Qin Shu reread the message’s contents, an unspoken question lingering on the tip of her tongue. How did Chao Yan know she was in Feng Yi?
However, a bigger question was what was he doing in Feng Yi?
She looked up. Less than 100 meters away from her, there was a particularly eye-catching sign on the second floor. It was a wooden sign that was so dark that it seemed to leech light out from its surroundings. On it was engraved the words: “North Court Building.” It had weathered the wind and rain for years, remaining undamaged.
North Court Building was a century-old speciality restaurant of Feng Yi. It was famed for its elegant and unique aesthetic, blending Feng Yi’s food culture with its environment.
Why would Chao Yan be waiting for her in North Court Building?
She still remembered the last time she saw him; she did not regret what she had done.
No matter how close she and Chao Yan were in the past, he could not hurt Fu Tingyu as and when he liked.
She gripped her phone tightly. They were still enemies, even though the matter had passed. What he did could not be so easily forgiven or forgotten.
Just as he said, this was the last time they would meet.
They would never meet again.
She put away her phone and walked toward North Court Building to break things off with him.
It was only a hundred meters away, and she arrived in a short while.
Yin Shi greeted her at the door to the establishment, indicating she should follow him. “Miss Qin, my master is inside. Please, follow me.”
“Okay,” Qin Shu nodded.
A tilt of Yin Shi’s head was the only sign to show he acknowledged her as he led the way.
Qin Shu followed behind at a leisurely pace. The restaurant was enormous, with a layout similar to a house with a courtyard and fountain.
She followed Yin Shi past a screen, a landscape painting that spanned five metres from end to end. At the very end was a bridge with a pavilion-like building. Surrounding it was a pool of lotuses, blooming in the cool April clime; their leaves, large pads floating on the water’s surface.
No wonder people praised North Court Building’s aesthetic. The environment was much to her liking, being uniquely elegant without coming across as gauche. It also had the added benefit of being quiet. It was a suitable place for friends and young couples to dine together.
It undoubtedly carried a suitable price tag for all the place’s luxuries.
Yin Shi suddenly stopped and lowered his head. “Miss Qin, my master is waiting for you inside.”
Qin Shu glanced at the other end of the bridge and crossed it.
She was not in a hurry, admiring the scenery as she passed. Still, she could only take so long walking a short distance of five metres. In a minute, she reached her destination.
She stood at the door and took a deep breath. She reached out and pushed open the carved wooden door in front of her. The moment the door opened, a faint fragrance of lotus leaves wafted out, putting her at ease and evoking joy.
A solid wooden table, probably teak, dominated the space in the middle. The table was laden with all sorts of dishes. The choices were seemingly endless, and they did a wonderful job rousing her appetite.
She knew that the chef had put in a lot of effort with just a glance.
Chao Yan sat at the table. He was, as always, dressed in plain clothes, giving people the impression that he had renounced earthly desires on his path of asceticism.
His eyes were bound in white gauze, only revealing the tip of his nose and his lips.
He did not look any different since they parted ways. He was still as pale as snow, sickly, almost listless in appearance.
It was the same as when they first met.
Qin Shu sat opposite Chao Yan. She did not bother mincing her words, going straight to the point, “How did you know I was in town?”
A thought crossed her mind, and her question became a statement, “You sent someone to follow me.”
Hearing her cold, distant voice, Chao Yan smirked. “I didn’t send anyone to follow you. I merely had someone look into your whereabouts.”
It suddenly occurred to her who she was dealing with: Chao Yan, head honcho of the Crimson Sand Organisation. If there was anyone who could learn her whereabouts, it was him. “Why are you looking for me,” she asked.
“I thought I’d like to see you one last time. Let’s talk over lunch,” Chao Yan said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Chao Yan had a hand on the table, and a bit of his pale skin peeked through his loose sleeve. It was too thin for a man.
His manicured fingers trailed the body of a wine glass. Whether intentional or not, his action created a certain tension in the air, causing those watching him a degree of nervousness.
If it were Qin Shu’s first time meeting him, these slight movements would cause her to misinterpret his intentions. Chao Yan was a young boy at heart. Although he did not mind meeting women, he would often feel nervous when sitting at the table with one.
She regarded him coolly. “Do you think there is still anything to talk about?”
“Don’t you think so?” Chao Yan lowered his voice. “I think that we have a lot to talk about. I’m afraid there isn’t much time.”
“Then make it short,” Qin Shu quipped.
Chao Yan picked up his chopsticks and said, “Let’s eat first. Try these dishes and see how they taste.”
Qin Shu eyed the generous spread. It all looked amazing but now was not the time. “I’m not here to eat.
Chao Yan guessed that she would refuse, so he was not surprised. “It’s already lunchtime. We’re just eating,” he said.
Qin Shu did not move to pick up her chopsticks. She looked at Chao Yan expectantly, wanting to know what he wanted to say. What else was there to say?
Although Chao Yan could not see, he possessed exceptional hearing. Chao Yan’s grip over his chopsticks tightened. He reached into the nearest dish, not knowing it, and placed it in his bowl. “Food is the basis of everything; people, relations, strength, it all begins with food. What else could be more important than eating?”
Qin Shu watched as he picked up a piece of bright red skyward-pointing chilli pepper and placed it into his bowl. She did not stop him. She watched as he picked up the piece of skyward-pointing chilli pepper and put it into his mouth.
The next second, Chao Yan spat out the skyward-pointing chilli pepper, his pale lips looking like he’d worn a particularly vivid shade of red.
“It’s so spicy!”
He frantically searched for water, anything to quench the fire in his mouth. Had he not been wearing a blindfold, Qin Shu would have seen his furrowed brows and tearing eyes, a consequence of eating the chilli.
Chao Yan could not find his glass of water despite searching for a long time. Little did he know, his cup was right beside him.
Chao Yan’s lips grew redder by the second. Eventually, Qin Shu could not bear to watch him suffer anymore, so she picked up the glass and handed it to him.
When the cup of cold water brushed against his fumbling fingers, he paused. He had been blind for a long time, so he was very careful with anything he touched.
“Thank you,” he said as he brought the water to his lips for a drink. The chilli was too spicy!
Qin Shu returned to her seat and watched Chao Yan drain the cup dry. Was it that spicy?
Then again, everyone has different tastes and things they can and cannot eat.
Fu Tingyu could not eat sour food.
Chao Yan could not eat spicy food.
It was not abnormal in the least.
Chao Yan drank all the water in one gulp, the burning sensation dulling slightly. “Why didn’t you say anything when I picked up a chilli instead of a vegetable?!”
Qin Shu reread the message’s contents, an unspoken question lingering on the tip of her tongue. How did Chao Yan know she was in Feng Yi?
However, a bigger question was what was he doing in Feng Yi?
She looked up. Less than 100 meters away from her, there was a particularly eye-catching sign on the second floor. It was a wooden sign that was so dark that it seemed to leech light out from its surroundings. On it was engraved the words: “North Court Building.” It had weathered the wind and rain for years, remaining undamaged.
North Court Building was a century-old speciality restaurant of Feng Yi. It was famed for its elegant and unique aesthetic, blending Feng Yi’s food culture with its environment.
Why would Chao Yan be waiting for her in North Court Building?
She still remembered the last time she saw him; she did not regret what she had done.
No matter how close she and Chao Yan were in the past, he could not hurt Fu Tingyu as and when he liked.
She gripped her phone tightly. They were still enemies, even though the matter had passed. What he did could not be so easily forgiven or forgotten.
Just as he said, this was the last time they would meet.
They would never meet again.
She put away her phone and walked toward North Court Building to break things off with him.
It was only a hundred meters away, and she arrived in a short while.
Yin Shi greeted her at the door to the establishment, indicating she should follow him. “Miss Qin, my master is inside. Please, follow me.”
“Okay,” Qin Shu nodded.
A tilt of Yin Shi’s head was the only sign to show he acknowledged her as he led the way.
Qin Shu followed behind at a leisurely pace. The restaurant was enormous, with a layout similar to a house with a courtyard and fountain.
She followed Yin Shi past a screen, a landscape painting that spanned five metres from end to end. At the very end was a bridge with a pavilion-like building. Surrounding it was a pool of lotuses, blooming in the cool April clime; their leaves, large pads floating on the water’s surface.
No wonder people praised North Court Building’s aesthetic. The environment was much to her liking, being uniquely elegant without coming across as gauche. It also had the added benefit of being quiet. It was a suitable place for friends and young couples to dine together.
It undoubtedly carried a suitable price tag for all the place’s luxuries.
Yin Shi suddenly stopped and lowered his head. “Miss Qin, my master is waiting for you inside.”
Qin Shu glanced at the other end of the bridge and crossed it.
She was not in a hurry, admiring the scenery as she passed. Still, she could only take so long walking a short distance of five metres. In a minute, she reached her destination.
She stood at the door and took a deep breath. She reached out and pushed open the carved wooden door in front of her. The moment the door opened, a faint fragrance of lotus leaves wafted out, putting her at ease and evoking joy.
A solid wooden table, probably teak, dominated the space in the middle. The table was laden with all sorts of dishes. The choices were seemingly endless, and they did a wonderful job rousing her appetite.
She knew that the chef had put in a lot of effort with just a glance.
Chao Yan sat at the table. He was, as always, dressed in plain clothes, giving people the impression that he had renounced earthly desires on his path of asceticism.
His eyes were bound in white gauze, only revealing the tip of his nose and his lips.
He did not look any different since they parted ways. He was still as pale as snow, sickly, almost listless in appearance.
It was the same as when they first met.
Qin Shu sat opposite Chao Yan. She did not bother mincing her words, going straight to the point, “How did you know I was in town?”
A thought crossed her mind, and her question became a statement, “You sent someone to follow me.”
Hearing her cold, distant voice, Chao Yan smirked. “I didn’t send anyone to follow you. I merely had someone look into your whereabouts.”
It suddenly occurred to her who she was dealing with: Chao Yan, head honcho of the Crimson Sand Organisation. If there was anyone who could learn her whereabouts, it was him. “Why are you looking for me,” she asked.
“I thought I’d like to see you one last time. Let’s talk over lunch,” Chao Yan said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Chao Yan had a hand on the table, and a bit of his pale skin peeked through his loose sleeve. It was too thin for a man.
His manicured fingers trailed the body of a wine glass. Whether intentional or not, his action created a certain tension in the air, causing those watching him a degree of nervousness.
If it were Qin Shu’s first time meeting him, these slight movements would cause her to misinterpret his intentions. Chao Yan was a young boy at heart. Although he did not mind meeting women, he would often feel nervous when sitting at the table with one.
She regarded him coolly. “Do you think there is still anything to talk about?”
“Don’t you think so?” Chao Yan lowered his voice. “I think that we have a lot to talk about. I’m afraid there isn’t much time.”
“Then make it short,” Qin Shu quipped.
Chao Yan picked up his chopsticks and said, “Let’s eat first. Try these dishes and see how they taste.”
Qin Shu eyed the generous spread. It all looked amazing but now was not the time. “I’m not here to eat.
Chao Yan guessed that she would refuse, so he was not surprised. “It’s already lunchtime. We’re just eating,” he said.
Qin Shu did not move to pick up her chopsticks. She looked at Chao Yan expectantly, wanting to know what he wanted to say. What else was there to say?
Although Chao Yan could not see, he possessed exceptional hearing. Chao Yan’s grip over his chopsticks tightened. He reached into the nearest dish, not knowing it, and placed it in his bowl. “Food is the basis of everything; people, relations, strength, it all begins with food. What else could be more important than eating?”
Qin Shu watched as he picked up a piece of bright red skyward-pointing chilli pepper and placed it into his bowl. She did not stop him. She watched as he picked up the piece of skyward-pointing chilli pepper and put it into his mouth.
The next second, Chao Yan spat out the skyward-pointing chilli pepper, his pale lips looking like he’d worn a particularly vivid shade of red.
“It’s so spicy!”
He frantically searched for water, anything to quench the fire in his mouth. Had he not been wearing a blindfold, Qin Shu would have seen his furrowed brows and tearing eyes, a consequence of eating the chilli.
Chao Yan could not find his glass of water despite searching for a long time. Little did he know, his cup was right beside him.
Chao Yan’s lips grew redder by the second. Eventually, Qin Shu could not bear to watch him suffer anymore, so she picked up the glass and handed it to him.
When the cup of cold water brushed against his fumbling fingers, he paused. He had been blind for a long time, so he was very careful with anything he touched.
“Thank you,” he said as he brought the water to his lips for a drink. The chilli was too spicy!
Qin Shu returned to her seat and watched Chao Yan drain the cup dry. Was it that spicy?
Then again, everyone has different tastes and things they can and cannot eat.
Fu Tingyu could not eat sour food.
Chao Yan could not eat spicy food.
It was not abnormal in the least.
Chao Yan drank all the water in one gulp, the burning sensation dulling slightly. “Why didn’t you say anything when I picked up a chilli instead of a vegetable?!”
