Chapter 30: The jitters a night before

Days passed by. Nana was busy with all the preparations. This time she was extra careful with the food ingredients supply. She didn’t want to repeat what happened in the Spring Festival. She cannot afford to mess up in such a big event.

Meanwhile, Chen Jianyu and Nana also became very good friends. With each passing day, they could talk to each other more comfortably now. No more awkward silences.

Mrs. Fei never failed to glare at her whenever she used to see them together.

Serena whined to introduce him to her. But she had to be away for 40 days for an internship. She had done her degree in interior designing, and she was hired in the top company Design Premier.

So many days away from Nana. And her food. Nana somehow consoled her.

Sometimes Jianyu would come to Natsukashi for either lunch or dinner. Sometimes he would ask Nana to bring lunch boxes for himself and his staff. His whole company was in love with her food.

Her business was flourishing.

Once again she got those same gazes and stares when she had come to his company for the first time. Those same murmurs, and those same possible theories.

The anniversary celebration came in the blink of an eye. Tomorrow was the event.

The night before.

Jianyu came to have dinner in Natsukashi.

“So, how’s everything going? Are you ready for tomorrow?”

“Well yes. Everything is going on as planned. All the supplies have arrived and by tomorrow afternoon we will complete all the food preparation. Immediately after that, we will leave for the venue with all the food containers. I have checked all the table settings from its decorations to the silverware. By six-thirty, we will start setting up all counters, and by seven we will be serving snacks and some drinks to guests. By eight, the dinner will start, so I will be the busiest.”

Jianyu could see how jittery she was. Even though she said everything is fine, but she couldn’t help but repeat the whole schedule in nervousness.

He sighed. “Relax. Everything will be fine. You have worked so hard. Nothing will go wrong”, he reassured, “And I’m also there. Anytime you are in a pinch, you can straight away come to me.

“Thank you so much.” She smiled.

“Pretty sister!”, a little boy came dashing towards her and clutched her leg.

Nana was delighted. She bent down and hugged him. “Mingyu!”

He shyly went up to her and kissed her cheek. “I’m hungry pretty sister. Please make me a big sandwich.”

She chuckled, “Alright. But that is not your dinner okay? You will still eat proper rice and curry.”

“Yes, pretty sister.” He nodded.

“Oh yes. Let me introduce you two. Chen Jianyu, he is Cao Mingyu. He is the grandson of Old Mr. Cao, who is one of our local food suppliers.”

“And Mingyu, he is my friend, Chen Jianyu. You can call him big brother.”

Mingyu stared at him with all seriousness. Then he nodded. “Hello, big brother.”

He ruffled his hair and smiled, “Hello to you too young man.”

“I will leave now. You be ready at five tomorrow. I will pick you up.”

“Okay.”

“You won’t be here tomorrow pretty sister?”, Mingyu became sad.

Nana felt bad too. “Yes, Mingyu. Your sister has got to do a big job tomorrow. So I won’t be here tomorrow night.”

“Can I come too? Please please, pretty sister! I will also help with your big job.”, he pleaded.

“No Mingyu, I cannot-“

“It’s alright. You can bring him with us. He is so cute. How can you bear to say no?”, Jianyu smiled.

“Uh…”

“Yayyy! I can help pretty sister while also guarding her against men like a big brother.”

He scowled. Men like me? “Not so cute anymore.”

“Mingyu!”

“It’s okay Nana. He really likes you I see.”

“Yes! She is my future bride.”

Cough Cough! Isn’t the age gap a little too big, little boy?

She sighed helplessly. “Okay. But I will have to ask Mr. Cao first. If he agrees, then only you can come, okay?”

“Okay!”

She called Mr. Cao and he happily agreed. Since Nana would be there, he had no issues.

“Well, your grandpa has agreed.”

“Yay! I will be going with pretty sister!”

“But you have to promise me that you will always stick by my side. You won’t roam around here and there and you will not leave my side.”

“I promise!”, he said cheerfully.

She smiled and pinched his cheeks, “Okay then.”

—

Liu Jinhai was working in his study when Huian came up from behind.

“Tomorrow is finally the big day. I’m so excited. But worried too. Everything will go fine right?”

“Yes, Huian. Don’t worry. It will be a great night.”, he patted her shoulders.

—

Suyin came out of the changing room wearing a knee-length champagne-colored off the shoulder dress. It perfectly fitted her.

“Beautiful. My daughter looks so gorgeous.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

She praised her from every angle possible and then reminded her task. “Remember. You have to look at your best tomorrow. For Chen Jianyu. Tomorrow you have to make use of every chance you get to get close to him. But subtly.”

“Yes, Mom. I know what I have to do. This time I won’t let go of him.”