Within a minute of sending the message, Wen Shulin’s phone call came through.
"Finally willing to come back?"
Wen Shulin’s voice was light-hearted, but a note of reproach could be heard.
"Look at what you’re saying, I wasn’t just..."
"Don’t try to fool me; I know your contract was signed three days ago."
Wen Shulin chuckled, seemingly very familiar with Chen Cheng’s schedule.
Chen Cheng thought about it and figured it was probably Xu Qiu and the others, who, under pressure, had come clean to Wen Shulin about the past few days.
As for whether they mentioned Meng Wanning, he was none the wiser.
At least, from the tone of her voice now, it didn’t seem like anything serious.
"Oh, there’s a mole among our own people, huh!"
Wen Shulin hummed, "It’s good that you’re back."
She paused, "I’ll come see you tonight."
"Tonight? That urgent?"
"What are you thinking? I just want to see you." Wen Shulin spoke with feigned annoyance, "To see if you’re missing any arms or legs, to see if that wandering spirit of yours has been brought back."
Listening to this, Chen Cheng understood, "Ahem, after all this fuss, you’re jealous, aren’t you?"
Wen Shulin didn’t want to admit it and changed the subject, "Tell Xiao Er I’ll come over tonight."
After hanging up the phone, it wasn’t long before Xiao Meier came out with a plate of fried rice, the golden grains interspersed with bright green onions, a comforting homemade egg fried rice about to soothe Chen Cheng’s taste buds.
"Xiao Cheng, time to eat."
Chen Cheng smiled and walked over, took up a spoon, and took a big bite, "Mm, my wife’s cooking really hits the spot."
Xiao Meier watched him wolf down his food, "Take it easy, no one’s fighting you for it."
She poured Chen Cheng a cup of tea and sat beside him, expressing concern, "How’s business this time?"
While eating fried rice, Chen Cheng recounted his trip to Xiao Meier, omitting Meng Wanning’s companionship and not mentioning being followed, choosing lighter moments to share with her.
Xiao Meier listened with great interest and chuckled, "What? Xiao Hai even drank raw deer blood? That must’ve been strong."
"Tell me about it," Chen Cheng responded, "If it wasn’t for him, I would’ve had to drink that bowl of blood."
"Terrifying." Xiao Meier patted her chest, sighing with relief, "I didn’t realize business was so tough."
"It’s probably because I’m a novice."
Chen Cheng spoke slowly, "It likely wouldn’t have been this troublesome if it were Mr. Jin."
Chen Cheng took another bite and suddenly remembered something.
He quickly walked to his suitcase, opened it, and took out a large red velvet pouch.
"Here, a gift for you."
Xiao Meier: "You bought me something again?"
"Every trip I have to bring you something, it’s a rule." Chen Cheng sat back down, "I didn’t find anything interesting there, just some silver jewelry."
"Tsk, you’re always wasting money." Xiao Meier reproached with her words, but her face betrayed a smiling expression.
She took the velvet pouch and carefully opened it, inside was a pair of exquisite silver earrings, finely crafted and uniquely designed.
"They’re not worth much."
"You’re so busy and yet you remember to buy me a gift, it’s not about the money anymore."
After hearing that, Chen Cheng smiled and pinched Xiao Meier’s cheek, "Sister Er is becoming more silver-tongued."
Xiao Meier slapped Chen Cheng’s hand and eagerly tried on the earrings, "Do they look good?"
"Beautiful, a real beauty!"
"You’ve got honey on your lips! You sweet-talk without even blinking!"
She giggled and shook her head, "Right, there’s more news."
Chen Cheng kept eating, "What else?"
"Xia Bao’s basketball court is ready. He came looking for you a few times, wanting to confirm the opening date with you."
"The milk tea shop’s renovation is almost done as well. Currently, it’s just the last two stores, which are expected to be finished in the next couple of days."
Xiao Meier meticulously reported the progress of the past week while Chen Cheng was away.
"Also, there were two parcels the other day, one sent from Qianzhou."
She paused, "Why did you buy so much tea?"
Chen Cheng came back to his senses and thought, "It wasn’t a purchase, it was a gift from a friend. I said I was opening a milk tea shop, and he said to try this tea to see if it would work."
"That’s a lot though, 1000 pounds." Xiao Meier shrugged, "I had Shu Biao take it to the warehouse."
"Sure, we’ll use it gradually." Chen Cheng finished the last mouthful, "Anything else?"
Xiao Meier smiled radiantly, "Mei Xiang sent rice."
"Yes! It’s this year’s new rice at that!" Xiao Meier pointed at the empty dish, "What you just ate was fried with the rice she sent."
"But there wasn’t much, so I didn’t have them cook it to sell."
Chen Cheng stared at the empty dish, momentarily flustered.
"Rice matures this quick in Gunma?" he wondered to himself.
He recalled the video call with Mei Xiang from just four or five days ago; it seems this foreign girl really couldn’t wait any longer.
Xiao Meier rested her chin on her hand, "Xiao Cheng, what should we send Mei Xiang as a reciprocal gift?"
"No need, she will come here after a while. When she does, just take good care of her."
Xiao Meier’s eyes widened in anticipation, "Mei Xiang is coming?"
Chen Cheng was also preparing for his forthcoming trip abroad; he nodded, "Miss Wen will explain the reason tonight."
"Sister Lin is coming over tonight?"
"Yes, she just called me." Chen Cheng added, "Right when you were frying rice."
"Then I’ll reserve the private room."
Chen Cheng waved off the suggestion with a smile, "No need, we’ll just set up a small table outside, can’t let business suffer, right?"
At 6 pm, outside Wanbao Hall, under the Big Willow Tree.
It was the same small table that had changed Chen Cheng and Wen Shulin’s destinies, but this time, there were only three of them: Chen Cheng, Xiao Meier, and Wen Shulin.