Want to Get One More Text?

Everyone gathered around the piano and chatted for a while, then started getting ready to head out.

Chen Si Yang tugged at Tang Zhi Chu's clothes and pulled him into the kitchen.

"Does your leg still hurt?"

Tang Zhi Chu hopped in place and smiled. "The foot soak really did help."

Chen Si Yang smiled smugly, then pointed at the soy milk maker in the kitchen. "Of course it did. There's soy milk over there, and eggs too."

"Have you eaten?"

"I have. I'll head out first—the company car is here to pick me up."

"Go for it! Good luck!"

Chen Si Yang smiled sweetly and turned to leave. She hadn't even taken two steps when—

Tang Zhi Chu called after her. "Yang Yang!"

Chen Si Yang looked back. "Yeah?"

"You look great!"

Chen Si Yang didn't reply. She made a face at Tang Zhi Chu, then headed out with a light step, wearing the hat he had given her the night before.

By the time Tang Zhi Chu came into the living room with his soy milk, most people had already left.

Zhou Yun was just heading out. She saw Tang Zhi Chu and asked, "Want me to give you a ride?"

Tang Zhi Chu shook his head and lifted the egg in his hand to show her he was going to eat.

Zhou Yun nodded and left.

As Tang Zhi Chu was tidying up in the kitchen, Jiang Lan appeared in the doorway.

"Oh, Sister Lan, why haven't you left yet?"

"I'll take you."

Tang Zhi Chu thought it over and nodded.

Zhou Yun had asked, "Want me to give you a ride?" It had been a question.

Jiang Lan had said, "I'll take you." That was a statement. She probably had something on her mind.

Once they were in the car, Jiang Lan asked, "Are you going to your shop?"

Tang Zhi Chu considered it, then shook his head. "Could you take me to the hospital? I'll send you the location."

"The hospital?"

"I have a family member there."

"Okay."

Jiang Lan didn't ask anything else. She started the car and drove off.

Only after they had left the villa grounds did Jiang Lan ask, "Is it serious?"

"Very serious. But is it on the way? Will it take up too much of your time?"

Tang Zhi Chu sent Jiang Lan the location and didn't continue talking about the hospital.

There were no cameras or recording equipment in Jiang Lan's car. The show respected everyone's privacy, but Tang Zhi Chu didn't want to mix work with his personal life.

"It's fine. I'll take you first."

And so, the two fell silent again.

Several minutes passed. Tang Zhi Chu noticed Jiang Lan open her mouth a few times, only to say nothing. He finally smiled and asked, "Sister Lan, what's so hard to bring up?"

Jiang Lan glanced at Tang Zhi Chu and relaxed a little.

"I think your QQ candy idea is great. I want to make something like that."

"That's it?"

Tang Zhi Chu was puzzled. That didn't seem like something so hard to bring up.

Jiang Lan should've found it easy to talk about business, shouldn't she?

For some reason, Jiang Lan suddenly cracked up, laughing loudly.

After she'd finished laughing, she said, "Actually, there are two things. First, the QQ candy idea and the angle you're taking are both great. I really want to make it. And then... do you want to get one more text?"

Tang Zhi Chu froze.

"Just a regular text," Jiang Lan added for emphasis.

Tang Zhi Chu turned to look out the window. He started laughing too, and Jiang Lan joined in.

Soon the car was filled with their laughter.

It was a little absurd, but there was also this sense of you get me, and I get you.

Jiang Lan was a career-minded woman. Why had she sent her text to Huang Ze Jun?

Because, at least based on age, Jiang Lan thought Huang Ze Jun was the most mature one. Besides, at first, he'd only been interested in Chen Si Yang.

Jiang Lan had been happy to stay out of it, so she'd sent her text to Huang Ze Jun.

What she hadn't expected was that this sly old fox would suddenly take an interest in her. Not only had he asked her out, he'd sent her a text too.

Jiang Lan got cold feet. If things kept going like this, wouldn't trying to clear things up only make them more confusing?

Sending a text was a required part of the show, and she couldn't send one to Huang Ze Jun anymore. So who should she send it to?

Yang Jia Xing? Jiang Lan was afraid he'd turn out to be another Huang Ze Jun.

After thinking it over, she could only choose Tang Zhi Chu. After all, he and Chen Si Yang were solid.

At first, Jiang Lan had hesitated. But before she could do anything, Zhou Yun had already made her move.

That made Jiang Lan think: since things had already gotten this far, what was one more text?

Why tell Tang Zhi Chu? Because Jiang Lan thought he was a fairly reliable person.

Once they'd talked it over, neither of them would feel pressured, and there wouldn't be any misunderstandings.

Why was Jiang Lan laughing? Looking at it calmly, the whole thing really was absurd and funny.

Why was Tang Zhi Chu laughing? He found it ridiculous and funny too. And Jiang Lan was actually pretty cute—more playful than his usual impression of her as a formidable businesswoman.

"Is my Brother Jun really that lacking in charm?" Tang Zhi Chu asked with a laugh after they'd chuckled for a while.

Jiang Lan shook her head. "I tried."

She meant that she'd considered turning the act into something real, but it hadn't worked out.

Tang Zhi Chu nodded and joked, "All right. A gentleman's agreement: no crossing the line."

Jiang Lan nodded and replied seriously, "A gentleman's agreement. We won't cross the line."

When the car reached the hospital parking lot, Tang Zhi Chu got out, and Jiang Lan followed.

Tang Zhi Chu said he'd see her that evening and was about to go into the hospital when Jiang Lan stopped him.

She opened the trunk and took out two gift bags: one had liquor, and the other had ginseng.

"Some people gave these to me, and I bought some myself. I usually give them away anyway. I picked out two decent ones. Take them upstairs as payment for helping me out."

"These are a bit too expensive."

"Don't argue. Remember to bring back some crawfish tonight." Jiang Lan pressed the gifts into Tang Zhi Chu's hands and got back into the car.

Tang Zhi Chu figured Jiang Lan must have thought he didn't know any better. If you were visiting a family member in the hospital, shouldn't you bring something?

He wanted to explain, but held back. He couldn't exactly say that the person upstairs was his dad. That would've sounded overly sentimental.

Outside the hospital room, Tang Zhi Chu didn't go in right away. From the noise, there were a lot of people inside.

He tried to figure out who they were by listening, but couldn't recognize a single voice. Looks like I'll have to play the withdrawn young man again.

He pushed the door open and thought, Good grief.

A group of men were crowded around Tang Mao De's hospital bed.

When they heard the door open, they all turned around at once.

Could you picture it?

Seven or eight men, some burly, some heavyset, all big, and every last one of them looking fierce.

Tang Zhi Chu froze. "Um... I think I've got the wrong room. Carry on. Go ahead!"

He thought to himself, My dad could sort of be called a man of the underworld. Could these guys be his creditors or something?

"Hold it!" Tang Mao De's voice rang out.

Tang Zhi Chu had just turned around when his father called him back.

"This is my son," Tang Mao De introduced him.

As soon as the men heard he was Tang Mao De's son, all seven or eight of them broke into smiles.

"So he's our godson! Come here, come here. Let your godfather get a good look at you."

"Don't be scared. We're good friends of your dad's. We were close as brothers back when we ran stalls at the Night Market and made our way in the world. You probably don't remember your uncles, but I saw you when you were in middle school."

"Don't blame you—I didn't recognize him either. So this is little Tang! Look how tall he's gotten!"

The uncles were very enthusiastic. When Tang Zhi Chu stepped closer, they clapped him on the shoulder and pinched his cheeks.

After they introduced themselves, he learned they were all in the restaurant business now.

The most successful one already owned a hotel, while even the least successful was doing about as well as Tang Mao De. Two of them ran hot pot restaurants.

Tang Zhi Chu relaxed. He hadn't spent much time with them, but at least he didn't need to be on his guard.

"Uncle, that tattoo sleeve looks pretty cool! Put on some sunglasses and hop on a motorcycle, and you'd look amazing!"

"Uncle, I've heard about you from my dad. He says you were the sharpest one in his whole crew. He's always saying that if you'd been the one running things, you guys would've made it big ages ago."

"Uncle, Dad says your barbecue skewers are the best in Yuzhou. You run a hot pot restaurant now? That's impressive!"