Liang Jiaqiao raised his hand and ruffled Liang Muxi’s hair twice.
“You’ve lost weight.”
Liang Muxi cupped her face and smiled. “Really? Then I don’t need to go on a diet.”
Liang Jiaqiao smiled.
“Health is what matters most. No need to follow those online crash diets, but you can exercise more.”
“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, got it. Making this foodie go on a diet? Not a chance.”
“Big Brother, have a seat. See what you want to eat.”
Liang Jiaqiao pulled out a chair and sat down. His gaze swept across the girl across from him, a flicker of complexity passing through his eyes.
Liang Muxi tapped away on her phone. “Big Brother, I’ll order a few of their signature dishes. Is there anything else you’d like?”
Liang Jiaqiao: “Whatever you order is fine.”
“Alright, then that’s settled.”
Liang Muxi finished placing the order, put down her phone, and placed both hands neatly on the table, looking at the gentle-mannered man across from her.
“Big Brother, did you come to the capital on a business trip?”
Liang Jiaqiao: “Mm, attending a business summit.”
“How many days will you be staying?”
“I have to head back the night after tomorrow.”
“That urgent?”
“Mm, there’s a lot going on with the company.”
Liang Jiaqiao had taken over the family business several years ago, and with all the matters big and small, he was indeed very busy.
He took a sip of water and asked about Liang Muxi’s work.
“Tired? I have a few college classmates here with good connections. How about I find you something a little easier?”
Liang Muxi waved her hand. “No need. I’m doing really well at Yuguang. I’m a newcomer, so it’s the same everywhere. Let me just grind it out first.”
Liang Jiaqiao stared at her for a moment. “If only Jiarui were even half as sensible as you.”
Liang Muxi gripped her colored glass cup. “Sister has her own ideas.”
“What ideas? She just runs all over the place, hanging out with a bunch of questionable friends, eating and drinking her way around. She went to Haicheng again a few days ago—said she went diving with friends. Mom and Dad…”
Liang Jiaqiao realized he was saying too much and stopped himself.
Liang Muxi let out a hearty laugh and picked up the thread. “Sister’s life is still so colorful.”
Liang Jiaqiao changed the subject. “I’m getting married.”
Liang Muxi looked up in surprise. “Getting… married?”
She remembered that her big brother had a girlfriend during college, but they broke up not long after graduation, and he’d been single all these years.
Liang Jiaqiao set down his water cup and said slowly, “It’s the Lin family’s daughter, Lin Ruofei.”
Liang Muxi understood.
It was a marriage between families—collaborating on several projects together, binding the two families as one.
Liang Muxi wanted to ask something, but she opened her mouth and swallowed the words back.
“When’s the wedding?”
Liang Jiaqiao: “The sixteenth of next month.”
“That soon?”
“It’s been decided for a while now, and the wedding has been in preparation.”
Liang Jiaqiao paused, then said, “Xixi, I hope you can come back and attend my wedding.”
Liang Muxi looked up in surprise, her obsidian-like eyes flickering.
She stared at Liang Jiaqiao for a moment, then lowered her head. “Big Brother, I’m sorry. I have something going on those days. I can’t make it.”
Liang Jiaqiao thought of something and suddenly gave a faint, rueful smile. He said softly, “I see. You go ahead and do what you need to do.”
The two of them fell silent, neither speaking.
A waiter came over with the breakfast, breaking the silence.
Liang Muxi pushed the food toward Liang Jiaqiao. “Big Brother, hurry and try their signature dishes.”
“Alright.” Liang Jiaqiao picked up his chopsticks and took a pan-fried bun.
“Mm, delicious.”
After finishing breakfast, they walked out of the restaurant and stood by the roadside.
Liang Jiaqiao took out a card and handed it over. “Take this and rent a place on your own. Don’t share an apartment with others anymore.”
“The password is your birthday.”
Liang Muxi didn’t take it.
She lied: “Big Brother, no need. I’m doing fine sharing a place. My roommates are all really friendly, and it’s lively and fun.”
Liang Jiaqiao gave her a deep look, took her hand, and firmly pressed the card into her palm.
“I’m your big brother. Don’t be so distant with me.”
“Take good care of yourself. I’ll come see you when I have time.”
With that, Liang Jiaqiao got into the white car parked by the roadside.
Liang Muxi stood in a daze, watching the car drive away. Her fingers tightened, gripping the card.
…
Liang Muxi walked in through the door, and Song Jinchuan happened to be coming out of the study.
Their eyes met.
Liang Muxi quickly lowered her gaze, kicked off her shoes, and walked barefoot toward the master bedroom.
Song Jinchuan frowned.
If he hadn’t seen wrong, Liang Muxi’s eyes were red.
Had she been crying?
Why was she crying?
Puzzled, he walked over to the kitchen island, picked up a cup, and poured himself some water.
“Sir!” Mother Chen’s startled cry snapped Song Jinchuan back to his senses, and only then did he notice the water spilling over.
He was briefly taken aback, then set down the kettle and reached for a paper towel to wipe the counter.
Mother Chen walked over. “Sir, let me handle it.”
Song Jinchuan nodded, stepped aside, and took his cup of water into the study.
Sitting in his chair, he raised a hand to rub his brow and closed his eyes.
What had gotten into him just now?
The phone on the desk vibrated.
He reached over and picked it up, holding it to his ear.
“Hello, Liang Jiaqiao.”
“Jinchuan, I’m in the capital.”
“Here for the day-after-tomorrow summit?”
“That’s right. Are you going too?”
“Not sure yet. Depends on my schedule.”
“Come out for drinks tonight. I’ve also invited Tianming and Qin Xiao. Oh, and bring your wife along. You’re something else—getting married without telling us, all hush-hush. If someone hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t even have known you were married.”
Song Jinchuan’s mind flashed again to the image of Liang Muxi with red-rimmed eyes.
He said irritably, “No, she has something on.”
Liang Jiaqiao laughed. “What could she possibly have on? Song Jinchuan, are you doing this on purpose? What kind of stunning beauty is she that you’re keeping her so tightly under wraps—we can’t even get a single look?”
Song Jinchuan rubbed his brow. “She really has something on. She… is sick.”
If she was sick, there was nothing to be done.
Liang Jiaqiao had no choice but to say, “Then next time.”
“Yeah.”
…
Mother Chen finished making dinner and went to knock on Liang Muxi’s door. “Ma’am, dinner is ready.”
Liang Muxi opened the door and glanced at the time. “Mother Chen, it’s getting late. You can head off for the day.”
“Very well, ma’am. And the master—”
“I’ll call him.”
After seeing Mother Chen off, Liang Muxi went to the second bedroom.
The door was open, and no one was inside.
She didn’t barge in rashly but called out from the doorway, “Song Jinchuan, dinner’s ready.”
There was no response from inside, but the door beside it opened—that was the study.
Song Jinchuan walked over and stared at her face.
Liang Muxi was baffled.
“What are you looking at?”
Song Jinchuan looked away. “Let’s go eat.”
The two sat in the dining room, eating in silence.
After the meal, Liang Muxi tossed the dishes into the dishwasher.
When she turned around, she saw that Song Jinchuan had changed into slightly more casual clothes, and his hair had been tidied as well.
“Going out?” Liang Muxi asked offhandedly.
Song Jinchuan nodded. “Some friends are coming over.”
After Song Jinchuan left, it dawned on Liang Muxi that what he’d just said to her sounded like a heads-up.
But she didn’t think much of it, simply assuming it was something Song Jinchuan had said in passing.
…
Private room at the Fengye Club.
Song Jinchuan pushed the door open, and three people were already seated on the sofa.
Liang Jiaqiao waved him over. “Jinchuan, sit over here.”