I still don't know what you like

When Gu Zhiyue saw Xing Yisheng's message, he finally remembered that Xing Yisheng had also been at the concert that day. But their seats had been far apart, and they hadn't gone together, so they hadn't seen each other there.

Gu Zhiyue put down his chopsticks, said a word to Zhao Wanling, and left the restaurant. Standing by the road, he messaged Xing Yisheng: "Where are you? I'll come find you."

A black car stopped in front of Gu Zhiyue. The rear window slowly lowered, revealing Xing Yisheng's face.

"Get in."

Gu Zhiyue opened the door and climbed in with a smile. "I didn't expect you to still be here. I thought you'd gone home after the concert. I was going to look for you, but the concert was so good that I forgot all about you. Sorry."

Xing Yisheng chuckled. "It's all right. The concert really was excellent. If you ever want someone to go to a show or something with you again, Young Master Gu, I'm always available."

"All right, I'll remember that. Next time I go to a show, I'll invite you along."

Gu Zhiyue asked, "The concert ended ages ago. Why haven't you gone back yet?"

Xing Yisheng cleared his throat. "After the concert, I took in the scenery nearby. I thought I'd have dinner here a little later before heading back."

The driver glanced almost imperceptibly at Xing Yisheng in the rearview mirror. His boss had actually learned to lie through his teeth. After the concert, his boss had clearly told him to drive back to the office. But then, having heard somewhere that the Gu Family was still dining nearby, he had called him over again and had him drive back.

Gu Zhiyue silently smacked his lips. "I was already almost full back at the restaurant. You've gone this long without eating. Won't that give you stomach trouble?"

"No. I do often forget to eat when work gets busy, but the Xing Family has dedicated household staff and a nutritionist. Troublesome conditions like stomach problems simply don't exist in wealthy households."

Gu Zhiyue was dubious. "You really don't have any? That's how it always goes in the books I read. Nine out of ten CEOs have stomach problems. They often forget to eat because they're busy with work, and they get worked up, leaving their stomachs so fragile that even a little cold food makes them break out in a cold sweat from the pain."

Xing Yisheng sighed silently. "That's far too exaggerated. Wealthy families have always cared most about their health. Why would they let themselves develop stomach problems? They call a doctor at the slightest discomfort. How would they ever leave it until they were sweating from the pain?"

Gu Zhiyue wholeheartedly agreed with Xing Yisheng. "I noticed that after I came back. It's nothing like what the books say. My parents and my second and third brothers are all incredibly healthy. None of them have any stomach problems."

Amused, Xing Yisheng laughed. "Those books are just for entertainment. The people writing that stuff have never seen how wealthy families actually live."

Gu Zhiyue nodded. "Back in high school, I often heard my classmates discussing those books together. I didn't like reading them. Mysteries interested me more."

The car came to a smooth stop, and the driver turned slightly. "Sir, we're at the restaurant."

"All right. I'll call you later. Come pick us up then."

"Yes, sir."

They walked into the restaurant together. Gu Zhiyue looked around and asked, "You can't handle spicy food?"

Xing Yisheng turned to look at Gu Zhiyue, as though asking how he knew.

Gu Zhiyue understood his look and explained, "The smell of the food coming from this restaurant doesn't have that nose-stinging spiciness. It's mostly the smell of slow-simmered soups and lightly stir-fried vegetables."

Xing Yisheng chuckled. "I lived in the north throughout my childhood. Most food there is on the mild side. After moving here as an adult, I never got used to spicy food."

They sat by the window, and a server brought over a menu. Xing Yisheng ordered two dishes and a pot of soup, along with a dessert.

When the food arrived, Xing Yisheng pushed the dessert in front of Gu Zhiyue. "Steamed egg custard with fresh milk. Try it and see if you like it."

Gu Zhiyue froze for a moment and pointed at himself. "You ordered this for me?"

"Yes. I've had this dessert a few times before. I thought it tasted pretty good."

"Then I'll help myself. I just had dinner, so this is perfect for an after-dinner dessert!"

Xing Yisheng ate slowly, watching the satisfied look on Gu Zhiyue's face as he enjoyed the small bowl of dessert. The corners of his lips kept lifting slightly.

Eating with him seemed to improve even his appetite.

Scooping up some custard, Gu Zhiyue asked, "Oh, right, isn't your group going to work with my dad's group? How are the discussions going?"

Xing Yisheng replied, "We've more or less settled everything. The partnership officially starts on the fifteenth of next month, and we expect to finish in six months."

"My mom said our families have worked together several times before. What did you work on?"

"Quite a few things. Real estate, investments, and high-end luxury goods." Xing Yisheng paused for two or three seconds before asking, "By the way, we've known each other for so long, but I still don't know what you like."

"I don't know what you like either. Why don't you go first?"

Xing Yisheng seemed not to have expected Gu Zhiyue to say that and didn't react. Gu Zhiyue couldn't help laughing. "I'll stop teasing you. There aren't actually that many things I like. I like spicy and sour food. I can't eat lamb. I had it once as a kid and spent three days and three nights in the hospital."

"I also like fluffy little animals, like cats, dogs, rabbits, and hamsters. As for other things, boys my age probably all like more or less the same stuff. Gaming, collecting models and Lego, things like that. I'm done. Your turn."

Xing Yisheng's voice was clear with a hint of resonance. "As far as food goes, I prefer mild flavors. I eat spicy food occasionally, and there's nothing I can't eat. Other interests... I like collecting buttons. Does that count?"

"Of course. But that's the first time I've heard of anyone having that hobby. Did you get into collecting buttons because a button broke on your clothes once and you couldn't find a replacement?"

"Of course not. I collect them because they're beautiful and have collectible value. A finely crafted button can sell for several thousand or even tens of thousands."

Gu Zhiyue nearly failed to swallow his mouthful of custard. "Tens of thousands? Are those buttons made of solid gold? I used to go shopping at the mall with my mom Qinglan, and a box of fifty buttons only cost twenty yuan."

Xing Yisheng chuckled. "Different markets have different prices. In our circles, buying buttons isn't just about fastening clothes. It's more about prestige."

"All right. I still feel a little out of place, but that's fine too. Rather than spend that money on buttons, I'd rather save it for a big meal or a trip."

"Everyone likes different things. Isn't there anything you particularly like and want to collect?"

"There is, actually. I like collecting books. It's not that I want to read them. I just like the feeling of having books lined up on a bookshelf. It's really pleasing to look at. Current bestsellers and limited editions, too. I'd already filled a whole row on my old bookshelf, but after I came back, I got a bigger bookcase. Those books don't even fill half of one shelf now."

Xing Yisheng chuckled. "I have two collector's editions at home that I bought at an auction some time ago. If you don't mind, I'll give them to you as a first-meeting gift."

Gu Zhiyue nodded repeatedly in delight. "Yes!"