[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner":3,"chapter-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-68":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm Not Crazy—This Is the Emperor's Banner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2291408,4480,"Chapter 68: Fate or Not","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-68",68,"\u003Cp>This was certainly not some mystical connection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What to eat has always been one of humanity’s greatest dilemmas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when Aunt Su suggested going to Ting Haichao, he didn’t think twice and blurted it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now they were on their way to Ting Haichao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ting Haichao was actually a Sichuan-style hotpot restaurant localized for this region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It kept the signature flavors of Sichuan hotpot while incorporating some local touches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, it was popular with locals, but not many tourists came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang wasn’t a local, but she loved spicy food, so she adored Ting Haichao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she had free time, she would bring Jiang Taozhi along to eat there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This tortured Jiang Taozhi, who loved sweets, into near-delirium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes Jiang Taozhi couldn’t help complaining that their parents must have swapped them at birth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang was from Siming, where people should prefer sweets, yet she loved spicy food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she was from Binhai, where people adored yellow lantern peppers and Xiaomi peppers, yet she Pianpian  loved sweets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Ruan Hongzhuang’s stubborn expression, Jiang Taozhi grumbled, “Tonight’s my date—since you don’t like him, don’t you dare steal him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, do you really like him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang glanced at her, asking as if it were no big deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like? Not really—we’ve only just met—but I feel comfortable with him, so I want to give it a try,” Jiang Taozhi said after thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke honestly, not to provoke Ruan Hongzhuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang’s eyes flickered, and she nodded lightly: “Try it, but don’t get attached. People’s hearts are hard to read—don’t end up regretting it later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Taozhi grinned: “Are you worried about me? Or…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ruan Hongzhuang didn’t answer. She simply walked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, don’t keep others waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan had noticed them talking behind him and stopped to wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beef tripe, shrimp balls, beef meatballs, fish slices…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan listened to Aunt Su’s suggestions as he ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t notice Jiang Taozhi staring at Ruan Hongzhuang in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Ruan Hongzhuang’s beautiful eyes sparkled, equally surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because every dish Shen Siyuan ordered was exactly what she loved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Ruan Hongzhuang noticed he’d even prepared his dipping sauce the same way she did—and was even more stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does this really taste good?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the two weren’t looking, Shen Siyuan quietly asked Aunt Su.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it does! You’ve got to trust me—I was an expert in cooking back when I was alive,” Aunt Su declared firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Shen Siyuan believed her, tried it, found it actually delicious, and accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never noticed Ruan Hongzhuang watching him with her eyes the whole time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the hotpot, the three exchanged WeChat contacts and parted ways, no further plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d just met today; sharing a meal was already pushing it, especially with three people—it wasn’t convenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Shen Siyuan politely took his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he was gone, Jiang Taozhi boldly confronted Ruan Hongzhuang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spill it—do you like him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ruan Hongzhuang said, walking ahead without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two knew each other before, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you annoying or what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know, but since you don’t like him, if I go after him, you can’t compete with me,” Jiang Taozhi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang stopped, turned, and looked at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Taozhi felt a pang of unease under her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-why are you looking at me like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you like him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I already said—I just have a slight fondness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why are you going after him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because then you’ll come chasing after him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang frowned and shot her a cold glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jiang Taozhi shrank back, Ruan Hongzhuang stepped forward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never steal my best friend’s boyfriend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Taozhi was the type who was cowardly but loved to play games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Su didn’t follow Ruan Hongzhuang anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she trailed behind Shen Siyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me tell you, you and Ruan Ruan are perfectly matched…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a very special person, and my Ruan Ruan is talented too…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s a bit domineering, but with you, she’s gentle—she always considers your feelings…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Su chattered nonstop beside Shen Siyuan, trying hard to bring them together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan understood her good intentions—Ruan Hongzhuang was already twenty-eight, an age when marriage was overdue, and Aunt Su’s anxiety was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he declined: “I don’t think she’s bad—she’s too good. That’s why she’s not right for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why say that? Being too good isn’t a bad thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think someone with her personality will ever settle down to raise children and manage household chores?” Shen Siyuan countered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Su fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But finally she spoke: “She truly likes you—she can learn all that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then would she still be herself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Su fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was a perceptive woman and understood the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When a person changes for another, they lose themselves. Being true to oneself is when one is most attractive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss Ruan is beautiful, but what truly draws people in is her aura—if she were stuck at home raising children, would she still have that captivating presence?” Shen Siyuan pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Su fell silent again—this time for a long while.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, she spoke: “A girl must marry someday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice carried resignation and worry for Ruan Hongzhuang’s future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ruan Hongzhuang’s personality was simply too strong—it made her marriage prospects even harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let things unfold naturally. Let’s not talk about this anymore, Aunt Su—what unfinished wish keeps you tied to Miss Ruan?” Shen Siyuan changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course it’s her marriage,” Aunt Su brought the topic right back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This conversation is over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Su burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, she’d been an extremely cheerful person in life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you ever need anything, come find me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Shen Siyuan returned to his residential compound did he say this to Aunt Su.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aunt Su smiled, nodded, glanced around the neighborhood, then turned and walked away without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could her wish really be nothing more than Ruan Hongzhuang’s marriage? If so, I can’t help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan pulled out his phone and sent Jiang Taozhi a message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got home safely?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a good impression of this girl—she was simple, without guile. Such a girl was actually perfect as a girlfriend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wouldn’t play games with you; all her emotions showed on her face, and she was a foodie—so even when angry, she’d be easy to soothe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Shen Siyuan had a favorable first impression and wanted to get to know her better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since that was the case, he needed to show some initiative—that’s why he sent the message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since he returned from his hometown, Jiang Tingyu hadn’t sent a single message these past two days—as if she’d vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Shen Siyuan had no intention of reaching out to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he’d decided to pursue Jiang Taozhi, he shouldn’t keep dragging things out with Jiang Tingyu—he shouldn’t waste her time.\u003C\u002Fp>",1150,"2026-06-20T03:53:08.657Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","062c409604f24fac8078716923d4c6ece4fe81995176b777f89bbac0150c1228","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-69","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-67",623,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-cover.jpg"]