Chapter Twenty-Four: Is It Possible for You to Like Me?

A gentle autumn breeze swept through the night, and silvery moonlight spilled across the road. The leaves on either side were beginning to wither, entering the next cycle of their existence.

Though it was still August, autumn had already arrived—a season of abundant harvest, when grains ripen and the fragrance of fruits fills the air: watermelons, tangerines, lychees, hawthorn, sugar cane, mangoes, and more.

Hibiscus and mallow also bloom in autumn.

Shangguan Renran walked alone by the roadside, pondering what else autumn had to offer.

Tonight, she wanted to stroll outside for a while. It had been a long time since she’d truly observed City A with any care.

So she’d sent Ye Zuo and Ye Xin ahead, choosing to wander alone.

Her most pressing task at the moment was to clear out the useless members of her department, then recruit reliable, capable technical staff.

As she walked, she mulled over these plans.

Looking up, she found herself standing before a small eatery. It wasn’t a bustling commercial street, but rather resembled a snack street near a school.

She stepped inside and realized that the shop sold cold noodles and cold rice sheets, run by an elderly couple.

“Grandma, I’d like a serving of cold rice noodles.”

“All right, dear, just a moment. Old man, make another portion of cold noodles.”

“Got it,” the old man replied from inside.

Soon, a fragrant, colorful plate of cold noodles was brought to her, topped with a variety of ingredients: cucumber chunks, strips of white radish, diced carrot, seaweed, peanuts, and cilantro.

She had never tried such street snacks before; she’d spent most of her time abroad.

But in the past, Xia Wanqing would often video call her after school, always eating these snacks instead of going straight home, so she knew of them but never had the chance to try them herself.

She picked up the disposable chopsticks and ate slowly.

A hint of spice, refreshing in taste—it suited her palate well.

She found herself eating happily.

But when she finished, she was struck by embarrassment: she had no cash, only her phone, and there was no QR code for payment here.

What to do? Whom could she call for help?

Ye Zuo and Ye Xin had just gone home, Xia Wanqing was off filming, and Ouyang Muya was surely still at work. Head down, she stared at her phone, utterly at a loss.

The old lady came over and saw the troubled look on the young woman’s face. She immediately guessed the problem and smiled gently. “Did you forget to bring cash, dear? I know you young people use your phones to pay, but my husband and I, after all these years, we never learned how. So, we don’t have that function here.”

“I’m sorry, Grandma, I can…” Shangguan Renran stood up, not having thought it through—she just wanted to try these snacks.

“It’s all right, dear. You can pay next time. We won’t…”

“I’ll pay for her.” A slender hand handed over a crimson bill.

Shangguan Renran’s view was suddenly blocked by a tall figure.

After handing the money to the old lady, Huangpu Shenqing took her hand and led her away.

The old lady watched the handsome couple in a daze, not quite reacting in time. By the time she thought to return the change, they had already disappeared.

...

“Mr. Huangpu, what brings you here?” Shangguan Renran pulled her hand away.

“I was behind you the whole time.” He had waited downstairs at her company, watching her walk off alone.

He followed by car, but his girl didn’t notice.

He really couldn’t bear to see her in such an awkward situation, so he stepped in.

“Are you planning a career change, Mr. Huangpu?” Why was he following her like this? Was he some sort of paparazzo?

Huangpu Shenqing thought to himself: For you, why not change careers?

“I just saw you alone, so...” Huangpu Shenqing looked at her intently. His girl was as beautiful as ever tonight, especially with the long tassels at her ears, dazzling his eyes and softening the passage of time.

“Well, thank you so much for your constant concern, Mr. Huangpu,” she replied, putting heavy emphasis on “constant.”

He really puzzled her. What exactly did this man want?

“Shangguan Renran.” For the first time, he addressed her so formally, his cool voice carrying a trace of warmth.

His strikingly handsome face was sharp as if carved by a blade, a few fine locks of hair falling across his smooth forehead. Beneath slender brows, his deep, dark eyes shone with a captivating light. His straight nose and proud, thin lips formed a picture of elegant nobility.

His tall, graceful figure exuded the gentlest warmth, as if bathed in a spring breeze. “I like you.”

“I like you in the way that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“I like you in the way that I want to grow old with you.”

“I like you in the way that I want to greet every morning and evening with you.”

“I like you in the way that I want to count the stars with you.”

“I like you in the way that I want to share every meal, every day, with you.”

“What… what are you saying?” Shangguan Renran was flustered, more so than when she realized she had no money.

“Shangguan Renran, I’ve been searching for you for so long. Will you let me like you?”

The fallen leaves began to dance again in the night, fluttering like butterflies. The dark road, bathed in moonlight, was beautifully lit. The stars were starting to appear, and the crescent moon hung high in the sky, like a perfect painting.

Huangpu Shenqing’s words still echoed in her ears. Was this a confession? Who confessed like this? And what did he mean by searching for her for so long? What was all this?

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as a yes,” Huangpu Shenqing teased, looking at her, unable to hide the smile at the corners of his eyes.

“What nonsense are you talking about? You think just because you confess, I’ll agree?”