Chapter 31: Xiaoqing (Seeking Recommendations)

With the matter settled, Zhong Yun suddenly realized he was hungry. The previous night, he had received a notification from the bank in the middle of the night: every cent in his account was gone. Furious, he’d lost his appetite for breakfast. Now, however, his stomach was in full rebellion.

His parents weren’t home. Zhong Yun picked up the phone, ordered takeout from Yunlai Restaurant, then dialed his mother. “Mom, I’m back home.”

“Xiao Yun…” came her voice amid a flurry of chaotic noise in the background. “Mom, it sounds busy over there,” he remarked.

“Xiao Yun, I’m busy right now. We’ll talk when you’re home,” Yun Rong replied and hung up with a sharp click.

Listening to the dial tone, Zhong Yun was puzzled. His mother’s job wasn’t usually this hectic. Why did she sound like she was at her wits’ end?

He tried calling his father. This time, his father didn’t even let him finish. The moment Zhong Yun called out “Dad—” he was cut off. “Xiao Yun, we’ll talk when you’re home if there’s anything.” Beep, beep, beep.

Did they really have to be this busy? Zhong Yun chuckled helplessly. He knew his parents were workaholics, but this was a bit much. Besides, on the very first day of his school trip, his father had called to discuss selling “Nine Stars Encircling the Moon.” With their experience, his parents would certainly fetch a worthy price for such a treasure.

The proceeds would be more than enough for the family to live in comfort. Why push themselves so hard? Even if their careers mattered, wasn’t this too much? They couldn’t even pick up their son’s call.

Still grumbling, his phone rang again. This time it was a staff member from the Floral Sea in Fenghua City. “Your order has arrived. Please come to the door to receive it.”

Zhong Yun jumped up, delighted—just like a pillow delivered to a weary sleeper. He dashed outside to find a large cargo shuttle parked at the door.

After signing, he directed the staff to move the items up to the rooftop. Twenty-three iron lumps were lined up in rows and plugged in—done.

All these mini cryo-chambers were complimentary, capable of maintaining an internal temperature of minus one hundred degrees Celsius.

The staff gave him a quick rundown of their operation, left a manual, and assured him he could call anytime if there was a malfunction.

No sooner had they left than the Floral Sea called again, asking if he was satisfied with the staff’s service.

He gave them an “excellent” and hung up. Big companies really do have first-class service.

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

—

The moment the door opened, a charming young girl stood on the threshold, a sweet smile on her face. “Brother Yun.”

“Xiao Qing? Why are you the one making the delivery?” Zhong Yun was a little surprised.

Xiao Qing, carrying a large lunchbox, peered curiously inside. “There weren’t many customers at the restaurant, so I thought I’d come see you.”

“Come in,” Zhong Yun said, letting her inside.

“So this is your home, Brother? It’s beautiful.” Xiao Qing exclaimed in admiration, slipping off her shoes at the door and stepping barefoot onto the floor, her feet white and delicate.

Zhong Yun smiled slightly. The house was designed by his parents themselves—unique and elegant. Almost every guest was struck by its refreshing style.

“Sit down. Would you like something to drink?” Zhong Yun asked, heading to the fridge.

“Hm? Oh, anything’s fine,” Xiao Qing replied, setting the lunchbox on the table. She wandered around the living room, looking here and touching there, evidently curious about everything.

When Zhong Yun brought over some tea, he found Xiao Qing standing by the aquarium, poking the fish through the glass, thoroughly amused.

He placed the cups on the table and opened the lunchbox. “What’s on the menu today?”

Xiao Qing left the fish tank and said, “Let me!” She knelt by the table and opened the lunchbox layer by layer, arranging a variety of small dishes all over the table, along with a steaming pot of soup.

Watching her focused expression, Zhong Yun suddenly felt a stir of emotion. When someone treats you well for no reason, with no conditions, even a stone heart would be moved.

Tian Hai often complained that he didn’t understand why Xiao Qing was so good to him. Truth be told, Zhong Yun didn’t understand either.

Objectively, he knew his own shortcomings. Not only was he plain looking, he was introverted, not clever, had poor grades, and lacked ambition—just a useless guy.

If he were a girl, he would never choose someone like himself; any random man on the street would be better.

But Xiao Qing never minded. From the very first meeting, she’d been warm and friendly. Back then, she was just a little girl, sometimes helping out at her father’s restaurant.

According to her father, she used to be a wild child, always running around, but after meeting Zhong Yun, she changed—became quieter, better behaved.

Zhong Yun still remembered the second day he went to eat at the restaurant. Xiao Qing had volunteered to cook, nearly causing a kitchen fire. After much effort, she finally managed to serve a few dishes, all of which looked dreadful, charred as lumps of coal.

Xiao Qing’s lips had quivered, and she’d burst into tears, running away. Zhong Yun had chased her down, and right in front of her, picked up a piece of “charcoal” and ate it with relish.

Then Xiao Qing had rushed over, flung the blackened dishes onto the floor, and clung to him, sobbing her heart out.

From then on, Xiao Qing began to practice her cooking with determination. She was gifted; in less than two years, she’d mastered her father’s skills and even surpassed him. Her father was over the moon—finally, someone to inherit his craft.

But the one who benefited most was Zhong Yun. Xiao Qing poured her heart into cooking for him, making a dozen different dishes a day, never repeating a menu for a month.

Anyone would be moved by such devotion, even a block of wood, let alone him.

“Why are you so good to me?” Zhong Yun couldn’t help asking.

“Because I like you, Brother,” Xiao Qing answered without hesitation. She clapped her hands and urged him, “Go wash your hands.”

Seeing her natural, unaffected expression, Zhong Yun was briefly stunned. After being pushed a few times, he finally went to the bathroom. After washing his hands, he looked at his ordinary face in the mirror and chuckled softly, “Guess I have my own charm after all.”

———

“She’s back?” In a speeding shuttle, a handsome young man swirled a glass of red wine in his hand, asking indifferently.

Beside him, a man in his forties sat upright, chin tucked in, extremely respectful. He nodded. “She returned to her residence near the school ten minutes ago.”

“Mm.” The young man acknowledged without looking up.

“There’s one more thing…” The middle-aged man hesitated.

“Speak,” the young man commanded.

“For six out of the past seven days, she spent most of her time with a male student.”

The young man’s hand paused, spilling a drop of red wine. His eyes narrowed, and a chill crept into his voice. “Is it that boy from the Chen family?”

“No, it’s a student named Zhong Yun.”

“Zhong Yun?” The young man’s eyes flickered, and an extremely disagreeable face surfaced in his mind.

With a sharp “crack,” the glass in his hand shattered. Wine stained his fingers and the pristine carpet, glowing under the bright lights—red as blood.