UI CH 28

During the two-hour meeting, Zhao Jiyu roughly understood why Zhao Xian wanted to push for his engagement with Yu Xuetong.

The project involved enough capital, connections, and influence to determine the company’s expansion speed this year. Given Zhao Xinhong and Yu Bo’s decades-long relationship, once the cooperation was established, there shouldn’t be any major issues. Zhao Xian’s urgency likely stemmed from a fear that his two brothers would want a share of the profits.

Originally, Zhao Xian’s position in the company was very stable. However, after Zhao Jiyu’s mother, Cheng Weilan, divorced him, the support from the Cheng family was withdrawn. His brothers started making moves behind the scenes.

Zhao Xinhong noticed all of this, but Zhao Xian’s scandal involving an illegitimate child angered Zhao Xinhong, leading to a gradual reduction of his influence in the company. Last year, his second brother secured an international cooperation project, even hosting a grand celebration banquet at the end of the year, further increasing the pressure on him.

During the report, Zhao Jiyu remained focused. On the way to lunch after the meeting, when Zhao Xinhong privately asked for his opinion, Zhao Jiyu put on an expression of disinterest.

In the car, with only Zhao Xinhong’s longtime driver present, Zhao Jiyu spoke without hesitation.

“Grandpa, if you let me handle this project, it’s like showing the Yu family our weakness.”

“You child,”
Zhao Xinhong chided him, but his hand reached over to hold Zhao Jiyu’s hand resting on his thigh.
“I know your relationship with your dad isn’t great, but letting you work on this project is to train you. After graduation, you’ll need to help out in the company. Can’t you understand your grandpa’s intentions?”

“I really don’t want to,”
Zhao Jiyu frowned slightly.
“Second Uncle and my cousin are doing well. You should give them more opportunities.”

“But you’re my eldest grandson. Have you forgotten the promise you made when filling out your college applications?”

Zhao Xinhong’s reminder brought Zhao Jiyu back to his high school graduation. Back then, Zhao Xian and Cheng Weilan both pressured him about his future—one wanted him to study management, and the other wanted him to study abroad. If it hadn’t been for Zhao Xinhong saying he could choose what he wanted, he would never have ended up majoring in history.

Of course, Zhao Xinhong’s promise came with conditions. He had to work in the company for three years after graduation. If he truly didn’t fit in or didn’t want to continue, Zhao Xinhong wouldn’t force him anymore.

Looking at the buildings rapidly receding outside the window, Zhao Jiyu turned his face back, his attitude much calmer than before.
“Grandpa, you said to wait until I graduate. Now, I’ve only finished two years, and you want me to start learning at the company. My dad also wants to push me into an engagement. Have you all considered my stress?”

“What engagement?”
Zhao Xinhong asked.

Leaning his head back against the seat, Zhao Jiyu closed his eyes and said,
“When you weren’t around earlier, my dad brought up the engagement with Grandpa Yu in front of Xuetong.”

Zhao Xinhong’s expression darkened as he scolded,
“Your father, ever since he married Han Qiaoxin, his brain has been getting worse!”

Anything related to Han Qiaoxin was the last thing Zhao Jiyu wanted to discuss. Zhao Xinhong sighed again, trying to comfort him.
“I’ll handle this matter. Don’t feel pressured. If you really don’t want to go to the company, I’ll ask Old Tang to send you the project documents. You can ask him anything you don’t understand.”

With this tricky situation resolved, Zhao Jiyu visibly relaxed. During the meal, he accompanied Yu Bo and Zhao Xinhong for a few drinks. Afterward, they went to the yacht marina, where he joined Zhao Xinhong for some sea fishing, not returning to his own car until nightfall.

That afternoon, Old Wu sent a message saying Shen Ran hadn’t eaten lunch because he was sleeping and didn’t plan to eat dinner either. Zhao Jiyu called Shen Ran, but there was no answer. He thought about heading straight back, but halfway there, a call from Huang Qianxu dragged him out for a drink.

He wanted to decline, but Huang Qianxu insisted, saying he’d had a fight with Hui lin and was feeling awful.

Listening to Huang Qianxu slightly drunk voice, Zhao Jiyu had no choice but to check on him. When he reached the private room, he saw Tang Jiaxuan was there too. However, as soon as he arrived, Tang Jiaxuan prepared to leave, saying something urgent had come up at home and asking him to keep an eye on Huang Qianxu.

“Wait a minute,”
Zhao Jiyu followed Tang Jiaxuan to the door and asked in a low voice,
“Do you have a friend who runs a real estate agency?”

Tang Jiaxuan looked at him. “Yeah. Are you buying another house?”

“No, I need you to find out some information about a landlord and get me their contact details as soon as possible.”

“Send me the address. I have to go now.”

With that, Tang Jiaxuan left in a hurry. Zhao Jiyu returned to his seat, looking at the two empty bottles of red wine on the table. He asked,
“Why did you fight?”

Huang Qianxu slumped against the back of the sofa.
“The same old issue—her mom wants her to study abroad.”

It really was an old issue. Pushing up his glasses, Zhao Jiyu poured himself a glass of wine.
“Then what’s the point of arguing?”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with her this time. She actually thinks her mom makes sense and even wants me to consider going with her.”

Huang Qianxu rolled his eyes dramatically. Zhao Jiyu quietly listened, took a sip of wine, and watched as Huang Qianxu moved unsteadily to sit beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

“Jiyu,”
Huang Qianxu stared at Zhao Jiyu’s side profile, tapping him with his finger.

“Tell me, what’s so good about studying abroad? Why are both your mom and her mom so obsessed with it? It’s not even trendy to get an overseas degree anymore!”

It was true that studying abroad wasn’t as popular as it used to be. However, when it came to Cheng Weilan, Zhao Jiyu remembered how just last week she had sent him information about two universities.

When he graduated high school, Cheng Weilan had wanted him to study abroad. When that didn’t work out, she started eyeing his postgraduate plans, frequently sending him management and economics books and suggesting schools.

Growing up under Cheng Weilan’s high expectations, he pushed himself to the limit academically to meet her standards. Those three years in middle school were his most stressful; he even developed moderate depression. But even then, Cheng Weilan wasn’t satisfied, believing he could do better and never letting him relax.

Finishing his glass of red wine in one gulp, Zhao Jiyu said, “Then break up with her.”

Huang Qianxu, who had expected some comfort, was caught off guard by the blunt suggestion and didn’t know how to respond.

Zhao Jiyu glanced at him.
“If you can’t let go, then stop drowning your sorrows in alcohol. Either go with her, or convince her not to go.”

Huang Qianxu wanted to argue, but every line he thought of felt wrong. Finally, he leaned back against the sofa and glared at Zhao Jiyu.
“Is this how you comfort people? At least Jiaxuan would say something nice.”

“You need nice words?”
Zhao Jiyu didn’t hold back.
“Hui lin might be a bit soft, but she really likes you. Didn’t your mom ask about marriage recently? You might as well get married. That way, her mom can’t push her to study abroad anymore.”

Huang Qianxu sat in stunned silence for a while before suddenly sitting up.
“You know, you’re right!”

Sighing internally, Zhao Jiyu poured himself another drink while the drunk beside him continued to babble.

“But I’m only 20. Isn’t it too early to get married?”

Zhao Jiyu scoffed.
“So, are you planning to break up with her and marry someone else later?”

“No way,”
Huang Qianxu’s flushed neck tensed.
“I’ve liked her since I was 15. There’s no room for a third person between us.”

“Then there you go.”
Zhao Jiyu, amused by his drunken but resolute belief in love, raised his glass for a toast.
“If you love her, get married. Not many people are as lucky as you two.”

Huang Qianxu chuckled, took a sip, and draped his arm over Zhao Jiyu’s shoulder again. His voice turned clingy.
“Ah, see, this is why I like you. Jiaxuan was right—you’re the only one who really gets me. You might have a sharp tongue, but I still like you.”

“Go away.”

Zhao Jiyu felt disgusted but still smiled as he pushed away the hand on his brow. Taking advantage of his drunken state, Huang Suipeng leaned in again, wrapping his arms around Zhao Jiyu’s waist.
“Little Yuyu, let your big brother hug you. We haven’t hugged like this in so long.”

Zhao Jiyu slapped a hand over the mouth coming his way. Just hearing that childhood nickname made his skin crawl, and he shook off Huang Suipeng’s arms.
“Stop acting crazy. If you keep this up, I’m leaving.”

“Alright, alright.”
Huang Qianxu, pushed back into the sofa chair, wasn’t upset. He pointed at the bottle on the table and called someone over to settle the bill. “Big brother will treat you to dinner.”

“No, I’ve got things to do.”
Zhao Jiyu stood up. Shen Ran still hadn’t replied to his WeChat messages, and he wanted to go back and check on him.

“What do you have to do? You’ve been ignoring me for days. Are we still bros or not?” Huang Qianxu was drunk. Unlike his usual self, he couldn’t speak properly. When a few words didn’t work, he clung to Zhao Jiyu, pulling on him to stop him from leaving.

Recently, Zhao Jiyu’s thoughts had been entirely focused on Shen Ran. He had turned down Huang Qianxu and his friends’ invitations more than once, and he felt a bit guilty about it. Now, seeing Huang Qianxu like this, he couldn’t just leave him there. He ended up taking the drunkard to a nearby private kitchen restaurant. Halfway through the meal, he called Hui lin to come over. As soon as he handed him off, he left immediately.

By the time he got back to his apartment building, it was already past nine. He parked the car, went upstairs, and as soon as he opened the door, he smelled food.

He thought it was Old Wu cooking, but when he reached the kitchen, he found Shen Ran wearing Old Wu’s brown leather apron, standing by the gas stove cooking something.

Seeing him return, Shen Ran smiled.
“I woke up hungry, so I went to the supermarket downstairs to buy some ingredients. I hope you don’t mind me borrowing your stove to make some noodles.”

Zhao Jiyu walked up to him and looked into the steaming pot.

Clear soup noodles floated with a bit of greens and a fried egg. Though it looked light, the smell was incredibly appetizing, instantly sparking his hunger.

He asked,
“Why didn’t you add more ingredients?”

“This is enough.”

Shen Ran took a bottle of Sichuan pepper oil from a bag, opened it, and poured a bit into the pot. The aroma intensified as he stirred with chopsticks. Seeing Zhao Jiyu staring at the pot without blinking, Shen Ran hesitated.
“Do you want some?”

Zhao Jiyu said,
“I didn’t eat enough at dinner.”

There was only a single serving of noodles in the pot. Shen Ran said,
“Then you can have this bowl. I’ll make more.”

“Let’s share it.”
Zhao Jiyu took a large bowl from the cabinet and handed it to him.
“I can’t finish it all by myself.”

While Shen Ran served the noodles, Zhao Jiyu took a few dishes out of the fridge.
“Why didn’t you eat the lunch Old Wu made for you?”

The dishes were wrapped in plastic wrap. Shen Ran glanced at them and said,
“I didn’t check the fridge.”

“He buys fresh ingredients every day. If you want anything, just let him know.”

“No need. You’re already letting me stay here. I can take care of my own meals.”

Shen Ran placed the fried egg on top of the noodles, carried the bowl out, and Zhao Jiyu walked to the corner of the room to look at the supermarket bag Shen Ran had brought up. Inside were opened packaging of dried noodles, two eggs, and a handful of greens.

Holding the small receipt, Zhao Jiyu recalled seeing Shen Ran eating a convenience store meal not long ago.

Shen Ran set the bowl on the dining table, then returned to the kitchen and saw Zhao Jiyu squatting motionless in the corner.
“What are you looking at?” he asked.

Zhao Jiyu stood up and said, “For lunch, just reheat these dishes in the microwave and eat them together. Otherwise, throwing them out would be too wasteful.”

Since he put it that way, Shen Ran didn’t argue further.

The dishes Old Wu made for lunch were all home-style: steamed pork with lotus leaves, braised sea cucumber in vinegar sauce, pork knuckles with fermented red bean curd, and a peppery chicken and pork stomach soup. Most of the dishes were fine, but as soon as the pork knuckles came out of the microwave, the rich aroma filled the room. The tender skin glistened with a shiny glaze, making it impossible not to want a taste.

Shen Ran placed the dish on the table, only to see that Zhao Jiyu had already finished the entire bowl of noodles—without sharing a single bite.

Seeing Shen Ran’s hesitant expression, Zhao Jiyu showed no guilt at all. He even nodded at the dishes on the table with his chin.
“I’ll eat these. Your noodles taste better. You can finish the rest.”