Usually, when Ji Fanling and Fu Yingcheng eat together, they barely say a word. 

Ji Fanling is used to eating as quickly as possible whenever there’s food, while Fu Yingcheng prefers a quiet approach, following the principle of ‘not speaking while eating or sleeping.’ 

Su Lingqing, however, is different. He talks enough for three people and, without needing to discuss work, picks out interesting stories from his business trips. Like the time he went out to eat with two technicians: unable to read the menu, they ordered blindly and, after waiting a long time, could only watch as the server brought out three bottles of aperitif and a bouquet of flowers. If Fu Yingcheng had been there, this wouldn’t have happened—a man so cool and ruthless, who says he’ll return to the country and does just that…

Ji Fanling listened absentmindedly, unable to resist glancing at Fu Yingcheng a few more times.

The man wore thin-rimmed silver glasses, his movements while eating were unhurried and restrained, refined and indifferent, and he didn’t pay much attention to others.

Su Lingqing said he liked that bowl, while Fu Yingcheng said he didn’t. One of them was definitely lying.

With Fu Yingcheng’s personality, if he truly liked that bowl, he definitely wouldn’t let her off so easily.

Perhaps he only used that bowl when Su Lingqing came over, leading Su Lingqing to believe that his gift was well-received…

Ji Fanling, confident in her reasoning, focused on eating.

However, the strands of hair hanging beside her ear were a bit annoying, repeatedly getting caught in her mouth.

Unable to bear it any longer, she reached into her pocket, pulled out a hair tie, stretched it around her fingers, and hastily gathered her hair back, tying it behind her head.

Su Lingqing had been saying, “You have no idea; Fu Yingcheng doesn’t even bring a translator when he goes out for business. When will I ever get a brain like that…” But then he caught a glimpse of Ji Fanling’s face, his mind went blank, and he subconsciously let out a whistle.

A loud one.

Ji Fanling: “?”

To be honest, when Su Lingqing first met Ji Fanling, he felt a bit disappointed.

There was nothing particularly attractive about her, who was a small, skinny girl with bangs that covered her eyes, wearing an old, ugly men’s jacket. She had such a lack of presence that if she were lost in a crowd, it would be hard to spot her again.

She was probably just the child of some family friend, left in Fu Yingcheng’s care temporarily, making him feel like he’d come for nothing.

Until she tied up her hair, revealing her full face.

…

Wow.

It was instantly eye-catching.

Long lashes, light-colored eyes, with cool, narrow ends, and tightly pressed lips.

Pale and delicate, with a hint of subtle stubbornness.

Perhaps due to excessive dietary control, the girl appeared somewhat unhealthily thin, with lighter bone mass compared to her peers. Her features still carried an undeniable youthful innocence, an appearance that hadn’t fully matured.

It stirred a sense of unexplainable pity.

And yet, one couldn’t help but imagine how captivating she might look in a year or two, once she had completely grown up.

Su Lingqing was about to say something more when he suddenly noticed the icy gaze from the man beside him.

“My home isn’t a hospital.” Fu Yingcheng glanced at him, and said with a cold tone:

“—If there’s something wrong with your mouth, go get it treated.”

*

After dinner, Ji Fanling thought Su Lingqing might want to have a private conversation with Fu Yingcheng, so she rolled up her sleeves and headed to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Su Lingqing didn’t actually have any serious business with Fu Yingcheng; he was just there to gossip. There was no way he could sit back and let a young girl do all the work, so he went over to try and take over the task.

Surprisingly, he couldn’t win against her.

Ji Fanling, looking ready for a fight, raised her chin slightly. “Go on, do you not trust me?”

Su Lingqing replied, “…That’s not what I meant.”

Fu Yingcheng glanced at him calmly, signaling him to stop competing with her. Su Lingqing, unable to make sense of their dynamic, could only follow Fu Yingcheng to the balcony.

As they passed through the living room, Su Lingqing was startled once again by the sight of the rabbit.

It was so big!

…

He could hardly imagine the fuss the young girl must have kicked up for Fu Yingcheng to finally allow this rabbit, which didn’t align with his aesthetics at all, into the house.

The temperature on the balcony was a bit cooler than the rest of the house, and the moonlight filtered through the cold window, casting a thin layer over the marble floor.

Su Lingqing stretched out his legs, sitting on the lounge chair. He held back but eventually spoke up, “I’m saying, can’t you take her to get a haircut?”

Fu Yingcheng silently glanced at him.

“Her hair is way too long; it should be tidied up, maybe add some layers. And her clothes also…”

“Also get her a new wardrobe? Why not go all out and cover her clothes for every season, forbid her from getting a job, have her go back to school, let her live at my place with me covering her expenses, take her wherever she needs to go, and buy her a place near campus once she gets into college?” Fu Yingcheng replied coldly.

Su Lingqing: “…”

Su Lingqing: “That’s a bit much, honestly. You’re not her actual dad.”

Besides, I just asked you to take her for a haircut, where did that entire list come from out of nowhere?

Fu Yingcheng didn’t respond; he simply stood by the window, gazing at the scattered lights among the distant buildings.

He wanted to give it all.

But, she wouldn’t accept it.

“What exactly is your relationship with her?” Su Lingqing asked.

After a long silence, Fu Yingcheng replied in a low voice, “No particular relationship.”

“Yeah, right,” Su Lingqing scoffed. “If there’s no relationship, would you have her living at your place?”

The dense night enveloped Fu Yingcheng’s gaze like a rising tide. “…Don’t ask.”

Su Lingqing blinked, sitting up straight. “Hey, are you actually mad? I was just curious to come see her; no need to be this protective.”

It wasn’t that serious. 

But when something lost is then regained, even a single glance from someone else can make you feel uneasy, instinctively wanting to hold on tight. 

An irrepressible restlessness. 

A restlessness that makes you want to do everything yet leaves you powerless to do anything.

Just like that time ten years ago.

The news of the girl’s disappearance after the car accident was everywhere, and the class was filled with whispers. Even during evening study sessions, the hushed discussions seeped in from all directions.

“Did you see the news? They still haven’t found Ji Fanling.”

“It’s been more than half a month; she’s probably dead, right?… Didn’t she have a boyfriend in the international department, that singer, Cheng Jiali?”

“Who knows how heartbroken Cheng Jiali must be.”

“I saw Cheng Jiali crying a while back; a lot of girls were comforting him.” 

…

The young man sat in the classroom, surrounded by countless whispers, his usually upright posture slowly bending under an invisible weight.

She was gone, and there were those who could openly grieve.

But some could only sit quietly, realizing, after a long time, that the dark ink from his pen had already spread uncontrollably across the page.

—Like the wild growth of longing and pain.

…

“I’m not mad; that’s on me.” Fu Yingcheng’s Adam’s apple moved slightly as he tossed a cigarette and lighter to him.

Su Lingqing smiled with a squint, holding the cigarette between his lips as he cupped his hands around the flame.

“By the way, we’re all sick of German food. Did you know the new Sichuan restaurant opened on Fuxing Road? It’s called Chuanteng Mansion.”

Su Lingqing exhaled a puff of smoke and shifted to a lighter topic. “I booked a private room on the third floor for tomorrow night. How about joining us, Mr. Fu?”

“Got it,” Fu Yingcheng replied. “Up to you.”

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Author’s Note:

Tomorrow, a full-blown love triangle showdown will take place in Chuanteng Mansion. 

Darlings! The next chapter will be premium access! There will be lots and lots of red envelopes dropping tomorrow! Thank you for your support! Please don’t forget to bookmark my author’s page! Muah, muah, muah!”

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