CHAPTER FORTY-THREE (43) Compliment From A Fellow Man

"I will find one for myself,"

Mrs Peng sighed, whether out of relief or due to worry, she couldn't tell. "Do whatever you wish, then."

*~~~*

"Your property is this way," Mingyu stated, pointing at a direction and a door leading into another room.

Yuanqi carefully put down the plate, he shook his hands into his blazer's jacket then walked over.

Seeing how the utensils were neatly packed in cartons, chairs covered with clothes as well as the table... He felt bad, felt bad of how he talked to Rose so disrespectfully, and even allowed his co-chefs curse at her...

He bent in front of a carton that had a bold writing on it. Frames. Yuanqi unfolded the huge carton, and the first frame he took out was, the very first picture of his restaurant, the day he had settled in and the day his little sister became three months old.

Little Ranqi, was so tiny then with her small head, crumpled face and squinted shut eyes. Her two little hands couldn't hold on to his index finger.

It was seven in the night, no single soul was looking their way, so he played with her trying to shake her awake.

They took more pictures as she aged, and he hung it all on the restaurant walls, she was the main reason, so he had to remind everyone of this fact.

If she hadn't come along the line, he probably would have never thought of making his own life better.

The only reason for him to push, he did and now? His eyes would twinkle with stars whenever he was with her, his chest beating so loud that he might probably go deaf from it.

Him standing up abruptly gave Xu Dandan a scare, as she was behind him, trying to peek.

There was no change in his expression as he mumbled. "I'll take the frames, only."

"Oh... o, okay." Dandan nodded still trying to catch her breath.

Mingyu had a polite smile on his face, but it made Dandan feel like she was being mocked.

As Mingyu bent to lift it, he heard a sharp. "Stop."

Without dilly-dallying, Mingyu did as told.

"You can't lift it like that, it's likely to open from the buttocks."

Upon realization that he was scared of the frames shattering, Mingyu made an oh sound before explaining that the carton was strong enough to hold it.

Yuanqi: "No carton paper is strong enough to hold its content."

"This sure is though." Mingyu argued. "Don't trust me? Let's give it a try."

"We should rather not." Yuanqi disagreed. So he bent to join hands with Mingyu.

"It's going to snow, finally." Mingyu said, looking up at the beautiful sky, littered with fluffy clouds.

"It sure came late." Xu Dandan remarked.

"It might be a year filled with bliss or worry." Yuanqi whom was also looking up at the sky, commented and the two other people around him turned to him.

"Don't say that," Dandan refuted. "It's like you're cursing the year."

"I'm not, not like I have the power to."

"Then it will be filled with bliss." Mingyu stated.

"Amen." Xu Dandan quickly supported.

"Amen." Yuanqi mouthed. He has a lot of plans for the new year.

Some minutes later, they arrived at a small shop, Yuanqi unlocked the doors and carried the frames into there.

"Do you need us to drop you home?" Mingyu sincerely asked.

"No, thanks."

"You should resist smiling sometimes," Xu Dandan awkwardly said, after she saw his smiling face.

"You shouldn't say that," Mingyu told her once they were in the car.

"What? Can you even see? He's so handsome, and then when he smiles... uhh." Dandan was in a world of fantasy. "He appears to be so simple yet, it seems like he just came out of a book. If I knew that the owner of Urban Remedy drastically changed during the years, I would have petitioned for him to remain on my television everyday... what do you think? Hmm? He's good looking right?"

Mingyu hummed a sound and nodded. As the SUV revved up and into the main road.

"That's why I like you, unlike Zedong, he'd find every way to mock him."

"He has a reason for that." It's because he's jealous. Mingyu didn't let her hear the rest of his statement though. If not he'd be in trouble.

"There's no reason to mock anyone."

Mingyu didn't reply anymore.

Back at the shop, Yuanqi, arranged the frames on the wall and went around to check the whole shop out once more before he took a sit.

He decided it was time, to tell his mother, if she found out by mistake, she would be so mad at him.

His phone rang, taking a long look at the caller, he hesitated before picking up.

"Hello, good evening." The familiar voice came.

"Good evening, Baozhai."

"How are you?" Baozhai asked. "Did you eat? Do you need anything? I could cook and bring over for you."

"Don't." Realizing his reply was too bland, Yuanqi added. "I already ate."

"Oh," the disappointment in the voice was apparent but Yuanqi was oblivious to this. "I see..."

"Yes." Yuanqi bopped his head. "I'm busy now,"

Baozhai knew exactly what he meant so she hung up the call.

Yuanqi, went out, locked the shop and went shopping. He wanted to get gifts for every of Ranqi's classmates.

The night sky was a beautiful sight to behold as, the cool breeze blows strong throughout the year end and levels up when it's ready to rain, flakes instead of water.

He got to the mall, and went straight to the gift shop.

There was someone else there, Yuanqi recognized him, but since they weren't friends, they didn't bother to interact.

It was none other than Ye Zedong. He was surrounded by gift boxes. He looked tired and worn out but continued.

Ye Zedong turned his head and immediately recognized Yuanqi.

"Hello, Mr Su." He stretched out his hand which Yuanqi took.

"You don't know me, but I've been to your restaurant countless times..." and my boss just happened to stumble upon your restaurant and destroyed it without second thoughts.

"Oh,"

"Yes, and you are the best. I must say."

Hearing the compliment coming from a man, Yuanqi didn't know what to say, since women were always praising him instead.