“This… it’s over just like that?” Old Bai was still dazed, full of disbelief.
“You idiot, what, you wanted to keep going?”
“No, no, no…” Old Bai quickly shook his head. After nearly collapsing from exhaustion this past month, he had been dreaming of wrapping it up as soon as possible.
Xie Dingyuan’s eyes were curved with a smile, joy written all over his face: “Everyone’s worked hard these days. Tonight at Minghui Hall, my treat.”
As night fell, Huayu Road, separated from Chunfeng Street by just a wall, was lit up with bright lights and dazzling neon.
Including Jiang Fuyue and Xie Dingyuan, there were six of them. Old Zhang drove them all in one car.
As soon as Old Bai stepped out of the car, he looked around in awe, his curious gaze as if he’d discovered a new world.
Old Jin cleared his throat and reminded him, “Mind your image, don’t act like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.”
Old Bai scoffed, “I’m not even as good as Granny Liu—at least she did enter the Grand View Garden. And me?”
“You’re not wrong. None of us have been here before!”
The group followed the server inside, up the stairs, and into a private room.
Old Bai nudged Ding Yu with his elbow: “I heard every private room here is connected to a viewing terrace. Each room faces a different direction, so you get a different perspective and view. True or not?”
“You’re asking me? I’ve never been here either…”
Old Bai looked disappointed.
Old Jin interjected, “Why are you so impatient? We’ll know once we’re inside.”
At that moment, the server opened the room door and stepped aside to let them in.
Old Bai rushed in first to verify: “Holy cr*p… it really does have a viewing terrace?!”
Old Jin and Ding Yu immediately crowded around: “Oh my god, the view is stunning!”
“Old Liu! Come check this out—hurry up! Don’t dawdle!”
Liu Guan walked up slowly, hands in his pockets, appearing indifferent, but he was ultimately stunned by the view.
The meal left everyone satisfied.
Only Xie Dingyuan noticed that Jiang Fuyue barely touched her chopsticks and drank water far more often than usual.
That was unlike her—normally she ate heartily.
After dinner, Old Jin and the others took a taxi back to the apartment.
Old Zhang had originally planned to wait and drive Xie Dingyuan back to the villa after they all parted ways, but he called during the meal to ask for leave due to a family emergency.
Xie Dingyuan told him to leave the car behind—he’d drive himself back after dinner.
Old Zhang apologized repeatedly, clearly uneasy.
“The elderly don’t recover easily. Hospitalization isn’t a small matter. Go take care of it. If you run into trouble, you can call me.”
The volume on the phone had been a bit loud, and Jiang Fuyue, sitting next to him, heard everything clearly.
So Xie Dingyuan did know how to comfort people.
She had thought he was just a born iceberg.
The car slowly pulled up in front of them. Jiang Fuyue opened the passenger door and got in.
Suddenly, Xie Dingyuan asked, “The food didn’t suit your taste today?”
Jiang Fuyue paused, her eyes flickering slightly: “…Was it that obvious?”
Xie Dingyuan couldn’t help but chuckle: “You barely moved your chopsticks, but drank plenty of water.”
Jiang Fuyue touched her nose: “It tasted a little salty to me. But you guys didn’t seem to notice?”
So she wondered if something was wrong with her taste buds.
Xie Dingyuan was momentarily speechless.
“Sorry, that was my oversight.”
Minghui Hall specialized in northern cuisine, which is generally saltier. Jiang Fuyue, being from the south, likely wasn’t used to it.
As for Old Bai and the others, they had lived in the north for a long time, so they were naturally used to heavier flavors.
Jiang Fuyue, both before and after her rebirth, had never liked salty food.
Seeing everyone enjoying the meal, she didn’t want to be a buzzkill. She just ate a little less.
But she hadn’t expected Xie Dingyuan to be so sharp-eyed and immediately notice.
Tch…
“Are all scientists this observant?”
Xie Dingyuan gave her a look. “That’s something you can ask yourself.”
Jiang Fuyue curved her lips and drawled, “But I’m not a scientist.”
“You will be.”
“Who can say? What if I’m not?”
“But you said ‘what if’—so the odds are low.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
“Get out.” He suddenly said.
“What?”
“Get out,” the man had already turned off the engine and undone his seatbelt. “You’re still hungry, right?”
…
Fifteen minutes later, at Chunfeng Street Commercial Plaza.
Compared to the refined, upscale feel of Huayu Road, just across the wall, Chunfeng Street was clearly more down-to-earth.
Night had deepened slightly, the neon lights were vivid. Elderly people strolled after dinner, young couples walked with their kids, and the crowd was bustling.
Some street vendors had also come out—selling toys, snacks, calling out cheerfully.
Jiang Fuyue stopped in front of a small stall, staring at the rows of glossy, crimson candied hawthorn skewers. Her mouth instinctively watered.
Xie Dingyuan quietly took in her expression. “Want one?”
Jiang Fuyue turned her head. Her cool black eyes were like a night sky after rain—clear and bright—with a glimmer of hope in them. “Mm.”
She did want one.
But… the line was a bit long.
She wanted to line up but worried Xie Dingyuan might get impatient. Maybe she should suggest he sit somewhere nearby? Or if he wanted to leave, that’d be okay too.
Just as she was about to speak, he suddenly said, “See that place across the street—Liuxianju?”
Jiang Fuyue nodded, unsure what he was getting at.
Xie Dingyuan: “We’ll eat there later. Go over and book a private room. Sit and wait. I’ll line up here.”
He’d already arranged everything. Ignoring her mildly surprised expression, he turned slightly red around the ears and urged her, “Go on—otherwise there might not be any seats left.”
So, still a bit dazed, Jiang Fuyue stepped into Liuxianju.
As soon as she entered, a warm breeze greeted her.
A tall woman in a black uniform came over with a smile. Her name badge read “Reception,” her collar was stylishly designed in a V-cut that was just revealing enough. Her waist was slim, voice soft, makeup delicate, and her smile captivating.
Jiang Fuyue first glanced around calmly, then gave a small nod.
The lobby was elegantly decorated, the environment tasteful, blending Chinese and Western elements.
Most of the guests were well-dressed, refined in manner—clearly not a cheap place.
Most importantly, the aroma of the food was incredibly appetizing.
Looked like she’d finally be able to enjoy a proper meal.
“Do you have private rooms available?” she asked.
The receptionist kept her professional smile. “Do you have a reservation?”
Jiang Fuyue shook her head. She and Xie Dingyuan had come on a whim and picked the place randomly. But…
“I noticed your private rooms aren’t full.”
At the entrance was a digital screen showing occupancy rates. Private rooms were listed separately, showing only 46% occupancy—which meant nearly half were still empty.
To her surprise, the receptionist’s expression turned subtly strange. She looked Jiang Fuyue up and down again, confirming she wasn’t one of their “VIP” guests, then politely explained: “Miss, you may not be aware—here at Liuxianju, private rooms are reserved by auction. Each room upstairs has an owner. Without their permission, we can’t let anyone use them. I’m very sorry.”
Jiang Fuyue frowned slightly. This kind of customer-tiered business model felt a bit ridiculous to her.
It made sense for an auction house—where price dictated status, and transactions could go into the tens or hundreds of millions.
But a restaurant? Most people could afford a meal.
What a strange establishment—seemingly proud of this “rule.” The receptionist’s tone even carried a hint of pride, as if this policy elevated her own status too.
Jiang Fuyue didn’t understand it, but it was their rule. If she didn’t like it, she could just go somewhere else. No need to argue.
She had already silently decided to leave.
“If you’d like, the dining area is still a lovely experience,” the receptionist added, still smiling—obviously professionally trained.
Jiang Fuyue waved it off. “No need.”
With that, she turned to leave.
The receptionist’s smile froze.
Most guests who wanted a private room gave up after she explained the rules. Knowing the rooms belonged to elites, they’d usually settle for the dining hall.
But this woman—so stubborn!
Didn’t she know how rare a chance it was to eat at Liuxianju? On weekends, without a reservation, people might wait the whole day and still not get in.
Today, there were just two seats left in the main dining hall—and this girl turned her nose up at them and walked out?!
