Shu Yi headed towards the private room that she had previously occupied. To her surprise, Chang Zhiyuan was there as well. Shu Yi's first instinct was to leave, but she noticed that Chang Zhiyuan's gaze was fixated on her.
"Shen Yin isn't here?" Shu Yi asked as she was about to leave. Shen Yin and her family had just entered the room followed by Chang Zhiyuan's sister, Chang Ningjing, and Tan Xiao who stood beside her.
"Sis, you're here too?" Chang Zhiyuan asked.
"With all due respect, it was Tan Xiao who helped me get you home the last time you had too much to drink. It’s only right that I invite him for a meal," Chang Ningjing replied.
"What about you two?" Chang Zhiyuan pointed out. He was wondering why they’d appear in this private room. After Shu Yi had sat here, he had exclusively reserved this room for a while. Even when he wasn’t there, no one else would intrude.
Chen Siming had implicitly agreed that this private room was for their exclusive use, thus, when Shen Yin and Shu Yi arrived, the waiter ushered them straight in.
As it happened, Shen Yin and Xu Xiuhe bumped into Chang Ningjing on their way in. Since the restaurant was bustling and there were no private rooms left, Xu Xiuhe suggested that if Chang Ningjing and Tan Xiao didn’t mind, they could join them in their room.
Chang Zhiyuan had invited Xu Xiuhe, unaware that Shen Yin had invited Shu Yi and vice versa. And so, after what seemed like a lengthy period, Shu Yi and Chang Zhiyuan found themselves in the same room once again.
“There were no private rooms left, and we ran into Xiuhe who said you had a room, so here we are." They explained.
Chang Zhiyuan never imagined he would bump into Shu Yi here. Although it came as a pleasant surprise, the occasion turned out to be quite awkward.
"Why don't we all sit down?" Chang Ningjing noted the tension and tried to break it. Shu Yi was left with no option but to stay.
Reluctantly, she took a seat beside Shen Yin. On Shen Yin's left were Xu Yunzheng and Xu Xiuhe.
Chang Ningjing then sat next to Chang Zhiyuan and Tan Xiao also took a seat.
There they were, six adults and one child, all around one table.
Shen Yin shot Xu Xiuhe a glare, wondering why he didn't tell her Chang Zhiyuan was there.
Xu Xiuhe leaned towards Shen Yin's ear and whispered: “You didn't tell me you'd invited Shu Yi, either.”
"Yin, I heard that you’re the main planner for Qingfan Tower." Chang Ningjing stated, her tone full of appreciation.
"It's all right. It’s just that I find the cultural spirit quite essential, so I recreated an ancient tavern."
"The place is a perfect recreation. It's so dreamy, I felt like I had travelled through time the first time I came here."
Chang Ningjing’s attention then turned to Shu Yi.
"Shu Yi, you must surely be familiar with such architecture. You must see it pretty often on set."
Fearing Shu Yi might feel left out, Chang Ningjing attempted to engage her in the conversation. Having gotten to know Shu Yi, she liked the young lady especially after learning about her inspirational journey in high school.
She had told her parents about her admiration for Shu Yi to which Nie Ling replied that she no longer had any say over Chang Zhiyuan's affairs. He was free to live his life as he saw fit.
Later, Chang Zhiyuan and Shu Yi participated in a variety show together. The more she watched it, the better they seemed to fit together. Most importantly, this was the first time Chang Zhiyuan had ever pursued a girl so seriously in his life.
But then again, she should stop thinking about it. She didn't even know how to deal with her own feelings, let alone get involved in Chang Zhiyuan's.
"Do you guys drink?"
Chang Ningjing took her own bag and took out a 1.5L bottle of Macallan M Lalique crystal whisky.
Shu Yi shook her head. She had driven to the place and wouldn't drink. Besides, she always thought drinking was bad for the body and heart.
Shen Yin also shook her head.
"None of you drink?"
Shu Yi glanced at the expensive-looking bottle of alcohol held in Chang Ningjing's hand. It had a very refined look.
"Just a little taste won't hurt. This bottle of Macallan is treasured in my collection."
Chang Ningjing glanced at the bottle of whisky. This bottle was not for sale. She had spent about 4 million to auction it from Hong Kong. Had it not been for tonight's dinner with Tan Xiao, she would not have brought it out, especially not in her oversized handbag.
After Chang Ningjing took out the bottle, she opened up the bottle cap and poured everyone a small cup.
"Ningjing, I'm pregnant. You guys drink, I'll pass."
Shen Yin explained why she couldn’t drink. Apart from Shu Yi and Xu Xiuhe, everyone else was taken aback, then began to cheer up and congratulate her.
"Pregnancy is wonderful. With a handsome husband like yours, your baby will surely be stunning," said Chang Ningjing. There was a touch of envy in her gaze. For a woman who adored children as she did, her infertility was a lifelong heartache.
Shen Yin saw the envy in Chang Ningjing's eyes and felt a surge of emotion. However, she decided not to say anything about it at the dinner table, especially with Tan Xiao, who was Chang Ningjing's crush, present.
"Thanks for the rescue last time," Shen Yin said to Tan Xiao.
Tan Xiao, because of his job, looked mighty and heroic.
"No need to thank me. It's my duty. And you’re friends with my schoolmate," Tan Xiao said, looking towards Chang Ningjing.
Although Shen Yin didn’t understand emotions and love, she now clearly saw the mutual hidden admiration between Tan Xiao and Chang Ningjing.
"Looks like my son will have a little sister soon," Chang Zhiyuan interjected, trying to assert his presence.
"Zhiyuan, you need to buckle up," Tan Xiao said. He knew Chang Zhiyuan had feelings for Shu Yi, but he did not understand why, like him, Chang Zhiyuan also chose to love her from afar.
But Chang Zhiyuan was different. He had a company. Besides, if the information on the internet was correct, he was Shu Yi's boss, so why would he choose to love her from afar?
"Indeed, I should try harder. But this isn't something I can decide on my own." Chang Zhiyuan's gaze drifted towards Shu Yi.
Shu Yi immediately lowered her head again and drew out a tissue to wipe her hands.
Aware that he had upset Shu Yi again, Chang Zhiyuan changed the subject to Tan Xiao.
"Tan Xiao, it's a bit rich coming from you. If I remember correctly, you are a year older than me. You should hurry up too. You can't follow my sister's path. She's been solo for 30 years now.”
Among those present, apart from Tan Xiao and Xu Yunzheng, everyone else knew that Chang Ningjing had liked Tan Xiao for as long as 13 years.
Thirteen years. How many thirteen years can one have in a lifetime?
"People have never stopped chasing after my sister, it's just that she has high standards." Tan Xiao responded.
"My sister has decent taste, doesn't she?"
Chang Ningjing, sitting under the table, stomped on Chang Zhiyuan's foot. This cheeky boy, he always managed to bring the conversation back to her.
"Over these many years, haven't you met a suitable boy yet?" Tan Xiao tentatively asked.
Chang Ningjing stomped on Chang Zhiyuan's foot again. It was all his fault. Otherwise, Tan Xiao would never have asked such a question.
Shu Yi heaved a sigh of relief as she placed a piece of vegetable onto Yunzheng's plate, she was relieved that the conversation had finally moved on from her.
