Chapter 023: You Cannot Merely Enter...

It seemed as though Zhou Jingyi said something afterward, or perhaps he didn’t; in any case, Wen Ni didn’t hear it.

After vomiting everything in her stomach, Wen Ni felt hungry. “I want something to eat, Zhou Jingyi.”

Zhou Jingyi looked at Wen Ni in silence.

Wen Ni leaned closer, gently grabbing the corner of his jacket and feigning a pitiful expression. “But I have no money. Could you treat me?”

A vein throbbed sharply on Zhou Jingyi’s forehead.

Wen Ni explained, “My phone and purse are both in the private room.”

Zhou Jingyi: “……”

Led by Wen Ni, the two arrived at a nearby noodle shop.

It was a small place, only four tables inside—cramped and crowded.

Wen Ni walked in and called out, “Aunt Lin Xiu, one bowl of noodles.”

Aunt Lin Xiu hurried out, smiling broadly when she saw Wen Ni. “Teacher Wen, what brings you here?”

Wen Ni replied, “I was negotiating business nearby and drank a little, so my stomach feels uncomfortable. I thought of your noodles. I’ll have a bowl of beef noodles.”

Aunt Lin Xiu quickly called her husband to start preparing the noodles.

She sat down beside Wen Ni, turning to Zhou Jingyi, “And this gentleman…”

Wen Ni answered, “A business partner.”

Aunt Lin Xiu nodded in understanding, taking Wen Ni’s hand. “I wanted to visit you in the hospital the other day, Teacher Wen, but the nurse wouldn’t let me near, so I left.”

Wen Ni said, “Don’t worry, Grandma’s health is stable.”

Aunt Lin Xiu sighed heavily.

Voices came from the kitchen, and Aunt Lin Xiu hurried off to tend the fire.

Wen Ni asked Zhou Jingyi, “Aren’t you curious?”

Zhou Jingyi responded quietly, “Curious about what?”

Wen Ni rested her chin in her hand, speaking slowly, “Me and Aunt Lin Xiu.”

Zhou Jingyi answered bluntly, “I’m not interested in anything about you.”

Wen Ni rolled her eyes and muttered, “Aunt Lin Xiu used to be an embroiderer at the Wen Family’s Kesi silk workshop. Later, due to a mistake, she accidentally severed a finger and couldn’t continue as an embroiderer. My grandmother helped them open this noodle shop.”

After finishing her story, Wen Ni sighed. “For an embroiderer, Aunt Lin Xiu’s outcome is already fortunate. Many end up impoverished in old age.”

She continued, as if her words were endless, unconcerned whether Zhou Jingyi listened or not. “But ten years ago, my grandmother decided to buy social insurance and a pension plan for the embroiderers. It’s not much, but at least when they’re old, it’s a safeguard. That’s all my grandmother could do for them.”

From Zhou Jingyi’s perspective, buying insurance and pension for the embroiderers was entirely unnecessary.

This was the view of a capitalist.

And also a human perspective.

Wen Ni went on, “Even if one day artificial embroidery is replaced by AI, I must support these embroiderers until they can no longer work. Zhou Jingyi, they watched me grow up. I can’t let them, in their thirties or forties, bow and scrape for exhausting work that barely pays, suffer disdain, and be ostracized.”

To get silk from Jiang Shaozhang, she’d rather down four bottles of Martell.

It truly wasn’t out of ignorance or stubbornness; she simply had to do it.

Aunt Lin Xiu brought out two bowls of noodles.

Both bowls were heaped full.

On top lay a thick layer of beef—far more than usual.

Wen Ni laughed, “Aunt Lin Xiu, did you give me tomorrow’s portion as well?”

Aunt Lin Xiu smiled, “Look at you—every time you come, you’re so skinny. If you could eat a whole cow, I’d be delighted.”

Wen Ni laughed, picked up her chopsticks, and prepared to eat.

She glanced up to see Zhou Jingyi hadn’t touched his noodles.

Aunt Lin Xiu nervously asked, “Is it not to your taste?”

Wen Ni replied, “No, he’s just afraid it’s too hot. Aunt Lin Xiu, go ahead and get busy.”

Aunt Lin Xiu responded and got up to tidy up.

Wen Ni said to Zhou Jingyi, “Try it. It’s delicious. The beef and broth are Aunt Lin Xiu’s husband’s secret recipe.”

Zhou Jingyi frowned.

Although the noodles looked appetizing, the thought of the cramped, sticky kitchen spoiled his appetite.

Wen Ni said, “Zhou Jingyi, just try it. You’ll love it.”

Zhou Jingyi still didn’t touch his chopsticks.

Wen Ni shook her head, calm as ever. “Zhou Jingyi, this place is about to be demolished. Aunt Lin Xiu doesn’t know if she’ll keep working. If you don’t try the noodles today, you might never taste them again.”

Zhou Jingyi remained unmoved.

Wen Ni pursed her lips and ate herself.

As she ate, she mumbled, “When I was in primary school, I mostly drifted between several aunties’ homes for meals and sleep. I stayed at Aunt Lin Xiu’s most.”

Zhou Jingyi took out his phone and scrolled.

Wen Ni belatedly asked, “Zhou Jingyi, are you annoyed by me?”

Zhou Jingyi’s finger paused on the screen; he raised an eyebrow, “Yes.”

Wen Ni smiled and said triumphantly, “I love it when you’re annoyed with me but can’t leave. Zhou Jingyi, I’m going to annoy you to death.”

Zhou Jingyi scoffed softly and ignored her.

He watched as the group chat lamented his early departure.

Zhou Jingyi sent several red envelopes.

Wen Ni finished her bowl of noodles.

The noodles before Zhou Jingyi were still untouched; Wen Ni glared at him and burped.

She reached out to take the bowl in front of Zhou Jingyi.

He glanced at her and said, “Do you want to burst?”

Wen Ni replied, “Aunt Lin Xiu and her husband worked hard to make these noodles. If they see you not eating, they’ll think their skills aren’t good enough. We can’t let your fussiness cause their self-doubt.”

She did indeed take the bowl, eating one noodle at a time.

Zhou Jingyi called to the kitchen, “Pack it up.”

Aunt Lin Xiu hurried out, “Want it to go?”

Zhou Jingyi nodded, “Yes.”

Aunt Lin Xiu took out a takeaway box. “The noodles won’t taste good once they’re packed. Why take them home?”

Wen Ni laughed, “Because he’s full and can’t eat more, but finds it so delicious he can’t bear to leave it behind. He’ll eat it for breakfast tomorrow.”

Aunt Lin Xiu smiled, eyes crinkling, and helped Wen Ni pack the noodles, even seeing the two off.

While Aunt Lin Xiu wasn’t paying attention, Wen Ni scanned the payment code with her phone. As the car drove away, Aunt Lin Xiu heard the payment notification—twice the usual amount.

She couldn’t help but complain: Wen Ni always did this!

On the way back, Wen Ni burped contentedly and rubbed her stomach to aid digestion. “Do you know why I took you to Aunt Lin Xiu’s shop?”

Zhou Jingyi murmured.

Wen Ni leaned in. “Guess.”

Zhou Jingyi hadn’t intended to respond, but when Wen Ni came close, her bunny-girl neckline gaped open.

He glanced unintentionally, then quickly looked away.

He pushed Wen Ni back, scolding, “Sit properly.”

Wen Ni: “Then answer me.”

Zhou Jingyi replied offhandedly, “You want the Zhou family to treat them better.”

Wen Ni laughed foolishly, “No.”

Zhou Jingyi didn’t want to talk; Wen Ni’s unpredictability always frustrated him.

She whispered lightly in his ear, “Zhou Jingyi, you can’t just enter me—you must enter my life as well.”