Chapter 39

Chapter 39

To be honest, ever since they made up, the two had been pretty intimate quite often.

But Jiang Jining found one thing weird—

Fu Yuze was clingy before and after work, and never worked overtime; no matter how busy, he always came home on time. Yet his attitude toward physical intimacy had shifted... He started pulling back, often just as Jiang Jining, all worked up and wanting to nestle into his arms, only to be stopped.

Fu Yuze started bailing in the middle.

Of course, before doing so, he would carefully calm him down, step-by-step.

Nearing the end of the month, Jiang Jining could easily sense the changes in his own body—subtle yet unmistakable. His body was fully responsive, yet he wasn't experienced or calm about it. Each time they were interrupted, he'd be left gasping for air...

He couldn't help but start feeling resentful.

Fu Yuze had so many worries!

Jiang Jining was kind of bothered. He started blaming himself for setting too many rules earlier—forbidding this and that—which now made Fu Yuze walk on eggshells about everything, even stopping touching him halfway.

...He really felt uncomfortable.

Jiang Jining was too embarrassed to admit it, but he'd already washed his underwear for four days straight, anxiously worried his heat might come early. Yet he found that without intimacy with Fu Yuze, his body naturally returned to its usual state.

How strange.

Jiang Jining now had something else to worry about.

And it was one of those private matters you can't really ask anyone about.

For a brief moment, a rebellious thought arose in him. Since Fu Yuze was busy with Shishu's recruitment lately, he left for work early. Once Fu Yuze was gone, Jiang Jining took a taxi home alone, only to find Bian Han wasn't there either.

“Xiao Jiang is back,” Auntie said, opening cans of raw food for the kittens.

Having nothing better to do, Jiang Jining took over the task, sitting and petting one kitten after another. At least he wasn't the secluded beauty waiting day after day for his beloved to return. Once his attention shifted, those embarrassing thoughts naturally faded, and he became fully absorbed in playing with the adorable kittens.

“Purr, purr…”

White, yellow, and black kittens eagerly swarmed around him.

Jiang Jining was brushed and nuzzled by their soft, fluffy tails, feeling quite happy. He was almost unable to give equal attention to all of them.

It was nice to be back home.

As a kid, Jiang Jining had also thought about keeping a pet. Once, while out with his sister, he tried to play with a stray cat and was accidentally scratched, leaving only a faint red mark that didn't even break the skin, let alone draw blood. Yet when his parents found out, they became overly worried, and that was the end of that.

Auntie's gaze was impossible to miss.

Jiang Jining looked up and asked, “Why are you staring at me?”

“You seem a little different today, Xiao Jiang,” Auntie remarked. He wore a light blue, ceramic-glaze colored round-collared shirt with intricate embroidery on one side, featuring vivid blue snowflakes. His fair, delicate hands, visible beneath the sleeves, were spotless. “Your complexion looks much better, and your skin is glowing. Did you put on a little weight?”

It had been over a month since his injury, and Jiang Jining had mostly been quiet and reserved, preferring simple, elegant clothing and trying to hide his true self. He rarely went out and often preferred to be alone.

Auntie had seen it all and could really tell he'd changed.

Jiang Jining smiled upon hearing this. “Really?”

As they chatted,

the lock on the living room door clicked open.

Bian Jiacheng walked in and, upon seeing Jiang Jining, raised an eyebrow. He sat down opposite him and said, “You're home!”

Jiang Jining felt a bit embarrassed by his remark.

These days, it wouldn't be wrong to say he'd been “loafing around.” Aside from eating, sleeping, and sticking to Fu Yuze, he hadn't done much of anything—truly a lazy bum.

“Wait…”

Bian Jiacheng suddenly narrowed his eyes, studying him.

After about ten seconds, half of his gaze settled into Jiang Jining's clear, transparent eyes. In a cheerful tone, he picked up a kitten and said, “Never mind. Ningning, you look really good today. Keep it up.”

Jiang Jining: “?”

He always did such strange things out of the blue.

“How long are you planning to stay home?” Bian Jiacheng asked, rubbing the soft belly of a kitten with both hands, not missing a single one. “Huh? Does my sister know you're back today?”

Jiang Jining had a strange intuition.

Today, Bian Jiacheng seemed particularly easy to talk to.

So, he spoke freely: “I'll leave in a bit. Fu Yuze is still recovering and needs company. I wanted to see A-Han, but she's not home. After playing for a while, I plan to go to Shishu.”

It was the start of the changing seasons.

The flu trend in Jingzhou wasn't looking good either, so Bian Jiacheng didn't ask what illness Fu Yuze had. Instead, he sent a message to Bian Han, informing her that Jiang Jining had been home. “Alright, I'll take you there later.”

This made things much more convenient for Jiang Jining, who obediently replied, “Okay.”

Shishu's recruitment plan had reached its final round, and the restaurant wasn't open to the public today. On the way there, Jiang Jining, not wanting to disturb Fu Yuze's work, sent him a message in advance to let him know he was coming.

Fu Yuze happily agreed.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Jining brought along a tagalong.

Jiang Jining's foot had mostly healed, and if he walked slowly, there was no trace of his previous injury. Thanks to Bian Han's care, he was doing well. Seeing Jiang Jining's light and cheerful steps, Bian Jiacheng couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. “Are you that happy?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Jining wasn't afraid to speak the truth now.

He had missed Fu Yuze after not seeing him all morning.

Crossing the autumn courtyard and entering the restaurant, the two found no one at the front desk.

As Jiang Jining turned around, he accidentally tripped over a pen that had rolled onto the floor, his foot giving way. Luckily, Bian Jiacheng reacted quickly and grabbed him by the back of his neck. “I knew you'd pull something like this—”

Jiang Jining was still shaken.

But soon, he found himself in another embrace. Recognizing who it was, his eyes lit up with a special glow. “Where were you just now?”

“In a meeting. We were finalizing the list for the last round of recruitment.”

Fu Yuze pretended not to have seen the physical contact between the two earlier. Glancing at Bian Jiacheng, who had casually sat down and was flipping through the new menu, he lowered his voice so only Jiang Jining could hear and scolded him, “Not walking properly again.”

Jiang Jining knew he was at fault, "...I know."

"You went home?"

Fu Yuze noted what time they'd arrived.

Before Jiang Jining could get a word in, Bian Jiacheng answered without looking up, "What's it to you if he goes home? All you do is work, work, work. Ningning's not having any fun, so going home to mess around with the cat is better than waiting for you to get off work."

Jiang Jining had intended to refute it, but he had to admit there was some truth to that. He turned his clear, bright eyes to Fu Yuze without a word. Fu Yuze gently stroked his hair, "I'll be on vacation after today."

Jiang Jining's eyes lit up.

_Should he thank Bian Jiacheng for speaking his mind?_

But he was always careful to maintain his composure in public, giving a slight nod.

"You two better not kiss in front of me—"

Bian Jiacheng was all for PDA but drew the line at an empty stomach. He tapped the tantalizing menu in front of him with the pen cap he had picked up, "You're not even open today. What are Ningning and me supposed to eat after coming all this way?"

Fu Yuze stated matter-of-factly, "I didn't invite you."

Bian Jiacheng tossed the pen aside, "I'm leaving."

Jiang Jining, however, was easily teased and immediately pulled Fu Yuze's hand, urging him to be nice, pointing out that Bian Jiacheng hadn't eaten breakfast.

"How do you know?"

Bian Jiacheng immediately stopped and looked at Jiang Jining.

He felt a warm sense of being specially cared for by the kid, but he quickly restrained himself, not wanting to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing how pleased he was.

Under their combined intense gaze, Jiang Jining confessed, "You don't sleep early or wake up early. I rarely see the help cooking for you in the mornings."

Bian Jiacheng was speechless.

"Isn't waking up at eleven still waking up?"

Jiang Jining found it even stranger, "That's almost lunchtime."

Fu Yuze was amused by Jiang Jining's health-conscious logic. He pulled him over and said to Bian Jiacheng, "Let's go, time to eat."

With three people walking together, someone was bound to be the third wheel. Bian Jiacheng certainly wasn't one to suffer in silence. After asking Fu Yuze which private room they were heading to, he insisted on walking ahead, not to lead the way but simply to use the restroom.

As they walked, the hallway grew busier.

"Chef."

"Boss—"

"Mr. Fu, Mr. Jiang. Mr. Bian, you're here too."

About five or six people passed by, all department heads and supervisors. The Manager at the front of the group approached Fu Yuze with a document, handing it over with both hands, "The new hires for the quality inspection department, central warehouse procurement, and prep station have been finalized. This is the list. For the sous chef position, there are still three candidates awaiting your personal evaluation."

Fu Yuze took it but didn't open it. He remembered the remaining candidates well, "Add a thirty-minute round, same rules as the first."

The Manager was somewhat surprised, "Now?"

This wasn't part of the interview process.

The process emailed to applicants by Shishu was also predetermined.

Especially for those participating in the sous chef selection, most had already been screened online. Each candidate received personalized notes in their emails, tailored to address their weaknesses according to Shishu's standards after thorough background checks—essentially a pre-employment test.

And now another timed test?

Seeing Fu Yuze's no-nonsense look, the Manager understood, "And the criteria for evaluating the dishes..."

"Bring them to me." Fu Yuze wanted Jiang Jining to go inside first, but noticed him suddenly lean forward a few steps as if spotting someone familiar. He asked, "What's wrong?"

Jiang Jining wasn't sure if he was seeing things. He slipped his hand out of Fu Yuze's arm and said, "I'll go check."

The Manager also noticed where he was heading.

He explained to Fu Yuze, "That's the waiting lounge for the three new sous chef candidates."

Fu Yuze knew Jiang Jining didn't have many friends here and felt uneasy. He asked the Manager to place the document in the private room and followed, slipping an arm around Jiang Jining's shoulders, "Who did you see?"

Jiang Jining replied, "Maybe I was mistaken."

No sooner had he spoken—

The door, which had just closed, opened again.

Jiang Jining saw a familiar, handsome face and the red mole he remembered so well.

He hadn't been mistaken.

Xi Wang also recognized him in a short time. Some people were truly unforgettable. His almond-shaped eyes were as lively and clear as a deer's, yet carried a resilient quality. A faint smile appeared, "It's you."