On the way past Shi Weiqing's villa, Xu Linchuan ran over and frantically pressed the doorbell a few times.
"Master Shi!"
"Master Shi, come out and eat pancakes!"
Xu Linchuan stood outside the gate and shouted several times at the top of his lungs.
Standing behind him, Xu Fan silently shook his head, thinking to himself, this guy really has no fear.
Soon, the gate to the villa opened.
Shi Weiqing was wearing a long black overcoat with a white shirt underneath, paired with casual pants. His hair was messy, clearly showing he hadn't been awake for long.
He shuffled out in a pair of slippers and stopped in front of the two. "What's up?"
"Master Shi, have you had breakfast yet?" Xu Linchuan hugged a small stool as he invited, "There's someone selling pancakes outside. Want to join us?"
"Pancakes?"
Shi Weiqing raised an eyebrow, and an image of a young girl's face floated into his mind.
Xu Linchuan made something up on the spot: "Yeah, my old man said you should come with us."
Saying this, he turned and secretly shot a wink at Xu Fan.
Xu Fan pretended not to see it, too lazy to respond.
"I'll go change my shoes."
Shi Weiqing replied indifferently, not doubting his words in the slightest.
"Alright." Xu Linchuan walked over to Xu Fan and gave him a smug smile.
As the group stepped just outside the gate, they saw Old Sir Xu perched on a plastic stool right by the cargo space of a tricycle, holding pancakes in both hands and eating with visible delight.
The smile on his face was unstoppable, with the wrinkles around his eyes deepening from laughter.
Xu Linchuan was dumbstruck: "Is that the old man? Am I seeing things?"
When did his old man become this approachable?
Xu Fan was equally stunned: "You're not seeing things."
The two fixed their gaze on Xu Zhen, confusion and disbelief etched into their expressions.
Shi Weiqing's eyes instantly caught sight of a graceful silhouette. He quickly stepped forward, stopping only half a meter away from her.
Picking up an egg from the basket, he asked in a low voice, "Not selling oranges anymore?"
His voice was calm and devoid of any discernible emotion.
Yu Zhi looked up at him and replied seriously, "Too sour."
Shi Weiqing stared into her eyes, his throat constricting slightly, while the hand in his pocket faintly curled, his fingers brushing against the fabric.
"Xu Linchuan, what are you doing!"
Xu Zhen's angry shout interrupted them, turning their gazes toward him.
Xu Linchuan was bending down beside the old man, tearing a large chunk from the pancake in his hand and stuffing it into his mouth.
He chewed twice and sighed, "This pancake is actually quite delicious."
Xu Zhen glared at him, ready to admonish further, when his eyes shifted as if he suddenly thought of something.
He replaced his scowl with a smile. "Linchuan, you must be hungry, huh?"
The sudden change in tone made Xu Linchuan feel inexplicably strange, but he didn't think too deeply about it.
He nodded. "I'm a bit hungry."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhen immediately stood up, grabbed Xu Linchuan's arm, and led him over to Yu Zhi.
He smiled as he introduced, "Girl, this is my second grandson, Xu Linchuan, twenty-five, a detective, well-off."
It was obvious the old man had made up his mind to play matchmaker.
Hearing this, Shi Weiqing paused in his fiddling with the egg, lowering his gaze as a fleeting indistinct emotion flashed through his eyes.
Yu Zhi nodded slightly toward Xu Linchuan, acknowledging the introduction.
Just as she was about to lower her head to focus on making pancakes, Old Sir Xu gave her a hopeful look.
Yu Zhi hesitated for a moment before replying earnestly, "I'm Yu Zhi, eighteen, broke."
Her unapologetically bold tone momentarily silenced the surrounding air.
A faint smile crossed Shi Weiqing's eyes — interesting.
Old Sir Xu cleared his throat, pinched Xu Linchuan's arm, and cast him a reproachful look. "Tell Zhi what flavor you like."
"Don't you already know my preferences?" Xu Linchuan found the old man oddly peculiar today. Still, his survival instincts made him continue, "Just add extra chili oil."
"Alright."
With that, Yu Zhi started making the pancakes. She poured some batter onto the pan and spread it evenly with a bamboo spreader. After a few seconds, she cracked two eggs on top.
Her movements were not only skilled but carried a sense of artistry.
Everyone shifted their attention to the pancake, except Shi Weiqing, who focused entirely on her delicate face throughout.
After she finished one pancake, Xu Fan immediately stepped forward and smiled warmly at Yu Zhi. "Little sister, make me a savory one."
Xu Fan's demeanor was gentle and refined, like a spring breeze, his smile exuding a sense of approachability.
"Mhm."
Yu Zhi tugged at the corners of her mouth in response, offering him a faint smile, subtle but still caught by Shi Weiqing.
Shi Weiqing pressed his tongue against his molars, an inexplicable annoyance surfacing in his chest as he leaned against the metal frame of the cart.
He felt like smoking.
Once Xu Fan took his pancake and plastic stool and sat down next to Old Sir Xu, Yu Zhi finally shifted her gaze from the pancake stall to Shi Weiqing.
The October air carried a slight chill, and as the breeze brushed past, the nearby tree branches rustled with swishing sounds.
The rising sun cast pale golden rays, filtered through layers of leaves, which danced and flickered upon him.
The man before her seemed like a favored creation of the universe, with features so striking that even taken apart, each one had an undeniable allure.
It's human nature to admire beauty.
Yu Zhi was no exception. After noticing how he silently fiddled with the egg, she asked, "What flavor do you want?"
At her question, Shi Weiqing lifted his gaze, handing her the egg in his hand. "Sweet."
As she took it, the spot touched by her fingers still carried a faint coolness.
Shi Weiqing slipped his hand into his pocket, gently rubbing the area where her touch lingered.
Yu Zhi spread a layer of salad dressing on the pancake — a flavor she had tried before and quite liked for its sweetness.
After packing the pancake in a small bag, she handed it to him. "It's ready."
Shi Weiqing took a bite. The sweetness was perfect, and the texture was delightful.
A hint of approval appeared on his expression as he suddenly recalled Chen Cai tasting several sour oranges yesterday. Perhaps luck wasn't on his side.
Yu Zhi wiped her hands and placed a plastic stool near his feet. "Sit down."
Shi Weiqing pulled the stool back slightly, inadvertently shortening the distance between them to its closest yet.
Holding the pancake in one hand, he ate quietly, his manners composed and deliberate.
"Aren't you in school?" he suddenly asked.
"Classes start on the 8th."
Yu Zhi answered blandly as she fished a candy out of her pocket.
The sound of unwrapping the candy wrapper caught Shi Weiqing's attention, and he glanced sideways.
Noticing his gaze, Yu Zhi thought he wanted some too and pulled out another candy from her pocket, offering it to him. "I only brought a few today."
Her implication was clear: there wasn't much, so you only get one.
Shi Weiqing opened his palm, and Yu Zhi placed the pink-wrapped candy in it.