Chapter 73 (1/2)

Translated by Karcessel of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

In the blink of an eye, the day of the XiQin restaurant’s reopening had arrived.

Lin ShuYi got up early that morning, despite the fact that it was only a reopening of the restaurant and the celebration wasn’t going to be too grand. Almost everything that had to be prepared was already in place. After all, the only people who would be coming to the event were some neighbors and the Shen family.

After Lin ShuYi got up, Shen Fu woke up as well, and checked his phone. It was only seven AM. “Why’re you up so early?”

“I’m heading to the restaurant to take one last look around.” Down jacket already on, Lin ShuYi was in middle of changing his shoes.

Shen Fu rolled over, and sat up. “Wait, I’m coming with you.”

Looking at Shen Fu’s ruffled hair and sleepy expression, Lin ShuYi couldn’t help but laugh. “Aren’t you still half asleep? Why come with me?”

Shen Fu didn’t respond, too busy throwing on some clothes and heading to the bathroom to wash up. “Just wait, I’ll be ready in a second.”

Lin ShuYi was originally planning to let Shen Fu sleep a little longer. The winter weather was well suited for sleeping in, especially with the cold wind whistling outside. Leaving the warm, cozy blankets to head outside into the chilly winter air this early in the morning could almost be considered a form of torture. But Lin ShuYi didn’t say anything more, because Shen Fu was already up and dressed. And anyway, it was nice having Shen Fu’s company around.

When Shen Fu was finished getting ready, the two of them headed to the restaurant together.

The plaque above the wooden entrance was already in place, with the name of the XiQin restaurant carved in bold, beautiful calligraphy. Shen Fu thought to himself, if it weren’t for this plaque, he would have never known that Lin ShuYi’s calligraphy was so elegant, so expertly composed, as natural as if he had been writing like this for years.

Actually, thinking of this, Shen Fu couldn’t help but feel that although Lin ShuYi’s written characters were exceptionally gorgeous, something still felt a bit off. On one hand, Lin ShuYi wrote in an ordinary regular script and managed to still make it feel resoundingly powerful. On the other, there was something about his positioning, especially his brush posture, that felt a bit awkward. The end result was flawless, but still, something about that posture just seemed strange.

Lin ShuYi’s feelings about this were that truthfully, it was a bit awkward. It took him two full weeks to learn how to use a ballpoint pen, and to understand that the method of writing was completely different from using a brush.

Currently, it wasn’t the right season for planting, so the grape vines in the front yard had not been transplanted yet. The wooden arbour was still bare, but below them were displayed several evenly spaced trees that remained green through the winter season, so the scenery wasn’t completely empty. Although the current appearance wasn’t all that bad, when spring arrived and the grape vines were planted, this wooden arbour would be even more beautiful.

There honestly wasn’t much to look at in the restaurant, everything was ready, so Lin ShuYi and Shen Fu just did a final lap around the see if there was anything that needed to be adjusted. A few potted plants and tables Lin ShuYi directed Shen Fu to move later, the two of them were out of things to do.

Shen Fu had been completely focused when they were working, but now that everything was done, he suddenly felt his stomach rumble. “I’m hungry.”

Lin ShuYi laughed. “I’ll go get some of today’s soup stock and make something quick for you to eat.”

Shen Fu nodded, endlessly thankful for his good fortune.

While Lin ShuYi went into the kitchen, Shen Fu pulled out his phone and gave his grandfather a call. He didn’t try to call earlier because he had assumed that Grandfather Shen was still asleep. As the tone rang, Grandfather Shen picked up immediately, his voice not even sleepy in the slightest. “Grandpa?”

“And here I was just about to start getting ready to head over. You know, these past few days after we came back, everyone’s been thinking that it’s way too dull and quiet without the two of you here making things lively. I hadn’t even gotten out of bed just now, and already, I heard your mother up and at ‘em, getting things ready, talking about heading over early.”

Shen Fu couldn’t help but smile, because this indeed sounded like something his mother would do. His heart felt all warm and fluffy, and a little bit proud.

“What about my brother? Is he coming this time?” Shen Fu didn’t forget that he still owed Shen Yan a meal of fruitwood roasted duck. If he didn’t live up to his promise soon, the next time he went home, he had a feeling his time there wouldn’t be so pleasant. Although they didn’t have any fruitwood roasted duck at the restaurant, Lin ShuYi could make some of his signature dishes, and that should satisfy Shen Yan. A couple shared their debts after all.

On the other end of the line, Grandfather Shen laughed loudly. “Of course he’s coming, how could he not? Now, he didn’t say anything, but he’s already settled everything with the business in advance, just waiting for today.”

This… was also very much Shen brother’s style.

“Alright, then if there isn’t anything else, we’re getting ready to leave soon.”

“Mn.” Shen Fu hung up the phone, and walked into the kitchen. “My grandpa and the rest of them are just about finished preparing for the trip over.”

Lin ShuYi glanced back, “This early?”

“Mhm.” Shen Fu casually hooked both hands in his pockets, leaning against the doorframe. “My mom said that without the two of us at home, everything was too quiet.” Heartache was written across Lin ShuYi’s entire expression. “Let’s renovate our home so that when my mom misses us, she can come over and stay while.”

Lin ShuYi nodded without hesitation. If it weren’t for the XiQin restaurant and grandpa Yang, he probably would have already moved in with the Shen family in H city.

Shen Fu grinned, “Then I’ll look after this. So where are we going to live during the renovation?”

Lin ShuYi thought about it for a moment, then said, “Let’s talk to grandpa Yang about it, see if we can stay at his place. Grandpa Yang lives all alone, we could give him a little company.”