Gu Susu looked at the man named Allen. With his black hair and yellow skin, he appeared to be of East Asian descent from any angle. However, from their conversation, it seemed they had been friends when they were abroad.
Allen released Yang Sijie, glanced at Gu Susu beside him, and with a playful wink, asked, "Is this lady your girlfriend..."
"A friend," Yang Sijie finished his sentence, introducing her. "This is Susu. We've known each other since we were little."
"Ah, childhood sweethearts."
Gu Susu extended her hand and shook his. "Hello. You seem very close with Sijie. Are you good friends?"
Allen nodded. "We've known each other for a long time. We met in Chinatown, a bit of a rough start, but we became friends. Still, not as long as you two. You've known each other since childhood. Frank used to mention you often, so it's nice to finally meet you in person. I didn't expect you to be so beautiful."
His compliment left Gu Susu unsure of what to say, so she pretended to admire his small shop.
Yang Sijie pulled her to a seat and said to Allen, "I've been raving about your desserts to Susu. Don't disappoint her."
"Don't worry, I won't disappoint your Susu. Give me a moment, and I'll let you taste my skills." He then happily went to the kitchen.
After he left, Gu Susu asked quietly, "A grown man making desserts?"
Yang Sijie smiled. "Yes, and he's very skilled. His family has been selling Chinese desserts in Chinatown for generations. He didn't like inheriting the family craft at first. He studied hard, a top student from a prestigious university, majoring in medicine. He even worked as an oncologist in a major hospital abroad. Later, for some reason, he resigned from the hospital and returned to the family dessert shop, becoming a pastry chef."
"Then why did he come to Lancheng? From his tone, it sounds like he returned even earlier than you," Gu Susu inquired further.
"He had the idea of opening his own dessert shop. He also heard I was coming to Lancheng to develop my career, so he came here last year and opened his shop." Yang Sijie said with a hint of envy, "He's much freer than I am, able to do whatever he wants. But it's good this way. I can eat his homemade desserts as soon as I arrive. We're quite lucky."
As they were talking, Allen brought over two steaming bowls of peach gum double-skin milk pudding and placed them in front of them. "Here, try the 'White Snow Peach Blossom Tears'."
"Wow, your desserts look so beautiful, and the name is so poetic," Gu Susu said, holding a bowl. "How did you come up with such a lyrical name?"
Allen explained, "My double-skin milk pudding is made using the most traditional method, steamed with milk and egg whites. It's pure white, spotless, paired with the semi-transparent peach gum. Doesn't it resemble peach blossoms with tears?"
Gu Susu nodded repeatedly. She hadn't been hungry, but looking at the dessert and smelling its fragrance, she suddenly felt an appetite.
She picked up a spoon to taste it. Yang Sijie quickly said, "Be careful, it's hot. Blow on it before eating."
Gu Susu acknowledged with an "oh" and didn't immediately put it in her mouth. Just as she was about to blow on it, Yang Sijie brought his own spoon, which he had already blown on, to her lips. "Have mine first."
Allen was watching them, and Gu Susu said shyly, "No need. You eat yours. Our bowls are the same."
Yang Sijie, however, still held his spoon to her mouth, waiting for her to open it.
Gu Susu had no choice but to open her mouth and eat the spoonful he offered.
"You two are too much, showing affection in front of me," Allen said enviously. "Alright, you two eat. I won't be a third wheel. I'll go see if the egg tarts are ready."
He then went back to the kitchen. Yang Sijie smiled at his retreating back, then looked at Gu Susu with deep affection.
Gu Susu pretended not to notice and ate her dessert with her head down.
"Susu, we..."
Gu Susu felt a flutter of panic, fearing he might say something she couldn't refuse. She feigned ignorance and smiled, saying, "This dessert is really delicious. Your friend is amazing. It seems he made the right choice not being a doctor and becoming a pastry chef."
Yang Sijie's expression dimmed. He let out a soft "hmm" and also began eating his dessert silently.
As he was nearing the bottom of his bowl, he tried again. "Susu, I want to tell you, we..."
"This shop isn't very big, and the decor is quite unique. Is business usually good?" Gu Susu interrupted him again.
"Business is very good. There's usually a queue," Yang Sijie replied quickly, then returned to what he wanted to say. "Can we be together? Let's start over, make up for these lost years. I'll treat you a thousand times better than your ex-husband..."
"Sijie, please don't say it! It has nothing to do with anyone else. It's me who is no longer worthy of you." Gu Susu just wanted to leave quickly.
"Who says you're not worthy? In my heart, you'll always be the best!" Yang Sijie reached out and held the hand Gu Susu was using to support her bowl.
Gu Susu immediately pulled her hand back and stood up. "That's your illusion. Your memory of me has always stayed in childhood. But we've both grown up, we've both changed. We're no longer innocent, pure, no longer..."
Seeing Gu Susu pause, Yang Sijie pressed her, "No longer what?"
Gu Susu's mind was in turmoil. She didn't know how to make him understand that she couldn't accept him now. If she could, it would take time.
"No longer familiar or understanding each other."
Yang Sijie looked into her eyes with determination. "You're right, we've changed a lot. But one thing has never changed: my heart has always held only you."
Cornered, Gu Susu said disbelievingly, "How can you be so sure? From a young boy to your current success, haven't you met other women besides me? Moreover, when we spent time together, I was just a child. I'm not comparable to the women you've met as an adult! You can remain unmoved, living in a childhood dream? Even though I'm still naive, I don't believe there's really a Yang Guo in this world who remained chaste for sixteen years for a Xiaolongnü! Do you think that's possible? Is it funny?"
Yang Sijie seemed wounded by something sharp, his eyes reddening with pain. "In your eyes, my certainty and conviction are just something to laugh at?"
"Sijie, no, that's not what I mean. Perhaps we still need time." Gu Susu lowered her head, picked up her bag, and wished she could rush out of the shop immediately.
But as she reached the door, Yang Sijie stopped her, grabbed her shoulders, and looked at her intently. "In the years I didn't find you, I wasn't as chaste as Yang Guo, but I remained single. I never married, never had a girlfriend! And you are now divorced and single again! We are both unmarried. Please give me a convincing reason why we can't try to be together and make up for all the missed years!"
Gu Susu looked at him steadily, her heart filled with a mixture of emotions, tangled and unclear. Even she didn't know why.