When Song Xinya heard that Han Jingyi agreed to help treat Qin Yuhe’s hand, her anxious emotions settled down. Her eyes sparkled with bright smiles, and a hint of sweetness spread at the corners of her eyes.
“Thank you so much, Brother Jingyi.”
Han Jingyi looked at the obvious happiness on her face—happiness for another man.
Even though his throat tightened, he still responded gracefully, with a composed, “You’re welcome.”
Since he was willing to help with such a big favor, Song Xinya naturally felt obliged to show her gratitude through social etiquette. “Brother Jingyi, how about I treat you to dinner tonight?”
Han Jingyi replied, “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a meal together. If it’s convenient for you, of course.”
Song Xinya said, “It’s convenient.”
Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming message.
Across the table, Han Jingyi glanced at her phone instinctively—just a fleeting look, without any intent or prying. His gaze was restrained and polite, and he quickly looked away.
Song Xinya picked up her phone, swiped her finger across the screen, and unlocked it.
Qin Yuhe: [There’s a new Hong Kong-style tea restaurant at Wangfujing. I heard their crystal shrimp dumplings are good. Bring me some when you come back.]
Huh?
Song Xinya was slightly surprised for a moment.
Why was Qin Yuhe suddenly asking her to bring him food?
This was a first.
Although Young Master Qin was of noble status, he wasn’t picky about food as long as the ingredients were fresh and the flavors were light.
Moreover, he wasn’t someone who pursued culinary pleasures, preferring to focus his energy on his work.
For him to specifically name a tea restaurant at Wangfujing today was truly unusual.
Song Xinya thought, That tea restaurant’s crystal shrimp dumplings must be exceptionally good for Qin Yuhe to specifically request them.
Since he wanted them, she replied: [I’ll buy some for you.]
Putting her phone back into her bag, Song Xinya looked at Han Jingyi and said, “Brother Jingyi, right now I…”
Han Jingyi interrupted, “Do you suddenly have some work matters to deal with?”
For the sake of saving face for oneself and consideration for others, people always make up an excuse to leave suddenly, rather than bluntly saying, “I can’t have dinner with you tonight because I have to go home and have dinner with my husband.”
It was an unspoken rule of adult socializing.
Song Xinya smiled and replied, “No, that’s not what I was going to say.”
Han Jingyi showed a look of surprise.
Song Xinya added, “I meant, let’s go have dinner now.”
Han Jingyi glanced at his watch—3:30 PM.
He said, “Alright.”
Song Xinya asked, “Is there anything you feel like eating?”
Han Jingyi said, “Sichuan cuisine, or Hunan cuisine.”
Both were spicy flavors.
Song Xinya chuckled, understanding that he was trying to accommodate her tastes. “Don’t just consider my preferences. What do you want to eat? I’m treating today, so I should pick something you like.”
Han Jingyi said, “I can eat mild food or spicy food either way.”
Song Xinya suggested, “There’s a new Hong Kong-style tea restaurant at Wangfujing. I heard their crystal shrimp dumplings are excellent. Let’s go try the dishes there?”
A glint of brightness flashed in Han Jingyi’s calm eyes.
He loved Cantonese cuisine. A flicker of joy and anticipation rose in his heart. Could it be that she remembered his favorite flavors and that’s why she suggested the tea restaurant for crystal shrimp dumplings?
The trip to Wangfujing took an hour and a half by car. When they arrived at the tea restaurant, it was 5:00 PM—not too early for dinner.
The tea restaurant’s decoration style was a retro, 90s Hong Kong vibe: beige stone tabletops, diamond-stitched retro leather chairs, and a palette of warm browns, cream whites, and peacock green—classic and textured, instantly transporting visitors into a 90s Hong Kong movie.
As they pushed open the door and stepped inside, a warm, sweet aroma of coffee, milk tea, and butter mixed with steam rushed toward them, tempting and fragrant.
Though it was only 5:00 PM, quite a few customers were already eating dinner.
Song Xinya and Han Jingyi sat at a quiet spot by the wall. She ordered ten portions of crystal shrimp dumplings.
Han Jingyi asked, “Are you that hungry?”
Song Xinya replied, “I plan to pack eight and take them home.”
Han Jingyi joked, “Eight portions? Are you planning on eating leftovers tomorrow?”
Song Xinya laughed, “Leftovers? With my little brother at home, there’s never only leftovers; there’s not enough to spare. His stomach is too generous—sweet, sour, cold, spicy, he loves it all.”
“Other people excel at music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; my little brother excels at frying, boiling, stir-frying, and deep-frying—eating everything.”
“Some people mock my brother for eating too much. Ridiculous! My brother has the belly of a prime minister—broad enough to sail a ship.”
Han Jingyi was amused by her witty remarks. His handsome eyes crinkled with a smile, full of charm, making him striking and eye-catching.
The door of the tea restaurant swung open, and a woman in a white dress walked in.
She scanned the room, her gaze suddenly stopping near the window as she looked at Han Jingyi with surprise and delight.
Just as Song Xinya was sampling the crystal shrimp dumplings, she heard hurried footsteps behind her. They approached from afar, stopping right beside her seat.
“Mr. Han!”
Zhang Yingying exclaimed excitedly at Han Jingyi: “Mr. Han, I came to eat at this restaurant and happened to run into you. What a coincidence—we’re so fated to meet!”
Han Jingyi responded politely, “Yes, quite a coincidence.”
In truth, Zhang Yingying had found out that Han Jingyi loved Cantonese cuisine. She had also heard that a new tea restaurant at Wangfujing was particularly popular with excellent food. So she deliberately visited this new restaurant, hoping for a “coincidental” encounter.
Fortune had smiled on her—a needle meeting sesame in a pinhole—and she actually met him.
Zhang Yingying said, “Mr. Han, since we’re so fated to be here, how about we have dinner together tonight?”
Song Xinya coughed. “Ahem.”
Zhang Yingying turned her head to look at her. “Oh, you’re here too?”
Song Xinya said, “Today, I’m treating Brother Jingyi to dinner.”
The subtext was: Stay out of this. Don’t butt in.
Zhang Yingying retorted, “We’re all acquaintances, and you’re even my sister-in-law. What’s wrong with having a meal at the same table?”
Song Xinya shot back, “Since I’m your sister-in-law, why don’t you give me the money you earn to spend?”
Zhang Yingying snorted, “Are those two things comparable? Nobody’s money grows on trees. Why would I give you the money I earned?”
Song Xinya parried, “I’m paying for this meal. Why should the money I earned pay for your dinner?”
Zhang Yingying covered her mouth and sneered, “You won’t even treat one meal. Song Xinya, you’re so stingy!”
Song Xinya smiled behind her hand, “Since you’re so generous, why don’t you pay for this meal?”
Zhang Yingying retorted, “Why should I pay? I won’t!”
Song Xinya, mimicking her, chuckled behind her hand, “You won’t even treat one meal. Zhang Yingying, you’re so stingy!”
Zhang Yingying felt the verbal boomerang hit her right on the head.
Han Jingyi said calmly, “Miss Zhang, this is a private meal between Xinxin and me. I still owe you a meal. We can meet again when we have time.”
That was a polite way to dismiss her.
As Zhang Yingying turned to leave, she noticed the red marks on Song Xinya’s neck.
Being a woman familiar with love and romance, she naturally understood how such marks came to be.
She feigned surprise, “Song Xinya, your neck is all red. Did your husband kiss those marks out of you?”
This exclamation naturally drew Han Jingyi's gaze to Song Xinya's neck.
He saw a red mark on her long, fair and delicate neck.
He recalled what Zhang Yingying had said yesterday -
"Hey, look at Song Xinya. She's even bought lubricant. She's definitely going to have a hot and exciting night with her husband tonight."
The red mark on Song Xinya's neck seemed to confirm this statement.
The crystal shrimp dumplings were crystal - clear, lying obediently like little crescents in the steamer.
The skin made of wheat starch and cornstarch was soft, glutinous and chewy, and the whole shrimps peeled from American peony shrimps were plump and sweet.
They tasted really good.
But at this moment, Han Jingyi found them as tasteless as wax.
After Zhang Yingying said this, she lifted her chin high, looking like a victorious general.
Song Xinya gave a faint smile and deflected the situation skillfully: "Why are you so excited just because you see a hickey on someone's neck? What's wrong? Are you so used to being kissed by men that your body is so sensitive that you get all worked up just at the sight of a hickey?"
