Chapter 355 - 353: The Good Days Are Coming to an End

There was a two- or three-second silence on the other end of the line. Then, Xiao Shijun’s voice came through with a hint of relaxed amusement, "You’re a straightforward man, Boss Cheng, but my conditions might put you in a bit of a tight spot."

"Tell me."

"First, I won’t be clocking in at the company every day. If there’s something that needs to be handled in R&D, I’ll come in. Otherwise, don’t look for me.

"Second, I have the final say on the R&D direction and formulas."

Hearing this, Cheng Ye hardly hesitated. "I accept."

Xiao Shijun chuckled on the other end of the line, as if he had anticipated this answer.

"Good. I’ll come see you at the company tomorrow morning at nine."

After hanging up, Cheng Ye leaned back in his chair. He looked at the city lights outside the window, a smile slowly curving his lips. He thought, "Ninghua Cream, Xu Yue, Yang Xun... Your good days are about to come to an end."

Meanwhile, deep within an inconspicuous alley in Zhonghai City’s old town, a dim yellow light illuminated the entrance of a tiny, hole-in-the-wall eatery with a faded signboard.

Yang Xun and Yue Feifei sat at a small square table in the corner. On the table were two large handfuls of skewers, a plate of smashed cucumbers, and a dish of stir-fried river snails, with two bottles of beer resting on the side.

"It’s just so much more satisfying to eat in places like this." Yang Xun took a bite of a lamb skewer and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. "Those fancy seafood restaurants have huge plates with tiny portions, and the taste is just average. They’re nowhere near as hearty as a joint like this."

Yue Feifei smiled. She picked up a bottle and refilled his beer glass before topping off her own.

"You always loved eating at street stalls back in school. I remember one time you went to that spicy hotpot place by the school gates, only to realize halfway through that you didn’t have enough money. I had to pay for you."

"Don’t remind me. I was flat broke back then; I had to scrape that little bit of money together from my living expenses." Yang Xun scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed. He raised his glass and took a sip. His gaze fell on Yue Feifei’s face, bathed in the warm yellow light, and his expression turned slightly more serious. "If you hadn’t brought me food so often back then, I probably would have fainted from hunger in the classroom."

His words made Yue Feifei a little shy. She smiled radiantly and said, "You were so pitifully skinny back then. I just couldn’t bear to watch."

They chatted as they ate, their conversation shifting from their student days to their recent cases, and then to Yang Xun’s encounter at the clubhouse.

Yue Feifei’s alcohol tolerance was never great to begin with. After a few glasses of beer, a flush had already crept onto her cheeks.

"Yang Xun..." She rested her chin on her crossed arms, her voice slurring slightly. "Tell me, why do those people do such things? You know... kidnapping those young girls."

"For profit." Yang Xun set down his glass, his tone calm. "Most of those girls come from poor backgrounds. If something happens to them, their families might not be able to track down the culprits. And even if they do, they can’t fight them."

Yue Feifei fell silent for a moment. She took another sip of beer, her voice dropping. "Sometimes, I find this society really disappointing."

"But there are also people working hard to make it better," Yang Xun said, looking at her. "Like you."

Yue Feifei looked up at him. Her slightly flushed, phoenix-like eyes held an indescribable emotion, colored by the alcohol. She raised her glass again and downed the remaining half-glass of beer in one gulp.

By the time they paid the bill, Yue Feifei was already a little unsteady on her feet. She used the edge of the table to push herself up, stumbling slightly before Yang Xun caught her arm just in time.

"I’ll take you home." Yang Xun sighed; he couldn’t possibly let Yue Feifei go home alone. He supported her as they walked out of the alley and flagged down a taxi.

When they arrived downstairs at Yue Feifei’s apartment building, Yang Xun got out first and turned back to help her out. As a result, she practically went limp in his arms.

"I... I can walk by myself..."

"You call this walking?" Yang Xun sounded exasperated. He scooped her up in his arms and strode upstairs.

In a daze, Yue Feifei rummaged through her bag for her keys, missing the keyhole several times before finally getting it in.

The door suddenly opened from the inside. Guo Xiumei stood there, still holding a TV remote, looking at the two of them in surprise.

"Oh my, how much did she drink?" Guo Xiumei helped Yang Xun guide Yue Feifei to the sofa. Her gaze darted back and forth between the two of them twice before a smile curled her lips. "Yang, why don’t you stay over tonight? It’s getting late, and catching a cab won’t be easy."

"Mrs. Yue, I..."

"Don’t stand on ceremony with me. I’ve already prepared the guest room. It’s right next to Feifei’s." Guo Xiumei cut him off without leaving any room for argument and turned to pour a glass of warm honey water. "I’m going to make a bowl of hangover soup for Feifei. Keep an eye on her." With that, she headed into the kitchen.

Yue Feifei leaned back against the sofa with her eyes closed, her cheeks flushed with an unnatural, alcohol-induced redness. Her breathing was deeper and more prolonged than usual. Yang Xun sat beside her. He could smell the alcohol permeating the air, mingling with the faint, sweet scent of her body wash.

"Water," Yue Feifei mumbled vaguely, her eyes still shut.

Yang Xun placed the honey water in her hand. Yue Feifei took it, drank a couple of sips, and slumped back down haphazardly.

"Your mom treats you really well," Yang Xun said softly, resting his gaze on her face.

A moment later, Guo Xiumei came out with the hangover soup. She woke Yue Feifei up and coaxed her into drinking half the bowl. Only then did she satisfiedly gather the bowl and spoon, instructing Yang Xun, "Yang, take care of Feifei for a bit. I’m going hiking with a friend tomorrow, so I’ll just sleep at her place tonight." She gave Yang Xun a wink, packed her things, and left.

The living room fell quiet. Yang Xun let out a helpless sigh, helped Yue Feifei up, and guided her into her bedroom.

The moment Yue Feifei’s head hit the pillow, she curled up like a cat that had found a comfortable spot.

He was just about to turn and leave when he suddenly felt a light tug on his wrist. Yue Feifei’s eyes were half-open, her phoenix eyes still hazy with lingering intoxication. Her voice was soft and hoarse. "Yang Xun..."

"Hmm?"

"Don’t go."

When she said those words, her eyes stared straight at him, unmistakably clear and sober.

Yang Xun halted his steps. He stood by the bed, looking down at her glossy, watery eyes. It felt as though a hidden chord in his heart had been gently plucked. The image of that ponytail-wearing girl handing him bread all those years ago flashed through his mind. Those emotions, deliberately suppressed deep within his memories, began to surface little by little.

He sat down on the edge of the bed without pulling his hand away.

Yue Feifei’s fingers trailed lightly along his wrist. The touch was feather-light, carrying a hint of hesitation.

"Do you know why I used to bring you food back then?" Yue Feifei’s voice was mumbled and sluggish, as if every word had to roll around on her tongue a few times before she could articulate it.

"Why?" Yang Xun asked.

She propped herself up slightly and leaned in closer. Her warm breath, a mix of alcohol and her sweet scent, brushed against the side of his neck. "Because I... I like you."