The two of them walked side by side into the state-run restaurant, which was bustling and filled with the aroma of food. They had just settled at a corner table when Ye Li’s sharp ears picked up her number being called clearly. She quickly stood up and said to Duan Jiami, “Comrade Duan, you sit and rest for a bit! I’ll go get the food.”
Duan Jiami also stood quickly, skillfully securing his cane under his arm. “Comrade Ye, I’ll help you.”
Ye Li waved him off with an even brighter smile. “Comrade Duan, really, it’s fine. I didn’t order that many dishes today; I can manage by myself.”
With that, she walked briskly toward the food window. Wang Xiufen warmly handed her the dishes and winked. “Little sister, I made some spicy cabbage myself. Here, try a plate.”
Ye Li’s face lit up with a radiant smile as she repeatedly thanked her. “Oh, Sister Xiufen, how can I accept this? You’re too kind!”
Wang Xiufen felt delighted inside and replied generously, “I made it myself, it’s nothing! Go ahead and enjoy your meal.”
After a few more thanks, Ye Li ran a couple of times to bring all the dishes back to the table. Duan Jiami looked at the abundant food and felt a little guilty. He knew Ye Li had no standing in the Ye family, and it seemed she had spent quite a bit on this meal.
Ye Li sat down and greeted him warmly, “Comrade Duan, the food is simple, just help yourself! Let’s eat.” She handed him a large meat bun as she spoke.
Duan Jiami’s eyes flickered as he took the bun, observing Ye Li quietly. She wore two shiny black braids over a faded blue cloth blouse with neat patches on the collar and cuffs. She paired it with dark blue straight trousers and clean black cloth shoes.
She was very pretty—an oval face, fair skin, delicately arched eyebrows framing bright almond-shaped eyes. Her nose was fine, lips naturally rosy, and when she smiled, two dimples appeared faintly.
“Comrade Ye, you ordered so many dishes. This is really quite the expense,” Duan Jiami said.
Ye Li took a bite of the meat bun, her delicate features lighting up. Since her mother’s death, it was the first time she had eaten a large meat bun. She looked at Duan Jiami and smiled, “Comrade Duan, don’t be polite. I arranged this meal to thank you, so eat while it’s hot.”
Seeing Ye Li’s satisfied expression, Duan Jiami felt a surge of appetite. He took a bite of the bun; the meat was fragrant and juicy, delicious indeed.
The two ate in silence. Being a young woman, Ye Li felt full after one bun and some vegetables. She put down her chopsticks and smiled lightly at Duan Jiami. “Comrade Duan, the rest of the food is yours. Enjoy! Wasting food is shameful.”
Duan Jiami was slightly flustered by Ye Li’s lively and playful manner. “All right!” He averted his gaze, collected himself, and efficiently cleared the remaining dishes from the table.
After finishing, he looked at Ye Li with a clear expression and politely said, “Comrade Ye, thank you for the meal today! You mentioned earlier that you wanted to discuss something with me. Can we talk about it now?”
“Of course!” Ye Li put away her smile and adopted a serious expression. “I think, as someone involved, you should know about this matter.”
Duan Jiami’s expression remained calm as he smiled. “Comrade Ye, please go ahead.” He roughly understood what Ye Li wanted to say, since the matter involved the Ye family and his fiancée, Ye Zhirou.
Ye Li raised her eyebrows and looked at him with clear, water-like eyes. “Comrade Duan, this matter involves both you and me. I want to make a deal with you. I wonder if you’re interested in hearing it?”
A trace of understanding flickered in Duan Jiami’s eyes. It was indeed close to what he had guessed. He nodded, his dark eyes calm and unreadable. “Comrade Ye, please speak.”
Ye Li absentmindedly rubbed the corner of the table, organizing her words in her mind. “Comrade Duan, you may not know, but Ye Zhirou is now pregnant with Jiang Bowen’s child.”
She didn’t hide this from Duan Jiami, believing he had the right to know what his fiancée had done behind his back. Moreover, she had no obligation to cover for Ye Zhirou.
Duan Jiami was momentarily stunned, then let out a low laugh, seemingly unconcerned. “Comrade Ye, that’s her matter, not mine. If she wants to break the engagement, she can come to me herself.”
Ye Li was slightly taken aback; his attitude exceeded her expectations. She looked at him with admiration—Duan Jiami truly had composure. Even with his fiancée cheating on him, he remained unshaken.
“What’s with that look?” Duan Jiami thought, feeling a strange sensation. Was she looking at him with admiration or sympathy?
“Ah… oh, nothing!” The voice in her ear pulled Ye Li back to reality. She smiled, revealing her white teeth. “Ye Zhirou’s situation now leaves her no choice but to marry into the Jiang family. They’ve already approached me about breaking the engagement, and soon the Ye family will likely come to you.”
At this point, Ye Li suddenly shifted the topic. “May I be so bold as to ask, Comrade Duan, how did your leg get injured?”
Duan Jiami immediately became alert, his gaze sharp as he looked at Ye Li. In a deep voice, he said, “Comrade Ye, that is classified information. Why are you asking about it?”
Ye Li now seemed so strange, so different from the impression he had of her before. Could it be…? A bold thought crossed Duan Jiami’s mind: could she be an enemy agent, deliberately trying to get close to him? With that in mind, his eyes scrutinized her carefully.
Ye Li felt slightly uncomfortable under his gaze, but she still mustered the courage to speak. “Comrade Duan, I know you are now facing a broken engagement, and my situation in the Ye family has been unpleasant as well. Originally, the Ye family planned for me and Ye Zhirou to swap engagements. Since that’s the case, I want to propose a deal: you help me get free from the Ye family, and I’ll help heal your injured leg. We’ll enter a fake marriage, and after some time, we can find a chance to separate.”
Duan Jiami was somewhat surprised—he hadn’t expected her to propose such a deal—and he fell into deep thought. After a long moment, he just stared at Ye Li, then tentatively spoke, “My leg was injured during a mission, affecting the muscles and bones. Pardon my boldness, but I have never heard that you previously practiced medicine. Yet judging by the way you speak, it seems you’re very confident about curing my leg.”
Ye Li met his gaze, her expression serious as she explained, “Comrade Duan, my mother’s family has an ancestral method for treating muscle and bone injuries. I am confident I can heal your leg.”
Duan Jiami still had some doubts, but he also felt that Ye Li didn’t seem to be lying. Seeing that he didn’t respond, Ye Li grew a bit anxious and added, “Comrade Duan, this will benefit both of us. Please give it some thought.”
Duan Jiami looked at her eager expression, his heart stirred, and slowly said, “Let me think about it.”