Xiao Xun quickly refused, "How can I let you treat me? This meal should have been on me."
Chu Ningxiang looked at Xiao Xun's flustered appearance and asked, "Why?"
Xiao Xun explained, "You bought my account last time and helped me a lot. If it weren't for you, I don't know how I would have repaid them with money. I should be treating you to this meal, as a token of my gratitude."
Hearing this, Chu Ningxiang smiled mischievously, "Since that's the case, I won't be polite then!"
Xiao Xun waved his hands, "Please don't be polite at all."
Chu Ningxiang was just saying that. This 'big boy' in front of her was so poor that he sold his most precious account. How could he have any extra money to treat her to a meal?
However, she couldn't refuse him, fearing he would lose face, so she could only think of a win-win solution.
At this moment, one could see whether a girl was sensible or not.
She led Xiao Xun to the underground parking lot of the mall. She took out her key and pressed the button, and a red sports bike flashed its lights twice.
Chu Ningxiang took out two helmets from a nearby locker, put one on herself, and then personally put the other on Xiao Xun, buckling the safety strap.
Looking at Chu Ningxiang's bright eyes, a rabbit seemed to have jumped into Xiao Xun's heart, beating 'thump, thump, thump.' He had never been this close to a girl other than his cousin before.
Because the lighting in the garage was dim and due to the helmets, Chu Ningxiang couldn't see that Xiao Xun's face was blushing.
After putting on the helmets, Chu Ningxiang patted the back seat of the motorcycle, "You'll sit here, and your feet go here. By the way, you must hold my waist tightly."
Xiao Xun looked at the motorcycle in front of him with trepidation, "Why don't you tell me the place, and I'll just take a taxi there!"
Chu Ningxiang straddled the motorcycle, with one foot on the ground and the other on the clutch. She looked back at Xiao Xun, "Stop talking nonsense. You're a grown man, and you're afraid of riding a motorcycle."
Unable to refuse, Xiao Xun had no choice but to sit on the back seat carefully. This motorcycle was high in the front and back, and low in the middle. Coupled with Xiao Xun being taller than Chu Ningxiang, he looked rather awkward sitting in the back.
Chu Ningxiang grabbed Xiao Xun's right hand and placed the shy young man's hand around her waist, "You must hold on tight. I won't be responsible if you fall."
Xiao Xun was initially embarrassed, but as soon as Chu Ningxiang gunned the engine, the motorcycle roared away, making Xiao Xun hold her waist tightly, wishing he could press his entire body against her back.
If Xiao Xun hadn't lacked strength, he might have choked her to death.
This motorcycle felt faster than Secretary Fan's sports car, but the sports car was 'flesh wrapped in iron,' while this was 'iron wrapped in flesh.'
Xiao Xun closed his eyes tightly, not daring to open them. He felt like he was jumping back and forth on the 'line of death.' Although he had a helmet, he could still feel the wind whistling past his ears.
The motorcycle stopped inside a convenience market. The powerful braking force of the motorcycle's grip caused quite a stir among the onlookers.
Chu Ningxiang gently patted Xiao Xun's hand, "You can let go now! We've arrived."
Xiao Xun felt his head buzzing, unable to hear anything clearly.
Chu Ningxiang had to physically remove Xiao Xun's hand and then turned to take off Xiao Xun's helmet. Seeing Xiao Xun's pale face from fear, she couldn't help but laugh.
"Let's go! I'll treat you to some barbecue."
Xiao Xun got off the motorcycle, feeling his legs go weak. Looking at the barbecue stall in front of him, Xiao Xun felt relieved. If they ate here, his meager savings would be enough.
They went to a stall that looked unappealing but was crowded with people. The proprietress greeted Chu Ningxiang warmly and handed them two stainless steel plates covered with plastic bags. It was evident that Chu Ningxiang was a frequent visitor.
"Put whatever you want to eat on the plate."
Chu Ningxiang took the plate and handed one to Xiao Xun, "Their skewers and Teppanyaki are delicious, and the prices are reasonable."
Xiao Xun looked at the messy and unhygienic environment, and the bare-chested men loudly discussing while drinking draft beer. He couldn't understand why she chose such a place.
But since they were already here, and the girl didn't care, he had no room to be picky.
After selecting a pile of food, the proprietress calculated the bill, handed the skewers to the boss, and was responsible for the Teppanyaki herself.
Xiao Xun paid the money first, and Chu Ningxiang did not stop him.
They chose to sit at a plastic table and chairs a bit further away from the oil smoke. These plastic tables and chairs were gifts from the beverage company, with their logos on them.
Although they were plastic, they were more comfortable to sit on than regular chairs and were very sturdy.
After about twenty minutes, the proprietress started serving the dishes and asked what they wanted to drink.
"I'll have a bottle of soda." She then looked at Xiao Xun, "Why don't you try their draft beer? It's fresh draft beer delivered the same day."
Xiao Xun gently patted his injured left arm, "My injury hasn't healed yet, so I'll pass."
Chu Ningxiang smiled at the proprietress, "Then get him a bottle of soda too!"
"Was my shooting today cool?" Chu Ningxiang, though not drinking, had a flushed face.
Xiao Xun softly hummed, "Your footwork, hand speed, and accuracy are all very precise."
Hearing the compliment from an expert, Chu Ningxiang smiled happily, "You're not making fun of me, are you? The gap between me and you is not just a little bit."
Xiao Xun waved his hand, "Let bygones be bygones..."
Just then, a hand heavily patted Xiao Xun's shoulder and said, "Life is already full of storms."
Xiao Xun turned to see the persistent Xiao Sanmao, followed by several young people around his age.
"I knew you wouldn't come with me no matter how I called you. So you had a beauty accompanying you!"
Then he turned to the people behind him and said, "This is the 'great god' I told you about, the one who beat our vice-captain."
Chu Ningxiang made a middle finger gesture at Xiao Sanmao, "What nonsense are you talking about."
Xiao Sanmao laughed heartily and said to the people behind him, "Look, our vice-captain is shy. Are you denying that you're a beauty, or that my brother didn't win you?!"
Xiao Xun's face had been red since he saw Xiao Sanmao. He was not used to lying, and being caught red-handed made him extremely awkward. In today's terms, it was a large-scale 'social death scene.'
Xiao Sanmao, being observant, said to the people behind him, "Let's eat over there. We won't disturb you two."
The group of people left, laughing and joking, leaving behind two blushing faces.
"What are you doing now? Are you still at the Jin Hulu Internet Cafe?" Chu Ningxiang was the first to break the awkward silence.
Xiao Xun nodded, then suddenly shook his head, "No, I'm not. I found a job. The new job provides food and accommodation."
Chu Ningxiang didn't ask for details about the job, as the proprietress came to serve more skewers.
After a period of silence, Xiao Xun asked, "What do you do? Are you a pure professional player?"
Chu Ningxiang picked up some lamb skewers and handed them to Xiao Xun, "I'm a semi-professional player, I guess. I'm still a university student, just playing in competitions during the holidays to earn some pocket money."
They chatted casually for almost two hours.