"Third Granduncle?"
The moment these words were spoken, not only was Third Granduncle puzzled, but even Jiang Si took a long moment to process them.
She blinked, her gaze sweeping over the man named Chi Heng several times.
He addressed Third Granduncle the same way she did.
Could he be a distant relative of Third Granduncle?
Third Granduncle clearly had the same thought, but after scrutinizing him for a while, he couldn’t place the man.
"You are…?"
"Third Granduncle, I’m Shian. Qin Shian."
The moment the name "Qin Shian" was uttered, Jiang Si’s thoughts were instantly pulled back over a decade.
Strictly speaking, the man before her was her true childhood sweetheart.
Both the Jiang and Qin families were well-known capitalists in Hu City.
Since their grandfathers' generation, the two families had maintained close ties.
Qin Garden, where the Qin family resided, was in fact just a street away from the Jiang family’s ancestral home.
However, by the time the Qin family moved overseas, Jiang Si was barely six years old.
So her memories of this neighbor, two years her senior, were faint at best.
The main reason was also that the man before her had changed so drastically from the boy she once knew.
No wonder Third Granduncle’s eyes nearly popped out of his head upon hearing him introduce himself as Qin Shian.
Their shock was understandable.
After all, Qin Shian was Father Qin’s late-born son—Father Qin was nearly forty when he finally had this child.
Not to mention, the boy was the sole heir of the Qin family for eight generations.
As a result, the entire Qin family doted on him excessively.
He had been chubby as a ball in his youth, his eyes nearly disappearing into slits whenever he laughed.
No one could possibly connect the poised, elegant man before them with the Qin Shian of their memories.
"You’re really Shian?" After a long scrutiny, Third Granduncle still wore an expression of disbelief as he asked.
Chi Heng nodded, removing his glasses and stepping closer.
Pointing to a faint scar on the bridge of his nose, he smiled warmly.
"This is from when I climbed the iron fence as a kid and fell. You were the one who sent me to the hospital."
"That’s right, I remember now!"
The scar was uniquely shaped, somewhat like a crescent moon, and Third Granduncle recognized it immediately.
They say girls change as they grow, but apparently, the same applies to boys.
Though he had countless questions, Third Granduncle didn’t press further.
Instead, he quickly ushered him inside. "Don’t just stand at the door—come in and talk."
He added, "Since you’re here, you must stay for dinner."
After all, he was an old friend’s child, and it was only proper to host him after so many years apart.
Chi Heng didn’t decline.
With a slight nod, he followed Third Granduncle into the main hall.
Uncle Zhong, hearing the commotion, emerged from the kitchen.
As he picked up the teacups to brew some tea, Chi Heng immediately stood up and said politely, "Uncle Zhong, please rest. Let me handle this."
Mother Qin came from a scholarly family and had a deep love for tea, mastering the art of tea ceremony.
Growing up under her influence, Chi Heng had learned much himself.
With practiced ease, he picked up the teapot—warming the cups, measuring the leaves, pouring the water high, then steeping it low, and finally distributing the tea. His movements were fluid, almost artistic.
Third Granduncle watched approvingly and nodded in satisfaction.
"Third Granduncle, please enjoy your tea." Chi Heng handed the first cup to him respectfully with both hands.
The second cup, he naturally offered to Jiang Si, who sat across from him.
"Si, this is for you. Be careful—it’s hot."
He pronounced her name with unusual tenderness.
Though her family often called her "Si," hearing it from his lips made Jiang Si’s brows furrow involuntarily.
In her dictionary, there was no such thing as holding back.
If something bothered her, she said it outright.
"Thank you." She accepted the cup but set it back on the table. "But please call me Jiang Si."
"Of course."
Chi Heng didn’t seem the least bit surprised, his voice as calm and smooth as before.
Sensing the tension, Third Granduncle took a sip of tea and swiftly changed the subject.
"Shian, when did you return?"
He remembered the family had moved to France. In the early years, they would send letters during holidays.
But as political tensions rose domestically, the two families gradually lost touch.
Chi Heng set the teapot down and placed his hands neatly on his knees.
"Third Granduncle, I arrived in Capital City just a few days ago."
"A few days ago?"
Thinking of old friends, Third Granduncle felt a pang of nostalgia. "And your grandparents? Did they come back with you?"
"No."
At the mention of his family, Chi Heng’s eyes dimmed. "My grandparents are quite elderly now, and their health has been frail in recent years. Mother stayed behind to care for them."
"As for my father… he passed away from illness eight years ago. I returned alone this time."
Third Granduncle hadn’t expected this and offered a few words of comfort.
Then he asked, "So, are you planning to stay long-term, or…?"
"This trip is work-related," Chi Heng replied. "I’ll be here for about two years, though the exact duration depends on arrangements from above."
"I see."
Third Granduncle didn’t pry further. Seeing that the meal was nearly ready, he stood and gestured.
"Let’s eat first. We can talk more afterward."
Since Jiang Si was dining with them, Uncle Zhong had prepared mostly her favorite Hu City dishes—rich, soy-braised fare that looked incredibly appetizing.
"Here, Shian, try this braised pork chop. See if it tastes the same as you remember."
Third Granduncle encouraged him to eat heartily.
"Thank you, Third Granduncle." Chi Heng sampled a bit of each dish.
He spoke little during the meal, eating quietly—a habit he shared with Jiang Si, who also preferred silence at the table.
"You’re not eating much," Third Granduncle remarked when Chi Heng set down his chopsticks after just one bowl. "Was the food not to your liking?"
"Not at all. It was delicious."
"Then why…?"
Chi Heng explained, "A few years ago, my workload was heavy, and I neglected regular meals. It took a toll on my stomach."
"The doctor advised me to eat lightly and in smaller portions."
He smiled. "The food truly was wonderful. It’s been years since I’ve had authentic Hu City cuisine."
Hearing this, Third Granduncle felt even more sympathetic toward his old friend’s son.
"No matter how busy you are, you must eat on time. Take good care of yourself from now on."
"I will. Thank you, Third Granduncle." Chi Heng nodded earnestly.
