Jiang Xun made Jiang Zixing a cup of coffee, then went back to work.
The café had just received a delivery order for over twenty cups, to be sent to Zhongyu Group-Fu Yanli's company.
Jiang Zixing sat in a corner, sipping his coffee distractedly while keeping an eye on Jiang Xun.
Once the coffee was ready, Jiang Xun said to Lin Jian, "Let's deliver these together."
Lin Jian had barely nodded when Jiang Zixing got up and walked over. He pressed his lips into a shy smile. "Second Brother, why don't I go with you instead? I'm not doing anything anyway."
Jiang Xun wasn't surprised in the slightest and readily agreed. "Sure, that works too. Let's go."
He handed half the coffee to Jiang Zixing and led the way outside.
It was only about two hundred meters away, a few minutes' walk.
This was Jiang Xun's first time here. The company's ground-floor lobby was spacious, with sleek, understated décor that gave it a futuristic, high-tech feel. Smartly dressed professionals hurried to and fro.
As a delivery person, Jiang Xun wasn't allowed upstairs. He called the customer who had placed the order and asked her to come down for her coffee, then waited on the ground floor.
Jiang Zixing stood behind Jiang Xun, his palms sweating around the handles of the coffee bags. Suppressing his excitement, he scanned the surroundings several times, searching for something.
So this was Maternal Uncle Fu's company. Where was he now? If only I could see him.
Perhaps heaven had heard Jiang Zixing's prayers.
With a ding, the doors of a nearby elevator slowly opened, revealing five or six men in suits inside its spacious interior.
The young man at the front had his head slightly lowered and one arm raised, his long fingers smoothing a slight crease in his cuff.
His expression was cool, and he seemed to be listening to the person beside him. The visible lines of his profile were smooth and flawless.
At a hundred and ninety centimeters tall, he also towered over everyone around him.
Someone like Fu Yanli was hard for Jiang Xun to miss.
Jiang Zixing's pupils trembled as his gaze followed that tall, straight figure, uncontrollable joy surging through him.
It was Maternal Uncle Fu. He really appeared!
"President Fu, regarding the project with Lin Corporation..."
Fu Yanli looked up and cast a seemingly casual glance across the lobby, then stepped out of the elevator.
His subordinates followed him out.
The assistant beside him was still discussing work when Fu Yanli interrupted in an even voice. "Go wait outside."
"Yes, President Fu."
After sending his subordinates away, Fu Yanli walked straight ahead, toward Jiang Xun and Jiang Zixing.
Jiang Zixing's throat tightened. He gripped the bags in his hands, excitement making every drop of blood in his body seem to tremble.
One step, two steps...
Maternal Uncle Fu was walking toward me. This wasn't a dream...
Within seconds, Fu Yanli was only a few steps away from them.
Jiang Zixing couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Uncle Fu..."
"Jiang Xun."
A deep, resonant voice cut Jiang Zixing off.
At the same time, Fu Yanli stopped in front of Jiang Xun. With the considerable difference in their heights, he lowered his eyes slightly to look at the young man and the dozen or so cups of coffee he was carrying. "Making a delivery?"
The smile on Jiang Zixing's lips slowly froze, as though someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over his head.
So... Maternal Uncle Fu hadn't come over because he saw me.
Jiang Xun tilted his face up toward Fu Yanli and smiled, his eyes curving. "Yep. I didn't expect to run into you, Uncle. What a coincidence."
"Maternal Uncle Fu," Jiang Zixing called softly, schooling his expression.
As though he had only just noticed him, Fu Yanli let his gaze rest on Jiang Zixing for a moment and gave him a polite nod.
Naturally, Jiang Xun hadn't missed the change in Jiang Zixing's expression. Pretending not to notice, he said considerately to Fu Yanli, "Go ahead and get back to work. Don't worry about us."
"Mm." After a pause, Fu Yanli seemed to remember something and asked, "What time do you finish tonight?"
"Probably seven," Jiang Xun said.
"Message me then," Fu Yanli said. "I'll give you a ride home on the way."
Jiang Xun didn't stand on ceremony and immediately nodded.
With a ride in the big shot's car, he wouldn't have to use a shared electric scooter. He might even pick up some good fortune along the way. Lately, he had been paying his respects to the watch the big shot had given him every morning.
Fu Yanli said nothing more and turned to leave.
Not long afterward, the customer came downstairs to collect her order.
Jiang Xun called to the dazed Jiang Zixing, "Let's go."
Jiang Zixing followed behind him with his head lowered, looking lost. His eyes reddened as he struggled to speak. "Second Brother, are you and Maternal Uncle Fu really close?"
His voice was quiet, and he was speaking from Jiang Xun's left side. Jiang Xun didn't hear him, so naturally, he didn't answer.
Jiang Zixing gave him a conflicted look, then lowered his head again, picking unconsciously at his fingers and biting his lip hard enough to nearly draw blood.
Why...
At seven that evening, Jiang Xun finished work right on time.
As for Jiang Zixing, he had gone home long ago and was nursing his hurt feelings in private.
Jiang Xun opened the chat with the WeChat contact he had saved as "His Eldest Uncle" and sent a message.
AAA Schemer Wholesale Jiang Bro: Uncle, I'm off work [smile]
Fu: Give me five minutes.
Meanwhile, at Zhongyu Group.
After replying to the message in his office, Fu Yanli briefly tidied his desk, picked up his jacket and car keys, and got up to leave.
There hadn't been much to do today. He had finished his work shortly after five, then stayed in the office to deal with a few unimportant documents.
Exactly five minutes later, a black Bentley stopped outside the café, its license plate ending in the memorable digits 11111.
Jiang Xun jogged out, opened the front passenger door, and climbed in.
He buckled his seat belt and grinned. "Let's go."
Fu Yanli glanced over out of the corner of his eye. The window was half-open, and the breeze drifting in stirred the wisps of hair over the young man's forehead. His features were bright and lively.
His gaze lingered briefly on the scar above Jiang Xun's left eye. Supposedly, he had gotten it from an accidental fall while fooling around as a child.
Fu Yanli had no intention of looking further into it. He withdrew his gaze and started the car.
A few minutes later, Jiang Xun spotted a newly opened chain bubble tea shop by the road. A red banner hung above it-grand opening special, buy one, get one free.
"Uncle, could you stop up ahead? I want to get some bubble tea."
"Mm."
Fu Yanli pulled over by the roadside and waited in the car.
Ten minutes later, Jiang Xun returned carrying two cups of bubble tea.
"Sorry, the shop was a bit crowded. Sorry for the wait."
"It's fine."
Jiang Xun settled into the passenger seat and handed one cup to Fu Yanli. "This one's for you."
Fu Yanli rarely drank things like this, but he didn't refuse. He thanked him and took it.
Jiang Xun unwrapped a straw, pushed it into his cup, and leaned back against the seat, taking a long, satisfied sip.
"Uncle, you won't believe this. Since it's buy one, get one free, some guy actually asked me to treat him to bubble tea. How shameless."
"After I turned him down, he offered to give me a cup instead. There's something wrong with his head."
Jiang Xun took another sip and pointed toward the shop, his words muffled. "There, there, there. The guy in black standing by the door."