Chapter 25: Not a Vain Girl
The Bund to Renmin Road is the core of Magic City’s nightlife, where many shops remain open until dawn.
Lu Liang wandered with Li Manli and managed to find a Japanese restaurant open past midnight.
"Is it good?" Lu Liang asked, slurping a bowl of ramen while glancing at the sushi-filled plates in front of Li Manli.
Taking a bite of the tuna sushi, Li Manli frowned. “It’s not as good as I imagined.”
"You’ve never had sushi before?" Lu Liang asked.
"No, I’d just heard people rave about how delicious it is, so I wanted to try it." She nibbled on a piece of grilled eel and murmured, "Is it me, or does it taste a bit weird?"
The overly sweet teriyaki sauce and the cold rice weren’t sitting well with her. She couldn’t get used to the chilled texture of the rice.
“It’s not you. People who aren’t used to it often find it unappetizing.”
“If it’s bad, why eat it?” Lu Liang paid the bill and teased, “Or do you want to take it home as a midnight snack?”
Li Manli shook her head vigorously. “No way.”
It was nearly midnight when they arrived at a riverside restaurant.
Lu Liang had ordered takeout from this place before and loved their specialty seafood porridge. The ingredients were always fresh and flavorful.
He ordered two servings of blood eel porridge, a steamed red snapper, and a plate of stir-fried pea sprouts with century eggs.
The eel alone cost over 400 yuan per jin, making the per-person cost comparable to the sushi restaurant but with significantly better taste. Nothing beats the freshness of freshly prepared ingredients.
“How is it?” Lu Liang asked, enjoying his favorite pea sprout dish with its distinctive crispy flavor from the century eggs fried in palm oil.
“It’s amazing! This and this—both are delicious!” Li Manli exclaimed between mouthfuls of porridge, her stomach visibly rounded.
Suddenly realizing how unladylike she looked, she quickly straightened up, sucking in her stomach. “I’m full now.”
Lu Liang chuckled as his phone rang. It was Meng Changkun, inviting him for tennis the next morning. Lu Liang had a matter to discuss with Meng anyway, so he agreed, setting a time and place.
“Do you have work tomorrow?” Li Manli asked softly, a hint of disappointment in her tone.
“It’s not work, just some exercise. Want to join us for tennis?”
Li Manli’s eyes lit up but then hesitated. “But I don’t know how to play.”
“Neither do I. It’s just for fun.” Lu Liang had already figured out her personality—whenever she said “but,” it usually meant she wanted to but needed a little extra nudge. ɽà₦ÒΒЕＳ
“What time?” she asked.
“Then I should go home early to sleep so I can wake up on time.”
“You can stay at my place tonight. I have a few spare rooms; pick whichever you like.”
Lu Liang’s tone was calm, as if he were merely offering a convenient place to stay.
Li Manli posted it but deliberately hid it from Lu Liang. She didn’t want him to think she was a vain girl.
Within moments, comments flooded her post, with several friends guessing her location. The distant view of the Bund and the nearby Oriental Pearl Tower, coupled with the high-rise perspective, all pointed to the answer.
Returning to her room, she sprawled on the soft bed, scrolling through envious messages. She even video-called a few close friends, showing off the lavish and spacious apartment.
The next morning, around 8 a.m., Lu Liang knocked on her door. Li Manli emerged with faint dark circles under her eyes.
He had prepared two plates of buttered toast. “What were you doing last night?”
“Nothing, just couldn’t sleep in a new place,” she replied, averting her eyes. In truth, she’d stayed up chatting with friends until nearly dawn.
“You should rest more. I can go by myself and pick you up in the afternoon,” Lu Liang offered.
“I’m used to staying up late. Look, my dark circles are already gone,” she said, pushing back her bangs to show her face. Indeed, the faint shadows had almost disappeared.
“Young people really do recover fast,” Lu Liang remarked wistfully, remembering his younger days when a few hours of sleep were enough. Now, while he could still pull all-nighters, he felt the effects much more the next day.
“Don’t say that. You’re not old,” Li Manli said, taking his hand with uncharacteristic boldness.
Her newfound confidence caught him off guard. Raising her chin gently, he kissed her. “Tastes like milk.”
“Let me try!” she teased, wrapping her arms around his neck and returning the kiss.
Clumsy and inexperienced, her tongue bumped against his teeth, making Lu Liang chuckle. “Relax,” he said, guiding her into a proper kiss, their movements intertwined like two serpents.
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