadn’t spoken again.
It wasn’t surprising that President Duan was busy with official duties and didn’t have time to bother with a nobody like her.
Perhaps in Duan Shiqing’s eyes, she was just a childish younger sister who hadn’t grown up, much like Chen Wei Qi and Duan Xingyu.
As Lian Li was about to scroll past, she suddenly noticed something. She tapped the picture, zoomed in twice, and looked closely. A figure in a suit vest was reflected in the glass window.
Lian Li was too familiar with Jin Yan Ting to not recognize the figure as Jin Yan Ting at first glance.
So, was he planning to formally introduce her to Duan Shiqing tonight?
Lian Li didn’t know the answer, nor did she want to dwell on Jin Yan Ting anymore.
Meaningless questions, no matter how much you ponder them, remain meaningless.
She scrolled down and saw Ruan Ning had posted a series of beautiful photos of sunflowers. Many people from the orchestra commented, saying how beautiful they were, comparable to the sun, and how dazzling the yellow was… and so on.
Yellow.
Jin Shi Yue now had a hint of yellow associated with him in Lian Li’s mind, but this yellow wasn’t a dazzling sun, but rather…
Lian Li simply exited Moments. The Eldest Young Master had sent her another message.
God of Wealth Master: 「A single meal is enough to repay a favor? Junior Sister, didn’t your teacher teach you that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring?」
It’s not repaying with one’s person, it’s repaying a drop of kindness with a gushing spring.
Lian Li: 「Taught me that one shouldn’t push their luck.」
She had already treated him to a meal, what more did he want.
The small group chat was lively at the moment. Lian Li tapped into it and quickly scanned the chat history. Zhong Yang was organizing activities after the Spring Festival.
In the days leading up to the New Year, they all had to restrain their usual behavior at home and present themselves with the upbringing and decorum of noble family members to socialize with various elders of higher or lower status. After three days of maintaining their composure, they would definitely need a few wild entertainment sessions to relax.
Zhong Yang solicited ideas and mentioned that city regulations were strict, prohibiting fireworks. Going out on a yacht to an island, where the facilities were complete, would allow for a grand fireworks display.
The Spring Festival was approaching.
In the past, Jin Yan Ting would make time to briefly spend the New Year with Lian Li, but this year… it seemed she would be alone.
Lian Li wasn’t sure if it was because Jin Shi Yue mentioned noodles, but she really wanted to eat noodles now. In the past, when she thought of noodles, she only thought of Uncle Yang’s Taipei Beef Noodles, but now other thoughts had entered her mind.
The fried sauce noodles from the tea house.
Lian Li shook her head.
According to what the tea house employees said, the tea house probably didn’t sell fried sauce noodles. It was just that the master who made authentic fried sauce noodles was at the tea house.
Lian Li glanced at the time; it was almost 7 PM. She threw the empty can into the trash can, got up, returned to the practice room to put away her cello, and then packed her things to leave the Wen Gang Orchestra.
Lian Li went directly to the beef noodle shop. It was the middle of winter and close to the New Year, so there weren’t many customers in the shop. The shop wasn’t profitable, but it wasn’t losing money either; it was basically breaking even.
The taste of the noodles and the ingredients were considered top-notch. Years ago, Lian Li had suggested to Uncle Yang that he move to a different location. With his skill, his business would surely boom in a place with more foot traffic. But Uncle Yang said he was old and didn’t want to bother with the hassle, and that things were fine as they were.
Uncle Yang preferred a quieter place, and the hutongs and alleys could satisfy his requirement, so she didn’t try to persuade him further.
It had snowed moderately on the way there. Lian Li hadn’t brought an umbrella. After getting out of the car and walking through the alley to the shop, she had gotten quite a bit of snow on her.
She took off her white scarf at the entrance, patted it, and shook her head, like a small animal drenched in rain.
Lian Li draped the scarf over her arm, pushed the door open, and was instantly enveloped by the warm air.
The aroma was enticing. Lian Li looked around, found Uncle Yang, and smiled with her eyebrows curved, “Uncle Yang.”
“Lili, you’re here for noodles,” Uncle Yang said. He was wiping the tables and chairs, wiping them over and over again. Only after ensuring they were clean did he walk to Lian Li’s table.
“The usual?”
Lian Li smiled sweetly, “Yes, the usual.”
Uncle Yang had been making noodles for over twenty years, his skills were proficient, and he soon brought the noodles over.
“Beef noodles and the small three items: squid balls, salt and pepper chicken, and oyster omelet,” Uncle Yang transferred the noodles and snacks from the tray to the table, placing them in front of Lian Li.
Each of the small three items was a small portion, a little bit of each.
This originated from Lian Li wanting to try every dish, but not being able to finish it all and wasting food.
So Uncle Yang made her a “family platter.”
“Thank you, Uncle Yang,” Lian Li picked up her chopsticks and tasted a squid ball. Her gaze swept over the shop’s layout; there wasn’t the festive atmosphere of previous years before the New Year.
“We’re going back to Taipei for New Year this year,” Uncle Yang said, sitting in the chair opposite her. Wrinkles were visible on his face as he smiled. “We haven’t decorated much here.”
Lian Li paused for a second, then looked up at Uncle Yang and joked, “I thought Auntie Yang was withholding your allowance.”
“Your Auntie Yang likes to manage everything,” Uncle Yang also laughed. “Being managed is a happy thing.”
Lian Li pursed her lips, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling like scattered stars, “You truly know how to appreciate your blessings.”
Eating noodles with her hair down was inconvenient, so she gathered her dark, smooth long hair and tied it up simply with a hair tie.
They ate and chatted. Uncle Yang was returning to Taipei the day after tomorrow, and the noodle shop would close for business then, with plans to reopen after the New Year. Auntie Yang and Uncle Yang’s son was three years older than Lian Li, studied law, and after graduation, started working at a prestigious law firm, so busy he had no time for dating.
“Why didn’t your boyfriend come?” Uncle Yang asked.
Lian Li heard this and pondered for two seconds before realizing who he meant by “boyfriend.” “He’s busy. He’s not my boyfriend.”
“After all these years, you’ve only brought him here to eat noodles once,” Uncle Yang said with a hint of regret in his voice. “You two are a perfect match, talented and beautiful. It would be a shame not to date.”
“It is indeed a shame.” The voice that suddenly arrived carried its usual lazy tone. Lian Li looked up and saw Jin Shi Yue stride towards her.
I don’t know what kind of hearing he has to have heard that. Is he a super-listener?
Lian Li: “Why are you here?”
Warm white light from above fell on Jin Shi Yue’s ink-black hair. He had one hand in his pocket, the other lazily holding his suit jacket, looking down at her with a carefree arc at the corners of his eyes.
“I couldn’t find you, so I came.”
