Chapter 12

Later The cake was in light pink tones, and the surface of the cake was made of cream into the shape of rose petals, like a rose blooming in his palm.

“So beautiful, thank you Mr. Shang.” Girls are always irresistible to this kind of sweets.

Pei Yuning took it, put it on the table, opened the outer packaging, and took a bite with a fork.

The cream was smooth and sweet, and the lychee pulp and rose petals blended together in her mouth. It was better than any lychee rose cream cake she had ever eaten before.

Shang Yanci sat upright and elegant, but his eyes were always turned to Pei Yuning: “How does it taste?”

“Delicious.” Pei Yuning asked, “Where did Mr. Shang buy it?”

Shang Yanci: “I made it myself last night because the lychees at home were fresh. If you like it, I’ll make it for you next time.”

Pei Yuning was a little surprised: “You can also make cakes?”

Shang Yanci: “My grandma likes it, so my grandpa learned to make it for her. Later, after a long time, I learned it too.”

“Your grandparents have a really good relationship.” Pei Yuning has been a master of keeping things in balance since she was a child, and she did not hesitate to praise him. “Mr. Shang is very talented in baking. The cake is delicious and I like it very much.”

Shang Yanci looked at her curved eyebrows and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously: “They do have a good relationship.”

Pei Yuning ate the cake and realized belatedly that Shang Yanci treated her a little differently today, but if she really dug into it, she couldn’t tell what was different.

After finishing the cake, Pei Yuning covered the outer packaging and threw it away when he got off the car.

Leaning back on the seat, Pei Yuning remembered what Shang Yanci said, that he had been abroad before and came back this time to attend the wedding of his junior. After the wedding, he might go abroad.

She turned sideways to look at Shang Yanci and asked, “Mr. Shang, how long do you plan to stay in Jingbei?”

Shang Yanci’s gaze fell on the cream at the corner of her mouth, his amber eyes gradually deepened. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her, saying concisely: “Left, cream.”

He lowered his long eyelashes and looked at the butterfly embroidered on her skirt.

The patterns on the butterfly wings were lifelike. The moment Pei Yuning took the handkerchief, the butterfly broke out of its cocoon and flew out from the hem of her skirt. Following the movement of her fingertips, it first landed on Shang Yanci’s palm and finally flew into Shang Yanci’s chest.

The butterfly’s wings flutter gently, and the heart dances noisily.

Pei Yuning’s ears turned slightly red as he wiped the cream off the screen of his phone. He was obviously eating very carefully but still got some cream on it.

This time it was a swallowtail green handkerchief, and Shang Yanci’s name was embroidered on one corner of the handkerchief as usual. It seemed that he was a person with a strong possessiveness for the things that belonged to him.

She remembered that night when they first met, the Tianshui blue handkerchief that Shang Yanci gave her was still in her handbag in her cloakroom, and she had forgotten to return it to him.

Pei Yuning: “When we meet next time, I will return the two handkerchiefs to you.”

“Okay.” Hearing her speak, Shang Yanci raised his eyes and looked at her again, answering her question just now, “I have no plans to leave Jingbei for the time being.”

“Yeah.” Pei Yuning pinched the handkerchief, and her soft fingertips gently stroked the place where Shang Yanci’s name was embroidered.

Shang Yanci looked at the movements of her fingers, and tacitly stopped nodding, and said no more.

When they arrived at the restaurant, the two ordered the dishes in advance while in the car.

While waiting for the food, Pei Yuning said something to Shang Yanci, walked out of the box and called Pei Yunzhi.

The call was quickly connected, and a cold male voice came from the other end: “What’s wrong? Ningning.”

Pei Yuning: “Brother, you should go home and have a rest tonight. Grandma misses you. Let’s have dinner with her. You have been very busy recently.”

The special assistant at the side quietly handed the tablet to the president.

Pei Yunzhi lowered his eyes to look at the to-do list on the tablet, pushed an online meeting and an invited dinner, and promised her: “Okay, I’ll be back for dinner.”

Pei Yuning: “Okay, it’s noon, don’t forget to eat, brother.”

Pei Yunzhi: “Okay, I know.”

The two chatted for a few more sentences. Before hanging up the phone, Pei Yunzhi said: “Ningning, you did a good job negotiating with suppliers in City Z.”

Although she has always been taught by her brother to keep a straight face at work and not let the other party know her true thoughts.

But at this moment, it was difficult to conceal the smile on Pei Yuning’s face, because Pei Yunzhi rarely praised people at work.

Back in the box, since the restaurant does not pre-prepare dishes, all ingredients are the freshest and freshly made, so we have to wait a little longer.

Seeing Pei Yuning coming in, Shang Yanci turned off his phone and added some hot water to the cup in front of her that had already turned cold.

“Thank you.” Pei Yuning noticed that he had just turned off his phone and said, “Mr. Shang, just go ahead and do what you need. The food will have to wait a while.”

“It’s okay.” Shang Yanci asked, “This restaurant looks good. Does Miss Pei come here often?”

Pei Yuning: “I’ve been here a few times with my bestie. Their signature dishes are the golden pepper pine leaf crab and mustard egg yolk shrimp. They taste very good. Mr. Shang, try them later.”

Shang Yanci: “Okay.”

Pei Yuning also recommended some gourmet restaurants that they had checked in at. The two chatted for a while, and the waiters brought the dishes to the table one by one.

“Eat some vegetables to fill your stomach first.” Shang Yanci instructed, then opened the pear wine and poured a glass for Pei Yuning.

“Okay.” Pei Yuning was impressed by his thoughtfulness and attentiveness, and his favorability towards Shang Yanci increased again.

However, she still had to wait until tomorrow at noon to completely break off the engagement with Shang Heng before she could formally pursue Shang Yanci.

Shang Yanci first tried the two dishes she recommended: “They have a fresh and tender taste, and are really good.”

After the meal, they both had their own things to do and separated naturally.

The driver first sent Pei Yuning to the downstairs of Pei Group, and then sent Shang Yanci back to Tan Jing Mansion.

Fu Siqi learned the news from his cousin that Shang Yanci bought three sets of brocade with dragon, phoenix and lotus patterns, scrolls, gold ink, pens and inkstones, ink pads, brocade boxes, and heart-shaped knots in her studio that morning. These are the items needed for the “engagement letter, gift letter, and welcoming letter” among the three books and six ceremonies during a wedding.

His good friend is simply a blockbuster! I didn’t even chat with Miss Pei on WeChat last night in the lounge, but this morning I started preparing wedding-related items. It seems like I’m going to get married first and fall in love later!

Fu Siqi excitedly called Shang Yanci to inquire about the progress, but Shang Yanci hung up the call mercilessly and sent him a message to tell him that he had something important to do and could not answer the call.

Fu Siqi knew better than to stop disturbing him and waited for another two hours. After coaxing his daughter to sleep, he video-called Shang Yanci again. He was quite curious about what it would be like for such a serious, dignified and old-fashioned president to become aroused.

The cell phone vibrated slightly. Shang Yanci was sorting out the gift books in the study at this moment, carefully writing the items of betrothal gifts with gold ink and registering them in the book.

Putting down the brush in his hand temporarily, Shang Yanci answered Fu Siqi’s video and placed the phone screen upside down on the table: “What’s the matter?”

Fu Siqi quickly caught the flash of golden red just now and laughed: “Okay, Mr. Shang, the three letters are all written. Have you arranged a date? I have to prepare the gift quickly.”

Shang Yanci looked at the dragon, phoenix and lotus patterns on the gift book and said lightly: “I just enjoy the process and don’t force her to agree.”

Fu Siqi restrained his smile. What Shang Yanci meant was that he had not proposed to Pei Yuning yet, but just made these preparations first to avoid the one in ten thousand possibility that Pei Yuning would agree. When the time comes, he won’t rush to neglect her formalities. After all, Pei Yuning is the girl he has secretly loved for five years.

Fu Siqi didn’t know what to say to his friend. By this, didn’t he worry about being disappointed?

“Everything depends on human efforts. The Lingyin Temple in H City is the most effective for praying for a marriage. I’ve prayed there before for Shuying.” Fu Siqi wanted to give him some psychological comfort.

After saying this, I remembered that Shang Yanci was a materialist who did not believe in gods or Buddhas but only believed in self-salvation.

Shang Yanci looked at the letter of appointment on which the ink had dried. Pei Yuning’s name was written to the left of his name, and on the table next to him were three love knots waiting to be tied.