Volume One, Chapter 104: Xiao Jin's Troubles

Only a short time had passed since she left, yet Xingwan Chi seemed to have fallen behind on many matters and had been busy every day lately.

Her first stop was to see Qiao Yang.

Qiao Yang greeted her with a beaming smile. “Xingwan, you have no idea how busy Yun Laike’s business is. Every store is overwhelmed, and many customers have come from out of town just to eat. We even have quite a few urging us to open more branches.”

Xingwan Chi smiled gently. “I don’t know much about business operations; you must be working hard, Uncle Qiao.”

Qiao Yang waved his hand. “It’s no trouble at all. For us business people, it’s a pleasure.”

“By the way, how is the matter with Yang Hui progressing?” Xingwan asked.

“Everything is underway. The investigation is still ongoing. The trial probably won’t happen until after the New Year. Zhènghuá Chi found a master abroad for the case, and he should have arrived by now. But I intervened behind the scenes to delay things, so that Yang Hui will be fully convicted before the master appears.”

Xingwan nodded. “Once Yang Hui is imprisoned, we’ll be able to reclaim the secret sauce recipe left by my mother.”

Qiao Yang felt a surge of excitement but also some concern. “Zhènghuá Chi must have safeguarded the recipe well. Just do your best. If it becomes too risky, don’t hesitate to let it go. Don’t put yourself in danger.”

Warmth spread through Xingwan’s heart. She smiled. “Uncle Qiao, I understand. I’ll always put my safety first.”

Qiao Qingyun was waiting outside early. The moment Xingwan emerged from Qiao Yang’s study, she immediately approached and grabbed her arm.

“Xingwan, have you been really busy lately? I’ve tried to find you several times, but you were always unavailable. Sometimes I couldn’t even get through on your phone.”

Xingwan apologized. “Sorry, I was recently invited by my roommate to visit Qinghu Province.”

“Oh, that explains it.” Qiao Qingyun didn’t pry further and instead pulled Xingwan into the small sitting room. “I’ve recently learned to make a new kind of pastry; you have to try it.”

Upon entering the sitting room, Xingwan noticed Zhang Shaodan was also there.

There was a faint bluish tint under Zhang Shaodan’s eyes — she clearly hadn’t been resting well lately. But it was understandable; having just started working at her family’s company, there must be many tasks to handle before the New Year. She had agreed to Qiao Qingyun’s invitation only upon hearing that Xingwan would be coming.

“Xingwan, actually, I have a favor to ask.”

Zhang Shaodan looked a little embarrassed, feeling as though she only appeared when she needed help and hadn’t truly treated Xingwan as a friend.

“Sister Dan, you can say anything you need,” Xingwan replied, unaware of her thoughts.

Zhang Shaodan didn’t hesitate and spoke directly, “A distant relative of mine just returned to the country. He’s quite superstitious and recently bought a house. He wants to find someone to assess the feng shui before renovating. Normally, it wouldn’t matter, just hire any so-called master. But having experienced metaphysical matters myself, I’m worried someone incompetent might cause trouble. So I want to ask you for help.”

“Xingwan, could you please recommend a colleague to him? Preferably someone older who looks like a sage — someone whose appearance alone would intimidate people.”

Xingwan smiled. “Sister Dan, you’ve come to the wrong person. You should ask Fang Fei. She can easily bring out a senior master from her sect who looks the part; their sect specializes in feng shui and astrology.”

Zhang Shaodan laughed. “Alright, I’ll reach out to Fang Fei then.”

After discussing business, Zhang Shaodan didn’t leave. Since she had already come, she decided to give herself a day off.

Qiao Qingyun was talented in culinary arts, especially in making pastries. Her treats could easily pass muster at a Michelin restaurant; eating them was a pure delight.

“Xingwan, did you know? That persistent Tong Shijia who kept bothering me seems to have taken an interest in your adopted daughter.”

“Hm?” Zhang Shaodan was surprised. “No way, Yuyao Chi? How did she get tangled up with him?”

“More accurately, it’s mutual; they’re both interested, so they hooked up,” Qiao Qingyun explained.

Since Tong Shijia had once pestered her, Qiao Qingyun was annoyed but curious about his new target now that he no longer bothered her, so she kept an eye on the situation.

Zhang Shaodan glanced at Xingwan. “But I heard from Xiao Rui that Yuyao has been asking Xiao Jin about Xiao Yue.”

Qiao Qingyun also looked toward Xingwan.

Xingwan felt nothing but instead teased them, “Yuyao is trying to have her cake and eat it too?”

Zhang Shaodan paused and lightly tapped Xingwan’s head. “What’s wrong with you? She’s coveting your fiancé, and you’re so calm?”

Xingwan burst out laughing. “What am I supposed to do? Rush up to her and pull her hair?”

She paused, stroking her chin. “Maybe that’s not a bad idea.”

Both Zhang Shaodan and Qiao Qingyun laughed in unison. Zhang said, “I guess I was worried for nothing.”

Qiao Qingyun, younger and curious, asked, “Xingwan, do you really not care at all?”

Xingwan propped her head on her hand and thought carefully. “I don’t care about Yuyao, but what about Xiao Jin’s attitude?”

“Xiao Jin?” Qiao Qingyun blinked. “Did you mean Xiao Yue?”

Xingwan shook her head. “No, not Xiao Yue. I meant Xiao Jin.”

Seeing Qiao Qingyun’s confusion and Zhang Shaodan’s puzzlement, Xingwan explained, “I met Xiao Yue yesterday. If Yuyao was pestering him, he would have told me. Since he hasn’t, it means Yuyao hasn’t brought it up to him.”

Qiao Qingyun cupped her face, her eyes bright. “Is this absolute trust? How romantic.”

“Huh?” Xingwan was bewildered. “Qingyun, what are you talking about? I just... know Xiao Yue’s character well.”

Zhang Shaodan covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. “Alright, let’s stop talking about Xiao Yue and talk about Xiao Jin.”

Xiao Jin was Yuyao Chi’s close friend. When Xingwan first met her, Xiao Jin had even given her a warning. So, apart from Xiao Duo, Xiao Jin was the one in the Xiao family generation that Xingwan liked the least.

But later, she realized Xiao Jin wasn’t bad — just a bit foolish and spoiled. Though Xingwan’s feelings hadn’t warmed much, her attitude had softened somewhat.

Over the past six months, Xingwan noticed Xiao Jin’s attitude toward her had changed; she was trying to get close and win her over.

So now, she was genuinely curious about Xiao Jin’s choice.

Zhang Shaodan said, “Xiao Rui told me Xiao Jin has been very troubled lately.”

…

Xiao Jin was indeed quite distressed recently. She was on the verge of madness listening to the ringing phone.

“What should I do, what should I do…”

Xiao Yu shot her a glance, took the phone from her hand, and answered.

“Hello, Yuyao sister? What a coincidence. She’s been taken by grandma for training recently and is so busy she barely has time to sleep. Yes, she’s with grandma and didn’t bring her phone. If you have something urgent, I can pass on the message for you. Okay, goodbye.”