Chapter 16

Chapter 16

"Please begin," Fu Yuze said, closing the pattern book in his hands and addressing the tailors. "Thank you for your trouble."

...So that's what it was.

Jiang Jining had become fluffy again.

He mused that he had misunderstood Fu Yuze many, many times already. Next time, he must, *must* start thinking of him as a good person.

"What are you sneaking around for so early?"

Fu Yuze walked closer, meeting Jiang Jining's slightly delayed, pure gaze. "I'm having new clothes made for you."

Seeing Fu Yuze about to leave, Jiang Jining asked curiously, "Where are you going?"

"To brew some tea." Fu Yuze paused on purpose. "What would you like to drink?"

Jiang Jining noticed the tailors had been served good tea, so he instinctively said, "Looks like we finished the last box of Biluochun..."

Fu Yuze replied, "There's more in the storeroom."

Jiang Jining glanced up at him. "I'm closing the door now."

Fu Yuze stepped back without taking offense, having started to figure out the new rules. He asked, "May I return in a little while?"

Jiang Jining was surprised. "But this is your house."

Why was a guest being asked for permission to enter the living room?

Seeing Jiang Jining's hesitant, indecisive look, Fu Yuze helped him shut the door and added, "Aunt Tao will bring you some tea shortly."

That suited Jiang Jining just fine.

After Fu Yuze left, Aunt Tao came by after a while with a fresh pot of Biluochun tea, refreshing and sweet, brewed with an expert hand. She served Jiang Jining alone, with genuine ease.

The two tailors took Jiang Jining's measurements, occasionally glancing at him with sidelong glances.

Jiang Jining noticed.

But he felt completely at ease, not offended at all.

His attention was entirely captured by the array of exquisite fabrics—many of them hand-embroidered.

Jiang Jining had worn hundreds of fine fabrics in his time. He came from a wealthy family; his ancestors had distinguished military achievements and were favored by successive emperors. His standard of living rivaled that of princes and princesses. He had delicate skin since he was a child, and he was the youngest in the family.

He had a naturally discerning eye.

Jiang Jining slowly closed the album. On the hardcover was a smooth pattern of two intertwined silks, with the characters "Yunzhi" written beside it.

It looked very familiar.

Fortunately, his memory wasn't too bad.

Jiang Jining looked up and asked the two tailors, "Is your boss... surnamed Ji?"

The tailors said yes.

Remembering how he had been such a killjoy yesterday, Jiang Jining couldn't help but ask a few more questions.

One of the tailors was a seven-year veteran employee of Yunzhi and explained obligingly: "Yunzhi has been established for eight years now, with a primary focus on overseas markets and collaborations. We've held spring, summer, and autumn exhibitions in Jingzhou, Hu City, and Su City."

Jiang Jining had many gaps in his knowledge.

But he listened very attentively. "Is this a company she founded herself?"

"Yes," the two tailors replied with a smile as they organized their materials. "President Ji formally entered the industry at nineteen. After founding Yunzhi, she has swept the awards in both domestic and international fashion design."

The tailor made sure to add—

"The company has its own separate channels for fabrics and craftsmanship. Many of the Chinese-style designs you liked earlier are collaborative creations between President Ji and Yunzhi's professional embroiderers."

Jiang Jining looked down, holding the album and continuing to flip through it.

How impressive.

In his time, women were not allowed to go into business.

It wasn't unheard of for incompetent men to force women into small businesses to make ends meet. But openly, it was forbidden.

Modern times weren't so strict.

Jiang Jining thought of some of the women he had encountered.

Although it wasn't fair to compare them all, objectively speaking, Ji Huan's career seemed the most expansive and brilliant.

Yesterday, she was just a gentle mother.

Uncle Lu saw the two tailors out of Xie Ting. Jiang Jining sat cross-legged, holding the album of Yunzhi's past fashion shows he'd asked for. Only when he picked up his teacup and found it was empty did he remember he hadn't changed out of his pajamas.

Jiang Jining glanced at the empty courtyard.

He thought, Fu Yuze carries himself like a gentleman...

Even Aunt Tao was wearing a thin short-sleeved uniform. Should he try to be a bit more casual?

Jiang Jining relaxed his body, leaning sideways into the soft leather sofa as if sinking into clouds. The scent of sandalwood mixed with tea filled the room. He curled his legs, hugging the open album, his gaze wandering over the furnishings of the main building.

It was quite comfortable to come here occasionally.

Wait, Fu Yuze's study and bedroom were here, and he had taken over the library. Did that mean he had essentially kicked Fu Yuze out?

Jiang Jining's delayed realization finally clicked.

He realized his behavior was hardly that of a guest.

"Whoosh—"

Speak of the devil.

Fu Yuze saw Jiang Jining sitting up in deep thought and, unsurprised, commanded: "Change your clothes and come help me in the kitchen."

Jiang Jining, who had been reflecting all along: "..."

He had no one to blame but himself.

From that day on, Jiang Jining not only went to sleep and got up on time every day but was also called into the kitchen daily to "help." His hands had never touched kitchen work; he was completely clueless about chores, only peeling garlic, washing vegetables, and rinsing a few plates.

Fu Yuze ran a tight ship in the kitchen.

Jiang Jining wasn't allowed to work with bare hands, and cross-contamination of flavors was forbidden.

So he had to change gloves over and over, and once the fire was lit, he had to leave the kitchen.

But, it was quite interesting.

"Not having soup first today?"

Uncle Lu heard Jiang Jining's new request the moment he sat down and set down the soup tureen.

Jiang Jining looked at the lavish feast covering the table, each side dish bearing his touch, and his appetite opened up. He proffered his bowl with both hands: "I want rice first."

Then he added, "A lot."

Fu Yuze also entered the dining room.

Jiang Jining hastily turned to Uncle Lu, "After my nap... I'm going out with Aunt Tao in the afternoon to pick out fish food and feed the fish."

What was there to be embarrassed about?

Uncle Lu glanced at the smiling Fu Yuze and covered for Jiang Jining: "Then you really should eat more. I'll go fetch the rice."

Home meals were scheduled about an hour off from Shishu's service times.

Fu Yuze accompanied every meal without fail. He was undoubtedly an excellent dining companion, with impeccable table manners, speaking little but happy to chat if spoken to.

At Xie Ting, the table was laden with dishes every day.

Jiang Jining couldn't finish it alone, but with Fu Yuze it was different.

Jiang Jining had observed him a few times without meaning to... perhaps he was very satisfied with the cooking, eating a great deal, and so elegantly!

No wonder he's tall as a giant.

Some picky eater he was!

That Fu Yuze was long gone.

Jiang Jining was the complete opposite. His appetite was like a curve—it would hit a ceiling and then just plateau. Still, compared to before, he'd already come a long way.

Every afternoon, he would swim for two hours in the backyard, then have dinner.

During this time, only Aunt Tao could approach him.

Uncle Lu never set foot there, while Fu Yuze had erred before and had no time anyway.

During Shishu's soft opening, some promotions were done. The quality of clientele so far was high, with impressive promotional results. Their social media and app posted a notice for a day. After adjustments, they switched to a reservations-only system, with limited-time, limited-quantity chef's menus, always in high demand.

During lunch and dinner rush hours, the head chef wouldn't be home.

It was Uncle Lu who told Jiang Jining about Shishu's changes.

Jiang Jining was cut off from the world, disliked going online. He'd forgotten his phone in his suitcase the day he moved into Xie Ting. It had died completely, and he never thought about it.

Fu Yuze juggled both his company and the restaurant, a truly busy man.

Uncle Lu basically knew his whereabouts, occasionally reporting to Jiang Jining at home alone to keep him company.

On the second afternoon of Shishu's day off, Fu Yuze returned to his parents' home, leaving the standby cook to prepare meals for Jiang Jining.

After that, he returned every three days.

If he encountered overtime or social engagements at the Fu Corporation, he'd return later.

Most likely not past ten o'clock.

When Fu Yuze got home on time and ran into Jiang Jining in the yard, they'd exchange a few words. In time, they also shared interesting bits from their day.

This afternoon—

Uncle Lu brought in a cardboard package.

Opening it revealed a large white brocade box lying on velvet, tied with a complex silk bow, said to be delivered by a local courier.

Inside were new clothes sent by Ji Huan.

Jiang Jining touched the exquisite embroidery, still full embroidery with seed stitches and gold thread...

It had only been five days.

Could modern embroidery techniques achieve this?

But Uncle Lu smiled and said, "President Ji's style is as generous as ever."

"So beautiful," Aunt Tao also admired from the side, sighing at the fine piece and hurriedly reminding Jiang Jining to try it on.

Jiang Jining was already captivated. He returned to his room, changed into the clothes, and came downstairs.

Faint conversation drifted from the courtyard, neither moving away nor disappearing, just lingering at the entrance.

Had Fu Yuze returned?

Jiang Jining hurried down. As he passed the last step, a light vibration above his wrist bone. He looked toward the shifting shadows outside the door, raised his wrist to look, and his steps froze in place.

He slowly released his hand from the railing.

Pressed to answer.

Before he could speak, an intimate, joyful voice immediately came through: "Ning Zai? Am I disturbing your meal? Do you miss me?"

Jiang Jining was confused for a moment.

Before the other side could express disappointment, he replied, "Mm."

The other side said many scattered things.

Jiang Jining listened attentively to all of it.

He and Bian Han usually talked on the phone after breakfast, unlike a certain older clingy person, whose frequency was excessive.

"Coming back to get you soon," Bian Han's tone shifted from gentle and doting to complaining: "I haven't settled accounts with that lunatic Bian Jiacheng yet, for dodging an arranged marriage and leaving you alone in someone else's house."

"Dodging an arranged marriage?" Jiang Jining asked, puzzled. "Wasn't he on a business trip?"

"Forget it, let's not talk about his matters."

Bian Han added another point: "At least he has some conscience, leaving you with the Fu family's second son."

Jiang Jining stroked the small waxwood ball on the railing, his long lashes fluttering twice. "He's a great cook."

Bian Han had heard him say this more than once. "I'll make sure to thank him properly when I'm back!"

Jiang Jining couldn't help but ask, "So when are you coming back?"

"Pretty soon."

Bian Han teased him a little, then added, "Oh, right—I've already asked Chengzi to look at a new house for us. The previous one didn't have a separate study for you, and the younger kids didn't really have room to play around. This one has a big yard where you can plant more flowers and plants. As for trees... what do you think about a magnolia tree?"

Jiang Jining felt a pang of nostalgia.

There were several magnolia trees in the yard of his old home, tall and stately. Every March or April, the courtyard would be filled with spring warmth and vibrant blossoms.

"Okay."

Jiang Jining hung up the phone.

The rare flicker of excitement settled back into calm. He pushed open the main door, and the voices in the yard fell silent.

"Here he comes, he's here."

"I told you Xiao Ning would look especially handsome in it..."

Fu Yuze stood before the fish pond, watching the plump koi that had grown rounder, his gaze shifting to a certain figure.

The yard had fewer potted plants and flowers compared to the front courtyard; those in bloom had been placed in front of the West Building's tea room. Against the backdrop of crabapple windows, moon gates, and patches of delicate flowers, a beautiful butterfly suddenly emerged.