Chapter 23: Meeting for the First Time and Already...?

Su Zijin looked at Xu Ye.

Seeing his sincere expression, as if he had truly let everything go, the corners of her mouth finally curved upward.

"I will accompany you from now on."

Xu Ye let out an "Oh?" caught off guard for a moment.

"Accompany you for meals, just the two of us."

Su Zijin paused slightly as she spoke: "What? Are you unwilling?"

"How could that be? Of course I am!"

"Then I want to have hot pot next time."

"No problem, we'll go tonight."

"And barbecue."

"That will be for tomorrow."

"By the way, I heard this is the capital of rice noodles. You have to take me to try those, too."

"I'll order you some Jiangzhou stir-fried noodles in a bit."

"What about the clay pot soup from Hongdu? When you have time, take me to Hongdu. I want to taste what century egg clay pot soup really tastes like."

"The high-speed train from Jiangshi to Hongdu only takes about an hour. If you want to go, we can pick any weekend."

"And... and..." Su Zijin bit her lower lip, racking her brain.

"And Lushan Mountain!" Xu Ye looked at her with eyes burning like fire. "We'll go together to watch the sunrise, see the sea of clouds, and visit the waterfalls."

Su Zijin looked back at Xu Ye, her eyes crinkling into crescents, and she gave a soft, "Mm."

"Then, if there's a chance, will you take me to visit the capital?" Xu Ye asked.

Su Zijin nodded without hesitation, but immediately added with a hint of insecurity, "But I rarely go out. I might... I might not know much about the fun places there."

"What about near your home? Are there no fun places?"

"Just the Forbidden City. You feel it's magnificent the first time you see it, but after a while, you realize it's just that."

"Oh? You're willing to reveal your home address now? I thought you'd keep hiding it from me."

Xu Ye teased on the surface, but his heart was already churning with a tidal wave of shock.

Just the Forbidden City nearby?

Doesn't that mean her home is inside the Second Ring Road?

The Second Ring Road?

Who exactly is this girl?

Could she be... some princess of the capital's inner circles or the young lady of a true aristocratic family?

Su Zijin shot him a cold glance.

"Do you know why I didn't want to tell you before?"

"I don't."

In truth, Xu Ye had vaguely guessed, but he didn't want to say it. Because once mentioned, it would inevitably lead to that woman, Xu Ruowei. But now that he was with Su Zijin, he truly didn't want to mention her. Even if he had to, it would be after he had buried her.

Su Zijin was right; a good "white moonlight" must be buried. Only a dead "white moonlight" is a good one.

"Idiot!" Su Zijin scolded.

She had no idea that Xu Ye was doing it on purpose; she only knew one thing: if the old Xu Ye went to the capital, he would certainly have been with that woman. And she didn't want to see that woman, or she would surely lose her temper and have someone bury her right then and there.

"How am I an idiot? No... if you don't tell me, how would I know?" Xu Ye looked wronged.

"You're just an idiot, that's all!"

Su Zijin picked up her phone to scan the QR code and order: "What do you want to eat?"

"You choose. I'm a local, I've had everything there is to have. But make sure to note that you only want it mildly spicy; if you go by your northern eating habits, you won't be able to handle our level of spice."

"I know, I know, you're such a nag, hmph!"

Su Zijin poked the phone screen angrily, then sulkily tossed it aside.

"Why are you still angry? Shall we go shopping after we eat?"

"...Where to?"

"It's up to you."

"I'm not familiar with this place!"

"Then I'll arrange it. Come on, don't be angry, have a drink."

"...Hmph!"

Seeing her like this, Xu Ye was truly amused. Did this girl not realize? Even when she was angry, she wasn't scary at all; if anything, she was even cuter than usual.

Soon, the dishes were served. But when they arrived, the waiter's expression seemed a bit strange—or perhaps, suggestive?

Xu Ye looked on, completely bewildered.

But in the next second, as the waiter placed the dishes on the table:

Stir-fried leeks with pork kidneys, stir-fried lamb kidneys, okra with scrambled eggs, and oysters with garlic.

Crucially, the waiter scanned Xu Ye up and down, the look in their eyes saying it all...

Xu Ye’s face turned green.

That look—it was obvious they suspected his manhood was lacking. And he couldn't even explain himself, forced to watch as the waiter shook their head with a look of pity before turning away with a complex expression.

"Was that on purpose, or an accident?" Xu Ye asked through gritted teeth.

"What did you say?"

Su Zijin looked innocent as she broke the seal on the disposable tableware and began scalding the bowls and chopsticks.

But knowing Su Zijin as he did, he knew she absolutely knew the effects of these dishes. After all, sometimes she was even more "in the know" than he was; otherwise, how could he have spent over four years mistakenly thinking she was just "one of the guys"? She was never ignorant—on the contrary, she knew more than he did.

Sure enough, the next moment, a flash of playful mischief appeared in the depths of Su Zijin's eyes.

"I just thought you were heartbroken, and you stayed up until one in the morning with me last night. I was just kindly trying to replenish your health."

That's right, she did it on purpose. Who told him to be such a blockhead and take so long to recognize her today? And to bring her to some "good brother's home-style restaurant." Plus, he couldn't even answer such a simple question earlier; she just had to tease this idiot.

Hmph!

Sure enough, remembering the way the waiter looked at Xu Ye, and the look on Xu Ye's face at the time, she felt a burst of amusement.

Xu Ye sighed speechlessly: "Student Su Zijin."

"What? You have an opinion~"

"I certainly don't have an opinion," Xu Ye said. "But have you thought about it? Two people, a man and a woman alone, and you order a whole table of this..."

"Is there a possibility that people might easily misunderstand that we have activities planned for later?"

"The kind that consumes a lot of energy and requires replenishing one's health?"

Su Zijin’s movements froze instantly.

That actually made sense, didn't it?

And no wonder the waiter had looked at her too; she had thought it was strange, but it turns out...

They thought she and Xu Ye had plans for later?

Damn it, didn't that mean she had hurt the enemy by a thousand and wounded herself by ten thousand? She panicked, her face burning like fire, and she reached for her drink as a tactical maneuver.

"Wait—" Xu Ye quickly raised his hand.

But it was too late.

Su Zijin had already taken three big gulps.

She looked at Xu Ye in confusion.

Why is he doing that Er Kang gesture?

Wait, why is there another bottle of 119 in front of me?

Oh, so the one in my hand is Xu Ye's?

Which means I drank Xu Ye's drink? And it was a can without a straw?

"Bang—"

She crossed her arms on the table and buried her head heavily into her forearms.

I actually... with Xu Ye...

God, how could this happen?!