Chapter 280: Just Listen To This Kind Of Songs
“We’re friends; don’t make it sound so formal. Actually, both parties get to benefit from this partnership—no one is helping anyone. It’s a very good partnership.” Lin Yueli laughed softly. “Then I’ll see you at night. I’m not familiar with Northern City, so you pick the place.”
Changqing pondered for a while, chose a restaurant she went to before and sent him the address.
She drove over at 6:30 pm. On the way, she gave Guan Ying a call. “Are you going to be at dinner tonight?”
Guan Ying was slightly stunned. “I’m shooting a drama outside tonight so I won’t be back.”
“Oh, alright. I thought you would be coming since they’re leaving tomorrow,” Changqing said. “How have things been developing for you and James lately?”
“It’s alright I guess; he’s quite lively. He confessed to me and told me to consider it. After all, we don’t really know each other very well,” Guan Ying said hesitantly.
“Really? That’s great, but taking the time to consider it is good.” Changqing was happy for her. She had always felt slightly apologetic towards Guan Ying, so she hoped Guan Ying would find her own happiness more than anyone else.
“Enough about me. Lin Yueli seems to be interested in you, right?” Guan Ying teased.
“Him?” Changqing blurted. “I only view him as a friend. Besides, I’m not even divorced yet. I haven’t thought of anything like that at all.”
The two chatted for more than 10 minutes before Changqing arrived at the entrance of the restaurant. Lin Yueli had already booked a suite there. It was a classical-style restaurant. The seats and tables there were made of sandalwood and had carvings.
“Apologies for making you wait so long. Why are you alone?” Changqing asked with surprise. “Where’s James?”
“He had something to do.” Lin Yueli smiled and poured her some tea. His voice was deep. “It seems like this is the first time the two of us are having a meal alone.”
Changqing nodded. Now that he mentioned it, she felt a little awkward. “You’re the guest—why don’t you order some food first?”
“Ladies first.” Lin Yueli stretched his hand out towards her to indicate that he would let her decide. “Besides, you’ve had a long day. You’re probably very hungry.”
Changqing was indeed very hungry, so she didn’t stand on ceremony and ordered two dishes. Lin Yueli also ordered two dishes. When the service staff placed the order, he even reminded him to serve the dishes quickly.
“I wanted to treat you to western food initially,” Lin Yueli said to her while looking at her with mesmerizing eyes after the service staff left.
Changqing felt a little unnerved from his gaze. “Western food is more suitable for couples. I think it’s better for us to eat something like this.”
“I have western food with James often. Wouldn’t others think we’re a couple then?” Lin Yueli joked.
Changqing laughed. Lin Yueli quickly added, “Speaking of James, you should know that he likes your friend, Guan Ying, right? What does your friend think of James?”
Changqing took a little sip of tea. “Pretty good, but she’s just uncertain if it was just mere interest or if James is truly fond of her.”
“All fondness is built on interest, but if he was merely interested, I don’t think that would be enough to make James specifically come to Northern City.” Lin Yueli smiled. “James is a pretty good person; he isn’t the type to play around. You can rest assured about that.”
Changqing blinked and nodded.
“When can you go on vacation? You can come over to the UK to play.” Lin Yueli watched her expectantly and said, “Didn’t you mention that you’re quite interested in the UK?”
“Maybe next time. I’m really pretty busy now.” Changqing evaded his gaze.
After around 10 minutes, the service staff arrived with the dishes. Just as Changqing was getting ready to help herself to the food, something furry suddenly brushed against her thigh.
She lowered her head and saw Robben with his front paws on her thighs, sticking his tongue out as he watched her with his adorable, large, black eyes.
“Robben, what are you doing here?” Changqing was surprised. Actually, she had been thinking about how Robben and Lolita were doing the entire day since Song Chuyi had gone to Germany. She didn’t expect she would be able to see Robben. This little ball of mischief must’ve snuck in when the staff came in to serve the dishes.
Robben barked and wagged his tail then looked towards the door.
Yan Molun was holding onto Lolita’s leash and looking in from outside. Changqing immediately stood up and smiled. “Brother Molun, it’s been a while.”
“Oh, Changqing. No wonder Robben disappeared all of a sudden.” After Yan Molun said that, Li Shaobin also walked in. He, too, was surprised. “Aiyo, Changqing, what a coincidence. We meet again. Here’s Handsome Lin too. What a coincidence, what a coincidence.”
Lin Yueli’s brows twitched. It might’ve been a coincidence the first time, but the second time, he didn’t think it could be such a perfect coincidence.
“Are you two here to eat as well?” Changqing asked.
“Yeah, Chuyi isn’t around and he left these two fellows to me, so I just took them out as well.” Li Shaobin sighed. “Actually, I’ve been wanting to look for you for the past two days. Ever since Old Song left, these two have been listless and extremely noisy. They refuse to eat no matter what. Maybe it’s because they’re not very comfortable with me. I really don’t know what to do with these two ancestors.”
Changqing lowered her head to look at Robben and Lolita. Her heart ached. Indeed, they seemed to have gotten thinner than before. Not just thinner, but their fur wasn’t as clean. They must’ve not showered.
“Shaobin is right.” Yan Molun agreed. “He can’t even take care of himself, yet he still has to take care of the dogs. He’s also very careless. Just now, Robben disappeared the moment we took our eyes off him. If we really lost him, that would be expected.”
Changqing thought: If they really lost Robben, he would probably be taken to be sold or slaughtered. Her heart ached immediately. “Sure, then I guess I should take them back.”
Li Shaobin suddenly looked at her as though he was seeing the Goddess Bodhisattva (1. Goddess of Mercy in Chinese Worship). “Changqing, you’re really too nice, I was still thinking that I would definitely be slaughtered by Chuyi when he came back if I were to lose Robben and Lolita.”
The more Changqing thought about it, the more she felt worried about having Li Shaobin care for the dogs. “Ermm... when is he going to be back? I’ll return the dogs to him when he comes back.”
“Oh, it’ll probably take a few months.” Li Shaobin sighed. “If it’s bad, maybe six months to a year, and possibly a few years.”
Changqing’s heart sank. Song Chuchu won’t be back for a few years?
Why do I find it so hard to accept that?
It was similar to how she felt when she knew that Fu Yu was going to the States.
“Can you please make way? I have to serve the dishes,” the staff said meekly from behind while holding onto a plate of bright, red beef.
Li Shaobin turned behind and looked. “Yo, I love beef. Do you mind if we eat together? In any case, I’ve met this Handsome Lin a few times already, so we’re quite familiar with each other.”
Lin Yueli still had a smile hanging on his face but his heart was already exuding a chill.
He couldn’t stand this person. Who’s familiar with him?
“Er...” Changqing was a little indecisive. However, she still nodded. She felt that it shouldn’t be a big deal. The more the merrier. Otherwise, it would also be quite awkward with just her and Lin Yueli and besides, she was the one treating.
However, she still looked apologetically at Lin Yueli with courtesy, hoping that he would understand.
Lin Yueli nodded and said to the service staff, “Please get us the menu. We’ll order a few more dishes.”
Li Shaobin didn’t stand on ceremony either and he added a few more meat dishes. Yan Molun, on the other hand, looked big and tall but ordered vegetable soup and a vegetable dish.
Anywhere you went with Li Shaobin wouldn’t feel awkward. Throughout the entire meal, Li Shaobin was basically talking non-stop. Sometimes, Lin Yueli didn’t even get a chance to say something or chime in.
When the meal was almost over, Yan Molun suddenly asked, “Do you have plans after this?”
Changqing shook her head. “Nope.”
“Why don’t we chill at Shaobin’s new winery?” Yan Molun started solemnly, “Mr. Lin, what do you think?”
“... anything goes,” Lin Yueli said unwillingly.
After the meal, Li Shaobin insisted on footing the bill. Lin Yueli took Changqing’s car over to the winery. He sat in the passenger’s seat while Robben and Lolita took the backseat.
It was probably because the two dogs hadn’t been in Changqing’s car for a very long time that the moment they got in, they squeezed to the front like usual, making so much noise it made Lin Yueli’s scalp go numb. “Changqing, these two dogs are...”
“They’re Song Chuyi’s.” Changqing was also slightly embarrassed because of the two dogs. “He had to go to Germany because his mom got into a car accident. I’m closer to these two dogs so I’d feel more reassured taking them with me.”
Lin Yueli didn’t feel very happy. “Aren’t you about to get... divorced from him? I’m sorry; I asked Guan Ying before. I just found it a little strange so I found out a little bit about your marriage situation.”
Changqing frowned and was silent. She didn’t really like it that other people knew about her matters, especially since she and Lin Yueli weren’t so close that they were at the stage where they could talk about anything.
Seeing as she didn’t answer, Lin Yueli didn’t question her further.
When they arrived at the winery, Li Shaobin got the manager to serve all the good food and drinks.
Actually, Changqing was pretty full from the meal and she was also afraid of driving drunk, so she only sat around for a while. On occasion, when Lin Yueli wanted to get closer to her to talk to her, Robben would always run to her and kick up a fuss. The moment Robben came, Lolita would also follow along.
In conclusion, while they sat there for more than an hour, Lin Yueli was dizzy from the two dogs’ barking and he ended up sitting by the side, drinking sulkily.
Changqing felt a little bad seeing that and suggested they called it a day.
Yan Molun stood up immediately and said, “I happen to need to settle some stuff close to your place, Changqing, so I’ll take your car.”
“Oh, sure.” Changqing nodded. She didn’t notice Lin Yueli’s frown tightening by the side.
When they got into the car, Yan Molun took the initiative to sit in the back with the two dogs. With his imposing aura, Robben and Lolita didn’t really dare to make so much noise. However, it wasn’t very convenient for Lin Yueli to say much. He only talked about some things regarding the partnership with the Yan Corporation. “If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call. I hope that my uncle will have a long-term partnership with the Yan Corporation.”
“Alright, I’m going to have to trouble you.” Changqing was very grateful to him.
When they arrived at the entrance of the hotel, Lin Yueli unbuckled his seatbelt and said gently, “I’ll contact you again the next time I come to China.”
“Mm, bon voyage.” Changqing waved to him.
Only then did Lin Yueli close the car door reluctantly.
This was totally unexpected from what he imagined. He was intending to catch a movie with her after the meal. In the end, it was all ruined by those two men and two dogs.
After they left the hotel, Changqing asked Yan Molun, who was in the backseat, “Brother Molun, where are you going?”
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