After the "gorilla incident" ended, everyone rested for the night and boarded their flight back home the next day.
At the airport, they unexpectedly saw Shen's Mother.
The usually elegant and beautiful woman had removed her sunglasses, revealing swollen red eyes. Looking in their direction, she called out emotionally, "Son!"
With that, Shen's Mother came running towards them in her four-inch heels, arms wide open.
Shen Yujing was surprised, unable to immediately comprehend his mother's sudden display of affection.
Could it be because she learned he had fallen ill abroad? Was she so worried that she came to the airport to pick him up?
Though awkward, Shen Yujing reluctantly opened his arms.
Song Yi and Murong Huan huddled together, saying, "Their mother-son relationship must be really good."
The next moment, Shen's Mother ran right past Shen Yujing, heading straight for the staff behind them.
Shen's Mother's excited voice rang out from behind them: "Where's my son? How is he?"
The staff member replied, "Ma'am, please wait. Since the gorilla was transported on your private jet, we need you to complete some paperwork..."
Everyone: "..."
Shen Yujing: "..."
His outstretched arms slowly lowered, so embarrassed he didn't know where to put them.
Clearly, Shen's Mother's gorilla had also been sent back to the country, so the son she was urgently looking for wasn't her biological one.
"Pfft—"
Someone's laughter broke the silence, though it wasn't clear who started it.
Shen Yujing immediately turned to look at Song Yi and Murong Huan, but both shook their heads - it wasn't them.
Then Quan Le innocently waved his hands, saying earnestly, "I'm trying to hold it in... haha... I'm really trying!"
Shen Yujing's gaze swept quickly over them before catching the true culprit - Xu Che.
Xu Che suppressed his smile and tried to put on a serious face, saying, "Sorry, it was too funny, I couldn't help it."
Shen Yujing walked over to Hang Feng, put a hand on his shoulder, and said, "Your brother has issues, Hang Feng. I'm very touched that you bravely stood in front of me yesterday. I'll remember that. From today on, we're true friends. Since that's the case, I can reluctantly be your brother instead. Kick Xu Che out and follow me from now on."
"Heh." Xu Che let out a light laugh, making his attitude clear.
No matter what conflicts or disagreements he had with Hang Feng, as an older brother, he was still far better than an unreliable person like Shen Yujing. There was no comparison.
Moreover, Shen Yujing's request was too outrageous. Hang Feng wouldn't just casually...
The youth's voice was hoarse as he called out: "Brother."
Xu Che: "??"
Everyone: "!!"
Shen Yujing was stunned for a second before immediately breaking into a smile: "Did you hear that, Xu Che?"
Song Yi and Murong Huan hugged each other, both laughing so hard they nearly collapsed.
Xu Che expressionlessly grabbed one of Hang Feng's shoulders, while Shen Yujing desperately protected Hang Feng, still provocatively shouting: "Don't touch my brother! This is my brother!"
Shen Yujing then turned to Hang Feng, solemnly saying, "From now on, you're the third son in our family, and Jerry will be your second brother! Don't worry, your brothers will take good care of you!"
Hang Feng's expression instantly froze.
Xu Che stepped back, completely withdrawing from this brotherly tug-of-war, and said to Hang Feng: "Congratulations."
Quan Le didn't understand and asked, "What is Xu Che congratulating him for?"
Jiang Yiheng pushed up his glasses and translated: "Congratulating Hang Feng on becoming a gorilla's brother."
Laughter erupted, and Hang Feng disgustedly removed Shen Yujing's hand.
This trip finally ended amid laughter, though the scars on the youth's wrist would perhaps remain with him forever, just like this friendship.
Whole pages of his diary were filled with her name. What he wrote wasn't just her name, but rather unspoken feelings and vague, confused emotions that he couldn't express aloud. Yet he didn't know if he would ever have the chance or courage to say them again.
Today was good enough - she liked him becoming their friend like this.
As long as she liked it, he could stay this way forever.
Finally, the diary was closed and placed in the deepest drawer.
*
At the Song residence.
After returning home, Song Yi slept for another whole day, not waking until evening when it was already dark.
But what struck Song Yi as strange was that her father hadn't returned yet.
On the table were fifty yuan and a note from her father telling her to go out for dinner.
This was something that had almost never happened before, and he hadn't explained what he was doing.
Song Yi curiously picked up her phone and called her father.
His voice quickly came through, "Yi Yi, what's wrong? Did something happen at home?"
"No," Song Yi answered, then added, "I just miss your cooking, Dad. Where are you? Why aren't you home so late?"
Song's Father paused for two seconds before saying, "Another friend asked me to help cook. Their mother is visiting the Imperial Capital for the first time and wants to taste authentic Imperial Capital cuisine. Your father had nothing else to do anyway..."
Before Song's Father could finish, there was the sound of a plate breaking in the background, followed by a man's scolding: "How can you not even wash a bowl properly? So careless!"
"I have to go now. Get something to eat and go to bed early. Dad will be back soon."
Song's Father hung up immediately, not giving Song Yi a chance to say anything more.
Song Yi frowned, resting her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
Obviously, something wasn't right. The panic in her father's voice clearly indicated he was hiding something from her.
And that man's words were a key piece of information.
Plates - it must be somewhere they prepare food.
But from his tone, he seemed to be someone in management scolding subordinates.
The answer was obvious.
Her father must have found a job to supplement their household income but was keeping it from her to avoid worrying her.
Having slept all day, Song Yi wasn't particularly sleepy, so she sat on the couch watching TV while waiting for her father to return.
At eleven-thirty, the sound of keys turning in the lock could be heard.
Seeing the living room light on and his daughter still sitting on the couch, Song's Father was startled for a moment before smiling and asking, "Why aren't you resting yet?"
Song Yi got up and walked to her father, leaning in to smell him - there was an obvious smell of cooking oil and smoke.
Song's Father became somewhat uncomfortable and asked, "What are you doing, child?"
Song Yi crossed her arms and looked at her father with an interrogating expression: "Where did you go to cook? You've been busy for several days, haven't you?"
Song's Father smiled somewhat sheepishly - indeed, nothing could be hidden from his daughter who had been clever since childhood.
So Song's Father said, "I found a job at a restaurant. They liked my cooking skills and asked me to stay on as a chef."
"Really?" Song Yi was surprised, then felt happy, "How did you come around to this? I was planning to find time to talk to you about this again."
Song's Father became even more embarrassed and said, "Wasn't it when you brought those kids home for your birthday? They all praised my cooking. Your father thought that since your friends have eaten at good places, their approval means I must be really good. I wasn't hiding it from you; I just wanted to wait until it was officially confirmed before telling you."
Song Yi smiled and asked, "That's great news. With your cooking skills, even if this restaurant doesn't want you, we'll find somewhere better. By the way, which restaurant is it?"
Song's Father named the restaurant, but something about it didn't seem quite right to Song Yi.
This was considered one of the more upscale restaurants in the Imperial Capital, located inside a shopping mall. Given her father's personality, he wouldn't actively seek out such a place for work.
So Song Yi asked, "How did you think to apply there?"
At this point, Song's Father went to his room and brought out a folded flyer, handing it to Song Yi.
He said, "I saw it earlier near our house entrance. A young person gave it to me. It had application instructions on it, so I thought I'd give it a try. After all, such a big restaurant wouldn't try to deceive me."
Song Yi opened the flyer, her expression becoming complicated.
First of all, who would distribute flyers in their alley?
Secondly, what kind of flyer would have "Hiring Chefs" written at the bottom?
And yes, it was written - handwritten!
This was ridiculous...
Wait... this terrible handwriting looked oddly familiar...
So Song Yi took a photo of the flyer with her phone and searched for detailed information about the restaurant. As expected, the owner's surname was Shen.
Song Yi then sent the photo to Shen Yujing with a question mark.
The "typing" indicator in the upper left corner kept appearing for a full minute, only to result in another "?" being sent back.
It seemed rather suspicious no matter how you looked at it.
Having lost her patience, Song Yi called him directly.
On the other end, Shen Yujing nearly dropped his phone in panic when he saw the incoming call, but he quickly answered.
Song Yi asked him, "Did you deliberately come to distribute that flyer at my house?"
Shen Yujing immediately denied it: "No, I've never even heard of that restaurant."
Song Yi chuckled and said, "Really? But I looked up the restaurant, and your father is listed as the legal representative."
Shen Yujing: "...Well, maybe I forgot about it. You know I never pay attention to these things."
Song Yi continued, "Is that so? But my dad said a young person gave it to him."
Shen Yujing blurted out, "That was Xu Che, it has nothing to do with me."
They both fell silent.
Song Yi only said one word, "Oh?"
Knowing that honesty was the best policy, Shen Yujing had to confess.
He said, "My hair color is too recognizable, and later I thought about asking Quan Le but your dad had met him before, so I asked Xu Che to help out."
Song Yi asked incredulously, "Is that the point? So did you arrange this job for my dad?"
"No, no, no!" Shen Yujing immediately denied, his voice tinged with panic, "I didn't, I really didn't. I just saw that the restaurant was hiring chefs, so I slightly guided uncle in that direction."
"That's all?"
"Then... then I just put in a word with them to give him an interview opportunity."
"That's all?"
"Really, that's all. Uncle's skills are good enough that he doesn't need me pulling strings. Wait, Song Yi, why don't you believe me?" Shen Yujing responded righteously, but after he finished speaking, he heard no response for a while.
Shen Yujing grew nervous again and asked, "Hey, are you mad at me? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have acted on my own, I just..."
Before he could say "wanted to help you," he heard a giggle from the other end of the phone.
Song Yi said sincerely, "Shen Yujing, you did well."
"Thank you, really. Good night."
Then the call ended.
Standing by the window, Shen Yujing habitually ran his fingers through his hair to calm his racing heart.
His golden hair became messy again, but the young man's lips couldn't help but curve upward, revealing undisguised pride.
She praised him for doing well, and she even thanked him.
His almond-shaped eyes were filled with joy as Shen Yujing pressed his fingers against his smiling lips in the mirror, repeatedly telling himself: it's nothing, this isn't a big deal, there's no need to be so happy, really no need.
But... but this was the first time she had praised him.
He finally seemed to have done something right, something that made her happy.
She was happy, so he was happy too.
It was a strange feeling, more blissful and satisfying than receiving the most expensive gift in the world.
It was as if from this moment on, his heart began beating for someone else.
It was love.
He truly, genuinely liked her.
