Chapter 25

For a couple of seconds—maybe longer—awkwardness hung in the air.

Jiang Sixun’s face was close enough to almost touch. Xu Zhiyi felt her heart racing wildly, as if her heart was tangled up like her twisted ankle, stumbling in every beat.

“Jiang… Mr. Jiang,” she managed to say.

Jiang Sixun, maintaining his composure, stood up straight and handed her the magazine. “Sorry for waking you.”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t really asleep, just lying here thinking.” She placed the magazine on her chest, trying to calm her erratic heartbeat.

“Go back to sleep,” Jiang Sixun said, picking up a cup of red tea from the coffee table and moving to the other end of the sofa. He picked up a book from the armrest that Xu Xiangyi often read and began flipping through it.

Even though her injured foot was a fair distance from where he was sitting, Xu Zhiyi had a strange feeling that if she stretched her leg, she could kick him.

Of all the sofas in the living room, he had chosen the one she was lying on.

Was he trying to avoid the awkwardness of eye contact?

Her mind raced with these thoughts as she set the magazine aside and propped herself up. She glanced over at him, noting that he seemed uninterested in making small talk.

“Mr. Jiang, do you have any plans for the evening?”

Jiang Sixun looked back at her. “No, not really. Are you thinking of going out?”

Xu Zhiyi replied, “I’d like to invite you to dinner and also ask for some personal advice.” Her mother had suggested consulting Jiang Sixun if she didn’t know how to pursue someone.

While seeking advice was just a pretext, her real intention was to get to know him better.

Jiang Sixun inquired where she wanted to eat and what type of cuisine she preferred, noting that some restaurants required reservations in advance.

Without hesitation, Xu Zhiyi responded, “Ideally, a restaurant with a view of the river.”

Jiang Sixun looked puzzled. “Isn’t the quality of the food more important?”

Despite his confusion, he instructed his secretary to book a table at a restaurant with a close view of the river.

Xu Zhiyi thought to herself, “You don’t get it—river views are so romantic.”

She said aloud, “I might be a bit old-fashioned and follow trends, but since I’m the one hosting, I’ll respect your opinion. I’m not familiar with Shanghai. Could you recommend a few good places?”

Jiang Sixun responded, “No need. The secretary has already booked a restaurant with a great river view.”

Xu Zhiyi glanced at her turquoise halter dress, which didn’t quite match Jiang Sixun’s deep night-purple shirt, but changing would seem too formal and deliberate.

After weighing her options, she decided against changing and chose an appropriate bag to go with her outfit.

She walked carefully, avoiding putting too much weight on her injured foot, taking uneven steps.

Jiang Sixun offered his arm for support, and she accepted it, holding onto his arm lightly.

Even through his shirt, she could feel the strong lines of his muscles, as if she were holding onto a pillar of masculinity.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, she was much stiffer than when she held onto her second uncle’s arm, almost stumbling as she walked.

Once outside the villa, she assumed the driver would come over to the parking lot upon seeing her struggle, but there was no sound of the engine starting.

When they reached the car, Xu Zhiyi painstakingly maneuvered herself into the vehicle, her injured foot not cooperating and her long dress trailing outside.

Jiang Sixun bent down, adjusting the skirt that had gathered around her feet.

“Thank you,” she said.

He didn’t respond but got into the car from the other side.

As the car door closed, Xu Zhiyi noticed that the bodyguard was moonlighting as the driver. The car started, and soon the soft strains of music filled the vehicle.

The opening notes played, and Xu Zhiyi recognized the jazz tune she had heard at a London bar.

“When are you heading back to New York?” Jiang Sixun asked.

Xu Zhiyi replied, “I’m not sure yet. My dad wants me to stay home for a few more days. What about you? When will you be going back?”

Jiang Sixun answered, “I’ll be in Shanghai for a few more days.” He avoided giving a specific return date.

Their conversation was filled with casual, inconsequential chatter. Jiang Sixun didn’t press her about what she wanted to discuss or insist on paying the bill. He simply went along with her wishes.

They had chosen a Spanish restaurant, keeping her preferences in mind.

Jiang Sixun handed her the menu and suggested she order first.

“You order,” Xu Zhiyi insisted. “I’ve already decided to pay today, so don’t try to grab the check. The internship’s over, and I want to thank you for your support over the past few months.”

Jiang Sixun chuckled, “I thought you really had something you wanted to ask me.”

Xu Zhiyi said, “I do—this dinner is both a thank-you and an opportunity to seek some advice.”

Jiang Sixun reviewed the menu himself and ordered grilled octopus, beef tartare, and tomato bread, knowing her tastes well.

“So, what do you want to ask me?”

He continued to be relaxed as he placed their order.

Xu Zhiyi, on the other hand, felt anxious, afraid of accidentally revealing her secret. She couldn’t let him see through her thoughts before she was ready.

She started with, “A couple of days ago, Ning Yinqi apologized to me, saying he accidentally let my secret slip in front of you and Ning Yun.” Ning Yinqi had meant to discourage Ning Yun from matchmaking them, but it had led to her secret being revealed prematurely.

“So, you know I have someone I like, right?” She tried to stay composed as she met his gaze.

Jiang Sixun responded straightforwardly, “Did Ning Yinqi give you any advice?”

“Advice about what?”

“Did he tell you not to waste your time, and if it’s not possible, to move on?”

Xu Zhiyi was taken aback. His casual remark felt like a sharp cut to her heart. She reminded herself to stay calm; he couldn’t possibly know who it was. So, she tentatively asked, “How do you know it’s not possible?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “Didn’t you tell Ning Yinqi?”

Xu Zhiyi sighed with relief and took a couple of sips from her water glass. “Well, now there’s a bit of a possibility.” Since he had ended his collaboration with Ning Yun, there wouldn’t be a marriage alliance.

Jiang Sixun also sipped from his glass. “So, because Qi Zhengchen will be stationed in Boston starting October, which is close to New York, you think there’s a chance?”

“Xu Zhiyi, why aren’t you looking forward?” Jiang Sixun asked.

“Because I’m walking backward and can’t see ahead,” she replied.

“…”

Xu Zhiyi didn’t intend to snap at him; she just didn’t want him to personally crush her hopes.

Jiang Sixun noticed her displeasure. “I shouldn’t have said that.” He shifted the topic, asking what she needed advice on.

Time to focus, Xu Zhiyi got to the point: “My mom suggested I ask you about how to pursue someone. You men understand men better.”

Jiang Sixun was silent for a long moment.

He fixed his gaze on her face and asked, “Do I know the person you’re interested in?”

Xu Zhiyi replied, “I’d rather not lie, but can we keep it off the record for now? It might not even work out. You’ll find out sooner or later.”

Jiang Sixun nodded and took another sip from his glass.

“Xu Zhiyi, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but you might not understand men. If a man isn’t interested from the beginning, there’s a 90% chance that pursuing him won’t yield results.”

Xu Zhiyi was silent.

The truth was harsh. She knew this, but “there’s still a 10% chance, isn’t there?” Even if the chance was minuscule, she was willing to try.

After all, she might just be that one in ten thousand lucky person.

If she didn’t try, she and he would only ever be siblings.

As Jiang Sixun was about to say something else, the waiter arrived with their food.

Xu Zhiyi suddenly realized she hadn’t placed her own order yet.

The waiter brought out grilled octopus with roasted potatoes, a dish she never grew tired of.

“Thank you, Mr. Jiang,” she said, taking a bite of the octopus. Her heart was racing, and she couldn’t taste the spice of the octopus.

“Will you help me or not? If it’s inconvenient, I’ll ask my brother.”

Jiang Sixun’s garlic shrimp was also served. Though he wasn’t usually a seafood fan, he began eating fish and shrimp.

He glanced at her and asked, “Do you think I’ll help or not?”

Xu Zhiyi wasn’t sure, so she kept her head down and continued eating silently.

Without a response from her, Jiang Sixun watched her, waiting for a reaction that didn’t come.

She had never treated him this way before; for Qi Zhengchen, she had started to act distant.

“Don’t bother your brother. If you need help with anything, just ask me.” Xu Heng, her brother, had a tendency to be protective and direct. If he knew his sister liked Qi Zhengchen, he might even suggest a family union in a year or two.

Jiang Sixun’s willingness to help was meant to show her the importance of moving on rather than clinging to something that might not work out.

He gave her a warning: “Just so you know, I might not be able to help you get together with that person.”

Xu Zhiyi said, “I don’t need you to make it happen. If I’m unsure about what to do, just give me some guidance.”

In reality, even seeking guidance was just a pretext.

With the summer internship over and no progress on the 3D printing project, it would be difficult to see him once school started. His agreement to help provided her with an excuse to stay in touch and see him whenever she wanted.

“Mr. Jiang, I need your wisdom on a pressing issue,” Xu Zhiyi said, her eyes reflecting a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

Jiang Sixun tilted his chin slightly, giving her a subtle nod to continue.

“How can I get someone to focus all their attention on me?” she asked, her voice tinged with earnest curiosity.

Jiang Sixun’s expression grew distant as he slowly chewed his food, then remarked, “Zhiyi, don’t let romance cloud your judgment.”

The remark landed with the precision of an ice-cold splash, leaving Xu Zhiyi speechless and wounded.

Her mood shifted dramatically, and she fell silent, her gaze fixed on her plate. Despite Jiang Sixun’s attempts to placate her—offering garlic shrimp from his plate and sampling her grilled octopus—she remained unresponsive, her eyes stubbornly downcast.

When he dipped a piece of bread in tomato sauce and placed it on her plate, she didn’t budge. Xu Zhiyi, caught in her inner turmoil, wondered if this constant effort was what it took to have someone’s attention truly on her.

The once-crispy bread, now soggy from the sauce, sat untouched. Observing this, Jiang Sixun took it back, ate it himself, and then dipped another piece for her. The cycle repeated until, finally, Xu Zhiyi began to nibble on the bread.

Jiang Sixun broke the silence with a hint of exasperation, “For a man who doesn’t… well, care for you, you’re making quite a mess of your meal. But enough of that, how’s your grad school application going? Any particular schools you’re aiming for?”

Xu Zhiyi, forcing herself to smile and keep her composure, said, “I’m almost done with the materials. I’m considering two schools in Boston.”

Jiang Sixun’s earlier comment about her being love-struck was spot on. Her determination to be near Qi Zhengchen, who was based in Boston, was palpable.

Xu Zhiyi’s voice carried a note of regret as she added, “I applied for undergrad there but didn’t get in. I hope to make it happen for my master’s.”

Though he couldn’t assist with her romantic pursuits, Jiang Sixun wasn’t going to let her face regret over her academic goals. “I’ll write you a recommendation letter,” he offered.

Relief washed over Xu Zhiyi, knowing his letter would carry significant weight.

With her mood slightly improved, Jiang Sixun finally turned his full attention back to his meal.

Xu Zhiyi, chin resting on her hand, gazed out at the shimmering river view from their riverside table. The beauty of the scene momentarily lifted her spirits.

Her phone buzzed—it was her mother, He Yian.

“Mom,” Xu Zhiyi answered.

He Yian, juggling social events, had just seen her daughter’s message from over an hour ago about not dining at home. “Are you with Mr. Jiang?”

“Yes, I’m getting his advice on how to pursue someone,” Xu Zhiyi said with casual ease, making it clear that the person she liked was right across from her.

He Yian was pleased, seeing potential in her daughter’s situation. “Make sure you get some good tips from him.”

She added a final note, “Now that the internship is over, start addressing Mr. Jiang more casually.”

Xu Zhiyi agreed, “Got it.”

The idea of no longer calling him Mr. Jiang was a relief.

After the call ended, Xu Zhiyi seriously informed Jiang Sixun that her parents preferred she stop using the formal title.

She tossed the question back to him, “So, what should I call you?”

Jiang Sixun replied, “What do you want to call me?”

Xu Zhiyi thought, saying what she wanted might be too bold.

She tried to sound nonchalant, “You could call me ‘brother’ or just stick with Mr. Jiang, whatever’s easier.”

“Up to you,” Jiang Sixun said, seeing her mood lift.

Noticing her change in demeanor, he asked, “Not upset anymore?”

Xu Zhiyi replied, “…No, I’m not upset.”

Jiang Sixun noted, “You were ignoring me a moment ago.”

Xu Zhiyi chose not to argue. Seizing the opportunity, she dipped a piece of bread in tomato sauce and placed it on his plate.

Jiang Sixun set his fork aside and ate the bread she had given him.

For a moment, a comfortable silence enveloped them.

The sparkling lights of the Huangpu River flowed quietly between them, weaving a silent tapestry of their shared moment.

“I’m heading back to New York the day after tomorrow. Care to join me?” he asked.

Xu Zhiyi smiled, “Sure.”