Chapter 25: A Provocation?

Did Tang Zhichu understand? Zhou Yun’s attitude was nothing short of a provocation, or perhaps a warning.

Indeed, Tang Zhichu was helping Chen Siyang integrate into the group, and Jiang Lan’s temperament was far better and more mature than expected. Letting Chen Siyang get close to Jiang Lan would only benefit her. As for Huang Zejun and Yang Jiaxing, Tang Zhichu didn’t care much. One was a rich kid, the other a mediocre entrepreneur—if Tang Zhichu could uncover Chen Siyang’s background, finding out something about Yang Jiaxing and Huang Zejun wouldn’t be difficult.

Yang Jiaxing’s family was well-established in Yuzhou, but he was not among the most outstanding of his kin. Huang Zejun, to put it plainly, owned an internet celebrity company, rumored to be embroiled in lawsuits with his own influencers; his situation was far from favorable.

But as for Zhou Yun, information was scarce. She had a Weibo account with over a hundred thousand followers, but it hadn’t been updated in more than half a year—useless as a reference. Tang Zhichu had analyzed this: there were two possibilities. One, she came from an established family with deep roots and chose to keep a low profile; two, she was self-made, rising from humble beginnings.

Tang Zhichu knew roughly where Zhou Yun’s gym was located, and the area wasn’t cheap. If she were truly from an elite background, her behavior didn’t quite fit; if she were self-made, she seemed to have more substance than most—contradictory, really.

“They say you’re a great cook. On the first day, you made seafood? What a pity I didn’t get to try it.” Tang Zhichu finally spoke.

Zhou Yun shook her head slightly. “I’m not that good. I just know how to cook things properly. With seafood, it’s all about the ingredients—cook them well, and they taste good.”

“You’re too modest. Didn’t you leave me some porridge that day? I went downstairs and tried it later; it was excellent.”

Zhou Yun tilted her head, remaining silent, exuding an air of “Don’t think a compliment will make me forget your slight—hmph!”

Seeing Zhou Yun’s silence, Tang Zhichu suddenly said, “I notice you come home early every day. Would you like me to recommend you a book?”

“What book?”

“Wisdom Within.”

“Yourself?”

Tang Zhichu shook his head. “The ‘wisdom’ of intelligence, and the ‘within’ of oneself.”

Before Zhou Yun could reply, Chen Siyang’s voice called out from the kitchen, “Hey, what’s with you? You just say a few words and run off without even helping us!”

Tang Zhichu stood up and headed for the kitchen.

Dinner time.

The table was laden with delicious dishes, making everyone’s mouth water, but everyone was busy taking photos first.

Spicy crayfish, chicken feet with pickled chili, steamed river fish, stir-fried chicken with green peppers, blanched lettuce, sweet-and-sour cabbage, and a pork rib soup.

“I think we should all raise a glass to our chef before we start!” Huang Zejun suddenly looked across the table at Tang Zhichu and proclaimed loudly.

After some reflection, Huang Zejun realized he had lost his composure and grace earlier. He reminded himself there were cameras here, and he needed to present himself properly.

Tang Zhichu smiled. “We’re all among friends here; let’s not make this feel like a formal occasion. How about we all drink together?”

“Yes, let’s drink together!”

“Hurry up, I’m starving!”

…

After dinner, when Tang Zhichu tried to clean up the kitchen, Jiang Lan stopped him. Instead, she pulled Chen Siyang over, announcing that the job of cleaning up should be left to the two assistants.

But as Chen Siyang and Jiang Lan began tidying, Yang Jiaxing and Huang Zejun naturally joined in as well.

This left Zhou Yun and Tang Zhichu standing apart, making them seem like the odd ones out.

Tang Zhichu shrugged, then got up to fetch a few wire racks he’d set beside the wine cabinet—these were his homemade QQ candies.

After chilling in the fridge, there was still one last step: air drying. Only when the moisture evaporated somewhat would the candies achieve that perfect chewy texture.

When Tang Zhichu placed the wire racks on the dining table, Zhou Yun had already disappeared.

He brought over a pile of small bags as well.

Each wire rack was covered with QQ candies. Tang Zhichu popped one into his mouth. Regardless of the flavor, the texture was just right: bouncy and chewy.

The yellow ones were mango, sweet and fragrant. The blueberry ones were milder but had their own charm. The dragon fruit ones were the most attractive—he’d used red-fleshed dragon fruit.

The bags were small and transparent, each holding three or four candies, then fastened with golden twist ties wrapped in wire—a perfect little pack of QQ candies.

Chen Siyang had been watching Tang Zhichu the whole time. She’d felt a bit uneasy earlier seeing him chatting with Zhou Yun.

She was fine with everyone else—only Zhou Yun she didn’t quite like.

But with all these delicious dishes in front of her, she quickly forgot about everything else. Even the fatigue of the day melted away.

Seeing Tang Zhichu busying himself, she set her chopsticks in the dish rack and walked over.

“What are these? They look so cute.” Chen Siyang glanced at her hands, making sure they were clean and dry so she could help.

Tang Zhichu handed her a blueberry one. “Try it.”

“Is it edible?”

“Would I ever harm you?”

Though a bit skeptical, she accepted it, first bringing it to her nose—it did smell like candy.

Popping it into her mouth, she bit down. The gentle sweetness and burst of blueberry flavor filled her senses.

“Mmm… it’s delicious!” Chen Siyang looked at Tang Zhichu in delight.

If it had only tasted good, she wouldn’t have been so surprised—but the texture was amazing: soft yet bouncy!

“Tastes good, right? I made them myself. They’re technically fruit jelly candies, but I call them QQ candies.”

“QQ candies?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“That’s such a fitting name! You’re incredible! Can I have another one—this yellow one?”

Tang Zhichu smiled, then pushed all the chubby little bags he’d packed toward her. “These are all yours.”

“All mine?”

“Of course. Keep them in your bag, so you have them whenever you want.”

Chen Siyang’s eyes lit up. Suddenly, she pressed her hands to her cheeks, feeling her face flush.

So all these candies were made just for her?

She’d always had a habit of eating sweets, ever since her idol group audition days. With long recording hours and irregular meals, she’d stuff candies into her bag or pockets—eventually, it became a habit.

She hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, “I have something for you too!”

With that, she dashed off, returning soon after to the dining room.

She hugged two jars to her chest and set one in front of Tang Zhichu. “This is for you!”

Tang Zhichu accepted it and opened the lid—it was filled with candies, including the kind he’d tried before, as well as chocolates.

Seeing him accept the gift, Chen Siyang grinned. “Then I won’t be polite!”

She opened the other jar, this one empty, and dumped all the QQ candies he’d packed for her into it.

“All right, this one’s mine now. The rest are for everyone else—your candies are really amazing.”

Tang Zhichu set the jar she’d given him aside. “It’s nothing difficult; once you finish them, I can make more.”

“Will you teach me how to make them next time?”

“Of course.”

Chen Siyang began to help, mimicking Tang Zhichu as she packed the cute little QQ candies into the small bags.

A moment later, she asked, “Aren’t you spoiling me by letting me eat so many sweets? What if I get cavities?”

Tang Zhichu glanced at her. “You’re a star, and you manage your figure so well—I doubt you’d lose control and eat too many candies.”

Chen Siyang paused. This wasn’t like the idol dramas on TV.

Shouldn’t he have said, “Don’t eat too many, or you’ll get cavities”?

But Tang Zhichu’s trust—or was it indulgence?—made her feel it was even sweeter than those dramas!