Chapter 22 Planning

Chapter 22: Planning

Kaelen stood in the gray-blue dusk, his strikingly handsome face etched with travel fatigue, dark circles faintly visible in the dying light, but his gaze on Xie Fengshi was unusually intense.

I brought you something. I don’t know if you’ll like it, but I hope you do.

When Xie Fengshi smiled, his eyes crinkled into crescents, making him look warm and soft against the twilight.

Kaelen asked, “What are you smiling at?”

Xie Fengshi put the coffee beans back into the bag. “Nothing. Just that someone's worried I'll think he bought it just for me.”

Kaelen: …

Xie Fengshi swung the bag, tracing a small arc in the air. “Thanks, I really like it.”

Kaelen’s eyes softened. “I’m glad you do.”

They stood in front of the apartment building. The dusk grew thicker, and the streetlights finally flickered on.

Xie Fengshi looked down at his shadow and noticed Kaelen was standing closer to him than last time.

It was as if some invisible force had slowly closed that half-step gap between them.

Xie Fengshi turned and walked toward the entrance. “Let's head up.”

Kaelen followed. When they reached the second floor, Xie Fengshi suddenly stopped and turned to look at the man behind him. Kaelen stood two steps below, his eyes level with Xie Fengshi's. “What is it?”

Xie Fengshi had been about to ask if he was tired, but it was obvious—asking would just be pointless.

“What do you want to eat tonight?”

Kaelen looked up at Xie Fengshi, his eyes holding a whole galaxy in the dim light. “Are you tired? You just got back from the store; cooking's a lot of work.”

Before Xie Fengshi could answer, Kaelen had already made the decision for him. “Let's eat out. The car's still here.”

“What about Isaac?”

“Isaac is coming too.”

Xie Fengshi hesitated, but not for long. “Let me change real quick.”

As Xie Fengshi reached his door and was about to take out his keys, he felt a gaze on him. Isaac's door next door was cracked open. The blonde, messy-haired boy stared at Kaelen not far away with those gray-blue eyes.

Kaelen didn't come closer. The two brothers stared at each other across a moderate distance, neither speaking.

One stood gracefully and composed, the other poked his head out like a cautious little animal. Two similar faces wore the same look: “I know exactly what you're thinking.”

The next second, the head ducked back in.

Ten seconds later, the door opened and Isaac stood there. “Eating out?”

Kaelen grunted in affirmation. “What do you want to eat?”

Isaac thought for a second. “I don't know.”

“We'll decide in the car.”

When Xie Fengshi came out, Kaelen was nowhere to be seen. Only Isaac was waiting for him by the door. As Xie Fengshi passed Isaac, he casually smoothed down his cowlick. “Let's go.”

They went downstairs single file. Only then did Xie Fengshi see Kaelen already standing by the car.

The car door was open, and there was a cushion on the back seat. Xie Fengshi looked at the cushion, then at Kaelen. Kaelen said, “It's a bit of a drive.”

Xie Fengshi didn't call him on it. He bent down and slid into the car. The cushion was soft, cradling his whole body.

Isaac got in from the other side and plopped down next to Xie Fengshi, his tall frame sinking into the seat, his long legs stretched out.

The car drove out of the old streets. The view outside shifted from low buildings to brightly lit shops, then to towering skyscrapers. The night in this city had a very special quality—like a worldly middle-aged man, unhurried and poised.

The road they were driving on was one Xie Fengshi had never been down. The buildings on both sides were in a typical eighteenth-century style. Kaelen pulled up in front of a cream-colored building. A copper sign hung above the entrance, with an elegant handwritten script. Xie Fengshi identified it as French.

“French food?” he asked.

Kaelen cut the engine. “Yeah. This place has been around for over twenty years. The head chef is from Lyon, and the ingredients are air-shipped daily.”

Xie Fengshi silently calculated the cost of this meal and decided not to ask. Asking would only ruin his mood.

The doorman clearly recognized Kaelen. As soon as he saw Kaelen get out of the car, he walked over with a smile that was polite but not obsequious. “Mr. Zefir, good evening. Your usual table?”

Kaelen nodded and stepped aside to let Xie Fengshi go first.

The waiter's gaze lingered on Xie Fengshi for a moment, but his professionalism made him quickly look away. Still, Xie Fengshi caught that flash of admiration.

Xie Fengshi thought to himself, Is it possible this guy has never brought anyone here before?

But as soon as the thought came, Xie Fengshi laughed at himself. How was this any different from those cheesy lines like “The young master hasn't smiled like this in ages”?

Kaelen looked down at him. “What are you laughing at?”

Xie Fengshi put on a straight face as he followed the waiter. “Nothing. This restaurant is really beautiful.”

That wasn't just politeness. The place was genuinely stunning. A crystal chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling, the walls were cream-colored with a few abstract paintings, and the table spacing was perfect—not so far apart it felt empty, not so close you could hear neighboring conversations.

The waiter led them to a table by the window, from which they could see the small square across the street. Xie Fengshi sat and took the menu the waiter handed him.

He flipped open the first page, then silently shut it.

Not because it was expensive—okay, it was—but that wasn't the main reason. It was because Xie Fengshi couldn't read a word of it.

The menu was in French. He only recognized a few common words.

Kaelen noticed what Xie Fengshi did and turned his own menu around, pointing to a line. “This is their specialty: duck confit. Crispy skin, tender meat, and the mashed potatoes are made with three kinds of cheese.”

Xie Fengshi leaned in to see. The distance between them suddenly shrank. Xie Fengshi's hair brushed against Kaelen's chin, and for a moment, the scent of shampoo reached Kaelen's nose.

Xie Fengshi didn't notice and was still looking seriously at the dish. “Sounds good. What else do you suggest?”

Kaelen steadied his voice. “For an appetizer, try their foie gras mousse with fig jam and toast. For soup, their shrimp bisque is also great.”

“That's it?”

“You can also check out the desserts.”

Xie Fengshi turned to the dessert page. This time he could actually read it. “Crème brûlée. And your brother?”

Both of them looked at Isaac at the same time. Isaac hadn't even touched his menu since he sat down. He leaned back in his chair, both hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie, his face blank, as if he couldn't care less about this meal.

Xie Fengshi asked, "What would you like to eat?"

Isaac blurted out, "Steak."

"How would you like it?"

"Medium-well."

Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you use to eat only rare?"

Isaac said flatly, "I like medium-well now."

Kaelen understood what Isaac meant—a rare steak would have blood, and some people might find it unpleasant to look at.

Xie Fengshi didn't think much of it; he just felt Isaac was unusually quiet tonight, even though Isaac usually wasn't talkative around him. After the server left, Xie Fengshi asked softly, "Are you feeling unwell today?"

Isaac shook his head.

"Then why aren't you talking?"

Isaac said, "I'm thinking about something."

"About what?"

Isaac glanced at Kaelen, then at Xie Fengshi. "I'm thinking whether I should sit at another table while you two eat."

Kaelen: ...

Xie Fengshi: ...

The air grew silent. Kaelen spoke first: "Why would you sit at another table?"

Isaac said matter-of-factly, "Because you two look like you don't want me here."

Xie Fengshi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What makes you think I don't want you here?"

Isaac pointed at Kaelen. "When you were looking at the menu just now, you leaned so close to him, and he let you."

"So what? I couldn't read the menu, and your brother was helping me translate."

"You could have asked me."

"Do you know French?"

"No."

"Then there you go."

Isaac insisted, "But you didn't have to lean in that close. You could have taken the menu over to your side."

Kaelen listened with a grin, not only not helping but looking like he was enjoying the show.

Xie Fengshi shot him a glare: Say something!

Kaelen caught the look. "Isaac, if you want to sit at another table, you can go now."

Isaac's expression changed instantly. "Kaelen!"

"Didn't you say you wanted to? There should be seats over there. I'll have the server arrange it."

"I don't want to!"

"Then just sit properly."

"I am sitting properly!"

"Then why did you just say you wanted to sit at another table?"

Isaac was silent for a long moment. "I was testing you two!"

"Testing what?"

"Testing whether you have any conscience!"

Kaelen took a sip of water and said calmly, "And the result?"

Isaac slumped back into his chair, sulking. "None! Neither of you has any!"

Xie Fengshi was laughing so hard his shoulders were shaking.

When the appetizers arrived, Isaac's attention immediately shifted.

The foie gras mousse was served in a small white porcelain cup, topped with golden caramel shards and a few pink peppercorns, accompanied by a dish of fig jam and a basket of crispy toasted bread slices.

Xie Fengshi dipped a piece of bread into the mousse and took a bite. His eyes lit up.

The foie gras mousse was incredibly smooth, melting on the tongue. The richness of the fat and the sweetness of the fig jam blended perfectly, the caramel shards added just the right crunch, and the peppercorns left a subtle spiciness that elevated everything.

Kaelen had been watching Xie Fengshi's expression. "How is it?"

Xie Fengshi nodded. "Delicious."

He dipped another piece and offered it. "Try it."

Halfway through handing it over, Xie Fengshi suddenly realized the gesture was too intimate. Just as he hesitated whether to pull back, Kaelen had already lowered his head. Whether intentional or not, his cool lips brushed Xie Fengshi's fingertips, and as he chewed, his deep blue eyes remained fixed on him.

"Very good," Kaelen said.

Xie Fengshi quickly withdrew his hand, unable to ignore the lingering sensation on his fingertips.

Isaac sat across from them, quietly eating his own appetizer. He had ordered snails, using special small tongs and two-pronged fork with practiced ease.

Xie Fengshi asked curiously, "Is it good?"

Isaac picked out another snail and placed it on Xie Fengshi's bread slice. "Not bad. Try it."

Xie Fengshi took a bite. The flavor of garlic butter filled his mouth, mingling with the parsley and the wheaty aroma of the bread. The snail meat was firm and chewy, better than he had imagined.

When the main course arrived, Xie Fengshi finally saw the legendary duck confit leg.

The duck leg was pan-fried until golden and crispy; a gentle touch of the fork made the meat fall off the bone, while the inside remained tender and juicy. The mashed potatoes, as Kaelen had said, were savory and rich, with a creamy texture that seemed to have been sieved repeatedly.

With the first bite, Xie Fengshi let out a satisfied sigh he hadn't even noticed.

Kaelen had been cutting his steak when he heard the sound. He looked up to see Xie Fengshi chewing with his eyes narrowed in satisfaction, curved into crescents. Kaelen's gaze lingered on that face for a moment before he lowered his head and continued what he was doing.

Xie Fengshi noticed Kaelen's gaze. "Why aren't you eating?"

“I'm eating.” Kaelen forked a piece into his mouth, chewing slowly and deliberately.

Xie Fengshi poked at the mashed potatoes on his plate. “Stop staring at me and just eat your food.”

“I am eating properly,” Kaelen said, a little indignantly. “You look delicious when you eat—it makes anyone watching you have a bigger appetite.”

Xie Fengshi chuckled. “What kind of twisted logic is that?”

Kaelen disagreed. “There’s a concept in physiology called mirror neurons. When you see someone enjoying food, the observer’s brain simulates the same experience, which enhances their own appetite.”

Isaac looked up from his steak. “He's saying the way you eat makes everything look appetizing.”

Xie Fengshi: …

After the main course was cleared, the server brought out dessert. The crème brûlée had a thin, brittle caramelized sugar crust on top, which shattered with a gentle tap of the spoon, revealing the soft yellow custard beneath—melting in the mouth, with milk and egg flavors slowly spreading on the tongue.

After a couple of bites, Xie Fengshi suddenly remembered something and put down his spoon. “Oh, by the way, there’s something I need to tell you both. I’m leaving Good Fortune at the end of this month.”

Isaac froze. “What? Why are you leaving?”

Xie Fengshi explained, “It’s not a bad thing. I’m going to cook for a private family now, and I’ll also take on some orders for noodles. I did the math—it pays better than working at the shop, and the schedule is more flexible. I can also save up enough to move to a better apartment. Besides, the new person will arrive in a few days. I’ll just teach them everything they need to know.”

Kaelen set down his coffee cup. “Where do you want to move to?”

Xie Fengshi thought for a moment. “Somewhere near the university—it’ll be convenient for classes and closer to Lu Shiyan and the others.”

“What about rent?”

“I checked—it’s affordable if I share a place, but expensive if I live alone. But if I can keep my current workload going, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Kaelen nodded. “You've planned it out very well.”

Xie Fengshi looked down and poked at his crème brûlée. “I just want to make my life a little better.”

“You’re already doing well,” Kaelen said, as if stating an ordinary fact. “Starting from zero, you’ve found your footing in just a few months and even discovered a new direction. Not many people can do that.”

Isaac nodded in agreement with his brother. “He’s always been impressive.”

Xie Fengshi felt embarrassed by the two brothers praising him one after the other. “Stop flattering me—if you keep it up, the crème brûlée won't even taste sweet.”

Isaac didn’t buy it and took a bite of his own. “Nonsense, it’s sweet.”

Kaelen shook his head helplessly at his silly brother. “What are you planning to do after graduation?”

Xie Fengshi was taken aback. It wasn’t that he’d never thought about it—but every time the idea came up, he instinctively skirted around it, like avoiding a pothole in the road. You just go around it—you don’t have to jump in to see how deep it is.

But now Kaelen had put the question right in front of him. There was no avoiding it.

Xie Fengshi answered honestly, “I haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Is it that you haven’t figured it out, or that you don’t dare to think about it?”

Xie Fengshi paused for a moment. “Maybe a bit of both. When I first got here, all I could think about was how to earn more money and move to a better apartment. Beyond that… I really haven’t thought about it.”

He looked up and met Kaelen’s eyes. “Does that make me a disappointment?”

“No,” Kaelen said. “It’s perfectly normal.”

He set down his coffee cup and leaned forward slightly, bringing him close enough for Xie Fengshi to see a flicker of light in his eyes.

Xie Fengshi listened as Kaelen went on, “You came out of a huge storm. Just staying steady on your feet is an accomplishment. Expecting someone who has barely found their footing to plan three years ahead is unrealistic. But Fengshi, you're far from that storm now. You can start thinking about these things.”