During the next two days, Xiang ChangKong didnât receive a single order from Xu Lian. He was relieved, but at the same time, confused.
He didnât see Xu Lian, but he did see Wei YiChen.
He didnât know Wei YiChenâs name, but he did see him three times already around Xu Lianâs store, so he recognized him.
He wore the same black leather motorcycle jacket, two prominent studs on his right ear, and was sitting in a coffee shop with a beautiful girl.
Xiang ChangKong had come to the coffee shop to pick up an order. He didnât go to coffee shops very often, but he did know that this place was famous for being a matchmaking meetup. Every time he passed by, he could see different men and women sitting together.
He looked towards Wei YiChenâs direction and slightly frowned. Was Wei YiChen here to meet with a woman? Isnât heâŚXu Lianâs boyfriend?
Wei YiChen really was here for a blind date. When he fled the country because of the last blind date attempt, his father grew furious. Wei YiChen had wanted to stay away until everything blew over, but then Xu Lianâs store was trashed, so he quickly came back. The moment he stepped out of the plane, the Wei family started keeping a very close eye on him. So after cleaning Xu Lianâs store, he hardly left the confines of his family home.
Sitting opposite him right now was Uncle Nieâs daughter, Nie Lei.
To be fair, Nie Lei really was a very excellent girl. She was beautiful and had a high education. After chatting with her for a bit, Wei YiChen also found that she was an independent person with her own thoughts. Wei YiChen appreciated this aspect of hers, but that was it.
There are thousands of excellent girls in the world. He canât like them all.
âOh by the way, Uncle Wei said you were sick, are you better now?â Nie Lei took a sip of her coffee and looked at Wei YiChen.
Wei YiChen smiled and replied: âYouâre pretty smart. You donât really believe my fatherâs words do you?â
Nie Leiâs lips hooked up, and she didnât answer.
Wei YiChen commented: âYouâre a really great girl, if you really wanted a boyfriend you certainly wouldnât need to waste your time waiting for me. Truthfully, I already have someone I like. Thatâs why I didnât attend our previous blind date.â
Nei Lei wasnât surprised. Wei YiChen was a popular guy, it was normal for him to have a girl he liked. She came to this date only because her parents had asked her to. She came here with the attitude of merely completing a task and then going home.
She also heard a lot of rumors about Wei YiChen, so she was curious. Maybe it was because she had simply followed her parentâs roadmap and diligently studied ever since she was a child. All her life, she already knew what her future would look like, so she had been interested in the Wei YiChen, who constantly broke the rules.
But well, since he said everything out in the open, she no longer wanted to waste her time. âI understand. Iâll tell my father that weâre not really suitable for each other.â
Wei YiChen smiled at her and said: âThank you.â
Nei Lei looked at his sunny expression and said: âSmile at me like that again, and maybe Iâll change my mind.â
Wei YiChen: ââŚâ
After leaving the coffee shop, Wei YiChen took advantage of this rare freedom and went to Starlight Park to find Xu Lian. Meanwhile, Xu Lian was putting the finishing touches on her final order. After this, she could immediately deliver them, finally giving her at least two days of free time.
When Wei YiChen arrived, Xu Lian was taking care of the many plants and flowers in her store. After her Anthurium got injured the last time, she had consciously taken more care of it. She was afraid that if she didnât pay serious attention to it, she would accidentally feed it to death.
Wei YiChen slowly tiptoed towards her from behind, wanting to surprise her. But as soon as he got close, Xu Lian had turned around with a shovel in her hands. âWhat are you trying to do?â
ââŚâ Wei YiChenâs hands drew a big arc, and pretending to stretch, he said: âNothing, nothing, just wanted to exercise for a bit.â
âDo you need to that in here?â Xu Lian asked, deadpan.
âNoâŚ.â He followed Xu Lian as she went to the cash register. With a smile, he asked: âAre you free tonight? Iâll treat you to some dinner.â
Xu Lian looked up at him and replied: âI donât want to. Itâs Sunday, so a lot of people are going out.â
âThen how about tomorrow?â
âCan you even go out tomorrow?â Wei YiChen had been low-key nowadays. When she thought about it, Xu Lian figured it was because his family was keeping an eye on him.
Wei YiChen sneered. âI go when and where I want to go. Who can stop me, ah?â
Xu Lian tilted her head and looked behind him. âThose two men in black probably can.â
Wei YiChen turned around and frowned. It was the bodyguards his father had hired for him. They were responsible for keeping an eye on him, and unexpectedly, they found him.
But whatever, his motorcycle could outrun any car they had.
Wei YiChen looked back at Xu Lian and said: âIâll take you out to play after I settle things with my family.â
Then after putting his hands in his jean pockets, he left.
Zhang GuoEr soon arrived and passed the departing Wei YiChen. Seeing his pitiful look, she took out her little notebook and wrote a few things before entering the store. She then took a small red box from her backpack and handed it to Xu Lian: âBoss, this is for you.â
Xu Lian looked at the box. On the red packaging were large Arabic numbers and the words âultra-thinâ.
Xu Lian silently gave her a pointed stare. Zhang GuoEr couldnât stand the weight of the stare and exclaimed: âIt was a local product my friend brought back from her trip to Japan!â
Xu Lian: ââŚâ
What an amazing local specialty.
âShe said itâs super thin, and it moisturizing too!â
Xu Lian: ââŚâ
Zhang GuoEr shyly explained: âBut Iâm still a baby, so I canât use that kind of thing. I thought Iâd give it to you instead.â
âI canât use this either.â Xu Lian gave the box back to her then left to go up the studio on the second floor. Zhang GuoEr curled her mouth, then ran to the lounge and stuffed the box into Xu Lianâs bag.
Later, when Xu Lian came home from work, she opened her handbag, only to see the red box inside, right on top.
She was silent for a few seconds, calmly moved the box aside, then took out her home keys and opened the door.
After cooking and eating a simple bowl of noodles, Xu Lian went to her workshop to start packing some gift boxes. Because she didnât have any other hire, she did everything from making the candles to packaging the gift boxes herself.
The printing factory had already sent over 200 sets of gift boxes. Each looked exactly the same and was as big as a handbag. Xu Lian and Zhang GuoEr had packed everything into her car, and then she brought them home. Each gift box would have two scented candles, a gypsum board, and two honeycomb wax sticks. Xu Lian managed to pack 30 gift boxes before stopping to check the time.
It was half-past eleven.
The bowl of noodles that she had cooked didnât fill her up very much. Xu Lianâs brain was telling her that eating at such a late hour would make her fat, but she still unconsciously reached for her mobile phone and opened the takeout app.
They should still do deliveries at this time, right?
The takeout app had prudently displayed several late-night snake stores. She looked for a while, then ordered 20 barbecue sticks. She didnât waste time writing a note. After Xiang ChangKong told her that the orders were given to them in an automated system, she stopped writing notes in her orders.
Xiang ChangKong was currently on the night shift. When he saw the companyâs system message him Xu Lianâs order, his hands slowed. He thought he had been safe when he didnât get a single order from Xu Lian this afternoon. Unexpectedly, she still placed an order so late in the night.
He looked at the order. She bought food in a nearby barbecue place, and all the dishes were meat.
Eating so many greasy foods this late? Girls donât eat at night, do they?
He put his phone away and rode his scooter to the barbecue place. He had been very cautious these past two days, especially during peak times, because he had been worried about what he should do or say if he ever received an order from Xu Lian.
But well, as long as he continued to deliver takeout, and as long as Xu Lian continued to order takeout, he couldnât hide from her forever.
The problem was with him and his thoughts.
After getting Xu Lianâs takeout, Xiang ChangKong drove to Xu Lianâs neighborhood and to the address written in the order. He had delivered a lot of meals to Xu Lian already, but this was the first time he was delivering something to her house.
Since it was late at night, the security detail was more strict. But seeing Xiang ChangKongâs familiar face, the security man let him without too much trouble. Speaking of which, the security in Xu Lianâs neighborhood was pretty good. In other places, while there were a few young men doing security guard jobs, they would often be in and out as they found better jobs. In the end, the guards would eventually become retired elders.
But in Xu Lianâs neighborhood, most of the security guards were veterans. Despite being a small neighborhood, it was pretty secure.
Xu Lian lived at building 8, at a prime spot. Not only was she in the middle floor, but she wasnât living in between two neighbors. Building 8 was a six-story building, and Xu Lian lived on the fourth floor. When Xiang ChangKong entered, a resident was going on the elevator, so he just followed them in.
The resident in the elevator with him looked at him and asked: âItâs already midnight, and someoneâs still ordering takeout? Itâs been hard on you.â
Xiang ChangKong smiled and replied: âWe get different shifts. And we only deliver until 3:00 a.m.â
âThatâs still quite hard.â The resident sighed and left the elevator on the third floor. Xiang ChangKong stayed until the fourth floor, then finally arrived at apartment 402.
Although he tried to psych himself up the entire way to Xu Lianâs house, he still couldnât help but get nervous. Finally, he took a deep breath, and rang Xu Lianâs doorbell.
Xu Lian quickly came to her front door and saw Xiang ChangKong standing outside. After a second of hesitation, she blurted: âXiang ChangKong, itâs you.â
Xu Lian had written âXiang ChangKongâ in many of her orders, but she had never actually said his name out loud right in front of him. When Xu Lian said his name, Xiang ChangKongâs heart practically leaped out of his chest. She only needed to say his name, and he was already a mess.
âWell, well, ah, hello, your order is here.â Xiang ChangKong struggled to lift a corner of his mouth and raised his hand to pass Xu Lianâs order to her.
âThank you.â Xu Lian took the delivery, but didnât immediately go inside. She looked at Xiang ChangKong and asked: âYouâre still delivering food this late?â
Xiang ChangKong blinked. âWell, Iâm on the night shift today. I donât get off until midnight.â
âI see.â Xu Lian held the takeout in her hand and leaned against the doorframe. She looked at Xiang ChangKong for a long time. âDo you want to come in and sit down?â
âNo, no, no.â Xiang ChangKongâs tone was urgent. ââOur company has strict regulations with that sort of thing. Weâre not allowed to enter a customerâs home while delivering food.â
Xu Lian took out her phone from her pocket and turned it on. The number on the screen jumped from 23:59 to 00:00.
âYouâre off work now.â Xu Lian said, pointing the phone screen towards Xiang ChangKong.