When they left, the weather looked gloomy, as if it might rain.
Yun Ya gave the address, and Qin Du drove her toward their destination.
On the road, the two of them chatted off and on.
As they neared the place, Yun Ya said, "I can get off here; it’s just ahead."
Qin Du didn’t stop but turned to glance at her, "It’s not safe for a girl to walk alone at night. I won’t be at ease until I personally hand you over to your friend."
Yun Ya was left with no choice.
Upon arrival, Qin Du parked the car and led Yun Ya across the square to the mall, where the only cinema in the area was located on the fourth floor.
Yun Ya, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted a tall figure standing at the mall entrance. She turned to Qin Du and said, "Brother Ah Du, I see my friend. You can go back first...."
Before she could finish, as if by some telepathic connection, Yan Song’s gaze turned towards her.
Yun Ya inwardly cursed her luck; next, Yan Song, with furrowed brows, strode over to her.
Qin Du watched as the young man walked up to Yun Ya, wrapped his arm around her shoulders as if staking a claim, drew her into his embrace, then handed her a cup of hot milky tea to warm her hands before raising an eyebrow in his direction. He saw danger in those eyes.
"Yaya, aren’t you going to introduce us?"
It was the first time Yun Ya heard him say something so corny, and she couldn’t help but shiver. Yan Song’s grip on her arm tightened, causing a slight pain against her skin.
She put on a smiling face, "His name is Qin Du," and then she introduced Yan Song to Qin Du, "This is Yan Song."
Brother and all—best to save that to avoid starting a war.
Qin Du gave Yan Song a warm smile, "Hello."
Yan Song smiled and nodded back to him.
Then he gently said to Yun Ya, looking down, "The movie doesn’t start for another hour. Why don’t we go grab dinner first?"
Yun Ya nodded, "Sure."
Yan Song looked up at the man across from him and said, "Mr. Qin, please join us."
He had expected the man to take the hint and leave, but Yan Song clearly underestimated the thickness of his skin, and Qin Du readily agreed, "Sure."
Yan Song cursed inwardly yet maintained a smile, "Mr. Qin, what do you like to eat?"
Qin Du looked towards Yun Ya and said warmly, "I’ll have whatever Yaya wants."
Yun Ya felt that the hand on her arm tightened a bit more, causing her some pain.
"Let’s have hot pot. Look, it’s about to rain. It’s great to eat hot pot on a rainy day. It’s quite lively with the three of us, don’t you think?"
Yan Song and Qin Du simultaneously said, "Sounds good."
Both men paused, glancing at each other, experiencing a silent spark only visible between the two of them.
The food court was on the third floor. Yan Song, with his arm around Yun Ya, followed by Qin Du, walked into a Hai Di Lao hot pot restaurant.
Originally Yan Song didn’t want anything spicy, but Yun Ya insisted that eating hot pot without the spicy flavor was meaningless, so she firmly ordered the spiciest broth. When the red, oily, nose-tingling spicy broth arrived, Yun Ya immediately had to sneeze.
Anxiously, Yan Song asked, "Are you okay?"
Yun Ya shook her head, "The smell is too overpowering."
"But that’s what gives it flavor," she said as she started adding ingredients to the pot.
Yan Song then ordered two jugs of freshly squeezed juice, pouring one for Yun Ya. He looked up at Qin Du sitting opposite him and offered, "Mr. Qin, what will you have?"
"I still have to drive back, so I’ll just have plain water."
"But there’s always designated driving services these days. You can’t just have plain water," remarked Yan Song, turning to give the waiter an order, "Bring us a dozen beers."
Qin Du offered a helpless smile but didn’t protest further.
The hot pot started bubbling, and Yun Ya dipped some fish slices, took a small bite, and suddenly the spiciness made her tear up. She slurped it up, and Yan Song quickly brought the fruit juice to her lips. Yun Ya took a sip with it.
"You knew it was spicy yet you ate it. Let’s change the broth," he suggested.
"But it’s delicious," said Yun Ya. Her cheeks flushed, whether from the heat or the spice, making her look particularly charming and her eyes exceptionally bright.
She couldn’t resist another bite. As her taste buds grew accustomed to the spice, she felt every pore in her body relax and it was quite comfortable.
While eating, Yun Ya looked up at them both and asked, "Why aren’t you guys eating?"
Just then, the beer arrived, a full dozen with six bottles. Yan Song pushed three bottles towards Qin Du, raised his eyebrows with a smile, "Mr. Qin, please."
He opened a bottle and clinking it against Qin Du’s, he took a large swig.
He blew directly into the bottle.
Qin Du didn’t drink as fiercely as Yan Song, taking small sips from his bottle. Yan Song laughed, "Mr. Qin, you’re a big man but you drink like a woman." Fresh chapters posted on N0velFire.ɴet