Ying Yun was stunned, then understood.
He’d known Zhong Tian for a long time and knew he wasn’t the type to steal credit.
Although Ying Yun said it wasn’t necessary, knowing Zhong Tian’s usual character, he probably had already told Yang Xueyi it was because Ying Yun helped recommend her that she got hired.
That explained why Yang Xueyi was splurging on expensive seafood and other ingredients.
She was clearly planning a big meal to repay her benefactor.
Because of this, Ying Yun thought Yang Xueyi had improved a bit.
At least she was grateful.
But maybe because of their past relationship, she couldn’t directly say it out loud.
That’s why the invitation was so awkward and indirect, hinting she knew him, like playing a guessing game—of course, Ying Yun knew himself.
Ying Yun finally got a rare afternoon off and, seeing Yang Xueyi struggling to prepare the seafood in the kitchen, felt a bit guilty.
“I’ll help you.”
Though he didn’t know how to handle seafood, he could at least wash them.
Ying Yun learned quickly.
Following online instructions, he put on gloves, soaked the abalone in some salt water, and slowly scrubbed off the mud on the shell.
It was his first time and a bit difficult, but not impossible.
Scrubbing abalone wasn’t too bad.
But what Ying Yun did was another matter in Yang Xueyi’s eyes.
Her feelings were complicated.
She could have directly told him the person she was inviting was Zhong Tian, but…
Ying Yun was so down and out, while his friend and schoolmate Zhong Tian was a successful entrepreneur offering him a high salary.
The contrast might upset Ying Yun.
Especially since Ying Yun’s family had fallen on hard times and he was stuck in a small apartment with her, washing dishes and scrubbing abalone for her.
Yet Zhong Tian, who he had crushed effortlessly at the basketball court not long ago, could now come as a guest to enjoy a sumptuous meal.
Moreover, if Yang Xueyi openly said she met Zhong Tian through the translation training and got the job because of him, Ying Yun would realize she knew about his part-time job for financial reasons.
Though the truth would come out sooner or later, Yang Xueyi hadn’t figured out how to say it naturally without hurting Ying Yun’s pride.
He never mentioned his side job, clearly not wanting others to know or maybe hoping Yang Xueyi wouldn’t meet Zhong Tian.
After all, as a fallen young master, showing up to teach classes for extra money must have been a painful experience.
Not everyone could handle such a fall from grace.
So in her dilemma, Yang Xueyi didn’t directly say Zhong Tian’s name.
Now watching Ying Yun standing by the sink scrubbing seafood so seriously, Yang Xueyi felt very sorry and her gaze grew more complex.
“Ying Yun! It’s unnecessary! I’m inviting the person; I’ll take care of it! You go rest!”
Ying Yun just glanced at her but didn’t leave.
“Actually, there’s no need to buy such expensive seafood.”
His voice was indifferent.
“The person you’re inviting isn’t the kind who only cares about expensive things. The important thing is the thought.”
Yang Xueyi was shocked.
“You know who I’m inviting?”
“Ha.”
Ying Yun was calm, as if he’d long expected this.
“I know.”
He looked at her: “You’re going to work at Medical Translation Firm, right?”
Yang Xueyi was stunned.
He really knew!
Ying Yun’s gaze casually swept over her.
“Some things don’t need beating around the bush. Just tell me directly. I won’t reject you.”
Yang Xueyi was quite surprised, then looked at Ying Yun with some sympathy.
He still stood tall and outstanding.
Even wearing kitchen gloves by the sink, his aura was sharp and proud.
Though not turning around, his cold voice carried a hint of awkwardness: “It’s just two people eating. No need to make so much.”
Sigh!
Yang Xueyi was worried about how to tell Ying Yun that the meal was only for Zhong Tian, not planning for Ying Yun to stay and eat.
She didn’t want to explain why they knew each other yet still lived together.
Unexpectedly, Ying Yun was so considerate…
He not only already knew Yang Xueyi was inviting Zhong Tian but had also anticipated that it would be just the two of them eating.
Before, others cooked abalone for Ying Yun, and he just needed to politely sit at the table and show elegant dining manners.
Now…
He had fallen to the point of washing abalone for others in the kitchen and didn’t even have the right to sit at the table…
After finishing scrubbing the abalone, Ying Yun actively started shucking oysters.
Watching him go from clumsy to increasingly skilled, Yang Xueyi vaguely thought of a middle school textbook—
Her family thought Uncle Jules made a fortune in South America, but actually, he was pretending to be wealthy, scrapping by on a ship opening oysters.
It was a novel come to life.
Watching Ying Yun’s back, Yang Xueyi thought—
Maupassant is my Uncle Jules.
As for Yang Xueyi, Ying Yun is my manservant.
Even so, Ying Yun maintained calm and composure.
Poverty could really change a person.
It cured Ying Yun’s prince syndrome and made him broad-minded, unmoved by honor or disgrace, neither elated nor dejected.
Shucking abalone and oysters, his expression was clear.
Now Ying Yun was truly more down-to-earth.
Even when Yang Xueyi urged him to rest, he sensibly insisted on staying, seeming eager to contribute to their big meal for Zhong Tian.
But on reflection, Yang Xueyi understood.
She gave Ying Yun a shelter when he was at his worst.
He was grateful and wanted to do something for her.
And Zhong Tian gave Ying Yun a part-time job when he was destitute.
Ying Yun was naturally moved and wanted to cook abalone and shuck oysters for both of them.
People really wake up after a few social beatings.
Ying Yun must have taken her words to heart.
Resilient like a reed, he had accepted the huge gap between their lives.
And really, the young master was pretty good at this.
Each abalone was scrubbed clean.
Though clumsy at first, Ying Yun’s attitude was serious.
With his help, Yang Xueyi quickly finished preparing the ingredients.
Soon, the table was nearly set.
It wouldn’t be long before Zhong Tian arrived!
So it was time…
Yang Xueyi looked at Ying Yun resting in the living room, then glanced at the time and gently said, “Ying Yun, it’s almost time.”
Ying Yun paused and looked at his watch.
“Starting to eat now? Isn’t that a bit early?”
“The meal starts in half an hour, but can you step out for a bit first?”
Ying Yun frowned.
“Step out? Do you need to buy something else?”
“No, nothing more to buy.”
Yang Xueyi’s tone softened, “It’s just that Zhong Tian might be arriving soon, and I’m afraid if you meet him, it will be awkward. Also, explaining that we know each other and currently live together would be troublesome. So I thought it’s better if you step out for a while.”
“Step out?”
For some reason, the usually calm Ying Yun now looked very shocked.
“Me? Step out? It’s just two people eating.”
“Yes, just two. Me and Zhong Tian.”
Yang Xueyi smiled awkwardly.
“So you have to go out for now.”
Although Yang Xueyi spoke in Chinese, Ying Yun seemed to understand each word but not the overall meaning.
After a moment, he seemed to finally digest it, glaring at Yang Xueyi and gritting his teeth: “Zhong Tian?! So it’s you and Zhong Tian eating?”
What else?
Yang Xueyi was a bit confused.
Didn’t Ying Yun already know who she was inviting?
Why did he now look like he’d been tricked?
“Wait, you have food too.”
Yang Xueyi suddenly remembered something, turned, and went into the kitchen, taking out insulated lunch boxes.
“I packed a bit of each dish for you.”
She had promised Ying Yun that as long as she had food, she wouldn’t let him go hungry.
Now, even if Ying Yun couldn’t eat with her, she wouldn’t shortchange him.
“Don’t take it too seriously.”
Yang Xueyi patted Ying Yun’s shoulder.
“Though we’re not sitting at the same table, our dishes are the same. From this angle, it’s like the three of us eating together!”
Ten minutes later, Ying Yun walked down the chilly street carrying the lunch boxes, still unable to believe what had just happened was real.
Yang Xueyi had just given him a few meal boxes and immediately kicked him out.
Before closing the door behind him, she called out—
“Ying Yun, you don’t need to wash today! After eating out, you can take a walk. Don’t come back too early!”
Don’t need to wash?
It sounded like she was showing mercy to a pardoned criminal.
Of course he didn’t need to wash!
He’d already spent half an hour washing seafood!
Originally, Ying Yun was mad to the point of losing his temper, but when he opened the box and saw that Yang Xueyi gave him only one abalone after all his hard scrubbing, he nearly lost the last bit of breath too.
She was really stingy!
As if to deliver the final blow at the perfect moment, Ying Yun received a call from Zhong Tian—
“By the way, Ying Yun, I forgot to tell you, the girl you recommended last time is Yang Xueyi. I hired her. She’s professional and diligent. You really introduced me to a talent.”
Zhong Tian sounded very happy: “At first, I wanted to say you recommended her, but after interacting with her, I changed my mind. Since you have no feelings for her and said it’s unnecessary to mention you, I’ll take credit for the favor. I quite like her.”
“Now, to thank me for hiring her, she’s inviting me to her home for dinner.”
“Ah, I’m at her place now.”
Zhong Tian lowered his voice as if entering the room.
“She’s still busy in the kitchen. But where’s her dog? I don’t see it.”
Ying Yun forced himself to keep calm and said coldly, “The dog probably went out alone. Don’t ask her about the dog too much later. It’s your first time visiting, and asking about her dog might be a bit rude.”
“Is that a thing?”
Zhong Tian, having never owned a dog, was puzzled.
“Dog owners have so many taboos?”
“But the dog is really smart, can go out alone? Will it come back by itself? I want to see what it looks like.”
Ying Yun was very angry, feeling on the verge of exploding.
Zhong Tian had no boundaries at all, interfering in everything.
Yang Xueyi’s dog or what kind of dog it was had nothing to do with him.
But Zhong Tian obviously didn’t know what Ying Yun was thinking.
His voice was full of laughter: “Looks like I might really be getting out of the single life this time. Thanks, brother. If you hadn’t set me up, I wouldn’t have this chance! If I get good news, I’ll tell you first!”
Ying Yun expressionlessly hung up.
There was no need to tell him.
With Ying Yun’s current emotional state, he might not even live to that day.