20: Chapter 20 Night Stroll Through the Crossroads

Driving out of the parking lot and leaving Wu Mengmeng's face—twisted with jealousy and regret—far behind, a brief silence fell over the car's interior.

There was only the faint hum of the air conditioner and the lights of the City of Luo gradually flickering to life outside the window.

Cao Kun gripped the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the winding road ahead, but his heart was in a state of turmoil.

The moment Ji Guangli had held his hand just now, that cool touch and firm strength...

She had stepped forward without hesitation, calling herself his girlfriend to get him out of that situation.

And then there was that final, masterful wink and goodbye... every scene was branded into his mind.

He caught a glimpse of Ji Guangli in the passenger seat out of the corner of his eye. She was looking out the window at the passing streetscape, her profile appearing exceptionally soft and serene under the dim yellow streetlights, completely devoid of her usual sharpness.

A thought suddenly popped into Cao Kun's head: If only... she really were my girlfriend.

As soon as the thought appeared, it was like a pebble dropped into a quiet lake, sending ripples across the surface of his heart.

At the same time, Ji Guangli, looking at the unfamiliar city night view outside the window, was equally restless.

Her actions just now were half out of disdain for Wu Mengmeng's behavior and a desire to protect her subordinate.

As for the other half... even she couldn't quite put it into words.

While playing the role of his girlfriend, the sensation of skin touching skin as she held Cao Kun's hand and the warmth from his fingers had actually caused her to daze for a moment.

Then there were Cao Kun's thoughtful reminders earlier, remembering her stomach issues and her dislike of cilantro... these tiny details were like sparks falling onto the frozen, tense lake of her heart.

It seemed... having a boyfriend who could care for her, protect her, and stand by her side at critical moments... didn't feel so bad?

The thought startled her, and she quickly took a deep breath to suppress the strange feeling in her chest.

The atmosphere was subtle, tinged with a bit of awkwardness and a hint of an indescribable ambiguity.

Cao Kun cleared his throat, attempting to break the strange atmosphere, and took the initiative to speak.

"Manager, just now... thank you so much for helping me out and... and pretending to be my girlfriend."

Ji Guangli had already regained her composure. Her eyes were fixed ahead, and her tone betrayed little emotion.

"It's nothing. I just couldn't stand that kind of petty person's arrogance and how she turned her back on you. Besides, I was also protecting the image of Department Two. No outsider is allowed to lecture or humiliate my subordinates."

Cao Kun knew it wasn't just about protecting the department's image. He smiled and didn't continue thanking her; some sentiments were better kept in the heart.

"Tell me why you two broke up."

Ji Guangli didn't know why, but she suddenly wanted to know more about Cao Kun.

"Sigh, there's really not much to say." Cao Kun gave a bitter smile.

"My ex-girlfriend's name is Wu Mengmeng. We were together for over two years. I supported her while she studied for the civil service exam, but as soon as she passed, she dumped me because I was poor and said a lot of nasty things."

He briefly described the breakup. His tone was calm, but Ji Guangli could hear the suppressed bitterness underneath.

Ji Guangli listened quietly without interrupting.

After listening, she sighed softly. "It's better that you broke up with someone like that. Treating feelings and sacrifices as investments and calculations... their true nature was bound to come out sooner or later. You just cut your losses in time."

Her voice was less businesslike than usual, filled with more understanding and comfort. "I just didn't expect we'd run into her in the City of Luo, especially in such a situation."

"Yeah, what a coincidence." Cao Kun gave a wry smile, then remembered the final scene and asked curiously.

"But Manager, what made you think of winking at her boyfriend and saying goodbye? I saw Wu Mengmeng's face turn green with rage."

At the mention of this, the corners of Ji Guangli's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a somewhat mischievous smile.

"I've met all sorts of people in sales over the years. That man clearly isn't the type to behave himself; his eyes were wandering, he's lustful, and he lacks basic respect for his female companion."

"I simply played into his desires, gave him a false impression, and intentionally made your ex-girlfriend misunderstand to vent some frustration for you."

"Seeing her hopping mad, do you feel a bit better?"

Cao Kun was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud. "More than just a bit! It was incredibly satisfying! Manager, that move was brilliant! You really went for the jugular!"

He hadn't expected Ji Guangli to have such a side to her, and his gratitude and fondness for her grew even more.

As they talked, the previous awkwardness dissipated unnoticed, replaced by a sense of ease and rapport after fighting side-by-side.

The car drove slowly through the streets of the City of Luo, heading toward the famous Old Town Cross Street.

Soon, they arrived near Cross Street.

However, Cross Street was bustling with traffic, and parking spaces were hard to come by.

Cao Kun drove around several times before finally finding an empty spot in a secluded area nearly a kilometer away from the Cross Street entrance.

"Let's go. We'll just treat it as a walk; we're in no hurry anyway," Cao Kun said to Ji Guangli after parking.

Ji Guangli nodded. The two of them got out of the car and walked side-by-side toward the brightly lit Cross Street.

A cool night breeze blew, dispersing the day's heat and fluttering Ji Guangli's loose hair and her light sun-protection cardigan.

Walking beside her, Cao Kun could smell the faint fragrance coming from her, which mingled with the noisy atmosphere of the marketplace, creating a unique sensation.

Stepping into Cross Street felt like an instantaneous journey through time.

At the entrance stood a primitive, antique-style archway with upturned eaves, appearing solemn and magnificent under the lights.

On both sides of the street were rows upon rows of shops with red lanterns hanging high and banners fluttering. The area was teeming with people and incredibly lively.

Although many food streets across the country were inevitably homogenized and filled with similar snacks, this place still retained a strong local flavor of the City of Luo, with the air permeated by the tempting, mixed aromas of various foods.

For the time being, the two of them put aside the pressure of work, company competition, and the previous unpleasantness, immersing themselves in the long-lost, simple joy of strolling.

They moved slowly with the crowd. After only a few steps, they saw several Bufan Soup stalls.

This was a specialty of the City of Luo, with various signs on the stalls mentioning they had been on TV or featured in 'A Bite of China.'

And many people were drinking it.

Out of curiosity, the two tried a bowl.

Cao Kun took a few sips, smacked his lips, and told Ji Guangli the truth. "Manager, this soup... the taste is quite unique, but I don't think I can get used to it."

In reality, Cao Kun's thought was: What on earth is this? Is it really this bad?

However, he didn't dare say it out loud for fear of offending anyone; it was also possible that the place he went to wasn't authentic.

I wonder if any friends from the City of Luo can tell me what Bufan Soup is actually like.

Ji Guangli tasted it and gave Cao Kun a wry smile.

"I'm not used to it either."

The two of them left the Bufan Soup after only a few sips and walked away.

However, the following Shuan Niudu and Guotie won unanimous praise from both of them.

The Shuan Niudu was tender and bouncy, and when dipped in spicy seasoning, it was full of flavor.

The freshly made Guotie had a golden, crispy bottom and delicious filling; every bite was fragrant.

They also tried specialty snacks like Jiangmiantiao and Peony Silver Silk Cakes. Ji Guangli even enthusiastically bought two sticks of Bingtanghulu and gave one to Cao Kun.

Passing by a time-honored pastry shop, they went in and bought several boxes of beautifully packaged Flower Cakes—a specialty of the City of Luo—to bring back for their colleagues in the department.

Carrying the pastries and with the aftertaste of the food still in their mouths, both were in high spirits, with relaxed smiles on their faces.

Just as they were about to continue their stroll, the sharp-eyed Cao Kun spotted two more acquaintances.

...