Chapter Fifty-Two: Chen Siyang Is Still the Most Adorable

"A relative."
A relative? Jiang Lan still wasn't convinced.
"Actually, autism treatment is already quite scientific nowadays."
Tang Zhichu glanced at Jiang Lan in exasperation. "Lan, I was just joking."
"I know, I was joking too." Jiang Lan looked perfectly normal—after all, aren't most truths spoken in jest?
Tang Zhichu couldn't be bothered to correct her further. So what if there's autism? You can say whatever you want.
The two of them stayed on the mountain until five-thirty in the afternoon, but after setting up their fishing rods, neither paid them any attention.
Instead, they sat in chairs and played a game similar to Honor of Kings. Jiang Lan couldn't play, and Tang Zhichu was only so-so, so they played against the computer.
At five-thirty, they got ready to head down the mountain.
In the car, Tang Zhichu saw Jiang Lan replying to messages and suggested, "Why don't I drive?"
Jiang Lan put down her phone. "I invited you to have fun, not to be my chauffeur."
The car wove through the forested mountain roads. Perhaps feeling her earlier refusal had been too blunt, Jiang Lan added, "Or you could drive after we're off the mountain?"
Tang Zhichu shook her head. "I'd better not. I haven't driven in a long time. You should do it."
Jiang Lan nodded; her refusal had been instinctual.
Jiang Lan took driving seriously—it was a matter of safety. The company's drivers had to undergo quarterly training, with safety heavily emphasized.
Still, she thought Tang Zhichu would be fine—he seemed steady and reliable.
Jiang Lan suspected her perpetual singleness might be due to such habits—she never seemed to trust others to do anything.
Her perfectionism in the details was probably more than most people could tolerate.
"Lan, you're one of the most cautious drivers I've ever met."
Jiang Lan smiled. "So you've ridden in a lot of cars, have you?"
Tang Zhichu fell silent. He really had, but not in this world.
After a while, they parked in the small lot beside Old Tang's Sichuan Cuisine and got out.
In the kitchen, the wok in Wang Jun's hands moved as if it was an extension of his arm. Crisp peppers and chicken danced in the pan, rising and falling like a hailstorm from the sky.
The dish was quickly plated—a spicy chicken ready to serve.
Wang Jun turned and saw Tang Zhichu leaning at the kitchen's back door. He smiled. "Everything's ready, just waiting for you to pick it up."
"Thank you."
Wang Jun came closer, about to ask about the young woman from earlier, when he caught sight of her through the door at a different angle.
She was standing under the old banyan tree.
Wang Jun stopped joking, took several bags of takeout containers from the shelf, and brought them out himself.
He and Jiang Lan exchanged brief greetings.
After Tang Zhichu introduced them, he left with Jiang Lan.

Watching the car drive away, Wang Jun lit a cigarette, smiled, shook his head after a long while, and returned to the kitchen.
...
At the villa, Chen Siyang was preparing dinner in the kitchen.
Tang Zhichu had promised to bring back food, so she was just making a bit more herself.
He couldn't possibly bring enough for all six people, could he? If he handed everything to her, that wouldn't be right.
So she simply made a few extra dishes for everyone.
Zhou Yun poked her head into the kitchen, surprised to find only Chen Siyang there. "Yangyang, why are you cooking?"
Chen Siyang replied, "Everyone’s coming home late today. Besides us, only Jun is back. I had nothing to do, so I thought I’d cook."
Zhou Yun mused, "Old Tang and Lan aren’t back yet?"
Chen Siyang paused in her chopping. She’d started calling him 'Old Tang' herself, and now Zhou Yun had picked it up too. It made her a little uncomfortable, but she couldn’t tell her to stop.
"No, they aren’t."
"That’s strange. Old Tang usually comes back early. He wouldn't skip night running, would he?"
Chen Siyang ignored her and focused on slicing the potatoes.
Zhou Yun shrugged. She was starting to see why Tang Zhichu had immediately chosen Chen Siyang.
Chen Siyang wasn’t at all like someone from the entertainment industry—she wasn’t ditzy or scheming.
Even with such a clear hint, she still didn't get it?
When they got back yesterday, from Yang Jiaxing and Huang Zejun’s brief remarks, Zhou Yun could tell that the two men didn’t know the second round of dates had already begun.
What did that mean?
It meant Lan hadn’t invited them.
No one on a dating show had ever skipped a date before—it was an unspoken rule. If she didn’t invite them yesterday, was it inconvenient for some reason?
What would make it inconvenient?
Today, coincidentally, both men still weren’t back. Would Lan invite Yang Jiaxing? Zhou Yun didn’t believe it.
The answer was obvious—Lan had asked Old Tang.
Which meant Tang Zhichu had ended up passively dating all three women in the second round.
As for what Lan was thinking, Zhou Yun couldn’t guess. But setting aside her preconceptions, she suddenly found Chen Siyang rather adorable.
"Yangyang."
Chen Siyang looked up. "Yes?"
"I’ll help you."
They exchanged glances. In the end, Chen Siyang relented. After a moment’s thought, she said, "Why don’t you—why don’t you peel the garlic for me?"
Zhou Yun agreed and started helping alongside her.
Chen Siyang didn’t speak much, focusing on shredding the potatoes.
Zhou Yun peeled garlic while keeping an eye out for anything else she could do.

"Three dishes?" Zhou Yun asked.
Chen Siyang nodded. "Sour and spicy shredded potatoes, loofah and pork soup, and a simple vegetable. Don’t worry, Old Tang’s bringing food."
Zhou Yun looked at her. "You arranged it?"
"Yes, we did."
Would he really bring it? Zhou Yun wasn’t sure.
If Tang Zhichu went on a date with Jiang Lan, would he still bring food back?
She shook her head, telling herself not to overthink it. If he didn’t, so be it—she could just eat her own cooking.
Once Chen Siyang had finished preparing, she wondered if it was time to start stir-frying.
A door opened outside.
Both Chen Siyang and Zhou Yun looked toward the entrance.
First Tang Zhichu appeared, then Jiang Lan followed right behind.
Zhou Yun narrowed her eyes; just as she’d suspected.
Chen Siyang, however, hurried forward.
"Here, let me help you."
She reached for the things in Tang Zhichu’s hands, and he handed her a bag.
Chen Siyang glanced inside and asked, "What’s this?"
"There’s plenty today—braised pork knuckle, garlic pork slices, chicken feet, and our chef’s specialty, crispy beef tripe."
With every dish Tang Zhichu named, Chen Siyang’s eyes shone a little brighter, though she kept looking at him.
Tang Zhichu then raised another bag. "And, of course, spicy rabbit heads."
Chen Siyang laughed. "Quick, quick, I’ve made a few vegetable dishes—they’ll be ready soon."
In the kitchen, Zhou Yun opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing. When she met Tang Zhichu’s gaze, she just nodded.
So, the date had probably happened, but he brought food back anyway.
They all gathered in the kitchen. Chen Siyang started frying the dishes, and Tang Zhichu and Jiang Lan arranged all the takeout containers on the dining table.
"Go call everyone. I’m almost done," Chen Siyang said to Tang Zhichu.
He nodded, pulled out his phone, and sent a message in the group chat.
Huang Zejun replied that he’d be right down; Yang Jiaxing said there was no need to wait, he was working late.
Moments later, Huang Zejun came downstairs, carrying something that looked like a box.
Tang Zhichu clapped his hands when he saw it. "Jun, is that it?"
Huang Zejun nodded. "Yes, it’s a photo printer. If you want to try it, I’ll show you how later."
"Great! But first, let’s eat!"