This was a private Sichuan cuisine restaurant with a great ambiance. As soon as one stepped in, it felt like a perfect place for banquets.
The decoration was understated yet luxurious.
Lin Mo had made a last - minute reservation.
There were no private rooms available, so they had to sit in the main hall.
The four of them took their seats.
Lin Mo and Auntie Zhen sat on one side, while Xie Guanyan and Shen Ji'an sat on the other.
The waiter brought over the menu and glanced at the four of them.
For a moment, the waiter was a bit confused about their relationship.
There was a middle - aged woman in her forties, a handsome man with an air of elegance, a delicate and beautiful high - school girl, and a slender young man with long bangs covering his eyes, who also seemed to be in high school.
They must be relatives, the waiter thought to himself.
The waiter handed the menu to the handsome and imposing man. "Sir, take a look and see what you'd like to order."
Xie Guanyan took the menu with his clear - jointed hands and then passed it to the girl across from him. "See what you'd like to eat."
Lin Mo didn't take it. "Today, it's me and my fourth brother treating you to dinner. You order!"
Xie Guanyan didn't insist anymore. He looked up and asked, "Do any of you have any food allergies?"
The three of them shook their heads in unison.
Seeing this, a smile appeared in Xie Guanyan's eyes.
His clear - jointed fingers flipped through the menu and he ordered a few dishes.
Then he passed the menu to Lin Mo again. "See if there's anything you want to add."
Lin Mo shook her head. Her peach - blossom eyes curved slightly. "No, the dishes you ordered are exactly what I like. You even ordered some non - spicy ones. It's just right since Auntie Zhen can't eat anything too spicy. How thoughtful!"
Xie Guanyan pushed his glasses up with one finger and then looked at Shen Ji'an.
Shen Ji'an also shook his head. "You've ordered so many. That's enough."
The dishes were served one by one, and the waiter poured tea for everyone.
Shen Ji'an picked up his tea cup, stood up nervously, and said uneasily, "Mr. Xie, let me offer you a toast with tea instead of wine."
Xie Guanyan: "..."
Lin Mo: "..."
Xie Guanyan turned to look at him, with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Shen Ji'an realized his mistake and slapped himself. "Ah, I said it wrong. I meant to say that I'm offering you a toast, Mr. Xie!"
A faint smile appeared on Xie Guanyan's lips. He picked up his tea cup with his long - fingered hand. "Okay."
Shen Ji'an never expected that the charity tycoon would be so approachable. He pursed his lips and said what was on his mind.
"Mr. Xie, I'm sorry. I received a lot of help from your foundation in the slums. You're my benefactor. I shouldn't have said you were old last time."
Actually, on the way to the hospital ward, Xie Guanyan had already figured out why Shen Ji'an's attitude towards him had changed so drastically.
His voice was warm and pleasant. "It doesn't matter."
Shen Ji'an felt extremely guilty. "You're actually not old at all. Although you're a bit older than my sister, compared to your peers, you're really not old. I'll never say you're old again. I..."
Xie Guanyan's temple throbbed. He clinked his tea cup with Shen Ji'an's. "Okay, I got it. Drink your tea."
He had never heard so many mentions of the word "old" all at once.
Lin Mo wanted to laugh at Shen Ji'an's childish apology, but this was a serious occasion, so she held it in.
Finally having said what he wanted to say, Shen Ji'an let out a sigh of relief.
He downed the tea in one gulp and sat back down.
Scratching his head, he added, "Mr. Xie, many kids in the slums are grateful to you. I'm lucky to be able to meet you."
Xie Guanyan put down his tea cup and looked at the girl across from him with his dark eyes. "I was also very lucky back then. Your parents' charity work in the slums helped me a lot."
If it weren't for the little princess talking to him a few more times and donating a lot of money for food, he might have starved to death in the orphanage one day.
Back then, people often starved to death in the slums, and the orphanage was no exception.
The orphanage director, who had never paid attention to him before, started to stop the other kids from snatching his food after that.
Shen Ji'an had very faint memories of his parents because they had passed away when he was only two years old.
He was extremely shocked. "Really? I didn't know that!"
Lin Mo's peach - blossom eyes lit up slightly. "Are you from that orphanage?"
They had just had a casual chat in the middle of the night last time, more like gossiping, without delving deeper.
Xie Guanyan took another sip of water. His Adam's apple rolled slightly as he nodded. "Yes, I'm also very grateful to your parents."
And thank you even more.
With this new - found connection, Lin Mo was very pleasantly surprised.
A flash of sadness also crossed her eyes.
Such wonderful parents were gone just like that. The plane had crashed into the sea, and their bodies hadn't even been found.
There was no tomb for them. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come back for so long without visiting them.
Xie Guanyan noticed the sadness in Lin Mo's eyes and immediately regretted bringing up her parents.
He had held back from saying it last time, but this time he hadn't been able to resist.
Deep down, he still hoped that Shanshan would remember the bond they had in childhood.
However, the next second, the girl smiled brightly. "I'm very happy that you told me this. I'm glad that there's someone who still remembers them and is grateful to them."
No wonder Xie Guanyan had been so willing to help. He had a heart of gratitude.
The extremely handsome man let out a soft laugh. There was a hint of disappointment hidden in his eyes behind the glasses.
It's impossible to remember. The little princess is so kind - hearted that she must have helped many people.
Everyone can only remember the things and people that make a deep impression on them.
Shen Ji'an sincerely sighed, "Good people will be rewarded!"
The cause sown by his parents has borne fruit in him.
Lin Mo nodded, "I'm an ordinary person, so I should get an ordinary reward."
Hearing this, Auntie Zhen beside her reached out and hugged Lin Mo, saying, "Hug!"
Lin Mo was touched and hugged her back, "Auntie Zhen, without you, who else would spoil me like a child!"
Xie Guanyan looked at the two of them and even began to envy Auntie Zhen a little.
Not everyone is qualified to spoil Shanshan.
Although Xie Guanyan had certain reasons to help the fourth - brother, Lin Mo still felt that she should apologize.
She also stood up like the fourth - brother.
"Xie Guanyan, I also want to apologize to you."
"It doesn't matter." Xie Guanyan blurted out almost instinctively.
Lin Mo frowned, "I haven't even said what it's for!"
Xie Guanyan pushed the frame of his glasses with a single finger to hide the emotions in his eyes and gave a gentle smile, "For what?"
Was it because she had used him?
Lin Mo touched her nose with her fair finger and said, "Last time, when I asked you to help me find out where my fourth - brother was, that meal wasn't actually cooked by me. I lied to you.
"Sorry, I'm really bad at cooking. I don't have any talent in this area, but I wanted you to help me."
Xie Guanyan's eyes were fixed on the young girl's face without a blink.
She usually dressed very casually, and the golden puppy pendant around her neck only showed a thin chain.
"This doesn't require an apology. I heard from the butler that you learned for an afternoon but just didn't learn how. Your intention was there."
Shanshan was still too innocent.
She still remembered such a small lie until now.
Lin Mo's eyes curved slightly, "You're right!"
Shen Ji'an, with his long bangs, kept looking at the two of them. Thinking of something, he said, "By the way, sister, Mr. Xie brought me the new special - effect scar - removing cream developed by his company. He's really so kind!"
It surprised Shen Ji'an that Mr. Xie didn't mention this to his sister.
Of course, he knew that Mr. Xie brought the scar - removing cream for him because he was friends with his sister.
He didn't expect that Mr. Xie didn't take any credit for it at all.
Moreover, Mr. Xie could have righteously regarded himself as an benefactor, but he said that he also thanked his parents.
It was as if everything had offset each other.
He didn't even have the slightest intention to show off.
Mr. Xie was simply the kindest person in the world!
He liked him even more!
Lin Mo, with her peach - blossom eyes, looked at the handsome man opposite and said, "Then you're really the best in the world! Don't forget to use the scar - removing cream yourself."
Such a good - looking man, as if he was a model, shouldn't be flawed because of her.
Shen Ji'an rolled his eyes and said, "Mr. Xie is good at everything, but that Gu Jingchuan is good for nothing. Even the oranges he sent were sour!"
Lin Mo ate a piece of tripe from the spicy and numbing blood and organ stew and said, "Those weren't sent by Gu Jingchuan. I gave him a hundred yuan! I bought them!"
The excitement faintly flashed in Xie Guanyan's eyes that were quietly fixed on the young girl's face.
She had paid money, which meant Shanshan hadn't completely forgiven Gu Jingchuan!
Putting a very spicy lotus root slice into his mouth, Xie Guanyan felt it was a bit sweet.
"A hundred?" Shen Ji'an's eyes widened, "Those only cost sixty - seven in total!"
So Gu Jingchuan, that middleman, had made a profit.
He would get the extra money back next time he saw him!
When he was a child, Shen Ji'an had no concept of money.
But after living a life where he had to stretch every cent, he learned to cherish money.
Lin Mo could, of course, tell that those fruits weren't worth a hundred yuan.
But she had given a hundred yuan just to draw a clear line from Gu Jingchuan.
The next second, she was puzzled, "Shen Ji'an, how do you know how much those fruits cost?"
Shen Ji'an twitched the corner of his mouth, "I met him at the fruit store downstairs and saw him pay."
The meal was quite enjoyable. When they went to the front desk to pay, the receptionist said that Xie Guanyan had already settled the bill.
Lin Mo pouted, "We agreed that I'd treat you and Shen Ji'an would pay!"
Xie Guanyan held his white suit jacket in one hand and looked at her with his gentle, glazed eyes, "I won't grab the chance next time."
