Slowly Falling For Changkong

Chapter 17

During the next two days, Xiang ChangKong didn’t receive a single order from Xu Lian. He was relieved, but at the same time, confused.

He didn’t see Xu Lian, but he did see Wei YiChen.

He didn’t know Wei YiChen’s name, but he did see him three times already around Xu Lian’s store, so he recognized him.

He wore the same black leather motorcycle jacket, two prominent studs on his right ear, and was sitting in a coffee shop with a beautiful girl.

Xiang ChangKong had come to the coffee shop to pick up an order. He didn’t go to coffee shops very often, but he did know that this place was famous for being a matchmaking meetup. Every time he passed by, he could see different men and women sitting together.

He looked towards Wei YiChen’s direction and slightly frowned. Was Wei YiChen here to meet with a woman? Isn’t he…Xu Lian’s boyfriend?

Wei YiChen really was here for a blind date. When he fled the country because of the last blind date attempt, his father grew furious. Wei YiChen had wanted to stay away until everything blew over, but then Xu Lian’s store was trashed, so he quickly came back. The moment he stepped out of the plane, the Wei family started keeping a very close eye on him. So after cleaning Xu Lian’s store, he hardly left the confines of his family home.

Sitting opposite him right now was Uncle Nie’s daughter, Nie Lei.

To be fair, Nie Lei really was a very excellent girl. She was beautiful and had a high education. After chatting with her for a bit, Wei YiChen also found that she was an independent person with her own thoughts. Wei YiChen appreciated this aspect of hers, but that was it.

There are thousands of excellent girls in the world. He can’t like them all.

“Oh by the way, Uncle Wei said you were sick, are you better now?” Nie Lei took a sip of her coffee and looked at Wei YiChen.

Wei YiChen smiled and replied: “You’re pretty smart. You don’t really believe my father’s words do you?”

Nie Lei’s lips hooked up, and she didn’t answer.

Wei YiChen commented: “You’re a really great girl, if you really wanted a boyfriend you certainly wouldn’t need to waste your time waiting for me. Truthfully, I already have someone I like. That’s why I didn’t attend our previous blind date.”

Nei Lei wasn’t surprised. Wei YiChen was a popular guy, it was normal for him to have a girl he liked. She came to this date only because her parents had asked her to. She came here with the attitude of merely completing a task and then going home.

She also heard a lot of rumors about Wei YiChen, so she was curious. Maybe it was because she had simply followed her parent’s roadmap and diligently studied ever since she was a child. All her life, she already knew what her future would look like, so she had been interested in the Wei YiChen, who constantly broke the rules.

But well, since he said everything out in the open, she no longer wanted to waste her time. “I understand. I’ll tell my father that we’re not really suitable for each other.”

Wei YiChen smiled at her and said: “Thank you.”

Nei Lei looked at his sunny expression and said: “Smile at me like that again, and maybe I’ll change my mind.”

Wei YiChen: “…”

After leaving the coffee shop, Wei YiChen took advantage of this rare freedom and went to Starlight Park to find Xu Lian. Meanwhile, Xu Lian was putting the finishing touches on her final order. After this, she could immediately deliver them, finally giving her at least two days of free time.

When Wei YiChen arrived, Xu Lian was taking care of the many plants and flowers in her store. After her Anthurium got injured the last time, she had consciously taken more care of it. She was afraid that if she didn’t pay serious attention to it, she would accidentally feed it to death.

Wei YiChen slowly tiptoed towards her from behind, wanting to surprise her. But as soon as he got close, Xu Lian had turned around with a shovel in her hands. “What are you trying to do?”

“…” Wei YiChen’s hands drew a big arc, and pretending to stretch, he said: “Nothing, nothing, just wanted to exercise for a bit.”

“Do you need to that in here?” Xu Lian asked, deadpan.

“No….” He followed Xu Lian as she went to the cash register. With a smile, he asked: “Are you free tonight? I’ll treat you to some dinner.”

Xu Lian looked up at him and replied: “I don’t want to. It’s Sunday, so a lot of people are going out.”

“Then how about tomorrow?”

“Can you even go out tomorrow?” Wei YiChen had been low-key nowadays. When she thought about it, Xu Lian figured it was because his family was keeping an eye on him.

Wei YiChen sneered. “I go when and where I want to go. Who can stop me, ah?”

Xu Lian tilted her head and looked behind him. “Those two men in black probably can.”

Wei YiChen turned around and frowned. It was the bodyguards his father had hired for him. They were responsible for keeping an eye on him, and unexpectedly, they found him.

But whatever, his motorcycle could outrun any car they had.

Wei YiChen looked back at Xu Lian and said: “I’ll take you out to play after I settle things with my family.”

Then after putting his hands in his jean pockets, he left.

Zhang GuoEr soon arrived and passed the departing Wei YiChen. Seeing his pitiful look, she took out her little notebook and wrote a few things before entering the store. She then took a small red box from her backpack and handed it to Xu Lian: “Boss, this is for you.”

Xu Lian looked at the box. On the red packaging were large Arabic numbers and the words ‘ultra-thin’.

Xu Lian silently gave her a pointed stare. Zhang GuoEr couldn’t stand the weight of the stare and exclaimed: “It was a local product my friend brought back from her trip to Japan!”

Xu Lian: “…”

What an amazing local specialty.

“She said it’s super thin, and it moisturizing too!”

Xu Lian: “…”

Zhang GuoEr shyly explained: “But I’m still a baby, so I can’t use that kind of thing. I thought I’d give it to you instead.”

“I can’t use this either.” Xu Lian gave the box back to her then left to go up the studio on the second floor. Zhang GuoEr curled her mouth, then ran to the lounge and stuffed the box into Xu Lian’s bag.

Later, when Xu Lian came home from work, she opened her handbag, only to see the red box inside, right on top.

She was silent for a few seconds, calmly moved the box aside, then took out her home keys and opened the door.

After cooking and eating a simple bowl of noodles, Xu Lian went to her workshop to start packing some gift boxes. Because she didn’t have any other hire, she did everything from making the candles to packaging the gift boxes herself.

The printing factory had already sent over 200 sets of gift boxes. Each looked exactly the same and was as big as a handbag. Xu Lian and Zhang GuoEr had packed everything into her car, and then she brought them home. Each gift box would have two scented candles, a gypsum board, and two honeycomb wax sticks. Xu Lian managed to pack 30 gift boxes before stopping to check the time.

It was half-past eleven.

The bowl of noodles that she had cooked didn’t fill her up very much. Xu Lian’s brain was telling her that eating at such a late hour would make her fat, but she still unconsciously reached for her mobile phone and opened the takeout app.

They should still do deliveries at this time, right?

The takeout app had prudently displayed several late-night snake stores. She looked for a while, then ordered 20 barbecue sticks. She didn’t waste time writing a note. After Xiang ChangKong told her that the orders were given to them in an automated system, she stopped writing notes in her orders.

Xiang ChangKong was currently on the night shift. When he saw the company’s system message him Xu Lian’s order, his hands slowed. He thought he had been safe when he didn’t get a single order from Xu Lian this afternoon. Unexpectedly, she still placed an order so late in the night.

He looked at the order. She bought food in a nearby barbecue place, and all the dishes were meat.

Eating so many greasy foods this late? Girls don’t eat at night, do they?

He put his phone away and rode his scooter to the barbecue place. He had been very cautious these past two days, especially during peak times, because he had been worried about what he should do or say if he ever received an order from Xu Lian.

But well, as long as he continued to deliver takeout, and as long as Xu Lian continued to order takeout, he couldn’t hide from her forever.

The problem was with him and his thoughts.

After getting Xu Lian’s takeout, Xiang ChangKong drove to Xu Lian’s neighborhood and to the address written in the order. He had delivered a lot of meals to Xu Lian already, but this was the first time he was delivering something to her house.

Since it was late at night, the security detail was more strict. But seeing Xiang ChangKong’s familiar face, the security man let him without too much trouble. Speaking of which, the security in Xu Lian’s neighborhood was pretty good. In other places, while there were a few young men doing security guard jobs, they would often be in and out as they found better jobs. In the end, the guards would eventually become retired elders.

But in Xu Lian’s neighborhood, most of the security guards were veterans. Despite being a small neighborhood, it was pretty secure.

Xu Lian lived at building 8, at a prime spot. Not only was she in the middle floor, but she wasn’t living in between two neighbors. Building 8 was a six-story building, and Xu Lian lived on the fourth floor. When Xiang ChangKong entered, a resident was going on the elevator, so he just followed them in.

The resident in the elevator with him looked at him and asked: “It’s already midnight, and someone’s still ordering takeout? It’s been hard on you.”

Xiang ChangKong smiled and replied: “We get different shifts. And we only deliver until 3:00 a.m.”

“That’s still quite hard.” The resident sighed and left the elevator on the third floor. Xiang ChangKong stayed until the fourth floor, then finally arrived at apartment 402.

Although he tried to psych himself up the entire way to Xu Lian’s house, he still couldn’t help but get nervous. Finally, he took a deep breath, and rang Xu Lian’s doorbell.

Xu Lian quickly came to her front door and saw Xiang ChangKong standing outside. After a second of hesitation, she blurted: “Xiang ChangKong, it’s you.”

Xu Lian had written ‘Xiang ChangKong’ in many of her orders, but she had never actually said his name out loud right in front of him. When Xu Lian said his name, Xiang ChangKong’s heart practically leaped out of his chest. She only needed to say his name, and he was already a mess.

“Well, well, ah, hello, your order is here.” Xiang ChangKong struggled to lift a corner of his mouth and raised his hand to pass Xu Lian’s order to her.

“Thank you.” Xu Lian took the delivery, but didn’t immediately go inside. She looked at Xiang ChangKong and asked: “You’re still delivering food this late?”

Xiang ChangKong blinked. “Well, I’m on the night shift today. I don’t get off until midnight.”

“I see.” Xu Lian held the takeout in her hand and leaned against the doorframe. She looked at Xiang ChangKong for a long time. “Do you want to come in and sit down?”

“No, no, no.” Xiang ChangKong’s tone was urgent. “”Our company has strict regulations with that sort of thing. We’re not allowed to enter a customer’s home while delivering food.”

Xu Lian took out her phone from her pocket and turned it on. The number on the screen jumped from 23:59 to 00:00.

“You’re off work now.” Xu Lian said, pointing the phone screen towards Xiang ChangKong.

***

Xiang ChangKong CANNOT catch a break LOL