Bending down to enter the chess game

Chapter 31 The Den of Debauchery

As Yu Xingge walked into the civil courtroom carrying the case files, the hands of her watch just passed nine o'clock. So this person is here now... "Are you in court here today?" The late autumn sunlight streamed through the transparent glass of the corridor, casting dappled patterns on the man's dark blue uniform below the steps.

Ji Zhijie accused, "You actually forgot! Didn't we make a promise at dinner last time?"

"Huh? Oh." Yu Xingge smiled faintly. It was true—when Ji Zhijie took her home, he insisted that the meal didn't count because of Gu Lezhi and his wife's interference.

"Looks like I should keep my promise." Yu Xingge had her hair tied in a ponytail today. As she nodded, the ends of her hair swept across her shoulders in a neat arc, and the pearl earrings on her earlobes sparkled. "What do you want to eat? This time it's on me."

Ji Zhijie was staring at her, his little finger itchy, and he grinned at her words. A bailiff pushed the evidence cart between them, the sound of metal wheels rolling over the marble floor filling the air. He suddenly leaned forward: "But now, I want to invite you to dinner." The lingering scent of pine wafted past her nose, and Yu Xingge noticed he had changed his cologne. Last time in the car, he clearly wore a strong citrus scent; she had deliberately opened the window to let in some fresh air then.

Ji Zhijie noticed her frown and took a slight step back. He took out his car keys and twirled them between his fingers. "Want to go...?" Suddenly, the keys were gripped tightly in his palm. "Linjiang Pavilion?"

"You've already chosen it?" she pressed. "Does Linjiang Pavilion require reservations three months in advance? You've already made a booking."

"I happened to help the boss resolve a minor dispute last weekend." He smiled, revealing two very shallow dimples at the corners of his mouth. "The boss said he'd always reserve the best private room for me."

"What a coincidence." She spread her hands, feigning helplessness. "Looks like I'll have to accept your offer. But let's make it clear first, you're not allowed to try and pay the bill."

"We'll see."

The car navigation system lit up, and Yu Xingge chuckled as she looked at the search history: "You've already chosen the cuisines."

"You know what?" Ji Zhijie turned the steering wheel onto the side road with one hand, "Although you seem easy to talk to, you've already confirmed the restaurant reservation three times." His Adam's apple bobbed slightly in the rearview mirror. "I'm curious where your sensitive nature comes from. Don't overthink it, I just think you'd like Jiangzhe cuisine, after all, you look petite and delicate, not at all like a northern girl."

Yu Xingge's fingers tightened slightly on the seatbelt buckle. The light and shadow flashing past the car window cast flickering light on her profile: "Your ability to read people is truly..."

"I just pay more attention to people who are important to me." The last syllable was drowned out by the mechanical hum of the automatic parking system. Ji Zhijie unbuckled his seatbelt: "How about this, next time you choose the place. I heard a new Sichuan restaurant opened on Chuncheng Road..."

Yu Xingge refused: "Let's talk about it next time."

Okay, Ji Zhijie tactfully changed the subject: "Every time I see you, you have a whole repertoire of comforting words for the people involved. What's wrong? Did the person involved today have bad luck with the wrong person?"

As the court hearing ended, Han Chichi's parents were berating Liang Zan. Having lived most of their lives, this was the first time they'd ever encountered such a deceptive marriage scheme. Previously, because Han Chichi hadn't decided on a divorce, they had kept quiet, not confronting her directly. But today, with the court hearing, they'd finally broken off all pretense of civility, and at the end, they vented their anger outside the courtroom. Hearing that the matchmaker was Han Chichi's aunt, she was also in the audience, feeling incredibly ashamed. After the two finished their tirade, she went to confront Liang Zan's parents, filled with righteous indignation.

It seems that Ji Zhijie arrived earlier than she expected.

I guess so.

Ji Zhijie: "Don't you want to talk to me?"

"What are you talking about?" Yu Xingge asked, looking at him.

"Let's talk about your case."

"There's a duty of confidentiality..." Ji Zhijie's light blue uniform reminded her. "Okay, let's talk then." She leaned against the car window: "I just don't understand. Why get married if you don't love each other? I don't understand why you have to get married because of pressure from your parents, colleagues, and society. If you had the courage to admit that you don't want to get married, wouldn't you often avoid getting divorced, growing tired of each other, and ending up in court?"

Ji Zhijie glanced at her; a small puff of steam rose from the car window, and her fair, jade-like face was furrowed. She was genuinely puzzled by this.

"Would you like to discuss marriage with me?"

"Let's just discuss the matter at hand." Yu Xingge: "If marriage is so unhappy, it's better not to start it in the first place."

"You're a pessimist," Ji Zhijie said. "When you think like that, compared to those who marry just for the sake of marriage, aren't you at the other extreme? Marriage is a complex and multi-dimensional human relationship system. In my view, as the foundation for the survival of human civilization, marriage is the only fundamental unit structure that is built and stabilized through legal and ethical norms."

Yu Xingge interrupted, "Are you just reciting from a script?"

"No," Ji Zhijie said with unusual seriousness in his usually charming eyes, "choosing marriage involves clearly defined legal obligations, such as the obligation of fidelity, the obligation to raise children, the obligation to support parents, the obligation to alimony, the prohibition of domestic violence, and the obligation to repay joint debts, etc. Essentially, it is about adhering to a spirit of contract."

"Then why are there still so many treacherous and disloyal people?" she asked rhetorically.

The car was parked in a roadside parking lot. Ji Zhijie opened the car door: "Is it possible that when deciding who to marry and who to spend their lives with, people are completely driven by emotional impulses and never seriously consider important factors such as values ​​and lifestyles that can support two people living together for a long time? Nor have they reached any consensus on the obligations, responsibilities, rights, and division of labor after marriage?"

She tilted her head: "So you think signing a prenuptial agreement is necessary?"

Yu Xingge got out of the car and looked at the detached building in front of him. Linjiang Pavilion is located in the ancient city of Dongjiang, where green willows sway and the river meanders, its green-tiled eaves reflected in the bright sunshine and twilight. This is a high-end restaurant specializing in Jiangzhe cuisine. Wood and stone form its structure, green bricks and gray tiles its clothing, and the eaves, like the wings of a bird, extend seven feet, adorned with bronze wind chimes that tinkle melodiously when the river breeze blows.

Ji Zhijie's last words faded into the sound of water: "No, that was before."

As the two entered the shop, two masked women dressed in ancient-style blue dresses stepped forward to lead the way.

"Hello, do you have a reservation?"

"Dark blue".

"Okay, this way please."

Yu Xingge surveyed the interior: the lobby on the first floor was very spacious, with eight pillars supporting the high ceiling, which complemented the bamboo lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The seats were separated by carved screens, the screens inlaid with mother-of-pearl landscape paintings, and on the tables, a few sprigs of white plum blossoms were placed diagonally in celadon vases. At the turn of the staircase, there was a crescent-shaped window with Taihu stones piled up in the corner to form a small mountain, and a stream of water flowed from the crevices of the stones into a ceramic urn, making a gurgling sound.

The private room on the second floor was surprisingly furnished with a table and a desk, with cushions placed at either end. In this room named "Dark Colors," the entire lattice door could be fully opened, letting in a cool autumn breeze, reminiscent of bamboo curtains hanging in the rain or thin gauze curtains draped in the sun. Yu Xingge noticed that the courtyard behind the building was planted with banana trees and green bamboo, and the winding path was paved with pebbles in the pattern of "winding stream and floating wine cups." She exclaimed, "If you were to add two or three more boats along the river, you would truly have fulfilled the elegant custom of mooring at night on the Qinhuai River."

The waiter, who was busy setting up hot water and tables, smiled and said, "Yes, but you can't see it from the Dark Blue room. When there are no guests, it's usually moored on the shore at the other end of the corridor."

Tsk, there really is one. When the menu was served, Yu Xingge almost wanted to tell Ji Zhijie to go somewhere else: No wonder Linjiang Pavilion is called a money pit, the dishes are really outrageously expensive.