Luo Jing served her the soup and said with a smile, "It's time to order your spring and summer clothes. A couple of days ago, Master Cao told me that he got two pieces of good fabric that are perfect for making cheongsams. I thought it would be perfect for us to each have one, so I placed an order. He should be coming to take our measurements in the next couple of days."
“A cheongsam…” Xu Xingyan thought for a moment and chuckled, “I would like to have one made in the old Beijing style.”
“You can discuss it with Master Cao yourself later…” Luo Jing took a bite of the duck leg, “But I still prefer the modified version, one with a stronger curve.”
At this point, he gave a sly smile, his gaze lingering meaningfully on the two women's chests, and he clicked his tongue in admiration.
Xu Xingyan's smile froze, and she glared at her, saying, "My acne is all on my back."
Luo Jing touched the two barely noticeable acne scars on her face and said casually, "But I never have menstrual cramps."
A notification sound should be played here—KO!
Xu Xingyan suffered a critical hit of 10,000 points.
...
Xiao Tang took the day off and didn't come to work today. Xu Xingyan was still managing to handle things, so she didn't hire a temporary worker.
There were no customers during the lunch break, so with nothing to do, I arranged freesias, silver leaves, and green poinsettias in a triangular pattern in a vase, which looked quite elegant.
A string of small bells was tied to her wrist with a red string, and when she moved, they made a crisp sound that was ethereal and interesting.
After washing the dishes, Luo Jing yawned and walked downstairs with her phone to her ear. "...No need, Yan Yan is right next to me. I'll put it on speakerphone, sister-in-law, you can just say what you want."
Chen Yue’s usual deep voice came through the loudspeaker: “Xiao Jing, Yan Yan, Mom asked me to tell you that Grandpa’s old friend, Mr. Sun, who has been living in Australia, intends to bring a large amount of assets back to China to spend his old age in peace. He will arrive in Kyoto before the end of the year and hopes to see the younger generation of his old friends to comfort his loneliness in his old age.”
Xu Xingyan stopped arranging flowers and frowned slightly: "Mr. Sun? The founder of EK? He was indeed a close friend of my grandfather when he was young, but we have had little contact in the last thirty years. Even when my grandfather passed away, he did not attend in person, but only sent his butler to offer condolences on my behalf. Our two families are not that close, are they?"
Although it may sound like self-praise, it is true. Since becoming an adult, Xu Xingyan has been in charge of most of the social interactions between the Xu and Fang families. She is always more perceptive in this regard than others.
"With a large amount of assets, ah..." Luo Jing narrowed her eyes and tapped the table lightly with her finger, "Returning to invest in China?"
Luo Jing didn't quite understand. She hadn't returned to China for most of her life. Could it be that now that she was old, she suddenly had a burning desire to contribute to the country's development?
Xu Xingyan asked tactfully, "Sister-in-law, will Brother Luo Bin go?"
Chen Yue chuckled softly, "Ah Bin is too busy with work. Mom spoke with Mr. Sun on the phone, and he said that work is important, so he doesn't need to travel this time."
So... all I saw were my old friend's two granddaughters?
Xu Xingyan rubbed her temples.
Luo Jing rolled her eyes, clearly uninterested, and asked bluntly, "How many grandsons does he have? Is he going back to China to develop his career? Which industry does he want to work in?"
The two asked in unison, "Can we not go?"
Chen Yue, wearing headphones and multitasking through documents in her office, couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this.
"Mom said it's up to you, but I think it would be best if you came to meet them. They explicitly said it was an elder meeting a younger generation, so it wouldn't be too impolite. Hmm... Mom and I are in Kyoto these days, and Auntie is coming in a couple of days. By the way, Yan Yan, isn't your girlfriend here too? Don't you want to come and ease your longing?"
Miss Xu was stunned for a moment, then her heart fluttered wildly.
Luo Jing: "..."
She glanced at her younger sister's expression, her forehead throbbed, and she gritted her teeth in resignation, saying, "Alright, sister-in-law, I'll go back and find someone to arrange a time off. Let's just spend the New Year in Kyoto this year, then the whole family can be together..."
"And..." Luo Jing hesitated for a moment, "I'll probably bring a friend over for a few days."
Chen Yue burst into cheerful laughter, drawing a puzzled look from her secretary.
"Friends? What kind of friends? Friends I can bring home for Chinese New Year?"
Miss Luo hung up the phone in a fit of embarrassment and anger.
Then... she turned around and saw her dear sister's curious, bright eyes.
Oh, this world is full of gossip.
--------------------
Author's Note:
Do you remember the candy shop boy from Chapter 9?
Chapter 36 Orange Candy
Xu Xingyan had not been to Kyoto for many years.
On the one hand, something unpleasant happened when she last visited, which made her somewhat resistant to the city. On the other hand, she has a slight fear of flying and really dislikes flying.
But this time, sitting in a seat far from the window, she was full of energy, not only because of the excitement of seeing her lover, but also because of the boy sitting next to her.
Luo Jing had introduced him to her before boarding the plane; his name was Yu Hang, and he was the owner of a candy store.
The sweet orange hard candy slowly melted in her mouth. Xu Xingyan couldn't help but glance at Yu Hang again. He was tall, handsome, and fair-skinned, and seemed somewhat taciturn and quiet... The candy was delicious, and most importantly—
Jingjie's gaze towards him remained smiling throughout.
Luo Jing never hid her relationships from others, so Xu Xingyan was very certain that she had never seen her sister's eyes filled with tenderness with affection in any of her other boyfriends.
This is also why Xu Xingyan has never been optimistic about Luo Jing's exes. If someone can't make you dazzled during the honeymoon phase, how can you spend the rest of your life with them?
Ultimately, love means different things to everyone. Some value it more than life itself, some laugh it off, and some... treat it as a diversion from a dull life.
But Xu Xingyan felt that Luo Jing's view on love should be the same as hers, always full of expectation, waiting for the most beautiful moment of love in our lives.
Perhaps her scrutinizing gaze was too obvious, because Yu Hang looked up and then paused, revealing a friendly smile, and whispered, "I don't know if the orange candy suits your taste. Xiao Jing likes it a lot, so I brought quite a lot, but there are also some other flavors... um, which one do you like?"
It's clear that Yu Hang isn't very good at socializing, nor is he a particularly charming or sociable person. Almost three hours have passed since they met, and only now has he remembered to ask Xu Xingyan what her favorite food is.
If it were someone else, they might feel slighted, but Xu Xingyan… she smiled gently, even a little afraid of startling him, “Does Sister Jing really like orange candy?”
Luo Jing loves sweets? That's a joke.
Well... it's not impossible. Perhaps love really can change a person's tastes.
Luo Jing suddenly stepped in from the side and answered decisively, "Yes, I love orange candy the most."
Well, this love is indeed fascinating.
Luo Jing lowered her eyes, her gaze gentle and peaceful, and whispered to Yu Hang, "Yan Yan loves the orange candy you make, just like me."
Xu Xingyan rested her chin on her hand as she looked at the two of them, focusing on Luo Jing, at the smile on her lips that was brighter than the sunset, and at her eyes that were gentler than peach blossoms in spring...
My dear sister—
Your loved one looks truly beautiful.
...
Kyoto Airport Exit.
"Big Aunt, Little Aunt!"
The five-year-old boy waved his little hands, his face flushed with excitement. With his chubby little head and the unique bravado of his age, he pounced into Xu Xingyan's arms like a little cannon.
Xu Xingyan opened her arms and barely caught Luo Yang. She hugged him and kissed him. She wanted to pick him up and spin him around, but she realized that in just half a year, the little guy was already too heavy for her to carry.
"Long time no see, Little Fifteen, do you miss your aunt?"
Luo Yang nestled affectionately in her arms, still smelling warm and milky. Without hesitation, she nodded and said, "Yes! I miss you so much, Auntie!"
Secretary: "Ms. Chen has an urgent meeting and unfortunately can't pick me up from the airport. Xiao Yang has been talking about it since yesterday, and he's been very happy the whole way..."
Luo Jing smiled and said, "Sister-in-law is at her busiest time with work, so it's understandable that you're stretched thin. Where have you arranged your accommodation? And has my aunt arrived in Kyoto yet?"
Secretary: "Ms. Fang arrived last night and is currently with Secretary Fang. As instructed by Ms. Chen, she has tidied up the courtyard house in the east of the city, hired two housekeepers, and arranged for a driver..."
Luo Yang tugged at Xu Xingyan's sleeve, snuggled into her soft, fragrant neck, and her eyes sparkled with a mysterious and lively light: "I've prepared a surprise for my aunts."
"What is it?" Xu Xingyan tilted her head, cupped her face and asked him, "I'm so curious, Little Fifteen, tell Auntie secretly, but Auntie won't tell Big Auntie."
"No," Luo Yang raised her slightly chubby little hand and covered her mouth, her round eyes sunken into a serious look, "A surprise is something you can't know in advance, Auntie can't break the rules."
"What are you talking about?" After understanding the situation and exchanging a few pleasantries, Luo Jing squatted down and touched Luo Yang's forehead. "Our little Fifteen has grown up again and is becoming more and more like a handsome young man."
Xu Xingyan: "We're talking about a surprise."
Luo Yang put his arm around Xu Xingyan's neck and said with a grin, "A surprise you can't know in advance."
Luo Jing gently rubbed his little face and said, feigning sadness, "Can't you really tell me?"
Luo Yang and Xu Xingyan exchanged a glance, their similar almond-shaped eyes curving in unison: "No, you can't."
“Okay,” Luo Jing rubbed her chin against his soft fur, “but your aunt has also prepared a surprise for you, a surprise you can find out now.”
Luo Yang's mouth dropped open in surprise. "What is it?"
Then he saw Luo Jing's hand, which was behind her back, reach out in front of her, and on it was a lifelike little boy made of candy, in a glass box.
"Wow!" Luo Yang took it and examined it closely, his interest completely piqued. "Is the person in here me? How did they do that?"
“This uncle made it with candy,” Luo Jing said, pulling Yu Hang in front of Luo Yang. “This is Uncle Yu Hang. He can make lots and lots of candy, and it’s especially delicious…”
Xu Xingyan patted Luo Yang's little shoulder and urged with a smile, "Quickly thank your uncle."
A childlike cunning gleamed in Luo Yang's eyes, carrying with it a profound and insightful understanding: "Thank you, Uncle!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly hid in Xu Xingyan's arms, then made a face at the two of them who were blushing because of his words, as if to say, "Do you understand?"
"Mom said that when we see the uncle who came with my aunt, we have to call him uncle!"
...
Around 1 p.m., Tao Jie finished preparing for tomorrow's meeting and walked out of the conference room with her laptop. Just as she was about to go to the cafeteria to treat her overly hungry stomach, she saw Lin Shengmiao following closely behind a somewhat familiar-looking lady, walking step by step towards the coffee shop.
Although she looked incredibly composed, Tao Jie had such sharp eyes that she noticed almost immediately that her fingers were white as she gripped the laptop bag.
"Hey, Shengmiao..." Without thinking much, Tao Jie rushed forward and said to Lin Shengmiao in a very serious tone, "There are some technical terms in tomorrow's meeting that I can't translate properly. When do you have time to come and take a look?"
Lin Shengmiao pursed his lips and subconsciously glanced at the woman beside him.
"And this is..." Tao Jie seized the opportunity and immediately looked at the silent, elegant woman with a perfectly timed expression of doubt.
Fang Yi looked at her, paused for two seconds, and then smiled faintly: "You are... Old Master Tao's granddaughter? It's been quite a few years. I remember when you were a teenager, you and our Xiao Jing were very good friends..."
Tao Jie's smile froze. She remembered—this was Xu Xingyan's mother!
Suddenly breathless and feeling guilty, she said, "Aunt Fang, hello, you still remember me..."
Fang Yi nodded reservedly: "It's a bit of an occupational hazard; I pay a lot of attention to people's appearances. Besides, I just met your older cousin yesterday, and you two look very alike."
Tao Jie lowered her stance slightly, speaking with humility and politeness: "Yes, yes, you are a master of traditional Chinese painting. I've heard that people who can paint are quite sensitive to a person's bone structure and appearance..."