Chapter 21: I just want to call your name.

Gu Shizhang didn’t want to eat at a street stall, so he took Ye Tianhui on a bus to an old restaurant.

It was clear that this restaurant had been around for a while, likely an established brand. At the moment, it was busy with customers, the atmosphere lively and bustling. The old-fashioned ceiling fans spun above, and the rich aroma of broth filled the air.

The two ordered two portions of wonton noodles. Gu Shizhang asked, “Do you want to switch to instant noodles?”

Ye Tianhui: “Instant noodles? What’s that?”

Gu Shizhang replied warmly, “It’s another type of noodle. Why not give it a try? You might like it.”

Ye Tianhui: “Alright.”

Gu Shizhang then said to the owner, “Two portions, both with fine noodles, and one portion should be exchanged for Ding^[1](Hong Kong Cantonese) Short for 出前一丁 (“Demae Itcho”), a type of instant noodles..”

The owner, busy and sweating, didn’t even lift his head. He quickly scribbled something on a notepad, tore off a slip of paper, and stuck it to the table.

Ye Tianhui leaned over to look, but the handwriting was so sloppy that she couldn’t make sense of it.

She glanced around and lowered her voice, asking curiously, “So you speak Cantonese this fluently?”

Gu Shizhang chuckled, “When I was young, I spent half my time in Hong Kong and half in Singapore.”

Hearing this, Ye Tianhui grew even more curious but didn’t press further.

Gu Shizhang lifted his gaze, naturally noticing her curiosity. He explained, “My grandmother lived in Singapore. I stayed there with her. There were many siblings in my family, and I’m the youngest. My mother passed away early, so I was raised by my grandmother. Until her passing, I stayed by her side.”

Ye Tianhui: “Oh, I see.”

Gu Shizhang: “When my grandmother visited Hong Kong, she used to bring me to this place.”

Ye Tianhui: “No wonder! I felt like you knew this place so well!”

A warm smile appeared in Gu Shizhang’s dark eyes. “Wonton noodles in Hong Kong are divided into four major families. This place is one of them. They’ve been making it since decades ago, back when people fled here from Guangzhou’s Xiguan district before the liberation. My grandmother once told me that when she was fleeing to Hong Kong during chaotic times, starving and desperate, she had a bowl of wonton noodles. It was so delicious that she thought it was the best food in the world.”

Ye Tianhui: “Maybe she was just hungry. When you’re starving, anything tastes amazing.”

Gu Shizhang looked at her and said, “Seems like you’re speaking from experience.”

Hearing this, Ye Tianhui’s gaze instinctively fell on Gu Shizhang’s face.

She saw him looking at her with a smile, as if his words were said casually.

She thought of her own subtle, indescribable feelings.

Maybe she was overthinking it.

She said quietly, “Yes, when I was a child, things weren’t great. Everything required ration tickets—grain tickets, meat tickets, rice tickets, oil tickets. During New Year’s, even just a bit of oil in the pot felt fragrant. I didn’t really get to eat anything good.”

She smiled and added, “I came to Hong Kong because I didn’t want to go hungry. I wanted to try all kinds of delicious food. But of course, that’s only possible if I make a lot of money. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to justify spending it.”

She lifted her eyes and looked over. She noticed that the smile in Gu Shizhang’s eyes had disappeared. His lips were slightly pursed as he gazed at her in silence.

When their eyes met, she caught a trace of an unusual emotion in his eyes.

She froze slightly, looking into his gaze.

His eyebrows were elegant and handsome, his eyes long and thin with light folds at the inner corners. At this moment, as he looked at her, his eyes were a deep, rich black.

They looked so much like the eyes behind the imperial crown.

At that moment, Gu Shizhang spoke: “You often went hungry as a child, didn’t you?”

Ye Tianhui snapped out of her thoughts and nodded. “Yes, I always thought I had a tough life. My mind was filled with hunger, and my memories are all about being hungry. So I must’ve been a hungry ghost in my previous life. In this life, I always feel like I can’t eat enough, and I have such a craving for good food.”

Gu Shizhang’s lips were slightly pressed together, thin and sharp.

He said, “Then next time… let me treat you.”

Ye Tianhui smiled at him. “What, have you finally realized that I’m a poor girl from the mainland and developed a conscience, knowing you shouldn’t exploit me like this anymore?”

Gu Shizhang looked at her, a faint bitter smile forming. “Yes, my conscience has awakened. I’ll make it up to you next time.”

Ye Tianhui: “Great! I just found a restaurant that looks amazing and super expensive. I couldn’t bear to spend my own money on it. Would you treat me?”

Gu Shizhang raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What’s the name of the restaurant?”

Ye Tianhui thought for a moment. “Zhang Lin Ji, I think.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Shizhang’s expression subtly paused.

After a moment, he lifted his eyes to look at her. “Do you really want me to treat you?”

Ye Tianhui: “What, can’t bear to?”

She muttered softly, “I feel like you’re pretty rich, definitely richer than me.”

She thought of Jiang Lingfeng. He didn’t have money, but he still promised to treat her when he did.

She sighed. “As a man, don’t be so stingy. And don’t pretend. I already figured out that you’re super rich. You’re just pretending to be an ordinary person to mess with me.”

Gu Shizhang’s thin eyelids lifted slightly as he silently looked at her for a while.

Finally, he lowered them with a resigned sigh. “How did I—”

But halfway through, he stopped speaking.

Ye Tianhui looked at him curiously, raising her eyebrows. “What’s wrong with you?”

Gu Shizhang: “Never mind. The noodles are here. Eat.”

Ye Tianhui looked over, and sure enough, the waiter had brought their noodles.

The noodles looked like they had been cooked for a long time, with noodles layered on top. Gu Shizhang’s was ordinary bamboo pole noodles, while Ye Tianhui’s was instant noodles.

Gu Shizhang handed her chopsticks and a spoon. “This is Demae Iccho, a Hong Kong local brand. Try it.”

Ye Tianhui took it, tasted it, and found the broth to be exceptionally fresh and sweet. The wontons were stuffed with whole fresh shrimp, and as for the instant noodles, they were smooth and springy. Soaked in the rich broth, they were incredibly flavorful.

Ye Tianhui: “Delicious!”

As expected from a decades-old restaurant, it was far better than street stalls.

Gu Shizhang: “Their broth is made with shrimp, pork bones, and free-range chicken. It’s very authentic. You can choose any type of noodles. As for Demae Iccho, we usually prefer the Hong Kong version, not the Japanese one.”

Ye Tianhui glanced at the price list nearby. It was pricier than street stalls but not by much. It seemed that finding the right place to eat could offer great value for money.

Gu Shizhang watched her eat with relish, the corners of his lips curving up slightly. He smiled. “Doesn’t the racetrack provide two meals for employees?”

Ye Tianhui nodded. “Yes, the food’s pretty good. They also provide dormitories. I’ll be moving in in a couple of days, which will save on accommodation and food expenses. There’s also a library where I can read and learn a lot, which is why I think this job is great.”

It wasn’t easy for someone from the mainland to find a job with just a residence permit. Most people ended up in low-level jobs like loading and unloading at docks, hard labor, or cleaning. Young women might end up singing at KTVs or doing other unsavory work, while men, like Jiang Lingfeng, might become enforcers for others.

Actually, what Jiang Lingfeng described as “big circle boys” were mainlanders too. They had no choice but to rely on their skills to scrape together some money.

For someone like her to land a job as a stable hand at a racetrack was rare. Such jobs usually required someone to help with introductions and recommendations. Otherwise, it was nearly impossible to get in. As Jessie said, if she worked hard and stuck it out for a few years, there would be more opportunities.

Gu Shizhang: “Do your best. Soon it’ll be racing season. There will be many opportunities during open competitions. If you have some savings by then, you can give it a try.”

Ye Tianhui nodded. “Yes, that’s what I’m thinking too.”

Gu Shizhang: “I need to go abroad soon.”

Ye Tianhui: “Ah?”

Gu Shizhang: “To England. There are some matters I need to handle.”

Ye Tianhui listened, feeling somewhat disappointed. “When will you come back? How long will you be gone?”

Gu Shizhang: “About two weeks.”

Ye Tianhui: “That’s not bad, two weeks.”

She had thought it would be for a year or more.

Gu Shizhang: “I have some investments in England, partnered with friends. There’s been a tricky issue, and I have to go deal with it.”

He paused and said, “I’ll give you my phone number in England. In case anything comes up, you can contact me.”

Ye Tianhui: “Okay!”

Gu Shizhang: “When I come back, I’ll bring you a gift.”

Ye Tianhui responded, “Alright, don’t forget!”

Seeing her eyes light up at the mention of a gift, as if coated with a layer of brilliance, Gu Shizhang couldn’t help but laugh. “Why are you such a little miser?”

Ye Tianhui laughed. “You promised, so don’t forget my gift!”

Gu Shizhang’s lips curved into a refined, handsome smile. “Got it. If I forget your gift, I’m afraid you’ll cut ties with me.”

After finishing their meal, Ye Tianhui settled the bill. Noticing it was getting late, she decided to head home, thinking about a book she borrowed that she wanted to study further.

Gu Shizhang accompanied her on the bus ride home. After getting off the bus, they still had to walk a bit. Walking side by side, they casually chatted.

He seemed curious about her life on the mainland and asked about it. Although Ye Tianhui didn’t want to elaborate—since it wasn’t particularly interesting—she shared some general details but didn’t mention anything about the Ye family.

After hearing her, Gu Shizhang was silent for a long time, not saying much.

When they reached the entrance of her building, he suddenly said, “It’s okay. Those things are in the past.”

Ye Tianhui smiled. “Yes, I think so too.”

Gu Shizhang: “When are you moving into the dorm?”

Ye Tianhui: “In the next couple of days.”

Gu Shizhang: “If I haven’t left yet, I’ll come help you move.”

Ye Tianhui: “No need—”

Gu Shizhang raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “Oh? Then who will you ask for help?”

Ye Tianhui: “No one really. I don’t have much stuff; I can just carry it over myself.”

Gu Shizhang chuckled. “You’re really thrifty.”

Ye Tianhui: “I don’t have many belongings to begin with.”

As they talked, Gu Shizhang glanced at the time. “I’ll get going.”

Ye Tianhui: “Okay!”

Although he said he was leaving, he didn’t move. He stood there looking at her.

The distant neon lights reflected on the dense buildings, turning the crowded structures of the daytime into a surreal scene. The street’s old gas lamps emitted an orange glow.

The early autumn wind brushed against their faces, cool and refreshing.

Ye Tianhui felt the atmosphere had become unusual. There seemed to be something in the depths of his dark eyes that she couldn’t decipher.

She softly said, “Aren’t you leaving?”

Gu Shizhang’s ink-black eyes stayed fixed on her. “I want to ask you something.”

Perhaps because they were standing so close, Ye Tianhui felt his gaze envelop her like a net, making it hard for her to breathe.

She tilted her head slightly, avoiding his gaze. “What?”

But her heart inexplicably began to race.

Gu Shizhang lowered his head, leaning in slightly. His voice was low, almost a whisper. “Are you afraid of me?”

Ye Tianhui was startled. “Huh?”

Gu Shizhang’s voice carried a slight rasp: “I always feel that sometimes you don’t dare to look into my eyes.”

Ye Tianhui immediately denied it, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: “No! How could that be!”

Gu Shizhang: “Then tell me, who do I resemble?”

Ye Tianhui’s face flushed red, but her tone was firm and decisive: “You don’t resemble anyone!”

Gu Shizhang: “You said it at the beginning. You said I resembled someone you knew. I want to know—”

He was too close, so close that his warm breath lightly brushed against her face. His voice carried an almost imperceptible coaxing tone: “Was that person very important to you?”

Ye Tianhui felt as if something exploded in her mind with a loud “boom.”

She instinctively raised her hand to push him away.

She couldn’t budge him at all. He stood there completely still, and instead, he instantly grabbed her wrist.

Despite her strength, she found herself utterly powerless at this moment.

Her ears burned red with embarrassment as she retorted, “What are you talking about, nonsense!”

She thought of the emperor who once sat high upon the dragon throne, looking down upon everything. The memory of that overwhelming majesty instantly enveloped her.

She had been reborn, and everything from the past was supposed to have faded like clouds of smoke, yet she just couldn’t forget.

Gu Shizhang released her, but his gaze remained fixed on her: “I was just asking. Why are you reacting so strongly?”

Ye Tianhui cast a resentful glance at Gu Shizhang: “What does it have to do with you? Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t!”

Gu Shizhang’s lips curved into a smile. He looked at her with amusement: “Fine, I won’t ask anymore. I didn’t realize this question was so sensitive for you.”

Ye Tianhui gritted her teeth: “I’m leaving.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Unexpectedly, a voice suddenly rang out behind her: “Ye Tianhui.”

The voice was calm and deep, yet it carried an intangible authority.

Ye Tianhui felt as if something in her mind shattered instantly, and everything familiar from the past came crashing down like mountains and seas.

Her entire body tensed, and she clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart.

She tried to speak in a tone as light and casual as possible, as if nothing had happened: “What is it? Is there something else?”

After she asked, there was no response.

Everything around her was quiet. From within the dense buildings came the sound of someone’s television, and behind her, the sound of that man’s breathing reached her ears, one breath at a time.

It wasn’t until a gust of autumn wind blew, lifting the stray strands of hair on her cheek, that she finally heard his calm and deep voice again.

“Nothing. I just wanted to call your name one more time.”

For a thousand years, the white clouds drift idly, and yet, he could still call her name once more—Ye Tianhui.