VFGRC Chapter 86

When Yu Bai first saw Ji Rongyu, he wasn’t actually surprised.

This year’s Food Festival was jointly organized by well-known food investors in the industry, and since Ji Rongyu was the boss of the G Group, it was only natural for him to be present here.

After several months, when he saw Ji Rongyu again, Yu Bai’s heart was unexpectedly calm.

When he had just found out that Ji Rongyu had deceived him, Yu Bai felt anger, annoyance, and even hatred.

He hated himself for being foolish and easily deceived by Ji Rongyu.

So, Yu Bai chose to go on a trip.

By not seeing Ji Rongyu, Yu Bai thought he would never think about Ji Rongyu for the rest of his life, nor would he recall the days when he was deceived by Ji Rongyu.

But… how could a person’s heart be easily swayed?

A week of travel passed in a flash, and when Yu Bai returned to City J, he would still be moved by certain sights, reminding him of the various experiences he had shared with Ji Rongyu.

He had felt hatred and annoyance, but after all his emotions had been released, whenever Yu Bai thought of the name “Ji Rongyu,” he would also recall the time they had spent together.

During those days, he and Ji Rongyu occasionally had minor conflicts, but their relationship would quickly return to normal.

In Yu Bai’s eyes, Ji Rongyu was like a child slightly older than Xing Xing, not as mature as Xing Xing. He always liked to lean on Yu Bai’s shoulder, cling to him, and act cute around him.

And, of course, Yu Bai would always play along with Ji Rongyu’s act.

Later, Yu Bai learned from his neighbors and Yun He that during the week he was traveling, Ji Rongyu had visited his snack shop and waited downstairs at his home.

But… perhaps he and Ji Rongyu were destined to have a connection yet remain separated, destined to not unravel the tangled mess between them.

Upon his return to City J, Ji Rongyu had disappeared.

Occasionally, Yu Bai would wonder.

If Ji Rongyu could have held on for just one more day back then, if he could have waited until Yu Bai returned to City J, maybe Ji Rongyu could have come to see him again, just that one time.

The two of them could have sat down calmly face to face at a table, had a proper conversation, and cleared up all the misunderstandings.

Perhaps, the emotional rift between them wasn’t unfixable.

They could have become each other’s best friends again.

However, Ji Rongyu never appeared again.

Yu Bai felt a bit disheartened.

He didn’t know whether Ji Rongyu lacked the courage to face him and didn’t want to appear before him, or… did Ji Rongyu truly consider their past together as a game he could quit at any time?

Time has the power to heal everything.

Even the strongest and deepest emotions can’t always withstand the erosion of time.

Yu Bai was no exception.

After two months had passed, the frequency at which he thought about Ji Rongyu visibly diminished. Yu Bai’s days were now occupied by Xing Xing, and the matters at his shop.

It seemed that if things continued this way, Ji Rongyu would eventually become nothing more than a passing figure in his life.

However, their paths eventually crossed again.

Ji Rongyu held onto Yu Bai’s wrist, placing a golden-bordered access card with the words “Important Guest” into his hand.

Ji Rongyu’s fingertips were scorching, like a branding iron, pressing against the skin of Yu Bai’s wrist.

Yu Bai had lost track of how long it had been… that they were this close.

Ji Rongyu had sprayed a pleasant and refreshing fragrance today, a scent Yu Bai had never detected on Ji Rongyu before, almost unfamiliar.

But Ji Rongyu’s breath, his warmth, and the rough texture of his fingertips felt so incredibly familiar to Yu Bai.

Yu Bai was, after all, a well-known Chinese culinary investor. Although Qin Corporation couldn’t compare to G Group, as Ji Rongyu’s senior, Ji Rongyu didn’t even give him the slightest bit of face. He openly supported a regular guest whose origin was unknown over him.

Qin Xun, who had been slapped in the face by Ji Rongyu, couldn’t care less about the onlookers around them. His face shifted from red to white, then from white to green.

“Rongyu, I’m your senior, after all. In terms of seniority, you should address me as ‘Uncle,'” Qin Xun gritted his teeth while suppressing his anger, his expression unsightly. “Withdrawing an investment isn’t a small matter. Moreover, this gourmet summit isn’t solely organized by G Group. If you want to retract my investment, you’ll also need to consider whether your other uncles and aunts agree, right?”

“Rongyu, Uncle Qin makes a valid point. This isn’t a big issue, to begin with. Why make it such a huge, embarrassing affair?” A culinary investor who had a good relationship with Qin Xun stepped forward and advised, “Peace breeds wealth, peace breeds wealth.”

The culinary investor then turned to Yu Bai. “What do you think, young brother Yu?”

But before he could finish, Ji Rongyu took a step forward, positioning himself in front of Yu Bai, causing the culinary investor’s expression to subtly change.

Ji Rongyu raised an eyebrow slightly, curling his lips.

“Qin Group is quite fond of investing in tasteless, marketing-wrapped internet-famous restaurants,” Ji Rongyu sneered. “You think I should address you as ‘Uncle’… you really deserve that?”

Ji Rongyu’s words were merciless, and if Qin Xun’s mental fortitude weren’t strong, he might have had a brain hemorrhage from anger long ago.

Before Qin Xun could speak, Hang Yuanshu interjected.

“Boss, all the withdrawals from Qin Group have been sorted out,” Hang Yuanshu reported.

Ji Rongyu addressed the security personnel, saying, “Since everything has been taken care of, remove the unrelated individuals from here.”

Several security personnel immediately approached. Qin Xun had originally intended to struggle and threaten.

Ji Rongyu gazed steadily at Qin Xun. “I remember that you and Qiao Group… haven’t settled things yet, have you? How about it? Has the fire not reached you yet?”

Why would Ji Rongyu suddenly bring up Qiao Group?!

Qin Xun’s expression changed multiple times.

Qiao Group was a company established by Qin Xun’s capable subordinate, Qiao Chao. Qin Group had earned a significant amount of money through Qiao Group. However, Qiao Group was primarily managed by Qiao Chao, and Qin Xun would occasionally inquire about its situation.

Originally, Qiao Group had been running smoothly, but a series of setbacks hit the company before the new year. Disturbing secrets within the company were uncovered one by one. Qin Xun suspected all along that someone was manipulating things behind the scenes to strike at Qiao Group. Yet Qin Xun’s abilities were limited, and he couldn’t pinpoint the person responsible for delivering the fatal blow to Qiao Group. Thus, he had no choice but to swallow the bitter pill of Qiao Group’s bankruptcy.

But now… it seemed that Ji Rongyu was connected to Qiao Group’s problems as well? However, Qin Xun and Ji Rongyu had no grievances or conflicts between them. Why would Ji Rongyu inexplicably get involved with Qiao Group?

The security personnel escorted Qin Xun away, his mind filled with thoughts. The crowd dispersed.

Looking at Ji Rongyu’s cold profile, Yu Bai opened his mouth, his lips slightly parted.

Ji Rongyu turned around, releasing the tension in his furrowed brows. His slender phoenix eyes held a softness that couldn’t be melted.

“How are you? Are you okay?” Ji Rongyu’s expression carried a hint of regret. “I arrived late. Did he hurt you just now?”

Qin Xun wasn’t much taller than Yu Bai. He was even leaner than Yu Bai. Even if you added Yu Bai and Xing Xing together, they would still overpower Qin Xun.

Seeing Ji Rongyu’s blind concern, Yu Bai’s mood inexplicably improved a bit.

Yu Bai’s lips curled up slightly. “I’m fine. If you were a bit later, I might have lost my temper and wanted to pin that guy down and beat him up!”

“Oh…” Ji Rongyu paused. “If I had known, I would’ve come a little later.”

Yu Bai extended his fist and lightly tapped Ji Rongyu’s shoulder.

Yu Bai said, “Are you daft? I was just kidding. There are so many people here. If I actually hit him, I’d probably get taken away in a moment.”

Yu Bai’s fist was gentle and soft, tapping Ji Rongyu’s shoulder as if playfully tickling him.

The tender and slightly tingling sensation spread slowly from the point of contact on his shoulder, creating a warm sensation.

Seeing Yu Bai’s familiar affectionate attitude towards him, Ji Rongyu’s expression held a momentary sense of melancholy.

Ji Rongyu lowered his eyes and said, “It’s okay, I won’t let them take you away.”

Just a moment ago, Ji Rongyu had the demeanor of a stern and domineering CEO, but now, in front of Yu Bai, he transformed into a docile and obedient giant dog.

After being apart for so long, the feeling of conversing with Yu Bai again was truly wonderful.

“Well, you guys go ahead and eat,” Ji Rongyu clenched his fist. “I won’t disturb you.”

He feared that if he lingered here any longer, he wouldn’t be able to control his body’s instinct to tightly embrace Yu Bai, bury his head in the crook of Yu Bai’s neck, and deeply inhale the pleasant fragrance emanating from Yu Bai’s body.

“Have you had dinner yet?” Yu Bai asked. “There seems to be a lot of delicious food here. Do you want to join us?”

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. Don’t you… really want to talk with me?”

How could Ji Rongyu resist Yu Bai’s enticing suggestion?

“Okay.”

During this dinner, Ji Rongyu ate without truly tasting the food.

The dinner was delicious, and the atmosphere was pleasant, but Ji Rongyu’s gaze remained on Yu Bai. Whenever Yu Bai enjoyed a dish, his clear apricot eyes would light up, his brow would relax, and his face would exude joy and happiness.

Yu Bai would even ask him directly if he wanted to eat this or that. Did he like it or not?

Yu Bai’s smile was so charming that Ji Rongyu couldn’t help but respond positively, whether he liked the food or not.

This led to a situation where Ji Rongyu looked at the plate of stuffed green peppers in his hand, his brow lightly furrowing. He didn’t eat green peppers.

Yu Bai asked, “What’s wrong? Did I pick something you don’t like?”

Ji Rongyu replied, “It’s not that…”

“Daddy, Uncle Rongyu obviously doesn’t like it when others pick food for him, right? You should just pick the dishes you like for yourself!” Xing Xing held up his small plate, his eyes shining. “Or, Daddy, you can pick the dishes for me. I’ll eat anything you choose!”

Although Xing Xing was young, he understood why Yu Bai had cried and been angry, and why Ji Rongyu, this bad uncle, hadn’t appeared for months.

Clearly, the bad uncle had made Daddy sad and upset for a very long time!

The bad uncle had made Daddy so angry and sad, how could he still have the nerve to show up in front of Daddy, have dinner with Daddy, and even ask Daddy to pick food for him?

Xing Xing was so angry that he looked like his small mouth was going to touch the ceiling.

Yu Bai had invited Ji Rongyu to have dinner together, and Xing Xing didn’t want to say anything directly, so he could only send meaningful glances to Yu Bai from the side, secretly expressing his displeasure toward Ji Rongyu.

“I love eating the dishes you pick for me too,” Ji Rongyu gritted his teeth, and in one go, he stuffed the stuffed green pepper into his mouth.

Ji Rongyu, with his acute sense of taste, couldn’t tolerate the odd taste of the green pepper, but just the thought that the green pepper stuffed meat in his mouth had been picked by Yu Bai made him chew on it for a few moments before immediately swallowing it.

It was just too awful-tasting!

“Delicious.” Ji Rongyu managed to squeeze out a faint smile. He immediately picked up the lemon water on the table and gulped it down, as if trying to wash away the unpleasant taste of the green pepper-stuffed meat in his mouth.

Yu Bai said, “If you don’t like it, there’s no need to force yourself.”

Ji Rongyu looked at Yu Bai and said, “Who said I don’t like it? Your taste is excellent; you’ve picked dishes I like…”

As he looked into Yu Bai’s round and distinct black-and-white eyes, Ji Rongyu suddenly lost the courage to lie.

Being able to meet Yu Bai again was a heaven-sent opportunity for him.

He had told enough lies to Yu Bai in the past.

From now on, he didn’t want to lie anymore.

Ji Rongyu lowered his gaze, staring at the remaining piece of green pepper-stuffed meat on his plate.

“I don’t like green peppers, so I’m not accustomed to eating green pepper-stuffed meat,” Ji Rongyu said, “But… as long as it’s you who’s picking for me, no matter what dish it is, I can eat it all up.”

After saying that, Ji Rongyu felt a slight pang of regret.

Should he have been more tactful in saying that he didn’t like the green pepper-stuffed meat Yu Bai had picked for him? Would Yu Bai be unhappy?

He should have phrased it more delicately.

While Ji Rongyu was lost in his thoughts, a soft laughter sounded in his ear.

Ji Rongyu’s gaze turned toward Yu Bai.

Yu Bai’s clean and handsome face was adorned with his usual gentle smile.

Yu Bai’s eyebrows and eyes curved slightly, and the angle of his upturned lips seemed to be even greater.

“Have you finally told me the truth?”

Yu Bai supported his chin with one hand, his bright eyes piercing straight into Ji Rongyu’s heart.

“I…” Ji Rongyu’s lips pursed briefly. He raised his gaze and looked directly at Yu Bai.

“The first time I tasted the scallion pancake you made, I really liked it.”

“I wanted to try other things you made… but I approached you in the wrong way and told you lie after lie.”

Ji Rongyu’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his deep voice carried a heavy and complex emotion as he said, “I’m very sorry.”

If he could turn back time, he wished he had revealed his true identity from the very beginning when he met Yu Bai.

He owed Yu Bai countless apologies and also owed Yu Bai a sincere heart.

After Ji Rongyu finished speaking, he didn’t dare to look at Yu Bai and lowered his head.

His long-overdue apology… perhaps Yu Bai no longer needed it?

Moreover, he had hurt Yu Bai’s heart in the past, so how could a casual apology make up for it?

The debt he owed Yu Bai couldn’t be repaid in this lifetime.

Yu Bai said, “Is just a simple ‘sorry’ enough?”

Yu Bai continued, “Why did you come to find me when I was on vacation two months ago, but then disappear after I returned to J City?”

“No matter what, shouldn’t you have apologized to me as soon as I returned to J City?”

“Ji Rongyu, if we hadn’t met today, would you ever have said ‘sorry’ to me in your entire life?”

Yu Bai’s voice was neither soft nor loud, but each sentence he uttered felt like a sharp blade piercing into Ji Rongyu’s heart.

Ji Rongyu said, “I did want to apologize to you right away, but on the day you came back, I…”

How could he tell Yu Bai?

On the day Yu Bai returned, Ji Rongyu felt jealous when he saw Yu Bai with Yun He, who seemed to match and suit Yu Bai better than anyone else.

Ji Rongyu had witnessed the intimacy between Yu Bai and Yun He.

He didn’t want to disturb Yu Bai’s happiness. He thought… Yu Bai didn’t need his apology, and he didn’t need Ji Rongyu anymore.

“I saw you and Yun He, you’re very close.”

Yu Bai replied, “You’re jealous.”

With Yu Bai’s words, Ji Rongyu’s thoughts were laid bare, and his face instantly turned red.

He hastily picked up the glass of ice water beside him and drank from it.

For someone who harbors a secret crush, how could they possibly maintain a clear mind at all times? They are constantly influenced by their “liking” and every move of their crush can tug at their heart.

Whether in the past or now, Ji Rongyu liked Yu Bai, he loved Yu Bai. He wished he could offer everything he had to Yu Bai. He knew that Yu Bai’s feelings for him might only be friendly, so Ji Rongyu had always been careful to maintain the boundary of “friendship” between them.

This emotion of “liking” made the typically proud and decisive Ji Rongyu become fragile and sensitive. He might possess a seemingly powerful exterior, but in front of Yu Bai, he could only be a loyal dog, always wanting to be close to Yu Bai.

Ji Rongyu said, “Seeing how close you are with Yun He, I… didn’t want to disturb…”

Yu Bai’s gaze became scorching and evident.

Ji Rongyu whispered, “But, um, I… at that time, indeed felt a bit jealous.”

“You invited Yun He to your home for dinner, you accompanied Yun He to the bus stop, and you even playfully punched Yun He’s shoulder… I thought, with Yun He by your side, it might be better than me being by your side.”

“I didn’t want to appear in front of you and make you unhappy… I also didn’t want to hear you tell me that you don’t like me and want me to stay away.”

“So, I quietly left on my own, creating an illusion for myself. Since you didn’t say you didn’t like me, I could assume in my heart that our relationship remained… intimate.”

These words that had been pent up for so long were initially hard for Ji Rongyu to articulate. Gradually, as he let all his thoughts pour out, he felt an unprecedented relief in his heart. He laid bare all his inner thoughts and feelings to Yu Bai.

At this moment, he was no longer a timid mouse hiding its head. In front of Yu Bai, he could be open and sincere.

Yu Bai remained silent.

The three of them quietly finished their dinner.

Before leaving, Yu Bai said to Ji Rongyu, “How about having dinner together tomorrow?”

Yu Bai’s words sounded ordinary, but Ji Rongyu’s body stiffened.

Yu Bai had actually suggested having dinner together tomorrow? Yu Bai was willing to have dinner with him?

Did that mean…

A smile began to form at the corners of Ji Rongyu’s lips, growing wider and brighter.

The assistant, Hang Yuanshu, who was following behind Ji Rongyu, looked a bit frustrated when he saw the situation.

“Boss, please be mindful of your image. There are many other guests here.”

Ji Rongyu also wanted to maintain his image, but the overwhelming joy surging within him made it a struggle to suppress his laughter.

He couldn’t control the upward curve of his lips.

“I’m done eating.”

Ji Rongyu stood up and left the table.

One of the guests nearby, who had been keeping an eye on Ji Rongyu, stood up and followed him.

When Ji Rongyu reached the elevator lobby, he coincidentally saw Yu Bai waiting for the elevator as well.

Before Ji Rongyu could speak to Yu Bai, a guest behind him intercepted him.

“Mr. Ji, we have a bottle of 1976 wine that we just opened. That year had the best rainfall and sunlight. Would you like to try it?”

This guest had put in great effort to secure a crucial guest seat at the culinary summit, but he hadn’t had a chance to connect with Ji Rongyu during the opening ceremony.

Fortunately, Ji Rongyu’s attendance at the banquet hall tonight provided him with an opportunity.

All he needed was to flatter Ji Rongyu a bit, and maybe the influential Mr. Ji would throw him a bone for the next project’s benefits. That would be enough to satisfy him.

Hearing that Ji Rongyu had few preferences, enjoying delicious delicacies being one of them, he thought good wine fell under that category as well. So, he had spared no expense to acquire this wine, hoping to please Ji Rongyu.

The guest handed Ji Rongyu a high-stemmed glass filled with red wine.

The fragrance was rich, the color beautiful, and anyone with even a slight knowledge of wine would recognize that this was a fine vintage.

However, Ji Rongyu didn’t spare the wine a glance. His expression turned slightly colder, and he headed straight for the elevator.

“Our boss never drinks things handed to him at random.” Hang Yuanshu said this lightly to the guest.

The flattery aimed at a horse landed on its leg, and the guest’s expression changed.

How could he have not known that Ji Rongyu had this habit?!

It wasn’t until later that the guest inquired with those who had extensive knowledge and connections within the industry that he understood what had happened.

Years ago, when Ji Rongyu had just entered the culinary world and was still young, someone had drugged his drink and set up an unpleasant situation in a secretive manner.

From then on, Ji Rongyu never again drank anything or consumed snacks offered by others. He only ate what he personally chose.

—

Yu Bai pressed the elevator button. “Which floor are you on?”

Ji Rongyu replied, “99th.”

Yu Bai raised an eyebrow. “What a coincidence, I’m on the same floor.”

He pressed the button for the 99th floor.

“The wine that person handed over had a good aroma and looked like fine wine,” Yu Bai said. “Aren’t you usually quite particular about your palate? Why didn’t you drink it?”

“Since a long time ago, I stopped drinking things handed to me by others…” Ji Rongyu added, “Except for you.”

From Ji Rongyu’s few words, Yu Bai could guess about Ji Rongyu’s past experiences. He pressed his lips together slightly.

“Do you trust me that much?”

The elevator, ascending slowly, stopped at the 99th floor.

The elevator doors opened, and Yu Bai and Ji Rongyu walked to their respective suite doors.

Just as Yu Bai was about to close his door, he heard a “ding” sound from his phone.

He had received a message from Ji Rongyu.

[Ji Rongyu: You’re the person I love. I trust only you.]

Because of trust, one could be completely open in front of the person they loved.

[Ji Rongyu: Let’s have dinner together tomorrow! I’ll wait for you at your door!]

Yu Bai’s slender, jade-like fingertip lightly traced over the word “love,” and then paused.

Xing Xing’s gentle voice chimed in, “Daddy, why are you standing at the door?”

Yu Bai put away his phone, smiling at Xing Xing. “Nothing.”

He was merely experiencing a momentary flutter in his still heart upon seeing the word “love.”