"Before Seo Zhenzhen had the car accident, you couldn’t win her heart, and now that she’s disabled, you still can’t win her heart. I’m the joke, so aren’t you one too?"
Cheng Zhiwei grabbed her phone and stood up, "By the way, Young Master He, Zhou Lin left, don’t forget to pay the bill."
She waved her hand and walked away with ease.
He Lanzhi was left behind, so furious she almost flipped the table.
Sharp-tongued Cheng Zhiwei, just you wait, there’s a big surprise waiting for you.
Cheng Zhi reached the entrance of the restaurant, and not seeing the car Zhou Lin ntioned was for sending Seo Zhenzhen out, she knew he probably took her straight ho.
A woman stood up from behind the counter and chased after her, "Young Madam, please wait, the Young Master asked you to wait here for him, he will be back soon to pick you up."
Cheng Zhiwei recognized her, it was the woman who had pushed Seo Zhenzhen into the private room earlier, the Xiao Man ntioned by He Lanzhi. She nodded gently, "Okay, I got it."
If Zhou Lin asked her to wait, she would wait.
Xiao Man curiously sized her up, continuing to speak, "It’s cold outside, please co in and wait."
Cheng Zhiwei followed her inside, found a spot to sit down, and Xiao Man poured her another cup of hot water before returning to the counter.
Cheng Zhiwei ended up waiting until six in the evening.
The autumn rain was light and persistent, the sky had already darkened, and passersby were bustling about. Cheng Zhiwei turned her head to look, feeling extrely awkward inside.
It wasn’t that she felt bad, but to say she wasn’t uncomfortable would be to deny the emptiness she felt in her heart.
She couldn’t help but think that if she had not agreed to marry Zhou Lin in the beginning, she might be on the path to pursuing her dreams now, or perhaps like her sister Cheng Zhiyin, fulfilling their parents’ expectations by becoming a teacher and living a stable and peaceful life.
Xiao Man ca over with the kettle, refilling Cheng Zhiwei’s cup with hot water for the third ti, and asked softly, "Do you want to eat sothing with us?"
As she spoke, she smiled shyly with a little embarrassnt. "It’s hot pot..."
The private kitchen often catered to personal orders, and since there weren’t many reservations today, with the continuous autumn rain outside, they decided to have hot pot.
"Sure." Cheng Zhiwei looked up with a smile and politely thanked her, "That would be lovely, thank you."
"Not at all, not at all." Xiao Man was delighted and giggled again, "Young Madam, you’re really beautiful."
"I must be a little older than you, you can call sister." Cheng Zhiwei could clearly sense the kindness and innocence of the girl in front of her, and she was equally willing to offer her own kindness.
Xiao Man called out to the kitchen, "Dad, bring out the hot pot now, the Young Madam said she’ll eat with us."
The quiet kitchen instantly ca to life as a middle-aged man cheerfully brought out the pot, steaming and brimming with fresh aroma.
A three- or four-year-old boy ran out following him, sturdy and energetic, his yellow jacket stained with the multicolor of watercolor pens.
He instantly threw himself at Cheng Zhiwei’s legs, not shy at all, "Auntie, hug."
Xiao Man was startled and hurried to pull the child away, "Xiao Bao, don’t bother the guest."
Before she could finish, she was surprised.
Because Cheng Zhiwei had already lifted Xiao Bao into her arms with a gentle expression, even patting his head, "Are you called Xiao Bao?"
She didn’t show any concern about the stains from Xiao Bao’s watercolor pens on her off-white coat.
"Xiao Bao is young; he just likes pretty sisters. Don’t be mad, okay? Xiao Bao, co here, let Aunty hold you." Xiao Man reached out to take the child.
Xiao Bao clung to Cheng Zhiwei’s neck and wouldn’t let go, "I want Auntie to hold , only Auntie."
"Xiao Bao, be good."
"I just need to hold him." Cheng Zhiwei said soothingly as she patted Xiao Bao’s back and sat down again.
Xiao Man apologized with embarrassnt, "Sorry for the trouble."
By the ti Xiao Bao’s parents had busily served all the dishes, they were startled to see Xiao Bao clinging to Cheng Zhiwei, but after a quick explanation, they were reassured.
Soon, the family gathered around the table, and seeing that Cheng Zhiwei had no airs about her, the atmosphere imdiately relaxed.
Cheng Zhiwei dipped so vegetables in the clear soup and slowly fed Xiao Bao, who was exceptionally well-behaved.
As they chatted, the conversation turned to old tis.
Xiao Bao’s dad said with gratitude, "Young Madam, your gentle deanor really resembles Aunt Lin. It’s thanks to her that our family found a place to settle down."
Xiao Bao’s mom added on, "Indeed, she almost died at that person’s hand and still saved our mom. Otherwise, who knows where our family would be today."
Cheng Zhiwei was taken aback and asked out of curiosity what had happened, as her mory of Lin Yu was that of an elegant lady of grace, whose every move exuded the deanor of soone brought up in luxury.
Could such a person have known pain?
After taking a sip of alcohol, Xiao Man’s father smacked his lips and said, "All just old stories, best left alone, best left alone."
Xiao Bao’s parents exchanged a look and then dropped the subject.
Seeing their reluctance to talk, Cheng Zhiwei knew it must involve so secrets, so she did not pry any further and simply played with the child.
"Xiao Bao never likes to interact with unfamiliar people, but today is an exception," Xiao Bao’s mom said with a smile as she steered the conversation back.
Cheng Zhiwei exclaid, "Ah," and also laughed, "I thought he wasn’t shy at all."
"It must be because the Young Madam is beautiful and kind," interjected Xiao Man.
Cheng Zhiwei smiled but said nothing. At that mont, the empty feeling inside her was slowly filled with a warm emotion.
This was the simple life she longed for.
"Could you pour a glass of alcohol?" Cheng Zhiwei handed Xiao Bao back to his mother and asked Xiao Man.
"Of course, of course." Xiao Man put down his chopsticks and quickly took a glass from the counter, thought for a mont, scalded it with hot water, and then placed it in front of Cheng Zhiwei.
Xiao Man’s father told her to bring out their best alcohol.
"Just this one will do," Cheng Zhiwei pointed to the small jug on the table. "This is your homade alcohol, right? It slls quite fragrant; may I try it?"
Xiao Man hesitated and then advised, "This alcohol is indeed our own brew, around forty or fifty degrees, quite potent. I’ll get you so fruit wine instead; it’s lower in alcohol content and tastes not bad."
"I want this one," Cheng Zhiwei said with a faint smile. She was in a good mood now and just wanted to drink.
To have a proper drunken spell, to chase all those annoying things out of her mind.
"But..." Xiao Man was still reluctant, worried that Young Master He would be angry if they let the Young Madam drink such strong alcohol.
"Pour it for the Young Madam," Xiao Man’s father intervened, having gone through half a lifeti of hardships, he could understand the pain in Cheng Zhiwei’s eyes. He had also heard a thing or two about the Young Madam from his wife, Wang i, and knew she had a hard life.
"Dad."
"We have guest rooms upstairs; if the Young Madam gets drunk later, she can stay here tonight," Xiao Man’s father arranged.
"Thank you, Uncle," said Cheng Zhiwei as she tucked her long hair behind her ear and raised the wine glass to Xiao Man. "Xiao Man, pour a glass quickly. It slls so good I can hardly wait."
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