-
"You've met the Second Young Master of the Yang family. What do you think? He seems pretty good to me. Standing together with Koukou, they look like a golden couple." Madam Bai said cheerfully as they walked, speaking intimately.
But Lu Tingzhou didn't find them compatible at all. He tilted his head slightly, his glance cold as ice. "Is that so?"
His tone carried a hint of chill.
Detecting the unusual undertone, Madam Bai sensed an odd atmosphere between the siblings ever since he returned, an indescribable feeling. Yet, looking at her son's stern and dignified side profile, she dismissed the thought.
Lu Tingzhou appeared calm on the surface, but inside, a storm was raging. Jealousy and possessiveness threatened to overwhelm him. Still, he maintained his composure—steady, impeccably dressed, every move radiating an irresistible charm.
Cheng Buxi remained oblivious, her mind preoccupied with waiting for Ning Ci's reply. She was also relieved she had dressed up today before going out; otherwise, she'd have been criticized. After all, appearance was a reflection of refinement and politeness.
Her only regret was letting down Ning Ci. She secretly resolved to make it up to him later. The thought made her heart itch like a cat's claw, and she let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
She could almost predict what would happen next: they'd be arranged to spend time alone together.
Lost in thought, she walked with her head down, not noticing her brother suddenly stop in front of her. She bumped straight into his firm chest—
His custom suit was made of a coarse, stiff English tweed. Having just rushed over from the office, he still carried a faint, delicate fragrance that didn't suit his demeanor, likely picked up from a flirtatious female guest at a business dinner.
Rubbing her bumped forehead, she looked up instinctively, meeting a face so handsome it was flawless from any angle.
"..."
Her brother's brows were heavy, his eyelashes low, as if he had something to say.
Confused, Cheng Buxi thought she might have done something wrong. She timidly called out, "...Brother?"
He didn't answer, just stood there silently, his face cold as ice, lips slightly pursed, showing no sign of moving.
Madam Bai called out to him, "Tingzhou, don't block your sister."
Then she turned to the youngest, who was overshadowed by her brother's tall figure: "Koukou, it's still early. Go have a coffee with Second Young Master Yang at the café next door."
"..."
Cheng Buxi's dark eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected her adoptive mother to be so direct, without any preamble, practically spelling out 'matchmaking.'
Not far away, the Yang mother and son seemed to be discussing the same thing. Cheng Buxi looked at the Second Young Master Yang, who also glanced her way. Neither of them was willing, but facing the pressure from the elders, it was hard to refuse.
-
Yiguan was located at 331 Gongfu Jing Street. The most famous spot nearby was the Peninsula Hotel, where afternoon tea cost four figures. The area was filled with luxury flagship stores like Hermès and Louis Vuitton, but the entrance of this tailor shop was very low-key, with no retail channels available. Appointments required connections and asset verification. It went without saying that the capital behind such a prime location was immense.
Next door was a newly opened café with a name written in latte art English letters: Dream Come True.
Cheng Buxi silently repeated it twice: Dream Come True, Dream Come True. What a wonderful name.
Since both mothers wanted to play matchmaker and the pattern sample still needed time to be made, they naturally arranged for the two youngsters to go have a drink and chat.
Cheng Buxi and Second Young Master Yang had actually met once before, when they were very young, at the Shen family's estate. Back then, Old Master Shen was celebrating his 70th birthday and had invited almost all the prominent families. The two were only about eight or nine years old.
Boys matured later. At the time, Second Young Master Yang was shorter than Cheng Buxi.
Cheng Buxi had a good memory and remembered him slightly. A little boy led by a nanny, with the trendy chestnut haircut of the time, walked in silently and reservedly, like a proud peacock.
His shirt was dazzlingly white, with an untouchable air. His cold temperament was completely different from her brother's. A little girl always followed him around like glue.
Seeing him now, he wasn't as cold and aloof as in childhood.
As for Second Young Master Yang, he had no memory of her at all.
To put it nicely, they kept the peace; to put it bluntly, neither cared about the other.
They were both just over twenty; who would care about whom?
...
Meanwhile, on the second floor of Yiguan, there was an open-air island platform, a corner forgotten by the designer, rarely visited. Weeds grew along the railing. The island had a few marble tables and scattered woven rattan chairs, intended for resting customers ordering custom clothes—clearly not very practical.
But if one sat there and looked down, they could almost see everything happening in the café next door.
The doorman clearly understood Lu Tingzhou's intentions. He brought him a cup of brewed Qimen Hongcha and carefully wiped clean the dusty chairs and tabletop.
Once seated, he could clearly see what was happening in the café.
Across the round table, a person sat boldly, someone he had happened to run into.
The newcomer was flamboyant and spirited, exuding an effortless sense of relaxation and high profile. "I say, Tingzhou, that little sister of yours—when I first saw her, she was just a little bun, incredibly timid, not close to anyone, only willing to cling to you. She's grown up and blossomed."
Meeting an old friend, a childhood playmate, Young Master Ji clearly saw through something. He sat with him on the open-air island, acting as a human surveillance camera.
But when he shifted his gaze to examine the aloof, frosty man opposite him—stunningly beautiful and immensely powerful, sitting in such a place, if it were more lavishly decorated, anyone might think he was there for pleasure.
Young Master Ji was naturally unrestrained, speaking without restraint. "This Second Young Master Yang just returned from abroad. Your old lady sure moved fast."
"Hey—these two aren't saying a word, just acting out a silent play?"
Lu Tingzhou stared at that table the whole time, not saying a word.
She really did move fast. He came back yesterday and was brought to this meeting today.
In his view, the two were already seated, looking so beautiful and eye-catching that they seemed in a different dimension from everyone else. No wonder his mother had said what she did.
Second Young Master Yang was impeccably dressed, every inch of him seeming to scream 'noble,' 'aloof,' 'keep away.' By contrast, Cheng Buxi appeared submissive and gentle, with no hint of aggression.
Her outfit, originally chosen for meeting Ning Ci, made her look pure and ethereal. But Second Young Master Yang could tell from the cut that it was a style from a few years ago.