"Let’s see where we should eat." Gu Qingyun wiped off his sweat and tossed the tissue into the trash can.
They stood by the roadside, blocking the pedestrians, and An Yin nodded quickly.
The two walked side by side.
The cold weather didn’t stop people from going out to have fun.
After walking for a few dozen meters, An Yin’s eyes landed on a sign for a fish hotpot restaurant.
Gu Qingyun occasionally glanced in her direction, and noticing where she was looking, he suggested, "How about we go for fish hotpot?"
An Yin, absorbed in her gaze, heard Gu Qingyun mention the restaurant, and shyly looked up, "Do you like eating fish?"
"I’m not picky," Gu Qingyun replied calmly.
"Then let’s have fish," An Yin proposed.
The two crossed the crowd and headed to the other side.
Before they even entered, an enthusiastic waiter handed them a flyer and rambled, "Young man and lady, we’re having a promotion today. If you order a set meal, you’ll also get drinks and fruit."
An older lady led them inside, walking ahead.
An Yin looked at the flyer in her hand and said hesitantly, "Let’s see what set meals there are first."
"Sure," the older lady smiled sweetly. "I’ll find you a seat by the window."
"That would be great," Gu Qingyun responded, looking at the crowded hall.
The passage was narrow, only allowing one person to pass through. The older lady walked in front, occasionally reminding the two behind her to be careful.
An Yin followed closely behind the older lady.
Once they finally sat down, An Yin stared at the flyer in her hand and murmured, "The broth comes in peppercorn flavor, spicy flavor, numbing spicy flavor, clear broth flavor..."
Gu Qingyun sat up straight, listening to her mutter, and his brows almost knitted into a pretzel.
"You decide," Gu Qingyun said lightly.
The older lady standing nearby noticed and said with some approval, "Your boyfriend is really nice."
Holding the flyer, An Yin waved her hand after hearing the older lady’s words, "Auntie, you misunderstood; we’re not in a relationship." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚫𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⚫𝘯𝘦𝘵
The older lady didn’t believe it and was about to tease them when a male voice interrupted.
"Auntie, we’re just friends," Gu Qingyun said in a formal tone.
The older woman, seeing the earnest look on the boy’s face, felt a bit awkward, "Sorry, I made a mistake."
"It’s okay," Gu Qingyun assured her, not wanting to criticize.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, An Yin handed the flyer to the older lady, "Auntie, we’ll have the spicy fish hotpot."
The older lady took the flyer and suppressed her smile, "Alright, please wait a moment."
After the older lady left, Gu Qingyun looked at her, "Sorry for letting others misunderstand."
"It’s fine," An Yin shook her head.
They didn’t mention the little misunderstanding again.
Soon, a waiter brought drinks and fruit to their table.
Two cups of cola and a plate of cherry tomatoes.
An Yin took a sip of the cola, and a burst of coldness surged through her, surprised that even in winter, the cola had ice cubes.
Gu Qingyun noticed her frown and asked, "Does it not taste good?"
"It’s a bit cold," An Yin felt she was making a fuss.
"How about a hot drink instead?" Gu Qingyun suggested earnestly.
Seeing that she didn’t really want a replacement, Gu Qingyun dropped the matter.
Soon after, the waiter brought the hotpot and placed it on the table.
Gu Qingyun looked at the fish, weighing two to three pounds in the pot, and a thoughtful expression flashed in his eyes.
At this moment, An Yin, looking at the fish that had just been served, salivated and beamed, "Since I was a kid, I’ve loved eating fish."
Gu Qingyun, hearing her, gradually relaxed his handsome face, "There are many streams in my hometown, and we almost always have fish to eat."
Intrigued, An Yin asked, "Can you catch fish?"
"Yes," a slight smile appeared on Gu Qingyun’s serious face, "After school or during holidays, I would go catch fish in the waterways."
"It must be fun," An Yin, eyes sparkling, looked at him full of anticipation.
Gu Qingyun’s lips tightened, and his face stiffened for a moment before explaining, "In the water, you might encounter snakes, leeches, or broken glass shards thrown by others. It’s not fun at all."
He spoke seriously, and after listening, An Yin’s skin prickled, shattering her happy illusion instantly.
"What you said is scary," An Yin shuddered at the scenes he described.
Seeing her timid appearance, Gu Qingyun realized he had been too blunt and felt a bit guilty.
He tried to lighten the mood, pointing at the fish on the table, "The fish is ready, let’s eat."
An Yin’s attention immediately turned to the fish.
Gu Qingyun thoughtfully served her a bowl of rice.
"Thank you," An Yin said gratefully.
The set meal An Yin ordered, besides the fish hotpot, included some vegetables, enough for the two of them, especially since An Yin doesn’t eat much.
In the hall, mist drifted through the air, and looking into the distance, it was often obscured by rising steam.
After eating, Gu Qingyun headed directly to the cashier, and An Yin didn’t stop him.
An Yin realized that Gu Qingyun was a bit insistent. The last time wasn’t even his fault, yet he couldn’t let go. Maybe this meal would ease his mind.
After he paid, they left the hotpot restaurant, and An Yin noticed the lingering smell of hotpot on her clothes.
"Having just eaten, let’s take a walk," Gu Qingyun suggested seriously.
When he spoke, he always carefully observed the other person.
An Yin, feeling a bit full, agreed.
"There are too many people. Let’s go over there," An Yin pointed to a somewhat desolate alley.
"That’s fine," Gu Qingyun also disliked traversing the noisy streets, as the surrounding noise gave him a headache.
Moreover, the alleys crisscrossed, leading directly to the main road.
Walking into the alley, An Yin glanced at the rundown old houses, suddenly reminded of home.
She wondered what Ms. An was up to lately. An Yin pondered deeply.
"An Yin," Gu Qingyun called out with a hint of anxiety.
An Yin turned her head, puzzled, to look at him.
"Your hospital stay must have cost a lot last time. Can you tell me the exact amount?" After speaking, Gu Qingyun thought of the man who had been with her in the hospital room.
The man’s presence was strong, and facing him, Gu Qingyun could sense the deep-seated rejection and possessiveness in his eyes as a fellow man.
Although the man spoke coldly and distantly, refusing to let him pay the medical bills, An Yin’s injury was indeed caused by him. How could he just ignore it?
The money must be paid!