The Matchmaker Immortal Wants to Return to the Celestial Court - Chapter 30

Just after the Spring Equinox, the temperature difference between morning and evening in Guanxi Town remained significant. Mountain Stream and Green Fields reopened after two months of renovations. The grand reopening, along with special promotions, attracted a large crowd during dinner hours, with the waiting line extending all the way to the neighboring house’s entrance.

Qian Hongxian stood in line, occasionally tiptoeing to check how many groups were ahead.

“No need to be so anxious; it’ll be our turn soon.”

Yun Jinyao hugged her from behind. Qian Hongxian gently held onto the arms wrapped around her chest and playfully said, “But I’m hungry.”

“Yun Jinyao, aren’t you the restaurant owner? Why are we waiting in line?” Liao Yunqi, standing behind them, spoke up.

“I told you before, didn’t I? I already handed the restaurant over to Chen Shaoxuan, sister-in-law.” Yun Jinyao turned his head and glanced at Yun Jinyi and Liao Yunqi, who were holding hands.

“But still, you were once Shaoxuan’s boss, and Hongxian worked here for a while too. Isn’t it a bit unreasonable to wait in line?” Yun Jinyi chimed in to support his newlywed wife.

“Oh, don’t worry. Shaoxuan has reserved a table for us. Since tonight is the grand reopening, it’s extra busy, so Jinyao and I decided not to add to their stress,” Qian Hongxian explained before adding, “Even though I’m starving.”

“If you’re that hungry, maybe I should just call Chen Shaoxuan and make some trouble for him.” With that, Yun Jinyao pulled out his phone.

“No need…” Qian Hongxian tried to stop him, but he had already dialed.

“Wow, Qian Hongxian, you’re so lucky. Look how much your boyfriend spoils you,” Liao Yunqi said with a chuckle.

“Wife, I spoil you too, don’t I?” Yun Jinyi reminded her. Liao Yunqi laughed, looping her arm through her new husband’s in a reassuring gesture.

Chen Shaoxuan had hired three new employees and five temporary workers. Some unfamiliar faces, clad in aprons, stood at the restaurant entrance, directing customers. After a while, a part-time worker walked along the queue, checking on customers, and stopped when he spotted Yun Jinyao. Politely, he said, “Chairman, Mr. Chen asked me to bring you all in first.”

Yun Jinyao nodded.

“Sorry for the trouble,” Qian Hongxian apologized.

The worker led them upstairs to a window seat where Qian Hongxian had sat for the first time. Originally a two-person table, it had been adjusted for four. Liao Yunqi had Qian Hongxian sit by the window, and Yun Jinyao naturally took the seat across from her. As she looked at him, she suddenly recalled their first meeting and couldn’t help but smile.

“What’s up?” Yun Jinyao asked curiously.

“Nothing,” Qian Hongxian shook her head and glanced around. The second floor was also packed.

The original café setup had been completely removed, replaced with a dining area similar to the first floor. However, Chen Shaoxuan had revamped the restaurant’s interior with a warm wooden color scheme, complemented by dark, elegant tables and chairs, giving the place an upscale dining ambiance.

“Shaoxuan really invested heavily,” Yun Jinyi commented while running a hand over the table.

Five minutes later, Chen Shaoxuan came rushing upstairs, panting, and grabbed a stool to sit with them.

“Why are you up here? Shouldn’t you be cooking?” Yun Jinyi frowned while Yun Jinyao raised an eyebrow.

“No need. I’ve got extra hands in the kitchen tonight. But seriously, if you were coming, you could’ve just told the staff instead of waiting in line,” Chen Shaoxuan said as he untied his apron.

“We don’t know your staff. How would they recognize us as your family?” Yun Jinyao countered before scanning the room. “Where’s Yun Liqing? Is she in the kitchen?”

Chen Shaoxuan rolled his eyes. 

“She took the night off to go out with her boyfriend.”

Both Yun Jinyao and Yun Jinyi shot him sharp looks.

“She’s dating someone new again?” Yun Jinyao raised his voice.

“Why aren’t you keeping an eye on her? Letting Liqing casually go out with random guys?” Yun Jinyi scolded.

“Hey, I’m already swamped! How am I supposed to keep track of who she’s dating? Besides, her last name is Yun, not Chen. We’re barely related! Why should I be responsible for her? You two are her cousins, yet you both ran off to Taipei, and now you have the nerve to lecture me…”

Yun Jinyao picked up his phone again, seemingly about to call Yun Liqing. This time, Qian Hongxian managed to stop him in time.

“She’ll be fine. No need to worry about her.” She found it amusing how protective the two brothers were over their cousin.

“Bring me some red wine,” Chen Shaoxuan instructed a waiter.

“Moon Matchmaker, why don’t you check if the guy she’s seeing is her destined one?” Yun Jinyao leaned in, whispering mischievously to his girlfriend.

“I’m not telling you. Otherwise, you’ll go after him.”

“You dare defy an Immortal like me?”

Qian Hongxian rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth. “I should’ve never told you about the celestial realm. You keep using your rank to boss me around. Aren’t you being childish? If you want to know her destined partner, check the Book of Fate yourself.”

Yun Jinyao chuckled.

When the red wine arrived, everyone except Yun Jinyao, the designated driver, clinked glasses and drank.

“How’s the restaurant doing?”

“Great. My parents helped out a lot, afraid I’d ruin your place. What about you, Jinyao? How’s work in Taipei?”

“The angelica perfume experiment failed,” Yun Jinyao said, sipping water. “But the tung blossom perfume succeeded, so we’ll test-sell it during tung blossom season.”

Chen Shaoxuan nodded before turning to Yun Jinyi and Liao Yunqi.

“How’s the wedding studio going?”

“With me handling it, business is booming,” Yun Jinyi boasted.

“But hubby, we’re still one order short of this season’s target,” Liao Yunqi teased.

“Oh, that’ll be fixed soon. Right, Jinyao?” Chen Shaoxuan smirked knowingly at Yun Jinyao.

Qian Hongxian blushed and turned away, sipping her wine.

They continued chatting casually, discussing Huang Shuzhen’s situation and Qian Hongxian’s work. However, throughout the conversation, Chen Shaoxuan kept glancing at his watch and exchanging looks with Yun Jinyi and Yun Jinyao.

“Shaoxuan, if you still have work to do, don’t worry about us. Go ahead,” Qian Hongxian said.

“Ah… Hmm, looks like it’s about time.” Chen Shaoxuan glanced at Yun Jinyi before standing up. “Your dishes should be ready soon. I’ll go check on them.”

“I’ll go to the restroom,” Liao Yunqi said as she got up to leave, followed closely by Yun Jinyi.

With that, only Yun Jinyao and Qian Hongxian remained at the table.

“Shaoxuan has done a great job managing the restaurant! You can finally rest easy, right?” Qian Hongxian propped her chin up with both hands, smiling sweetly at her boyfriend.

Yun Jinyao didn’t answer. Instead, he took the wine bottle and poured some into his water glass before raising it toward her.

“Huh? Aren’t you driving?” Qian Hongxian lowered her hands from her face.

“Today is your 32nd birthday—it’s worth taking the risk to have a little drink,” Yun Jinyao said gently.

Qian Hongxian’s smile bloomed like a peony. She poured herself a little wine as well and lifted her glass.

“If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve forgotten today was my birthday. I used to think I wouldn’t even make it to today! All thanks to my celestial lord.”

“Here’s to a long and happy life together,” Yun Jinyao said with a smile. Their glasses clinked with a crisp sound.

After finishing his drink, Yun Jinyao gazed thoughtfully out the window. Qian Hongxian admired the scene in front of her for a moment before reaching out to hold his hand. He turned back to look at her.

“Jinyao, my mom agreed to let me move to Guanxi to live with you.”

Yun Jinyao froze.

“I discussed it with my mom, and we both think that living in Guanxi suits you best. She likes this small town too, but commuting to a big hospital would be too much trouble, so she decided to stay in Taipei. Weiting and Xiangrong agreed to help take care of her. In the evenings, they’ll go over to have dinner with her so she won’t be alone. I also promised to visit her in Taipei every week. So,” she tightened her grip on his hands, “let’s move back together.”

Yun Jinyao didn’t respond. He simply looked at her for a long moment before pulling his hands away.

“You two made this decision without discussing it with me first? Are you trying to force me into taking responsibility for you?” His expression turned serious.

Qian Hongxian was stunned.

Yun Jinyao fell silent again, alternating between checking his phone and looking out the window—anything but looking at her.

As he rummaged through his bag, Qian Hongxian lowered her head, her eyes welling with tears.

Why was he reacting like this?

Suddenly, a luxurious velvet box appeared before her eyes. She widened her eyes in surprise and looked up to see Yun Jinyao smiling. He opened the box, revealing a pink diamond ring.

“But the thing is, I want to take responsibility for you forever. Hongxian, will you marry me?”

Qian Hongxian’s vision blurred as tears spilled onto the table.

“Yun Jinyao, you jerk! Who the hell proposes like this?” she sobbed loudly, cursing for the first time in her life, drawing the attention of others.

Just then, the darkness outside the window suddenly lit up. Qian Hongxian turned her head and saw Yun Jinyi and Liao Yunqi setting up two large spotlights in the field. A long banner stretched between them, reading, Hongxian, please marry Jinyao. Balloons were tied to both ends. Liao Yunqi enthusiastically waved at her.

Other diners near the windows noticed the lights, standing up to watch and take photos, pointing and whispering about the couple. Qian Hongxian saw Yun Jinyao’s ears turn bright red as he averted his gaze, unable to look outside.

“That was all Yun Jinyi’s idea,” he muttered.

She broke into laughter through her tears and held out her right hand.

For the first time, Yun Jinyao looked truly bashful, which made her heart melt. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he slid the ring onto her finger. 

It fit perfectly.

“Congratulations, Yao-ge! Congratulations, Hongxian-jie!” Yun Liqing entered, pushing a large cake.

“Aren’t you supposed to be out on a date?” Yun Jinyao glared at his cousin.

“How could I miss such an important moment? I had Shaoxuan keep it a secret so I could surprise you! Plus, she couldn’t handle everything on her own, so I helped set up the proposal decorations.”

The restaurant erupted in applause. Yun Jinyao covered his face, clearly uncomfortable with all the attention.

Chen Shaoxuan, Yun Jinyi, and Liao Yunqi returned upstairs. Chen Shaoxuan and Yun Liqing cut the cake together, while Yun Jinyi filmed everything with a camera.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” A few diners started chanting, and soon, the entire room joined in.

“Jinyi, did you pay these people to act as a PR stunt?” Qian Hongxian blushed, feeling overwhelmed.

Yun Jinyi pointed his camera at her and shrugged. “Yunqi can vouch for me—I didn’t.”

“You might as well just go with the flow and kiss! That way, I can hit my sales target for this quarter. And don’t you dare go to another wedding dress company, you two.” Liao Yunqi’s smile carried a hint of threat.

“Jinyao, show some courage!” Yun Liqing urged, holding her cake plate.

Yun Jinyao put down his hands, and Qian Hongxian gazed at him.

He stood up, his eyes filled with deep emotion. Leaning forward, he whispered so only she could hear, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She smiled sweetly and closed her eyes.

The End.