Ignoring the overt and covert hostility ahead, Sun Xi still walked over with long strides, even though he was well aware he wasn’t welcome.

Being unwelcome was something Sun Xi had long grown accustomed to, and he lowered his eyes, no longer looking at her.

“Dad, this is my friend Sun Xi.” Ge Fan patted Sun Xi on the shoulder, completely oblivious to the suddenly frozen atmosphere, introducing them jokingly, “Sun Xi, this is my dad, my sister. Not biological, but better than biological.”

Sun Xi was half a head taller than Ge Fan, who claimed to be 183 centimeters tall. He politely nodded to Yu Kaixuan in greeting, called him uncle, then briefly glanced at Yu Jiuqi before sitting down across from her, naturally yet distantly.

Natural enough as if he were simply sharing a table with a friend’s family for a meal, distant enough as if he didn’t know her at all.

It was tantamount to provocation.

Yu Jiuqi gritted her back teeth, her gaze sweeping across his fingers resting on the corner of the table, lingering briefly on that ring before picking up her phone. She leaned back in her chair, lowered her head, and began tapping away rapidly.

Sun Xi admitted that for a moment he thought Xiao Jiu’s message was still for him. He even deliberately moved his phone under the table to check—silent and still.

Meanwhile, Ge Fan was already ordering more dishes and drinks, while the person across from him continued her emotionally charged finger movements without stopping.

The one currently receiving Yu Jiuqi’s message bombardment was Xu Ming, the lobby manager of Wendu Water Resort. Xu Ming was entertaining Deputy Director Liu from the Forestry Bureau, who had come for a bath and massage, and was trying to arrange a private room for him when Xiao Jiu’s long sentences—half pleading, half commanding—appeared one after another.

The gist was that Yu Kaixuan had run into an old acquaintance outside who dragged him out to drink. Xiao Jiu was worried that drinking too much would be bad for his heart. The other party had brought three bottles of Wuliangye and ordered two cases of beer. It would be the death of them! Brother Xu, quickly find a way to trick my dad into coming back. It’s all up to you!

Xu Ming, who had just promised Little Boss Yu that he would go wherever directed, replied: Got it!

Just as the server who had braved the cold wind to fetch a pitcher of dark beer from the craft beer hall delivered the drinks, Yu Kaixuan received a call from Xu Ming saying that the private room on the third floor couldn’t be cleared, leaving Deputy Director uncomfortable. He asked if Yu Kaixuan could come back. After all, his position as lobby manager was still a bit low, and besides, Deputy Director Liu had brought two unfamiliar colleagues.

Yu Kaixuan hung up the phone, his expression still gloomy, saying the bathhouse had business and he needed to leave first.

Without waiting for everyone’s reaction, he specifically addressed Xiao Jiu: “Are you coming back with me?”

“Yes.”

Ge Fan expressed his confusion: “Xiao Jiu, what’s your hurry?”

“I also have something to do.”

“What do you have to do?”

Yu Jiuqi stood up, stammering while putting on her down jacket, unable to provide a reasonable explanation for the moment. Just then, Brother Erkai, who had finished dressing, spoke coldly.

“Didn’t someone want to introduce you to a potential partner? That one who got the gold card?” Yu Kaixuan glanced down intentionally or unintentionally, struggling to recall Xiao Jiu’s previous description, striving to be word-perfect: “That what’s-his-name nephew, shy and introverted, postdoctoral.”

“Graduate student,” Xiao Jiu corrected.

“Graduate student works too, the education level isn’t low either.” Brother Erkai cleared his throat.

“Right…” Yu Jiuqi didn’t want to stay here even one more second, “Then let’s hurry and go, Dad.”

Ge Fan didn’t even have time to say goodbye, awkwardly watching the father-daughter pair leave with determined strides. He felt somewhat embarrassed, afraid of neglecting Sun Xi.

Ge Fan laughed awkwardly to explain: “Our family is like this, every single one of them has a hot temper. Don’t take it personally.” Turning his head, he caught a glimpse of the person beside him, who had remained silent throughout, seeming to give a cold laugh.

That cold laugh vanished in an instant, returning to his usual indifference, showing not the slightest emotion: “It’s fine, Brother Fan.”

This address of “Brother Fan” instantly soothed Ge Fan’s unease. Although he had only shared drinks twice with this not-so-friendly-looking peer, his impression of him was extremely deep—admiration wouldn’t be too strong a word. Moreover, Ge Fan was only a month older than him, yet he called him “brother” in public and private, which made him feel rather embarrassed.

I’m making this brother my friend for sure, Ge Fan thought, pushing that pitcher of dark beer in front of Sun Xi and patting his shoulder.

Sun Xi smiled with pursed lips, then turned his head slightly to look out the window, catching sight of a slender figure gliding past like a feather.

Yu Jiuqi walked with her head down, following Yu Kaixuan’s footsteps toward Wendu Water Resort. The food street wasn’t far from the city center—just about ten minutes on foot—but somehow, the way back seemed extraordinarily long and torturous compared to the way there.

Reaching the street corner, Yu Kaixuan suddenly stopped, turned around, his face reddened by the cold wind even more serious. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke heavily.

He asked directly: “Has he contacted you?”

Yu Jiuqi suddenly understood why time felt so long—because she had been waiting all along for her dad to turn around and ask her this question. Knowing she couldn’t escape, she answered decisively: “No.”

“He came back and hasn’t contacted you even once?” Yu Kaixuan looked at Xiao Jiu.

“Dad, how is that possible?” Xiao Jiu smiled, as if she’d heard a ridiculous joke, deliberately teasing, “Why would he contact me? To apply for a credit card, or to get bath tickets?”

“You didn’t know he came back?”

“I didn’t know.”

“You’ve had no contact at all?”

“None.”

“Then between you two in the past…”

Yu Jiuqi suddenly interrupted him: “Dad, that was all from when we were kids.”

Yu Kaixuan stared at Xiao Jiu for a while. Although her face showed no guilt as if her conscience was clear, Brother Erkai could still see she was carrying a heavy stone in her heart, lying through her teeth.

Yu Kaixuan really wanted to continue interrogating Xiao Jiu, wanted to ask her that if she had nothing to hide, why did she have Xu Ming find ways to get him back from such a distance? If he couldn’t see through her little schemes, Brother Erkai would have wasted all these years.

The cold wind swept up a layer of fine snow floating on the snow pile at the street corner, drifting between the father and daughter before dispersing. Yu Jiuqi shrank her neck, took her hands out of her pockets to cover her face, and blinked at her dad imploringly, as if begging for mercy.

Yu Kaixuan sighed, finally only saying: “If he really bothers you, tell Dad.”

“I know.” Xiao Jiu’s nose suddenly felt inexplicably sore. She lowered her head and walked ahead, “Let’s go quickly, I’m freezing to death.”

Yu Kaixuan had no intention of lowering his guard. He still vividly remembered that accident from years ago and would never let history repeat itself under any circumstances.

It had been a full nine years now. Why had he come back?

Some shop had splashed water at their entrance, forming a patch of ice. Yu Kaixuan grabbed Xiao Jiu, who nearly slipped, and suddenly felt it necessary to find out why that kid had returned.

Coincidentally, Xiao Jiu, who had nearly slipped, was also pondering the same question at this moment. She gradually recovered from the series of unexpected situations just now, wondering about him getting so close to Ge Fan right after returning. Would Ge Fan know something?

The next afternoon, Ge Fan contacted Xiao Jiu first, asking if she had time in the evening to help shoot a video.

Yu Jiuqi didn’t see the message until she was about to get off work. After thinking about it, she replied: **[Are we still shooting at your KTV?]**

Besides being the manager of Shicheng’s largest KTV, Ge Fan was also a good-looking comedy content creator who had recently emerged in the short video realm.

Ge Fan only settled in Shicheng with Meng Huihong when he was in his teens. At that time, he had just graduated from middle school with dismal graduation results. Meng Huihong pulled strings and spent money to transfer him to Shicheng No. 2 Middle School, but after studying for over a year, he was advised to leave on the grounds that his combined scores in three major subjects for three consecutive exams didn’t reach one hundred points. Knowing he wasn’t cut out for studying, Meng Huihong sent Ge Fan to Shandong to learn technical skills.

In just three or four years, Ge Fan experienced every major offered at that famous national vocational school, spent quite a bit of money, caused quite a bit of trouble, but in the end didn’t bring back even half a diploma.

Not only did he not bring back a diploma, he almost didn’t make it back himself.

Yu Jiuqi remembered that autumn evening when Aunt Hong received a landline call from a Shandong area code, then rushed off overnight with Yu Kaixuan on a train. They didn’t bring Ge Fan back until half a month later. As for what exactly happened there, the three of them tacitly kept silent about it.

After returning, Ge Fan was depressed for a while, spending his days hanging around the KTV upstairs from Wendu Water Resort. His social media was full of nightlife—smoking, drinking, clubbing. Aunt Hong was anxious and angry, even beat him, and secretly arranged to find him a proper job. But one day, Ge Fan suddenly distributed business cards to everyone with great spirit, saying he had been hired by the KTV as a supervisor at a high salary.

Later, in just one year, he rose from supervisor to KTV manager, with several thousand customers in his WeChat, and whenever something came up, people would come by the carload at his call. In Shicheng, he was at least a Brother Fan who could make things work.

Brother Fan’s most frequently quoted phrase was “everyone has their own ambitions.” When drunk, he once put his arm around Xiao Jiu’s neck and said: “Your brother doesn’t have much ability. No, you could say he’s nothing at all. Your brother’s secret to success is just two words: happiness!”

“I’m happy, and I can also make others happy. What do people live for? Isn’t it just to be happy?” Then he turned to seriously ask, “Are you happy, Xiao Jiu?”

Yu Jiuqi laughed and nodded along, saying: “I’m happy, why wouldn’t I be happy?”

Ge Fan observed her with drunk eyes for a long time before shaking his head: “No, you’re not happy.”

Xiao Jiu didn’t argue with him, just smiled: “Then teach me what happiness means?”

At that time, they were celebrating Yu Kaixuan’s birthday in the KTV, and all the adults had collapsed drunk. Ge Fan swayed to his feet, his drunken eyes bleary as he straightened the suit he had specially ordered from overseas, walked to the song selection station, chose a song, and sat down under the lights with a serious expression. He picked up the microphone and earnestly said that the next song was dedicated to his sister.

But as soon as the prelude started and the suona began, Yu Jiuqi laughed. She used her phone to record a video of Ge Fan.

She forwarded that video to Ge Fan, who thought he looked quite handsome in it and posted it on his Douyin account. Unexpectedly, two days later, that video went viral.

The trending topic and the top comments were all related to one phrase—**#Northeast Boss#**

The serious handsome guy in a suit with drunken eyes one second, the next second singing local opera in a stilted voice with rising and falling tones, singing especially flamboyantly, even shaking his head and winking at the camera when excited—this pure contrast of restrained style caused Ge Fan to gain tens of thousands of followers overnight.

Ge Fan was very excited, not because of the economic benefits behind the traffic, but because he was genuinely proud to bring happiness to so many people. He read through all the comments over and over again and decided to selflessly continue delivering this happiness to everyone.

Since then, he had filmed several more videos in the Northeast Boss series. Xiao Jiu became his photographer, sometimes appearing on camera with her face covered or conversing with him using a voice changer. The protagonist was always that narcissistic boss with unique taste and obvious accent who constantly posed and showed off.

Their two videos with the best data: one showed Ge Fan in a sharp suit standing in a lush green field, confidently looking into the distance before slowly turning to the camera, using the most domineering posture to say the most rustic words: “These few acres of corn fields are all ours, how about it, satisfied?”

Another showed the female lead played by Xiao Jiu being pushed by a passerby. Ge Fan suddenly rushed over, catching Xiao Jiu with an elegant and agile figure, then frowned at the camera with a cold expression saying: “What are you doing? Who allowed you to shove her? Are your hands itching for a beating?”

However, the combined data of these two videos didn’t match that of the KTV one. Ge Fan was very puzzled by this, speculating that fans were still reminiscing about his performance at the KTV.

So Yu Jiuqi thought today’s shoot would be at the KTV, and because of an unspeakable curiosity, she was even looking forward to shooting at the KTV. But after a few minutes, Ge Fan sent her the address of a café.

**[Come here, today the boss is shooting a mukbang.]**

**[Eating what?]**

**[You’ll know when you get here.]**

The Northeast Boss’s mukbang was naturally different from ordinary people. On the way, Ge Fan briefly went over the script with Xiao Jiu. Because the café owner only agreed to let them shoot for half an hour, they had to race against time and get to work as soon as they arrived.

Ge Fan wasn’t wearing a suit today but had on a Prada black lightweight down jacket from who knows where. He wore light makeup, with his usual watch and gold-rimmed glasses. Paired with that carefully trimmed buzz cut, sitting in front of exquisite steak salad and macaron petit fours, he really did look like a tasteful boss through the camera lens.

Xiao Jiu aimed her phone’s viewfinder at his face and made an OK gesture. In the camera, the boss looked at the dinner before him, raised an eyebrow critically, and questioned: “You’re giving me this to eat?”

Xiao Jiu pinched her voice and asked: “Then what would the CEO like to eat?”

The boss threw down his knife and fork: “This won’t go with rice. Get me some dipping sauce vegetables!”

In the next shot, Xiao Jiu, playing the server, placed a large plate of authentic red and green vegetable platter and two small dishes of different sauces in front of him.

Then, the boss elegantly speared a cucumber section with his fork, dipped it in egg sauce, put it in his mouth, and finally smiled with satisfaction: “I just like eating dipping sauce vegetables!”

He then used dried tofu to roll up some scallion leaves and dandelion greens, and after eating, smiled even more brightly: “And this stuff!”

“Delicious!”

After filming, both were very satisfied. They ordered two more drinks and ate the Western food, cakes, and dipping sauce vegetables used for filming as dinner. Ge Fan edited the video while eating, finally adding music and freezing on his best-angled smile before posting it.

This video edited with **”#Just Like Eating Dipping Sauce Vegetables #Northeast Boss #Good-Looking Host#”** had just been published when it immediately received many likes and comments.

Ge Fan stared at the rows of surging comments, buried his head in passionately replying one by one. Yu Jiuqi sat across from him, eating a cucumber section on her own, looking out the window at the coming and going pedestrians, lost in thought.

After a while, she suddenly heard Ge Fan casually say: “The fans really know their stuff, they’re all praising how good-looking this jacket is.”

“It is nice.” Xiao Jiu glanced at the designer down jacket he was wearing. The dark red inverted triangle metal logo on the chest was quite obvious, the material visibly lightweight, yet the silhouette was fitted and crisp—it didn’t look fake. She asked him, “Where’d you get it?”

“Borrowed it from Sun Xi.”

Yu Jiuqi suddenly felt dazed for a moment, but instantly recovered, realizing this was a golden opportunity. She naturally said: “How did you two meet? At the KTV?”

“Yeah, he came to drink with Old Wang.” Ge Fan said with his head down, “Old Wang called me over too, that’s how we met.”

Yu Jiuqi knew Old Wang was Ge Fan’s boss Wang Heyuan, a social wheeler-dealer, but didn’t remember Sun Xi having dealings with him in the past: “What did he want with your boss?”

“To get something done. His uncle’s project had an accident, and our boss could put in a word.” Ge Fan raised an eyebrow, praising, “Very sincere about it! Old Wang likes people who can drink and know how to handle things. Sun Xi had a bad cold that day but didn’t flinch at all, risked his life drinking with them for two all-nighters. I really admire that.”

Yu Jiuqi stared at Ge Fan’s face, pausing for a long time before finding the key point to continue asking: “What project of his uncle’s?”

“Seems like supplying building materials to a mall. They say he took kickbacks from it, which led to the first floor collapsing. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the mall demanded two million.” Ge Fan was still replying to comments on his phone, “Isn’t Old Wang the brother-in-law of that mall? He could put in a word.”

“Which mall?”

“Which one could it be? Fu’an, of course!”

Fu’an Mall was Shicheng’s largest chain mall, and also Little Boss Fu’s mall.

Yu Jiuqi’s thoughts were extremely confused. Just then, a flash of light appeared before her eyes. Her phone on the table vibrated once. She picked it up—it was a system notification that a WeChat transfer had been returned.

That remaining 811.25 yuan of hers—Sun Xi hadn’t accepted it.

Xiao Jiu stared at that reminder notification, her thoughts gradually becoming clearer, allowing her to clearly recall the scene in the short private room of the cold noodle restaurant, Little Boss Fu’s determined expression when mentioning marrying Wen Wen, and that statement about the Sun family.

He had said: Her enemy is my enemy.