"I don't know why, but even though my mom and Lin Hai are both parents, I don't feel any resistance to her using a stern tone with me.

She told me to come downstairs, but before my foot even crossed the threshold, she immediately stopped me again, 'Wait, I have something to ask you.'

'Ask away.'

'How is your relationship going?'

'Pretty good.'

'Then why does your girlfriend seem to have a problem with us?'

'She actually has a good impression of Lao Wang.'

'How did Wang Rui and I offend her?' my mom asked quickly.

'Wang Rui is frivolous, and as for you, I don't know.'

'Don't talk nonsense. Although Wang Rui is fickle when it comes to relationships, everyone recognizes her character and behavior.'

'So you should pay more attention to Wang Rui's relationships.'

'Their relationship is fine.'

I looked her directly in the eye and said bluntly, 'When you go home tonight, ask Wang Rui if she's bored with Li Rui. If she doesn't plan on a long-term relationship, she should say so early on and not keep him hanging.'

'Didn't you see Li Rui come over yesterday…'

I immediately interrupted my mom, 'That's because Wang Rui is hot and cold with him, which is why he came to see her.'

'Who told you that?' My mom finally started to take it seriously.

'Li Rui told me himself last night. Recently, she rarely answers his calls.'

'It looked pretty good last night.'

'That's just an act,' I said, borrowing a term Pei Shi Yu had once used.

'Since you're so concerned, why don't you ask Wang Rui?'

'Is that appropriate?' I asked.

'You could try to mediate.'

I thought this wasn't a matter of mediation, but of figuring out what Wang Rui was thinking. Understanding from the sidelines was the best approach.

I shrugged my shoulders out of habit, not answering whether I would mediate or not. I shouldn't make promises about things I'm not good at.

…

Xiao Wu came back three days later. He seemed to have emerged from the shadow of that harrowing case. After we met, he asked about Wen Wen's job. I gave the same straightforward answer as before, smiling and saying, 'She can start anytime.'

'What about me?'

'Are you sure you don't want to go to President Li's?'

'I prefer to be by your side. I have to be so careful working for President Li.'

Today, Xiao Wu had returned to his usual cheerful self. If he stayed by my side, other than having him learn to be a chef, I didn't know what other position he could handle.

'Where's Wen Wen?'

'She's cleaning the house.'

I looked at my own house, which I hadn't cleaned in a long time. My focus hadn't been here recently. Besides coming back to sleep at night, even the sofa was piled with clothes I'd taken off.

I went into the kitchen, grabbed two cans of beer, and handed one to Xiao Wu. He didn't take it, scratching his head instead and saying, 'Why don't we go out for some barbecue?'

The wall clock pointed to nine o'clock. He had been here for only an hour and a half. I had left early because Xiao Wu was waiting right outside my door. I stared at his face, wondering if love had nourished him, or if it was because he was eating regularly with Wen Wen, but he seemed to have gained a lot of weight.

'Didn't you have dinner?'

'I did, but isn't it been a while since we had a drink together?' Xiao Wu replied directly.

'Then let's go.'

I grabbed my coat from the sofa and put it on. Xiao Wu headed outside before me.

Because it wasn't the weekend and it was still early, there weren't many people out at this hour. I hadn't been out alone like this since I had barbecue with Wang Rui last time. This kind of nightlife seemed like a distant memory.

I watched Xiao Wu skillfully open a bottle of beer and down half of it, looking very satisfied. I used to drink like that too, but since being with Pei Shi Yu, I had unconsciously changed that habit. I lowered my head and smiled. A person's habits were directly related to their environment. If I was still living my old life, I wouldn't have paid attention to details like this.

'Pei Shi Yu and I are together,' I said calmly.

'President Pei?'

'Yeah. My mom found me and gave me a very comfortable life. She opened the restaurant too, so Wen Wen can start working anytime. As for you, you need to think carefully. Once you decide, either get a chef's certificate or help me manage the kitchen. I'll give you some odd jobs to do. You'll have to get up very early.'

Xiao Wu didn't answer me directly but left himself an out, saying, 'I'll ask Wen Wen. It's up to her.'

Xiao Wu and I were the same. If I wanted to run the restaurant well, I thought I needed to improve myself first. If I could get rid of my carefree habits, I could help shoulder the responsibility in the future. This was the first step I had to take.

'How could President Pei have fallen for you? You had such a big conflict before, and the scar on your face is still there,' Xiao Wu asked, a little doubtful.

'We're doing okay now.'

I didn't explain in detail to Xiao Wu. As long as Pei Shi Yu didn't have plans to get married, the future of our relationship was still uncertain.

I picked up the glass and poured myself half a glass of wine. At this time, several people came into the store in twos and threes. I took a small sip of beer and put the glass back down. In a short period of time, I felt that my own personality had changed a lot. I tried my best to restrain my old, willful habits, even when I was with Xiao Wu.

'So I'll resign from President Li's tomorrow or the day after?'

'Didn't you say you were going to discuss it with Wen Wen?'

Xiao Wu finished the rest of the beer in his glass and replied, 'I made the decision on the spur of the moment. It's better to be by your side in the future. I don't feel bored at all.'

'The catering industry is very tedious. It's not like before when you could be irresponsible. In the future, you'll do your thing, and I'll have my own job.'

'I understand. As long as I'm not bored mentally, that's fine. Wen Wen and I will work hard to make money in the future.'

I remembered his outfit from our last chat and asked, 'Isn't your hometown pretty good?'

'Wen Wen said the same thing, told me not to come out, but I just like to be out and about. Besides, my family is still a bit far from the town. I've been out for so long. How could I stand staying there?'

I could completely understand that. My situation was the same. The city had the excitement of the city, and the hometown had the comfort of the hometown. It was up to oneself to like and choose.

At this moment, Wang Rui called, and I immediately answered...

'Lin Che, what are you doing?'

'I'm out for a late-night snack.'

'Is it near my company?'

'Are you coming over?'

'I just got off work and haven't eaten yet,' Wang Rui replied, sounding a little tired.

'Then come over. I'm with a buddy.'

'Preferably alone.'

Wang Rui's request made me glance at Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu seemed to have heard our conversation and whispered in my ear, 'It's okay, you take care of your business. I'll go back first.'

Before I could answer, I saw him walking straight outside...