Quite the opposite

Yu Nian seemed to realize how important his decision was right now. Meeting President Ding's eager, almost pleading gaze, he said, "Thank you, President Ding, but there's no need to go to the trouble. We can just arrange another time for the interview."

He knew he was bound to get into Sea Star out of deference to Qin Yuheng, but that was beyond his control. Someone had interfered, after all. Besides, going through the proper process was better than being parachuted straight in and giving people something to gossip about.

President Ding understood what he meant and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Of course. Just let us know when you're available, and we'll arrange it for you."

Yu Nian felt rather awkward. Having the head of a major company address him so deferentially was a bit much for a mere university student.

"President Ding, my name is Yu Nian. You can just call me Little Yu."

President Ding thought the young man was quite down-to-earth. He hadn't used Qin Yuheng's influence to throw his weight around, either, and President Ding's smile immediately grew much more sincere. "All right, then I won't stand on ceremony. Just let me know when you want to come in for the interview, and we'll arrange a time. I guarantee nothing will go wrong this time."

With the matter settled, President Ding wanted to treat them to a meal, but Yu Nian politely declined.

Seeing that the two of them probably didn't want to be disturbed, President Ding left first with Assistant Su.

But no sooner had he turned President Ding down than Qin Yuheng offered to take him out to eat.

Yu Nian entered the elevator right after him and used the same excuse he had given President Ding. "There's no need. I can eat when I get back. Thank you for everything today, Brother Yu. You should hurry home, too."

Qin Yuheng looked at him, his dark, deep-set eyes lowering beneath his brows. "Is eating with me so difficult for you?"

Yu Nian choked up, not quite daring to meet his eyes.

How was he supposed to answer a question like that?

And why did he hear a hint of disappointment in Qin Yuheng's cool voice?

While Yu Nian stood there in silence, Assistant Yin had already pressed the button for the underground parking garage.

Yu Nian had completely forgotten the grief and hurt that had filled him that afternoon. All that remained was overwhelming awkwardness and discomfort.

He had agreed to interview with President Ding partly because the man had been so gracious, and he didn't want to offend him.

The other reason was that he feared Qin Yuheng really would introduce him to another company if he turned Sea Star down. They would have to interact again, and he would owe Qin Yuheng yet another favor.

This was his ex's older brother.

His ex! The ex he wanted nothing more to do with!

But speaking of favors... Yu Nian gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and forced a strangely sweet smile at him, the tips of his canine teeth peeking out. "No, I just didn't want to take up your time."

"I still haven't thanked you for doing me such a huge favor, Brother Yu." He had also seen him cry and make a fool of himself. "Why don't I treat you to this meal?"

Qin Yuheng lowered his eyes. "What are you planning to treat me to?"

Yu Nian froze. He wasn't familiar with the area and rarely came into the city, so he didn't actually know what good places there were to eat around here.

Besides, someone as wealthy as Qin Yuheng had probably tried every delicacy imaginable. Picking somewhere at random would seem far too halfhearted.

Yu Nian wished he could turn back time and slap himself.

Stupid mouth. Why did you have to speak so fast?

Qin Yuheng raised a hand to his lips, turned his head, and gave a soft cough. "It's fine. You can treat me next time, once you've thought of somewhere."

Yu Nian smiled a little awkwardly.

He genuinely did want to treat Qin Yuheng to a meal, but the man had handled that far too smoothly.

Was this the ease that came with being out in the working world?

The elevator arrived with a ding.

Assistant Yin's gaze fell on the two figures ahead, a trace of complicated emotion flashing through those eyes.

Perhaps it was just an illusion, but Assistant Yin kept feeling that a big tail had appeared behind the boss-and that it was sticking straight up.

He was usually so busy he didn't even have time to eat. Had the boss really thought this meal through?

Had he forgotten that he still had an international conference at three in the morning?

Assistant Yin adjusted those glasses and silently stepped forward to open the car door for them.

Qin Yuheng took him to a Chinese restaurant with understated, vintage decor. Nothing about it was ostentatious, and it suited Qin Yuheng perfectly.

An exquisite little incense burner shaped like a pixiu sat in the private room. A delicate fragrance drifted through the air, accompanied by soft zither music.

Even a simple meal had been turned into an experience of elegance and taste.

Yu Nian absentmindedly picked at the dish in front of him, thinking gloomily, Now I owe him a favor and such an expensive meal. How am I supposed to repay him?

He was about to take another bite from the same dish when a bowl of soup appeared beside it.

Qin Yuheng sat opposite him, holding a lustrous porcelain bowl in his long fingers, his posture composed. It was such a simple gesture, yet he made it look indescribably refined.

"Is the food not to your taste?"

Yu Nian accepted the bowl sheepishly. "No, it's all delicious."

With that, he lifted the bowl and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls.

His eyes lit up. "This soup is delicious!"

It was matsutake chicken soup. The fat had been carefully skimmed off before serving, and the chicken had been stewed until it was tender enough to fall off the bone. The distinctive savoriness of mushrooms mingled with the rich aroma of meat in the broth. It tasted even better than he had imagined.

Yu Nian took another couple of mouthfuls. As he drank, he began to feel like a water buffalo and couldn't help laughing.

"What is it?"

Qin Yuheng looked over at him.

Yu Nian shook his head, then smiled again with his lips pressed together. "I just remembered something from when I was little."

Qin Yuheng watched him without speaking, as though waiting for him to go on.

A little embarrassed, Yu Nian continued, "I lived with my grandpa in the village for a while when I was little. He raised lots of chickens, and I'd help feed them when he was busy. But I was scared of them. I was always really careful when I went into the coop, and I still got pecked."

"There was one old hen that was really fierce. She pecked my arm until it bled, and I cried so hard. To comfort me, Grandpa killed her and made me soup." A hint of nostalgia appeared in Yu Nian's eyes. "It wasn't until later that I found out he'd been planning to have her hatch some eggs."

The corners of Qin Yuheng's lips lifted slightly, and a trace of tenderness passed through his eyes. "It sounds like it must have tasted good."

"Quite the opposite," Yu Nian said ruefully. "It actually wasn't all that good."

Qin Yuheng hadn't expected that answer and looked a little surprised.

Despite his words, Yu Nian's eyes held a smile. "Grandpa wasn't much of a cook. He was getting old, and his eyesight wasn't good, so he didn't even pluck all the feathers off. The chicken was too old, too, and he didn't stew it long enough, so the meat was really tough. He doted on me and gave me a big drumstick, but I was losing my baby teeth at the time, and it knocked one of my canine teeth right out."

Qin Yuheng's gaze settled on the pointed canine tooth visible between his moving lips, and he gave a faint smile.

"But home-raised chickens really are different from the ones you buy elsewhere. The meat itself has such a rich flavor that it tastes good even if you just throw it into a pot, so I still drank lots of the soup."

"Thinking back on it now, those days were pretty nice. Grandpa's cooking wasn't great, but we were always happy..."

Yu Nian realized he had rambled off topic. He rarely told people about his past, afraid they would ask about other things and he wouldn't know what to say.

He hurriedly steered the conversation back. "The chicken in this soup is really good. It must be free-range, raised on a farm."

Qin Yuheng wiped his hands with a wet towel from the table. "I'll have them leave you their contact details later. Whenever you want soup, just ask them to deliver it."

Yu Nian waved his hands. "No, no, that's too much trouble. Besides, our university is really far from here. They probably can't deliver that far, right?"

And after coming all that way, it would probably be cold.

Qin Yuheng said nothing more.

After they finished eating, Assistant Yin came over and handed Yu Nian a business card. "Mr. Yu, this is the Imperial Flavor House manager's card. You can contact him whenever you need anything."

Yu Nian: "..."