Taking Liu Yifei back to Northeast China for the Chinese New Year has sent the entire internet into

Liu Yifei pulled out a chair and sat down.

The table was covered with steaming dishes from Northeast China, and even the incandescent light bulbs overhead were fogged up with a frosted glass-like layer of mist.

She didn't rush to respond; her chopsticks went straight for the sweet and sour pork in the middle.

The meat slices made a crisp "crunch" sound when you bit into the outer shell.

The sweet and sour sauce, still warm, coats the tongue, its sweet and sour flavor overpowering the aroma of the meat. After a couple of chews, the meat inside melts in your mouth.

Liu Yifei paused with her chopsticks.

This tastes too familiar.

She had only been away from Mohe for half a month, but she was already craving food as if she hadn't eaten it for months.

I picked up the second piece, dipped it in the rich sauce at the bottom of the plate, and then put the whole piece in my mouth.

His cheeks puffed out as he chewed intently, even his eyebrows moving along with his chewing.

Fang Yu glanced at her from the other side.

Without saying a word, she simply pushed the plate of sweet and sour pork two centimeters closer to her.

The two of them silently ate their meal.

Fang Yu's eating manners were much more uncouth.

After biting into the ribs, you spit the bones into the dish; you can scoop up three or four green beans with one chopstick; and once you've eaten all the white rice, you get up to get a second bowl.

On the way back, I casually added a small half spoonful to Liu Yifei's bowl as well.

It wasn't until half a bowl of white rice was eaten that I finally finished.

Liu Yifei then slowed down.

She put down her chopsticks, picked up the seaweed and egg drop soup, took a sip to smooth her mouth, and leaned back in her chair.

His gaze fell on Fang Yu's face.

"During the day, you absolutely refused to come to my house on the phone."

"Don't bring up private transactions. You can't talk about it on their turf. You're afraid I'll set you up."

Fang Yu didn't respond to that.

He picked up another piece of potato and put it in his mouth, chewing it slowly and deliberately.

Liu Yifei raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"What? Now that it's your home turf, you're not afraid anymore?"

"Should we search me to see if I'm hiding a recording pen or a hidden camera?"

Fang Yu's chopsticks, which were about to pick up food, stopped in mid-air.

He lifted his eyelids to look at her, and his eyes lit up instantly.

"yes."

He put down his chopsticks and clapped his hands.

"How could I have forgotten about that?"

Liu Yifei's smile froze.

He straightened his back instinctively, pressed his spine against the chair back, and put his legs together under the table.

Fang Yu stood up, walked around the dining table, and went to her side.

"Mr. Liu, I'm sorry."

With his left hand behind his back and his right hand raised slightly, he adopted the serious posture of a security inspector.

"Please cooperate with the security check before business negotiations."

Liu Yifei shrank back half an inch, her shoulder blades pressing against the crossbar of the chair back.

"Fang Yu, are you serious?"

Fang Yu bent down, his gaze sweeping over her beige knitted top from top to bottom.

The fabric conforms to the curves of the body, and there are no pockets to hide things in.

He crouched down, his gaze passing over the edge of the table and landing on the side of her jeans.

"You need to check your pockets."

After saying that, he reached out and pressed his left pocket through the denim fabric.

The movements weren't heavy, but the rhythm was very slow.

Two fingers gently slid along the seam of the pocket, as if checking to see if there were any hard objects inside.

Liu Yifei's legs tensed.

My toes gripped the pink pig slippers tightly.

Fang Yu moved to the other side.

The same movements, the same sluggish pace.

"Hmm, not here either."

He looked up at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"The back pockets haven't been checked yet, Mr. Liu, would you like to turn around and cooperate?"

Liu Yifei's ears were burning.

The foot under the table kicked his shin without hesitation.

"Will they investigate further?"

"After you finish investigating, what else would you like to investigate?"

"You've really become addicted to checking things out, haven't you?"

She bit her lower lip and cursed in a low voice.

"rogue."

Fang Yu instinctively dodged backward, nearly hitting his knee on the table leg, his face full of innocence.

"Why are you swearing?"

"Didn't you remind me yourself? My main focus is on safety and compliance."

Liu Yifei grabbed a crumpled tissue from the table and threw it at him.

"Stop being silly, go back to your seat."

Fang Yu turned his head away, stood up, patted his trouser leg, and sat back down opposite him.

Picking up her chopsticks, as if nothing had happened, she took a piece of sweet and sour pork and put it in her mouth.

He chewed twice and swallowed, his face bearing that smug "I'm a decent person" expression.

"The test results show that it is absolutely safe."

"Mr. Liu did not have any prohibited equipment on him."

"Let's get down to business."

Liu Yifei picked up her rice bowl and shoveled two mouthfuls of white rice down her throat, forcing back the surging heat in her heart.

The rice tasted bland in my mouth.

My mind is filled with the feeling of that hand pressing against me through the denim fabric.

She put down the bowl only after the fever on her face subsided a little.

When he spoke again, his tone had returned to its cool and steady manner.

It's as if nothing ever happened.

"OK."

"You said you wanted to invest during the day, but how exactly do you plan to do that?"

Fang Yu said in a very serious tone.

"Invest in your future studio."

Liu Yifei's eyes widened, and her eyelashes trembled twice.

"Equity investment? Studio?"

"Are you serious?"

Fang Yu: "Yeah, didn't you say you were going to open a studio in the future?"

Liu Yifei was stunned.

My memory was instantly pulled back to half a month ago.

Greater Khingan Mountains, snow-covered forest, campfire.

At that time, Fang Yu was disliked by his own father for not having the five social insurances and one housing fund.

She said something casually—

"When I open my own studio, you'll be the first person I sign."

"I'll just give it to you directly. Five social insurances and one housing fund, high-end commercial medical insurance, and accident insurance—all arranged."

The two even made a pinky promise.

Liu Yifei put down her chopsticks, propped her elbows on the table, and stared at him with her chin in her hand.

"You still remember?"

Fang Yu nodded vigorously.

"That must be remembered."

Extend your right little finger and make a slight hook in mid-air.

"Pinky promise, a hundred years from now."

"Mr. Liu, you're not trying to renege on your debt, are you?"

"How could I dare?"

Liu Yifei sighed and slumped back in his chair.

"But you also know that opening a studio isn't that simple."

Fang Yu waved his hand dismissively.

"I understand."

"But you'll have to drive it sooner or later, right?"

Liu Yifei remained silent.

She does have this plan, but the time is not right yet.

The original company's contracts need to be dealt with, the team needs to be rebuilt, and resources need to be accumulated little by little.

These are not things that can be accomplished simply by banging on a table.

Fang Yu understood what was going on by looking at her expression.

"I'm not in a hurry."

"Anyway, I'm still at the Star Glory level, and I don't plan to run away anytime soon."

"But your studio will be established sooner or later, so I'll invest in advance to reserve a spot."

"Is this request reasonable?"

Liu Yifei stared straight at him.

The man spoke lightly, but she understood perfectly.

The money from that Pepsi GG song.

The payment that should have been settled with him under the name of "producer's fees".

He didn't want a single penny.

Fang Yu had no intention of taking the money and leaving.

He forcefully inserted himself into her future.

Liu Yifei did not immediately expose his little scheme.

He crossed his arms, slightly raised his chin, and spoke with a tone that carried the air of someone at the negotiating table.

"Investment?"

"Fang Yu, have you thought this through?"

"Opening a studio is not child's play; it's very risky."

"What if we lose money?"

"Your savings for getting married are going down the drain."

Fang Yu remained silent for a moment, as if he was thinking seriously.

A moment later, he grinned.

"That's easy."

"If I lose money, I'll just keep clinging to you."