CITM - 64

Stepping out of the hair salon again, Ye Yun seemed like a different person. Her stylish curls made her look chic and pretty, and her striking features and soft contours, bathed in the sunlight, were captivating with every expression and smile.

Bai Wenfu’s gaze lingered on her. His palm cupped the back of her neck, pulling her closer. “Where are you going next?”

Ye Yun’s slender, onion-white hand rested on his chest. “Mr. Yu’s goods are arriving today, so I need to rush to the factory.”

Bai Wenfu lowered his gaze and paused for a moment before saying, “I’ll go take a look too.”

“You want to go to our factory?”

“I’m the guarantor; can’t I visit your place for inspection?”

He invoked his identity as the guarantor, and Ye Yun, of course, couldn’t stop him.

Today was chaotic at the factory due to the unloading. Zhou Zeyang hadn’t expected Ye Yun to bring Bai Wenfu along. He and the workshop director came out to greet him and invited him to the office. Bai Wenfu declined, following Ye Yun to the warehouse instead, truly acting like a guarantor. He sat aside, personally overseeing the progress.

He didn’t say much, which was a hardship for the workers coming and going. Seeing Factory Director Zhou’s attitude towards him, they assumed Bai Wenfu was some important high-ranking leader from above, there to supervise their work.

Bai Wenfu’s gaze was calm and sharp when he looked at people, his handsome profile commanding. Coupled with Luzi, a burly man, standing behind him, it created an invisible, terrifying sense of oppression, making everyone nervous.

Ye Yun noticed that the workers’ atmosphere was different from usual. She glanced towards where Bai Wenfu was sitting and immediately noticed the anomaly. She took two bottles of water and walked towards Bai Wenfu, realizing his gaze was on Xiaofu, who was carrying goods.

Xiaofu had been going in and out, moving goods, and had passed Bai Wenfu more than a dozen times. He wore a thin jacket and was strong and healthy.

Ye Yun handed a bottle of water to Bai Wenfu, playfully remarking, “Sitting there, you look like a big brother collecting protection money. Our workers are too scared to even speak.”

Bai Wenfu didn’t hear anything else, only her calling him “big brother,” and his temples throbbed.

Ye Yun then handed the other bottle of water to Luzi. Luzi took it and politely said, “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Ye Yun glanced left and right, then shushed Luzi.

Luzi looked helplessly at his boss. Bai Wenfu drooped his eyelids and chuckled softly.

Ye Yun went to check samples on the other side. There were only a few packages left from this batch of goods. Ye Yun told the workers to quickly unload another truckload, leaving Xiaofu to help her.

After she finished checking, she waved her hand at Xiaofu. Xiaofu picked up a package and ran off. Ye Yun simply joined in the moving.

Bai Wenfu saw her carrying a large package, furrowed his brow, put down his water, stood up, took the package from her, and asked, “Where does this go?”

“Over there, there’s a number.”

She led the way, and Bai Wenfu swung the package onto his shoulder, following her into the warehouse.

“You’re personally moving goods?” he asked from behind Ye Yun.

Ye Yun stopped in front of a row of goods and replied, “When we get a big order, everyone has to come to the factory to help, and I’m no exception. Put it here.”

Bai Wenfu placed the package from his shoulder neatly as instructed, straightened up, and asked, “Do you do this often?”

Ye Yun marked the inventory sheet, lowering her head, and said, “When we’re short-staffed, I have to do all sorts of odd jobs. It’s much better now.”

Ye Yun turned, her footsteps hurried as she walked out. Bai Wenfu followed her. “I’ll hire more people to help you.”

She stopped abruptly and turned around. “As a guarantor?”

Then her eyes curved into a smile. “Do as much as you’re capable of. When the scale increases, I’ll naturally hire people.”

She turned back, facing the light, and plunged back into her busy work.

Bai Wenfu smiled and caught up to her, casually taking off his coat and throwing it onto a chair. Ye Yun bent down to pick up a package, and Bai Wenfu immediately took it from her hand. “Your hands are for drawing designs and making clothes, not for carrying goods. Just tell me where to put it.”

Ye Yun was concerned about his leg and was about to stop him when he said leisurely, “As your man, it’s not too much to do the work for you.”

Bai Wenfu hoisted the goods and walked into the warehouse. The passing workers looked on in disbelief. They wondered why Boss Ye would order around a leader whom even Factory Director Zhou didn’t dare to offend, so they secretly ran to ask Xiaofu.

Xiaofu knew the reason, but he had been with Ye Yun for so long and had never heard of her having a partner. He naturally couldn’t speak carelessly about something he wasn’t sure about.

Luzi saw his boss getting hands-on and also joined in moving the goods.

The several men worked quickly and efficiently. In a short while, all the remaining goods were moved inside.

Ye Yun was making records among the piles of goods when she heard footsteps and looked up to see Bai Wenfu with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his arms, revealing his strong, capable forearms. It used to be like this, too; when Tong Mingfang made her carry water, he never wanted her slender arms and legs to do such heavy labor. His identity had changed, but he was still the same, helping her move goods in his respectable clothes, regardless of what others thought.

When he approached, Ye Yun put down her notebook and naturally raised her hand to brush off some dust for him.

“Look at you, your clothes are all dirty.”

Bai Wenfu propped his hands on a box, bending down to make it easier for her to tidy him up. His eyes held an inscrutable light as he asked her, “Why did you hire a man who looks like me to be by your side?”

“Who?” Ye Yun raised her eyes, meeting Bai Wenfu’s slightly darkened gaze.

“You mean Xiaofu? He’s strong and willing to work, and as you can see, I often need to move things here.”

“Don’t change the subject. There are plenty of strong men. Why find one who looks like me?”

Ye Yun’s eyelashes lowered slightly. She couldn’t explain why. In the early days, she dealt with many men, was too busy to handle everything, and also had to run to school. Zhou Zeyang brought a few people for her to choose an assistant, to run errands and help her with miscellaneous tasks. People value first impressions. She had instantly taken to Xiaofu, a subconscious choice, without thinking deeply about the reason.

Ye Yun looked up and smiled softly. “His personality is nothing like yours. I never even thought about it that way. Now that you mention it, he does look a bit like you.”

Bai Wenfu’s eyes held deep meaning. “Have you never wondered why he’s called Xiaofu?”

“Because that’s his name, Xiaofu, Yang Fu, his parents gave him that name.”

Bai Wenfu raised his hand and unbuttoned his collar. His every movement was sensual and natural.

“Let that young man go back to the factory. I’ll let Luzi work for you.”

“Comrade Xiuhua?”

Ye Yun couldn’t help but laugh out loud. A faint glow of sunset came through the factory window, illuminating the clear veins on her fair neck, so sweet it made one want to bite.

“He really told you his name.”

His Adam’s apple slowly bobbed. He lowered his head and gently bit the delicate, throbbing vein. Ye Yun secretly inhaled, letting out a sensitive hum. The bite turned into a kiss.

Everything was moved. Xiaofu came looking for Ye Yun and first saw a man’s broad profile. He recognized him as Boss Bai. Just as he was about to approach, he saw that the woman circled by his arm was Boss Ye. Xiaofu didn’t dare to disturb them and dutifully waited outside, preventing others from approaching.

Bai Wenfu caught sight of him out of the corner of his eye. He turned his body, shielding Ye Yun’s disheveled collar from view. After pulling it straight, he lowered his head and asked her, “Did you completely forget something you said?”

Ye Yun’s body was pressed against his chest, with faint love bites visible on her collarbone.

“What did I say?”

Bai Wenfu’s gaze drew closer, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her. “You said you’d have my baby.”

A faint smile blossomed on Ye Yun’s lips. “You take drunken words seriously?”

Bai Wenfu tilted his neck. Ye Yun immediately felt constrained by a powerful force. Her waist was abruptly lifted. His eyes were wild. “I’m serious.”

Xiaofu was far away and didn’t know what they were saying, but he saw a rare girlish demeanor on Ye Yun’s face, an expression no one else had ever seen. Xiaofu awkwardly turned his back, now truly believing that Boss Bai was her man.

Zhou Zeyang and the others finished with the other batch of goods and came over, intending to invite Bai Wenfu to rest. However, they saw that he had also taken off his coat and was helping unload goods. They profusely apologized for neglecting him and offered to treat him to dinner as thanks.

Bai Wenfu rolled down his sleeves and took his coat from Luzi. “I just lent Xiao Yun a hand; there’s no neglect.”

These words inevitably invited speculation, and everyone instinctively looked towards Ye Yun, who was giving instructions in the distance.

By the time Ye Yun finished her tasks and came over, Zhou Zeyang and the others had already left. She looked up and asked Bai Wenfu, “You just sent them away like that? You didn’t let them treat you to dinner?”

“I didn’t come here for them. If anyone should treat me, it should be you.”

“Then I’ll take you somewhere only locals can find.”

Bai Wenfu asked for the restaurant’s name. Ye Yun told him, “It’s called Baoxing Restaurant. Have you been there?”

A smile appeared in Bai Wenfu’s eyes. “No, I haven’t.”

Ye Yun continued talking to herself, “I figured you hadn’t been there. This restaurant hasn’t even been open for two years in total.”

Upon arriving, a brand-new facade and elegant decor greeted them. The restaurant was full of guests, and business was indeed thriving.

The two found an empty table. Ye Yun handed the menu to Bai Wenfu. “Don’t be polite with me.”

Bai Wenfu flipped through the menu and laughed, “Boss Ye is so generous, I’ll have to make you wince a bit.”

Ye Yun picked up the teapot and refilled his cup. “It won’t be easy to make me wince with just one meal.”

Bai Wenfu took the teacup, cleared his throat, and called a waiter to order.

Ye Yun sat opposite him, holding her teacup. The more she listened, the more she felt he was ordering the dishes like a regular, seasoned customer, all of them being the restaurant’s signature dishes.

After the waiter left, Ye Yun put down her cup suspiciously. “You really haven’t been here before?”

Bai Wenfu truthfully stated, “First time.”

Ye Yun praised him, “Then you’re quite good at ordering.”

Waiters continuously brought dishes to the table. They thought the food was mostly served. Finally, a clay pot was brought out. The pot looked old and out of place with the other dishes.

Ye Yun looked up and asked, “What is this? We didn’t order it.”

The waiter explained to Ye Yun, “This is Zao Ti Tou (braised pork head with fermented grains). It’s not on the menu. Our boss specifically asked for it to be served.”

Just as Ye Yun showed a puzzled expression, she immediately saw the waiter lean down and say to Bai Wenfu, “Boss Zong sends his regards.”

Bai Wenfu replied, “Tell him I’ll be over in a moment.”

After the waiter left, Ye Yun raised an eyebrow. “You said this was your first time?”

“It is my first time here.”

She glanced at the clay pot. “What’s going on? The boss is giving you special treatment?”

“I’ve never been to this restaurant before, but I’ve been eating dishes cooked by this boss for several years. Back then, he didn’t have a physical store; he had a stall at the fork in Songgang North Road, and I used to frequent it.”

“More than ten years ago?”

“Roughly. We were both young then.”

Bai Wenfu told her, “This boss is named Zong Baoxing.”

Zong Baoxing, Baoxing Restaurant. So, when he asked Ye Yun for the restaurant’s name, he probably already guessed.

Ye Yun chastised him, “Then why didn’t you tell me after you sat down, watching me praise it endlessly? So, it’s all your leftovers, then.”

Bai Wenfu suppressed a smile. “It’s been a long time since I last saw him. I wasn’t sure if the boss would still remember me, and I didn’t want to trouble him over a meal.”

He scooped a spoonful of Zao Ti Tou into Ye Yun’s bowl. “Once, I went too late, and he was about to close up. Seeing I was hungry, he invited me home to eat. That’s when I learned this dish was made by his wife. His wife wasn’t in good health, so this dish wasn’t often available. Try it.”

With that, Bai Wenfu stood up and told Ye Yun, “I’ll go say hello, I’ll be right back.”

Ye Yun nodded. After Bai Wenfu left, she picked up her spoon and took a bite. The rich aroma of fermented grains filled her nose. The moment the flavors spread on her taste buds, a peculiar sensation enveloped her mind. The present her and the younger him shared a connection, briefly intersecting in the fabric of time and space, experiencing the same taste in different eras in the same place.

Just then, a group of people entered through the door, interrupting her enjoyment of the meal.