Chapter 39: I Want to Use It to Buy My Happiness

Nothing much.

Ze Yan took a long time to come back to his senses.

Liuli felt that Ze Yan was acting strange today, as if he had something on his mind.

"You can come with me, I'm still happy, but don't push yourself too hard on things you can't handle." Liuli said; today she felt she was talking a lot.

"This is my first time at an amusement park! Ze Yan-ge, thank you!"

Liuli was really happy.

"As long as you're happy."

Ze Yan laughed.

"You idiot." Liuli smiled at him; he felt her smile was like sunshine, warm but untouchable.

"The carousel, can you ride it?"

"This one, yes."

"You're not lying, are you? Really?"

"Really."

Ze Yan pulled her to sit on the carousel.

Both of them had a great time; for Ze Yan, it was the first time in years he'd felt this happy.

"I'll take you to eat something good later."

"Okay."

Liuli had Ze Yan drive her to Uncle's BBQ shop.

For her, she brings all the important people in her life to Uncle's BBQ shop.

Important people and important places.

"Uncle!"

"Liuli, you're here!"

Uncle is always happy whenever he sees Liuli, no matter how many times she comes in a day; as long as it's Liuli, he's happy.

"I'm so hungry, I want to eat."

Liuli said to Uncle, and Uncle understood what she meant.

"Alright, wait."

"Uncle, I brought a friend; his name is Shen Zeyan."

Liuli pulled Ze Yan in front of Uncle.

Uncle thought he looked familiar; that night when Gu Die came, he was also there.

Ze Yan's silver-gray hair was still quite distinctive.

But Uncle had also heard that the Shen Family and the Gu Family have always been sworn enemies.

"Liuli, he's from the Shen Family."

Uncle whispered to Liuli.

"I know."

"The Shen and Gu Families have always been enemies; you know that, right?"

"I actually didn't know that much."

"Although Gu Die isn't much of a guy, you've married into the Gu Family, so you still need to be careful; Uncle worries people will gossip, and then the Gu Family might treat you worse."

Uncle said while pulling Liuli to the side.

"Uncle, Ze Yan-ge is a good person; I don't know why the Shen and Gu Families have a conflict, but I know the proper boundaries, yet..."

But with Shen Zeyan, she has no sense of boundaries at all.

"Child, you've grown up; figure things out yourself. Be friends with whoever you want! I'll go make you something delicious."

Uncle patted her on the shoulder.

"Okay, thank you, Uncle!"

"Ze Yan-ge, sit."

She moved a chair for Ze Yan.

Ze Yan sat down without thinking, and he didn't ask what she and Uncle were talking about; anyway, from the looks of it, it was probably about him.

"Are you used to places like this?"

"This kind of place is pretty nice."

Si Yun also likes this kind of place; she doesn't go to high-end restaurants, insisting on coming to a small spot like this.

"If you think it's good, that's fine; this place is very important and wonderful to me, so I brought you here too."

All Ze Yan could think of was the scene of Gu Die and her at the BBQ shop.

She had already brought Gu Die to a place important to her heart.

"Alright! All your favorites!"

Uncle's grilling speed can't even compare to Liuli's.

Just like Gu Die's eating speed can't compare to Liuli's.

Not only is Uncle's food fast, it tastes good; just smelling it makes Liuli's mouth water.

"Thank you, Uncle!"

"Eat up!"

Uncle said that and then went off to get busy.

"I forgot to ask what you like to eat."

Liuli suddenly realized she still hadn't asked Ze Yan what he liked to eat.

I quite like these.

Ze Yan saw her annoyed expression and laughed.

Really?

Why would I lie to you?

Ze Yan said, then picked up a string of enoki mushrooms and began eating.

Watching him eat made Liuli extremely happy—happier than when she eats herself.

It's strange how much she likes watching him eat.

Eat quickly.

Ze Yan said, and she came back to her senses.

She always felt he was both familiar and unfamiliar.

Soon they had finished the barbecue.

Want a beer?

Liuli asked.

Do you want to drink?

Ze Yan could tell she wanted a drink, though he doesn't usually drink unless he's in a particularly bad mood.

Liuli, on the other hand, only wants a drink when she's in a good mood.

Hmm.

Liuli nodded.

Old Man saw that they had finished the barbecue and brought some more.

Liuli ran into the house to get two bottles of beer.

Eat more!

Old Man didn't mind her eating a lot; instead, he let her eat more. Whenever he saw Liuli, she was very thin, tiny and skinny.

Now she's grown taller, but still very thin; in Old Man's words, her legs are as thin as chopsticks.

Okay.

Liuli laughed.

"Brother Ze Yan." She handed him an opened beer, "Cheers!"

Old Man watched Liuli from afar, so happy, and smiled too, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening a bit.

He hadn't seen Liuli smile that happily in a long time.

When she was with Cheng Li, they didn't often drink beer, because Cheng Li couldn't hold his liquor and got drunk after just one sip; but whenever he saw Liuli drinking, he wanted to drink too, wanting to keep her company, though his tolerance wouldn't allow it.

In the end, Liuli simply stopped drinking.

Today is really happy!

In front of him, Liuli was like a child who could do whatever she wanted.

Being with him was very relaxed.

They ate and chatted, and today she really spoke the most she ever has.

When she was about to pay, Old Man said Ze Yan had already paid for all the barbecue she would ever eat in her life.

This barbecue restaurant is a place that brings her joy; Ze Yan hopes it will always bring her joy.

He knew Liuli married into the Gu Family just to get money for her grandmother's medical treatment.

To him, money meant nothing, yet she married someone she didn't love just for money.

He thought, if only he had met her earlier.

"Old Man, when did he pay? I had no idea."

"Just now, I gave you this money; you give it to him; why are you coming to me asking for money?"

"Old Man, this money is meant to be returned to him, but you have to accept my money, otherwise I won't dare come again."

"You've secretly given me money several times already, did you think I didn't know? This time I'll let it go—hurry up and return the money to him."

"Old Man."

"Go on!"

Old Man said while pushing Liuli to the table where Ze Yan was sitting.

She just looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

"Shen Zeyan, why are you spending so much money?"

"Money means nothing to me."

"I know you have money, but you can't just waste it like this, can you?"

"I haven't wasted it; I want to use it to buy my happiness."

In Ze Yan's light brown eyes lay sincerity and warmth.

His happiness is her happiness.

Si Yun used to follow behind him like a little bug, calling him Brother Ze Yan, but whenever he annoyed her, she would call him Shen Zeyan.

He also couldn't tell if it was his imagination, but she really does look just like her.

"Then just come eat here every day until you've spent all hundred thousand."

"Can I come with you?"

She didn't know why, but she just couldn't refuse him.

Sure, I'll just shamelessly mooch food and drinks!

Liuli laughed.

Uncle, he said to treat this money as an advance for you; he said eating your barbecue brings him joy!

Ze Yan laughed; it turned out she understood his words that way.

Good! As long as I'm alive for a day, he can come eat anytime! Unless I get old and can't move!

Uncle heard Liuli's words and laughed happily; Uncle thought the greatest compliment for his barbecue is being able to bring joy to others.

This is also the compliment he most wants to hear.

Thank you.

Ze Yan bowed to Uncle.

It's me who should thank you; today making Liuli this happy, this child hasn't been this happy in a long time.

Uncle said, feeling a bit sad; thinking of Liuli not shedding a single tear at her grandmother's funeral made his heart ache.

She always keeps everything bottled up inside.

Compared to Gu Die, Uncle really likes Ze Yan a lot.

But Liuli is already married, and he also saw Ze Yan wearing a ring on her hand.

She and he can only be friends.

——Bai Se Jiu Ba——

Miss, what on earth are you trying to do?

Zihan had nowhere to go, so she went to Bai Xu's bar, just sitting there without speaking.

Bai Xu thought he could rest properly since he wasn't helping at the barbecue stall, but as soon as Zihan came, he had something to do again.

He asked her for a long time, but she didn't say a word.

Won't you eat something?

Bai Xu asked again.

By this time, Zihan's stomach was already hungry.

Zihan didn't agree, but Bai Xu still had someone bring food.

Steak, cola, chicken wings, iced cucumber, potato chips — everything was there.

Want to eat?

Bai Xu asked patiently; he had never seen Zihan like this before.

She had always been aloof, a proud young lady who never admits defeat.

Heartbroken?

Bai Xu wanted to take back his words as soon as he said them — wasn't that like rushing into gunfire?!

Zihan glared at him fiercely; he quickly dodged to the side.

Zihan glanced at the food on the table, couldn't hold back, and started eating big mouthfuls, but the feeling of eating was like eating a person.

Could it be because of Cheng Li?

Bai Xu still couldn't suppress his curiosity.

Get lost.

Zihan threw a bag of potato chips at him.

Okay, okay, eat slowly, I'm leaving.

Bai Xu said as he went out, then peeked through the door crack; seeing her still eating, he felt relieved.

Women can be pretty scary when they're angry.

He thought.

The more Zihan ate, the angrier she got; she didn't even know what she was angry about, just that she was very angry.

The more she ate, the less meaningful it felt; she just wanted to drink, to experience the feeling of getting drunk to dispel a thousand worries.

She left the private room and called a waiter to bring alcohol.

Miss, what would you like to drink?

The waiter didn't know who she was, so he asked as he would any ordinary customer.

If he knew she was the boss's friend, he would definitely have to ask the boss first whether she could drink.

Give me one of each!

Sure, please wait a moment.

The waiter also felt she was a big customer, and he felt somewhat pleased.