When they arrived at Song’s house, Tian Jiao’s mouth formed an O shape in surprise.

Because Song Zhen’s house will be worth a lot in the future!

This is a courtyard house.

It is really big. No wonder the person who picked them up said Song Zhen felt lonely.

When you push open the door, you can see the land divided into four parts by marble slabs that go in four directions. Opposite the door is a beautiful house that looks like an ancient building. The same goes for both sides. It covers a large area, so there is no worry about not having enough space or houses.

On the far left is a vegetable garden with tender green cabbages growing. Near the door is a grape trellis, and on the other side, there seems to be a kitchen.

Tian Jiao just took a look and was hugged by Song Zhen.

Song Zhen’s eyes were slightly red: “Oh, if you’re not around, I really don’t want to talk all day.”

“Grandpa, it’s okay. I’m with you now.” Tian Jiao quickly comforted him: “You teach at our university anyway, we can go to school together in the future.”

“Haha, yes.” Song Zhen became happy, thinking about going to school with Tian Jiao.

He wiped his tears and then noticed Zhang Rui, who was carrying many bags, Zhang Yanran, who was also standing, and a young man he didn’t recognize.

“Come in quickly.” Song Zhen hurriedly made way and led them into the house.

“Put the gifts here. This is your house, this is Yanran’s, and this is Tian Jiao’s. Put them all in place. Let’s go to the restaurant today.”

“Uncle Song, let’s not go to the restaurant. We’ve been on the train for so long, let’s rest first.” Zhang Rui stopped him.

They had been together for many years, so they no longer needed to be polite. He really had a sore back.

Even if it was a sleeper, it still hurt, especially because the carriage was so noisy.

Tian Jiao quickly nodded: “Yes, yes, let’s rest first, and we’ll talk after we wake up.”

Song Zhen nodded regretfully, looked at the only stranger, Jiang Luan, and asked: “Then this one…”

Zhang Yanran softly replied: “This is my friend Jiang Luan; he doesn’t live here.”

Jiang Luan nodded: “I live at the school, and I asked for leave today.”

Song Zhen looked him up and down and asked, “Are you a soldier?”

Jiang Luan nodded, and Song Zhen smiled, becoming much friendlier.

There were no servants here, so they had to do everything themselves. Zhang Yanran cooked, Tian Jiao helped, and Zhang Rui made the fire. After a simple meal of noodles, Zhang Rui immediately helped his niece and daughter tidy up the room. When everything was done, he yawned and said vaguely, “You guys take a rest too. I’m going to sleep first.”

“Well, good afternoon, Dad.” Tian Jiao waved her hand, fell on the bed, and fell asleep.

In the next room, Zhang Yanran and Jiang Luan were chatting, looking very happy.

****

After waking up, Tian Jiao opened the door and was stunned by the scene in front of her.

A young man was sitting on the steps and seemed to be asleep. When the door opened from the inside, he fell backward and landed right at Tian Jiao’s feet.

Tian Jiao exclaimed: “Xiao He, why are you here?”

Isn’t he with Grandpa Li Mu?

Xiao He woke up and opened his eyes, looking blank. His eyes were bloodshot and dark circles were under his eyelids. But when he found Tian Jiao, he immediately stood up and smiled: “Jiaojiao~~~”

“Well, I’m here. Why are you here?” Tian Jiao smiled and asked gently.

She always treated beautiful boys with some privilege. If it were Dabao, she wouldn’t be so gentle.

Xiao He pursed his lips: “Looking for you.”

Tian Jiao blinked and saw Song Zhen, Li Mu, and Zhang Rui coming over, delighted to see what was happening.

Li Mu was the first to complain: “This child has been with me for two months. At first, he was fine, but after a few days, he became quieter, like he disappeared. For the past half month, he has hardly talked or studied and is getting more haggard. He just thinks about you. I can’t do anything about it. When I heard you were coming, I brought him here. Tian Jiao, forget it, I don’t want this child anymore; I’ll leave him to you.”

Tian Jiao’s face flushed red, and she glared at Li Mu: “Grandpa Li, stop talking nonsense!”

Xiao He pulled her sleeve and said, “Don’t leave!”

Tian Jiao softened and held his hand: “Well, don’t leave.”

A satisfied smile appeared on Xiao He’s lips.

Tian Jiao felt a pang of sadness but also a bit of sweetness. Such a handsome boy actually lost his appetite for her.

Of course, they were all young, and Tian Jiao didn’t think of any great love. She just felt he depended on her. She had been in his life since he was six years old.

The villain became very obsessed because of his childhood experiences and only targeted one person.

At first, Tian Jiao thought the plot on his side was unchangeable and felt sad for a while, but then she found out that he didn’t care about Zhang Yanran, so it could only mean his focus shifted to her.

Tian Jiao knew this mindset was not right, but she was still very happy. However, she also thought she had to introduce him to more people. Making money wasn’t important.

…

The adults saw the two children being close, laughed, teased them, and then left.

Seeing this, Tian Jiao pulled Xiao He back to the room and let him take a nap first.

She took the brushes, paints, and paper and started painting.

There was a slight sound between the papers. Xiao He, who had been looking at Tian Jiao without blinking, slowly closed his eyes.

He slept until night, and it was dark.

This time, Jiang Luan packed up the meal from the restaurant, which was very nice.

Several people sat around the table and ate.

They ate and chatted.

Song Zhen tasted it and praised: “This tastes good. When did the cooking skills of state-owned restaurants become so good?”

Jiang Luan shook his head. “It’s not from a state-owned restaurant.”

Song Zhen was taken aback. “No?”

Jiang Luan nodded affirmatively. “I bought it at the one on the left side of the alley. It looks like a small restaurant, but the food is good. There are many customers, and it’s quite clean. It’s also cheaper than the state-owned restaurants.”

Song Zhen sighed, realizing that he had underestimated the local dining scene.

After tasting a couple of mouthfuls, Zhang Yanran looked at Zhang Rui hesitantly. “Uncle, do you want to open a restaurant? We could open it near the university. I can provide the recipes, and you can handle the financing and labor. How about it?”

Zhang Rui thought he was hallucinating. Why was she suddenly talking about this? And why was his always well-behaved niece suggesting such a venture?

Zhang Yanran’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. This was a great opportunity! With the economy still developing, her innovative ideas could flourish. After her difficult childhood as an orphan, which left her with a deep appreciation for food, she had accumulated enough knowledge to feel confident in her proposal. 

Zhang Rui hesitated. Would it be wise to involve his niece in a business venture? Would it affect her studies? And what would his older brother say?

He hadn’t made up his mind yet when Tian Jiao, anxious because she knew how Butterfly had ruined the heroine’s career in Lanshan, chimed in. “Okay, okay! I agree on behalf of my father. When the time comes, we can open a restaurant in front of the school. That way, I can go there whenever I want to eat without worrying about the cleanliness of the outside food.”

Zhang Rui felt both amused and exasperated. He pinched his daughter’s face, saying, “Is that the decision? Do you think I can even manage it?”

“Of course you can!” Tian Jiao nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with admiration. “Dad is the best!”

As soon as she said that, Zhang Rui’s expression changed when he felt a sudden, strange pinch on his own face.

“Why does it feel like every time I say that, Tian Dao can hear it?” he thought, bewildered. When he rubbed his eyes and looked again, he saw only the red marks from his earlier pinch.

Quickly, he shook off the odd sensation and turned to Zhang Yanran. “I can do it, but what if it affects your studies…?”

Zhang Yanran’s confidence shone through. “No, Uncle! I’m really passionate about this!”

“Okay, that’s settled then. I’ll go find a shop later. We have more than a month until school starts, so there’s plenty of time,” Zhang Rui nodded, feeling a sense of excitement as he thought about the possibilities. Upon seeing the bustling market scene around him, he felt motivated. 

He had initially planned to start a clothing business, but with the well-developed department stores and his own different aesthetic taste, that idea seemed less feasible now. It felt like the right moment to pivot.

Tian Jiao watched the conversation, then noticed a chicken wing in her bowl. She picked it up and handed it to Xiao He, thinking it was the right thing to do to reciprocate his kindness.

_

After a couple of days of rest, Tian Jiao and her friends arrived at school early, more than a month before classes began. As soon as they received their admission letters, they had asked the team leader for an introduction letter and made their way here.

With plenty of time on their hands, they didn’t jump into setting up the restaurant immediately; instead, they took a couple of days to relax and explore the local area.

Although Song Zhen didn’t have a nanny, buying food was easy thanks to the many vegetable vendors in the neighborhood. They could simply shout to get what they needed.

Before, it had been just Song Zhen alone, but with more people around, Zhang Yanran stepped up to take charge of the cooking. She had always wanted to learn more about food, and the limited ingredients and cooking conditions in Lanshan had stifled her motivation. Now, with access to better resources, she was excited to try her hand at cooking.

Li Mu, who was also hardworking, was never given specific tasks, which allowed them to focus on preparing their meals.

Even though the weather was hot, they had enough money to buy ice and keep things cool. Tian Jiao watched them work and hoped they would make money quickly so they could buy air conditioners. She wondered if air conditioners had started to appear by now.

During the day, Zhang Rui took to exploring the surroundings, assessing the local vendors and their offerings. He was accompanied by Zhang Yanran, while Tian Jiao, not being well-versed in these matters, decided to take Xiao He out to play.

Kyoto had many famous landmarks, places seldom seen in later generations. With the area not too crowded, Tian Jiao wanted to seize the opportunity to see everything.

She had even bought a camera for this purpose, which Zhang Rui had paid for.

As he handed her the camera, Zhang Rui feigned annoyance. “I spent my money on this, and you’re off to have fun. Life is so unfair!”

“Daddy is the best!” Tian Jiao exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him in a playful hug.

Zhang Rui couldn’t help but smile.

_

Going out to explore was more complicated than it seemed, especially since neither of them knew their way around.

Initially, they thought about hiring someone to guide them, but Tian Jiao insisted, “I want Xiao He to interact with more people. This is a perfect opportunity. We can ask questions if we don’t know where to go.”

As the responsible adult, Song Zhen kept warning them, “Don’t go to isolated areas. Be careful, and find the police if you run into any trouble.”

“Okay, we understand!” Tian Jiao replied, taking Xiao He’s hand as they ventured out.

Once outside, they stood in the alley, glancing left and right, unsure of where to go. Tian Jiao nudged Xiao He. “Go ask the newspaper vendor over there. That’s the bus stop. We can take the bus from there.”

Xiao He looked at her uncertainty, unsure of what to say.

Tian Jiao pouted and glared at him unhappily. “Do you want me to go?”  

Xiao He quickly shook his head and walked over slowly.  

It’s not that he never talks to strangers, but he does so very rarely.  

So rarely that he felt uncomfortable now.  

When he reached the pavilion, his face was red, and he began moving his hands and feet without thinking.  

He turned around and saw Tian Jiao looking at him with a smile. Their eyes met, and the little girl mouthed, “Come on!”  

Xiao He pressed his lips together, took a deep breath, and walked to the pavilion. “Boss, which way is the bus stop?”  

Xiao He learned to speak from Tian Jiao, who spoke Mandarin since she was little. She later learned the local dialect, but when teaching Xiao He, she always used Mandarin, and her speech was clear.  

So, Xiao He spoke Mandarin too. Although it did not sound like the Kyoto accent, it was still very good.  

The boss was squinting at his newspaper. When he saw a handsome boy in front of him, he smiled and said, “Go straight this way. It’s about 200 meters ahead. It’s hidden by trees, but you can see it if you look carefully.”  

“Thank you.” Xiao He remembered what Tian Jiao said and made sure to say thank you after getting help.  

The boss shook his head happily. “No thanks, no thanks, young man. You just got here, so go have fun. But don’t take the bus at tourist spots, or you’ll be ripped off. It’s better to walk, and you look a bit thin, so it’s good to walk more.”  

Xiao He nodded seriously, wrote down what he said, thanked him, and then left.  

Tian Jiao said he would be in charge of the trip, and she should not worry about anything.  

He needed to do well; otherwise, Jiaojiao wouldn’t want to hang out with him anymore.  

When he reached Tian Jiao, Xiao He sighed in relief. “Uncle said to walk 200 meters this way. Let’s go.”  

Tian Jiao nodded happily and gave him a thumbs up. “Xiao He is really amazing!”  

Xiao He felt relieved, as if asking for directions was not so uncomfortable now.  

The two got on the bus easily, but how to transfer buses was a problem. So, Xiao He had to ask the bus driver.  

Good-looking people often get special treatment. The bus driver seemed impatient, but when he saw that it was Xiao He asking, he smiled and said, “Get off at xx Road, then take another bus. The food there is more expensive, so buy some more food before you take the bus.”  

Xiao He carefully wrote it down again. “Thank you.”  

It was rare for someone to thank him so seriously. The bus driver became even happier and told him more things to note, including which food was delicious and which was not good. It wasn’t easy to talk while driving, but since the driver was serious, Tian Jiao didn’t want to interrupt.  

Until the bus stopped at the next stop, people got on, and Xiao He and Tian Jiao were pushed to the back, away from the driver.  

The rest of the ride went smoothly. While some people were impatient with their questions, most were kind and helped answer. Along the way, they met a young lady. Seeing just two boys, she enthusiastically took them to eat and drink for a while. They only parted ways when they were called back by their families.  

Throughout the day, Xiao He went from being nervous at first to much calmer now. Although he didn’t talk much, he wasn’t completely silent either.  

Even when Tian Jiao needed to go to the restroom, he asked for directions without hesitation.  

They had a lot of fun during the trip. Tian Jiao took many photos, mostly hers, a few from Xiao He, and she even asked kind people to take pictures of them together.  

Even though the photos were still in black and white, color cameras were too expensive.  

At three o’clock in the afternoon, the two satisfied people went back and asked where to develop photos on the way. They developed the photos, carried their bag home, and shared them.  

The next day, Tian Jiao brought Song Zhen with her.  

She didn’t bring him on the first day because she worried that Xiao He wouldn’t do well, and the older man would be tired following them. After testing the waters for a day, Tian Jiao happily invited Song Zhen.  

The uncle and nephew, busy with their store, no longer needed their guidance.  

It was not until the fourth day that Zhang Rui and Zhang Yanran planned a day off. Then, Tian Jiao took Xiao He, who had also taken a day off, out again. “Let’s go! Xiao He will be your tour guide and take you all around Kyoto!”  

Zhang Rui and Zhang Yanran looked at Xiao He hopefully.  

Xiao He, who seldom spoke, nodded eagerly. “I can do it! You just need to bring the money and people!”  

Tian Jiao thought the talking Xiao He seemed cuter now.