THE CEO's LOVE 103 A Good Eater

Qingran was doubtful. "Mom, what are you trying to say?"

Xueyan closed her eyes. "You don't seem to believe me, do you?"

Qingran nodded. "No!" Her firm answer made Xueyan's mouth drop. She then pointed at herself, "Really? You really don't believe me?"

Qingran nodded again. Xueyan was speechless.

She said nothing about it again and they headed out .

"Mom, where are we going to?" Qingran asked, a little bit excited.

"We are eating out today," Xueyan announced. "Really?" Qingran asked. "So I get to eat anything I want. Like, red braised pork belly, dongpo pork, steaming mix pudding, I also want boiled fish with pickled cabbage."

Xueyan smiled. "Sure, anything you want. Just don't over stuff your stomach." Xueyan warned.

Outside their main gate, they waved a taxi down and told him their destination.

The street they arrived at had a lot of food vendors. Xueyan made a stop in front of a restaurant, it had simple decoration and had a lot of customers inside and behind. The owner were middle aged couple.

The back was already filled up, hotpots were served. And fire to cook meat.

"Ma'am, please hold on a minute. Let me clear a table for you." The waiter said and went ahead to clean a table.

It was a low table, and two stools.

"Say, what do you want?" Xueyan told Qingran after they were seated.

"I want," Qingran hesitated for a while. "Boiled fish with pickled cabbage, steamed pork, dongpo pork, mix pudding, red braised pork belly." The waiter nodded and left. "Bring rice noodles too!" Qingran shouted from their table.

The waiter looked back and nodded.

"Can you eat it all?" Xueyan enquired.

"Yes. And many more to come." Qingran beamed.

Xueyan shook her head and ma.s.saged her forehead.

Qingran was eating a lot now, her neckbones covered with a lot of flesh.

It made a light smile appear on her lips.

Soon everything Qingran ordered was served. The waiter asked Xueyan what she wanted.

"Get me..."

"Glutinous rice, wantons u0026 dumplings, skewers, steamed buns and chicken salad." A voice said and the three turned to have a look at who it was.

Xueyan had trouble seeing who it was because the waiter blocked her view. But then the voice registered.

What in the world is he doing he?

"Uncle?" Qingran softly called.

Zhaolin smiled. He bent over and touched her head.

The waiter stood there in a daze, not many people knew this man but with the air swirling around him was enough to hold anyone still. "S...sir, let...let me get you a stool." He sprinted out to go get a stool.

Xueyan smile had vanished. "What are you doing here?"

"Mom, let him stay please." Qingran plea surprised not only Xueyan but Zhaolin as well.

Xueyan nearly rolled her eyes at her daughter.

'Why should she allow him stay?'

"I didn't plan on leaving though," Zhaolin said to Qingran and she grinned. He looked around at their surrounding.

"You don't seem to like the environment. It's too dirty, I guess." Xueyan said with a light frown.

"I can manage," the man answer made Xueyan frown spread.

"Uncle, share my stool." Qingran patted her stool.

The waiter came running forward with the stool. "Sir, you can sit here." He put it down. And Zhaolin sat upon it.

Zhaolin thanked the young man. He'd be sure to reward him. He wasn't a dumb server boy.

The phone in his blazer kept vibrating. It was Li Xiangyang trying to get to him. They had both decided to go out, and they did until he saw a taxi drive by with Qingran and Xueyan inside.

He was in the car waiting for Xiangyang to come out from the mall, when he saw the taxi, instincts kicked in and he took another taxi to go after them.

He was some minutes late because the traffic light had turned red after Xueyan's taxi pa.s.sed.

The waiter returned to serve Xueyan with everything Zhaolin had said earlier on.

Xueyan no longer had the appet.i.te to eat.

Qingran ate without a care and Zhaolin would cut meat and put in her plate. All his little gestures made Qingran smile.

*

It was six-thirty and they were still at the restaurant. Qingran had put some meat in a plate and pa.s.sed to Zhaolin. She had also urged her mother to eat and Xueyan took little bites.

"It's getting late, let's go." Xueyan sprang up from her stool.

The other two raised their head up to look at her.

Qingran pouted, "Mom? It's still early." She pointed her little finger to the wall clock. Xueyan didn't look.

"Let's go now. Remember we're going out tomorrow."

"Oh!" Realization downed on the little girl.

"Here you're!" A man in the same blazer as Zhaolin said. "I had thought you were abductee by a bunch of bulky men."

Zhaolin frowned. "How did you find me?"

The other man's attention was totally on Zhaolin. "After the taxi drove you away. I came out looking for you. I asked the guards at the door, no one had seen you. I was so scared, I don't ever want to lose you." He tried to touch Zhaolin but the latter slapped his hand away.

"The taxi driver drove back and saw me crying and brought me here. I took time arriving because the road was closed up by people returning from work... Believe me, I really don't want to lose you." He made an exaggerated cry. And put his hands on his waist, and by the corner of his eyes saw a woman standing. He immediately turned.

"...I know you." He pointed at Xueyan. "Just that I don't..." His eyes widened. He turned to look at Zhaolin then back at Xueyan. He repeated the action three more times and his mouth formed an O. "Bai Xueyan." He suddenly chuckled.

Xueyan wanted to look away but Xiangyang had left Zhaolin side and came standing beside her.

"I am right. It's you."

There was no better explanation why his friend would have disappeared to be with a woman. There was only one woman capable of doing that. Bai Xueyan.

"Whoa!" He was amazed. "You've grown into a very beautiful woman. How can you be this beautiful?"

Xueyan touched her face, she never considered herself beautiful. So whenever someone said she is, she was doubtful. Maybe they had eye issue and Xiangyang was surely saying it not to offend his friend.

"Did you become mute by the pa.s.sing year?" Xiangyang asked and felt a pair of eyes on him. It made sweat form on his temple. "Hahaha, you've really changed."

"Young Master Li," Xueyan smiled and bowed.

"No, no." Xiangyang held her up. "We're in the 21st century... What are you trying to do? Anyways how have you been? Where have you been especially?" Worry on his face. "This guy here became a tsundere after you disappeared. Oh, let's sit."

He darted a look around the table and that was when he saw Qingran. She was discussing with Zhaolin in hushed voice. "Who is she?" Xiangyang asked no one in particular.

Qingran whom was snuggled up in Zhaolin's arm peeked at Xiangyang.

Xueyan's mouth fell open. When did he carry her? They looked like father and daughter. She immediately went forward to pull Qingran to her feet. "What are you doing? Do you want to stain him?" Xueyan scolded. "Look, you didn't even wipe your mouth."

Qingran just stood there and not saying anything.

Xiangyang bent beside her and slowly turned the little girl to face him. "What is your name?"

Qingran didn't say anything.

"She's tired. Stop questioning her." Zhaolin said, a frown on his perfect face. He picked the little girl up again. Xueyan took out wipers and wiped Qingran's mouth.

"She's still a child. And will surely tire out from little things," he was obviously talking to Xueyan. She just glanced at him and back at Qingran. She was wordless. 'Since when had he learnt how to care for kids?'

Xiangyang was still bent with one knee. Who is the little girl? He stood straight. "Xueyan," he turned her to him. "Who is she?"

"Bai Qingran, my daughter."

Xiangyang mouth fell open as his hand holding Xueyan's shoulders dropped. "What in the world? What...what are you saying."

Xiangyang glanced at Zhaolin and his expressionless eyes said he should stop asking.

Xueyan could see the shock on Xiangyang's face, but she didn't want to say more.

"Did you get married?"

"Xiangyang." Zhaolin voice carried with it a trace of anger. "Be quiet!"

Zhaolin stood up and strode to the door with the little girl in his arms, after paying for the food. Xueyan didn't bother arguing with him about the bills. He never did what she said, so she had stopped. Once they got out, "Give me your car keys." Zhaolin said to Xiangyang.

"I don't have them." Xiangyang spread his hands. "I left it at the mall."

Zhaolin gave him a sullen glare. Xueyan stopped a taxi, "Give her to me."

*

By the time they got home, Qingran was already fast asleep. She helped her change into her nightwear and tucked her to bed.

Xueyan phone rang, it was Zhaolin. She hesitated before speaking.

"h.e.l.lo," Zhaolin said. "Have you gotten home?"

"Yes. Its late already, good night." She immediately hung up. Not allowing him to say another word.

Meanwhile Zhaolin was trying to get away from his Xiangyang. The young man had been bugging him nonstop.

"Zhaolin, what do you mean the child is hers? Did she get married? Why are you still after her? She's married with a child and so are you..."

"She isn't his mom." Zhaolin glared at him. "Stop questioning me!"

"Zhao, this is unfair. Since you're married to s.h.i.+ya you can as well forget Xueyan. You're happy enough."

"When did you learn to lecture me?"

"I wasn't lecturing you. Merely advising you." Xiangyang ran forward and blocked Zhaolin from moving forward. "Listen to me Zhao, no one will support you. Everyone in your family likes s.h.i.+ya, and it would only put Xueyan on the spot."

Zhaolin looked over Xiangyang's shoulders and saw Zhihao at the door. He circled Xiangyang and took large strides to the door.

"It's freezing, what are you doing out here?" Zhaolin asked, scooping Zhihao up.

"You close early on Fridays, why are you just returning?"