Manjie is anxious, it misses you.

After repeated invitations from the Singer Competition program team, Zhou Yi finally had Jiang Ruolan give a positive response.

Director Wu Qi clapped his hands in excitement: "Fantastic! Xiao Chen, get the promotional posters ready right away and release this season's guest list."

This season was truly star-studded, featuring not only veteran singers but also popular newcomers, ensuring appeal across all age groups—and a bit of a showdown between the old and new generations.

After accepting the show's invitation, Zhou Yi turned his attention to another matter.

During a previous dinner with the Kong family, Zhang Ming, a big shot in the pharmaceutical industry, had asked Zhou Yi to help treat someone.

Now, Zhou Yi received a message from him, inviting him to Province A with all expenses covered—flights, hotels, and even personal reception. Zhou Yi guessed the patient must be someone important.

Since he was about to leave for an international math modeling competition abroad—departing from Province A anyway—this worked out perfectly. He could head to Province A now, finish the treatment, and then fly out directly. Plus, it gave him a chance to spend more time with Xie Tingwan.

Zhou Yi requested leave from his academic advisor, who approved it immediately. When he mentioned he was going early to prepare, the advisor was thrilled and even encouraged him to bring back an award.

After all, this was an international competition. Winning it could even pave his way into A University.

Before leaving for Province A, Zhou Yi went to see You Man.

Ever since she had accidentally seen the mark on the corner of his lip during her last visit to his place, You Man had stopped dropping by unannounced.

So Zhou Yi took the initiative to visit her.

She was busy at her restaurant during the day. Even with staff around, she still handled small tasks herself, while Old Hai remained his usual quiet self.

Though it wasn’t peak dining hours, the place was still bustling—proof of You Man’s hard work and dedication.

The kitchen of Satisfaction Restaurant had a transparent glass design, allowing customers to see the cleanliness of the workspace and the fresh ingredients being cooked. No wonder business was booming.

When Zhou Yi walked in, Old Hai smiled and nodded at him through the glass. Zhou Yi returned the smile. You Man sat with her back to the entrance, absorbed in accounting.

Zhou Yi walked over and covered her eyes. A smile instantly spread across her face.

No one else would do this except him. She playfully grabbed his hand and teased, "Who’s this slacker, skipping work to visit my little shop instead of making big money at the company?"

Zhou Yi leaned into her shoulder and whispered, "Man Jie, I missed you."

You Man’s eyes curved as she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist. "It’s only been a few days, but I missed you too, Xiao Yi. Sit down."

He kissed her forehead before taking a seat beside her.

"Have you eaten? Are you hungry?"

You Man still delivered meals to his company daily, but since Zhou Yi had classes today, she hadn’t seen him at noon. She hadn’t expected him to show up in the afternoon.

"I ate at school. I’m leaving for Province A tomorrow, and the thought of not seeing you for days makes me reluctant to go."

"Is it for General Manager Chen’s friend?"

"Right. He’s already booked my flight."

Zhou Yi told You Man most things, so she wasn’t surprised. She smiled softly.

"I’ll be leaving for training soon too. I was actually planning to visit you tonight—guess we’re on the same wavelength."

"Naturally. We’re in sync. By the way, will anyone be going with you? I can arrange an assistant."

"No need for that hassle. I’ll be fine on my own."

"I can’t let you go so far alone. I’ll assign a female employee from the company to accompany you—someone to help with luggage, keep you company, and make sure you enjoy yourself. Treat it like a short vacation."

Warmth filled You Man’s heart as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Alright, fine. But I have to ask… what’s going on with that female CEO? I saw it on the trending list."

She poked his arm, unable to hide her jealousy. Still, she could now bring it up openly instead of bottling it up—something Zhou Yi appreciated.

If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t ask. Her asking meant she still cared.

He chuckled. "An actress wanted my autograph—she’s friends with Kong Huaijin. Kong Huaijin kept inviting me to dinners for her sake, and I went out of respect for the Kong family. Are you upset, Man Jie?"

077: "Tch."

You Man relaxed a little. Of course she cared—how could she not? A girl like that was intimidating.

Jiang Ruolan already made her uneasy, let alone someone like Kong Huaijin.

But she wasn’t angry. She had long accepted that Zhou Yi wouldn’t belong to her alone.

"I’m not upset. Just… be mindful. Are you coming over tonight?"

She lowered her eyes shyly. Zhou Yi leaned in and murmured, "Man Jie, did you miss me?"

The word "miss" carried multiple meanings.

Blushing, You Man bit her lip. "Just say yes or no. Must you spell it out?"

Zhou Yi grinned and coaxed her. "Of course I’m coming. It missed you too."

She shot him a sultry glare. "You’ve become such a tease."

Zhou Yi blinked innocently. "Me? I was ‘trained’ by you, Man Jie."

Her ears burned, and her body grew warm. She fanned her flushed cheeks and scooted away.

"Move over a bit. I’m… overheating."

"Overheating? It’s October—people are wearing jackets."

"Stop asking, or we’ll leave right now."

"Man Jie’s in a hurry?"

A woman in her thirties had needs. You Man never used to think much about it, but Zhou Yi’s skills had awakened something in her.

Mostly, she loved the way he looked at her—intense, passionate, full of desire.

She loved how he touched every inch of her, the feeling of their souls merging. She’d never forget it.

You Man arched a brow. "I bought new clothes. Don’t you want to see?"

Zhou Yi stood up. "Absolutely. Let’s go, Man Jie. Show me what you got this time."

She closed the ledger, grabbed her bag and keys, gave a few instructions to the staff, and left with Zhou Yi.

Instead of the sports car, he drove his Rolls-Royce.

Returning to that fast-food joint stirred some nostalgia in him.

Once upstairs, he pinned her against the door and kissed her deeply. Between kisses, he murmured, "Man Jie, let me buy you a house."