Chapter 61: Unspeakable Secret

The food arrived quickly. In a short while, the table was filled with a sumptuous feast.

These dishes were pleasing to the eye and had a delightful aroma and taste. They were like exquisite works of art, making people want to devour them.

“These are all local specialties. Try some.” Lu Qingyun stood up and scooped a bowl of soup for Ling Yao and handed it to her.

“Thank you! I can do it myself.” Ling Yao reached out to take the soup.

“Don’t be so polite with me.”

“Right, you said you had something to ask me for help with. What is it?” Ling Yao took a sip of the soup. The savory flavor filled her entire mouth.

“No rush. Let’s talk after we finish eating.”

“Okay.”

The two began to savor the dishes. Ling Yao discovered that these dishes were not only delicious but also had unique flavors and textures.

“This restaurant’s chef is really skilled.”

Lu Qingyun picked up the teapot on the table and refilled Ling Yao’s cup, “Ziyu told me that this private restaurant’s chef’s ancestors were imperial chefs in the palace.

They have two brothers. One specializes in Southern cuisine. He’s the owner and chef of this private restaurant.

 The other is in Beijing. He also opened a private restaurant.

 When we have the chance, I’ll take you there to eat.”

“Okay.”

The two chatted while enjoying the food.

As time passed, they talked more and more.

Ling Yao discovered that Lu Qingyun was not only talented but also very interesting and tasteful.

He was completely different from the impression she had of him before. She felt admiration for him.

Ling Yao put down her chopsticks. She had eaten too much today.

Seeing that Lu Qingyun had also put down his chopsticks, Ling Yao said, “Brother Lu, now you can tell me what it is.”

Lu Qingyun nodded, “My grandfather went to war when he was young. He retired because of an injury.

He still has two small shrapnel in his leg. His old age has been greatly affected by those two pieces of shrapnel. Now, he can only sit in a wheelchair.

He’s always been a strong man. He can’t accept that he can only sit in a wheelchair. He walks around the house with a cane every day.”

Thinking of his grandfather, Lu Qingyun couldn’t help but sigh.

“You mean you want me to cure your grandfather’s leg?” Ling Yao asked. It wasn’t impossible to cure his grandfather’s leg.

All it took was a minor surgery to remove the two pieces of shrapnel.

 Now that she could refine pills, she could give his grandfather a pill to strengthen his body after the surgery, and he would recover quickly.

Lu Qingyun shook his head, his face slightly troubled, “I want you to pretend to be my girlfriend.”

“Ah?” Ling Yao was startled and stood up from her chair.

“Don’t get me wrong. It’s just pretending. I won’t take advantage of you. My grandfather’s wish is to see me have a girlfriend while he’s still alive.

 When I called home before, I lied to him and said I already had a girlfriend. He insisted that I bring her back to see him.

Otherwise, he would go to my unit on crutches.” Lu Qingyun sighed helplessly.

“Don’t you have any female comrades in your unit?” Ling Yao had been in the army in her previous life.

 She knew that not only were there female comrades in the army, but there were quite a few.

Most of the members of the art troupe were female, and there were also many female nurses and doctors in the military hospital.

“There are, but I have an unspeakable secret.”

“What unspeakable secret? Can you tell me?”

Lu Qingyun touched his nose, “I’ve been allergic to girls since I was a child. Whenever I get close to a girl, I break out in a rash.

 You’re the exception.” He wasn’t lying to Ling Yao.

He was handsome when he was young, so the girls in the courtyard all liked him.

Once, he was tricked by one of the girls into her house. She drugged him and tried to take advantage of him. Luckily, his family arrived in time, and he escaped.

After that, whenever a girl got close to him, he would break out in a rash all over, even his own mother.

But he never broke out in a rash when Ling Yao was near him.

“There’s such a disease?” Ling Yao had studied medicine for so long, but this was the first time she had heard of such a disease.

“I’m telling the truth.” Lu Qingyun looked serious.

“Okay, I believe you.” Ling Yao nodded with a smile.

“So, will you help me?” Lu Qingyun’s eyes held a hint of anticipation and nervousness.

“I need to think about it. Besides, I’m going to school now and don’t have time. Maybe during the summer vacation.”

“Then summer vacation it is.”

Ling Yao thought for a moment and nodded, “Okay.” It was just a small favor for her.

Lu Qingyun smiled happily, “Thank you, Ling Yao!”

“You’re welcome. It’s getting late. I have to go back.” Ling Yao stood up.

“I’ll see you off.” Lu Qingyun stood up as well.

After seeing Ling Yao home, Lu Qingyun still had a smile on his face. Even though it was fake, he was very happy.

He would work hard to gain Ling Yao’s approval and strive to become her real boyfriend.

Thinking of something, Lu Qingyun narrowed his eyes. He had already found out that the person who had attacked Ling Yao was sent by the Ji family.

 He had already had people keep an eye on the Ji family and had also blocked Ling Yao’s information.

No matter what relationship the Ji family had with Ling Yao, he wouldn’t let them hurt her.

On the other side, after dealing with his work, Ji Yanting set off for Yuncheng. This time, no matter what, he had to find his wife and daughter.

He had already let them down for so many years, making them suffer for so many years. He had to find them and make it up to them.

On the way to Yuncheng, Ji Yanting’s mood was particularly heavy.

Now, he didn’t know where his wife and daughter were, and he didn’t know if they still remembered him. When he left, Yaoyao had just learned to walk.

Ji Yanting arrived in Yuncheng and went directly to the place where he had been sent down to the countryside.

 Everything around was still the same as when he left. There hadn’t been much change.

The car drove slowly on the bumpy dirt road, entering the small mountain village.

Under the big tree at the entrance of the village, several villagers who had just finished their farm work were chatting. When they saw the car, they all stared at it in awe.

“Whose car is this? It’s so grand.”

“If I had a car, I’d be laughing in my sleep.”

“Don’t even talk about a car. I’d be content with a bicycle.”

Ji Yanting told the driver to stop the car. He opened the door and got out. He had just seen a familiar figure in the crowd.

 It was a young intellectual who had been sent down to the countryside with him. Like him, he had married and had children here.

The difference was that he had returned to the city, while the other man had stayed in this small mountain village.

Ji Yanting walked up to Qin Hai and gave him a smile, “Qin Hai, do you recognize me?”

“You’re Ji Yanting?” Qin Hai looked at Ji Yanting uncertainly.

 Although Ji Yanting’s face also had the marks of time, it was different from his own kind of ruggedness.

He exuded an air of authority, a kind of aura cultivated by long-term high-ranking positions, something that ordinary people could not possess.