Xu Ling’an held the small gift her sister personally handed her after she won first place in the interactive mini-game, preparing to leave, when her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She took it out and checked the message, suddenly stopping in her tracks, looking somewhat conflicted on her face.
Her two friends were searching for the highest-rated restaurant in the mall on their phones. As they walked, they noticed someone missing, turned back, and saw their youngest trailing several steps behind. Walking backwards, they shouted, "An’an, why aren’t you moving?"
Xu Ling’an looked up to meet the eyes of her two roommates looking back at her, "My sister just texted me. She’s still in the mall and asked if I want to join her for dinner."
"Sister?" Their eyes lit up at once, ignoring the ’still’ in Xu Ling’an’s words, only recalling the wealthy sister who visited the campus a few days ago and brought back lots of delicious treats for them. "Why even hesitate? It’s such a coincidence; of course you should go!"
Xu Ling’an: "...I just told my sister I came with two friends, so I didn’t want to intrude."
"Don’t worry about us," both of them quickly waved their hands, "You go find your sister, and we’ll find a place to eat ourselves. We can meet up in the atrium after."
Xu Ling’an was about to say something when her phone buzzed in her hand. She hurriedly looked at the screen.
After reading it, she looked up at her roommates, who were still waiting for her decision, "My sister asked if you guys want to come along; there aren’t many people, mostly young girls."
The two of them were instantly tempted.
They had eaten the packed treats she brought, so it was only right to say thank you in person.
But, "Oh, is it really okay?"
This time, Xu Ling’an shook her head confidently at them, "If it wasn’t okay, my sister wouldn’t have asked."
"Moreover, we haven’t personally thanked her for the snacks last time."
Hearing ’our sister,’ Xu Ling’an’s mouth twitched."
Looking down at the delicate gift in her other hand, she silently thought: I hope you’re truly prepared for this!
After receiving the location from her sister, Xu Ling’an led her two friends to the nearest elevator, pressing the button for the top floor of the mall.
As soon as she pressed it, she heard an exclamation behind her, "Is it going to the top floor? Could our dining place be He Yan?"
Xu Ling’an still remembered the restaurant’s name, turning to nod at her friends, "That’s the name my sister sent me."
Having just checked the mall’s restaurants, the two of them exchanged glances.
They had seen He Yan while searching for a dining spot; it was the sole restaurant on the mall’s top floor with a courtyard-style design.
All other restaurants were on the lower two levels, while this one occupied an entire floor, tip-top in both scale and caliber. Naturally, the cost of a meal there was beyond anything they’d considered.
They hadn’t imagined going there after just browsing its intro online.
Could they still step out of the elevator now if they decided against dining there?
The transparent glass elevator ascended, passengers getting off gradually at each level, leaving just the three of them when it reached the top.
When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out to find a uniformed server already waiting outside.
"Good afternoon to you three esteemed guests. Do you have a reservation?"
"We’ve arranged to meet someone at Xiangfu Court."
Hearing this, the server showed no surprise but maintained a cordial smile, "Please follow me."
Despite trying to remain composed, the three of them couldn’t help but glance around curiously.
If they hadn’t just gotten off the elevator, they would’ve thought the ground was on level ground.
Tall green-leaved trees stood everywhere, flanked by lawn gardens, even with ponds and rockeries.
Further ahead seemed to be a mini golf course.
Was this a dining spot or a sightseeing one?
But before they reached the golf course, they arrived at their destination.
Lu Zhengzheng, informed by Jiang Lingxi about Xu Ling’an bringing her two roommates over, was already waiting at the door.
Seeing Xu Ling’an, she waved and greeted her familiarly.
The two beside her were about to call her sister too, but quickly swallowed it down upon hearing that.
Almost called the wrong person.
"This is Zhengzheng Sis, my sister’s assistant."
"Hello, please come inside; Xixi Sis and others are chatting inside."
The courtyard-style restaurant wasn’t just individual adjacent booths but separated into individual charming courtyards.
Lu Zhengzheng led the three, arms linked, inside.
After closing the door, she looked towards the direction of a small hall, "Xixi Sis, An’an and her classmates are here."
A voice soon came back from the small hall, "Take them in to sit; I’ll join shortly."
Lu Zhengzheng acknowledged, turning to explain to Xu Ling’an, "Xixi Sis said the fake lashes the makeup artist applied were uncomfortable, so she went back to remove them first."
Xu Ling’an nodded understandingly, "Those indeed feel uncomfortable."
During her previous stage close-up encounters, she had noticed it; although the fake lashes made the eyes appear slightly larger, Xixi Sis would blink sideways frequently, clearly feeling uneasy.
Pass through the meticulously maintained small garden to reach the dining hall with a large round table capable of seating thirty people, yet there were barely any guests.
Even Xu Ling’an only recognized Tong Yue among them.
But the one to speak first was Shen Chuyue, seated beside Tong Yue, naturally waving at the entering trio, "Come over, quickly sit down, sit anywhere."
Tong Yue pulled out a chair beside her, "It’s mostly acquaintances today, so An’an and your classmates, please make yourselves at home. Have a seat and drink some water first."
Xu Ling’an took the lead, guiding her roommates to sit down, meeting Shen Chuyue’s consistently smiling gaze, "This lady, do you know me?"
"I didn’t before, but now I do. I’m Shen Chuyue, a few years older than you, just call me Yueyue Sis."
Upon hearing the name, Xu Ling’an knew who she was, obediently greeting her as Yueyue Sis.
Shen Chuyue pointed at the Shanyue Zhiheng gift in her hand, "You haven’t opened this gift yet, have you? I personally wrapped it."
Xu Ling’an: "I haven’t had the chance yet."
The two roommates sitting beside Xu Ling’an were just about to take a sip of tea to ease their tension when they heard the conversation, nearly spitting it out.
A Shanyue Zhiheng gift, personally wrapped, what does that mean?
And why did the name Shen Chuyue sound so familiar?
Before they could muster the courage to continue thinking, unhurried footsteps were heard at the door.
They instinctively turned their heads to look.
Seeing who entered, one of them couldn’t hold back, "Pfft!"