CH 16.3

The Sixteenth Cup of Coffee Part 3

Yun Xian saw the worry in their eyes. He put down his cup and got up and walked to the front counter. “She’s been busy working these past few days. She’s probably going to get off work now.”

There was only one pink flower left. Yun Xian took a piece of tissue paper that was usually used for the cakes, and wrapped it around the flower. He took a ribbon to wrap it and tied a beautiful bow.

“Xiao Zhao, help me pack a slice of red velvet cake.”

“Oh, okay.” Zhao Xinrou quickly took out a piece of red velvet cake from the glass cover. It was a new flavor made by Su Cheng today. It sold well. Now there was only one left.

Yun Xian took the packaged cake and said to them, “This one’s on me. If there are no customers tonight, go home early today.”

Su Cheng saw that he was leaving and asked, “Hey, boss, where are you going?”

Yun Xian held up the rose and cake in his hands. “I’m picking up my girlfriend from work.”

The timing was just right. He saw Jiang Ying come out as soon as she came down.

Today, he didn’t drive. He was standing under the streetlamp that had already lit up with a dim yellow light.

Jiang Ying saw him from far away. She waved and ran over with a smile.

Yun Xian opened his arms and steadily caught her. He asked, “Are you hungry?”

“I’m starving.” Jiang Ying wrapped her arms around his entire body. “After changing the plans throughout the day, I finally gave up.”

Yun Xian put his chin on Jiang Ying’s head. A sweet citrus fragrance lingered on his nose: “What’s wrong with your boss? He’s been working you overtime for a week.”

“It’s okay. I got off work very early today. It’s mainly because the update and event were at the same time. I also have to go to Shanghai for business soon.”

Yun Xian let go of Jiang Ying and handed over the things in his hand. “You’ve worked hard. Let’s go. I’ll take you to eat first.”

This was the wonderful ability of having a lover to cure all the fatigue and unhappiness in life.

Jiang Ying took the flower and cake with one hand and held Yun Xian’s with the other hand. “I want to eat pan-fried pork dumplings.”

“Okay, pan-fried pork dumplings.”

This restaurant had a very good reputation. Jiang Ying often came to eat there when she was young. The restaurant had been renovated twice, and the dining area was double the size it was before.

Jiang Ying and Yun Xian sat down by the window and ordered two bowls of red bean porridge and a plate of pan-fried pork dumplings.

While waiting, Yun Xian talked about his plans for the next month, “I have to go back to Beijing at the beginning of next month, I’ll come back after a while.”

Jiang Ying asked, “Did something happen?”

“My brother has the college entrance examination. After thinking about it, I should go back. I’ll take him somewhere to relax after the exams.”

Jiang Ying nodded. “Is there anywhere he wants to go? Does he want to visit Xi City?”

Yun Xian looked at her. He was smiling but not speaking.

Jiang Ying cleared her throat. “What I mean is, Shanghai and Hangzhou are both very fun to visit… You guys can think about it.”

Yun Xian responded to her obvious hint, “Okay, I know. I’ll ask him.”

Since Yun Xian mentioned his younger brother who was a senior in high school, the topic at dinner naturally revolved around him.

Yun Xian’s younger brother was Yun Qian and he had just turned 18 this year.

According to Yun Xian, whether it was his appearance or personality, Yun Qian was a smaller version of him.

That’s why Jiang Ying was curious about his brother.

“I brought him up. Like father, like son. It’s normal for him to be like me,” Yun Xian explained.

“You brought it up? Were your parents busy working?”

“That’s one reason. Another was that they divorced very early. My brother and I went with my mother.” When Yun Xian said these things, his face did not change at all.

Jiang Ying was somewhat embarrassed. She bit into a pan-fried pork dumpling, and did not know whether she should continue the conversation.

Yun Xian read her mind. “Ask what you want to ask. I’m your boyfriend. You should know more about me.”

Jiang Ying spoke very carefully. “What about your father? I think it is very tiring for a woman to raise two children alone, so…”

Yun Xian didn’t answer immediately, but seemed to be thinking about what he should say.

“My father is a geologist. He is always traveling and doing research investigations. He has visited a lot of places. He was in Hubei when I was born, and in Shaanxi when my younger brother was born. I saw him only a few times a year. Sometimes he had to leave without staying at home for two days.” Yun Xian’s tone was calm, as if he was just introducing his family. “My mother was a high school Chinese teacher. When they first met, she was a young woman who loved literature and he was a traveler who cherished going everywhere. It was not hard for them to be attracted to each other.”

Jiang Ying put down her chopsticks and listened to him carefully. “What happened later? Why did they separate?”

Yun Xian smiled and said only one word, “Reality.”