Gu Yan asked a few more questions about Jiang Wan’s situation, and Jiang Shining answered truthfully.
After chatting for nearly two hours, the two finally walked out of Qinghe Ji.
When she entered, Jiang Shining had empty hands, but when she left, not only did she have an extra bracelet on her wrist, but she was also carrying a bag of tea leaves and pastries gifted from the third floor of Qinghe Ji.
It could be said she returned fully loaded.
Gu Yan: “Shall I take you home or to the café?”
Jiang Shining knew what her wealthy father was thinking.
She said calmly, “Let’s go home.”
The Maybach sped through the city, only slowing down when it reached Obsidian Street.
Obsidian Street was different from other places in Z City.
The street was filled with idle young people standing around, vendors setting up stalls everywhere, and flickering neon lights.
Gu Yan frowned as he looked out the window. “You live here?”
Jiang Shining nodded.
The book never explained why Jiang Wan chose this place.
She looked toward a spot on the street and saw a familiar figure.
“We’re here.”
“My mom is over there.”
Gu Yan followed Jiang Shining’s gaze and saw Jiang Wan standing there.
The weather in June was quite stuffy and hot.
Jiang Wan had braided her jet-black long hair, letting it hang loosely to one side. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeved hand.
Time does not diminish beauty.
Jiang Wan, now in her thirties, was still radiant, even more so with the charm of a mature beauty. Gu Yan felt his heart flutter just as it had back then, unable to look away.
He even dared only to watch her from afar.
Gu Yan raised his hand, and the Maybach stopped under the shade of a tree, dozens of meters away from the stall.
Looking at Jiang Wan, Gu Yan felt a lump in his throat.
“My mom’s cooking is really good, Uncle Gu. Would you like to try some?”
Jiang Shining was mercilessly twisting the knife beside Gu Yan.
Gu Yan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “No… I would.”
The words of refusal turned into something else as they left his mouth.
Was that a yes or a no?
Jiang Shining watched the dazed Gu Yan and got out of the car, walking toward Jiang Wan at the stall.
Jiang Wan, who had just finished her work, instantly broke into a smile the moment she saw Jiang Shining.
A gentle breeze brushed past.
Gu Yan in the car felt as though Jiang Wan was smiling at him.
“Mr. Gu, the Gu family matriarch has been urging you to return yesterday and today—”
Gu Yan raised his hand to interrupt. “No rush. I’ll leave in a few days.”
Having finally found the person from his memories, how could he give up so easily?
At the street corner pancake stall.
Seeing Jiang Shining carrying two large bags, Jiang Wan hurried over to help, but her unsteady gait made it impossible not to notice her bandaged foot.
“Don’t.” Jiang Shining raised her hand to stop her. “I can manage on my own. You’re still injured.”
She hadn’t forgotten the wound on Jiang Wan’s ankle.
Jiang Shining placed the two large bags on the table.
Jiang Wan asked curiously, “What’s this?”
Jiang Shining: “Gifts from someone.”
She looked at her mother standing there and smiled. “Mom, could you make me a pancake?”
Jiang Wan asked curiously, “Are you hungry?”
Jiang Shining shook her head. “No, it’s for a friend.”
The timing wasn’t right, so Jiang Shining didn’t plan to reveal that she had found her father just yet.
The oil sizzled in the pan.
Jiang Wan’s movements were practiced.
In no time, a deluxe Shandong multigrain pancake was freshly made.
Jiang Wan handed the pancake to Jiang Shining.
Jiang Shining looked at the pancake in her hand, then turned and walked toward the black Maybach under the shade of the tree.
Knock, knock.
The rear window rolled down.
Jiang Shining handed the pancake in her hand over, offering a faint smile to Gu Yan inside the car.
“Uncle Gu, my mom said to treat you.”
She stuffed the pancake directly into Gu Yan’s hand, not bothering to look at the reaction of the person inside the car, and immediately turned back toward the pancake stall.
The Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet and cinnabar beads clinked together as she walked.
Having received so many favors, treating her wealthy father to a pancake was an extremely good deal.
Jiang Shining returned to the stall.
Jiang Wan curiously glanced at the black car. “Ning, why didn’t your friend come down?”
Jiang Shining leisurely helped her mother fry sausages for the customers.
She replied casually, “He’s too shy to see you.”
Jiang Wan looked puzzledly at the black car.
The distance was too far, and Gu Yan was sitting in the back seat. Jiang Wan watched for a while but still couldn’t make out anything, so she didn’t continue looking.
The black car waited in place for half an hour before finally starting up.
From dusk until dark.
Business at Jiang Wan’s stall remained brisk, and Jiang Shining stayed busy the whole time.
Until someone stepped up to the stall.
“What would you like to add?”
“Nothing.”
A familiar voice rang out. Jiang Shining froze for a moment before turning to see Qin Wang standing in front of the stall.
Oh no!
Only upon seeing Qin Wang did she remember that he had said something to her earlier at the coffee shop.
She thought about it.
Qin Wang’s low voice sounded, “Didn’t I say I’d pick you up?”
Right, Qin Wang had said he would pick her up earlier.
Jiang Shining awkwardly set down the egg. “I forgot.”
She really had forgotten.
“The coffee shop owner said you went back.”
Qin Wang’s gaze fell on Jiang Shining’s wrist, noticing the additional silver bracelet, his brow furrowing tightly.
“Where did that come from?”
It hadn’t been there during the day.
Jiang Shining turned her head away. “Someone gave it to me.”
Qin Wang frowned. “Don’t accept things from strangers. I told you before—”
Jiang Shining quietly reached one hand under the stall, pulling it back out with a wagashi in her palm.
“For you.”
Jiang Shining pushed the wagashi toward Qin Wang.
The wagashi from Qinghe Ji were all handmade by the master pastry chef on-site.
The one she held was an ice-blue, sugar-flower-shaped wagashi.
“It’s from Qinghe Ji. I saved it especially for you.”
“It’s the same kind I brought you when I worked there before.”
“Very sweet and soft.”
Two months ago, when Jiang Shining worked at Qinghe Ji, she had brought Qin Wang this same wagashi. Back then, in the heat of their romance, she had even paid for it specially.
Qin Wang looked at the wagashi but made no move.
Jiang Wan’s voice sounded from the side. “Ning, we’re out of napkins. Grab a pack.”
“Coming.”
Jiang Shining responded.
Seeing Qin Wang still standing motionless at the stall, she stood on tiptoe and stuffed the ice-blue wagashi into his pocket.
Making sure Jiang Wan, who was busy nearby, hadn’t noticed them.
Jiang Shining strained on her toes, her red lips lightly brushing the right side of Qin Wang’s cheek.
The gesture was discreet—not only did Jiang Wan, busy organizing behind them, miss it, but even the customers waiting in line didn’t notice.
Qin Wang stared blankly at Jiang Shining, who stood before the stall as if nothing had happened.
Jiang Shining gazed at him softly. “There are still customers waiting. Why don’t you head back first?”
Qin Wang remained silent.
Receiving no response, Jiang Shining pulled a pack of napkins from under the stall and walked over to Jiang Wan.
“Napkins.”
Jiang Shining placed a stack of napkins on the wooden table.
“Mm.”
Jiang Wan nodded while wiping the table.
“Business is getting better and better.”
“Xiao Ning, I feel like every time you come, the stall’s business is much better than before.”
Jiang Shining didn’t take it seriously, “Probably just a coincidence!”
“Or maybe they’re coming for your looks, Mom?”
Jiang Shining thought it would be more appropriate if they were coming for her gentle, first-love-like mother rather than herself.
“Cheeky.”
Jiang Wan smiled, but her gaze paused when it landed on someone.
“Is that… the person next door?”