IMH - 27

The restaurant Han Chu chose looked exactly like something he would enjoy; it wasn’t far from “Wutongli,” about a ten-minute drive.

Soft piano music played in the restaurant, and bookshelves served as dividers between the dining tables.

Han Chu walked to the table first, intending to pull out a chair for Yu Qian, but Yu Qian stopped him: “No need, I can do it myself.”

At the four-person table, she sat down, placed her bag on the empty chair beside her, and casually glanced at the bookshelves.

The book selection was quite complete, but did anyone actually read while eating?

Han Chu handed the menu to Yu Qian, asking what she wanted to eat. Yu Qian ordered two dishes, handed the menu back, and told him to order.

Han Chu had clearly done his research; he selected the dishes without much thought.

When the waiter came to confirm the order, Yu Qian listened casually.

There were only two of them dining, but Han Chu ordered no less than 10 dishes. She asked, “Isn’t that too much?”

“Not at all. I checked the reviews for this place; the portions are very refined. I was afraid you wouldn’t have enough if I ordered less,” Han Chu said with a smile.

“Then you’ve spent too much,” Yu Qian replied politely.

“It’s been very windy in the imperial capital lately, and the temperature has dropped significantly. Several teachers in the office said they needed to gain some weight for autumn. Qianqian, why do I feel like you look even thinner than when we last met?”

Yu Qian was already distracted and only said she hadn’t noticed much change in her weight.

“Please don’t mind me being long-winded.”

Han Chu poured a glass of lemon water, still smiling, “When we were neighbors, whenever I won an award or did well on exams, I would always receive gifts from Aunt Qu. You know how my mother is; she loves to show off, and she’d talk about all my big and small accomplishments. Later, when we moved and packed up, the things Aunt Qu bought for me actually filled an entire box.”

He said, “Aunt Qu was so good to me. Now that she’s gone, of course, I have to take good care of you. Before, you were abroad, out of reach, but now that you’re back, I naturally have to care for you more.”

Han Chu’s words were sincere.

Yu Qian, however, said, “I’m 28, not 8. I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”

________________________________________

The restaurant served dishes quite quickly. While Han Chu was speaking, the waiter had already brought a cold dish to the table.

He pushed the cold dish in front of Yu Qian: “Qianqian, please eat.”

Yu Qian showed a helpless smile: “Han Chu, you’re really more nagging than my mom.”

“Am I?”

“Of course.” Yu Qian said this, even showing a faint smile, but she wasn’t very talkative, no longer idolizing Han Chu as a big brother or confiding in him as she did when she was little.

Han Chu seemed to realize this point as well, always mentioning the past when chatting, hoping to bridge the gap between them.

Later, he sighed and said, “Qianqian, you hold grudges too much. So many years have passed, are you still upset with me?”

Yu Qian heard this sigh, her chopsticks paused, and she looked up at Han Chu.

What was there between them worth holding a grudge over?

Why didn’t she remember?

“I know I used extreme words when I said you were degrading yourself. It’s been so many years, aren’t you going to forgive me yet?”

Han Chu smiled with what seemed like helplessness. “You, you’re just like that. When you were little, Aunt Qu said you always dripped spicy and sour noodles on your clothes, and then you just stopped eating spicy and sour noodles altogether. There’s no getting through to you.”

Han Chu’s tone carried a hint of tolerance. After speaking, he even used the serving chopsticks to put a large piece of fish onto Yu Qian’s plate.

As if he was so indulgent towards her.

But Yu Qian suddenly lost her appetite.

She wasn’t holding a grudge because Han Chu criticized her; it was just that after that incident, she fully realized that she and Han Chu were completely different types of people, walking completely different life paths.

Their relationship was very close when they were little.

But as they grew up, with differing values, it was truly difficult to continue the friendship.

She never interfered with others.

And Han Chu, having been excellent since childhood, always judged easily and felt his judgments were correct.

Like the spicy and sour noodles incident he mentioned, did she really stop eating them because Qu Liwen said something to her?

No, it was because she had been shooting a lot then, eating irregularly, and her stomach had become somewhat sensitive. Eating spicy and greasy food always gave her stomach aches, so she slowly stopped eating them.

After the meal, Han Chu said, “This place is actually quite good for afternoon tea too, and you can read. Shall we clear the food and have afternoon tea together? There’s a book on the shelf that I think is pretty good; want to take a look?”

Yu Qian said, “No, I prefer to have a little alcohol on my day off rather than afternoon tea.”

“Isn’t it better for girls not to drink? Reading is also a way to relax.”

“I’m going to a bar this afternoon. Want to come along?”

“...No.”

________________________________________

Yu Qian’s phone was on vibrate, placed in her bag.

The restaurant was noisy, making it difficult to hear messages.

She reached into her bag, pulled out her phone, and turned on the screen to look.

She didn’t see anyone incessantly texting her like they did this morning.

“Do you have plans with someone?”

Yu Qian wasn’t sure if she was misjudging, but she felt that Han Chu’s expression was somewhat displeased when she looked at her phone.

She put away her phone and said, “No.”

Han Chu hesitated for a long time before speaking: “Qianqian, I’ve heard some things about you over the years. I don’t mean to preach, but I remember you once told me that if you were to fall in love, you’d look for someone who would love you unconditionally. Your friend... putting aside whether he treats you unconditionally, in terms of age, he’s much older than you...”

Yu Qian raised an eyebrow.

She had told Han Chu about her ideal partner standards?

When?

Yu Qian thought hard, then remembered it was more than ten years ago.

At that time, Yu Qian was 17 or 18, and Qu Liwen took her to Han Chu’s house for dinner.

Han Chu’s mother said, “Qianqian is so beautiful; she’ll definitely find a good partner in the future.”

Qu Liwen implicitly tried to set up Yu Qian and Han Chu.

Of course, she said that if Yu Qian could find someone like Han Chu, she would be incredibly lucky.

After the two mothers praised each other, they returned home, and Yu Qian told Qu Liwen, “Mom, why did you say that? I don’t like Brother Han Chu.”

“What does ‘like’ matter? You’ll understand when you grow up. The so-called love between adults is an exchange of equal value. You’re beautiful, Han Chu is excellent, and both families are neighbors. Isn’t it great for you two to be together? What does liking or not liking matter?”

At that time, Yu Qian still trusted Han Chu a lot and went to complain to him:

“Brother Han Chu, this world is too strange. I feel like I don’t fit in with it. My mom says adult love is an exchange of equal value, but if it’s an exchange, and it has to be equal value, then it’s clearly a transaction, how can it be called love?”

“Then what do you think love is?”

Yu Qian said she didn’t know either.

She told Han Chu that day: “But I want to meet someone who loves me without needing much reason, just because I am me. Whether I’m good or bad, no matter what I do, he loves me very, very much.”

Han Chu laughed so hard the book in his hand dropped: “Qianqian, sometimes you’re unbelievably childish.”

Recalling her youth, Yu Qian sighed inwardly:

So she once had an age where she was so willing to confide.

________________________________________

Han Chu probably wanted to say something else, but Yu Qian pressed her fingertips down, signaling Han Chu to wait: “The person you heard about isn’t my boyfriend.”

After a pause, she suddenly curved her lips slightly, “Peter is too old; I prefer someone younger than me.”

Han Chu seemed not to have heard clearly: “What?”

“I said, I like younger men.”

________________________________________

Cheng Xiaonan sat in the meeting room. After a bout of coughing, he drank a small half-cup of water to soothe his throat and finally felt a bit better.

Shen Shen came in from outside, saw the medicine bag on Cheng Xiaonan’s desk, and asked, “Brother Nan, who’s sick?”

“Me.”

“Holy cow, your voice is really hoarse, huh? But your hoarse voice sounds pretty good, like a smoky voice. One of my favorite European and American singers is like that, a deep voice, damn sexy.”

Shen Shen leaned over, nudging Cheng Xiaonan with his elbow, “You’re not losing out by being sick. Tell me, what’s your progress with Yu Qian lately? Should I prepare a wedding gift for you guys?”

A few days ago, when Ji Ran and Shen Shen were arguing, Ji Ran complained to Yu Qian. Ji Ran mentioned Cheng Xiaonan, and Yu Qian didn’t show any rejection; instead, it was somewhat like an implicit acknowledgment of her relationship with Cheng Xiaonan.

Ji Ran shared this with Shen Shen the moment they made up.

Shen Shen was half-skeptical at first, but last night, Yu Qian drove Cheng Xiaonan’s car back to the company to get his wallet, and Shen Shen felt that his Brother Nan must have succeeded!

Prompted by Shen Shen, Cheng Xiaonan remembered that he slept on the sofa in Yu Qian’s room because he left his wallet at the company.

So, Yu Qian came to the company to get his wallet for him?

And then, not wanting to wake him, she slept in his room?

Yu Qian cares about me that much?

Cheng Xiaonan felt like smiling, but his cold hadn’t fully recovered, so he coughed a few more times.

A knock came from outside the meeting room. Sun Yue poked her head in: “CEO Shen, CEO Cheng, you’re both here!”

“Little Sun Yue, oh my, what’s with all the bags? Trying to bribe the bosses?” Shen Shen joked.

Sun Yue scratched the back of her head: “No, no, I was on a business trip, right? I brought back some local specialties for you and also shared them with colleagues in our department, just like yours. It’s not bribery, not bribery.”

Shen Shen took a bag of large twists, weighing it: “Well, thank you then. My girlfriend likes to eat these.”

Sun Yue placed Cheng Xiaonan’s share on the desk and was about to leave when Cheng Xiaonan called out to her: “Did you buy one for Yu Qian too?”

“Yes, yes, of course I bought one! And, and two more boxes of small pastries than yours.”

Sun Yue said foolishly, then, fearing the bosses would misunderstand, quickly explained, “Ah, it’s not that I don’t prioritize the bosses, it’s just, just that she sometimes doesn’t have time to eat during photoshoots, so I thought small pastries could be carried around to stave off hunger...”

Cheng Xiaonan interrupted Sun Yue, waving his hand: “Put Yu Qian’s share here; I’ll take it to her later.”

“Ah? But she’s not at the hotel, wasn’t she going out to eat or on a date with a friend?”

“A date?”

Sun Yue hadn’t intended to make Yu Qian going out with a friend sound so ambiguous.

When she contacted Yu Qian at noon, Yu Qian said she was having lunch with a friend. When she came to the company just now, she asked again, and Yu Qian sent a bar’s location.

Sun Yue had even thoughtfully asked if she needed a ride.

Connecting eating and an afternoon drink, she couldn’t think of a suitable word at the moment.

So she used “date.”

But after she said it, she saw their CEO Cheng frown.

Oh right, Yu Qian was the person CEO Cheng had liked for many years.

Using “date” was indeed inappropriate...

Sun Yue decided to compensate, lowering her voice to comfort Cheng Xiaonan: “It’s fine, CEO Cheng. I asked her. Although it’s a man, it seems to be a childhood neighbor’s older brother, who grew up with her. Not an outsider.”