Chapter Eighty: Getting Better and Better

Early the next morning, Li Mengya woke up with the dawn, sunlight streaming in through the window. She stretched languidly, instantly feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

Still in her pajamas, Li Mengya wandered into the living room and saw Jiang Yun in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

Jiang Yun’s face was dark and sullen, with two pronounced dark circles under his eyes, looking absolutely miserable.

Li Mengya was startled by Jiang Yun’s appearance.

She stepped into the kitchen. “Jiang Yun, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

Jiang Yun shook his head, kept his gloomy expression, and continued cooking in silence.

“Jiang Yun, what’s really going on with you?”

He still wore the same dark expression.

Li Mengya frowned, trying not to laugh at the sight but unable to hide her curiosity. “Come on! Just tell me what’s wrong. Stop keeping me in suspense!”

“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that you snore when you sleep?”

Li Mengya was mortified—so that was it!

After breakfast, Jiang Yun was about to leave when Li Mengya called out, “Jiang Yun~” in a pleading tone.

“What is it?” Jiang Yun asked.

“Could you stay with me for one more day?”

“But…” Jiang Yun looked at her expectant face and couldn’t bring himself to refuse. The recording of ‘The Voice’ wasn’t until tomorrow, so after a moment’s thought, he agreed. “Alright, I’ll stay for one more day!”

“Yay!” Li Mengya leapt up in delight.

Jiang Yun got ready to call Li Lulu. As soon as the call connected, the loud voice on the line made him pull the phone away from his ear.

Li Lulu’s sharp voice came through. “Boss, where did you go yesterday? You dared not come home, and you didn’t reply to your messages! I thought you’d died!”

Jiang Yun rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed. “How’s the company? Is everything going well?”

“I thought you didn’t care about the company anymore! Everything’s great—since I’m here, everything runs smoothly!”

Jiang Yun offered a word of comfort. “Thank you for your hard work.”

On the other end, Li Lulu immediately lost her edge. “Hmph!”

After breakfast, Jiang Yun watched as Li Mengya put on an orange sweater, black pants, and white canvas shoes, her long legs accentuated by the outfit.

“Why aren’t you wearing the navy blue dress from yesterday?”

“I’m not wearing it anymore. Whenever I do, your eyes keep wandering all over me!”

Jiang Yun was mortified.

He rubbed his nose. “Alright then.”

They made their way to the underground parking lot, opened the car doors, and got into the yellow Beetle.

The yellow Beetle slowly rolled out of the parking lot.

“Where to?” Jiang Yun asked.

“Let’s go see a movie first, then have lunch, then visit the aquarium. After the aquarium, we’ll have dinner.”

“Looks like you had it all planned out. I can’t help but wonder if you plotted this since yesterday,” Jiang Yun teased.

Li Mengya flashed a mysterious smile.

They arrived at the Oscar Cinema and bought tickets for the hottest film at the moment, “Hualan.”

This was a film directed by Westerners but telling an Eastern story.

Jiang Yun carried an ice cream in one hand and a bucket of popcorn in the other, trailing behind Li Mengya.

They entered the theater, found their seats, and settled in.

The film began. It opened with a young girl standing in a field, the scene describing her lively and mischievous nature.

Then, the girl grew up, reached marriageable age, and caused trouble during matchmaking.

Soon after, the story depicted an invasion by foreign tribes, and the emperor issued a decree to recruit soldiers.

Hualan enlisted in her father’s place, and the narrative built up to an avalanche…

Jiang Yun found himself nodding off.

“Jiang Yun? Jiang Yun?”

“Huh? What is it?” Jiang Yun wiped away imaginary drool.

Li Mengya was annoyed. The movie was over, and he had slept through the whole thing.

“Nothing, the movie’s finished!”

“Oh, alright, let’s go have lunch!”

They left the cinema, but Li Mengya seemed sullen.

“Mengya, what’s wrong?”

“Was it that boring to watch a movie with me?”

“Well…”

“No, it’s just the movie was boring!”

Li Mengya shot him a look. “You slept through the whole thing. Is this how you accompany someone to the movies?”

Jiang Yun smiled awkwardly. “Come on, let’s get lunch! It won’t happen again!”

“Hmph!” Li Mengya stalked off haughtily.

Jiang Yun followed quietly behind.

After lunch, they went straight to the aquarium.

By four in the afternoon, the two of them returned to Panhai Garden.

At Li Mengya’s home, Jiang Yun collapsed onto the sofa. “So tired!”

“Serves you right!”

After a short rest, Jiang Yun started making dinner.

“Woohoo!”

From outside the kitchen came Li Mengya’s excited cheer.

“Jiang Yun! Jiang Yun!” she called, bustling into the kitchen.

Jiang Yun, spatula in hand, asked, “What is it?”

“Feiyu Entertainment is being investigated, and General Manager Zhang Dawei has been summoned for questioning!”

“Oh, is that all?”

“You don’t seem surprised at all, Jiang Yun!”

“Didn’t I tell you yesterday that you’d hear the news in a day or two?”

Li Mengya frowned, puzzled. She had thought Jiang Yun was just trying to comfort her yesterday.

“Was this your doing?” she asked.

Jiang Yun smiled without answering.

After dinner, with everything cleaned up, it was only just past eight.

They sat together to watch the fifth episode of “Yearning for Life.”

The guests in this episode were Hu Ge, Peng Chang, and Zhang Feng.

The program showed Jiang Yun at home, while Huang Kang and He Ling went to help farmers pick apples.

Ring, ring, ring!

Jiang Yun answered the phone with practiced ease. “Who’s this?”

“It’s Zhang Feng.”

“Hello, Zhang Feng!”

“Hello, Senior Jiang Yun!”

“What dish would you like to order?” Jiang Yun asked.

“I’d like shredded potatoes!”

“No, that’s too simple. You have to choose something more challenging!” By this point in the series, Jiang Yun understood the show’s format.

“Alright then, I’ll order Beggar’s Chicken!”

Jiang Yun replied in a tone of approval, “Now you’re talking!”

He went on to receive two more calls, and under his persuasion, the other guests ordered roast suckling pig and whole roasted lamb.

When Huang Kang returned and heard the orders, he was dizzy and nearly keeled over.

Of course, whole roasted lamb and roast suckling pig were impossible to make on set, so they were replaced with other dishes.

In the end, only Beggar’s Chicken was made.

Huang Kang had to work hard for that one.

After dinner, the six of them cleaned up.

The next day, they helped the farmers pick apples.

At lunchtime, at the director’s request, Jiang Yun played a piano piece, “Nocturne.”

After dinner, they played games.

The episode ended with farewells the following day.

Jiang Yun switched off the TV—it was already past ten.

“Jiang Yun, when does your contract on ‘Yearning for Life’ end?”

“Seven more episodes to go.”

“And ‘The Voice’?”

“After tomorrow’s recording, nine more episodes remain.”

“Oh,” Li Mengya nodded.

“Why are you asking?”

“No reason. I’m just amazed at how much your career has taken off,” Li Mengya said.

“Pfft!”

Jiang Yun chuckled. “Then let me tell you something else!”

“What is it?” Li Mengya asked curiously.

“Come here!” Jiang Yun beckoned her to come closer.

Li Mengya leaned in.

Jiang Yun bent to her ear and whispered, “I’ve also been cast as the lead in the ‘Fighting the Horse and Sky’ drama!”