"Is Auntie alright?" Wanying asked Ye at the dinner table, her voice laced with concern.
"Don't you worry about her. There isn't much in this world she hasn't seen," Ye said with a smile, though perhaps because that man's gaze had been so insolent, a trace of worry flickered across her own expression.
"Ladies, do you have any specific dietary restrictions or allergies?" a server asked, appearing politely at their side.
"None," Ye replied.
"Very well. Here is today’s menu for your consideration. Please let us know if there is anything you would like to change or substitute." The server handed them gold-edged menus. "Will you be having still or sparkling water?"
"Still is fine," Ye said.
"Understood." The server bowed and withdrew.
A moment later, Kelly walked toward the table, glass in hand, her face wiped clean of emotion.
"All handled?" Ye asked as Kelly sat down.
"There wasn't much to handle in the first place," Kelly said with a light laugh. "Look at the menu; that's what truly deserves your attention."
Ye and Wanying looked down at the menu. It was a nine-course tasting menu, blending French techniques with seasonal ingredients from around the globe. From the names to the arrangement, it was structured like a musical composition—a beautiful poem in which each stanza stood alone yet formed a miraculous harmony. Each dish was paired with a corresponding beverage, whether a complex vintage wine or a meticulously designed non-alcoholic creation, acting as a low-frequency accompaniment to the feast.
"This is so exquisite..." Wanying’s eyes widened, her face nearly pressed against the card.
Her gaze landed on the fifth course—Roasted Squab Breast with Blackberry Reduction and Smoked Red Beet Purée. Her eyes lit up, her voice turning airy. "Oh! This looks amazing! It sounds so tender!"
Kelly smiled. "At your age, it's only natural to still have a deep affection for meat."
"You know me too well..." Wanying muttered, though she couldn't hide the grin tugging at her lips.
The opening courses were defined by freshness: White Asparagus with Coconut Buttermilk Foam and Yuzu Vinaigrette, followed by a Truffle Foie Gras Mousse Tart that offered richness within a silky texture. As the meal progressed, the flavors intensified, leading from a Charred Turbot with Lemon Shortcrust and Pea Sprout Sauce toward an even fuller sensory experience.
When she reached one of the main courses—Slow-braised Wagyu Beef Cheek with Smoked Onion and Red Wine Glaze—Wanying could hardly sit still, her eyes sparkling. "My god, this is incredible!"
"This girl... she truly cannot live without meat," Ye remarked calmly. Her tone wasn't one of reproach, but rather the fond observation of someone long accustomed to the trait.
At the end of the menu, their eyes fell upon the dessert: Dark Cocoa Mousse Cake with Passion Fruit Reduction and Whiskey Sorbet, garnished with Shiso flowers and Yuzu Honey Jelly.
Ye stared at the ingredients of the final dish, her focus landing on the small print: Shiso, Yuzu Honey. Her fingertip tapped the edge of the menu thoughtfully. "This Shiso pairing... it feels like an extension of Wagashi, yet it isn't purely Eastern."
Kelly couldn't help but laugh. "One is a carnivore, and the other is a palate poet. I certainly chose the right restaurant."
"I just hope the food comes out quickly," Wanying said, her hands clasped as she looked toward the kitchen with a reverence usually reserved for prayer.
Dinner passed amid laughter and small talk, though Ye could feel the weight of prying eyes from nearby tables, which left her with a slight sense of unease.
"Ms. Lin, may we serve the dessert?" a server approached and whispered.
"Wait." Kelly looked at Ye and Wanying. "Do you need to order anything else?"
"No, the portions were perfect. Any more and I’d be too stuffed for dessert," Ye laughed.
"Very well, please prepare the dessert," Kelly told the server.
"Auntie, where is the restroom?" Wanying asked suddenly.
"Just head toward the corner where I came from and walk to the end of the hall," Kelly said.
"I’ll be right back," Wanying said, standing up.
The moment Wanying rose, a server immediately stepped forward to guide her. Wanying thanked him with a smile and followed. As they walked, the server turned slightly. "Was everything to your liking, Ms.?"
"It was wonderful. I really enjoyed it. You can tell the ingredients are fresh, and a lot of thought went into the pairings, but it isn't so flashy that it loses the essence of the food. It's honest, soulful cooking," Wanying said warmly.
"I am glad to hear it. Are you in New York for a holiday?" the server asked.
"Yes, traveling and visiting family," Wanying replied.
"Oh? So you are a relative of Ms. Lin?"
"She is my mother’s best friend," Wanying answered, though a sense of internal caution began to stir. "Is the restroom at the end of this hall? If so, I can find my way from here."
"As you wish." The server stopped and offered a polite, graceful gesture for her to proceed.
Wanying walked to the end and pushed open the outer door. The restroom was silent and pristine, the air infused with a faint scent of white tea and sandalwood. She entered the furthest stall. Just as the door latched, she heard a click as someone else entered.
From the sound of it, it was two young women. Their footsteps were light, but their conversation carried clearly to her ears.
"The Nephele is certainly lively today," one of them said.
"Isn't it? William, Charles, and Kelly are all here. I heard Kelly and William even had a bit of a spat at the bar," the first woman said excitedly.
"When a feminist meets an old-school European aristocrat, sparks are bound to fly," the second replied.
Wanying’s heart jolted. Charles? As in Charles Johnson? A question rose in her mind. Charles Johnson was one of the most significant figures of the modern age. She knew Kelly moved in elite circles, but she hadn't expected to hear Kelly’s name mentioned in the same breath as Charles.
"It wasn't just a culture clash; it was about that incident years ago. They say she caused William’s entire Asian supply chain to collapse. Stock prices plummeted, and he was forced to withdraw from the Taiwan and Singapore markets—and she took over all his manufacturing plants in the process," the first woman added.
"I remember that. William somehow got his hands on some tech and claimed he was launching a 'Blueprint Project' to blackball her. In the end, he was forced to liquidate thirty percent of his holdings within three months. Kelly snatched up the divestment, and he lost nearly a quarter of his market cap."
"Yeah. To this day, no one knows how she pulled it off."
"And word is that Charles has been completely impressed ever since. Their relationship has grown much closer—they’re practically the only two high-end tech leaders left at the front of the market. I heard they’ve been meeting frequently lately, as if they’re plotting a new move."
"There are also rumors that privately... it’s not so simple. You know Charles—he never even gives reporters a chance for a scandal, yet Kelly appears freely by his side."
"Who knows..."
"For both of them to show up at The Nephele today—they’re in different parties, but calling it a coincidence feels like a stretch."
Hearing this, Wanying frowned slightly. She hesitated for a moment, then intentionally pressed the flush handle. The outside grew silent for a second, the women apparently realizing they weren't alone as a hint of wariness settled into the air.
Wanying stepped out to the sink and turned on the tap, her expression natural as if she hadn't heard a word. But through the corner of her eye, she studied the two women. One was blonde and blue-eyed, tall in a fitted navy-blue dress; the other had long dark brown hair and was wearing a burgundy satin dress with a sharp, commanding aura.
"I love your dress," the woman in navy said, offering a soft smile.
"Thank you," Wanying replied with a polite smile.
"Are you here with Kelly?" The woman’s tone wasn't aggressive, but it carried the unmistakable weight of a social probe.
"I am. Do you know her?" Wanying maintained her smile, her voice steady.
"Not at all, just curious about your relationship," the navy-clad woman said breezily. "She’s notoriously reclusive. My partner has been trying to get a meeting with her for ages, but we never get a response."
"I’m not really sure... perhaps she’s just been busy lately?" Wanying kept her tone light, but she was already mentally distancing herself.
"If it’s truly just because she's busy, then that’s easy enough to solve," the woman in burgundy muttered with a slight, contemptuous scoff.
She swept her gaze over Wanying, then looked at the other woman. "Let’s go. Have a pleasant evening."
The two turned and left. As their footsteps faded, Wanying stared at her reflection in the mirror, her mind momentarily drifting.
The Kelly in her memory was the gentle older sister who would pat her shoulder and offer quiet encouragement when she was nervous. She was her mother’s friend—a respected, kind, and trustworthy elder.
But the words she had just heard felt like a door being cracked open, revealing a different Kelly—a precise, decisive, and nearly cold master of the board.
She wasn't terrified, nor was she confused. Instead, a quiet sense of admiration she had never felt before began to rise within her.
She dried her hands, took a deep breath, and walked steadily out of the restroom, pulling the door shut behind her. When she turned back, her face wore a natural smile again, her footsteps quiet and composed as she made her way back.
Meanwhile, at the table, Ye finally couldn't help but ask, "Tell me the truth, Kelly—are you actually happy? Facing all this hostility, alone in a foreign land... why don't you come home? Everyone is waiting for you back there."
"I'm used to it," Kelly shrugged, giving a brief answer.
"Are you really?" Ye looked at her with a scrutinizing eye. "The reason you stayed here all those years ago... it doesn't exist anymore, does it?"
"It doesn't," Kelly said with a helpless smile. "But without realizing it, my life has become something else entirely. There is no going back now. I like the distance between people here, and I've figured out the rules of the game. I don't want to touch the past I've already laid to rest.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpCFWHq7gU
and then Add to home screen.