Chen Ziming frowned slightly, "Why do you keep calling me that today?"
The unfamiliar address reminded him of her past reservations.
Su Yue was taken aback by his question.
Perhaps it was to emphasize his identity, to reignite his passion for his profession, and to further ensure he would be moved.
But she didn't want to reveal her inner thoughts. Seeing him look at her with his usual probing gaze, her heart tightened. She shifted her gaze and said softly,
"I don't know, but I'm hungry."
Hearing this, he immediately spoke gently, "I'll have Jin Yan send over the meal."
When Jin Yan arrived, he was carrying a cake.
He had intended to put the items down and leave as before, but he was surprised to find Chen Ziming opening the door.
"What... what's going on?" Jin Yan was stunned. He peered inside, looking for Su Yue to ask for an explanation.
"This is my home. Am I being abnormal?" Chen Ziming, uncharacteristically, showed him a hint of a smile, stepping aside to let him in.
Jin Yan walked in slowly, holding his breath, his eyes searching for Su Yue as he walked.
He soon found his Yue Yue sister, who was setting out plates in the dining room.
Jin Yan immediately slipped beside Su Yue, pretending to be diligently placing food containers, and quietly asked before Chen Ziming could approach,
"What's going on? He's better?"
Su Yue cautiously glanced up. Confirming he wouldn't approach them for the moment, she quickly and quietly replied,
"He should be, but we still need to observe him for a few days."
Chen Ziming had seen them whispering and couldn't help but smile. He strode behind them and asked in a low voice,
"Talking about me?"
Unaware of his approach, both of them jumped in surprise.
Jin Yan quickly made his escape, replying with an awkward smile, "Don't mind that, Officer Chen. I was just showing my concern."
"I know." Chen Ziming continued to smile at him and said, "Sit down and eat with us."
This was clearly directed at Jin Yan, and it truly astonished him.
Having grown up following Chen Ziming, he felt he had never been treated so kindly by him.
Something out of the ordinary must be brewing. He looked at Su Yue with a pleading gaze.
Su Yue understood his meaning, smiled, and said, "Let's eat together. Thank you for taking care of us during this time."
It was only then that she understood why Chen Ziming had indulged Jin Yan so much in the past.
Jin Yan took a sharp breath, feeling a bit embarrassed. He sat down at their invitation.
Chen Ziming pulled out a chair for Su Yue and then went to the wine cabinet, selecting two bottles of red wine.
Seeing this, Su Yue cooperated by getting three stemmed wine glasses.
Jin Yan was genuinely a little afraid of their kindness, especially when he saw the wine Chen Ziming brought.
It was a vintage that even ordinary high-ranking officials couldn't obtain.
"Please don't be so polite, you're scaring me," he couldn't help but lean back, moving away from the two of them.
"Do you only get used to it if I scold you?" Chen Ziming found the corkscrew, opened the bottles, poured the wine, and said calmly.
Jin Yan nodded frantically in his heart but felt that saying it would make him seem a bit subservient, so he could only offer an awkward smile to cover it up.
The wine was poured, and the three of them sat down.
Chen Ziming first picked up the delicate stem of the wine glass, a smile playing on his lips. He looked at Su Yue tenderly, and after receiving her response, he turned to Jin Yan.
The smile had faded, and the tenderness had long since disappeared, but his attitude towards Jin Yan was still vastly different from before.
"Yue Yue is right. Thank you for bringing us meals every day," he extended his wine glass, waiting for Jin Yan's response.
Jin Yan quickly picked up his wine glass and clinked it against Chen Ziming's.
"I'll clink glasses with Jin Yan Ge Ge too," Su Yue said, laughing at their interaction. She raised her own wine glass to join them.
Jin Yan, at least, wasn't afraid of Su Yue. After clinking glasses with her, he finally relaxed a little and dared to drink the wine.
For the most part, Su Yue continued to chat with Jin Yan. Considering Chen Ziming had just recovered, they didn't let him drink any more wine.
In the end, the two bottles of wine were almost entirely consumed by the two of them.
By the time dinner ended, both were slightly tipsy.
Jin Yan returned to his usual cheerful self and said heartily, "Officer Chen, you're finally better! Everyone is waiting to celebrate your belated birthday. Let me know when you're free, and I'll arrange it!"
Chen Ziming smiled calmly and replied, "Okay."