After the meal, Lin Zhiyi originally planned to pay the bill while heading to the restroom.
After all, it wasn’t easy for Sister Zheng to run a business alone.
But the cashier said, "The gentleman who came with you has already paid."
Lin Zhiyi was slightly taken aback and turned back toward the table, but Gong Chen was nowhere to be seen.
She looked around and walked over, just as everyone else was getting up.
She quickly said, "Let me send you all a little thank-you red envelope. Thanks for today."
Liao Yi waved his phone. "No need, someone already gave it. The boss is generous, so... we’ll head out now. I’ll grab a cab back to the hotel myself later."
As he spoke, Liao Yi didn’t even give Lin Zhiyi a chance to reply and pulled a staff member along before bolting.
Lin Zhiyi still didn’t see any sign of Gong Chen.
Sister Zheng pointed at a silhouette standing tall outside the window. "He said he’ll wait for you outside. Go on."
Lin Zhiyi hesitated. "Sister Zheng, actually..."
"Zhiyi, life is too short. Look at my late husband; he used to say he’d save up to get us a big house. And what happened? He’s gone now, and everything we planned is gone too. The morning he left, I even had a spat with him."
Sister Zheng’s husband had been hit by a bus while delivering food. He’d died on the spot.
How could there not be regrets?
Lin Zhiyi didn’t say anything more. She bid farewell and walked out of the restaurant.
Gong Chen stood under the streetlight, his tall figure lengthened by the glow. His black eyes gazed at the distant sea beneath his wind-tousled hair.
He stood as still as a painting.
He turned and looked at Lin Zhiyi, suddenly stepping closer to her, reaching out to take her hand.
Lin Zhiyi instinctively scanned the surroundings, struggling slightly. "You’re not wearing a mask. Let go. There might still be reporters around."
Gong Chen said indifferently, "Let them take pictures if they want."
Lin Zhiyi froze for a moment but ended up letting him hold her hand as they walked forward.
Along the way, they encountered many neighbors.
"Zhiyi, is this... your boyfriend? Not bad!" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"Zhiyi, I told you Du Qian couldn’t have you, so he just wanted to ruin you. Sending those two old folks to cause trouble at your house—what a mess! Now that you have a boyfriend, let’s see if he still dares mess around."
After hearing this, Lin Zhiyi suddenly understood something. She turned to Gong Chen.
"You’re doing this to help me dispel the rumors about Du Qian?"
"Do I need to see him as an enemy? Can’t I just want some clarity for myself? As Lin Zhiyi’s... friend." Gong Chen emphasized the word "friend."
The night breeze lifted Lin Zhiyi’s long hair, exposing the blush she’d tried so hard to hide.
Flustered, she pretended to look down at her phone. "It’s late. Xingxing might be looking for me. Let’s go back."
Saying this, she naturally withdrew her hand and quickened her pace toward the parking lot.
Gong Chen looked at her, the light in his eyes softening as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
...
Hotel room.
Li Huan was in a panic, sweating profusely as Xingxing refused to eat.
"Oh, ancestor, you’re even harder to take care of than your dad. Come on, open your mouth and eat something."
Xingxing glared at him, then turned her head to the side.
Li Huan sighed and said to Chen Jin, "Should we just put her on an IV drip with glucose? That’ll keep her going too."
Chen Jin raised an eyebrow and shot him a look. "I’m not looking to die anytime soon, thanks."
Li Huan scratched his head anxiously. "What do we do? Why won’t she eat? She won’t drink milk either. I’ve already tried three different foods."
Gazing at Xingxing’s pouting face, Chen Jin seemed to think of something.
"Call for someone who’s good at handling this."
"Who?"
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang.
Li Huan opened the door and immediately tried to shut it again, but the person outside blocked it with one hand.
Zhou Zhao stood at the doorway holding a fancy gift bag, leaning casually against the doorframe with a smile. "Heard you missed me?"
Li Huan let go of the door and turned to Chen Jin. "This is the person you said could help?"
Zhou Zhao took off his suit jacket and quipped, "What? Don’t I look the part? My words are sweet, you know."
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