Chapter 4

The next afternoon, as usual, Song Wei left early. However, something unexpected happened—he was already there.

As she took her seat, he slid a box of small cakes across the table. Song Wei was surprised.

The logo on the box was from an old bakery near Nan’an High School, a place that had been around for over a decade. She used to love their cakes and would sneak off to buy some whenever she didn’t have to ride home with Principal Yang. But after going to college out of town, she rarely had the chance to enjoy them anymore.

What surprised her even more was his gesture—why buy cakes out of the blue?

Chen Jubai explained, “I passed by on my way here. I wasn’t sure if you’d like them.”

Song Wei looked at him. “Where’s your company located?”

“On Changning Road.”

That indeed was on the way, but Song Wei still felt a bit uneasy. “Thank you. That’s really thoughtful of you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“What about the scarf?”

“It’s in the car.”

“…”

Song Wei paused, deciding to speak plainly. Regardless of his thoughts, they didn’t need to see each other again. This blind date could end here. “Mr. Chen, I think…”

Before she could finish, he interrupted, “Miss Song, I’ve been working all day and haven’t eaten yet. Shall we grab a bite first?”

Since he had just bought her cakes, refusing him outright felt a little rude. Song Wei reluctantly nodded in agreement.

They chose a restaurant near the coffee shop. Chen Jubai opened the menu. “What would you like?”

“Anything is fine.”

“Any dietary restrictions?”

“I don’t eat cilantro.”

He scanned the menu, ordered a few signature dishes, and specifically requested no cilantro. He also asked the server to bring warm water.

When the server left, Chen Jubai picked up his phone to reply to messages, his typing swift and focused.

Even as Song Wei stared at him for a moment, he didn’t seem to notice. He was dressed formally again today—a suit and tie, impeccably neat, as if he had just stepped out of a negotiation.

After several years of work, Song Wei had encountered all kinds of men, of various ages and appearances. But none seemed to wear a suit as well as he did. Perhaps it was his tall, lean frame. He looked more natural in his outfit than the mannequins in department stores.

When the server brought water, Chen Jubai put down his phone and looked over. Song Wei quickly averted her gaze.

He picked up her glass, filled it, and handed it to her.

“Thank you.”

Chen Jubai poured himself a glass and glanced at the girl sitting opposite him, sipping her water in small, careful sips. She wore a plain down jacket, her hair neatly tied up, revealing a smooth forehead. Her petite face seemed even smaller against the puffy jacket.

The corners of her eyes curved delicately, her star-like gaze soft and gentle. Yet her expression seemed somewhat uneasy, lips slightly pressed together, avoiding his eyes.

He asked, “Is the work pressure in the capital very high?”

“Very high. The competition is intense, too.”

“Times are tough now. Many companies are laying off workers. Even here in Nan’an, several businesses have gone bankrupt over the past couple of years, leaving many people unemployed.”

Song Wei was aware of these issues but didn’t want to discuss them. She changed the subject. “Thank you for taking the time to come today. I hope I didn’t delay your work.”

“It’s no problem. You didn’t.”

His phone, placed on the table, continued to buzz with notifications. Song Wei glanced at it, and Chen Jubai felt compelled to elaborate. “There was a contract to sign this afternoon. I came here after finishing it. My team still has some follow-up work they’re unsure about.”

Song Wei blinked in surprise. “You just signed it?”

“Yes.” He flipped his phone face down. “The rest can wait.”

“Oh.”

The dishes arrived quickly. Song Wei wasn’t very hungry and occasionally glanced up while eating.

Chen Jubai ate methodically, his movements graceful and deliberate. His focus on each bite made his demeanor feel calm and respectful, embodying an appreciation for food.

Song Wei was slightly surprised. He was unlike the engineering and tech guys she had worked with, who ate hastily as if they barely tasted their food. She often wondered if they even noticed the flavors.

It seemed she had judged too quickly.

When he was almost done eating, Song Wei hesitated before asking cautiously, “Mr. Chen, may I ask you a question?”

Chen Jubai put down his chopsticks, took a sip of water, and looked at her. “Go ahead.”

“Have you ever been in a relationship before?”

His expression paused briefly before he answered straightforwardly, “No.”

Song Wei also paused, unsure how to continue. After a moment of thought, she asked, “Is it because you’ve been busy with work?”

“Yes.”

“Then, if you have a girlfriend in the future… or a family, and your partner needs your company, how would you balance your work?”

Afraid the question was too intrusive, she quickly added, “I’m just making a hypothetical scenario. You mentioned you’re very busy with work…”

But as soon as she finished speaking, Song Wei felt the question was unnecessary. Promises made in the early stages of a relationship rarely hold weight over time. Food expires, and so do promises. Consistency from start to finish is a rare and precious quality.

Chen Jubai understood her meaning. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “If I have a girlfriend, I won’t let her feel neglected—whether it’s daily companionship or anything else.”

Song Wei met his gaze and saw sincerity in his eyes.

From their first meeting, she had avoided making eye contact with him. His gaze was always direct, never shifting away even when their eyes met. This intensity made her uneasy.

She lowered her eyes and quietly continued eating, asking no further questions.

After the meal, they went to the car together so she could retrieve her scarf. She held the small box of cakes in her hands.

His chivalry today was straightforward. “Let me drive you home.”

Song Wei didn’t refuse. Once in the car, she kept the scarf and cakes in her lap to avoid forgetting them again.

Halfway through the drive, he suddenly asked, “Can I ask what perfume you’re wearing?”

Song Wei was startled. “I don’t wear perfume.”

“Really?”

He murmured something she couldn’t quite catch. Song Wei felt conflicted, perhaps because of the unexpected box of cakes or the fact that he had been on time for this meeting. Her initial plan to end the blind date with “I’m too busy with work” suddenly felt less convincing.

She silently regretted asking him that question earlier.

Until she arrived at the entrance of her residential complex, she still couldn’t think of a better excuse. She wondered if it would be better to be more straightforward—clearly expressing her thoughts was always better than leaving things ambiguous.

As she hesitated, someone knocked on the car window on the passenger side. Song Wei turned and saw Song Gaoyi, who had just returned from work.

Song Gaoyi hadn’t been informed about her blind date that day, but he figured it out. “This is Xiao Chen?”

Chen Jubai was very polite. He got out of the car, walked over, and shook hands with Song Gaoyi. “Hello, Uncle.”

Song Gaoyi scrutinized him, his expression revealing nothing. “Hello.”

Chen Jubai was half a head taller than Song Gaoyi and had an imposing appearance, but Song Gaoyi’s sharp gaze was even more intimidating, as if it could pierce through someone.

Sensing the unspoken tension between the two men, Song Wei felt her scalp tingle. She quickly got out of the car and said, “Thank you for driving me back, Mr. Chen. We’ll head in now.”

Chen Jubai walked to the back seat and retrieved a small box. “Xiaoyu sorted out some unused cat toys and canned food from home yesterday and asked me to bring them over. If you don’t mind, you can use them for a while.”

Song Wei was surprised but accepted it. “Thank you.”

Chen Jubai turned to face Song Gaoyi again. “Uncle, I’ll take my leave now. See you next time.”

“Go ahead.”

After the car drove away, the father and daughter walked toward the residential area.

Song Gaoyi had returned home late the previous night and wasn’t aware of the new addition to their household. “Planning to get a cat?”

“…Not planning, already got one.”

Song Wei briefly explained the origin of Little Snowflake. Surprisingly, Song Gaoyi was more accepting than Yang Yingqiu. “If you like it, keep it. But your mom and I don’t have much time to take care of it. You’ll need to put in the effort.”

“I understand.” Holding the box, Song Wei hesitated before testing the waters. “Dad, you don’t like him, do you?”

“Where did you get that idea?”

“Well… your expression? Just now, you looked at him like he was an enemy.”

Song Gaoyi smiled knowingly. “If I don’t put on a little act, that brat won’t feel afraid. What if he mistreats you in the future?”

“….” Song Wei felt awkward. “Dad, we’ve only met twice. We’re not together.”

“Why? You don’t like him?” He threw the topic back at her.

Compared to Yang Yingqiu, Song Wei found it easier to discuss personal matters with her father. She didn’t hold back. “It’s not that. It’s just that he’s in the early stages of starting a business, so he’s very busy with work. It probably won’t get any better in the future. I… I don’t want that kind of life.”

Hearing this, Song Gaoyi paused, and Song Wei stopped walking too.

After a moment, he let out a soft sigh. “Weiwei, is this because of your mom and me?”

Song Wei bit her lip and didn’t respond.

“It’s our fault for being a bad example.”

She quickly denied it. “It’s not because of you.”

“People are different, Weiwei. You can’t use past experiences to dismiss someone new. Whether he’s good or not, only time will tell. Your mom and I have our own unresolved issues, but that’s on us. We’ve failed you.”

“Do you regret marrying her?”

“No.”

“Dad, what’s marriage like?”

Song Gaoyi seemed to seriously ponder her question. After a long pause, he said, “It depends on the person. For some, marriage is constant chaos; for others, it’s blissful happiness. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. I think you need to try it for yourself to know, but you must stay clear-headed and not dive in recklessly.”

Song Wei nodded. When they reached the elevator in their building, she lowered her voice and asked, “Dad, if I get married, would you and Mom separate? Would that make things easier for both of you?”

Song Gaoyi gently reached out and stroked her head. “Weiwei, don’t overthink. Don’t carry such burdens. Your mom and I only want you to be happy, not to settle for someone casually.”

Song Wei didn’t get a definitive answer. Sometimes, the lack of denial felt like an admission.

When they got home, Yang Yingqiu, as usual, wasn’t there.

Song Wei opened a cake and took a bite. It tasted completely different from what she remembered. It was now overwhelmingly sweet, no longer the forbidden treat she had to secretly buy and savor with every bite.

She pushed it aside, uninterested, and went to her room to send Jiang Xiaoyu a thank-you message.

At school, Jiang Xiaoyu was in class when she received the message. Tilting her head in confusion, she wondered when she had sent any toys.

In just two seconds, she figured it out and grinned ear to ear. [You’re welcome, Sister Weiwei! If you need anything or have any questions, just ask my brother! He’s a professional pet caretaker!]

Song Wei read the message and recalled the man’s meticulous and serious demeanor. She couldn’t imagine him owning a cat.

All she could picture was him avoiding cats altogether, looking disgusted and reluctant.

She glanced at the box filled with cat toys, her hand stroking Little Snowflake’s head. Somehow, her mood improved.

Her phone buzzed again. A message from Chen Jubai: [There’s a concert this Saturday. Would you like to go?]

A concert?

Was this an invitation for another outing?

Song Wei spoke to Snowflake as if to herself. Snowflake, do you want to go to a concert?”

The kitten, clearly enjoying the petting, tilted its adorable face and meowed enthusiastically. Song Wei laughed. “You’re that eager?”

Alright then.

She replied: [Sure.]