Shen Xingzhi booked a private dining room at a restaurant.
This place was frequented by celebrities and offered excellent privacy.
They were seated in a private room.
The room featured a round table with traditional Chinese decor and a faint scent of sandalwood.
The four of them sat around the table.
Shen Jianxi had Shen Xingzhi to her left, Zhao Yingxin to her right, and Jing Luan opposite her.
The food had not yet arrived, and the room was quiet, with no one speaking.
Shen Jianxi, bored, stared at the small whirlpool in her water glass, gently swirling the cup whenever it began to disappear, with no intention of breaking the silence to liven up the atmosphere.
She was engrossed in her play when her body suddenly stiffened, and her head slowly turned to her right, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Zhao Yingxin, as if to cover up, picked up her cup and took a drink, her heart uneasy. She dared not meet Shen Jianxi's gaze, fearing she would see a trace of disgust in those clear eyes.
Shen Jianxi carefully moved her leg away, only to find the leg under the table persistently pursuing, hooking onto her calf again.
Under the table, she fled, he pursued, she had nowhere to escape.
Though the movements between them were small and the cameras didn't capture them, Jing Luan, sitting opposite, sensed something amiss.
He feigned accidental dropping of his chopsticks, and as he bent down to pick them up, he subtly lifted the tablecloth.
However, the moment Jing Luan bent down, Zhao Yingxin had already retracted her leg, so Jing Luan discovered nothing.
He stood up, a slight frown on his face, his gaze sweeping between the two. He found that Shen Jianxi's expression had already returned to normal, the oddness of a moment ago gone.
Seeing this, Jing Luan ceased his investigation. His eyes fell on Shen Xingzhi's finger. The ring was still on it, which Jing Luan found inexplicably glaring and felt an unexpressed dissatisfaction.
He glanced at the time, then stood up and walked out.
Jing Luan's departure didn't attract much attention. Only one cameraman followed him out. Su Dan Novel Network.
Zhao Yingxin was the first to feel restless in the room's silence. After Shen Jianxi had evaded her leg, she had no further opportunity to get close. Now, restless, she wanted to start a conversation.
However, they had little prior interaction, and coupled with a girl's reserve, she pondered for a moment before casually asking, "Teacher Shen, may I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead," Shen Xingzhi replied with a smile.
Shen Jianxi didn't presume to answer. Although her surname was also Shen, it was naturally Shen Xingzhi who would be addressed as Teacher Shen.
Zhao Yingxin asked a rather standard question: "What kind of sports do you like, Teacher Shen?"
"Swimming," Shen Xingzhi answered.
After Shen Xingzhi's reply, Shen Jianxi subconsciously glanced at his abdomen, involuntarily recalling scenes from a game they had played.
Even though she had seen it many times, it was still something worth appreciating.
"What about you? Shen Jian, what sports do you like?" Zhao Yingxin now naturally shifted the topic to Shen Jianxi.
Unexpectedly finding herself the subject of conversation, Shen Jianxi naturally withdrew her gaze and casually replied, "Huh? Oh, me? I like sleeping."
Zhao Yingxin: ...
She suddenly didn't know what to say.
But they were all in the entertainment industry, so maintaining composure was not a problem.
Zhao Yingxin covered her mouth and chuckled a couple of times to mask her awkwardness, but she found herself at a loss for what to ask next.
Fortunately, Jing Luan returned at that moment, followed by serving staff bringing the dishes, which broke her lingering awkwardness.
The soup was served first, a small bowl for each person.
Jing Luan enthusiastically took over the waiter's task, distributing the bowls of soup to everyone.
The cameraman trailing behind him had an unreadable expression.
After they had gone out, he had lost sight of Jing Luan for a while, and only after searching for some time did Jing Luan appear from who knows where.
His hands were a little damp, likely from being washed, but his expression revealed nothing.
Just then, a waiter carrying dishes approached. Before he could ask about Jing Luan's whereabouts, Jing Luan enthusiastically stepped forward to guide the waiter.
Trailing Cameraman: ...Do waiters here need guidance?
But it was obvious he wouldn't get any answers, so he didn't bother asking. The director hadn't given any instructions anyway.
Shen Jianxi lowered her head and took a sip. The pigeon soup was fresh, and the flavor burst onto her tongue the moment it entered her mouth.
The others also had expressions of appreciation.
Except for one person, Shen Xingzhi.
It was fine at first, but then something felt off. A spicy, pungent sensation shot from his tongue to his brain, and his eyes involuntarily began to water slightly.
Using his excellent composure, Shen Xingzhi swallowed the mouthful of soup, then subtly moved the soup bowl away, not touching it again.
Shen Jianxi, sitting beside him, naturally noticed that he only took one sip and stopped.
She turned her head to look, and asked worriedly, "What's wrong, Brother Xingzhi?"
Shen Xingzhi shook his head slightly at her. The stinging sensation on his tongue hadn't subsided. He pretended to be fine, "I'm fine. It's just not to my taste."
After speaking, he picked up his water glass and used water to counter the spiciness of the wasabi.
As he drank, he cast a subtle glance at Jing Luan opposite him.
Only Jing Luan had left earlier. The perpetrator was obvious.
But this was too blatant. Jing Luan surely knew that.
Shen Xingzhi pondered for a moment and arrived at the answer.
He looked at Shen Jianxi, who was unknowingly drinking soup, and understood.
It was merely a show of defiance from a young man's jealousy, not hard to guess. As fellow men, some things were naturally understood.
Once he was sure the sensation on his tongue had dissipated, Shen Xingzhi put down his cup.
He had become vigilant. For every subsequent dish, Shen Xingzhi only dared to take a bite after Jing Luan had eaten.
Once or twice was fine, but any more would naturally be noticed.
Sensing Shen Jianxi's gaze, Shen Xingzhi's smile remained unchanged, but he had already harbored a grudge.
It was one thing not to take the young man's display of defiance seriously, but not to reciprocate was not his style.
Jing Luan, who was eating, was unaware of Shen Xingzhi's thoughts and suddenly shivered.
He muttered a few words to himself and pulled his clothes tighter, feeling much better.