Que You immediately patted Jiang Yi on the shoulder and said, "Brother, seize the opportunity."
It's hard to make it in the entertainment industry, and even harder for newcomers like Jiang Yi with no background.
Although he was joking, he genuinely intended to play matchmaker.
After all, Lin Wanqing liked this type.
If he could help him out, he could save a lot of detours.
Jiang Yi withdrew his gaze, holding his milk tea and shaking his head, "I'm not doing that kind of thing. I want to earn a living with my own skills."
His voice was soft, with an indescribable milky tone that was very likable.
Lin Wanqing curled her lips meaningfully, "You've got some backbone."
Que You raised an eyebrow. He was just making a suggestion, and whether it worked out depended entirely on the wishes of both parties.
However, this kid was more interesting than he thought.
He didn't even take the opportunity that was presented to him.
Didn't he know how much pressure there was in art schools?
The topic was soon lightened by Que You's laughter. After a period of casual chat, Qiao Xixi was the first to notice Chi Ye's car.
"Everyone's here, we can start serving the food," Qiao Xixi said to the waiter who was waiting nearby.
Que You turned his head to look down and was immediately stunned, "Who is that?"
Realizing something was wrong, Yu Wenli turned his head and his gaze shifted downwards. In the warm streetlights, a man in a suit and tie walked forward, treading on fallen leaves. Following behind him was a petite young girl.
Long hair, white dress, slightly lowered head, her face not clearly visible.
But she gave off a very familiar feeling.
Before Yu Wenli could recall, the young girl turned her head and leaned over the back of the chair, exclaiming in surprise, "Cheng Lulu?"
"Huh? Who?" Que You looked over curiously, "I haven't heard of this person before? What's her relationship with Uncle?"
After the incident with the young singer, Chi Ye hadn't been seen with any women.
For so many years, Cheng Lulu was the first.
Yu Wenli tapped his right fingertip on the table, not responding.
Que You looked at Wen Tingxue in confusion, "?"
Wen Tingxue spread her hands, she didn't know either.
The last time they met, they didn't know each other. How could this be in such a short time...
"Why are you all looking at me? Why isn't the food served yet?" Chi Ye unbuttoned his suit jacket with one hand and sat down carelessly, his long legs crossed, ignoring the flustered Cheng Lulu.
Wen Tingxue cursed him under her breath, pulled the young girl to sit down, "Don't be nervous, they're all family."
"Thank you."
With a slightly tearful voice, Wen Tingxue was taken aback. She lowered her head, and through her thin bangs, she saw the young girl's red eyes and swollen lips.
"You..."
As soon as she spoke, the young girl immediately grabbed her hand and shook her head pleadingly.
Her movements were not large, as if she was afraid of something.
Wen Tingxue remembered Chi Ye's influence in Jiang City and silently closed her mouth.
Jiang Yi hadn't expected anyone else to come. He hadn't prepared enough milk tea and coffee. He was about to ask Cheng Lulu what she wanted to drink and offer to buy it for her.
Lin Wanqing handed a milk tea to Cheng Lulu first, her voice soft, "You haven't tried this before, have a sweet one."
"..."
Cheng Lulu shyly looked at Chi Ye for permission. Chi Ye noticed Yu Wenli's gaze and waved his hand indifferently, "Drink it."
Then he stood up and went to talk with Yu Wenli by the railing.
"What's the situation?"
"Playing," Chi Ye replied, with a cigarette in his mouth.
Yu Wenli glanced at him, and Chi Ye, with a helpless sigh, confessed, "She has a deadbeat father who owes a lot of gambling debts. She needs money, I give money, she gives herself, it's mutually beneficial."
After a few seconds of silence, Yu Wenli suddenly asked, "Doesn't she look a lot like that young singer?"
Chi Ye's eyes narrowed sharply at him.
Yu Wenli smiled, "I heard that the young singer's name also has 'Lu' in it."
The man's face darkened completely, "Xiao Wen, some things are not your business, don't interfere."
"Of course," Yu Wenli nodded, then added, "But her brother is Cheng Xi. Give some face, will you?"
Chi Ye frowned, confused, then understood after a moment and nodded, "No problem."
Meanwhile, Jiang Yi pursed his lips and asked, "What flavor does President Lin like? I'll go buy two more cups."
Lin Wanqing waved her hand dismissively, "No need. I'm controlling my diet tonight and won't drink anything sweet. I'm afraid of gaining weight."
"..."
The girls at the table quietly stopped drinking their milk tea. Lin Wanqing chuckled, "At eighteen, you don't gain weight no matter what you eat or drink, so feel free to drink it."
"Aren't you eighteen too, Sister Wanqing?" Que You said sweetly.
Lin Wanqing smiled and shot him a glance, "You're so good with words, why don't you come work as my agent?"
Que You rolled his eyes, "It's not impossible, actually."
Lin Wanqing raised an eyebrow, "Do you actually have that idea?"
As she spoke, she recalled how he had recommended Jiang Yi earlier, her eyes deepening slightly, "I remember you studied advertising, right?"
Que You nodded, "Yes, it should be considered relevant to my major, right?"
If artists were treated as products, then advertising and packaging were essential.
Lin Wanqing mused, touching her chin, and asked in a low voice, "Is it because of Ah Li? Or do you genuinely like it?"
Her gaze was sharp, but Que You met it directly and curled his lips, his tone casual, "A bit of both."
Their conversation was not loud, and even Wen Tingxue, who was closest, didn't hear it.
Of course, she was mostly focused on the milk tea.
The milk tea from this shop was very good, even the picky Qiao Xixi praised it highly.
The only drawback was that the packaging of this shop was really ugly.
But the name was also unique, "Awaken Ear".
Jiang Yi saw her staring at the milk tea cup in a daze and couldn't help but laugh and ask, "Does little sister-in-law like it?"
"No," Wen Tingxue honestly shook her head, "I just think it's ugly."
The answer was unexpected yet reasonable. Jiang Yi laughed heartily, "You're not the first to say that, but there's nothing we can do. It's a small shop, all the money is put into the ingredients, where do they have the money for packaging design?"
"Small shop?" Wen Tingxue looked up.
Although she had never heard of this milk tea shop, how could he know so much about it?
Jiang Yi saw her confusion and explained, "I work part-time at this milk tea shop, and I know their ingredients are very good. They have many repeat customers, but without investors and marketing, they are destined to lose to those with backgrounds and connections."
As he spoke, his voice lowered and his eyes dimmed a little.
"I heard the owner can't cope with the pressure from competitors anymore and is planning to close the shop..."
Wen Tingxue looked at the milk tea cup in her hand again, slowly turning her fingertips. When she finished a full circle, she said, "If you don't mind, I can help design it."
"Really?!" Jiang Yi looked up in surprise, his dimmed eyes brightening again.
Wen Tingxue was amused by his milky expression and smiled, "It's really true, but I can't guarantee it will look good, nor can I guarantee it will stop the shop from closing."
Competition in the industry was already fierce, let alone in the capital.
Once you were targeted, there was no third option besides success or failure.
Jiang Yi nodded repeatedly, "I know, I know. I'll give you the owner's WeChat right away. His name is Ding, he's a super nice guy and pays well."
...
The food at this restaurant was served very quickly. In just a few sentences, all the dishes were on the table.
"First, let's toast to my brother Yu. Happy birthday!"
Que You raised his glass, and the others followed suit.
The cups filled with drinks or white wine clinked against each other, making crisp sounds.
Accompanying the sounds were heartfelt blessings.
"Not just happy birthday, but happy every day."
"May all your wishes come true."
"Wishing you success in all your endeavors and the fulfillment of your desires."
After the birthday drinks, Yu Wenli first served Wen Tingxue a bowl of sweet soup.
He knew she had a habit of drinking soup before meals, and she hadn't eaten much since noon.
She was probably starving.
"It's hot, let it cool for a bit before drinking."
He placed the soup in front of her and warned her, not entirely at ease.
"Okay," the young girl responded obediently. Yu Wenli smiled and picked up some light vegetarian dishes for her. The smile on his lips was just right, full of doting affection.
When the soup had cooled down enough, Wen Tingxue took a small sip with her spoon.
The temperature was just right, and the taste was good too.
She took a few more sips, her head bent so low that her long hair unseasonably slid from her shoulder, about to fall into the bowl. Suddenly, a hand with distinct knuckles appeared.
He gathered her hair, along with the other strands, into his palm. Yu Wenli skillfully took off the elastic band from his wrist, gave it a gentle twist, and instantly a beautiful low ponytail was formed.
Que You stared dumbfounded. Just as he was about to say something, he caught sight of Mu Chen getting up and skillfully tying Qiao Xixi's hair as well.
Que You: "..."
Que You put down his chopsticks, "I shouldn't have organized this gathering. I'm the only single dog here, is that appropriate?"
Jiang Yi & Fu Shilin: "?"
Are they not even considered dogs?
Yu Zishu and Song Ruining instinctively looked at each other. The moment their eyes met, they quickly looked away as if electrocuted, their cheeks flushing slightly.
Cheng Lulu opened her mouth, then remembered that Chi Ye had given her a box of money, and silently closed it again.
Lin Wanqing propped her chin on her hand and watched the scene. Qiao Xixi glared at him unhappily, "Can't you shut up even while eating!"
"I've been single for so many years and I have to eat your dog food here! It's too much!" Que You hugged his chest in anger.
Wen Tingxue smiled and said, "Brother You, what kind are you looking for? I can introduce you?"
"Brother You?" Que You was instantly distracted, "Listen to that address, little sister-in-law has really stepped up. She used to call me Brother Que You."
Wen Tingxue: "..."
Yu Wenli cooperated, "My little girl is determined to support me, so calling you brother is already giving you a lot of face."
Wen Tingxue: "........."
Que You exclaimed excitedly, "Then we must have a toast. Little sister-in-law, I'm telling you, yours is extremely difficult to support, very delicate."
The young girl was extremely embarrassed, but she still smiled and said, "It's okay, I can afford to support him."
Que You: "..." Why did he have to open his mouth!
After dinner, Chi Ye seemed to have something urgent to attend to and left with Cheng Lulu very early.
The remaining people chatted for a while before seeing Lin Wanqing downstairs.
Her car was parked by the roadside. The group stood on the curb, watching her open the car door.
"By the way," Lin Wanqing said, turning back just before getting into the car, "Were you guys cooking lunch today?"
As she came out of the elevator, a scent of sweetness mixed with spices wafted out, smelling both delicious and strange.
Yu Wenli touched his nose awkwardly, "Ah, we cooked some dishes."
"You? Cooking?" Lin Wanqing raised an eyebrow suspiciously, then looked at Wen Tingxue, curious, "What dishes? Are they edible?"
Que You was partly right. Yu Wenli was quite delicate in everything except fighting.
She wouldn't even dare to imagine him cooking.
Wen Tingxue was momentarily stunned, then smiled, "Sweet and sour fish, it was delicious."
Yu Wenli looked at her meaningfully, his eyes filled with a faint smile.
"Oh?" Lin Wanqing was now genuinely curious, "When can I come and try?"
Wen Tingxue remained silent, Yu Wenli nodded slightly, "Okay."
Wen Tingxue: "..."
What a joke! Are they going to eat fish scales?
After seeing everyone off, Yu Wenli turned on his electric scooter and asked, "Where are we going next?"
Before Wen Tingxue could answer, Cheng Xi rode his bike over, looking very anxious. He didn't even bother to lock his bike before running upstairs.
Yu Wenli's gaze followed him. Seeing him enter the shop, he said to the young girl in a low voice:
"Be good, wait for me here for a moment. I have something to do."
...
Cheng Xi searched everywhere but couldn't find her. When he came down, he bumped into Yu Wenli.
He wanted to hide, but heard him say, "Your sister has already been taken away by Chi Ye."
Cheng Xi's body stiffened. After a moment, he turned around and asked, "Where is she?"
His voice was hoarse, indicating extreme nervousness.
Yu Wenli leaned against the wall, his gaze condescendingly fixed on him, "Reporter Cheng, why don't you tell me first, who exactly is your boss?"
Cheng Xi remained silent, his hands clenched tightly, his facial muscles tensed to the point of trembling.
Yu Wenli watched his struggle with an indifferent expression, his tone unhurried, "Reporter Cheng, you should consider carefully who the famous Master Chi in Jiang City is. If your sister falls into his hands, one wrong step could cost her her life, especially since she looks so much like..."
"Enough!" Cheng Xi interrupted, unable to bear it any longer, "Stop talking!"
He glared at him with bloodshot eyes, "Where is my sister?!"
Yu Wenli met his gaze impassively, the meaning clear.
Cheng Xi didn't hesitate this time and said directly, "Mo Yichen, is that enough? Where is she!"
Although it was the answer he expected,
Yu Wenli let out a laugh.
He knew that Jiang Tu would not keep a paparazzi like Cheng Xi.
"You already guessed it?" Seeing no surprise on his face, Cheng Xi couldn't help but ask, his expression becoming somewhat subtle.
Yu Wenli stepped in front of him and, holding a folded note between his fingers, vertically tucked it into his chest pocket.
"There's the address and my phone number on it. If you want to save your sister's life at a critical moment, remember to contact me."
Cheng Xi looked up, and Yu Wenli smiled, his smile not reaching his eyes, "Reporter Cheng is a smart person, you should know what it means when you dial the phone."
Betrayal.
After watching Yu Wenli leave, Cheng Xi held the note, intending to throw it away, but hesitated before letting go.
He knew very well that Mo Yichen's personality would not offend Chi Ye for Lu Lu.
-
Wen Tingxue felt a bit too full after dinner. She had originally wanted to go shopping with him.
But everywhere she looked, she saw Kang Wei. Everywhere she walked, she saw Kang Wei.
Although they were all posters, it was still very unsettling.
"There's nothing good to shop for, let's go back and watch a movie."
The young girl, afraid he would be unhappy, took his hand and led him out.
Yu Wenli understood her thoughts, but also didn't want her to be unsatisfied, "Why don't we walk around a bit more? See if there's anything you want to buy."
"No!" Wen Tingxue flatly refused, walking even faster, "I don't want to come to this mall anymore."
Yu Wenli chuckled and playfully flicked her nose, "Childish temper."
"Hmph, I like it! No one can bully my boyfriend, only I can bully her."
Finally out of the mall, just as Wen Tingxue was about to breathe in the fresh air, she looked up and saw a huge poster on a bus, and it was Kang Wei again!
Seriously, his big face was everywhere!
Not wanting Yu Wenli to see, the young girl quickly tugged at his arm, "Um, I have something to tell you."
"Hmm?" Yu Wenli indeed lowered his eyes to look at her, "What is it?"
"I can't accompany you this weekend, and in the future... I might have to shorten our meeting times."
"Why?" His tone was somewhat disappointed, accompanied by his moist and affectionate eyes.
Wen Tingxue almost couldn't resist, "I want to participate in the National Art Exhibition. It's held once every three years, and next year is the right time, so I want to dedicate my time to painting."
"And Professor Fu is an invited visiting professor at the school. He might leave at any time, so I'm afraid of missing the opportunity to improve myself."
As she spoke, she kept looking him in the eye, intently, not wanting to miss any of his emotions.
"Are... are you angry?" the young girl asked nervously, her voice so soft it could melt.
"No," Yu Wenli shook his head, honestly saying, "Just a little unhappy."
"Then..."
"Don't speak yet." He put his index finger to her lips, his tone gentler than the gesture, his eyes even gentler than his tone.
"I don't want to, and I won't stop you from soaring. On the contrary, I hope you can fly higher and reach the place you want to be."
"So, I won't be angry about your decision, but as your boyfriend, losing the time I have with you does make me unhappy."
"However, this unhappiness is truly insignificant in front of your future. If you want to compensate, then..."
He blinked and thought for a moment, then curled his lips, "Then video call me every day, when you have free time."
Wen Tingxue's heart warmed, and her eyes welled up with tears of emotion.
"Baby! How can you be so good! I love you to death!"
The young girl hugged his lean waist tightly, burying her head in his chest and nuzzling against him.
Although she knew he wouldn't stop her, hearing him consider her so thoughtfully, even making his request so cautiously, she truly felt incredibly lucky to be his girlfriend.
She knew that he must be the person in this world who most wished for her well-being and happiness.
Yu Wenli was momentarily stunned by the term 'baby', his heart filled with a sweetness that was almost cloying.
"Silly girl, who else would I be good to if not you? But..."
He rubbed her head and said, "If you're really worried about the visiting professor leaving, you can ask him for his contact information first."
"Can I?" A big shot at that level should be difficult to get in touch with, right?
Yu Wenli smiled, "Let's try."
"Okay, then what are your plans for tomorrow?" The young girl looked up at him, her eyes expectant, like a child trying to appease after doing something wrong.
Yu Wenli smiled with satisfaction, "Me? I'll be at home learning to cook."
Wen Tingxue: "?"
Cooking?
Did she hear correctly?
Yu Wenli said, "Since you've already told everyone that my cooking is delicious, I naturally have to live up to that praise."
Wen Tingxue was instantly embarrassed, "I was just trying to save face for you, you don't need to take it seriously."
"Mm," he nodded with a smile, "I know, so my face can be lost, but my wife's face must not be lost."
As Wen Tingxue was about to agree, she immediately noticed his choice of words. Her face turned red, and she pushed him away, playfully chiding, "Who's your wife?"
"You are, otherwise who else do you want to marry?"
He pulled her back into his arms, his voice low and intimate, "When we're of age, we'll get our marriage license. If that doesn't work, I can even get onto your family's household registration book."
He was never a hasty person. No matter how tricky the matter, he could face it calmly and plan meticulously. Only with her did he feel an urgency to claim her as his own and give her his name.