Over there, Lu Yun was still speaking. At this point, he was probably talking about developing the area around Hongye Town as an integrated tourism zone. Every word was clear in Chen Jian’s ears, but he immediately forgot the previous sentence as soon as he heard it. When the next sentence entered his ears, the pen in his hand couldn’t keep up…
Shan Yu was sitting in the chair right behind him. This guy said he couldn’t come and had even helped Chen Jian prepare everything for the meeting, yet here he was, sitting right behind him.
Chen Jian looked back at him again.
Shan Yu slightly lifted his chin, signaling him to listen to Lu Yun speak.
Chen Jian had no choice but to sit properly. After listening and scribbling incomprehensibly for a while, he put down his pen again, picked up his phone, and sent Shan Yu a message.
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: How did you get here?
Shan Yu’s phone behind him didn’t ring, but Chen Jian could hear him move, taking his phone out of his pocket.
Chen Jian snapped back to reality and quickly muted his own phone too.
[Fa Shan Ke Chen]: High-speed rail. Came straight here after getting off.
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: I thought you drove.
[Fa Shan Ke Chen]: Driving takes over four hours; the high-speed rail is a little over two.
[Chen Yu Luo Yan]: You got up past six in the morning.
[Fa Shan Ke Chen]: Got up at 6:30, left the house at 7, boarded at 8, arrived at 10:30, then came here.
Before Chen Jian could fully process this timeline, Shan Yu sent another message.
[Fa Shan Ke Chen]: Listen carefully, stop playing on your phone.
Chen Jian lowered his head and smiled, placing the phone back on the desk.
When he reached for his pen, he realized that at some point, the notebook and pen in front of him had made their way to Sun Nana. She was rapidly taking notes in the notebook.
Her handwriting formed a sharp contrast to his previous scribbles.
“Nana,” Chen Jian whispered, “let me do it.”
“Keep chatting,” Sun Nana didn’t stop writing, whispering very quietly. “This guy is simply here to disrupt our morale.”
“…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 grabbed them and continued taking notes.
Although he was too embarrassed to dwell on it, anyone would have to be an idiot to believe that what Sun Nana just said didn’t carry any underlying meaning.
At this moment, Chen Jian’s feelings were quite complex. Excited, yet embarrassed; happy, yet embarrassed; scribbling like a madman, yet embarrassed…
Fortunately, the meeting was exactly as Lu Yun had stated at the beginning—no nonsense, just the key points. Plus, perhaps considering that most of the attendees didn’t look like high-level executives who frequently attended meetings, no one was asked to speak.
“Thank you all again for cooperating with our work. From now on, we must become a more competitive, comprehensive tourism entity,” Lu Yun looked around at the attendees. “We will further enrich the regional tourism formats. Under the premise of good resource conservation, we want tourists not just to look, but to experience, to participate, and to stay…”
Applause broke out in the conference room. Chen Jian put down his pen and clapped along with everyone else.
He had successfully attended a meeting without having to speak, and Shan Yu had actually shown up. Everything made him feel incredibly relaxed and happy.
Lu Yun was much better than the teachers back in school who always dragged classes overtime; the meeting ended right at lunchtime.
“Want to go eat in the cafeteria together? Or eat out?” Chen Jian checked the audio recording on his phone, saved it, haphazardly shoved his pen and notebook into his inner pocket, stood up, and looked at Shan Yu sitting behind him.
“Let’s eat in the cafeteria,” Shan Yu smiled.
“If I knew you could make it, I wouldn’t have come,” Sun Nana stood up and adjusted her clothes.
“Treat it as a half-day off,” Shan Yu stood up, exchanging a few words with Old Ding as they walked out of the conference room.
“Look at that crowd,” Sun Nana tilted her head in Lu Yun’s direction.
Chen Jian turned to look and saw Lu Yun surrounded by a few attendees near the front door of the conference room, talking about something.
“Should we…” Chen Jian paused.
Although he didn’t know what there was to say crowding around the leader right after a meeting, since others had gone over, shouldn’t they go crowd around too?
Just say something random.
Director Lu, did you walk your dogs today?
“Don’t,” Shan Yu turned back after finishing his chat with Old Ding. “Delaying someone’s meal is a heinous crime. He can’t even process what these people are saying right now. Anyone with actual business wouldn’t pick this time to bring it up.”
“They’re just trying to show their faces. We don’t need to do that,” Sun Nana rolled her eyes, then looked at the two of them. “Dayin’s two faces are basically unforgettable anyway.”
Chen Jian smiled.
“True,” Shan Yu said.
He actually agreed?
Is he really that lacking in modesty!
The cafeteria had set aside a few tables specifically for the meeting attendees.
The people from Hongye Town grabbed their food and sat together, eating and chatting.
“I’d heard before that Dayin’s boss was quite impressive,” Sister Xu said. “Never had the chance to meet you. Only realized today that you’re so young.”
“We’ve actually eaten at Hillside before,” Shan Yu smiled.
“Really?” Sister Xu was a bit surprised. “When?”
“Around the National Day holiday,” Shan Yu said. “Went with some friends.”
“Let me know next time you bring friends over,” Sister Xu said.
“Mm, definitely,” Shan Yu nodded.
“We’re testing some new dishes recently. If you have time, come over and give us your feedback. We can collaborate more in the future,” Sister Xu said with a smile.
“Then we definitely have to go try them,” Brother Yang said while eating, then added very sincerely, “Might not be able to offer much feedback, though. I’m a simple guy; all food tastes pretty good to me…”
“That’s fine,” Sister Xu said. “They’re just home-style dishes anyway.”
These were the places Lu Yun had visited during his research. Chen Jian didn’t know if they had been specially selected, but both Brother Yang and Sister Xu seemed very down-to-earth. They didn’t speak in circles like He Liang and his crew, talking for ages without ever hitting the main point.
Shan Yu spoke very little—after all, ‘no talking while eating.’ Brother Yang didn’t speak much either. However, Sun Nana chatted quite well with Sister Xu and Old Ding.
Chen Jian chimed in occasionally. He truly couldn’t eat this meal; it felt like the two giant steamed buns were still lodged in his stomach. Shan Yu, on the other hand, finished one plate and went back for seconds.
“Did you not eat breakfast?” Chen Jian asked quietly.
“Mm,” Shan Yu answered.
“Don’t business-class seats give you food to eat?” Chen Jian asked.
Shan Yu laughed. “Didn’t buy the ticket in advance. Only managed to get a second-class seat.”
Chen Jian paused. “Was it tiring then?”
“Not really. Even though I love my comforts,” Shan Yu said in a low voice, “it doesn’t mean sitting in a second-class seat for two and a half hours is going to tire me out.”
Chen Jian smiled.
After finishing lunch in the cafeteria, today’s meeting agenda was considered complete. The group said their goodbyes in the parking lot. Old Ding rode back to the town in Brother Yang’s car.
After the others had left, the three from Dayin also got into their car.
“Boss Shan, how is your itinerary planned out?” Sun Nana asked.
“You still have to head back home, right?” Chen Jian also asked.
Shan Yu didn’t have any luggage; he only brought his phone. He hadn’t even driven back the Benz he scrounged from President Liu…
“Mm,” Shan Yu leaned back in the rear seat. “I’m taking the 3:30 train back. Still have to eat dinner with my Eldest Aunt and Second Aunt’s families tonight.”
“You actually…” Chen Jian stopped halfway. With Sun Nana right there, he didn’t know what to say.
“Didn’t have anything to do today, so I figured I’d come take a look,” Shan Yu understood what he was getting at anyway. “After all, this is Dayin’s first time attending a meeting of this level.”
“Then are you two getting out?” Sun Nana said.
“Hm?” Shan Yu looked at her.
“I want to go shopping at the commercial street over there and buy things for the guys while I’m at it,” Sun Nana said. “I need the car.”
“…Then what about us?” Shan Yu asked.
“You two just wander around wherever,” Sun Nana started buckling her seatbelt. “Walk on your own.”
“Then we…” Shan Yu turned to look at Chen Jian.
“You two get out,” Sun Nana finished for him.
“Getting out, getting out, getting out…” Shan Yu opened the door and got out.
Chen Jian followed him and got out too.
Then Sun Nana just drove the car away.
She wouldn’t even drive them from the parking lot to outside the Culture and Tourism Bureau’s main gate. The two of them 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 acknowledged.
“Mm what?” Chen Jian asked.
“You feel like Nana seems to know something,” Shan Yu said. “Mm, she probably knows.”
“…Fuck.” Chen Jian zipped his jacket all the way to the top, feeling like he wanted to blush.
“She and Panpan both know,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian didn’t speak. After a while, he sighed: “Is it that obvious?”
“Pretty obvious, I guess,” Shan Yu smiled.
“Do you think they’ll feel…” Chen Jian frowned.
“Can’t you tell whether they feel weird about it or not?” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian thought about it. Everything was as usual.
He smiled.
Around noon, the surroundings were very quiet. Occasionally, someone would walk past. The tranquility inside a government complex was different from other places—it carried a slight air of solemnity.
Chen Jian walked silently beside Shan Yu, heads down, until they exited the main gate. He saw the cars on the road, saw the people coming and going on the sidewalks, and the chaotic noise of the city slowly filled his ears. Only then did he suddenly turn his head and stare at Shan Yu.
“What?” Shan Yu looked back at him.
“Holy shit,” Chen Jian couldn’t suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth. “You really came!”
“Did you just realize I’m here?” Shan Yu said. “We already finished a whole meal together, Store Manager Chen.”
Chen Jian smiled and looked around. Diagonally across the street was a small road that looked less crowded. He pointed: “Let’s walk that way.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu agreed.
Chen Jian fell silent again. He walked briskly across the street and turned quickly into the small road. It was a one-way street with very few cars, and a few small shops were scattered along the roadside.
Chen Jian stopped in his tracks, turned around, and pulled Shan Yu into a tight hug.
“Hey,” Shan Yu wrapped his arms around him in return. “You scared me.”
“I’m the one who was truly scared by you.” Chen Jian tightened his arms forcefully. Although there were no pedestrians nearby, they were still on the street. He felt too self-conscious to bury his face in Shan Yu’s neck, trying his best to make this hug look like a reunion between old friends.
“Scared?” Shan Yu smiled, his voice right next to Chen Jian’s ear. “No pleasant surprise?”
“Yes, so much,” Chen Jian tightened his grip again, his hands grabbing the fabric of Shan Yu’s jacket at the shoulders. He gripped so hard his hands trembled slightly. “I really didn’t expect it at all. You’re seriously… so crazy.”
Shan Yu didn’t say anything, just gently patted his back.
Chen Jian could see someone walking toward them from a distance, but he didn’t move. He just closed his eyes.
It’s a reunion after a long separation; hugging for a bit longer is perfectly normal.
Only after hearing the pedestrian’s footsteps pass by and fade into the distance did he open his eyes and let go of Shan Yu.
The shoulder area of Shan Yu’s puffer jacket had been grabbed into a wrinkled mess.
“Sorry.” Chen Jian tried to smooth it out with his hand, to no avail. “Your jacket isn’t very wrinkle-resistant.”
“What fabric could resist being grabbed by you like that? I’m just glad you didn’t dig holes through it,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian smiled, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked slowly forward alongside him.
Shan Yu had to take the 3:30 train back, which meant he had to leave for the station by 2:40 at the latest. It was currently a little past 1:10; they could still spend a little over an hour together.
“Are you cold?” Chen Jian asked. “Do you want to walk, or find a place to sit?”
“Up to you,” Shan Yu said.
“I want to walk,” Chen Jian said. “Stroll in the sunlight.”
“There’s a public park over there,” Shan Yu said. “I saw it when I took a cab over. Let’s go there.”
“Mm,” Chen Jian nodded.
When they passed a coffee shop, Shan Yu went in and bought two mochas.
“Try some coffee from outside Dayin.” Shan Yu handed him a cup.
“Seems…” Chen Jian took a sip and whispered, “better than Dayin’s?”
“Mm,” Shan Yu laughed. “This is a professional barista with good beans, and their espresso machine is much more expensive.”
Chen Jian took another sip. After a moment, he asked again: “Did you miss me?”
“If I didn’t miss you, I wouldn’t have gone through so much trouble to come all the way here,” Shan Yu said. “Of course I miss you.”
“Didn’t you just say it was because it’s Dayin’s first time attending this kind of meeting?” Chen Jian said.
“Got to have a public excuse,” Shan Yu said. “Was I supposed to say in front of Nana, ‘I missed you, so I used this opportunity to come back and see you’?”
“Fuck,” Chen Jian burst out laughing.
There were quite a few people strolling in the public park. The sun was shining brightly today, and many people working nearby were resting on the benches, soaking in the sun after lunch.
Chen Jian had never experienced anything like this—walking slowly in a small park, listening to the occasional chatter and laughter around him, and watching the leisurely pedestrians in the sunlight.
Although there wasn’t much greenery in the park during this season and the scenery was slightly bleak, every time his arm brushed against Shan Yu’s as they walked, his entire vision felt filled with warmth.
“Did your parents know you made this trip today?” Chen Jian asked.
“They know,” Shan Yu said. “Told my mom yesterday I was coming here for a meeting today.”
“Then did she…” Chen Jian paused. “Did she think I was useless?”
“You’re only twenty,” Shan Yu said. “Under normal circumstances, you’d be in university, acting like an idiot just like Liu Wu. How ‘useful’ are you supposed to be?”
“You’re the idiot,” Chen Jian said.
“Your capabilities already exceed 99.99999…” Shan Yu dragged out a long string of nines, “…percent of your peers. My mom is a veteran ruthless boss, she can tell.”
Chen Jian smiled and didn’t speak.
“They might visit the small town for the New Year. Probably after the second day,” Shan Yu said.
Chen Jian’s smile instantly froze on his face. It took a while before he whisper-yelled: “What?”
“I’m not spending the New Year at home,” Shan Yu said, “So…”
“Then spend the New Year at home!” Chen Jian said.
Shan Yu hissed in a breath and looked at him.
Chen Jian looked back at him.
“You said it,” Shan Yu said.
“I didn’t say it.” Chen Jian snapped back to his senses, swiftly and shamelessly denying what he had just said a second ago. “I didn’t say anything.”
Shan Yu looked at him, turned his head away as he walked forward, and started laughing.
“Are they really coming?” Chen Jian caught up to him. “Are you messing with me?”
“Not messing with you. If I messed with you about this, I’m afraid I’d literally scare you to death,” Shan Yu said. “It’s not finalized yet, but since it was brought up, it’s pretty much a given. If you feel like…”
“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, “there might also be Liu Wu’s family.”
“…Give me a minute to prepare again,” Chen Jian said.
Sitting on a roadside bench, Chen Jian finished his entire cup of coffee before sighing: “I really do get nervous easily.”
“You’re a kid, it’s normal,” Shan Yu said.
“But I feel like if Liu Wu’s family comes too,” Chen Jian squeezed his cup, “my pressure might actually be a little smaller.”
“I actually wanted to tell Liu Wu not to come,” Shan Yu said.
“You couldn’t stop him anyway,” Chen Jian said. “He could agree not to come to your face, and then give you a ‘surprise’ later.”
Shan Yu smiled. “Sigh.”
“My dad will be at the inn on New Year’s Eve and the first day of the New Year,” Chen Jian said. “I asked him to come over to spend the New Year with us and help cook while he’s at it.”
“Mm,” Shan Yu acknowledged very calmly.
But two seconds later, Shan Yu, who had been leaning against the bench, sat up straight. “Wait, what do you mean your dad is helping cook?”
“Zhao-jie isn’t going to be at the inn for the New Year, she won’t be back until the third day,” Chen Jian said. “There’s no one to cook, and food delivery in the town won’t resume until the second day of the New Year.”
“Is that… appropriate?” Shan Yu said.
“If we pay him, it’s appropriate,” Chen Jian said. “Listen to me.”
“…Are you sure?” Shan Yu asked.
“Never had to deal with something like this, huh,” Chen Jian looked at him, feeling inexplicably smug. “Boss Shan.”
“No,” Shan Yu said.
“Haven’t seen much of the world, have you,” Chen Jian said.
“Yes,” Shan Yu nodded.
Chen Jian laughed, leaning back in his chair, tilting his head up, and closing his eyes to soak in the sun.
After a while, he added, “But… I don’t plan on telling my dad about me just yet…”
“Mm,” Shan Yu acknowledged. “It’s fine. Whether you tell him or not is fine.”
“But your parents both know,” Chen Jian turned his head to look at him. “My dad doesn’t. Will you feel…”
“It doesn’t matter if you never tell anyone your whole life,” Shan Yu said. “I only need your attitude. Whether others know or not, whether they approve or not, I couldn’t care less.”
Of course both of the ladies know. Not sure about the pigpen squad, though