Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 91

With such a blatant photo, it was impossible to deny that she and Feng Siqi knew each other.

Cheng Yixin felt a bit stifled. She had prepared a whole list of plans, but she never expected them to go down the drain before she could even act.

“Um,” Cheng Yixin squeezed out a warm smile. “Siqi is sleeping at the hotel. Should I take you there?”

She hadn’t quite figured out the old gentleman’s temperament yet, so she was a bit intimidated, but keeping the atmosphere frozen was too heavy. She gathered her courage to speak with Feng Nian: “The ‘stinky old man’ Siqi mentioned is…”

Speaking of this, the old man became huffy. “Who else could it be but me? Isn’t it just because I talk a little too much? To actually call me a stinky old man… it’s too much.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Cheng Yixin hurriedly chimed in. “It’s too much! I’ll give her a piece of my mind later!”

The old man’s mood improved slightly. Only then did he look at her and ask, “Are you very close with Siqi?”

He had originally thought Cheng Yixin was only acquainted with his eldest granddaughter; seeing the photo of Siqi with her on “Moments” had been a minor surprise. But thinking about it, it wasn’t strange for two sisters to share mutual friends.

“Siqi and I are okay. I’m more… familiar with Chi Yi.” Cheng Yixin put on a small look of surprise. “So it turns out you are Chi Yi’s grandfather. What a coincidence.”

“Mmm~” The old man’s tone rose slightly as he asked, “You’ve heard of me?”

“Chi Yi often tells me about you.” She unleashed a wave of mindless flattery. “She says you are very good to her, the person who dotes on her most in the world. You’re humorous and witty, and kind to the younger generation. She really loves spending time with her grandfather.”

This speech made the old man feel sweet inside. He nodded. “So Yiyi likes me that much. Ah, as expected of my good granddaughter.”

“Indeed, indeed. Chi Yi is here too; she’ll be so happy to know you’ve come!” Cheng Yixin took the opportunity to say, “I’ve booked a restaurant. If you don’t mind, I’ll take you all to eat and introduce you to some local delicacies!”

“Alright. Then I’ll trouble you.”

Having gained the old man’s agreement, Cheng Yixin breathed a sigh of relief. As expected, it was nerve-wracking to interact with an elder, especially when one had to act like a well-behaved child. It was truly difficult.

Feng Nian secretly noted her small movements, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

On the way back to the hotel, Cheng Yixin messaged Chi Yi to give her a heads-up. As the production van arrived downstairs, Chi Yi emerged leading Feng Siqi.

“Grandfather, what are you doing here?” Chi Yi pretended to be unaware of anything as she walked to Cheng Yixin’s side and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her.

“It’s all because of Siqi, speaking ill of me online!” Feng Nian wore a stern face, raising a hand as if to strike his granddaughter.

“Heehee~” Feng Siqi grabbed the old man’s arm and linked hers with his. “It’s because Grandpa has been forcing me to take classes these past few days. I’ve grown calluses on my ears.”

“Isn’t it for your own good? Why don’t I say these things to others?”

“?” Cheng Yixin whispered to Chi Yi beside her, “What classes is she taking?”

“Moral and Ideological Education. I told you before… Grandfather has been pulling Siqi aside to lecture her every day lately.”

“…” Cheng Yixin swallowed her words. If Feng Siqi knew she was the culprit… she didn’t dare think about it.

Because of the old man’s addition, what was originally meant to be a casual meal for young people became much more formal. Cheng Yixin had booked a large private room with a massive round table that could seat over ten people. Although it felt extravagant and made it inconvenient to reach the dishes, she couldn’t help it since the guest was a big figure.

During her time in Zhenzhou, Cheng Yixin had been mostly busy with filming and only had a superficial understanding of the local specialties; she had to do a last-minute search to introduce them.

As another dish arrived, she stood up hurriedly: “This dish…”

“Alright, no need to introduce it.” The old man waved his hand. “Let’s eat; no need for so much formality.”

The four sat together. Cheng Yixin sat next to Chi Yi, while Feng Siqi sat with Feng Nian. The atmosphere was mostly kept warm thanks to Feng Siqi, who chatted with the old man incessantly.

Chi Yi was relatively quiet; she was busy peeling a crab. The swimming crabs were plump, and the meat in the claws was full and sweet, coming away easily.

“Grandfather, have some crab meat.” Chi Yi placed the peeled meat into Feng Nian’s bowl first.

As she passed over Feng Siqi, the latter looked so envious that drool nearly leaked from her eyes. “Sister, I want some too~~”

Chi Yi smiled, gave her a glance, and picked up another crab leg to start peeling.

Cheng Yixin was also craving it. The ginger and scallion sautéed crab looked delicious, but since Feng Nian was present and she wanted to leave a good impression, she couldn’t get her hands covered in sauce, so she forced herself to hold back.

…When I get back to the hotel, I’m definitely ordering takeout and eating my fill.

While she was thinking this, a plump piece of crab leg meat was placed in her bowl. Chi Yi gestured with her eyes for her to eat. Sure enough, the couple had a telepathic connection; her Yiyi knew exactly what was on her mind. Because of a single crab leg, Cheng Yixin was incredibly moved.

Between conversations, Chi Yi stealthily peeled crab meat for her several more times.

“Grandpa, I heard the scenery in Zhenzhou is great. There are places nearby for fishing, and they say the fish bite easily—some are dozens of pounds! Why don’t we have Sister Xin be our guide and go fishing together?”

“Really?” Hearing about fishing, Feng Nian grew interested.

“There are such places.” Cheng Yixin felt a drop of sweat in her heart. Where would I know a fishing spot?? But never mind that, she’d agree first and figure it out later.

“Don’t you have to film?” Feng Nian asked.

“The crew can rearrange things. We can film the other actors’ parts first; it won’t affect the progress.”

As the meal reached its end, the waiter knocked and entered, carrying a bowl of snow-white tofu pudding on a tray.

Cheng Yixin said, “For that old gentleman.”

Seeing it was a bowl of tofu pudding, Feng Nian didn’t react immediately.

“Last time you said you wanted tofu pudding. I bought it the next day, but you didn’t come. This is to make up for it,” Cheng Yixin explained. “It wasn’t on the menu of this restaurant, so I specially ordered it; that’s why it came late.”

Feng Siqi let out a “ha” and laughed. “Sister Xin, you actually remembered that.”

“Because it was a promise made to someone, I couldn’t break my word,” Cheng Yixin said seriously.

The tofu pudding came with both sweet and savory toppings. Unsure of the old man’s preference, the toppings were served separately so he could add them himself. Feng Nian scooped a spoonful of white sugar onto the pudding; it was still warm, and the sugar dissolved quickly. He took a bite; the soy flavor was rich, and the sweetness was just right.

“Tofu pudding with sugar is indeed delicious.” The old man’s eyebrows smoothed out instantly. “Let’s set the fishing time for 9:00 AM tomorrow.”

“Huh?” Feng Siqi was the first to complain. “Grandpa, that’s too early! I want to sleep in!”

“It’s okay, I’ll wake you up,” Chi Yi said from the side.

“I’ll also wake you up,” Cheng Yixin chimed in.

Feng Siqi was momentarily stifled, feeling an urge to take a standing-room train back to Jingning overnight. Eventually, after much persuasion, the old man moved the time to after lunch.

Since it was a sudden whim, there was no time to prepare fishing gear; they had to go buy some.

“Then Grandpa Feng, why don’t you and Siqi head over first?” Cheng Yixin negotiated. “Chi Yi and I will go buy the rods. We’ll be done quickly.”

Chi Yi gently tugged Cheng Yixin’s sleeve and said, “Grandfather should come with us. We don’t really know which rods are good to buy.”

As a happy fisherman who loved sharing knowledge, the old man was more than willing to go shopping with the younger generation. Feng Siqi, hating the cold, stayed in the car to wait for them.

The fishing tackle shop wasn’t large; one could see the whole place at a glance. Chi Yi glanced at Cheng Yixin and took the initiative to say, “I’ll go to the convenience store next door to buy some drinks. You two look around first.”

“?!” Without Chi Yi, Cheng Yixin’s heart suddenly leaped into her throat.

Watching the old man looking at the shelves with his hands behind his back, she hesitated, then walked over timidly and squeezed out a warm smile: “Grandpa Feng, you’re looking at the rods. What length is suitable to buy?”

“For beginners like you, 4.5 meters is basically enough.” The old man picked up a rod. “This brand doesn’t have enough toughness; it’ll snap easily if you pull a big fish. Don’t buy it. If you’re just catching tiny fish, it’s barely passable.”

So should I buy it or not? Cheng Yixin nearly blurted out.

No, no. Be well-behaved, well-behaved. Earn goodwill points, goodwill points. She silently brainwashed herself and then asked, “Should we buy a better one then?”

“I expect you’ll only fish once, so buying an expensive one is a waste. Just get this one. I’ll look for mine.” Feng Nian took a packaged rod from the shelf and handed it to her, while he went to buy something else.

“I’m so looking forward to my first time fishing! Should we buy bait now?”

After saying it, Cheng Yixin felt her question was idiotic—the visual of forcing a conversation. But thinking that the person before her was Chi Yi’s grandfather, she was incredibly restrained and couldn’t let the atmosphere grow awkward.

Feng Nian paused his movements, turned his head to look at her, and said with a half-smile, “You’re very nervous, aren’t you?”

“…” Exposed at once.

“You weren’t like this before—now you’re acting so timid,” Feng Nian added.

“Before, I didn’t know you were Chi Yi’s grandfather,” Cheng Yixin blurted out.

“Is there any necessary connection between whether I am Chi Yi’s grandfather or not?”

Of course there is. Cheng Yixin didn’t dare say it.

Feng Nian looked at the shelves again, took a bag of bait, and said while browsing: “If you don’t know what to say, don’t force a topic. It makes people feel you’re being insincere.”

She did feel that she was being insincere. Because he was her girlfriend’s family, she wanted to get on his good side, even though she personally hated awkward small talk.

Cheng Yixin took a deep breath. “Because you are Chi Yi’s family, I want to get on good terms with you. I truly don’t know how to interact with you. Can you tell me how to be more sincere in interpersonal relationships?”

“Just maintain your true self.”

“…” Cheng Yixin let out a soft breath. Hearing this, she felt a bit strange inside. Because of her work in acting, she could be a cruel villain, a doctor saving lives, or a patriotic youth. Sometimes when she was in character, she couldn’t even distinguish what kind of person she actually was.

Without realizing it, she murmured: “How many actors can truly be themselves?”

“Aren’t you doing quite well now? Young people shouldn’t belittle themselves.”

The old man had learned about the whole story of Cheng Yixin’s live-stream incident. The fact that she could still help a complete stranger find work on set after going through that was undeniably positive.

Cheng Yixin blinked. “Actually, I have no interest in fishing. I’ve heard it tests one’s patience and is very boring, and I’m not a patient person. But, I want to see if it’s truly as others say. Can you teach me?”

“That’s the way. If you like it, you like it; if you don’t, you don’t. Say it directly. I hate people with twisted thoughts.” The old man picked up the chosen bait and told her: “The most indispensable thing in fishing is the bait. Choosing and kneading the bait is very important. If…”

Chi Yi had stayed in the convenience store a bit longer on purpose. When she returned to the tackle shop, she saw the two of them standing by the shelves. The old man was talking about fishing with great animation, and Cheng Yixin was nodding repeatedly, asking questions when she didn’t understand. The atmosphere was much better than when she had left.

She was like a star pupil in a classroom; Feng Siqi would weep if she saw it.

The fishing spot was in the park. It had abundant water resources, and people could be seen fishing along the river. Cheng Yixin truly wasn’t interested in fishing, but hearing the old man speak, she actually developed some expectations.

Regarding fishing, the two granddaughters had completely different attitudes. Feng Siqi was entirely uninterested and didn’t want to learn; every time, she just sat with the old man symbolically for a bit. Once she made Grandpa happy and got some allowance, she would heartlessly leave—deceiving and “ambushing” a 70-year-old man.

Chi Yi, on the other hand, was like a natural. There was no need to worry about teaching her; it deprived Feng Nian of the joy of teaching his granddaughter skills. Moreover, Chi Yi caught more fish than him every time.

Cheng Yixin was different from both; she was a complete novice who didn’t even know how to make bait. The old man was a person who loved to share. The two crouched by the river making bait, the bowl in hand, as he practically gave her a hands-on lesson.

“First, this bait needs water added according to a ratio…”

“Sister, why do I feel…” Feng Siqi watched the two of them, who were oblivious to everyone else. “That they are the grandfather and granddaughter? Grandpa isn’t even paying attention to me anymore.”

“Who told you to have no patience when accompanying Grandfather before? Now that he’s finally met an interested novice, he’s definitely going to catch her and teach her.”

“I’m a novice too, and I’m interested!” Feng Siqi shouted loudly, “Grandpa, Grandpa, I want to learn too!”

As she prepared to trot over, the old man, who was teaching Cheng Yixin how to hook the bait, glanced back and then pulled Cheng Yixin to turn away. His back clearly spelled out two words: Declined.

“Sister…” Feng Siqi looked at her sister and said ruefully, “I’m no longer Grandpa’s good granddaughter, am I?”

“I’m very relieved that you have self-awareness,” Chi Yi replied.