Chapter 12: Treating the Guest

The three sat facing each other, Ji Pei across from Jiang Xihan, while Ji Fan, clutching her snow-white chubby cat, curled up entirely on the sofa’s backrest.

The atmosphere was so odd, yet Jiang Xihan seemed unaware, placing the handbag on the table before Ji Pei.

“Your coat, I’ve washed it clean.”

Ji Pei smiled, feeling her smile was somewhat forced, though she had no reason for it.

“Since Professor Jiang went to the trouble to come, it’s nearly dinnertime. Why not stay for dinner at our place before you go?”

Ji Pei thought, normally, most people would see this as a polite remark. Surely Jiang Xihan would…

“Sure.”

“…”

Her reply was so quick it caught Ji Pei off guard.

The smile on Ji Pei’s lips slowly froze. She stiffly lifted her head, meeting Jiang Xihan’s gaze.

Jiang Xihan’s eyes were crystal clear, with a faint hint of amusement, and she seemed to have new glasses today, silver-framed.

Ji Pei was wrong…

She was terribly wrong…

Why had her brain glitched, asking Jiang Xihan to stay for dinner?

Ji Pei felt guilty, glancing at Ji Fan holding the cat, feeling sorry for her little sister.

Ji Fan caught her glance, tossed the cat onto the sofa, and stood.

“I’ll go make dinner now!”

Ji Pei was about to stand too, but quickly sat back down.

After all, the guest was here. Jiang Xihan was a guest, and she had to stay to chat, or it’d be too rude.

But…

In this situation, what could she say?

If Jiang Xihan were Ji Fan’s high school teacher, Ji Pei could ask about her grades, then ramble about random stuff.

Now, she could only push through.

“Professor Jiang.”

After those three words, Ji Pei swallowed twice.

“Where do you live? Was it far to come here?”

“It’s alright. I live in S City.”

“That’s still a bit far. It takes an hour by high-speed rail.”

Ji Pei’s WeChat pinged. She opened it—Ji Fan, in the kitchen, asking what Jiang Xihan wanted to eat.

“Professor Jiang, what do you want to eat? I’ll tell my sister to make it.”

“Anything’s fine, home-cooked dishes are okay.”

“Home-cooked dishes…”

Ji Pei mumbled, typing on her phone.

After sending the message, Ji Pei looked up, smiling awkwardly.

“Professor Jiang, Ji Fan’s a bit shy, scared of people. Please don’t mind.”

In the kitchen, Ji Fan was busy looking up recipes and cooking. In a slip, she knocked the whole salt canister into the pan, ruining a batch of stir-fried potato shreds.

Ji Pei didn’t know what happened in the kitchen. Seeing Jiang Xihan’s gaze on the small bar counter to the living room’s right, she explained.

“That’s a bar counter I set up myself, for drinking wine or tea.”

“Does Professor Jiang drink?”

“A little.”

Ji Fan, a rookie cook, might take ages, but drinking on an empty stomach wasn’t healthy. Ji Pei dropped the idea of mixing Jiang Xihan a drink.

She pulled out a long-unused purple clay teapot and took a Pu’er tea cake, unwrapped it, cut off a piece with a knife, and put it in.

A woman Jiang Xihan’s age probably liked tea, right?

This tea cake wasn’t cheap—her grandma’s, supposedly worth tens of thousands now, meant for collecting.

Days ago, Xue Meiniang somehow jumped onto the cabinet and bit a hole in it. Not wanting waste, Ji Pei cut a piece daily to brew and drink.

She wasn’t skilled at tea tasting, but with a guest, she had to show hospitality.

“Professor Jiang, this is Pu’er tea from my grandma. Try it.”

The tea broth was clear, fragrant. As it poured from the spout, Jiang Xihan caught the tea’s aroma.

Ji Pei thought this tea looked better, smelled stronger, probably due to the purple clay teapot.

She usually brewed tea casually, tossing a piece into hot water, drinking it like iced tea.

No wonder her mom, Ms. Liu Yanfen, always said she was a pig who couldn’t savor fine bran.

Jiang Xihan sipped lightly.

“Good tea.”

***

Nearly ten minutes later, Ji Fan emerged from the smoky kitchen, standing behind Ji Pei, looking aggrieved.

“Sis, how about we go out to eat with Professor Jiang? I don’t think you’d want my cooking.”

“Professor Jiang’s visiting our home first time. As her student, shouldn’t you show effort? Eating out lacks sincerity.”

“But…”

To prove her skills, Ji Fan went back to the kitchen and brought out the pan.

“I meant to make sweet-and-sour pork tenderloin, but it turned into charcoal.”

Ji Pei lifted the lid, eyeing the blackened lumps. She stirred with burnt chopsticks, stunned.

“Good charcoal, but where’s the tenderloin?”

“…”

Seeing Ji Fan’s silent, sullen look, Ji Pei closed the lid, hesitating.

“Professor Jiang, maybe we should eat out.”

***

The three went to the garage. Ji Fan opened the driver’s door to get in, only to be yanked back by the collar by Ji Pei.

“You sit in the back.”

Jiang Xihan, in the passenger seat, saw Ji Fan shrink like a quail and paused.

“How about letting her try?”

After everyone buckled up, Ji Pei turned to explain.

“She got her license last month. First drive, she rear-ended a cyclist. He’s still in the hospital’s orthopedic ward.”

Ji Fan, huddled in the back, was angry but didn’t dare speak, mumbling,

“Sis, don’t tell Professor Jiang every detail. Don’t I get face?”

Ji Pei said solemnly,

“Professor Jiang, I’m worried for your safety.”

Jiang Xihan thought a moment.

“Alright, you drive.”

***

Ji Pei’s car was a purple Panamera, with a faint floral scent inside and fox plushies on the back seat.

Jiang Xihan’s gaze was drawn to a swaying amulet—a Siamese cat figurine in clothes, with copper coins dangling below.

Seeing Jiang Xihan eyeing her Siamese cat plush, Ji Pei smiled.

“I crocheted this Siamese cat myself. Too small, so I hung it in the car as a charm. A Lingyin Temple master blessed it.”

Jiang Xihan looked away, facing forward.

“Very cute.”

Passing Ye Wenzhu’s flower shop, Ji Pei was stopped by her at the storefront.

Ji Pei’s car was unmistakable; Ye Wenzhu spotted it instantly, especially with its unique plate.

JING A SB886

That plate screamed trouble.

Once, driving behind Ji Pei’s car, Ye Wenzhu saw the plate and wanted to floor it and ram it—so provocative.

The Porsche slowed. Ji Pei rolled down the window as Ye Wenzhu approached.

“What’s up?”

When the window lowered, Ye Wenzhu saw the passenger and nearly bit her tongue.

“Professor Jiang, how are you…”

Ji Pei: “Professor Jiang’s visiting our home. We’re heading out to eat.”

Ji Pei signaled Ye Wenzhu with her eyes to join.

“Wenzhu, no dinner yet, right? Come with us?”

Ye Wenzhu waved frantically, itching to flee.

“No, no! I’ve got orders this afternoon, super busy. I’ll head back. Enjoy your time with Professor Jiang.”

“…”

The window rolled up, and the car went silent. Ji Pei stared awkwardly at the Siamese cat charm.

“Sorry, Professor Jiang. Wenzhu’s just talkative. Don’t mind her.”

Jiang Xihan’s tone was light.

“I won’t.”