Lu Yun was still speaking over there, talking about developing the area around Red Leaf Town into an integrated tourist region. Chen Jian could hear every word clearly, but he would forget the previous sentence as soon as the next one entered his ears, and his pen could no longer keep up…
Shan Yu was sitting in the chair right behind him. This person had said he couldn’t come, and had even helped him prepare everything for the meeting, yet here he was, sitting right behind him.
Chen Jian turned to look at him again.
Shan Yu lifted his chin slightly, gesturing for him to listen to Lu Yun’s speech.
Chen Jian had no choice but to sit properly. He listened and scribbled nonsense for a while before putting down his pen again and picking up his phone to send Shan Yu a message.
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: How did you get here?
Behind him, Shan Yu’s phone didn’t make a sound, but Chen Jian could hear him move as he took his phone out of his pocket.
Chen Jian came to his senses and quickly silenced his own phone as well.
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: High-speed rail. I came straight here after getting off.
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: I thought you drove.
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: Driving takes over four hours. The high-speed rail is just over two.
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: You got up after six this morning.
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: Woke up at 6:30, left at 7, got on the train at 8, arrived at 10:30, then came here.
Before Chen Jian could fully process the timeline, Shan Yu sent another message.
[Fa Dan Ke Chen]: Listen carefully, don’t play on your phone.
Chen Jian lowered his head and smiled, placing his phone back on the desk.
When he reached for his pen, he realized that at some point, his notebook and pen had made their way over to Sun Nana, who was now scribbling furiously in the notebook.
Her handwriting was a stark contrast to his previous scrawls.
“Nana,” Chen Jian said in a low voice, “I can do it.”
“Keep chatting,” Sun Nana said very quietly without stopping her hand. “This guy is seriously here to disrupt morale.”
“…We’re done chatting,” Chen Jian said.
After finishing the sentence she was writing, Sun Nana placed the notebook and pen back in front of him.
Chen Jian quickly took them and continued taking notes.
Although he was too embarrassed to dwell on it, only a fool would believe there wasn’t a hidden meaning in what Sun Nana had said.
Chen Jian’s mood was now quite complicated. He was excited and embarrassed, happy and embarrassed, scribbling gibberish and embarrassed…
Fortunately, the meeting was just as Lu Yun had promised at the beginning: no nonsense, just the key points. And perhaps considering that most of the attendees didn’t seem like high-level executives who frequently attended meetings, no one was asked to speak.
“Thank you all again for your cooperation. From now on, we must become an integrated, region-wide tourist destination with stronger competitiveness,” Lu Yun said, looking around at the attendees. “We will further enrich the regional tourism offerings and, on the premise of protecting our resources, allow tourists not just to see, but to experience, to participate, to stay…”
Applause filled the conference room. Chen Jian put down his pen and clapped along with everyone else.
He had successfully finished a meeting without having to speak, and Shan Yu had even shown up. Everything made him feel very relaxed and happy.
Lu Yun was much better than the teachers from his school days who always dragged out their classes. The meeting ended right on time for lunch.
“Should we eat at the cafeteria together? Or eat out?” Chen Jian checked his phone’s recording, saved it, and haphazardly stuffed the pen and notebook into his inner pocket before getting up to look at Shan Yu sitting behind him.
“Let’s eat at the cafeteria,” Shan Yu smiled.
“If I had known you could make it, I wouldn’t have come,” Sun Nana said as she stood up and straightened her clothes.
“Just think of it as a half-day off,” Shan Yu said as he got up and started chatting with Lao Ding as they walked out of the conference room.
“Look at that group,” Sun Nana tilted her head towards Lu Yun.
Chen Jian turned to look and saw Lu Yun surrounded by several attendees near the front door of the conference room, talking about something.
“Should we…” Chen Jian stopped.
Although he didn’t know what they could possibly be saying to the leader right after a meeting, since others were crowding around, maybe they should too.
Just say something random.
Director Lu, have you walked your dog today?
“No,” Shan Yu said, turning back after finishing his conversation with Lao Ding. “Interrupting someone’s meal is a cardinal sin. He won’t be able to take in anything these people are saying right now, and anyone with real business wouldn’t choose this time to talk.”
“They’re just trying to get some face time. We don’t need that,” Sun Nana rolled her eyes, then looked at the two of them. “These two faces of Dayin are pretty unforgettable, right?”
Chen Jian smiled.
“That’s true,” Shan Yu said.
He actually admitted it?
So immodest!
A few tables in the cafeteria were specially reserved for the meeting attendees.
The group from Red Leaf Town got their food and sat together, eating and chatting.
“I’d heard before that the owner of Dayin was quite impressive,” Sister Xu said. “I never had the chance to meet him. I only just realized today how young you are.”
“Actually, we’ve eaten at Hillside before,” Shan Yu smiled.
“Really?” Sister Xu was a little surprised. “When was that?”
“Around the National Day holiday,” Shan Yu said. “I went with a friend.”
“Let me know next time you bring friends over,” Sister Xu said.
“Mm, of course,” Shan Yu nodded.
“We’re testing some new dishes recently. You all should come by and give some feedback when you have time. We can collaborate more in the future,” Sister Xu said with a smile.
“We’ll have to go try them,” Big Brother Yang said as he ate, but then added sincerely, “I might not be able to offer much feedback, though. I’m a simple man, everything tastes good to me…”
“That’s fine,” Sister Xu said. “They’re just home-style dishes anyway.”
These were all businesses that Lu Yun had visited during his research. Perhaps they were specially selected, but both Big Brother Yang and Sister Xu seemed very genuine, and they didn’t beat around the bush like He Liang’s group, where half the conversation was pointless.
Shan Yu spoke very little—after all, one shouldn’t talk while eating. Big Brother Yang wasn’t very talkative either, but Sun Nana chatted happily with Sister Xu and Lao Ding.
Chen Jian chimed in from time to time. He really couldn’t eat anymore; he felt like the two big buns were still stuck in his stomach. Shan Yu, on the other hand, finished his plate and went back for more.
“Did you skip breakfast?” Chen Jian asked in a low voice.
“Yeah,” Shan Yu replied.
“Don’t they serve food in business class?” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu laughed. “I didn’t buy it in advance, so I only got a second-class seat.”
Chen Jian paused. “Was it tiring then?”
“Not at all. While I do enjoy my comforts,” Shan Yu said quietly, “it doesn’t mean a two-and-a-half-hour second-class ride will tire me out.”
Chen Jian smiled.
After eating at the cafeteria, the day’s meeting agenda was officially complete. The group said their goodbyes in the parking lot. Lao Ding got a ride back to the town with Big Brother Yang.
After everyone else had left, the three from Dayin got into their car.
“Boss Shan, what’s your itinerary?” Sun Nana asked.
“You still have to go back to your family’s place, right?” Chen Jian also asked.
Shan Yu had no luggage, just his phone. He hadn’t driven back the big Mercedes he’d swindled from President Liu either…
“Yeah,” Shan Yu leaned back in the rear seat. “My train back is at 3:30 in the afternoon. I still have dinner with my great-aunt and second aunt tonight.”
“You actually…” Chen Jian started, but stopped. With Sun Nana there, he wasn’t sure how to phrase it.
“I didn’t have anything on today, so I thought I’d come over and see,” Shan Yu understood what he wanted to say. “After all, this is Dayin’s first time attending a meeting of this level.”
“Then you two get out of the car?” Sun Nana said.
“Huh?” Shan Yu looked at her.
“I’m going to the shopping street over there to browse and buy things for the others,” Sun Nana said. “I need the car.”
“…Then what about us?” Shan Yu asked.
“You two can just wander around,” Sun Nana started fastening her seatbelt. “Walk on your own.”
“Then we’ll…” Shan Yu turned to look at Chen Jian.
“You two, get out,” Sun Nana finished his sentence for him.
“Out, out, out, out, out, out…” Shan Yu opened the car door and got out.
Chen Jian followed him out of the car.
Then, Sun Nana drove the car away.
She wouldn’t even give them a ride from the parking lot to the main gate of the Culture and Tourism Bureau. They had to walk out of the parking lot themselves.
“I feel like Nana…” Chen Jian glanced at Shan Yu as they walked out.
“Mm,” Shan Yu responded.
“Mm what?” Chen Jian asked.
“You feel like Nana seems to have figured something out,” Shan Yu said. “Yeah, she probably has.”
“…Holy crap,” Chen Jian zipped up his jacket to the top, feeling a blush creep up his face.
“She and Panpan both know,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian didn’t speak. After a moment, he sighed. “Is it that obvious?”
“It’s pretty obvious, I guess,” Shan Yu smiled.
“Will they think…” Chen Jian frowned.
“Can’t you tell what they think?” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian thought about it. Everything was business as usual.
He smiled.
It was quiet all around at this time of day, with only the occasional person walking by. The tranquility within a government complex like this was different from elsewhere, slightly more solemn.
Chen Jian walked silently with his head down alongside Shan Yu until they were outside the main gate. When he saw the cars on the road and the people coming and going on the sidewalk, and the noisy sounds of the city slowly returned to his ears, he suddenly whipped his head around to stare at Shan Yu.
“What?” Shan Yu looked back at him.
“Holy crap,” Chen Jian couldn’t suppress the smile on his face. “You really came!”
“Did you only just realize I’m here?” Shan Yu said. “We’ve already finished a whole meal, Manager Chen.”
Chen Jian smiled and looked around. Diagonally across the street was a small road that looked less crowded. He pointed. “Let’s go that way.”
“Okay,” Shan Yu agreed.
Chen Jian fell silent again, quickly crossing the street and turning into the small road. It was a one-way street with very few cars and a few small shops scattered along the side.
Chen Jian stopped, turned, and threw his arms around Shan Yu.
“Hey,” Shan Yu hugged him back. “You scared me.”
“I’m the one who was truly scared by you,” Chen Jian tightened his arms forcefully. Although there were no pedestrians around, they were still on a public street. He was too shy to bury his face in Shan Yu’s neck, trying his best to make the hug look like one between old friends reuniting.
“Scared?” Shan Yu chuckled, his voice right next to his ear. “No surprise?”
“There is, there’s so much,” Chen Jian hugged him tighter again, his hands gripping the fabric on Shan Yu’s shoulders so hard they trembled. “I really didn’t expect it at all. You’re really… so crazy.”
Shan Yu didn’t speak, just patted his back gently.
Chen Jian could see someone approaching in the distance, but he didn’t move, simply closing his eyes.
A long-awaited reunion, it’s normal to hug for a little longer.
He didn’t open his eyes until he heard the passerby’s footsteps go past them and fade into the distance. Then he let go of Shan Yu.
The shoulder of Shan Yu’s down jacket was a wrinkled mess from his grip.
“Sorry,” Chen Jian tried to smooth it out with his hand, to no avail. “This jacket isn’t very wrinkle-resistant.”
“What material could withstand you grabbing it like that? It’s a miracle you didn’t poke a few holes in it,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian smiled, put his hands in his pockets, and started walking slowly forward with him.
Shan Yu had to catch a train back at 3:30, which meant they had to leave by 2:40 at the latest. It was a little past 1:10 now, so they still had about an hour together.
“Are you cold?” Chen Jian asked. “Should we walk or find a place to sit?”
“Up to you,” Shan Yu said.
“I want to walk,” Chen Jian said. “Stroll under the sun.”
“There’s a public park over there,” Shan Yu said. “I saw it when I took a taxi over. Let’s go there.”
“Okay,” Chen Jian nodded.
As they passed a coffee shop, Shan Yu went in and bought two mochas.
“Try some coffee from outside of Dayin,” Shan Yu handed him the cup.
“It seems…” Chen Jian took a sip and said quietly, “better than Dayin’s?”
“Yeah,” Shan Yu laughed. “This is from a professional barista with good beans. Even the machine is much more expensive.”
Chen Jian took another sip. After a while, he asked again, “Did you miss me?”
“If I didn’t miss you, would I have gone to all this trouble to come here?” Shan Yu said. “Of course I did.”
“Didn’t you just say it was because this was Dayin’s first time at this kind of meeting?” Chen Jian said.
“I have to have an official reason,” Shan Yu said. “Am I supposed to say in front of Nana that I missed you so I took this opportunity to come back and see you?”
“Damn,” Chen Jian started laughing.
There were many people strolling in the public park. The sun was great today, and many people who worked nearby were resting on benches after lunch, basking in the sun.
Chen Jian had never had an experience like this before, walking slowly in a small park, listening to the occasional chatter and laughter around him, watching the leisurely passersby in the sunlight.
Although there was little green to be seen in the park this season and the scene was a bit desolate, every time his arm brushed against Shan Yu’s as they walked, he still felt his vision fill with warmth.
“Did your parents know you made this trip today?” Chen Jian asked.
“They know,” Shan Yu said. “I told my mom yesterday I was coming here for a meeting today.”
“Then she…” Chen Jian paused. “Will she think I’m useless?”
“You’re only twenty,” Shan Yu said. “Normally, you should be in college, being a dumbass like Liu Wu. How useful are you supposed to be?”
“You’re the dumbass,” Chen Jian said.
“Your abilities already surpass ninety-nine point nine nine nine nine nine…” Shan Yu strung together a long line of nines, “…percent of people your age. My mom is a seasoned, ruthless boss. She can see that.”
Chen Jian smiled without speaking.
“They might come to the town for the New Year, probably after the second day of the new year,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian’s smile instantly froze on his face. After a long moment, he managed to shout in a hushed voice, “What?”
“I’m not spending the New Year at home,” Shan Yu said. “So…”
“Then you should spend the New Year at home!” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu made a “hiss” sound and looked at him.
Chen Jian looked back at him.
“You said it,” Shan Yu said.
“I didn’t,” Chen Jian came back to his senses and, with a straight face, swiftly denied what he had just said a second ago. “I didn’t say anything.”
Shan Yu looked at him, then turned his head away as he walked forward, and started to laugh.
“Are they really coming?” Chen Jian caught up to him. “Are you messing with me?”
“I’m not. If I messed with you about something like this, I’m afraid I’d tease you to death,” Shan Yu said. “It’s not finalized yet, but since it’s been proposed, it’s basically going to happen. If you feel…”
“I’m fine,” Chen Jian said immediately. “I just… wasn’t mentally prepared.”
Shan Yu turned to look at him.
“I’m prepared now,” Chen Jian said.
“Besides my parents,” Shan Yu said, “Liu Wu’s family might come too.”
“…Wait, let me prepare again,” Chen Jian said.
After finishing his entire cup of coffee on a park bench, Chen Jian sighed. “I get nervous so easily.”
“You’re just a kid. It’s normal,” Shan Yu said.
“But I think if Liu Wu’s family comes too,” Chen Jian squeezed the cup, “the pressure might be a little less for me.”
“I was originally thinking of telling Liu Wu not to come,” Shan Yu said.
“You can’t stop him,” Chen Jian said. “He could agree not to come to your face, and then give you a ‘surprise’.”
Shan Yu chuckled. “Hey.”
“My dad will be at the inn on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,” Chen Jian said. “I asked him to come over and celebrate with us, and help with the cooking.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu responded calmly.
But two seconds later, he, who had been leaning back on the bench, sat up straight. “Wait, what do you mean your dad is helping with the cooking?”
“Auntie Zhao isn’t at the inn for the New Year. She’s only coming back on the third day,” Chen Jian said. “There’s no one to cook. Food delivery in town only starts on the second day of the New Year.”
“This… isn’t that inappropriate?” Shan Yu said.
“It’s appropriate if we pay him,” Chen Jian said. “Trust me.”
“…Are you sure?” Shan Yu asked.
“Haven’t handled something like this before, have you,” Chen Jian looked at him, feeling an inexplicable sense of pride. “Boss Shan.”
“Nope,” Shan Yu said.
“Haven’t seen enough of the world, huh,” Chen Jian said.
“Right,” Shan Yu nodded.
Chen Jian laughed, leaning back on the bench, tilting his head up, and basking in the sun with his eyes closed.
After a moment, he said, “But… I don’t plan on telling my dad about my stuff for the time being…”
“Mm,” Shan Yu replied. “That’s fine. It’s okay whether you tell him or not.”
“But your parents know,” Chen Jian turned his head to look at him. “My dad doesn’t. Will you…”
“It doesn’t matter if you never tell him in your entire life,” Shan Yu said. “All I want is your attitude. I don’t care if other people know or not, approve or not.”
