Chapter 108: The Late-Night Phone Call

“Going out on Thursday? That time sounds pretty good. Sure!”

After a moment of thought, Zheng Xiujing agreed to the date Chen Zhe proposed. After all, she had no plans for the entire next week, so anytime was fine for going out.

“Great, should I come pick you up, or shall we meet somewhere?”

Hearing Zheng Xiujing accept his invitation, Chen Zhe happily clenched his small fist in triumph. Half of his plan was already accomplished.

The rest would depend entirely on how he performed next Thursday. Silently, Chen Zhe hoped he wouldn’t mess things up.

“Ah Zhe, come pick me up then. But be careful not to get caught by my sister. Though, if we head out early in the morning, she probably won’t notice.”

Though Zheng Xiujing had been reserved at first, once she agreed to Chen Zhe’s invitation, she immediately switched roles, helping him strategize.

She told him all about Zheng Xiuyan’s routine and whereabouts so he could find the right moment to come get her, avoiding the times when her sister was most active.

“Okay, on Wednesday night I’ll contact you first. We’ll set the time, and I’ll wait outside. You sneak out quietly to meet me.”

Listening to Zheng Xiujing’s steady, uninterrupted voice through the phone, a smile curled at the corner of Chen Zhe’s lips. He didn’t interrupt her; surprisingly, he didn’t find her chatter annoying.

Instead, he listened with deep interest, feeling very content and at ease.

“No problem, that sounds perfect!” After hearing Chen Zhe’s suggestion, Zheng Xiujing readily agreed, her voice brimming with excitement.

It seemed that doing something behind her sister’s back, who loved to control her, gave Zheng Xiujing a peculiar thrill.

———————— Chat Break ————————

Chen Zhe and Zheng Xiujing chatted for a long time, until both their phones became seriously hot from constant use. Only then did they reluctantly say goodnight and hang up.

“All right! First, I’ll send thank-you messages to Taeyeon, Nuo, and Heechul and the others, then it’s time to prepare a surprise for Xiujing!”

After ending the call with Zheng Xiujing, Chen Zhe didn’t immediately put down his phone. He first sent thank-you texts to the senior brothers and sisters he knew at SM Entertainment.

After replying to their messages, Chen Zhe rubbed his chin, pondering how to pull off the surprise for Zheng Xiujing.

Although Chen Yuqi had suggested he cook a full meal for her himself, Chen Zhe’s mother took such good care of him, and before his reincarnation, his work schedule meant he mostly ate takeout.

He rarely cooked and wasn’t skilled in the kitchen, so he felt a bit troubled. He even considered video-calling his own mother to have her teach him step by step.

But just as Chen Zhe hesitated whether to ask his mother for help, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him—a figure appeared in his mind.

This person was his good buddy, just two years older than him, born into a family of chefs with a legacy spanning generations, a graduate of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in France, and certified as a brilliant Michelin two-star chef.

If this friend taught him, learning a few dishes before next Thursday shouldn’t be a problem at all. After all, he could consider himself a bit of a prodigy.

With that thought, Chen Zhe picked up his phone again, switched to his domestic SIM card, connected to the apartment Wi-Fi, and began searching on WeChat. His finger finally stopped on a contact labeled “Chef Bai.”

“Good evening! Are you asleep yet, Old Bai?”

Once the WeChat call connected, Chen Zhe cleared his throat, rubbed his cheeks to freshen up, adjusted his mood, and then greeted the person on the other end with his usual playful grin.

“Hm, why are you suddenly calling me, Miner?”

Seemingly used to Chen Zhe’s cheerful calls, the person on the other end didn’t get angry. Instead, his tone carried a hint of puzzlement.

He knew Chen Zhe loved to have fun but wouldn’t call late at night to bother him without reason. Usually, a call at this hour meant something urgent.

“Miner my foot! Don’t slander me out of nowhere. Call me Ah Zhe, please!”