At the international arrivals gate of Zhennan City Airport, Li Zi stood away from the bustling crowds, leaning against a pillar and idly scrolling through her phone.
The small group chat for her dorm was buzzing with constant notifications. Yu Tianwu was posting their plans for the evening; it seemed they weren't just going out for dinner, but had other activities lined up as well.
"Flight MU220 has arrived," the overhead announcement chimed.
Li Zi double-checked the message in the chat with her father. "This is the one."
For some unknown reason, the flight had been delayed by over an hour, and Li Zi had been waiting at the airport all afternoon.
About half an hour later, a dense stream of people began to pour out of the exit. Many were blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigners whose natural height advantage drew a fair amount of attention.
Li Zi’s gaze swept through the crowd until she finally spotted an out-of-place, black-haired "shorty."
With a pair of over-ear headphones hanging around his slender neck, he wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans. He was struggling to maneuver several suitcases through the tall crowd, craning his neck as he searched for the person supposed to meet him.
Having found her target, Li Zi hurried forward and raised her right hand to call out to him. "Yuan Ye! Over here!"
The airport was far too noisy. Yuan Ye felt as though someone had called his name, but he couldn't locate the source at all. He came to a bewildered halt, trying to pick out a familiar face from the sea of people waiting ahead.
"Move it. What are you stopping here for? Are you sick?" A hulking man behind him gave him a rough shove, walking past with an impatient scowl.
Caught off balance, Yuan Ye stumbled and began to topple over along with his suitcases.
"Ah!"
"Careful!"
Just as Yuan Ye thought he was about to have an intimate encounter with the floor the moment he stepped back onto the mainland, a pair of hands reached out and steadied him just in time.
"Thank you... Oh, Sister Li Zi?" Yuan Ye used the support to regain his footing and turned back to offer his thanks.
"You have to be careful in places like this. If you fall, it’s easy to cause a stampede," Li Zi said with a smile, reaching out to take one of his suitcases.
"Oh, okay. I got it." He rubbed his nose sheepishly, his face flushing red with embarrassment.
*Ahhh, how embarrassing! How did I manage to do something so stupid the second I got back?*
Li Zi patted his mop of fluffy hair and asked with concern, "Was the trip smooth? Let’s go. I’ll take you to get some food. You must be tired and hungry after flying all day."
"A man can be killed, but his head... cannot be touched..." Yuan Ye muttered under his breath as he followed behind her.
Li Zi’s ears caught his grumbling clearly, and she couldn't help but find it adorable. "At your age, can you really call yourself a man yet?" she teased.
"In other countries, you're an adult at sixteen!"
"You only just turned sixteen not long ago, didn't you? Besides, in this country, you aren't an adult until you're eighteen."
"I don't care! Either way, no touching!"
"Fine, I apologize. Is there anything specific you want to eat? I’m going to hail a taxi."
Li Zi had quite a soft spot for this younger brother. His slightly *tsundere* yet well-behaved demeanor reminded her of a pet cat—easy to tease into a huff, waving its paws in protest.
***
Meanwhile, Liu Yan had fallen into a state of anxiety after suddenly receiving Yu Tianwu’s message about the dinner with her roommates.
Whenever he felt anxious, his subconscious reaction was to seek out the most reliable person he knew.
Liu Yan: [Brother Li, Brother Li, Brother Li, Brother Li.]
Li Zhenting: [?]
Li Zhenting: [SpitItOut.jpg]
Liu Yan: [Brother Li, Tianwu just told me she wants her roommates to join us for dinner...]
Li Zhenting: [So? Li Zi should be there too, what are you panicking for?]
Liu Yan: [Sister Li Zi seems to have something to do, she’s not coming...]
Li Zhenting: [Then just go. Stop being so wishy-washy and show some backbone!]
Li Zhenting: [Haven't you met them before?]
Liu Yan: [The context is different now, it feels weird.]
Li Zhenting: [What’s weird about it? It’s just a meal.]
Liu Yan: [Brother Li, you don't understand. ManYouDontUnderstandMyHeart.gif]
Li Zhenting: [RollingEyes.emoji]
Li Zhenting: [Clean yourself up and just go.]
Liu Yan grumbled at the chat box resentfully. "I knew Brother Li was such a 'straight man,' why did I even bother asking him?"
He put down his phone and rummaged through his wardrobe, trying to find something more formal.
In the end, he realized with a sigh that the clothes Yu Tianwu had bought for him were significantly better than his old ones. He settled on a streetwear set that Yu Tianwu had insisted on buying for him during a recent shopping trip.
Standing before the mirror, he awkwardly ran a hand through his hair. "Does this really suit me?"
When he arrived at the meeting point, Yu Tianwu spotted him from a distance. She bounded over excitedly and threw an arm around his neck.
"Brother Yan, you're here!"
Liu Yan nodded, offering a stiff greeting under the teasing gazes of the other two girls. "H-hello, I'm Liu Yan."
"Long time no see," Hua Yi and Xie Bing waved at him.
"Long time no see," Liu Yan repeated, his nerves making him echo their words.
Seeing his discomfort, Yu Tianwu changed the subject, looking him up and down with an appreciative eye. "Brother Yan, you wore this outfit! So handsome! As expected of my boyfriend. Xiaoyi, Xiaobing, don't you agree?"
The two girls, who were still not immune to those nicknames, felt their faces twitch. They suppressed the urge to scold her and played along. "It looks very good."
Only then did Liu Yan relax slightly. He cleared his throat and asked, "Are we going straight to the restaurant?"
Xie Bing nodded. "Yes, it's a Sichuan place right next to our school called 'Haochi.' You probably haven't heard of it."
"He knows it! I went there with him once," Yu Tianwu answered for him.
Liu Yan followed up, "Yes, I've eaten there with Tianwu before. The food is excellent."
"That’s good, saves us the trouble of an introduction. Let's go then, everyone. No use standing around here."
"Go, go, go! Let's go harass Boss Li!"
Li Qingliu had already learned about tonight’s business from Xie Bing and had reserved a private room for the four of them.
When the group arrived, he was clearing a table of used dishes. Seeing Yu Tianwu leading the way, he greeted them with a smile.
"Yo, if it isn't our famous foodie, Miss Yu. You've graced us with your presence today."
Yu Tianwu giggled and asked, "Boss, where are we sitting today?"
Li Qingliu set the dishes aside for a moment and led them further inside. "Come this way. I predicted your arrival and kept a deluxe suite open."
Xie Bing looked at the dishes he had just put down and immediately stepped forward to clear them herself.
"Hey! Xiao Xie, what are you doing? Don't touch those!" Catching her movement out of the corner of his eye, Li Qingliu quickly stopped her. "You're a guest today, so don't do any work."
"But I'm also an employee," Xie Bing said seriously, her brow furrowing.
"I gave you the day off, didn't I? You aren't on the clock right now, so just go and enjoy yourself with your friends."
"But..." She looked hesitantly at the messy table.
"Don't worry, I can handle it." Li Qingliu pushed her away from the front hall, urging her back to the group. "Go on. Just give me a shout once you've decided on the food."
"Alright then. Call me if you need help." Xie Bing finally set aside her work ethic and followed her roommates inside.
"Man, Xiaobing really is the employee of the century," Yu Tianwu remarked in amazement. "I never knew you loved working this much."
Hua Yi chimed in, "Indeed. This level of passion for work would move any capitalist to tears."
Xie Bing picked up the menu and tossed it in front of Yu Tianwu. "Just order the food already."
"Oh~ Brother Yan, look, what do you want to eat? I'm telling you, Boss Li's Spicy Chicken is a masterpiece. Last time we came too late and they were all out."
"Is that so? Order whatever you like, I'm fine with anything."
"Then I want the Spicy Chicken, Stir-fried Pork Aorta, Cabbage in Superior Broth..." Yu Tianwu leaned against Liu Yan’s shoulder, reciting the names of the dishes one by one.
"Ahem." Hua Yi tapped her bowl to make her presence known. "You're the one treating us to dinner, and you aren't even going to ask what we want?"
"Oh, please. Don't I know you guys? Fresh Chili Rabbit and Ice Jelly, right? And the Sliced Pork with Garlic Sauce—your two favorite Sichuan dishes. I remembered them all!" Yu Tianwu explained, pressing Liu Yan down as he started to get nervous again upon realizing the oversight.
"Fine, you have a conscience," Hua Yi said, finally stopping her teasing.
"Since Li Zi isn't coming today, this should be enough," Yu Tianwu said, expertly ticking off items on the menu before getting up to call Li Qingliu.
"Yeah. I wonder if she’s picked up her person yet," Hua Yi added as she began unwrapping the plastic-sealed tableware for everyone.
"Sister Li Zi went to pick someone up?" Liu Yan asked curiously.
"Yeah, apparently her dad asked her to pick up a friend from abroad," Yu Tianwu answered, rubbing her chin. "Xiaobing says Li Zi’s dad is incredibly impressive. I’m starting to get curious about what kind of man could father such a beautiful daughter."
"Sister Li Zi’s father? He really is wonderful..." Liu Yan recalled. "I've only met him twice, but he looks incredibly young—not at all like someone with a daughter as old as Sister Li Zi. He seems to be quite famous; the doctors at the hospital were all very respectful toward him."
"Hmm? You've met him?" Yu Tianwu looked at Liu Yan with interest, urging him on. "Hurry up and describe him to me!"
"Describe what? I don't know how to put it into words." Liu Yan laughed and gently pushed her face away as she leaned in. "Besides, we shouldn't gossip about our elders behind their backs."
"Hmph—" Her curiosity unsatisfied, Yu Tianwu let out a long, disappointed sigh.
"I'm here. Have you decided on the dishes? What are you all chatting about so happily?" Li Qingliu pushed the door open and walked in, picking up the menu from the table.
"We were talking about Li Zi’s dad. He’s Xiaobing’s idol, you know," Yu Tianwu said, winking at Xie Bing.
"Huh? Your idol?" Li Qingliu’s hand stopped mid-note. He looked up at Xie Bing in confusion.
"Don't listen to her nonsense. Brother Qing, you should go get busy," Xie Bing said, her expression turning a bit cold at Yu Tianwu’s repeated joke. She skipped over the topic, telling Li Qingliu not to mind it.
"Alright then. Carry on." Li Qingliu looked down, finished noting the dishes, and turned to leave the room.
But his mind was racing. *Xie Bing’s idol? Li Zi’s father?*
*What a strange connection...*
***
**Glossary**
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 原冶 | Yuan Ye | A young man (16) returning from abroad; Li Zi's "younger brother" figure. |
| 圳南市 | Zhennan City | The city where the story takes place. |
| 好吃 | Haochi | Literally "Delicious"; the name of Li Qingliu's Sichuan restaurant. |
| 辣子鸡 | Spicy Chicken | Laziji; a classic Sichuan dish. |
| 炒黄喉 | Stir-fried Pork Aorta | A common Sichuan dish using pork or beef aorta. |
| 上汤大白菜 | Cabbage in Superior Broth | A savory vegetable dish. |
| 鲜椒兔 | Fresh Chili Rabbit | A spicy Sichuan rabbit dish. |
| 冰粉 | Ice Jelly | A chilled, sweet jelly dessert common in Sichuan. |
| 蒜泥白肉 | Sliced Pork with Garlic Sauce | A cold Sichuan appetizer. |
| 李清流 | Li Qingliu | The owner of the restaurant "Haochi." |
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