Chapter 10

Ming Chunxi replied almost as soon as Qing Mengzhu sent his message: [You're welcome. I'm free this Friday evening, May 3.]

Qing Mengzhu hadn't expected him to actually agree. Standing in front of his chair, he replied, his fingers moving faster than his brain: [Aren't you going anywhere for the Labor Day holiday?]

After sending it, Qing Mengzhu stared at the message, so annoyed with himself that he wanted to take it back. But WeChat already showed "typing..." after Ming Chunxi's name.

Sure enough, Ming Chunxi's reply soon popped up: [No. Are you still treating me to dinner?]

Qing Mengzhu replied at once: [Yes! You pick the place.]

Author's note:

See you tomorrow!

Chapter 10

The Tengjin 01 chili peppers grew quickly. In just two days, they had sprouted green leaves.

Qing Mengzhu made a point of lifting the plastic film to let them soak up the morning sun. He also watered them carefully with a spray bottle, wetting the soil just enough that no water ran out of the seedling cups.

The fine mist from the spray bottle fell on the chili seedlings' new leaves, leaving them moist and lovely to look at.

After watering them, Qing Mengzhu carefully checked the tender leaves for spots or tiny bugs.

As he was bent over, busy with his work, Tan Wenlei, who had finished working in the neighboring field, wandered over for a look. "Are these the peppers you went to all that trouble to get from the agricultural university?"

"That's right," Qing Mengzhu said.

Tan Wenlei stared at the seedlings. "These peppers are growing really well. It's a shame you couldn't have planted them half a month earlier."

Every other household had already finished planting its peppers, while Qing Mengzhu was still raising seedlings. His peppers had been planted later than anyone else's in all the surrounding villages.

Qing Mengzhu didn't mind. "It's fine. The season isn't over yet."

"It's a shame," Tan Wenlei said. "Pepper plants die when frost hits. Yours will bear fruit for over half a month less than everyone else's."

Most pepper plants couldn't survive the winter. Once the weather turned cold, the seedlings dried up and died in batches. Since Qing Mengzhu had planted his late, they would have less time to bear fruit.

Qing Mengzhu couldn't do anything about it. "I came back too late this year. I'll make plans earlier next year."

After looking at the peppers, Tan Wenlei looked at Qing Mengzhu. "Don't you get tired of covering yourself up so thoroughly?"

Whenever Qing Mengzhu worked in the sun, he generally wore a hat, a face covering, and sun-protection gloves. Today, he was going out to eat with Ming Chunxi, so he had covered himself up even more thoroughly.

Tan Wenlei teased him to his face, but he only smiled and didn't answer.

Qing Mengzhu finished his chores in and around the house early and drove to Vine City's main urban area before noon.

He found a particularly expensive hair salon he had visited before and went in especially for a haircut.

The hairstylist had good skills and taste. The cut suited Qing Mengzhu's temperament perfectly, giving him an indescribably refined, handsome look.

Even the hairstylist hadn't expected it to turn out so well. His eyes lit up as he looked at Qing Mengzhu, and he asked to shoot a short promotional video of him.

Qing Mengzhu didn't want to show his face, so he politely declined.

The hairstylist was deeply disappointed. He asked to add him on WeChat and warmly invited him to come back next time, offering him a twenty percent discount.

By the time Qing Mengzhu had finished his haircut and gotten himself ready, there was still a long time to go before dinner.

He had already given up his apartment in the city. It was the May Day holiday, and Zhao Hexi had gone traveling with friends. His other closer friends also had plans of their own. He felt awkward asking someone out at the last minute, and with nowhere else to go, he could only jostle through the crowds of tourists on the streets.

Eventually, he couldn't stand it anymore. He found a less crowded café, bought two cups of coffee, and sat there until the time he had arranged to meet Ming Chunxi.

Ming Chunxi had chosen the restaurant. They had been there with their family when they were stepbrothers. It was a long-established local midrange restaurant, and Qing Mengzhu quite liked its food.

The bustling restaurant seemed perfectly ordinary. Since Ming Chunxi had chosen to meet here, it was probably a proper meal together.

Qing Mengzhu arrived at the restaurant first and joined the queue. Once he got a table, he ordered tea and appetizers, then sat down to wait for Ming Chunxi.

People came and went inside and outside the restaurant, local accents mingling with those from elsewhere. Qing Mengzhu sat on the sofa with his back straight, gazing outside as his mind wandered.

After waiting more than twenty minutes, Qing Mengzhu suddenly noticed that everyone in the restaurant was looking outside. He instinctively looked out too.

The moment he raised his eyes, he saw Ming Chunxi walking in from outside.

Even though they hadn't seen each other for years, Qing Mengzhu would never mistake him for someone else.

He stared ahead. Ming Chunxi had grown taller again and had fully grown into a young man's build. Tall and long-legged, he had an excellent physique and an imposing presence.

Even tall, burly men instinctively moved aside as they passed him. Once he had gone by, many people couldn't help turning around to stare at him.

Chatting with him on WeChat was one thing; seeing him again in person was another.

At the sight of him, Qing Mengzhu's heart was in turmoil, but he instinctively stood up and leaned forward slightly, intending to greet him. Before he could speak, Ming Chunxi walked over to him.

Ming Chunxi looked at Qing Mengzhu and greeted him. "Mengzhu, long time no see."

"Long time no see," Qing Mengzhu said softly.

Before sitting down, Qing Mengzhu looked at the glasses on Ming Chunxi's nose and asked, "Have you become nearsighted?"

Back when the two of them still lived in the same house, Ming Chunxi hadn't been nearsighted.

Neither of them was prone to nearsightedness.

Ming Chunxi took off his glasses and set them aside. "No, they're blue-light glasses."

Qing Mengzhu nodded and passed him the menu. "Take a look and see what you'd like to eat."

"Okay," Ming Chunxi said.

Qing Mengzhu opened his mouth, wanting to make some small talk, but he truly didn't know what to say, so he fell silent instead.

Ming Chunxi was very tall, and the muscles on his arms, exposed beneath his short sleeves, were clearly defined. His presence was truly imposing.

Qing Mengzhu's heart was pounding as he looked up at Ming Chunxi.

Ming Chunxi had open, handsome features and a prominent brow. His good looks were scorching; even with his eyelashes lowered as he studied the menu, he could easily set a heart racing.

Qing Mengzhu had the feeling that if he looked any longer, Ming Chunxi would notice how he felt.

It had been a long time since the two of them had sat face-to-face to chat and eat.

As Qing Mengzhu considered how to start a conversation, Ming Chunxi spoke first from across the table. "How are the pepper seeds Professor Nian gave you doing?"

His voice was magnetic as he spoke, and his eyes were focused and deep.

Qing Mengzhu felt his heart beat even faster. He barely managed to keep it from showing on his face. "I planted them. They'll be ready to transplant in a couple of days."

Ming Chunxi nodded slightly. "Looks like everything's going smoothly."

"Thanks to your help," Qing Mengzhu said.

Now that they were talking, Qing Mengzhu relaxed a little.

Their conversation moved from the seeds to Qing Mengzhu's previous job.

Ming Chunxi asked Qing Mengzhu whether he had been bullied. Qing Mengzhu shook his head. "It was all right. My old boss thought I was too much of a troublemaker, so he fired me. I've received my compensation, and I have nine months of unemployment benefits too. I'm treating it as paid leave."

Only then did Ming Chunxi nod. "It's good to take a break for a while."

Warmth spread through Qing Mengzhu's heart. "How are things with you now?"

Ming Chunxi's life was completely different from Qing Mengzhu's. He had graduated with a doctorate from a top university, and after returning to China, he had taken a leadership position at a major international company. All the projects he worked on were at the international cutting edge.

As Qing Mengzhu listened, he couldn't help thinking, We really are people from two different worlds now. He felt a little dejected.

Ming Chunxi was actually quite easygoing. Although Qing Mengzhu was unfamiliar with much of what they talked about over dinner, spending time with him was still comfortable.

After dinner, when Qing Mengzhu was about to say goodbye to Ming Chunxi, he felt a strong reluctance to part, but he didn't let it show on his face.

Qing Mengzhu looked back at Ming Chunxi.

Ming Chunxi had walked him to his car. Meeting his gaze, he asked, "What is it?"

The night was dark. The streetlights and the headlights in the distance still didn't illuminate things clearly, yet Ming Chunxi's tall figure seemed to stand in a spotlight. Qing Mengzhu felt as though the whole world had blurred, leaving only Ming Chunxi.