Unwinding Date (2)

"Welcome back~" a waitress greeted as soon as Jingliu and Yasushi settled into their seats. Her tone was casual, carrying the familiarity of someone who knew them.

"You remember us?" Yasushi asked, his eyebrows lifting in surprise as he glanced at her.

She gave a small nod, her expression warm. "We keep track of our visitors here. Actually—" she gestured toward a wall on their left, which was filled with pictures of past customers, "—you gave us permission to take a photo the last time you were here. So, when you walked in again, it was easy to recognize you."

Yasushi followed her gesture and spotted their picture among the collection. Both he and Jingliu were captured mid-laugh, their expressions unguarded as they faced the camera.

"Ah, I see now… I kinda forgot about that," Yasushi said, his tone carrying an awkward chuckle as he rubbed the back of his neck.

The waitress smiled again, unfazed. "What would you like to order today?" she asked, her hand already moving toward the menu she'd placed on the table.

"Anything you recommend? Maybe something special?" Jingliu asked, her focus shifting briefly to the menu.

The waitress tapped her chin, then pointed to a few items on the list. "I'd suggest these for today. We got the ingredients just twenty minutes ago, so everything is fresh and ready."

Jingliu smiled at her and said, "We'll get those then. Along with these drinks and desserts."

The waitress jotted everything down on her notepad before turning away, humming softly. Jingliu and Yasushi resumed their conversation, occasionally glancing at the wall of photographs beside their table.

"Hmm? Wait, isn't that…" Yasushi asked, leaning forward and pointing at a picture in the top-right corner of the display. His tone carried a hint of curiosity as his finger hovered over the frame.

"It looks like Heinz and his wife," Jingliu replied in an offhand manner before her expression shifted as realization struck. Her eyes darted back to the image, her body tensing as she leaned in for a closer look. A sharp intake of breath followed before she stood, gesturing for Yasushi to follow her.

The two approached the wall, standing shoulder to shoulder as they scrutinized the photo more closely. "Oh…it is them," Jingliu murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief. "I had no idea they ever came here."

"Look at the date," Yasushi pointed out, tapping the small plaque beneath the photo. "It was during our first year of college. Just last year." He paused, narrowing his eyes. "He didn't mention anything about this… Maybe it was just a sightseeing trip?"

"Who knows…we can ask him about it when we go back to my home during summer break. Or maybe we'll just leave it alone since it's not really any of our business," Jingliu replied.

"True, but it's still surprising. Makes me wonder where anyone else on your staff decided to spend their vacations…hey, what about Anfeng? Is she married or something? She didn't exactly act like it," Yasushi asked, glancing her way.

"Anfeng?" Jingliu repeated as they walked back to their seats and sat down. "No, she's single as far as I remember. There've been admirers here and there, but once they get to know how she is…they lose interest. Most don't really keep up with her personality, which is why she's stayed single this long. She's even said she doesn't mind staying that way for the rest of her life."

Yasushi chuckled, shaking his head. "I can see why. That fiery personality of hers…" He thought back to the trials she had put him through, and a grin crept onto his face.

"Can definitely overwhelm some people. Makes me think about how a match between her and Yinhaie would play out now. I did fight her back then, didn't I? The Yang Clan Trials…" he murmured, the thought pulling him into older memories.

"Speaking of that, we'll be attending high-class events in the future. Those etiquette lessons you went through for a short time will come in handy. We'll be back in China soon, so if you have the chance, you might as well learn more from Xinyi's staff," Jingliu said, her tone carrying an edge of practicality.

Yasushi mulled it over while they waited for their food. Jingliu wasn't wrong. If he didn't put in the effort now, he'd only embarrass himself and their families when they eventually started showing up to these formal gatherings. That was something he'd rather avoid altogether.

"Yeah, makes sense… though, honestly, I barely remember anyone from back then. There was that butler, Douhui, right? And… Qixie, the maid, I think," Yasushi replied, his expression caught somewhere between consideration and faint recollection.

Yasushi asked, "Is there anyone among the Cheng family's staff who can match Yinhaie, Heinz, or Anfeng's abilities?"

Jingliu gave a small smile. "There is, but they're just a little below their level. You'd be better off meeting them during the summer break. They have a head butler instead of a maid running things. There's also another butler and a maid, which is the reverse of how my household works, where Yinhaie and Anfeng handle everything with Heinz at the top."

As he listened, Yasushi grew more intrigued. Their conversation carried on for a few minutes, diving deeper into the details of the Cheng family's setup. Eventually, their food arrived. The waitress placed the plates before them, told them to enjoy their meal, and departed, leaving the two to set the discussion aside for the time being.

After taking a few bites, they couldn't help but comment on how good it was, though not quite up to the level of what Yinhaie, Nandini, and the others could make.

"By the way, how's the homelessness situation going?" Jingliu asked, raising her eyes to meet his.

"We've managed to dig up enough evidence on one of the four council members to take them down," Yasushi explained while pausing to eat. "But we're waiting until we have enough to bring down all four at once. Right now, we're about 40% of the way through gathering evidence on the second one, so there's still a lot to do."

He set his chopsticks down briefly, leaning forward. "On another note, I've had Nandini and Yunxue look into the local organizations focused on homelessness. As we thought, they're badly underfunded. Before we can actually work with them, we need their support. That means dealing with the council members who are blocking fundraising efforts out of greed. Once we get them out of the way, it'll be much easier to improve the situation."

Jingliu listened quietly while eating, taking in Yasushi's words without interrupting. It was slow progress, but progress nonetheless. She didn't mind. As long as Yasushi could achieve even part of what he was aiming for, she'd stand by him every step of the way.

They talked about the subject for a while longer, their conversation weaving between lighthearted remarks and thoughtful musings before they eventually changed the topic. The mood stayed lively as they finished their meals, chatting and laughing until the plates were empty.

After settling the bill and preparing to leave, the waitress called out, inviting them to return sometime. They didn't offer any promises but gave her a casual wave as they stepped outside.

Once back on the street, they continued strolling through the town, taking in the sights and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. The air carried the sounds of chatter and distant activity, adding to the charm of the place. As they wandered further, a booming sound echoed through the area, cutting through their thoughts and turning their heads.

In the square ahead, several people dressed in the same outfit as Clockie appeared. They moved energetically, handing out fliers and tossing small candies to passersby. Their actions drew a curious crowd, the vibrant display impossible to ignore.

"They're really going all out, aren't they?" Yasushi remarked, watching the scene unfold with interest. "For a place this small…do they even have the budget for something like this?"

"Maybe they've been saving for a while," Jingliu replied, her tone carrying a slight edge. "Or maybe they got some extra funding from somewhere."

Yasushi frowned. The idea of such a small, respected place being compromised by money disgusted him. Despite that, he hadn't noticed anything off about anyone earlier when they had arrived.

"Let's not jinx ourselves," Yasushi said, keeping his voice calm, while Jingliu gave a nod beside him.

They both kept their focus on the scene before them. Eventually, the men left, replaced by women wearing dresses. They moved into the square with measured steps and began to sing as they slowly gathered at its center.

The song they sang tugged at something deep in Yasushi's memory. It felt oddly familiar, yet at the same time, like a distant echo he couldn't fully place. His thoughts turned inward as he tried harder to recall it. Then, without warning, the realization struck.

It was the theme music for Phantylia the Undying from her boss fight.

Yasushi froze where he stood, his mind scrambling to process the bizarre situation. No matter how he turned it over in his head, it didn't make any sense.

"Is something wrong?" Jingliu asked, turning partway back. "The song… it feels odd. Dark, but there's something calming about it."

'Calming? I wouldn't call it that,' Yasushi thought, his lips curling into an uneasy half-smile. He knew the deeper story tied to this melody, how it marked the lead-up to a climactic boss fight. Hearing it out of context like this was unsettling, to say the least.

"No, nothing's wrong," he replied quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just thought... this could work as a boss theme in a game."

Jingliu tilted her head slightly, considering the thought before nodding faintly. "Maybe. It does have that kind of energy."

As the conversation paused, the singers launched into the second section of the performance. Their voices soared in unison, carrying the melody with a kind of intensity that pulled everyone's attention. Yasushi cleared his throat, masking his discomfort, as the tension of the song grew stronger.

Staff moved through the crowd, encouraging everyone to take a step back as the singers climbed onto raised platforms. The audience clapped in rhythm, fully engaged in the spectacle. The performance reached a higher tempo, with the music driving the energy higher and higher. Cheers erupted, and for several minutes, the song carried the crowd into a kind of rapture before transitioning seamlessly into its final phase.

"This… is pretty intense," Jingliu said as they walked over to a nearby bench that, luckily, no one else had claimed. They sat down without speaking further.

"Yeah…" Yasushi mumbled, his attention still on the music.

The melody pulled at something buried in his thoughts — both familiar and distant. It reminded him of times when he played the game during its 5.x patch era. He hadn't stuck with it long, but it left a mark on him. Life wasn't easy for him back then, but the game had been one of the few bright spots.

He'd poured effort into building an Ice Destruction DPS unit that he liked, even though it wasn't an effective choice in most scenarios. He'd wanted to make it work, but practicality won in the end. After struggling with it for too long, he switched gears and focused on newer, stronger characters, making his time in the game smoother.

The song eventually came to its final notes, and the sound disappeared. For a moment, silence blanketed the area. Then the crowd erupted in cheers, their voices booming, almost shaking the ground with the sheer intensity of their excitement.

More performers took to the platforms, their voices weaving together in song, their movements flowing as they danced. The energy of the crowd grew, but Jingliu stood without hesitation, tugging Yasushi along with her. He followed without resistance, his steps matching hers as they left the lively scene behind.

They stopped at a spot overlooking the open fields stretching beyond the town, where the small mountainside they'd visited before stood in the distance. It was the same place they had gone to during their last visit to hang their wishes.

Yasushi glanced around, taking in their surroundings. "We didn't come here before," he said. "The view's something else though — reminds me of that place we visited a few years back."

Jingliu's hand tightened slightly around his. "I noticed this spot last time," she said. "I didn't think we'd have time to come here back then, so I figured we'd save it for another visit. Since we've got a moment now, I thought it'd be a good chance to finally see it."

"I see... well, we did keep our promise to stay together. It's been about two years since then, and four years since we started dating," he said, squeezing her hand gently.

Jingliu looked at him and smiled before leaning her head against his shoulder. "Yeah... a lot has happened. We've grown, met new people, learned so much. Honestly, I never imagined I'd be here."

"Me neither," Yasushi admitted, his voice soft. "So... how about we make the same promise again?" His lips curled into a grin as he glanced at her.

Jingliu surprised him by shaking her head. "No…" she said, her voice quieter now as she turned her face away. Her cheeks turned pink as she continued, "I'd... like us to be something else by then."

It took him a moment to catch her meaning. When it hit him, his face flushed, and his grip on her hand tightened slightly without him realizing it.

"Are you really sure about that?" he asked after a pause, his tone careful but earnest. "I know we talked about it when we were younger, but now... we're adults. This is a much bigger step."

Jingliu nodded faintly, her expression filled with uncertainty before she turned back toward him. Her entire face had turned red. "I…I'm sure. I want it to happen. But…you don't need to do it right now. I just want you to know that I'm fine with getting married to you," she admitted, her voice unsteady as the color in her cheeks deepened.

Yasushi gave her a warm smile, finding her shy manner endearing. "Alright. You already have my promise ring. Soon, I'll replace it with an engagement ring, so please wait just a little longer."

"Y-yes…" Jingliu murmured, her embarrassment still getting the better of her.

As the two leaned closer to share a kiss, a sudden interruption froze them in place.

"Mommy, those two are going to sin by kissing, and they're not married!" a young voice blurted out nearby.

"Oh my god, oh my god, I just saw a proposal — aaahh! W-wait, no, let's leave, it's fine!" a woman stammered before the sound of retreating footsteps filled the air.

Both Jingliu and Yasushi turned crimson, their faces almost matching the hue of the setting sun. Neither said a word as they leaned closer, their lips meeting in a gentle kiss that lasted just long enough to be meaningful. When they pulled back, their expressions were a mix of bashfulness and uncertainty, cheeks still flushed.

Jingliu glanced up at him, her voice low but steady enough to convey a hint of awkwardness. "Let's just… not bring that up again."

Yasushi scratched the back of his neck, letting out a chuckle that betrayed his nervousness. "Yeah… let's just keep going with the date."

The rest of the day unfolded without any more surprises. They strolled through the small town, the earlier tension dissipating as they browsed shops and picked out gifts. Before heading home, they made sure to buy a few keepsakes for Xinyi, along with some for the household staff. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the day had turned out far better than either had expected.