How Did I End Up Meeting His Mother?

Chu Tianqing jumped in fright. She checked the time again: it was 5:40 in the morning, yet her dear big brother had replied instantly.

Her fingers trembling, Chu Tianqing typed a reply: What does the question mark mean? Brother, if I may ask, have you not slept, or did you just wake up? Can your body take that?

Later, after she moved in with the man, she discovered that he got up at 5:30 every morning without fail and worked out for two hours. He was practically a demon!

Shen Heng replied instantly again: I should be asking you that. Why are you messaging me at this hour?

Chu Tianqing: Because Xiao Junyi had a flight at four in the morning, I stayed up in the middle of the night and went to confront him. Not only did I get slapped in the face hard, but we also fought over something else. I'm so angry I can't sleep!

Gritting her teeth, she typed out her complaints to her dear big brother. She couldn't deny she hoped he would offer her a few words of comfort.

To her surprise, he replied with only one sentence: Got it.

Chu Tianqing froze. She tossed her phone aside weakly, pulled the covers over herself, and lay down.

What on earth had she been expecting? She might as well sleep. At least that was good for her health.

Chu Tianqing slept until noon, then took the dog out for a walk. After returning and getting ready in a hurry, she headed out to check on the restaurant, mooched a cup of milk tea from Jiang Lean, and happily went to her night shift that evening.

If men could be relied on, sows could climb trees. The worse things went in love, the harder she had to work to earn money.

She changed into her white shirt and blue vest. Wanting a change of mood that night, she acted on a whim and braided her hair into two pigtails. Every one of her coworkers smiled and said she looked cute.

Chu Tianqing knew they were just trying to sweet-talk her, but she was happy nonetheless.

Customers began arriving after eight, and by ten she was run off her feet. Chu Tianqing darted back and forth with a tray, delivering drinks nonstop while keeping an eye on the customers and reminding them to pay. If anyone skipped out on the bill, the server had to cover it.

On Chu Tianqing's first day working there, several guys with dyed blond hair had stuck her with their bill. She had pleaded poverty to Brother Yang, the bartender, and with Sister Wan and Xiao Tao putting in a good word for her, she'd ended up paying the cost price of three hundred yuan.

Of course, the job wasn't all a trap. When it paid, it paid particularly well. The bar allowed servers to keep their tips, and when she was lucky, she could make several hundred yuan in tips in one night.

With her fixed wages on top of that, Chu Tianqing couldn't help marveling at how good the job was. The only problems were that it depended on her youth and wasn't respectable to talk about.

If only she had been able to let things go in her previous life. If she hadn't gone to that company, which looked so impressive but was actually a pile of dog shit, she wouldn't have lost her life and transmigrated into this world.

While she was lost in these random thoughts, someone suddenly darted out in front of her. Chu Tianqing hurriedly steadied her tray and said with a smile through gritted teeth, "Please be careful, sir. Excuse me."

As soon as she finished speaking, she glanced up and saw Xiao Junyi standing there, his face so sour it was as if someone owed him eight million.

Chu Tianqing sneered. She didn't want to pay him any attention and turned to go around him, but just as they passed each other, Xiao Junyi reached out and grabbed her arm.

The tray wobbled, and the drink nearly spilled. That one glass cost 120 yuan!

Chu Tianqing's anger flared. She looked up and glared at Xiao Junyi, saying stubbornly, "Young Master Xiao, this drink costs 120 yuan. If you spill it, I'll have to pay for it. If you think I don't deserve your respect, then go ahead and make a scene. Go ahead and treat me like dirt!"

Xiao Junyi froze, stunned by her scolding.

Chu Tianqing took the chance to shake off his hand and strode away to deliver the drink.

Xiao Junyi watched her retreating figure, both angry and helpless. He really didn't know what to do with her.

That proud, stubborn streak of hers was something else.

He couldn't help reflecting on himself. She'd said she was an ordinary person, but she'd been modest. He couldn't take her at her word; she still had the temper of a young miss.

Fuming, Xiao Junyi paced in a circle, found an empty seat, and sat down. He stared at Chu Tianqing and hurriedly waved when she passed by. "Server, come here a moment. I want to order a drink. You, the one with the braids, don't pretend you can't hear me!"

He was loud enough that quite a few people around them heard him. Chu Tianqing had no choice but to walk over with gritted teeth and put on a fake smile. "What would you like to order, sir?"

"It's my first time here, so I don't know what's good. Give me a recommendation." Xiao Junyi began acting shamelessly, the smug look on his face begging for a punch.

Chu Tianqing paused for two seconds, then suddenly lowered her voice and threatened, "Sir, I advise you not to look down on servers. Be careful, or I might spit in your drink!"

Xiao Junyi was so angry he laughed. Come to think of it, he really was afraid of that threat, so he lowered his voice and begged for mercy. "My honored ancestor, I was wrong. Could you please stop fighting me on this?"

"Who's fighting you? You're keeping me from making money." Chu Tianqing picked up her tray and said coldly, "I'm going. Don't bother me."

Xiao Junyi really did stop bothering her. He sat there obediently like a sunflower, turning wherever Chu Tianqing went.

Tall and long-legged, dressed head to toe in designer brands, with an irrepressibly rakish air, he stood out sitting there. Before long, quite a few beautiful women came over to chat him up.

Xiao Junyi politely turned them down, saying outright that his girlfriend worked there.

Chu Tianqing passed by several times and pretended not to see him. Let's see how long you can keep that act up.

Before she knew it, midnight had arrived, and Xiao Junyi had been sitting there for two hours. Sister Wan saw him on her way back from seeing a customer out and was a little surprised.

They had met before, after all, so Sister Wan went over to greet him. "Handsome, long time no see. Why are you sitting here alone without even ordering a drink?"

Xiao Junyi smiled. "Someone's angry with me, so I'm here making amends. If she doesn't bring me a drink, I don't dare have one."

Sister Wan's eyes shifted, and she understood what was going on.

She smiled and told Xiao Junyi to wait while she went to play peacemaker for him.

Sister Wan found Chu Tianqing and pulled her into a corner. "Xixi, that's enough. Go bring him a drink, and you can put this behind you. I think he's quite sincere. What if you take it too far and he runs off? Then you'd have to give him a way to back down, and how frustrating would that be? You might as well forgive him. That way, you'll have the upper hand."

That made sense. Chu Tianqing was persuaded.

She paid for a glass of mango juice out of her own pocket, brought it to Xiao Junyi, and said crossly, "Drink up. Don't die of thirst."

Xiao Junyi broke into a smile and hurriedly took it. "You're the one who cares about me after all. To tell you the truth, I nearly died."

"Smooth talker. You're so annoying." Chu Tianqing walked away with a cold face, but as soon as she turned around, she couldn't keep the corners of her lips from rising. She was happy after all.

After two, the customers gradually left, and the servers began collecting glasses and cleaning up. If nothing came up, they could leave at 3:30.

When Chu Tianqing finished, she changed into her own clothes and walked over to Xiao Junyi. "Come on. You sat here all night, so I'll treat you to a late-night meal."

Xiao Junyi checked his watch. "A late-night meal at this hour?"

"You can call it breakfast too. Come on." Chu Tianqing led the way out the back door of the bar and onto a street lined with breakfast shops.

Chu Tianqing took him to eat her favorite pan-fried buns. The two sat in the little shop, eating and chatting.

"Xiao Junyi, after our fight yesterday, I gave our relationship some serious thought. I think a big part of why you like me is that you want to conquer the old Miss Shen, who looked down on you."

Chu Tianqing took a sip of soy milk and continued, "Now that I'm a server, you don't feel the urge to conquer me anymore, and it's too embarrassing to tell people about it."

"I understand you," Chu Tianqing said, concluding her remarks. "But I'm not going to change. From now on, I'll just be a poor, mercenary person at the bottom of society, making money wherever I can. Please think carefully about whether you still want to date me."

Xiao Junyi chewed a pan-fried bun and looked up at her. After a long while, he said, "No, you're wrong. The way you are now makes me want to conquer you even more."

Expressionless, Chu Tianqing kicked the man. "I'm being serious, and you're cracking jokes. Let's break up right now."

"No, no, no." Xiao Junyi straightened his back, his gaze affectionate and intent. "Shen Xixi, honestly, it's you I like, not your status. It doesn't matter if you don't believe me now. We have plenty of time ahead of us."

Chu Tianqing shrugged. "I don't care either. We'll see."

They looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.

"These pan-fried buns are pretty good," Xiao Junyi said.

"If you like them, have some more." Chu Tianqing picked up a bun for him. "Try the vegetarian three-delicacy filling. I think it's the shop's best dish."

After New Year's Day, the end of the year soon approached. Everyone around her grew busier and busier, occupied with year-end performance reviews, year-end parties, and scrambling for tickets home.

Chu Tianqing, however, felt removed from it all. She had no year-end affairs to attend to and didn't need to scramble for a ticket home. At times like this, she felt especially lonely.

Xiao Junyi was busy. Although the two had talked things through and made up, they didn't have many chances to see each other.

Chu Tianqing couldn't help thinking of a saying: once a man wins you over, you're no longer worth anything.

She also remembered Shen Xixi's year-end plans. She would attend the Dingsheng Group's year-end party and accompany Father Shen onstage to thank the company's employees.

After the party, Father Shen would take them back to Hong Kong for the New Year. That was how it went every year, and this year was probably no exception.

But they probably wouldn't need her for those activities this year. The real heiress, Shen Bufan, would take her place.

The restaurant closed for the New Year, from New Year's Eve through the fifth day of the first lunar month.

The bar closed even earlier, from the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month through the fifteenth day of the first.

Chu Tianqing thought, This time I really am all alone.

Jiang Lean had asked her what her plans were for the New Year. Afraid of putting her in a difficult position, Chu Tianqing lied and said she was going on a trip and that Jiang Lean didn't need to worry.

Jiang Lean nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

There was still an unresolved knot between them, and Chu Tianqing guessed it wouldn't be convenient for Jiang Lean to take her home for the New Year.

As festive red New Year decorations appeared everywhere, Chu Tianqing felt increasingly desolate.

She finally got a call from Xiao Junyi. He said that, to make up for not seeing her all these days, he would take her out for a feast. Chu Tianqing's mood warmed, and she was full of anticipation.

It really was a feast. Bright Sea Tower was the most famous restaurant in Jincheng, and reservations had to be made in advance. Xiao Junyi arranged everything and came happily to pick up Chu Tianqing.

As soon as they met, Xiao Junyi poured his heart out. Work was so busy and tiring, and a bunch of old men made him drink all day long. It was truly worse than death.

Chu Tianqing smiled and comforted him. Once those old men ascended to heaven, the culture of drinking at the table would surely disappear. The future was bright, so he just had to hang on for a few more years.

The two chatted and laughed all the way there, then headed straight for their private room at Bright Sea Tower.

Shen Xixi had been here before, but it was Chu Tianqing's first time eating there. She looked calm on the surface, but inside she was already cheering. It's so delicious! You really do get what you pay for.

Halfway through the meal, the manager on duty came into the private room and whispered a few words in Xiao Junyi's ear.

Xiao Junyi's face darkened. He glanced at Chu Tianqing and said to the man, "I understand. You can go now."

Chu Tianqing didn't understand. "What's wrong?"

Xiao Junyi cleared his throat, looking a little awkward. "It's nothing serious. My mother is eating here too. She heard I was here and asked who I came with. The manager on duty didn't tell her. He came to let me know and said I could decide how to handle it."

Chu Tianqing's heart skipped a beat. The business portrait of the formidable woman surfaced in her mind, and she immediately lost her appetite.

"Then how are you going to handle it?" she asked cautiously.

Xiao Junyi was silent for a moment. Whatever he thought of, he suddenly stood up and said, "Xixi, let's go say hello."

"Huh? No, no, no." Chu Tianqing refused at once, seized by an urge to run. "Don't go crazy. Is this the time to meet her? What would this even be?"

"You don't understand my mother." Xiao Junyi walked over to her. "I'll just say you're my friend. Saying hello is no big deal. But if we don't go over and, just in case—I mean, just in case—we want to take another step forward someday, she'll definitely take issue with you over it."

Chu Tianqing felt as though she was about to have a heart attack. She looked at him without speaking.

Xiao Junyi nudged her forward. "Come on. Think of it this way: if things don't work out between us, you and my mother won't have anything to do with each other again. If they do work out, you'll have plenty of time together. Are you really afraid of meeting her this once?"

Chu Tianqing was thoroughly confused as Xiao Junyi pushed her along. Soon, they arrived outside another private room.

Fortunately, she'd heard they were going out for a feast and had dressed fairly presentably. Otherwise, it would have been mortifying.

Xiao Junyi knocked twice, pushed open the door, and asked in surprise, "Mom, why are you here alone?"

"Don't even ask. Your Uncle Ding and the others had something come up and couldn't make it, so I called your two aunts to come enjoy the food. I'm waiting for them now."

A dignified, steady voice came from the private room. The door opened, revealing a well-maintained face that looked exactly like the one in the business portrait.

"That's perfect, then. Let me introduce a friend of mine." Xiao Junyi ushered her inside. "Mom, this is Shen Xixi. Xixi, this is my mom. You can call her Teacher Zhou. Everyone calls her that."

Teacher Zhou stood up and greeted her politely. "Hello, Miss Shen. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Chu Tianqing's heart pounded as she forced a smile. "Hello, Teacher Zhou. It's a pleasure to meet you too."

It had to be said that Teacher Zhou had a very imposing presence. Although she was smiling, Chu Tianqing still felt as though she couldn't breathe.

"All right, we just came to say hello. Mom, we'll head back now. We can talk at home." Xiao Junyi seemed to sense that the atmosphere was a little stifling too, and he wanted to get Shen Xixi out quickly.

The door was about to close when Teacher Zhou suddenly called him back. "Junjun, wait. I have something to discuss with you. Miss Shen, you don't mind going back first, do you?"

Chu Tianqing hurriedly shook her head, glanced at Xiao Junyi, and quickly slipped away.

As it happened, the private room had lattice windows, and the soundproofing wasn't very good.

Chu Tianqing had just turned the corner when she heard Teacher Zhou's authoritative voice. "How is she a Miss of the Shen family? Junjun, you're being foolish. You shouldn't have brought her to greet me. There's no possibility for the two of you."

She stopped, wanting to hear how Xiao Junyi would answer and what else Teacher Zhou would say.