See You Again (Time Already Knows) - Chapter 34
Chapter 34 - So Her Bowl Was Not Completely Empty; It Contained A Heart.
This child! Didn’t he already know that guest had arrived at the house?
Mayor Ye looked up and spoke to his son that was standing on the mezzanine corridor: “Jiacheng, quickly, come peel apples for the guests.”
At the side of the mezzanine corridor, Ye Jiacheng glanced in some other direction, then lightly said: “……okay.”
Mayor Ye called Ye Jiacheng downstairs and proceeded to explain: “My kid also just got back today.”
Father Ye said it simply, not mentioning that he flew back from A-City because Yi Pei was from A-City. When one has relationships in different parts of their identity, some things were not spoken intentionally, but the listener pays attention to the detail, making them sensitive to it. No matter if he was a father or a mayor, he didn’t hope for Yi Pei to assume his relationship and take extra care of Ye Jiacheng when they returned to A-City. Luckily, Jiacheng never spoke carelessly and did things with propriety. Ever since he was little, this was the part of his son that he was most satisfied with.
Tonight’s dinner was also a suggestion by Jiacheng. Yi Mao Real Estate’s current establishment was considered a kindness in the industry. Since they were confirmed to expand into Qinglin City, and were now a friend that had come to visit from far away, treating them to a meal of chicken and millet was not excessive. As for the matter regarding Jiacheng especially flying back to have a meal with them, Mayor Ye simply sampled the tea. No one understood their son better than the father. Because of Jiacheng’s personality, there definitely had to be some other reason, or he was hiding some other intention.
Yi Pei also took a sip of his tea and also thought of the same issue: if Yi Qingdong had agreed to Ye Jiacheng’s high price back then, no matter how they met, he and Ye Jiacheng would have already been enemies today.
On the left side of the living room, Ye Jiacheng walked down the stairs leisurely. The sounds of his rubber soles stepping onto the hardwood staircase was neither soft nor heavy.
Shi Jian looked down. Out of all the people in the room, she was probably the person who paid the most attention to Ye Jiacheng. She was so attentive that she even took notice of the sound of his footsteps going down the stairs. She pretended to have her attention on the apple revolving in her hands and couldn’t help but to think: when did Ye Jiacheng come back? Hadn’t he been busy recently? The last time they talked to each other on the phone, Ye Jiacheng had even concealed his identity of being the prince of Qinglin City.
Hmph! How rare!
Ye Jiacheng walked over. She set down the apple and stood up with Zhang Kai. Ye Jiacheng walked to his father’s side, seemingly only wanting to play the role of a good son. He extended his hand towards Yi Pei: “President Yi, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for a long time.”
Yi Pei shook his hand. Faced with Ye Jiacheng’s pleasantries, he smiled slightly and replied: “Architect Ye, I’ve also been looking forward to meeting you.”
Many people addressed Ye Jiacheng as “Young Master Ye”, and people who didn’t understand him often only saw him as the son of the mayor of Qinglin City. Yi Pei had always done things extremely thoroughly. By addressing Ye Jiacheng like this, he not only did not express a single hint of flattery, but this also conveyed respect and admiration from one man to another. At the same time, this also indicated that he already knew that Ye Jiacheng had that occupation in A-City.
But all men on earth liked to crack down on their sons. Father Ye was not an exception. He said to Yi Pei with a laugh: “President Yi is exaggerating! Jiacheng is still young. He doesn’t have that great of a reputation.”
Father Ye’s modest words were still laced with a hint of pride.
It seemed that no matter how old Ye JIacheng was, Gonggong’s attitude towards him was pretty much the same. 30% modest, 30% prideful, 30% helpless, and the other 10% was him advising his son earnestly.
Yi Pei smiled indifferently and continued: “Young Master Ye is already very promising for his age.”
There was some kind of meaning in Yi Pei addressing him as “Young Master Ye”. This time, he deliberately raised Ye Jiacheng up. After these two sentences, both Gonggong and Ye Jiacheng chuckled.
Shi Jian averted her gaze but still ended up looking towards Ye Jiacheng. Ye Jiacheng turned with a smile to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with Zhang Kai. He walked nearer. At the closing distance between the two of them, Shi Jian would be able to see his army cotton shoes if she lowered her head. Ye Jiacheng appeared to really like this pair of shoes. He would wear them every time he returned home. After they were worn beyond repair, he specifically sent someone to go to the countryside to buy a similar pair.
He even recommended them to her. He told her that they were indeed really warm. They were so ugly that she didn’t want to believe it: “I’ll stick to wearing my UGGs.”
……
Ye Jiacheng and Zhang Kai were nearly finished shaking hands. Shi Jian silently took out her right hand and unconsciously moved it, waiting for Ye Jiacheng to come shake her hand.
In the end, they didn’t shake hands.
Shi Jian silently returned her hand into her pocket, hoping she wouldn’t be discovered. She sat down again. She didn’t expect that Ye Jiacheng not only pretended that he didn’t recognize her, but also ignored her like this.
At that moment, the left side of the sofa sank down. Ye Jiacheng languidly sat down next to her. The sofa that originally was fit for three people at most had suddenly found another person on it. The soft sofa immediately sunk towards him.
Their buttocks were nearly touching!
Then, Ye Jiacheng stood up again and walked over to the nearby chest of drawers. He returned with the paring knife.
He once again sat down. Their buttocks were really about to touch.
The sofa seemed too small……
“Hurry, peel some apples for our guests.” Gonggong said to Ye Jiacheng. Then he smiled, “Jiacheng is pretty skilled at peeling apples, haha. It’s one of his few good points.”
Everyone chuckled a bit at Mayor Ye’s light banter.
Obviously, Ye Jiacheng didn’t want to admit that his apple-peeling skills were one of his few good points, so he didn’t respond to his father’s joking. Shi Jian was also angered by Ye Jiacheng so much so that she couldn’t laugh. Next to her, Ye Jiacheng leaned to pick up her apple, turned it over in his palm, and put it back in the fruit basket.
Shi Jian: “……” He didn’t even want to give her an apple to eat?
She awkwardly turned her head slightly. Ye Jiacheng spoke with her in a soft voice as if explaining to her: “That apple isn’t sweet enough. I’ll pick a better one for you.”
This kind of meaningless explanation was for her ears only, but the others could all hear it.
“……” Shi Jian turned again and replied softly, “……thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Then, Ye Jiacheng picked an apple that was not big, but was sufficiently pink. Before, Ye Jiacheng had also picked out apples for her often. He was especially good at picking the apples that were sweet, juicy, fragrant, and crispy.
Seeing Shi Jian with her lowered brows and sweet voice, Mayor Ye naturally discovered that his son paid special attention to this beautiful lady. He noticed the slight glance that Yi Pei took in their direction and couldn’t help reminding his son: “Jiacheng, pick some sweet ones for us.” Mayor Ye said this because he didn’t want Yi Pei to misunderstand that his son was taking advantage of his employee even though it really looked like he was kind of flirting.
“En.” Ye Jiacheng nodded at his father’s instructions and said: “I’ll finish peeling this one for her first.”
Oh~
Shi Jian couldn’t sit still anymore and felt that pink bubbles were about to float out of her heart. If she expressed this, then it would be like confessing her feelings in front of the mayor.
“Thanks.” She looked towards Ye Jiacheng but declined, “I don’t want to eat it anymore.”
Ye Jiacheng held the apple he’d already picked and met her eyes: “Not eating it?”
Shi Jian nodded her confirmation and replied very bluntly: “Dinner will be soon.”
Oh, that’s right. Ye Jiacheng put the apple back.
Zhang Kai and Yi Pei also didn’t eat any apples. Ye Jiacheng had nothing to do. Mayor Ye looked over at the kitchen and prompted his son: “Jiacheng, quickly, go check in the kitchen.”
“Okay.” Ye Jiacheng stood and went to the kitchen.
Shi Jian listened to this and became aware of the words she’d just said. It seemed like she was hurrying the cooking. Ye Jiacheng quickly returned from the kitchen and asked as if he didn’t know the situation: “Dad, is Auntie Zhang not here today?”
There was meaning hidden in Ye Jiacheng’s words. Mom was the only one cooking right now, so they still had a while before dinner would be ready.
Father Ye didn’t reply to Ye Jiacheng and smiled somewhat apologetically to Yi Pei. Then, he continued to chat with Yi Pei for a bit. Tonight’s dinner was already planned at the last minute. Luckily, the auntie wasn’t here and his wife was the only one busying about. He indeed didn’t know when dinner would be served.
It turned out Auntie Zhang wasn’t here. Shi Jian stood: “I’ll go in and help…… Auntie.”
She often helped Popo and Auntie Zhang cook whenever she used to come over with Ye Jiacheng.
“……how can we let a guest help?” Mayor Ye smiled at her and looked at his son who was leaning against the armrest of the armchair, “……Jiacheng, weren’t you just in the kitchen? Why did you come back? Hurry, go help your mom.”
This was a disdaining tone of voice. Ye Jiacheng’s eyes seemed to flash expressionlessly as he glanced at a certain someone. If someone said they were going inside to help, could it be that those words were empty?
Shi Jian entered the kitchen to help. Even if she was one of the younger generation, there wasn’t a problem with her helping a little bit. Moreover, she even got a look of permission from Yi Pei.
Inside the kitchen, Popo was really the only one cooking. Popo smiled amiably at her as she went inside. Probably because she had her hands full, Popo gave her some easy things to do.
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Shi Jian quietly stood by the sink washing vegetables, occasionally stealing glances at Popo busily cooking. In this life, would she still be fortunate enough to continue to be a kind daughter-in-law?
Having been Popo’s daughter-in-law for five years, Shi Jian was familiar with helping her cook. Popo looked pleased at her and said: “Ah, having a daughter is better.”
Hehe.
Shi Jian finished peeling the potatoes and didn’t know if Popo wanted them in slices or strips, or maybe cubes? Popo had different ways of cooking them for all three shapes. She put the plump potatoes on the cutting board in a line, and planned to ask Popo before she cut them. She inattentively turned and called out: “Ma……”
Ma——
Heavens, what did she just call her?! What to do, she seemed to stitch her mouth shut…… Shi Jian’s body went rigid. Other than Mama Ye, Ye Jiacheng, who also just came in, also went rigid.
Ye Jiacheng looked at her and slanted his lip, seemingly holding back his laughter.
“Cleaning1…… rag…… Where is it?” Shi Jian looked up with a blinding smile and quickly patched up her words. Nearby, Ye Jiacheng looked away and told her: “On your left.”
“Oh, okay.”
Shi Jian lowered her head and secretly smiled. She turned and picked up the rag.
Discovering that she only heard wrong, Mama Ye also laughed. Just now, at that sound of “Ma”, Mama Ye really felt that she’d just acquired a daughter-in-law.
Ye Jiacheng also came to help. He asked about Auntie Zhang as she worked.
“Your Auntie Zhang’s daughter-in-law just gave birth a while ago. Auntie Zhang took time off to take care of her daughter-in-law for the month after her birth,” Mama Ye told her son.
“Oh.” Ye Jiacheng was bored to death as he listened. He washed the potatoes again and handed them to Shi Jian. He asked, “Boy or girl?”
“A granddaughter.” Mama Ye replied, then she fussed, “And what about you? Auntie Zhang is younger than me by a few years, and yet she already has a granddaughter to hold.”
“How can this be compared?” Ye Jiacheng couldn’t comprehend it. His line of sight landed on the hands Shi Jian used to chop potatoes. After looking for many moments, he replied to his mother behind him, “……I don’t even have a girlfriend right now.”
Shi Jian’s hands paused in their chopping for a moment, then resumed. Chop chop chop chop chop!
Ye Jiacheng continued: “Even if I got a girlfriend today, we probably still need a couple years to date and get married. So, you can just wait. Maybe in three to five years.”
Mama Ye heaved a sigh and didn’t want to continue speaking with her son.
Shi Jian finished chopping the potatoes and handed them to Mama Ye. For the last dish, Mama Ye didn’t continue to allow her to help. Mama Ye saw her speedily chopped potatoes and asked her with astonishment: “Wow, I’d even forgotten to mention it. How did you know I wanted them in cubes?”
Shi Jian smiled. She’d only guessed according to Popo’s cooking habits. This last dish was probably potato beef stew. She finished washing her hands and walked out of the kitchen.
Outside, the sky had already darkened.
A warm light was turned on in the living room. Below the light, Yi Pei and Gonggong…… were currently playing Chinese chess. Zhang Kai stood next to them, observing silently. Yi Pei and Father Ye took turns making moves; neither spoke a word.
This kind of atmosphere had a very harmonious calm to it. Shi Jian also stood and watched them for a while, until Ye Jiacheng came over to call them for dinner.
Dinner was ready. Yi Pei and Mayor Ye’s game of chess had just finished. Mayor Ye said to Yi Pei: “President Yi has a very steady style. The situation is under control with every move. This quality is indeed hard to come by, unlike my kid……” Mayor Ye shook his head and didn’t continue. After all, the antonym of steady wasn’t derogatory.
“It’s that I can’t help but be steady. Of course I must have careful deliberations when playing chess with Mayor Ye.” Yi Pei stood and continued with a smile: “Otherwise, once I make a single mistake, the whole game is over.”
Yi Pei was not exaggerating and was being extremely sincere. Mayor Ye repeatedly laughed and looked over at Ye Jiacheng again. He meaningfully said: “I often admonish my son, Jiacheng, that no matter what he does, he always has to be careful of the little things. If Jiacheng had half your personality, then I would have to spend half the effort to teach him.”
Ye Jiacheng: “……”
Yi Pei lowered his head and laughed lightly: “The teachings that a father imparts onto his son are all incarnates of love. I am truly envious.” Then, Yi Pei sat down with Mayor Ye. Both sat at opposite ends of the table.
Shi Jian’s mind suddenly wandered at Yi Pei’s words. If someone else had said them, then they would probably be an ordinary compliment. But coming from Yi Pei, who seemed to not even know who his father was……
That envy seemed to come from his heart being moved.
Women indeed sympathized easily. Shi Jian thought about Yi Pei’s future commerce empire. She absolutely didn’t need to have sympathy for Yi Pei. What would the future Yi Pei want that would be unobtainable? The formidable him’s greatest regret was probably that he never got to experience a father’s love.
After all, now that she had helped save Zhao Wenwen, they would probably get married very soon, then have a child, and he would become a father himself…… Shi Jian went absent-minded from the thinking. Ye Jiacheng stood beside her. Only she and Ye Jiacheng remained in the living room, as if they were a pair. Suddenly, her back was shoved. She turned around and looked towards Ye Jiacheng.
“Dinner time!” Ye Jiacheng said, eyes darting around. Then, his tone warmed and he added his personal appellation for her: “Little fox.”
Little fox…… Shi Jian glared at Ye Jiacheng. She’d thought he would pretend to not know her all night. She sharply looked away and walked to Zhang Kai’s side.
She started having a meal with Father Ye as Yi Pei’s subordinate.
The dinner that Mama Ye prepared was sumptuous. They were mostly local specialty dishes. The main course was duck and bamboo shoot soup. Shi Jian sat at the furthest seat at the table and gazed at the large brown pot at the center of the table. She didn’t expect that she would be able to taste it this time at Qinglin City!
Across from her, Ye Jiacheng stood and ladled a bowl for each person. He doled out very even portions. Everyone had nearly had a bowl, then two or three pieces of duck were added, along with some bamboo shoots.
When it was her turn, she only had soup in the end, without any duck or bamboo shoots.
Shi Jian silently accepted her bowl, not saying a word. She held her white soup spoon and took a scoop with a lowered head. Inattentively, she had scooped out the duck heart.
So her bowl was not completely empty; it contained a heart.
Author’s Note:
Ye Jiacheng thinks that the duck heart is the best part of the duck. Haha~ Most people think it’s the duck leg.
If you had to pick between Special Assistant Zhang and Gao Yanfei, which would you choose?
Big Zhu is merely curious. After all, these two are relatively more like men in reality……
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