Time to move

When Zhang Xiu'e pushed the door open, both her hands were loaded with bags.

"You're back?" Chen Yuan rose from the sofa and went over to help.

"Don't, don't."

Zhang Xiu'e turned sideways to dodge him and carried everything toward the kitchen.

"Sit down. Let me cook first, then we'll talk."

There was a smile in her voice, and her steps were light, her ponytail bouncing behind her.

Soon, the rush of running water came from the kitchen.

Then came the steady, rapid tap-tap-tap of a knife against the cutting board.

Chen Yuan sat back down on the sofa and took out his phone for a look. It was already past four in the afternoon, and the sun was sinking in the west.

The fragrance of scallions hitting hot oil drifted out of the kitchen, accompanied by a sizzling burst.

Then came the rich, salty aroma of soy sauce, mingled with the smell of meat.

Chen Yuan wasn't actually hungry yet. He had eaten three bowls of rice at Old Chen's place at noon, and his stomach still felt stuffed.

In less than an hour, Zhang Xiu'e emerged from the kitchen carrying two plates, with a dishcloth draped over her arm.

"Come on, eat while it's hot."

She set the dishes on the coffee table, then turned and went back into the kitchen.

Before long, three dishes and a soup filled the coffee table.

The braised ribs were a deep, rich brown, coated in a glossy sauce and sprinkled with a few white sesame seeds.

The stir-fried shredded pork with celery had neatly cut celery, tender strips of pork, and slivers of red pepper adding a splash of color.

The stir-fried tomatoes and eggs were vivid red and yellow, with the sauce reduced just right. The sight alone whetted the appetite.

There was also seaweed and egg drop soup, with seaweed floating on the surface and wisps of egg evenly dispersed throughout. Chopped scallions and dried shrimp added a savory fragrance that wafted straight into his nose.

Zhang Xiu'e handed Chen Yuan a pair of chopsticks and sat down opposite him. She picked up her own bowl and took a bite of celery.

"Eat. What are you staring at?"

Chen Yuan picked up his chopsticks and took a rib. He bit into it. The meat was perfectly tender, with just the right balance of sweet and salty, and flavor soaked into every crevice around the bone.

"It's delicious."

Smiling, Zhang Xiu'e put another rib in his bowl.

"Then eat more. These past couple of days have been rough on you too. Build your strength back up."

Chen Yuan wanted to say he had already eaten at noon and wasn't hungry. But seeing how happy Zhang Xiu'e was, he swallowed the words before they left his mouth.

"Yuan, today you—"

She had barely begun when they heard a door open.

Zhou Min came out of her room.

She had changed into a floral dress that fit neatly at the waist, though the neckline dipped a little low, exposing a bright expanse of pale skin.

She had makeup on and carried a small handbag, looking ready to go out.

Zhang Xiu'e froze for a moment, her chopsticks suspended in midair.

"Zhou Min? You're home?"

She had assumed Zhou Min was out. Usually, by this time, she had already gone off to fool around with those dyed-blond punks.

Zhou Min's gaze swept around the living room and paused on Chen Yuan. She looked a little uneasy.

"Yeah, I just woke up."

Zhang Xiu'e was in a good mood today and didn't think much of it. She gestured at the dishes on the coffee table.

"Have you eaten? Come have some. There's plenty today. Join us?"

Zhou Min glanced at Chen Yuan again.

Chen Yuan kept his head down and drank his soup, showing no intention of acknowledging her.

Zhou Min hesitated, then gave a strained twitch of her lips.

"No, I've got something to do. I'll pass."

She adjusted the bag on her shoulder and skirted the coffee table on her way to the door.

Her high heels clicked against the floor, her steps considerably quicker than usual.

Zhang Xiu'e watched her leave, a little taken aback.

Usually, no one was more eager than Zhou Min to cadge a meal. She would even swipe a lone apple from the fridge.

They had ribs today, and she was actually refusing to eat? Had the sun risen in the west?

Zhang Xiu'e turned back to Chen Yuan, her brow creasing slightly.

"What's gotten into her?"

Chen Yuan shrugged, popped a rib into his mouth, and chewed a couple of times.

"Who knows!"

Zhang Xiu'e studied him for a couple of seconds. Unable to make anything of it, she didn't ask again.

She picked up her bowl and took a mouthful of rice, her earlier cheer returning to her face.

"Right, tell me about your visit. What elder? How come you never told me you had an elder here in Deep City?"

Chen Yuan swallowed the rib meat and set down his chopsticks.

"Remember when Director Zhao drove us back and asked whether I'd saved someone in a car accident?"

Zhang Xiu'e nodded.

"It was that old man. He sent someone to pick me up today, and I had a meal with him."

Zhang Xiu'e paused, her chopsticks stopping in midair.

"The man you saved? Who is he? Where does he live?"

"His place is pretty big." Chen Yuan scratched his head. "There's a lawn and a garden, and the house has several floors. There are security guards at the gate too."

Zhang Xiu'e blinked, thought for a moment, and suddenly understood.

"Is he pretty rich?"

"Yeah, looks like it." Chen Yuan took another rib. "He wants me to be his bodyguard. Room and board included, and he'll pay me the highest rate."

Zhang Xiu'e's chopsticks dropped onto the coffee table with a clatter.

"What did you say?" Her voice suddenly rose. "He offered you a job?"

Chen Yuan nodded.

Zhang Xiu'e stared at him for several seconds, then picked up her chopsticks, laid them on the coffee table, and leaned forward.

"Yuan, do you know who the man you saved is? What's his name?"

Chen Yuan thought for a moment. "I think his surname's Chen... Chen Desheng. His people all call him Master."

Zhang Xiu'e's mouth fell open and stayed that way for a long moment.

Chen Desheng?

She had spent seven or eight years in Deep City. Of course she had heard that name.

The founder of the Hung Hing Group, a towering veteran of Deep City's business world. Although he rarely appeared in public these days, his reputation remained. One casual stamp of his foot could still send tremors through the whole city.

Seeing Chen Yuan's utterly calm expression, Zhang Xiu'e found herself at a loss for words.

"What's wrong? Sister Ezi, do you know him?"

Zhang Xiu'e shook her head, then nodded.

"I've heard of him. He's very famous. Yuan, you're really lucky."

Then she realized that wasn't quite right. This wasn't just a matter of luck.

His car had overturned and caught fire. Everyone else had run away, but Chen Yuan had charged toward it.

"Well, your job is settled, and I've found one too."

Chen Yuan's eyes lit up. "What kind of job?"

"A former coworker of mine is a supervisor at a staffing company now. They happen to need someone, so she asked me to join them. The pay's even a little higher than it was at Xingda."

Zhang Xiu'e paused. "It's just a bit far from here. An hour by bus."

Something stirred in Chen Yuan's mind.

Zhou Min's personal life was such a mess. If Sister Ezi kept living with her, trouble would find her sooner or later.

"Sister Ezi."

"Hmm?"

"How about... moving?"

"What a coincidence!" Zhang Xiu'e said with a smile. "I came back late today because I was looking for a place."

"Did you find one?"

Zhang Xiu'e nodded, took a slip of paper from her bag, and handed it over.

An address and the landlord's phone number were written on it. The handwriting was a little untidy, but legible.

"It's a fifteen-minute walk from my company. One bedroom and a living room, with a kitchen and bathroom. A thousand a month."

"One bedroom and a living room?" Chen Yuan glanced at the slip. "Then where would I..."

"You can stay with me for a couple of days. Once you start work, you'll be settled, won't you? They provide room and board. Why worry about having nowhere to stay?"

Zhang Xiu'e took back the slip, folded it, and put it into her bag.

"After I move, you can still come over on your days off. You can sleep in the living room."

Chen Yuan nodded, feeling considerably more at ease. With Sister Ezi far away from Zhou Min, he would have less to worry about.