The lunch concluded with everyone in high spirits, and the plan for a wedding in Basi was finalized.
“Are you going home anytime soon?” Guo Xuyang asked Li Minxi.
“What do you mean? Didn’t Mom say we shouldn’t go back? She’s afraid the travel will be too much for my condition.”
“I have to go help President Jiang with something. I can’t just refuse.”
“You go ahead. These people don’t have anything pressing, so they can keep me company here.”
“What about your sister? What about her?”
“You’ll have to ask my sister about that. I can’t make that decision.”
“Why wasn’t she at lunch? Where did she go?”
“I don’t know. She was with us when we came out for lunch.
Later, she got a phone call and said she had something to do and wouldn’t be joining us for the meal.”
“Whose call was it?”
“She didn’t say. If you want to find her, just call her. She probably didn’t go far.”
“Then you guys head back. I’ll go look for her.” Guo Xuyang said, turning and getting into Xiao Yun’s car.
“What were you guys talking about? You’re so close.” Lin Ziqi asked.
“I want to go to Kyoto. I asked if she’s going.”
“What did she say?”
“She’s not going back. Her condition is getting worse, and the travel is too tiring.”
“When do you plan to go?”
“In the next day or two. I’ll go and come back quickly. I can only help this time. After this, it’s better to be at home with my wife and kids.”
“Is it too dangerous?”
“It’s not dangerous.”
“Why did Ye Zi mention something about you almost getting into trouble the other day?”
“Why did she bring that up?”
“We were talking about President Jiang and that Xu Dahai, so it led to a discussion about your trip.”
“What about Xu Dahai?”
“Xu Dahai took a liking to Xu Lili.”
“When did that happen?”
“It happened on your wedding day.”
“What happened?”
“It’s a bit of a coincidence, this whole thing.
Xu Lili went to the restroom and bumped into Jiang Wuxi. Xu Dahai happened to see it.
He probably knows Jiang Wuxi, so he came over to ask what was going on.
It wasn’t a big deal, just a bump.
Besides, you all know each other, so it was cleared up.
I don’t know how Xu Dahai started chatting with Xu Lili.”
“It was that simple?”
“Yes, it was that simple. Did you expect it to be more complicated?”
“That’s like a toad eyeing a swan.”
“What do you mean by that? What’s a toad eyeing a swan?
This is fate bringing people together across a thousand miles.” Lin Ziqi glared at him.
“I just don’t have any culture.”
“Are you calling me uncultured?” Lin Ziqi was about to blow up.
“No. I’m just stating a fact.”
“A proud university student telling someone who never went to college that they’re uncultured? Aren’t you deliberately bullying me?”
“I was just saying it casually. I was wrong, I’m sorry. Is that okay now?”
“That’s more like it.”
“What happened with them afterward?” Guo Xuyang asked.
“Who knows? Xu Dahai left after the wedding banquet.
But Xu Lili has been sweet as honey every day, her lips as sweet as a persimmon.”
“So they’ve been in contact since then?”
“Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be telling you this.”
“That’s good. Xu Dahai is in his thirties; he should have found a partner long ago. If not for special circumstances, his children would be grown by now.”
“What special circumstances?”
“I can’t tell you. It involves secrecy.”
“Hmph, as if I care that much.”
“What’s Xu Lili’s family situation like?”
“I’m not entirely sure of the specifics. Should I try to find out for you when I get back?”
“It’s not for me. It’s for Xu Dahai. If you decide to go to Shanghai, he can be of great help to you when you return.”
“Is he that capable?”
“Yes. More capable than you imagine.”
“Alright, I can’t use someone like that,” Lin Ziqi said.
“What do you mean?”
“Someone so capable, I wouldn’t be able to direct them.”
“What are you thinking? I meant that you could get a lot of business assistance from him.”
“Then I misunderstood.”
The group chatted as they returned to the 4S shop.