At first, Aunt Liu wrote down each dish one by one, but to her surprise, Mu Xing ordered more and more, eventually ordering nearly a dozen dishes and still feeling it wasn't enough. Aunt Liu was so frightened that she said repeatedly, "Oh my girl, it's not that we're being lazy and not cooking for you, but these dishes are too many. How can you possibly finish them all! Even if we cooked them all, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to eat them all and might upset your stomach, which wouldn't be good either."
Mu Xing counted them and found that there were indeed too many, but these were all dishes that she found delicious, and she really wanted Miss Bai to try them all, so she couldn't cut any.
Seeing her worried expression, Aunt Liu could only say, "Since you really want to eat this, how about I ask you to make a smaller quantity? However, we haven't prepared any small bowls and plates. We only have the set that my aunt made for you before, so we'll have to go and buy them tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Mu Xing immediately thought of the set of bowls her aunt had made, which was also an extremely exquisite and delicate item. She thought it best to bring it to Miss Bai to see as well. Miss Bai happily replied, "That would be wonderful. There's no need to buy any more; we can just use the set that my aunt made for me."
Aunt Liu hesitated for a moment: "But..."
Since her great-aunt passed away, seeing these things inevitably brings back memories of her. So, the lady has been busy putting away all the exquisite things that her great-aunt made for Mu Xing before she died into the storage room. Now that she is taking them out again, she is afraid that it will make the young lady sad.
Knowing Aunt Liu's concerns, Mu Xing smiled and said, "It's alright. I know Aunt also likes that set of bowls very much. Not just this set of bowls, she certainly wouldn't want those sentimental gifts to gather dust in the storage room. In previous years I wasn't around, but now it's time for them to see the light of day."
Seeing her insistence, Aunt Liu said no more and went to the kitchen to prepare the food.
That evening, Mu Xing did not discuss with his uncle the matter that Tang Yu had asked him to do.
She didn't really need to worry about this. Her uncle had been involved in business and politics for many years and had weathered many storms. Supporting a council chairman wasn't a particularly important matter. As long as she explained the situation to her uncle, he would consider it.
However, Tang Yu was right about one thing in everything she said at noon.
She really needs to have some kind of financial business of her own.
Now she practices medicine at the clinic, receiving a salary of forty yuan a month, as a licensed doctor. This amount is enough for an average family to live on for two months, but for her, it's just the price of two gold watches and a few bottles of good wine. If all of it were spent on Miss Bai, it would only be enough to hire her for half a month's work.
Because she was not yet married, her family continued to give her a fixed allowance every month. The two shops would only be transferred to her name after she got married.
However... if she can demonstrate certain abilities and convince her uncle and parents that she is capable of managing the pharmacy well, perhaps she can achieve financial independence sooner.
The key now lies in whether Zhang Derong is worthy of her introduction to her uncle, so she must make thorough preparations before making the introduction.
The next day, after a busy morning at the clinic, Mu Xing couldn't wait to rest for the first time, even though it wasn't lunchtime yet. She had to use all her willpower to restrain herself from frequently checking her watch in front of the attending physician, which made her face turn red.
Because her shifts only went until noon recently, she quickly packed her things and went to a restaurant near the clinic when it was finally lunch break time.
After booking a private room, she asked the waiter for some stationery. Just as she was about to write her name, she suddenly paused, smiled, and wrote down the words "Mr. Yu Yang".
-
Yuhua Book House.
When the pimp came in with the ticket, Bai Yan was writing something in Fei Hua's room, while Fei Hua was sitting by the window eating melon seeds. The two chatted idly.
Fei Hua had already been booked by the principal of Allen Girls' School, who also reserved a hotel suite for her for a year. However, because she was worried about Bai Yan, Fei Hua would stay at the academy when the principal was not around.
Seeing Bai Yan slumped listlessly on the table, writing haphazardly, Fei Hua deliberately glanced out the window and said, "Hey, isn't that Mu..."
Before Mu could finish speaking, Bai Yan slammed her pen on the table with a clang, ignoring the ink leaking from it, and lunged towards the window.
"Where? Where?" She stared wide-eyed outside, but couldn't see Young Master Mu anywhere. By the time she realized she'd been tricked, Fei Hua was already laughing so hard she collapsed onto the chaise lounge.
"Hahaha...you're turning into a waiting-for-husband stone!" Fei Hua laughed.
Bai Yan immediately got angry, frowned, and sat back down in her chair.
Young Master Mu hasn't asked her for a ticket for almost a week.
She could initially comfort herself by thinking that Young Master Mu had his own job and was a doctor, so he couldn't always have free time to come and amuse himself with her. But as time went on, she couldn't help but feel restless and started to overthink.
However, after thinking it over, there was only one reason why Young Master Mu suddenly stopped coming to see her—she had frightened him.
The thought of this possibility made Bai Yan feel guilty.
She shouldn't be in such a hurry!
Sighing, Bai Yan said, "Do you think Young Master Mu might really have been frightened by me?"
Seeing that she was serious, Fei Hua suppressed her smile and comforted her, "Not necessarily. Maybe he's really busy. Didn't that young master Cui travel all over the country every day before? You weren't this anxious then. This time should be the same. Just wait a little longer."
Bai Yan bit her lip.
Yes, Cui Yuanbai had been away on business trips quite often before, sometimes disappearing for days at a time, but she hadn't shown this much anxiety. She continued eating, drinking, and having fun as usual, occasionally even going on errands for others, without the slightest worry or...
miss…?
The two words had barely crossed her mind when Bai Yan was startled and instinctively wanted to deny them.
How could that be! In the end, she was a prostitute, and Young Master Mu was a customer; it was nothing more than a staged emotional transaction. How could she, and absolutely should not, use such weighty words in this transaction?
But, but…
As if lost in thought, Bai Yan picked up her pen and carefully traced the characters, the ink spreading out as she imprinted the two words heavily onto the letter paper.
miss.
Has she actually started to miss Young Master Mu?
Bai Yan was staring blankly at the two words in front of her when suddenly the pimp's singing voice rang out from downstairs: "Bureau ticket! Bai Yan—"
Upon hearing this, Fei Hua immediately threw down the melon seeds in her hand and opened the windowsill with a snap.
Bai Yan trembled involuntarily, and the fountain pen in her hand fell to the table. The blue ink spread on the dragon and phoenix embroidered tablecloth, leaving mottled marks.
Could it be him...?
"The most delicious restaurant, Mr. Fish and Sheep!" The pimp sang the last few words, completely sealing Bai Yan's fate.
She closed her eyes.
Fei Hua turned to look at her, hesitatingly saying, "You haven't gone to any of the other people's errands these past few days, and Mother is already... Yan'er, I think, maybe we should first..."
"I know." Bai Yan opened her eyes and said softly, "I know."
She was nothing more than a remnant of his extravagant life, a shadow cast behind the brilliance and splendor.
What more could I ask for?
"I will go."
Chapter Thirty-Four
Although her heart was filled with turmoil and bitterness, Bai Yan knew she couldn't, and had no right to, be perfunctory. She went back to her room as usual, put on her makeup, and changed into an exquisite cheongsam.
Fei Hua muttered to herself, "How beautiful! That Young Master Mu is truly unlucky; he'll find someone better sooner or later..."
Bai Yan lowered her eyes.
She had long ago decided to find someone to redeem her this year, and if Young Master Mu was indeed not interested, she should not let him hold her back.
She took a deep breath, looked up, and gave herself a bright smile in the mirror.
The rickshaw swayed and wobbled forward. Bai Yan looked at the ticket in her hand and realized something was amiss.
This "Mr. Fish and Sheep" was a new customer; she had never been to the Tasteful Restaurant before. These gentlemen usually invited girls they knew to their gatherings, otherwise, it would be awkward to be turned down. In all these years, the only time she had ever been invited by a new customer was that day by Young Master Mu…
No, don't think about it anymore.
Returning to the topic of the game ticket, it was rather strange that this customer was named "Fish Sheep." Moreover, she felt that the handwriting on this game ticket looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite place why, given the few characters.
Completely baffled, and in an attempt to distract herself, she let her thoughts wander aimlessly. But when she saw the sign for Minkang Medical Clinic in the distance, all her thoughts were swept away by the wind.
The Weijue Restaurant was not far from the Minkang Medical Clinic. When they arrived at the restaurant, the maid helped Bai Yan get off the rickshaw.
The moment the high heels touched the ground, they seemed to gain a mind of their own and uncontrollably wanted to walk across the street.
Unconsciously gripping the hand that her maid was holding, Bai Yan felt as if a thousand pounds weighed on her body. She bit her lip and took a difficult step forward.
With just one step, she knew she had lost.
In the struggle between her longing for Young Master Mu and her reason, she was utterly defeated and had no choice but to admit defeat.
She really missed him.
Releasing her grip, Bai Yan said to the maid, "Wait a moment, I'll be right back."
Without waiting for the maid's reply, she turned and left. Her hurried steps made her heels ache from the high heels, but she didn't care. She ran all the way to the entrance of Minkang Medical Clinic and grabbed the tea server who happened to be taking out the trash.
"Excuse me, is Dr. Mu here?" Bai Yan asked hurriedly, full of anticipation.
The waiter frowned. "Dr. Mu? You mean young Dr. Mu? Young Dr. Mu just left, just now. As for Master Mu, his consultation hours aren't during this time..."
He's not here...?
Without listening to what the waiter said next, Bai Yan frowned, then gradually relaxed. She thanked him absentmindedly, turned around, and walked back to the restaurant.
"Oh my girl, why are you running? Be careful not to twist your ankle..." the maid hurriedly followed and said.
Bai Yan just kept walking forward. She felt like laughing one moment, and then she couldn't help but want to cry the next.
But when I blinked, no tears fell.
Perhaps this is a good thing.
My mother said that once you shed tears for a man, you'll never be able to break free from him.
My mother has cried all her tears for my father, and here in this hall, she has cried countless times, feigning her feelings.
This is a good thing; her tears have already soiled her image, so let's not let them taint Young Master Mu further.
Bai Yan walked forward in a daze, pushed open the door in front of her, walked further forward, and sat down at the table.
It wasn't until a delicious aroma wafted to her nose that she suddenly realized she had entered the guests' private room.
She stood up abruptly, worried that she had been too rude, but when she turned her head, she didn't see a single person.
The maid was not there, the servants were not there, and there were no guests. She was all alone in the elegantly furnished room.
And a whole table full of dishes.
Bai Yan frowned and looked around the room, but still couldn't find anyone. She opened the door, but it was empty. Not knowing what was going on, she could only sit back down at the table and wait quietly.
To keep her mind from feeling empty, she listlessly began to look at the food in front of her.
To her surprise, the portions were small and the dishes were unlike those in a restaurant. A heart-shaped food box unfolded from the center like flower petals, containing five small bowls, each different from the others.
Unlike the usual flared or round bowls, or even the slightly more creative petal-shaped ones, these five bowls are shaped like kites, frogs, and rabbits, each with its own unique form and vibrant colors.
Inside were various dishes, including fresh and delicious green bamboo shoots, white tofu, and tender broad beans. The bright colors complemented the bowls and plates perfectly, making one's mouth water.
Bai Yan's originally gloomy mood was greatly relieved by the colorful hues, and she couldn't help but gently pick up a small peach-shaped dish from the food box.
This "peach" is adorable in shape, with lifelike branches and leaves. The deep pink bowl contains a light pink food that has solidified like agar and is decorated with white icing. It is probably a "pudding" that foreigners eat.
I brought it to my nose and took a sniff. The sweetness of peaches immediately enveloped my nose. Even without eating it, the sweet taste seemed to have already glided across my tongue.