Both Jiang Mo and Pei Ting were deeply immersed in the performance.
By the time it ended, Jiang Mo still felt it wasn’t enough. Only when the lights came on and the theater crowd dispersed like a receding tide did the two of them finally leave from the back.
In Jiangcheng’s summer, even at night, the air remained damp and stifling.
After getting into Pei Ting’s car, Jiang Mo asked, "Senior Pei, have you decided what to eat for late-night snacks? I promised I’d treat you."
"Aren’t you the food expert? Why don’t you recommend something?" Pei Ting didn’t hold back.
"No problem. My recommendations rarely disappoint," Jiang Mo said, pulling out her phone only to find several messages from Gu Ye.
Gu Ye: "Aunt Wang said you were out watching a performance. What was it?"
Gu Ye: "I’m out too. Want me to swing by and pick you up?"
......
Gu Ye: "Why aren’t you replying? Did your phone die?"
Having been engrossed in the show, Jiang Mo hadn’t checked her phone and missed the messages. She quickly replied, "No need. After the show, I’m heading straight home."
"Alright, get back early after the show."
Jiang Mo frowned. What’s up with him today? So much unnecessary chatter.
Pei Ting noticed her staring silently at her phone. "Something wrong? Need to handle anything?"
"Nope, just replying to messages," Jiang Mo said, her eyes darting playfully. "Senior, do you have any preferences for the dining environment? There’s a small barbecue spot near my place. The setting might not be fancy, but the food’s amazing."
Pei Ting nodded. "Sounds good to me."
Pei Ting remembered Jiang Mo’s address clearly and entered it directly into the navigation.
When they arrived at the barbecue joint, almost all the tables inside and outside were packed. Jiang Mo, familiar with the place, walked in confidently and stopped the owner, who was serving dishes. "Any seats left? How long’s the wait?"
The owner, who’d run the place for years and knew Jiang Mo well, greeted her warmly. "Just you and your brother again?"
Jiang Mo shook her head. "No, just me and a friend."
The owner suggested, "How about a table outside? We’ve got a portable AC out there."
Jiang Mo ran back to ask Pei Ting’s opinion. "Should we eat outside first and move indoors if a table opens up? Or wait for an indoor spot?"
Pei Ting glanced at the few tables set up outside the shop. "Outside’s fine."
As the owner set up their table, she couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances at Pei Ting.
Once seated, Jiang Mo put down her bag and scanned the menu to order. "I’ll grab some fruit slices."
Pei Ting stood up. "You rest. I’ll go—" But before he could finish, Jiang Mo had already dashed off.
By the time she returned with the fruit platter, their food had started arriving.
"Senior, try these—the meat skewers and garlic eggplant. Highly recommended," Jiang Mo urged enthusiastically.
Pei Ting picked up a beef skewer and took a bite. "Delicious. Tender, too—doesn’t taste frozen."
"This place uses fresh meat, cut and skewered on the spot. The grilling and seasoning are top-notch in this neighborhood," Jiang Mo said before devouring two skewers in quick succession.
"Seems like following your lead on food is foolproof," Pei Ting remarked. "Next weekend, there’s a law students’ networking event with some well-known seniors attending. Want to come?"
"It’s at a five-star hotel. Heard the catering’s great."
"Senior, come on, you make it sound like only food can tempt me," Jiang Mo scratched her head, laughing. "But with all those seniors and big shots there, wouldn’t a small fry like me feel out of place?"
Pei Ting smiled. "I’m a small fry too. No big deal."
Jiang Mo: Pfft, way too humble.
Meanwhile, Li Zheng, having skipped dinner after a gaming marathon, ventured out hungry. He bought a box of fried rice first but craved something more flavorful, so he headed to the family’s usual barbecue spot for some meat skewers.
Approaching the shop, he noticed the makeshift tables outside and thought, Business must be booming—this place probably rakes in serious cash.
Inside, he placed his order with the owner, who recognized him. "Looking for your sister? She’s at the table outside with a really handsome guy."
"My sister?" Li Zheng blinked.
The owner nodded toward the door. "Yeah, out there eating."
Pushing the door open, Li Zheng scanned the area and quickly spotted Jiang Mo.
Jiang Mo, mid-skewer, felt someone hovering beside her and looked up. "Oh, little bro? What brings you here?"
"No dinner. Came out to grab food. You’re eating barbecue right at home and didn’t even invite me?" Li Zheng grumbled, eyeing the guy across the table. Huh, a looker.
Pei Ting gestured politely. "This must be your brother. Join us." He pulled over an extra chair.
Jiang Mo waved a hand. "Go get your own utensils."
Li Zheng happily fetched a set and plopped down without hesitation. No need for formalities—free food from sis is always a win.
"Little bro, scan the menu and add whatever you’d like," Pei Ting said. "I’m your sister’s senior, Pei Ting. Call me Brother Pei."
"Brother Pei," Li Zheng nodded, then suddenly remembered. "Oh, I know you! You’re the one who drove my sister home before and met Dad, right?"
Pei Ting raised an eyebrow. "Yes, I did. Had a brief chat with your father."
"Here, little bro—your favorite chicken feet." Jiang Mo quickly handed him a skewer, hoping to shut him up before he blurted something awkward.
Li Zheng gnawed on the chicken feet, mentally agreeing: Dad finally got it right this time. Sis’s senior seems solid.
Are these two hiding something...? Sis keeping secrets from me?
Not sure. Need to observe more.
Nothing escapes my sharp eyes.
"Brother Pei, are you a lawyer now? Which firm?" Li Zheng began his interrogation.
"Yes, at my family’s law practice," Pei Ting replied, refilling Jiang Mo’s empty glass with coconut juice.
Li Zheng shoveled meat into his mouth. "Damn, family business. That’s what I call young talent with a bright future."
Jiang Mo cringed and stomped on her brother’s foot under the table—eat more, talk less.
But Li Zheng didn’t react. Instead, he asked, "Sis, want more of these salt-and-pepper shrimp skewers?"
No reaction? Weird. Jiang Mo frowned. This trick always worked.
Pei Ting watched her antics. "Uh, I think you might’ve stepped on my foot."
"Ah—" Jiang Mo yanked her foot back, mortified. "Oops, sorry about that."
