After finishing hot pot, the two of them strolled for a bit to help digest.
Jiang Fuyue asked, “Phase Two of the experiment starts tomorrow?”
Xie Dingyuan nodded. “That’s the plan.”
“Alright.”
As they passed by a dessert shop, the man paused mid-step and turned to her. “Want to go in?”
Jiang Fuyue’s legs had already stopped moving.
She liked sweets. Just like how she couldn’t resist Zhong Ziang’s mango mille crêpe outside Lab A1, she naturally couldn’t resist Xie Dingyuan now.
“Yes.”
“Come on, let’s take a look.”
Xie Dingyuan pushed open the door, Jiang Fuyue following close behind.
They stood in front of a transparent refrigerated display case, filled with all kinds of exquisite, colorful desserts.
“Which one do you like?” he asked, glancing at her.
At that moment, Jiang Fuyue was completely captivated by the display. She didn’t even want to look away when he spoke.
Xie Dingyuan watched her focused profile, his heart pounding faster and faster…
“This one,” she pointed to a golden-brown dessert on the left.
He glanced at the label: Half-Baked Cheesecake.
“…Anything else?”
She shook her head. “Just one.”
“You sure you don’t want more?” Xie Dingyuan sounded a bit puzzled. She’d looked longingly at nearly every single one—why only pick one?
Jiang Fuyue was clear: “Nope.”
“You know, you could pick two more. That one doesn’t look very big. It might—”
“I can only eat one,” she interrupted with a smile. “There are so many beautiful things in the world. You don’t have to try everything—choosing your favorite and having just that is already enough.”
Xie Dingyuan froze.
Jiang Fuyue raised an eyebrow. “What? Did I say something wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
He opened his mouth, but no words came out for a while.
He wanted to ask: If that’s how you are with things, what about people? Would you only choose the one you love and stay true to them forever?
But just as the words were about to leave his mouth, he suddenly realized… they weren’t at that kind of stage yet.
His voice low and calm, he said, “No, you’re right. Whether in life or in work, greed is never a good thing.”
“Mhm.” Jiang Fuyue nodded and turned to the smiling clerk. “Two slices of Half-Baked Cheesecake, please. Can you eat this?” she asked Xie Dingyuan, clearly ordering for both of them.
“I can.” He nodded lightly.
But anyone who knew Xie Dingyuan would know—he never ate sweets.
Clerk: “Would you like that for here or to go?”
Jiang Fuyue looked to Xie Dingyuan for his preference.
“Let’s eat here.”
“Okay.”
The shop wasn’t big, but it was tastefully decorated. Watercolor walls gave the space a bright and cozy vibe.
They chose a corner seat by the window—a small square table with tiny wooden chairs. Jiang Fuyue, at 173 cm, already felt cramped. Xie Dingyuan, even more so.
The tall man awkwardly sat down, shifting left and right, subtly pressing on the seat like he was testing if it could hold his weight.
Thankfully, it didn’t wobble or creak—solid enough.
He breathed a sigh of relief. But his long arms and legs had nowhere to go, so he tucked them in, again and again, shrinking further and further into himself.
Eventually, he was curled up like a pretzel, his expression quietly resentful.
Jiang Fuyue couldn’t help it—she burst into laughter.
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
“Ahem…” Jiang Fuyue quickly stopped, not pushing her luck. She motioned toward the dessert. “Aren’t you going to try it? It’s pretty good.”
She had already taken two eager bites.
Xie Dingyuan’s scalp tingled, but he kept a straight face, picked up the small steel spoon, and scooped a bite.
A wave of rich cheese flavor hit his tongue. The cold, soft texture was something he wasn’t used to—but surprisingly, not as bad as he’d feared.
Under the cheese was a crumbly cake base—crispy, but not greasy, with a pleasant milky aroma.
It actually wasn’t too sweet. Maybe there was some citrus in it, giving a refreshing twist that balanced the sugar.
“How is it?” she asked, looking expectant.
He nodded. “Tastes good. Just… the seats are too small.”
“Then… should we leave? Eat while we walk?”
His upbringing told him that wasn’t proper behavior.
But… so what?
“Sure.” He agreed immediately.
After paying, they walked off with the remaining dessert, munching as they went.
It was an entirely new experience for Xie Dingyuan—he looked around, full of curiosity.
He soon realized it wasn’t just him and Jiang Fuyue—tons of young people on the street were carrying milk tea or grilled skewers.
Eating while walking, chatting while eating, laughing while chatting.
The joy radiating from them was palpable—even across the street.
“Is this what young people do nowadays?” he couldn’t help but ask.
What kind of question is that? Jiang Fuyue followed his gaze to see a couple across the road munching skewers, heads close together, exchanging smiles.
She was surprised he’d even ask that. “It’s not about being young—it’s about being a couple.”
“Couple?” he looked confused.
“Yeah, can’t you tell?”
He looked again, frowning slightly. “Just because they’re standing close, talking and eating together?”
Does that count as being a couple?
Then… what about him and Jiang Fuyue?
They were walking close, talking, eating…
Xie Dingyuan was shocked by his own thought.
But from a logical standpoint… it wasn’t wrong.
Jiang Fuyue gave him a weird look.
Xie Dingyuan: “?”
“You’ve never been in a relationship?” she blurted out.
He froze. The next second, the tips of his ears turned red.
Jiang Fuyue realized she’d spoken too bluntly. “Ah… forget I—”
Before she could finish, he bit out the answer: “No. I haven’t.”
She looked stunned.
He gave a cool smile. “What? You look surprised.”
Uh…
Shouldn’t I be? You’re over thirty—nearly forty—and you’ve never dated?
He seemed to read her mind. That smile got even chillier. “You sound like you’ve got tons of experience.”
“No, no!” she waved her hands quickly. “I haven’t. Look at me—do I look like someone who has?”
“Mm. That’s good,” he nodded seriously. “No puppy love. Focus on your studies.”
He sounded calm, but inside, he was thrilled.
Jiang Fuyue shot him a baffled look.
Then again, she kind of got it.
A man nearly thirty who’d never dated, suddenly getting exposed like that—it’d hurt anyone’s ego. No wonder he was being so passive-aggressive.
Tsk. Men—no matter how smart—are all sensitive in some ways.
Xie Dingyuan, just accused of being sensitive, glanced at her from the side: “?”
Why is she sneaking peeks at me? And sighing?
Could it be that she… cough… has feelings for me?
Thinking that, the corners of his lips curled up involuntarily.
His whole face glowed.
After dessert and a walk, he drove her back to Yutianhua Residence.
On the way, Jiang Fuyue yawned, drowsiness creeping in. Soon, she was dozing off, head tilted.
At the gate, the security guard stepped up for the routine check.
Xie Dingyuan rolled down the window and lowered his voice. “Keep it down.”
The guard peeked at the passenger seat—a beautiful young woman asleep, bathed in streetlight.
He instantly got the message.
“Oh! Mr. Xie! Didn’t expect you to be driving yourself today—please, go right in…”
“Mm.” He gave a nod and drove in calmly as the guard watched.
“Tsk… weird.” the guard mumbled.
Just then, Jiang Da rode up on his electric scooter. “Hey, Little Tian, you’re on duty tonight?”
“Ah, Brother Jiang! Closing up early?”
“Got someone at the store. I headed back to check on my kid. Come on, have a smoke.”
“Thanks! You’re always so polite.”
“Colder tonight. Why are you standing out here talking to yourself?”
“Sigh, I had just come out of the guard booth when a resident drove in, and I lifted the barrier to let him through. It’s really quite strange, come to think of it. This resident seems to be some kind of researcher—leaves early, comes back late, lives a simple life. He’s been living here for so many years, and aside from his driver, I’ve never seen him come or go with anyone. This is the first time I’ve seen a woman in his car…”
