Xiao Yunting gave her a casual, fleeting glance, his gaze laced with a hint of disdain, before shifting his focus back to Yu Wanzhi.
“Tired? Let’s eat out tonight. If you’re worn out, go upstairs and rest for a while first—I’ll chat with them a bit longer. If you’re not, we can leave right now.” Even Xiao Yunting himself couldn’t detect the soft, indulgent warmth that crept unconsciously into his tone whenever he spoke to the young lady.
Yu Wanzhi’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Let’s go now. I’m fine, not really tired at all. What are we having? The state-run restaurant again?”
Xiao Yunting couldn’t help but chuckle. “They only serve the same handful of dishes there. Today I’m taking you somewhere different—you’re guaranteed to love it!”
Su Yue burned with jealousy as she watched the two whispering intimately, completely oblivious to everyone else. Her whole body felt hot and prickly with resentment. Yet she knew full well how Xiao Yunting felt toward her, so she forced herself to swallow her pride and spoke up sweetly: “Is this a new friend of Brother Yunting’s? She’s the very first person I’ve ever known to stay at your home!”
Yu Wanzhi glanced up at Xiao Yunting, her voice soft and sugary-sweet. “Is that so? Then I suppose I must be truly honored. Thank you so much for taking me in, Brother Yunting~” As she finished speaking, she deliberately looked Su Yue up and down, then curled her lips with an obvious look of disgust.
Su Yue gritted her teeth, glaring at the coquettish young woman before her. She ached to lunge forward and tear that stunning face right off her head! She herself was plain-looking—standing at 170 centimeters tall, she had a broad frame, poor body proportions, a short neck, and thick waist and thighs, so she rarely dared to wear dresses.
That was why the mere sight of a beautiful woman instantly awakened every jealous instinct deep in her bones.
“Yunting, since you’re going out for dinner tonight, why not bring Jiaorui along too? She and Yueyue are best friends! It’s been ages since Yueyue had a holiday—they must have so much to talk about!”
Qin Mengshuang spoke deliberately. Her original plan had been to have her own daughter tag along with the pair. But when she’d gotten up that morning, Aunt Zhang had told her the two hadn’t stepped out together—and even the little troublemaker had no idea where the woman had gone.
This discrepancy filled Qin Mengshuang with suspicion. She suspected this young woman was a spy or informant planted by someone else. If she could dig up even the slightest clue, Xiao Yunting’s standing in the old master’s eyes would surely plummet—after all, he was the one who had brought her home!
More importantly, if she uncovered the truth, the old master might finally look upon her with favor. Her position in his eyes would rise dramatically. It was, without doubt, a perfect two-for-one deal.
Xiao Yunting let out a cold snort. “This is just a few friends going out to eat. What does that have to do with Lin Jiaorui or Su Yue? Even if they’re close friends, what business is it of ours?”
Fu Zhoujing immediately chimed in. “Exactly! When we brothers gather, we never bring women along. Even if Su Yue were A Nian’s sister, it wouldn’t fly. If you don’t know the facts, don’t speak carelessly.”
To him, Qin Mengshuang was just like Tian Xiao’e—venomous, scheming vipers. Aside from a silver tongue that could twist right into wrong, their very blood ran cold. The sight of her filled him with both fear and loathing.
Su Yue flared up on the spot. “Then why is she allowed to come?!”
Before the words had even left her mouth, she felt a piercing, icy gaze—sharp as a blade, chilling to the bone, cutting straight through her.
Su Nian looked distinctly uncomfortable and quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Haha, Yueyue, don’t be so unreasonable. What respectable girl of seventeen or eighteen still trails after her brother everywhere she goes? Go on home—Mom and Dad are both finishing work early today. Go have dinner with them.” With that, he hurried forward to catch up with the others.
The group of five wound their way through several turns until they reached the far end of an alley not far from the military compound. After knocking three times in a neat rhythm, a woman dressed in a blue cotton jacket opened the door and greeted them with a smile, ushering them inside.
No sooner had they stepped across the threshold than a rich, mouthwatering aroma of roast duck washed over them.
“Their ancestors served as imperial chefs in the palace—their roast duck is absolutely unparalleled,” Xiao Yunting explained patiently, watching the young lady look around with wide, curious eyes. “They don’t usually open to the public; only acquaintances or friends of friends are welcomed here.”
Yu Wanzhi nodded. “Can I order some to go? I’d like to pack two whole roast ducks.”
Most of what she kept in her personal space was raw ingredients, and she wasn’t much of a cook. Now that she’d soon be living on her own, she wanted to stock up on plenty of ready-to-eat meals. The koi spirit had once told her: anything placed in that space would never spoil, and would remain perfectly fresh, exactly as it was the moment it went in.
Xiao Yunting replied gently, “If you crave it, I can bring you here whenever you like. Roast duck is best enjoyed straight from the oven, when it’s at its finest.”
That tender, indulgent tone suddenly brought back memories of past lives. Yu Wanzhi’s eyes glistened brightly, and a soft, uncontrollable smile tugged at her lips.
“What secrets are you two whispering about anyway? Old Xiao—just who is this young lady?” Su Nian asked, raising an eyebrow as he studied Yu Wanzhi, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his gaze.
Once they were all seated inside, the woman in blue brought over plates of shredded cucumber and scallions. Xiao Yunting set out a neat set of chopsticks and a bowl for the young lady, then replied with a smile, “Didn’t I already tell you? She’s just… an ordinary friend.”
“Come off it!” Su Nian laughed heartily, though his words probed deeper. “Ordinary friends don’t get this kind of VIP treatment, do they? We’ve known you for twenty years—when have you ever waited on any of us like this? Old Xiao, you’re a sly one! Keeping secrets from your sworn brothers all these years?”
He certainly wasn’t blind. Ever since Old Xiao had brought this young lady home, his eyes had barely left her side!
Yu Wanzhi offered a faint, cool smile. “Keeping secrets? What exactly are you implying? Or what do you hope to make us admit?” Her voice remained soft and gentle—but anyone who knew her well would have recognized it instantly: the calm before the storm.
“Enough, A Nian,” Fu Zhoujing cut in. “It’s rare that Liangchen gets a day off. Let us brothers catch up properly. Why must you keep teasing the young lady?”
Fu Zhoujing hadn’t picked up on any anger in Yu Wanzhi’s tone—but he knew that if A Nian pressed further, their leader would explode right then and there. Couldn’t he see how dark his expression had already grown?
He Liangchen seemed to sense it too. A faint smile touched his lips. “Comrade Yu Wanzhi—welcome.”
Yu Wanzhi had a decent impression of him. In her past life, she had met him four or five times, yet never once had she seen him smile. He had always been cold as ice. To see ‘Brigadier He’ wearing a smile on this first meeting of her new life… truly, it was a sight to behold!
“Thank you,” she replied.
Moments later, the roast duck was carried to the table—crisp golden skin, tender juicy meat, utterly irresistible. Xiao Yunting took a thin pancake, spread a layer of sweet bean sauce, placed two glistening slices of duck meat inside, rolled it up neatly, and held it out to the young lady’s lips.
“Go on—taste it.”