Chapter 364: Subtle Arrangements

November passed in a hurried and chaotic manner, and in a blink of an eye, it was time for heavy snow. The whole country began to enter winter, with temperatures plummeting.

In the morning, a layer of wintry fog hovered over the streets. From a distance, it looked vast and light as a veil, yet it proved elusive up close, almost ethereal.

During this season, pedestrians on the streets had switched to thicker clothing, well-prepared to welcome the winter.

In Wuhan, Xiao Liu got up early for work and stopped by Yang Ji for a steaming bowl of mutton soup. The warm, flavorful broth instantly heated his whole body.

After a satisfying ‘ah’, Xiao Liu wore a blissful expression and casually burped.

Meanwhile, across the street, bangs and clatters of renovation caught Xiao Liu’s attention.

Three stores on the street were being remodeled. Although their new looks were not yet discernible, their signs were already up.

A Zero Hour convenience store, Linchuan Barbecue, and an old hotel at the street corner, now rebranded as Vena, were all under interior renovation.

“Isn’t the economy supposed to be going downhill again? How come there are so many new stores opening up?”

As Xiao Liu opened a packet of instant noodles, he suddenly noticed the renovation workers heading to Yang Ji.

It seemed almost like a tacit agreement; the staff at Yang Ji busily served a stack of breakfasts to the workers.

The workers quickly finished their meals, put on hats and gloves, and headed back into the morning mist.

“Do you also cater for group meals?”

“No, we don’t take group orders. But Yang Ji has a partnership with those stores across, so we’re responsible for the workers’ meals during renovation.”

The waiter collected the money and, noticing Xiao Liu’s frequent visits, offered a discount card: “Since you dine often here, why not get a card? It gives you a 20% discount, and it’s valid in the new stores once they open.”

Xiao Liu looked at the card: “Xihan Heqing, that’s an unusual name.”

“But 20% off sounds really tempting.”

“That’s true.”

Xiao Liu ate breakfast at Yang Ji every day, not just for the mutton soup but also for their honey-glazed dumplings and spicy chicken combo.

Getting a discount would be great, especially since the card could be used in the new stores across the street.

Although he was a local and didn’t need a hotel, having barbecue, buying cigarettes, or getting a soda at the convenience store certainly applied.

So, Xiao Liu spent 300 yuan, registered his details, and got the Xihan Heqing membership card.

“Bro, order three cups of Xitian for us—two half-sugar rose taro, one ginger date.”

“Sure, Lily.”

With his new card in hand, Xiao Liu left Yang Ji and headed to Xitian to place his order.

As the clerk made the tea, Xiao Liu left his bag and card on the counter, then took out his wallet to search for change.

“Don’t you have a membership card?”

“Huh?”

The clerk picked up the Xihan Heqing card, lightly swiped it, and the price of a 16 yuan tea dropped to nine yuan.

Xiao Liu was stunned: “This card works here at Xitian too?”

The pretty clerk blinked: “The ‘Xi’ in Xihan Heqing is the same ‘Xi’ as in Xitian. Didn’t the clerk who issued your card explain?”

“She briefly mentioned it, but I threw the brochure she gave me into the trash.”

“No worries, I’ll give you another one.”

The clerk handed over a fresh guide to using the membership card, listing applicable brands and upcoming ones.

Xiao Liu glanced at it: “But three teas for just nine yuan? That’s quite a discount.”

“It’s not a discount. The rose taro is full price, but today being the day of heavy snow, the ginger date is free—a warm wish for your girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend yet. I’m still trying, heh.”

Carrying three cups of tea, Xiao Liu chuckled shyly and stepped out of Xitian, heading to the office while browsing the membership booklet.

He realized how impressive this card was. Even though it was only valid at a few places now like hot pot, fast food, milk tea, grilled fish, desserts, and fresh fruits, plans included hotels, KTV, convenience stores, and supermarkets.

He had just seen it, the planned stores across the street were already being renovated.

Halfway there, Xiao Liu stopped as the morning fog began to clear and dawn illuminated the remaining mist, outlining it with a faint golden edge as if something spectacular was about to burst forth.

At 8:30 AM, he arrived at his company, signed in, and handed the teas to his crush, Li Moli, while sharing details about the membership card.

“You spent only 23 yuan on breakfast and three teas with that card?”

“Yeah, they seem to have promotions every solar term and things like crazy half-price deals on Thursdays.”

“Hey, hey, beautiful, Brother Chen, come over, we’ve got some great stuff here.”

“…”

By noon, that promotional leaflet had nearly worn out, and people were specifically coming to Xiao Liu to see the membership card.

In reality, Xiao Liu had already recommended Yang Ji’s mutton soup and dumplings days ago, but his colleagues showed little interest. Today, however, several approached him, eager to try.

Goddess Moli suggested going together.

The monotony of corporate life craved a bit of excitement, anything new drew a crowd.

But plans often fall through. Just as Xiao Liu finished his work and was about to take them to Yang Ji, he received a notice from his boss to attend a meeting in Kyoto with some managers.

It was already evening by the time he arrived in Kyoto from Wuhan. After leaving the airport, Xiao Liu went straight to the hotel to rest.

The economy class seats were cramped and uncomfortable, designed by someone clearly lacking empathy—neither sitting upright nor leaning back was comfortable.

Xiao Liu went straight to sleep, slept until the evening, and woke up famished, especially since he missed Yang Ji’s dumplings.

“Let’s find something to eat.”

“I wonder if there’s a good dumpling shop in Kyoto.”

Scratching his head, Xiao Liu walked out of the hotel aimlessly and reached a bustling street, where he instantly recognized a familiar logo—Yang Ji.

“Huh?”

He walked closer, and the feeling of being back in Wuhan washed over him—not because of Yang Ji but because nearby, just as the card booklet mentioned, were Xitian, a Qing Flower Pepper Grilled Fish restaurant, and Zero Hour convenience store.

Moreover, directly across and less than 300 meters to the west, several shops were clearly under renovation.

Am I still dreaming?

Xiao Liu stepped forward to take a closer look and confirmed that those were indeed the shops being renovated.

Even though it was already night, the area was bustling, especially with young people, some of whom looked like students heading towards a shopping center’s lower floor to enter a River Hotpot restaurant.

Xiao Liu paused then took out the stuffed membership card from his wallet and tentatively bought a pack of cigarettes at the Zero Hour store.

The card worked.

No discount on the cigarettes, but he could clearly see his points accumulating.

Just then, Xiao Liu’s phone rang from his pocket.

He checked the caller ID—it was his university friend Laoliang. They had moved to different cities after graduation, one in Wuhan and one in Xi’an, and mostly kept in touch via QQ with few phone calls.

“What’s up, Laoliang?”

“Bro, it’s my birthday today, and I can’t find any friends. So, I called you. How have you been recently?”

“On a business trip. Didn’t even get dinner—corporate life is too hard. Sold my body and soul but only earned a pittance.”

“I’m in the same boat. Just finished work and found a hotpot restaurant to celebrate my birthday alone. It’s so sad I can’t even tell my parents.”

Xiao Liu sighed, about to offer some consolation, when suddenly joyful music burst through the speakerphone.

Say goodbye to all worries, hello to all joys. Dear dear, happy birthday, may you always be happy~

The song was clearly sung by a group, because he even heard someone sing the wrong lyrics, and there were cheers and lively blessings following the song.

“Laoliang, I thought you said you were alone?”

Xiao Liu felt a bittersweet pang—a mix of gladness and envy knowing a friend was less alone than anticipated.

Standing at a strange street corner in a foreign city, hearing celebrations on the other end, his mood fluctuated.

“I am alone. Why else would I call you? But the staff at the hotpot place celebrated with me. It was a nice surprise.”

“Which hotpot joint does that for a customer?”

“River Hotpot.”

Xiao Liu paused, phone in hand, his eyes traversing the dazzling plaza to the River Hotpot across the way.

Suddenly, he felt a premonition, an unnamed mystery rapidly weaving its way into everyday lives, seducing hearts in unprecedented ways.

From a milk tea shop offering free drinks on a snowy day to a hotpot restaurant celebrating a lone diner’s birthday, it all felt part of a grand yet silent scheme.

Being in marketing, Xiao Liu was keenly aware of these dynamics and realized that today’s experiences, from dawn till now, seemed like a grand orchestration emerging from the morning fog—silent but massive.