"You really don’t know?" Mo Qishen’s dark expression lightened a bit.
"Really, I swear." Ni Yang held up three fingers.
Mo Qishen continued, "Then what were you just talking to him about? You two seemed quite happy chatting."
Ni Yang replied, "I told him my boyfriend has arrived, didn’t you see me pointing at you just now?"
With that explanation, Mo Qishen was completely relieved, "What shall we have for lunch?"
Ni Yang thought for a moment, then said, "Let’s go to Color and Fragrance, I’ve been craving Tiramisu."
This was Mo Qishen’s third visit to Color and Fragrance.
Color and Fragrance was a renowned restaurant in Beijing, and though it hadn’t been open for long, it had revolutionized the dining scene in the city.
"Yangyang, Color and Fragrance is your business, isn’t it?" Mo Qishen turned to look at Ni Yang.
Ni Yang was surprised and asked, "Mo Brother, how did you know?"
Mo Qishen had been particularly busy for a while, and Ni Yang wanted to keep it low-key, so she hadn’t told Mo Qishen about Color and Fragrance. But to her surprise, Mo Qishen had guessed it.
His thin lips curved slightly, "I recognized your style at first glance."
An old era had just ended, and at this time, the national sentiment favored Western culture.
Vintage culture was seen as old-fashioned and rotting, and few would decorate a restaurant in a traditional Chinese retro style, let alone employ Hanfu costumes as a uniform for the waitstaff.
"Mo Brother, you’re really smart," Ni Yang offered her praises without stinginess.
"Of course," Mo Qishen adopted Ni Yang’s usual arrogant tone, "Otherwise, how could I be your Mo Brother?"
Time flew by, and before they knew it, another week had passed.
After spending over a month with Ni Yang, Mo Qishen had to get busy again.
Before he left, Mo Qishen took Ni Yang to visit Grandpa Du.
Just like last time, Grandpa Du was sitting in the Buddha Hall, chanting scriptures.
Hearing the familiar sound of the wooden fish, Ni Yang whispered, "Mo Brother, is your Big Brother Du renouncing worldly pleasures?"
Mo Qishen nodded, "It’s very possible. However, Big Brother Du still has many things to sort out. I guess he won’t become a monk anytime soon."
As they were walking towards the Buddha Hall, footsteps were heard from behind, "Yangyang."
Ni Yang looked back slightly, "Sister Jiaojiao."
Mo Qishen nodded slightly, "Du Second Sister."
Du Jiaojiao looked at them, "Yangyang, are you really with this guy?"
"Yes, Sister Jiaojiao."
Du Jiaojiao continued, "I thought he would never marry, this is really disappointing."
Mo Qishen used to be quite ascetic.
Although Grandpa Du was not intent on celibacy, passing through a myriad of flowers without a single leaf touching him, Mo Qishen was thoroughly indifferent to women, not even having a female assistant around.
At one point, Du Jiaojiao doubted if there was something wrong with Mo Qishen’s health.
Otherwise, at his age, in the prime of life, how could he not like women?
So when Du Jiaojiao heard that Mo Qishen and Ni Yang were together, she thought it was a joke made by Grandpa Du.
But it turned out to be true.
Mo Qishen remained composed, "Du Second Sister, you jest."
Du Jiaojiao said with a smile, "Our Yangyang is so beautiful, you can’t let her down."
"Don’t worry, Du Second Sister."
Du Jiaojiao went on, "I’m relieved with your words."
While they were talking, Grandpa Du, holding Buddha Beads, walked out from the Buddha Hall, "Pei Zhi is here."
Du Jiaojiao said, "The weather is nice today, not hot and with a breeze. A younger sister of mine came over, too. Why don’t we sit in the Garden?"
"Alright," Grandpa Du nodded.
Ni Yang and Mo Qishen were guests, and guests followed their host’s lead, so naturally, they had no objections.
Du Jiaojiao’s good friend from Shanghai was called Fu Xiaoshuang. She was twenty-one this year, very pretty, petite and delicate, with finely drawn eyebrows like willow leaves and light lipstick, the epitome of a wealthy and pampered lady. Her soft-spoken manner could melt into one’s bones.
Fu Xiaoshuang had pursued Mo Qishen for a while, to no avail, so now she had set her sights on Grandpa Du.
Although Grandpa Du already had two mistresses, she didn’t mind.
She was more confident in winning over Grandpa Du than Mo Qishen, after all, Grandpa Du was a man known for indulging in pleasures.
To become the matron of the Du Family was to rule over the flourishing Shanghai; thereafter, it would be her Fu family’s domain.