The first time they met, she thought about eating him, which felt a bit like trying to get something for free.
Yet, Yan Jue didn't dislike this act of him asking for food.
"Let's go, to the restaurant."
Yan Jue walked ahead.
Tang Xiaomin and Lu Xing followed behind him.
Lu Xing whispered, "Miss Tang, what's going on between you and Mr. Yan? I don't understand your conversation."
"It's like two people who are clearly very familiar with each other, pretending to be strangers meeting for the first time."
This was too complex for him to understand.
"No matter what, finding him now is already a stroke of luck. This time, we'll stick with him to the end, and we must bring him back no matter what," Tang Xiaomin said softly.
She couldn't lose him again.
"Miss Tang, Meng Yiren has major issues. I'll go talk to her and get some answers."
"Mhm."
After thinking for a moment, Tang Xiaomin added.
"Give her a good slap for me."
"Yes!"
...
Following Yan Jue to the luxurious restaurant, he was just as before, requesting the most lavish private room with a sea view.
A waiter approached with the menu.
"Sir, this is the menu. What would you like to eat? We have everything."
Yan Jue ignored the waiter, his gaze fixed on the person sitting opposite him.
"Whatever you want to eat, just order it."
...
He didn't even remember what she liked to eat, was it true or not?
Tang Xiaomin, not to be outdone, picked up the menu and started ordering.
She casually ordered a few famous dishes. When she saw Stir-fried Pork Kidney, she decisively ordered it.
"Stir-fried Pork Kidney, spicy. For drinks, beer, and also Maotai."
As she said this, Tang Xiaomin observed Yan Jue's reaction from the corner of her eye.
Unfortunately, he didn't even flinch, showing no reaction at all.
In the past, he knew her taboos best.
He remained unperturbed, this wasn't right.
After the waiter left, Yan Jue asked again.
"You still haven't told me your name?"
...
What an absurd question.
Tang Xiaomin, torn between laughter and tears, responded with a classic movie line.
"When we used to watch the moon together, you called me 'Little Sweetie'. Now you have a new love and have forgotten the old, you don't even remember my name."
"Heh."
Yan Jue was amused and laughed from the bottom of his heart.
She was so cute.
"Little Sweetie..."
He repeated the name thoughtfully.
The woman before him had a sweet face, a hot figure, and appeared both innocent and adorable, with an excellent temperament.
The name suited her well.
"Not bad, a good name."
Whether he was genuine or not, Tang Xiaomin had already rolled her eyes in her mind.
The atmosphere grew quiet.
Yan Jue suddenly felt like smoking. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one out, and was about to light it.
For some reason, he hesitated.
He glanced at the person opposite him, then suppressed the urge to smoke and put it back.
He thought he couldn't bear to make her passively inhale second-hand smoke.
No.
Why would he instinctively worry about her?
"I'm twenty, and I'll graduate from university in two and a half years," Tang Xiaomin said very seriously.
Graduating, and him marrying her. That was something he had eagerly anticipated in the past.
"What are you trying to say by telling me this?" Yan Jue asked.
Looking at his impassive expression, Tang Xiaomin found herself unable to say the rest.
With her pride, she wouldn't shamelessly declare her intention to marry him.
Moreover, in their current situation.
"Nothing, I just suddenly wanted to tell you. No other meaning."
Tang Xiaomin ended the topic.
The dishes were served one after another by the waiter.
The plate of stir-fried pork kidney that Tang Xiaomin had specifically ordered was placed in front of Yan Jue, steaming hot.
Thinking that she had specifically requested extra chili, she must like it.
Therefore, he specially picked up the plate of stir-fried pork kidney, intending to move it in front of her.
Halfway through moving it, he suddenly frowned.
"This is too spicy, not suitable for you to eat. Let's forget it."
Tang Xiaomin was taken aback.
"Uh... okay."
And so, the plate of stir-fried pork kidney was left on the edge of the table, untouched by anyone throughout the meal.
He drank Maotai, and she drank beer.
The meal ended in an awkward atmosphere.
After eating and drinking, it was time to settle the bill.
Whether out of gentlemanly conduct or because Yan Jue had taken the initiative to bring Tang Xiaomin to eat, this meal should have been paid for by Yan Jue.
The problem arose.
Yan Jue was penniless, and Meng Yiren always handled the finances.
Currently, besides Meng Yiren, he didn't know anyone else. At this moment, she was the only one he could think of.
Yan Jue said calmly to Tang Xiaomin, "We just finished eating and had drinks. Let's rest for a while."
Tang Xiaomin didn't want to leave either; she just wanted to be alone with him at this moment.
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
That one sentence seemed to significantly close the distance between them.
Yan Jue called Meng Yiren. It took a long time for her to answer.
"Come to the restaurant immediately. I'm waiting for you here."
Without waiting for a reply, he hung up.
...
On the other side, in the presidential suite.
Meng Yiren, having just endured a brutal beating, lay on the ground in a sorry state.
Her face was bruised and swollen, her hair disheveled, looking like a madwoman.
Despite the physical pain, she remained defiant, unwilling to admit defeat, and glared furiously at Lu Xing.
"I never imagined that the esteemed Chief Judge of the Underworld would now be a lapdog for a woman."
"Lu Xing, you're really going downhill. What do you gain from her?"
Lu Xing hadn't expected Meng Yiren to view his relationship with Tang Xiaomin in such a demeaning light.
He sighed with emotion.
A fundamentally corrupt person would always turn bad, no matter how many chances they were given.
"She sees me as an indispensable asset, and I see her as an understanding leader. She gave me the opportunity to realize my self-worth and made my boring time meaningful."
"All of this, in your eyes, has become me being her lapdog."
"Let me tell you, your thoughts are limited to yourself. Don't try to deceive me with your narrow-mindedness. It's truly laughable."
Lu Xing was not falling for her trap.
Meng Yiren's plan had failed.
"Hmph. You beat me up like this, and you won't be able to explain it to Yan Jue when you see him later. You know what he'll do when he's angry."
"I can cover this up for you, provided that you betray Tang Xiaomin."
Lu Xing's brows furrowed tightly.
It wasn't out of fear of punishment, but he was shocked by Meng Yiren's ridiculous statement.
"What exactly did she do to you that makes you want to treat her like this? Don't you realize how absurd your actions are?"
"I envy her, I'm jealous of her. Is this reason enough?" Meng Yiren stated bluntly.
"Yan Jue is waiting for me at the restaurant, and you heard everything on the phone just now. You don't have much time. You must make a choice immediately."
Meng Yiren brazenly gave Lu Xing an ultimatum.