The two entered from the underground car park and arrived on the first floor, where Ito Yuhiko immediately spotted Ye Chen and happily approached him.
Regarding Ye Chen, the more Ito Yuhiko looked at him, the more he liked him. Now knowing that Ye Chen’s wife had run away, he found him even more agreeable, increasingly seeing him as a son-in-law for the Ito family.
Thus, he patted Ye Chen on the shoulder and chuckled, “It’s been a while, Mr Ye.”
Ye Chen smiled and said, “How have you been, Mr Ito?”
“Very well, extremely well!” Ito Yuhiko said cheerfully. “We’ve moved to a new house, much more spacious and comfortable. Lately, I’ve been busy with my garden. I plan to transplant some of the precious tree varieties I grew in Japan here to Jinling one by one. If there’s any you like, just tell me. I’ll definitely find the finest specimen and have it shipped over!”
Ye Chen thanked him, “Thank you, Mr Ito, but I might not have the time to care for plants.”
Nanako also chimed in from the side, “Dad, Ye Chen-kun is always busy with work. He’s not like you, with so much time to tinker with trees and flowers.”
Ito Yuhiko laughed heartily and nodded, “That’s true. I’ve completely stepped away from all work matters now. Every day is just enjoying retirement life. Recently, I’ve taken a liking to visiting the wet market. I walk there to buy some fresh ingredients, then walk back. It feels wonderful.”
Ye Chen asked him, “How are you adapting to life in Jinling, Mr Ito?”
Ito Yuhiko smiled and said, “Adapting very well, extremely well. My appearance when going out has changed a lot from my old habits too. I’ve shaved my beard and dyed my hair black. Every day, I wander through the busiest spots in Jinling, and people take me for an ordinary middle-aged man. No one can recognise my true identity. This way, I don’t have to worry about anyone spotting that my legs have healed. The state is utterly relaxed.”
Ito Yuhiko truly enjoyed life in Jinling. It was a level of ease and comfort he had never experienced in his lifetime. The young people in this city were busy and hardworking every day, but middle-aged and older folks with some financial means lived truly leisurely lives.
At this moment, Nanako’s aunt, Ito Emi, came out from the kitchen and respectfully said, “Onii-chan, Mr Ye, Nanako, dinner is ready. You can enjoy it now.”
Ito Yuhiko smiled and said, “Mr Ye, Nanako brought back quite a few top-grade ingredients from Japan, along with the famous Uji matcha from Kyoto. She said she wanted to savour them with you, so we’ve been looking forward to inviting you over for a meal at home.”
Ye Chen understood Nanako’s feelings for him. Hearing Ito Yuhiko say this, he instinctively glanced at Nanako, his eyes carrying a touch of gratitude.
Nanako felt shy yet delighted, and quickly said, “Ye Chen-kun, please head to the dining room!”
In the dining room, the table was already laid out with many Japanese dishes.
The Japanese placed great emphasis on ceremony, so each dish was meticulously plated and garnished, making it a visual delight.
However, Ye Chen had little interest in Japanese cuisine. It tended to be rather bland in flavour, with seasonings that were quite limited. The entire nation’s dining style felt like that of a large chain restaurant: variations on soy sauce, wasabi, miso, and citrus vinegar.
Still, since he was a guest, Ye Chen naturally would not show this attitude. So, whenever Nanako enthusiastically introduced the ingredients and preparation methods, Ye Chen would praise them lavishly to show his appreciation.
