Chapter 50: Misunderstanding

Bai Yiyi found the mysterious shareholders’ meeting in his heart to be utterly dull and boring.

Check-ins and headcounts dragged on for nearly half an hour. Then the chairman led the discussions on agenda items, announced the performance results, and outlined the funding plans for the coming year. That alone took almost a full hour of rambling.

By the time they reached the deliberation and voting stage, the pace had slowed to a crawl that left him drowsy beyond endurance. He nearly slid right off his owner’s shoulder, only snapping back with embarrassment. Leaning close to Yan Tuo’s ear, he whispered the truth:

“Yan Tuo, I’m so sleepy I can’t take it anymore.”

Yan Tuo immediately opened his jacket pocket and replied softly, “Mm, go ahead and sleep. We’ve still got a while.”

Bringing a pet bird to the shareholders’ meeting had already drawn plenty of eyes, but now he couldn’t be bothered with anyone else’s stares. He pulled a few tissues from the box on the table and loosely draped them over the pocket opening, worried the conference room’s air conditioning might be too chilly and give his sleeping little bundle a cold.

An hour later, Yan Tuo finally fulfilled his duties as the largest shareholder. He headed to the chairman’s office, planning to say a quick hello to his uncle before leaving.

He hadn’t expected Yan Zexing to run into one of the shareholders that day and get caught up in a lively chat that dredged up an old story.

“Tuozi, your Uncle Gao and your dad grew up together, bare-assed playmates. Back when the group was just starting out, he put in a ton of hard work. You remember his daughter, Gao Lili? Same age as you. Folks even joked about arranging a baby betrothal back then. Turns out Old Gao never forgot. He was just asking about it with me.

What a coincidence, right? Where else are you going to find such a perfect match in background? Here’s the deal: meet up with her tomorrow. I’ve booked the spot for you. Whether it works out or not, that’s up to you to handle.”

Yan Tuo was utterly speechless.

He was only thirty. Had he wasted family resources or something? Was being single a crime now? Why did blind dates keep getting shoved at him from every direction?

“Uncle, I’ve got someone in mind. I’m pursuing them right now. Aren’t you just playing matchmaker with the wrong pair?”

Yan Zexing hadn’t anticipated this. Last month, when he’d seen Old Hua and his son Hongqing over a casual meal, he’d subtly fished for info. His nephew had clearly been striking out on dates left and right.

So today, he’d hit it off perfectly with Old Gao and set up the date without even checking with the kids.

He felt a twinge of guilt now, but he couldn’t show it. An elder had to maintain his dignity.

He immediately tossed the buck: “That’s not my problem. It’s already set. Just treat it like catching up with an old childhood friend. Who knows? She might even be a better fit than the one you’re chasing now. That’s Uncle Gao’s daughter—family upbringing like that doesn’t miss the mark.”

Yan Tuo did have strong memories of Uncle Gao. The man wasn’t just his father’s childhood friend; he was their most trusted business partner. The first plot of land they’d secured had come through his connections and heavy lifting.

When his parents were still around, the two families had been quite close. He could still picture Gao Lili with her twin pigtails tied with cherry-red hair ties and that chubby, oval baby face.

With the appointment already locked in by his uncle, what choice did he have? He couldn’t just blow it off rudely. Even if he had zero interest now, he’d have to meet her in person, politely find a way to bow out.

As he mulled over how to handle it, a tickle stirred in his chest pocket. Half a pot-lid head poked out slowly—his little bundle was awake.

Yan Zexing frowned. “What’s with raising a pet bird all of a sudden? I meant to ask earlier. You even brought it to a shareholders’ meeting. Aren’t you afraid of people laughing?”

Yan Tuo tapped the pot-lid head. “This isn’t a pet. It’s family. Things were rushed today, everyone busy. Next time there’s a chance, I’ll introduce you properly.”

Yan Zexing couldn’t fathom what there was to introduce about a pet bird. He figured his nephew was joking and picked up the thread from before with one more reminder.

“Yuexilou on Changning Avenue, tomorrow at 7 p.m. Don’t forget. I saw Lili not long ago. She’s grown up a treat—real pretty now. Clean yourself up nice. Don’t embarrass the Yan family.”

Yan Tuo’s attention was all on his little bundle by then. He absentmindedly replied, “Got it.”

Bai Yiyi woke from his nap to the sound of their voices. He’d missed the front half in a fog, but the last bit hit him crystal clear.

His owner was… going on another blind date?

It struck like a bolt from the blue. Bai Yiyi blanked out, lost to time and place.

Hadn’t he come out already? And… his idol had even seemed a little interested in him?

A man of such character wouldn’t deceive him like that. How had the world turned upside down in the blink of an eye?

He tucked his head away and stayed silent, lost in wild thoughts. Yan Tuo wasn’t a mind reader, so he assumed the bird was still groggy. He let him zone out in the pocket undisturbed.

That spiraling worry gnawed at Bai Yiyi straight through until the next evening, when Yan Tuo called out, “I’m heading out to meet an old friend. Won’t be home for dinner.”

Only then did the dull ache in Bai Yiyi’s heart sharpen into vivid pain.

This was nothing like the sour jealousy and reluctant well-wishes from the first two times he’d heard about crushes on blind dates.

Now, beyond the sheer disbelief, nothing remained but raw heartbreak.

Had he been played for a fool? Or had it all been his delusion from the start?

Bai Yiyi perched blankly on the windowsill, staring at nothing, unsure what to do next.

Night fell, lights flickering on around him, but he wished it darker still—pitch black, where no one could see him, not even the lonely bird shadow reflected in the glass.

He glared at that shadow, torn between tears and laughter. You idiot. You’re just a half-human, half-bird freak now. Still dreaming of true love? You think you’re some fairy-tale hero?

In a haze, his mind swarmed with dark thoughts closing in from all sides. His escapist side reared up again.

Yes, he wanted to hide—far away, back to the safest place. Pretend the last three months were just a spring dream.

He shifted to human form, packed his bags, intending to call for a courier. But eyeing the nearly finished painting Autumn gave him pause. After all that effort, he couldn’t just hand it off carelessly. At minimum, it needed proper art packaging.

Time wouldn’t allow it, though. Ten minutes till the hour was up. He couldn’t have the courier show up to find a talking goldfinch trying to ship a package.

He’d have to leave a note for that liar to mail it.

Pen and paper in hand, words flooded his mind—until he actually tried to write. Nothing came.

Time ticking down, he scribbled his address and phone number, signing it “Anonymous.”

He shifted back to bird form quietly, gazing at the note on the suitcase. Suddenly, the sign-off struck him as melodramatic. Why not just Bai Yiyi, bold and straightforward? What was this petty, spiteful nonsense?

No time to redo it. He circled the room a few times in farewell to old times, flapped his wings, and flew out the window.

Just five minutes later, Yan Tuo pushed open the door, arms laden with art supplies.

Still in the entryway, he couldn’t hold back. “Yiyi? Come check if these work for you?”

He was in high spirits that evening.

At the meetup spot, none of the expected awkwardness had materialized.

Gao Lili had no interest in this at all. The straightforward Northeastern girl laid it out plainly in a few sentences.

She already had a boyfriend—seven years younger, fresh out of school with a poor family background. She didn’t dare bring him home yet, so they’d kept it underground.

Her family thought she was single, hence the mix-up. She’d come tonight purely to apologize.

Yan Tuo smiled and shared his own situation. It turned into pure mutual relief, like bumping into a childhood pal. They enjoyed a happy dinner.

After parting ways, he stepped out to find Boyaju, J City’s largest art supply mall, right below Yuexilou. Spotting the fancy displays in the window, he immediately thought of his little artist at home. His feet carried him inside unbidden.

Paints, papers, brushes, boards—he had no clue about quality. But he pictured which ones Yiyi might use, which he might like, grabbing the priciest, flashiest ones. He ended up with a huge haul.

Now, that bag of carefully chosen gifts lay abandoned on the floor. Yan Tuo clutched the note on the suitcase, plunged into massive helplessness and panic for the second time in his life.

With his smarts, the pile of luggage screamed trouble. A quick recap pinpointed the issue.

He must have overheard Uncle Yan’s chat with him—but only the tail end. Thought he was really off on a blind date tonight?

He’d barely started confessing during vacation before ditching for work, then been too busy for follow-up these past days. And now suddenly agreeing to family pressure…

Anyone else would be furious, let alone Bai Yiyi.

Was the little guy planning to fly home on those tiny wings? What if something happened midway?

Yan Tuo didn’t hesitate. He turned and bolted out the door.

On the street, the crowds swallowed any trace. No idea where to even look.

But he couldn’t stop. Stopping made his heart ache fiercely, regret burning hotter.

He knew that little guy overthought everything and was timid at heart. If he didn’t break the window paper himself, the two of them might dance around it forever.

If that was the case, then why had he kept fantasizing about some grand confession under perfect moonlight and starry skies? Did he really believe Bai Yiyi would just stick around by his side forever, with no mishaps in between?

Well, speak of the devil—the mishap had arrived right on cue.

Regret and fury boiled inside Yan Tuo as he hurried along the all-too-familiar route from the apartment to the city bureau, eyes darting everywhere in search. The moment he spotted a flower bed or a thicket of bushes, he bolted toward it, bellowing at the top of his lungs, “Bai Yiyi, come out!”

He completely ignored the stares from passersby, who gawked at him like he was some kind of lunatic.