Chapter 61

Chapter 61

"Taste of Home" is a Sichuan restaurant, currently the busiest of the handful of restaurants in the commercial district. It opens at 10 a.m. daily and stays open until about 8 p.m.

During the hottest part of the day, they run the fans for two hours, saving the other two hours' worth for the evening.

The restaurant occupies two adjacent storefronts, with a simple sign and modest decor. Inside, an assortment of rustic wooden tables of varying sizes are arranged.

Jiang Nian and Jiang Wenwen snagged a small rectangular table by the window and sat down.

A server handed them the menu with a smile before leaving. Jiang Nian politely slid it toward Jiang Wenwen:

"Your call, beautiful. Get whatever you're craving. If we can't finish, we'll take the leftovers home."

Jiang Wenwen's eyes lit up:

"In that case, I'll go all out."

Jiang Nian chuckled without a word. With no dish over 100 credits, money was no object for him.

When you're buying, you might as well be generous. Besides, he’d likely need Jiang Wenwen’s help often in the future.

As long as she kept her mouth in check, they’d collaborate just fine.

His phone buzzed—Cheng Jing was calling.

Jiang Wenwen, flipping through the menu, asked playfully:

"Should I give you some privacy?"

"No need. Brother Jing's cool like that."

Jiang Nian shook his head with a smile and answered the call:

"Brother Jing, off work already?"

"Just wrapping up. Mind if I crash your dinner?"

Cheng Jing’s tone was calm and polite over the phone.

"Of course! We’re at 'Taste of Home' in the commercial street, near the west gate—you know the spot. We just started ordering, so if you come after work, it’ll be perfect. I'll order some of your go-tos when you get here."

Jiang Nian was pleased. If Brother Jing came, they could discuss the farm business together. They’d all been too busy lately for proper talks.

But then he noticed Jiang Wenwen looking up at him with a weird look.

Jiang Nian blinked and mouthed: *What’s wrong?*

Jiang Wenwen shook her head helplessly and went back to the menu.

"Hmm..."

Cheng Jing paused, then changed his mind:

"Actually, scratch that. Just got notified about a required training after work. You guys enjoy yourselves. Have a good meal and don't stay out too late. Drive safe."

"Huh? You're bailing? Alright... No worries, handle your business. I’ll scope it out first, and we can come together another time."

Jiang Nian was already mentally picking out what dishes to order for Cheng Jing, so the last-minute cancel threw him. Still, he didn’t press—work comes first, after all.

Cheng Jing nodded on the other end:

"Yeah, that's it for now... Niannian, I'll be home by nine tonight."

"Okay."

Jiang Nian hung up the phone but couldn't shake the feeling that Brother Jing's words were... *a little off*.

Just as he was about to say something, Jiang Wenwen, who had already ordered and handed the menu to the waiter, gave him an amused smirk:

"He's testing the waters with you."

"..."

Jiang Nian wanted to deny it, but the words caught in his throat—because it actually made sense.

Brother Jing was methodical and deliberate in everything he did. He wouldn’t call to say he was coming over without first confirming his own work schedule.

And after Jiang Nian had openly given him the address and welcomed him, the man had immediately changed his tune.

Then, he’d not-so-subtly hinted that he’d be home by nine—meaning Jiang Nian should be back before then.

Ah, how the mighty have fallen. His Brother Jing was getting more and more fond of playing these games with him.

Back in the day, he would’ve just shown up without a word to drag him home. Now, he was playing these coy little games!

Seeing how easily fooled he was, Jiang Wenwen comforted him:

"But don’t feel too bad. This is just the petty jealousy that comes with every true love story from an obsessive lover."

"Oh..."

Jiang Nian eyed her skeptically:

"Speaking from experience?"

Truthfully, he didn’t feel bad at all. When he’d been the one chasing Brother Jing, his tactics had been way wilder.

Jiang Wenwen waved a hand dismissively:

"Nah, if I had your man's chops, I wouldn’t be single."

"..."

Meanwhile, in the team office at the command center.

Facing his teammates, who had witnessed his whole routine with Jiang Nian, Cheng Jing threatened, completely unrepentant:

"If any of you dare spill this, I’ll make you regret it. When it comes to Jiang Nian, you’d better always have my back. His stuff can be yours, but he himself is mine—and in the end, I have the final say."

"Got it, Boss! All hail the Boss! The Boss knows best!"

The entire team chorused in unison.

Cheng Jing nodded in satisfaction:

"Alright, hit the mess hall. Chow down fast and get to training. I’ve got a meeting."

With that, he stood and strode out of the office.

The teammates exchanged glances and stood up as well.

"Who's really got who wrapped around their finger?" Liao Yu asked, exasperated. He had always thought it was 'Godfather' who had Cheng under his thumb, but now it didn't seem entirely the case.

The others shared the same sentiment. After all, facing Jiang Nian's peach-blossom eyes that dripped with affection even at stray dogs, they knew best just how hard Cheng simped.

Only Huang Qian patted Liao Yu's shoulder and came with the receipts:

"You're thinking too simply. True masters are evenly matched, playing 4D chess while toeing the line in a mutual game of wits. Git gud, noob."

With that, she walked out, already over their drama.

Liao Yu: "..."

Zhou Rongbin nudged Lu Ningzhou with his elbow:

"Is it the same between you two?"

"Nah, I'm happily wife-trained."

His Sister Qian was trained by the OG—he knew when to admit defeat and just go with the flow.

Everyone else: "..."

...

At 'Taste of Home,' the dishes were already served:

Two bowls of rice with five dishes—braised pork knuckle, poached chicken, spicy and sour shredded potatoes, stir-fried cabbage, and a seaweed soup.

The portions were on the smaller side, and the meat dishes were obviously frozen meal prep—just heated up from the package and plated.

As for the veggies, they were straight-up sad cafeteria veggies.

Given the default market situation, Jiang Nian and Jiang Wenwen weren't about to start shit, though it was a bit warm. Jiang Nian ordered a two-liter bottle of ice-cold Sprite.

That thing almost cost as much as the poached chicken.

Jiang Wenwen widened her eyes:

"Bro, that’s straight-up bougie."

With the weather heating up, soda tax hit harder than summer heat!

Jiang Nian, worried she might blurt something out, lowered his voice to remind her:

"Shh! Keep it down. Brother Jing's footing my bill."

He then poured her a glass first to muzzle her.

As the weather warmed, he needed something refreshing with every meal.

His inventory ring had plenty of such things, but it would look sus pulling them out here—so he had to buy them.

Yes, he absolutely had to drink it, or else he’d lose his appetite. A dude picking at his food in front of a girl? Mad embarrassing.

After gulping down a big sip and letting out a soda belch, Jiang Wenwen also lowered her voice:

"No need to be low-key. You’re being his simp—what’s wrong with spending some of his points? Don’t let him cheap out. If he can’t afford to keep you, he can make room for a sugar daddy who can."

Jiang Nian: "..."

Why did that sound so familiar? Like some lousy advice—the kind that gets people dumped—from a certain backseat-general.