Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire-Chapter 42: Scratch the café, open a restaurant

YIREN (PART 2)

The first thing I did after getting discharged was head straight home for the longest, most soothing bath of my life. Hospital grime? Gone. The stress? Eased—at least a little.

I spent the rest of the morning cooking up something hearty for Kai—and, um, I guess Jun too. I don’t mind. He deserves something decent after saving our skins, and honestly, hospital food sucks. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, let alone Satan in a suit.

The café was next. After opening it up, I put one of our most trusted helpers in charge. I can’t afford to lose the income right now, especially with everything piling up. Between Ning’s medical bills, the baby’s care, and the rent, we need every penny.

The moment I step through the door of Kai’s hospital room with the tiffin in hand, I can tell he’s worn out. His face is pale, his hair unkempt, and the weight of everything—Ning, the baby, the stress—presses down on him like a boulder.

"Yiren," he says, offering me a weak smile, "you didn’t have to."

"Of course I did," I shoot back, fighting the lump in my throat. "You look like carrying a mountain on shoulder. And hospital food? Absolutely not."

He chuckles softly, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. He’s exhausted. Beaten down.

I set the tiffin on the table and take a deep breath, not wanting to add to his stress but needing to talk. "Kai... how are we going to manage? Jun’s helping, but there’s more to this. The expenses—"

"Stop worrying so much," he interrupts, his gaze drifting to where Ning is sleeping. "She’s alive. Our baby is alive. That’s all that matters."

"But—" I start, before swallowing the words. I can’t bring myself to keep piling on the stress, but it’s true. There are still bills, responsibilities... and I hate feeling like we’re relying too much on Jun.

"I’ve been thinking," I begin cautiously, "about moving to Imperial City. Suyin’s project offer is tempting, and it’ll bring in good money. We could use it right now."

Kai nods, not missing a beat. "You should go. You’ve burned through everything for us. This could be your shot at rebuilding."

"Not without you," I say, firm.

"I’ll manage, Yiren. Ning and I will be fine. You need to take this chance."

Before either of us can continue, Jun sweeps into the room like a storm. His casual confidence lights up the room instantly, the smirk already pulling at his lips. "Why is this even a discussion?" he asks, crossing his arms over his chest. "Kai, you’re coming with us. I’ll handle everything—Ning, the baby, the move."

Kai blinks. "Mr. Feng, we don’t—"

"Call me Jun. And I’ve already thought it through," Jun says, cutting him off. "We’ll appoint someone trustworthy to manage the café here. Meanwhile, we open a new branch in Imperial City."

Kai’s mouth opens and closes, clearly lost in Jun’s whirlwind. "Mr-- Jun, I don’t have the money for that."

Jun just waves him off like it’s an irrelevant detail. "I’m buying into your business. You’ll manage it and I’ll be just the investor. We’ll work out the profit split later."

I raise an eyebrow. Kai and I exchange glances, both of us caught off-guard by the sudden shift in Jun’s interest in our small café.

"You’re serious?" Kai finally asks.

"As a heart attack." Jun’s grin stretches wider. "The food you two make? It’s phenomenal. It just needs the right exposure. Proper marketing, and we’ll have lines out the door."

"Those recipes are mom’s," I say.

"And she was the best cook. I remember she used to experiment and write the recipes. Do you still have that?"

"All the five diaries. And Ning and I can make every dish from it."

"You are sitting on a gold mine. I’m already seeing money. Scratch the café, open a restaurant."

I snort. "Since when are you a restaurant connoisseur?"

He shoots me a look. "Since I know a good thing when I see it, Yiren. Businessman, remember? Besides, Ning and the baby will be under Zian’s and Shishi’s care in Imperial. That’s the priority. There’s no one better to take care of them."

"What do you mean ’under Z and Shishi’s care’? Where are they going?" Kai asks, clearly confused.

Jun’s tone softens. "Home. We’re leaving the country." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Kai drops his head into his hands. "Alright. Fine. But I have one condition," he says, his voice tired but determined. "I’ll pay you back, Jun. I’ll give you more than just the profit share, enough to cover everything you’ve spent on us."

Before Jun can open his mouth, I jump in. "I’ll add to that. You don’t get to be some noble saint, Jun. We know better. Satan in a suit."

Kai chuckles weakly, shaking his head at our banter.

"Deal," he says, "Now, how about some of that home-cooked food? I’m starving."

I serve him, feeling a strange warmth settle in my chest.

A fluff ball come running out of nowhere, self-inviting himself. Eyes doing ping pong at the food containers spread on the table.

"You remember what he did in the morning?" I ask Jun.

He nods, "Don’t give him anything. He is getting naughty."

And the drama king whines, rub his fury head on my leg, seducing me with his cute eyes...

I sigh...

Totally defeated.

"You win, little brat," I sneak a bite of chicken to Bear while Jun groans in the background.

"This is why he’s spoiled."

"You are the one to talk. I have seen the amount of snacks and treats in your pantry. It has zero things for the kids but a treasure for this little guy."

"Things Paw-parents do."

And just exactly that moment two nurses rolls in the baby’s incubator to start the daily’s skin-to-skin, and Bear the forever traitor, wiggles his tail, following them like a love-struck teenager.

Men. No matter the species.

And just like that, in the middle of all the chaos, I feel a strange warmth settle in. For the first time in a long time, it feels like things might just be okay.

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