Chà Chà Novel

Wen Qin wasn’t falling for it. Her dignified posture stood in stark contrast to Ji Shileng’s crooked, utterly informal sprawl against her.

“Whether he calculated it is beside the point. Hurry up and finish eating. I’ve booked a stylist”

Ji Shileng made one last attempt. “Mom…”

A magazine landed on his lap as Wen Qin delivered her ultimatum. “If you’re not eating, pick out some clothes you like. Stop wasting time”

Holding the magazine, Ji Shileng sheepishly straightened up, no longer daring to push his luck.

As he drank his soup, he thought he couldn’t keep living so idly. Otherwise, his mother would drag him out to meet “friends” every day.

When he first returned, he had been quite ambitious about his career. The problem was that Journey to Stardom had no direct competitors.

Over time, his professional drive had wandered off to who knew where.

Ji Shileng reluctantly gathered what little ambition he had left.

The doorman greeted Wen Qin enthusiastically the moment he saw her.

Everyone knew the Ji family were major patrons of Yongyi Court.

His gaze involuntarily drifted to the young man beside her.

He stood a head taller than Wen Qin, without a hat. Sunglasses concealed almost half his face, leaving a tapered chin visible. Obsidian studs in his earlobes gleamed with a subtle, cool sheen.

He wore a lightweight, ink-black sweater with an asymmetrical hem. Several strands of fringe hung loosely from the left side, swaying as he walked.

Dark jeans and sneakers completed the cool, striking look, making him thoroughly conspicuous.

Seemingly noticing the doorman’s curious gaze, the young man gave him a slight nod.

The tips of the doorman’s ears turned red. He quickly lowered his head and bowed as he led Wen Qin inside.

“When we reach the top floor, stand by the windows first. Let me take a few pictures”, Wen Qin said. The more she looked, the more satisfied she became. She was already planning to show him off to her friends.

The original plan had been for him to wear a suit, but Ji Shileng thought there was no need to be so formal and stubbornly refused.

After considering it, Wen Qin decided that getting him there was what mattered. Clothes were merely a finishing touch, so she let her son have his way.

She hadn’t expected his own outfit to leave everyone speechless.

The moment the elevator reached the top floor, Wen Qin directed Ji Shileng toward the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.

Not daring to refuse, he immediately stood obediently beside them.

Beyond the glass, traffic streamed past beneath towering buildings lit as brightly as day. Ji Shileng pushed his sunglasses onto his head, exposing his smooth forehead, his expression bright and spirited.

The patrons on Yongyi Court’s top floor were all wealthy or influential. They moved in the same circles, and Wen Qin socialized frequently. Everyone recognized them.

The interstellar military competition had caused quite an uproar recently.

The Ji family had led a delegation to the Empire and returned unscathed, while Imperial Capital News had run into trouble instead.

Outwardly, people’s fear and respect for the Ji family had grown. Behind the scenes, private calculations were taking shape.

Wen Qin worked quickly. Ji Shileng was handsome and photogenic; even casual snapshots looked like magazine spreads.

Holding up her communicator, she swiped through the pictures and asked what he thought.

Ji Shileng examined them seriously, praising his mother’s photography again and again. Why hire a photographer for his next portrait session? His mother could do it herself.

His compliments delighted Wen Qin so much that the fine lines at the corners of her eyes showed.

Not far away, Qin Si’s business partner watched Ji Shileng with his arms folded. “Mr. Qin, see over there? That’s a famously privileged young master in our circles. You must have seen him at the military competition”

“Yes, we’ve met a few times”, Qin Si replied, suppressing the urge to take photographs.

The angle from where he stood was poor. The pictures wouldn’t do him justice.

Qin Si began seriously considering how he might obtain a set of photographs from Ji Shileng’s mother.

“You should keep your distance. The Ji family’s third young master looks easygoing, but he’s utterly unruly when it comes down to it”, his partner advised earnestly. He had learned that lesson the hard way.

Qin Si chuckled. “Is that so?”

His partner hesitated. “Perhaps we should go say hello anyway? It’s been ages since I last saw Mrs. Ji”

Mrs. Guo, arriving “fashionably late” from the elevators, abandoned her son and hurried enthusiastically to Wen Qin like a young girl. “Wen Qin, why are you here so early?”

Mrs. Guo and her husband had been childhood sweethearts. Cherished by him, she remained innocent and uncomplicated, while her son gave her little cause for concern.

As Mrs. Guo linked arms with her, Wen Qin showed her the photographs she had taken of Ji Shileng. “It was nearly time, so we came over”

Guo Weishui approached Ji Shileng. His attire was entirely different from Ji Shileng’s eye-catching ensemble.

A structured, dark-green casual suit emphasized his tall, graceful figure. With black-framed glasses added, someone unfamiliar with him might have thought he was here to walk a runway.

Guo Weishui turned slightly and held out a hand. “Shileng, long time no see”

Ji Shileng: “…”

With Wen Qin watching him closely, he had no choice but to offer his hand. “Hope you’ve been well”

Half a beat too slow, he found his hand caught in Guo Weishui’s grip. Gritting his teeth inwardly, he tried to pull free, without success.

Ji Shileng gave up struggling.

Seriously, Guo Weishui had been shorter than him in middle school.

How had the years flown by and left Guo Weishui half a head taller?

Seeing the two families meet, Qin Si’s partner connected the scene with the latest rumors and understood. “Never mind. We’ll find another chance. Looks like the families are setting them up”

Qin Si raised an eyebrow, darkness gathering in his eyes. “Setting them up?”

The urgent matter Ji Shileng had mentioned was an urgent matchmaking date?

“Yes. The Guo and Ji elders are very close”, his partner said, leading Qin Si to their seats. “The Guo boy is quite impressive. No wonder he’s the first person the third young master is meeting after coming home”

Qin Si lowered his head to uncap a metal pen, concealing his darkening mood. “Is he that impressive? I’ve only just arrived in the Federation. I’m still unfamiliar with things here”

“Guo Weishui inherited the feng shui arts from the old star-calendar era. His readings start at several million star credits”, his partner replied, rubbing his chin. “My friend says they’re quite accurate”

Meanwhile, seeing that their sons had met and were conversing “delightfully”, the two mothers told them to enjoy themselves before taking the elevator down together.

Guo Weishui politely declined the server’s assistance and pulled out Ji Shileng’s chair himself. Then he asked a question he already knew the answer to. “You don’t seem particularly happy to see me”

“Would you like to make me happier?”

“No”, Guo Weishui said, looking up and meeting Qin Si’s gaze. After a moment, he returned his attention to Ji Shileng. “If I said yes, you’d probably get up and leave”

Ji Shileng didn’t want to engage with him.

Guo Weishui uncapped a pen and handed it over with the menu. “Anything you’d like to eat?”

Ji Shileng shook his head, thoroughly dismissive. “You order. I’m not picky”

He took off his sunglasses and tossed them onto the table. Crossing his legs, he rested an elbow on the armrest and turned toward the window, eyes lowered, his thoughts unreadable.