Chapter 24: Hot Pot Tonight – As Long as She’s Happy

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The next morning, as soon as Zhong Yang opened her eyes, she saw a message:

Xu Youyou has invited you to the group chat [What’s for Dinner Tonight?]
Group members: Chen Qingyue.

[yoyo]: Yangyang baby! Chen Qingyue and I are back. Let’s feast tonight, yeah?

[zy]: Sure! Where at?

[Chen Qingyue]: (suddenly appears.jpg) I suggest we buy our own ingredients and have hot pot at Lake.

[yoyo]: Seconded. We can eat, drink, and mess around without worrying about anyone posting stuff online. It’s safer.

[zy]: Works for me. See you at Lake at 7 PM. (lightbulb.jpg)

[Chen Qingyue]: Mind if I bring Shi Ze and Lao Pei along? We all know each other anyway. More people, more fun. Zhong Yang, any objections?

[zy]: No objections. Honestly, I don’t want to be stuck dining with just you two lovebirds.

[yoyo]: Waa waa waa~
[Chen Qingyue]: Boo hoo hoo~

Zhong Yang had already seen the official relationship post from Xu Youyou a few days ago on her social feed—kissing by the seaside at sunset, hand-in-hand, 999 pink roses… It was all incredibly romantic.

Though she teased them with her words, she was genuinely happy for her best friend.

[zy]: (kicks a person.jpg)

That evening, Zhong Yang arrived a bit early and ran into Xiao Yun, who was just about to leave.

She said, “Xiao Yun, stay and have hot pot with us.”

Xiao Yun shook her head. “Sis, that’s not really appropriate. I’m just a worker here.”

“No worries. One of the guests tonight is the director of my new show, and the other’s your future boss—may as well get to know them early.”

“Uh… I—”

Before she could protest, Zhong Yang took her arm and led her inside. “Settled then!”

Not long after, Chen Qingyue showed up carrying two large hot pots, and Xu Youyou followed with two big plastic bags full of groceries.

Xu Youyou dropped her stuff on the table with a thud and let out a breath. “Ugh, I’m exhausted!”

Chen Qingyue immediately put down what he was carrying and started massaging her arms. “Thanks for your hard work, baby.”

Seriously, why were these two already showing off their affection?

Zhong Yang rolled her eyes. “Hey! There are still other people alive over here!”

Xiao Yun quickly introduced herself, “Hi Youyou-jie, I’m Xiao Yun. I’m the lead server here at Lake and might soon be Xiao Yang-jie’s assistant.”

“What?” Chen Qingyue looked at Zhong Yang in disbelief. “You poached one of my employees while I was gone?”

Zhong Yang smiled slyly. “Yup, Boss Chen.”

Xu Youyou took her friend’s side immediately. “Oh come on, Xiao Yun doesn’t mind. Stop whining.”

“I give up,” Chen Qingyue said dramatically, defeated in an instant.

Zhong Yang chuckled as she efficiently washed vegetables. “I brought napa cabbage, lettuce, cilantro, and fatty beef slices. What did you guys bring?”

Xu Youyou peeked into her bag. “I wasn’t sure what was what, so I just grabbed a little of everything…”

There was noise at the door again—Pei Yunzhe and Pei Shize had arrived, also carrying bags full of ingredients.

Having just been overruled by the ladies, Chen Qingyue perked up, eager to regain his pride.

Standing in front of Pei Yunzhe, he theatrically asked, “Huh? Who are you?”

Pei Yunzhe gave the “stranger” who’d invited him a flat glance. “Not knowing me is fair. I’m Zhong Yang’s friend.”

“Wow, choosing a girl over your bros!”

Then, Chen Qingyue slapped his forehead. “Oh wait—my bad! Forgot you don’t have a girlfriend, so never mind the ‘girl’ part.”

“…”

It was the first time Pei Yunzhe had ever lost a battle of words to Chen Qingyue.

“HAHAHAHA finally! You got nothing to say, huh? Hey, don’t leave—where are you going?”

“To help,” Pei Yunzhe replied. “You think everyone’s as clueless as you?”

“…?” Chen Qingyue was stunned as he watched Pei Yunzhe take off his suit jacket, roll up his sleeves, and walk over to Zhong Yang.

“I got this,” he said.

“No need, it’s the last bit,” Zhong Yang said, tilting her chin toward the finished veggies.

“Then you plate and set the table.”

Pei Yunzhe nodded. “Okay.”

Inspired by the example, the other privileged rich kids who’d never lifted a finger started looking for something to do.

With everyone pitching in, the table was soon ready.

When the lid came off, the pot was a colorful, bubbling mix, steaming with rich aromas.

Xu Youyou: “Let’s eat—I’m starving!”
Pei Shize: “This sesame sauce is good. Who brought it?”
Chen Qingyue: “Pretty sure I did. Also, why’s all the steam coming toward me? It’s hot!”
Zhong Yang: “Then just move over a bit?”
Chen Qingyue: “Nope~ I wanna snuggle with my Youyou wifey~”
Zhong Yang: “Ugh. Shouldn’t have bothered giving you advice.”

Even Pei Shize, who was seated next to him, was disgusted and inched closer to his own brother.

Pei Yunzhe placed a few slices of meat onto Zhong Yang’s plate, then glanced up at Chen Qingyue without saying a word—but everything was clear.

Chen Qingyue, completely unfazed by the disdain around him, raised his wine glass. “Cheers, everyone!”

The clinking of glasses filled the air.

Seeing the mood was getting a bit stale, Xu Youyou suggested, “Let’s play a game! Loser has to go on stage and sing a song as background music for our meal!”

Chen Qingyue: “Great idea!”
Zhong Yang: “I’m down.”
Pei Shize and Xiao Yun: (nod)
Only Pei Yunzhe frowned. “I don’t sing.”

Chen Qingyue: “Minority obeys majority.”

Pei Yunzhe: “…”

Xu Youyou explained the rules of “I Have, You Haven’t”: each person says something they’ve done. Anyone who hasn’t done it folds down one finger. Five fingers folded = you lose.

“You start, Pei Shize.”

“Okay—when I was little, I got such a high fever I almost ended up brain-damaged.”

No one else had experienced that, so everyone folded a finger.

Next was Chen Qingyue. He puffed his chest. “I’m in a relationship!”

Xu Youyou didn’t need to fold. Everyone else rolled their eyes and folded a finger.

Then it was Xu Youyou’s turn. “I’ve been to 31 countries.”

Only Pei Shize and Chen Qingyue had done that. The rest folded another finger.

Zhong Yang held up two fingers, making a peace sign. “Guys, can we play two more rounds? I wanna last longer.”

Xu Youyou reassured her, “Don’t worry—the last one hasn’t even spoken yet.”

Zhong Yang glanced at Pei Yunzhe, who also had two fingers left. She thought, If Xiao Yun and I say things he’s never done, he might lose without saying a word. That’d be tragic.

Next, Xiao Yun said, “I’ve worked four different jobs: receptionist, sales, customer service, and server.”

Pei Shize quickly chimed in, “Do I count? I’ve done directing, cinematography, screenwriting, lighting…”

“That should count,” Chen Qingyue said, borrowing the format. “Then me too! I’m a boss, a bartender… my dad’s son, my mom’s son!”

“Enough, stop forcing it,” said Xu Youyou, folding one of his fingers for him.

Zhong Yang had only one finger left. She thought for a moment and said, “I’ve trended on hot search five times or more.”

Everyone looked at Pei Yunzhe, who hadn’t spoken once, had no fingers left, and no choice.

He stood up. “A bet’s a bet.”

Chen Qingyue was thrilled. “Bro! What are you gonna sing? I’ll queue up the backing track!”

Pei Yunzhe replied calmly, “Where Is Spring.”

“…What?”

“Where Is Spring.”

Chen Qingyue burst out laughing. “HAHAHAHA bro, do you remember you’re supposed to be the cold CEO type? You’re thirty and you’re singing a children’s song!?”

Everyone was shocked by the choice, but, wanting him to go through with it, they forced themselves to act encouraging.

Xu Youyou: “Why are you laughing, Chen Qingyue? A kids’ song is still a song!”
Zhong Yang: “Love it! Go, boss!”
Xiao Yun: “Boss, you can do it!”
Pei Shize: “Bro, you’re my hero!”

Chen Qingyue’s smile froze. “You bunch of fakes…”

Pei Yunzhe had held microphones countless times—for press conferences, speeches—but never for singing. He actually felt nervous.

The whimsical backing music began. He stared straight ahead and started singing:

“Where is spring, oh where is spring…”

“Pfft!” Xu Youyou was the first to lose it, spitting out her drink.

There he stood: stern-faced, in shirt and slacks, his deep voice singing the chirpy children’s tune—Mr. Pei Yunzhe, chairman of the Pei Group and a well-known businessman in Di Jing…

Too ridiculous.

“…and the little oriole that sings, dee-li-li, dee-li…”

Everyone cracked up. Pei Shize clutched his stomach, laughing. “I have to record this!”

Zhong Yang wiped the tears from her eyes. “Director Pei, send me a copy too.”

As the laughter grew louder, Pei Yunzhe barely made it through half the song before giving up.

He cleared his throat, then glanced at Zhong Yang’s bright, joyful smile—and found himself smiling too.

If he could, he would’ve sung another song. But he honestly didn’t know any others…

This one? His mom taught it to him when he was seven.

In any case—as long as she’s happy.