Shen Qiming stood coldly, his posture indifferent.

The bodyguard who had just attacked him was holding his wrist, which was still sore from being grabbed earlier.

The bodyguard dared not act recklessly, intimidated by the force Shen exuded.

Ma Le stood between Jin Yao Tiao and Debbie, pulling three of his subordinates along, with a provocative look on his face, seemingly unafraid of the conflict.

As more restaurant staff and mall security arrived, the crowd grew larger.

Master Tu, leading a group of disciples, saw Jin Yao Tiao seemingly in a confrontation.

Recently, his temperament had become more Buddhist-like due to a satisfying life, but his patience exploded like a ripe August melon.

His small, sharp eyes widened in fury. “Yao Tiao, what’s going on? Are they causing trouble for us?”

Debbie’s forehead rested against Jin Yaotiao’s back, and she could feel slight trembling.

Jin Yaotiao was concerned about her mental state and just wanted the instigators to leave as soon as possible. “Pretty much.”

Hey!

Master Tu immediately brought his group of strong men to surround the rowdy men.

Not speaking English didn’t stop them from expressing their dissatisfaction, and the situation quickly changed.

The doctor, seeing the large reinforcements on Jin Yaotiao’s side and then glancing at his own side, which had only a few people capable of fighting, knew a confrontation was possible but wasn’t willing to engage in a physical altercation in a foreign country.

The bodyguard might be strong, but he didn’t dare make any moves here.

He sensed the situation was turning bad and reluctantly tried to persuade Debbie. “Debbie! I’m your doctor, only I can help you! Your mental state is unstable, I’m really worried about you. Right now, you’re not in a state to make rational decisions!”

With so many people around, Debbie, leaning against Jin Yaotiao’s back, thought back to how this girl, who had saved her earlier, had stepped forward to help her without hesitation.

A wave of warmth surged through her.

The pain and shivers from the control her boyfriend had imposed on her earlier gradually faded, and she slowly loosened the hand that was still trembling around Jin Yaotiao’s waist.

Looking up, she finally, for the first time, surveyed the man sent by her boyfriend with calm and rational eyes.

Oh no, not just him.

But this whole group.

Seeing them felt like seeing the self-deception that had kept her alive these years.

Just a moment ago, she had only wanted to take some time off from work and meetings to heal, but now, everything suddenly became clear.

“You can’t help me. You’re not even worried about me,” Debbie said through her tears, but then she smiled. “Go back. You don’t need to monitor me anymore. Go back and tell Tommy it’s all over.”

Jin Yaotiao vaguely guessed what Debbie meant and raised an eyebrow.

Even in this tense atmosphere, she couldn’t help but glance at herself.

Where exactly is the breakup buff hanging?

The doctor didn’t understand why Debbie’s attitude had changed so dramatically in the time it took her to cook a meal.

With Debbie strongly rejecting him and with no advantage in physical strength, it was clear that taking her away wasn’t feasible.

Surrounded by so many people, and with Shen Qiming standing ahead, effortlessly stopping the bodyguard, the doctor could only leave after a brief standoff.

His expression was grim, unsure how to report back to his employer, who had offered a large sum of money.

As he left, his tall and burly bodyguards cast a reluctant glance at the still-steaming dish of “Drunken Chicken” on the table.

But the doctor had no energy to care about food. In the elevator, when he received an overseas call from his employer, he was immediately scolded for his professional failure after the sudden bad news.

Listening to the accusations about his medical skills, the doctor felt both embarrassed and wronged. “Sir, is this the result I wanted? I’ve tried my best, but Miss Debbie never trusted me. She told me to tell you everything is over. I don’t even know what she meant by that!”

The employer’s voice suddenly faltered, like a chicken with its throat squeezed. “She said everything is over?”

The doctor replied irritably, “Yes.”

The employer’s voice, once full of rage, suddenly turned panicked. “How could that be…”

---

The noisy crowd dispersed, and Jin Yaotiao asked Master Tu to take the disciples back to rest while she walked to the door to see the security leave.

Her emotions were still a bit unsettled.

When she turned around, she realized that Shen Qiming had also come out of the restaurant and was standing a few steps away, watching her.

Jin Yaotiao noticed the obvious dark circles under his eyes and paused. “Mr. Shen, is there something you need from me?”

Shen Qiming looked at her for a moment before saying, “It won’t happen again.”

Jin Yaotiao was confused. “What?”

Shen Qiming replied, “No one will stop you at Jingmao’s entrance again.”

Jin Yaotiao paused, then said, “Mr. Shen?”

Shen Qiming was acting strangely today.

Shen Qiming looked at her intently. “Yaotiao, I always thought I could do everything well, but I realized I was overconfident.”

Jin Yaotiao frowned. “Mr. Shen, what’s wrong with you?”

Debbie, who had calmed down after her earlier emotional outburst, walked over to Jin Yaotiao, her eyes red. “Jin, thank you.”

She was indeed beautiful, though perhaps too thin. Still, her unhealthily thin frame under loose clothes didn’t look ugly.

Especially after crying, her red-rimmed eyes gave Jin Yaotiao a pang of sympathy.

Shen Qiming, however, only calmly glanced at her before shifting his focus back to Jin Yaotiao. “The investment contract that was rejected, I want to resend it to Mingde under Jingmao’s name within this week.”

Jin Yaotiao was stunned. “Mr. Shen, that’s a good thing. On behalf of Mingde, I welcome Jingmao’s investment.”

Debbie, not understanding their conversation, asked, “Jin, what are you two talking about?”

Jin Yaotiao snapped back to reality. “This is Mr. Shen. We’re discussing his investment in my company.”

Debbie was stunned. “Investment? Is your company open for investment?”

Jin Yaotiao smiled. “Yes.”

Debbie looked at her for a moment, then glanced back at the restaurant behind her.

Suddenly, she smiled faintly. “Jin, I really like you and your company. May I have the honor of working with you?”

Jin Yaotiao was surprised by her sudden suggestion. “Are you serious?”

Debbie nodded. “Of course. Although my health isn’t great, I’ve worked hard over the years and have some savings.”

Her words were quite modest.

While her company and boyfriend controlled her mentally, they never dared to skimp on her pay.

As a popular singer, her savings were far from modest.

Her income, coupled with continuous royalties, and her luxurious mansion in New York, were things many in the industry could only envy.

Jin Yaotiao, seeing that Debbie didn’t seem to be pretending, agreed.

She figured that Debbie’s willingness to invest seemed like a sign of a desire to survive, and she also saw Debbie as a valuable collaborator. “If you’re willing, I’d certainly welcome it.”

Shen Qiming glanced at Debbie, his lips tight.

Who exactly was she?

Jin Yaotiao’s previously set funding goal had a limit, and if Debbie joined, she would take a portion of the money originally meant for Jingmao.

But this also meant that all the targets were met.

It marked the beginning of a new chapter for Mingde.

Jin Yaotiao let out a sigh of relief and looked back at Shen Qiming.

Thinking about how she had rejected Jingmao’s investment earlier, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry, Mr. Shen, I was too impulsive earlier. I didn’t handle things properly and should’ve discussed them with you calmly.”

Perhaps it was because there were still some unresolved emotions from the past.

Even though she often claimed to have moved on, encountering elements connected to her past self, which was once so insignificant and unloved, she couldn’t fully suppress her feelings.

It was just like when she first started her business and heard Shen Qiming’s name—she seemed to have a problem with him, but in reality, it was more about hating the version of herself that had once been so insignificant.

Jin Yaotiao realized this wasn’t good and knew she had to change.

That old version of herself should be completely gone.

Shen Qiming, however, didn’t accept her words like he usually did.

After a moment of silence, he spoke seriously, “Yao Tiao, you never needed to handle things with me formally.”

Another sentence that didn’t align with Shen Qiming’s usual style.

Jin Yaotiao looked at him.

Shen Qiming lowered his head, and only at this close distance did Jin Yaotiao realize that he didn’t look well.

In addition to his exhausted expression, there was a hint of stubble on his chin.

Although it didn’t make him look unkempt, it did add a rare, seductive air to his usually restrained demeanor.

But seeing it on Shen Qiming seemed out of place.

Jin Yaotiao asked, “…Mr. Shen, are you okay?”

Did Jingmao collapse, or was it still in business?

Shen Qiming looked at her for a while before smiling. “Do I look that bad?”

Jin Yaotiao didn’t respond.

Shen Qiming’s smile slowly faded, and after a moment, he spoke softly, “Jingmao still has work. I’m going back. If those people come back to cause trouble, you can call me.”

He glanced at Jin Yaotiao again, then turned and left with his assistants.

In the elevator, he thought for a moment before telling his assistants, “Leave someone downstairs to keep an eye out. If anything happens, let me know.”

The assistants were stunned but nodded.

One of them, gathering courage, glanced at his sharply defined side profile and asked, “Mr. Shen, should we try not to let the boss lady find out?”

Shen Qiming nodded slightly without denying the “boss lady” title.

After a while, he added, “Don’t call her that in front of her. She doesn’t like it.”

The assistants exchanged glances in surprise, and one bolder one, thinking about it, tried to flatter him. “Mr. Shen, the boss lady is really beautiful. And like attracts like, even her friends are all so good-looking.”

The friend seemed familiar, like they had seen her somewhere before.

Shen Qiming: “…”

Shen Qiming glanced faintly at the sycophantic assistant.

Where did this troublesome kid come from?

——

After Shen Qiming left, Jin Yaozhao frowned, still deep in thought, while Debbie asked: “Jin, who was that person just now?”

It took Jin Yaotiao a while to respond, “My ex.”

Debbie was stunned for a moment, recalling what Jin had said earlier: “Is that the man you were chasing before?”

Jin Yaotiao nodded, “Yes.”

Debbie looked at her, and after a few seconds, her gaze shifted: “Jin, I think you may be misunderstanding something.”

Jin Yaotiao met her eyes, and Debbie spoke softly, “Maybe you’re not someone who’s unloved.”

She knew too well what it felt like to be unloved.

Although her boyfriend always said he loved her, even saying it every day, there were moments when it felt like she couldn’t fool herself anymore.

Jin Yaotiao responded, “Stop overthinking. He was just acting strangely today. He spoke more to me today than he has in the past week.”

Debbie furrowed her brows, unsure how to explain.

The man, Mr. Shen, had given all his attention to Jin. Even though Debbie had been there for a long time, she barely caught a second of his gaze.

She, after all, was a big star who was used to being surrounded by people, but even when she was humble in front of her boyfriend, she had never experienced this kind of treatment.

Eyes don’t lie.

——

They returned to the restaurant and exchanged a few words with Ye Baiqing and the others.

As they walked towards the dining table, Ye Baiqing cautiously asked about the doctor Debbie had just met, while supporting her.

Suddenly, her steps stopped.

Jin Yaozhao asked, “What’s wrong?”

Ye Baiqing stared at the table, her eyes wide.

Jin Yaotiao looked at the table too, and after a few seconds, she froze.

In the large roasting pot on the table, only the ingredients like tendon were left, but the fragrance still filled the air.

However…

Jin Yaotiao asked, “Did the chicken get finished?”

Ye Baiqing protested, “I didn’t eat it! I didn’t get even a bite!”

Jin Yaotiao looked around, feeling something was missing, but couldn’t remember what.

Ye Baiqing rubbed her growling stomach, her eyes full of regret.

Where’s my chicken?

Where’s my big chicken?

After all that fuss earlier, someone still couldn’t resist sneaking food!

Maller turned around and glared at his younger colleagues behind him, saying confidently, “What are you looking at?”

His colleagues stared at the chicken in his hands, speechless: “…”

Brother Le, do you even remember why we’re here?

——

The Jin family’s home, where Ye Baiqing and others had been invited as guests, was filled with the smell of cooking food.

The oven was on, and a pot of steaming food filled the air with delicious aromas.

Foreign guests with blond hair and blue eyes had arrived at the Jin family.

Jin’s parents, who were out of touch with society, didn’t recognize Debbie, but their hospitality was warm as ever.

Jin’s mother kept insisting that Debbie eat more, noticing how thin she looked.

Although Debbie couldn’t understand, she knew the aunt who spoke to her from time to time was concerned about her.

When Jin’s mother gave her some sugar cane water, she smiled and drank it slowly.

Jin Yaotiao told her mother, “She has severe anorexia, she can’t eat too much, please don’t force her.”

Jin’s mother took the empty cup, sighing as she looked at Debbie: “Such a pity, such a beautiful girl with this disease.”

Debbie didn’t mind liquid food; the sugar cane water was warm and sweet, and it didn’t feel uncomfortable.

In fact, it made her feel warm inside.

Taking advantage of the warmth, she sighed and helped Jin Yaotiao with some tasks while softly talking about the ups and downs in her relationship with her boyfriend over the years.

Jin Yaotiao had known about this for a while, her fingers lightly folding dough for the green dumplings.

The room was filled with the refreshing scent of mugwort leaves.

Ye Baiqing and the others listened, pale-faced.

Debbie kept her head lowered, but she seemed to be in better spirits than the others.

She occasionally stopped speaking and fell silent for a few seconds.

But perhaps talking about it was helpful for her emotions, as her pauses became less frequent.

The experiences of nearly ten years, from signing with a company to now, were recounted in just a few minutes, and the room fell silent.

Ye Baiqing and the others didn’t know what to say.

Debbie smiled and asked Jin Yaozhao, “These green dumplings… are they what you meant by your country’s food culture?”

Jin Yaotiao nodded, “Tomb Sweeping Day is when we honor our ancestors. The climate warms up, and wild vegetables that had disappeared during winter start to appear. But our country is so vast, and customs differ from place to place. In our hometown, we use mugwort to make food at this time. Eating these green dumplings is like receiving the blessing of the season, ensuring that the year ahead will go smoothly and successfully.”

She remained calm, not showing any pity for Debbie, which made Debbie feel more at ease.

Debbie looked at the green dumplings before her, smiling, “It’s really a magical country.”

The fillings were handmade by Jin Yaozhao and her father.

The outer dough of the green dumplings was similar, and the flavor depended on the filling.

At Mingde’s restaurants, seasonal menus were offered during the Tomb Sweeping Festival, and the dishes were similar to what was on the Jin family’s table.

Fresh spring bamboo shoots, tender enough to juice when pressed, were diced and mixed with tofu, minced meat, and scallions for a meat filling.

For the three-flavor filling, shrimp paste, mushrooms, and minced meat were prepared separately.

The shrimp heads were fried in oil, salted duck egg yolks were added, and the mixture was stir-fried until fragrant before adding pumpkin puree and crab roe, creating a savory and slightly sweet taste.

Red beans and green beans were steamed and peeled, then simmered into a new red bean paste.

The fillings ranged from spicy minced meat to meat floss to sesame walnut fillings.

The green dumplings were coated with oil and kneaded until smooth, then steamed until soft and round.

Ye Baiqing was still upset about the missing “drunken chicken,” but after finishing the tendon with rice, she couldn’t help but feel more regretful about the chicken she hadn’t tasted.

She half-heartedly, half-encouragingly told Debbie, “Eat a little more with me later? Jin’s fillings will be delicious, and you’ve done a great job wrapping them. They’re perfectly round.”

Debbie, looking at her hands still covered in flour, softly replied, “I think it’s fun.”

Under Jin Yaozhao’s guidance, wrapping the filling and kneading the dough, every step brought her the same relaxation she felt that day in Mingde’s kitchen.

It had been so long since she had felt this comfortable.

The fragrance of the green dumplings gradually spread, and the steam carried the special scent of mugwort leaves everywhere. Breathing in this fragrance felt like standing in a spring-filled forest.

Debbie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then pulled out her phone and turned it on.

There were countless missed calls. Looking at the familiar numbers, she hesitated for a while before pressing the call button.

Her boyfriend answered swiftly, his voice as gentle as ever: “Debbie, are you still in that country? I’m really worried about you. Are you okay?”

Debbie listened to his voice and gently replied, “I’m fine.”

Tommy seemed to sigh in relief, “That’s good. Debbie, it was that doctor who upset you, right? I’ve already told him to leave.”

Debbie smiled.

Her boyfriend continued in a tender tone, “Debbie, I love you. I miss you so much. Come back. If you really don’t want to, I’ll give up the marriage plan with her. I just want you by my side.”

Debbie’s smile widened.

Holding the phone, she slowly walked towards the Jin family’s front door, opened it, and looked out at the yard.

The sight before her was full of spring colors, with warm sunlight and floral fragrances in the air.

Everything felt as soft as the scent of green dumplings that had been carried in by the breeze.

“Tommy,” Debbie said, “I’ll leave the contract termination to my lawyer. They’ll contact you soon. I’ll return to New York, but I’ll never come back to be with you again.”

——

“Debbie,” Jin Yaotiao called from inside.

Debbie turned around, hanging up the phone.

She stood against the light, and Jin Yaotiao, unable to see her expression clearly, raised a green dumpling and called out to her, “What are you doing? The green dumplings are ready, come try one.”

The dumplings, after being steamed, were soft and cute, green and small, emitting a tempting warmth.

Jin’s father, who loved meat, had already set aside his share, grabbing one with meat filling.

The spring bamboo shoots had been blanched, making them tender and soft, and the meat filling was juicy and encased in the soft, thin skin of the dumpling, bursting with flavor when bitten.

The three-flavor filling was also delicious, with mushrooms and shrimp and fish meat perfectly matched, enhanced by Jin Yaozhao’s skill.

Jin’s mother bit into one with pumpkin filling and widened her eyes.

The fresh salted duck egg yolk combined with sweet pumpkin was perfect, and the shrimp oil and crab roe added richness, complementing the fragrance of the mugwort.

Debbie smelled the delicious aroma, and a green dumpling was handed to her.

She looked at it for a moment before gently taking a bite.

The outer dough indeed had a unique flavor, like fresh grass.

But it wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, the dumpling was soft and chewy, delicate, and bouncy, with a refreshing grass aroma. It was very easy to eat.

The soft, hot pumpkin filling burst from the dumpling, flowing into her mouth.

Salty with a hint of sweetness, and the savory taste lingered.

She still couldn’t eat much, so she chewed the dumpling slowly, wiping her eye after swallowing.

After this bite, the coming year would definitely go smoothly and help her overcome all difficulties.

——

Across the ocean, in a company, the person who had been hung up on dialed the number back with pale face, hearing the same consistent ringing sound on the other end.

Their eyes widened, and eventually, their whole body began to tremble.

Before returning to Linjiang for the shareholder meeting, Jin Yaozhao took Debbie to the airport.

The friend who had brought her there before accompanied her on the return trip.

Although the doctor and bodyguards had left, Debbie called a lawyer team to escort her back.

She left just as she had come, with superstar flair, wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a hat, covering herself completely, with the only exposed skin being the back of her hand.

Before leaving, Jin Yaotiao handed her a paper bag.

Debbie opened it and found the flower-shaped pastries they had made in Mingde’s kitchen.

Jin Yaotiao said, “Add osmanthus in autumn, and the filling will taste even better. Will you come back to make them with me?”

Debbie looked at the pastries, and after a moment, smiled and gave her a hug. With determination, she replied, “I will.”