Sheng Yeli pushed open the restaurant’s main door, looked around, and walked toward Sheng Ning’an.
"What made you suddenly want to treat me to a meal?" Sheng Yeli took off his coat and sat down across from Sheng Ning’an.
Sheng Ning’an eyed her Young Uncle on the other side—wearing a black base-layer sweater, he looked slim and stylish, and with that face of his, he was nothing short of a girl’s heart-thief.
It’s no wonder that so many girls had asked her for her Young Uncle’s contact information just from seeing a photo.
Her Young Uncle wasn’t particular about material things like clothes; everything was provided by Qin Suxin or Shen Zhaozhao.
Both had a good eye, and coupled with her uncle’s base of good looks, in short, he looked good in anything.
Just in the time it took to walk in from the door, quite a few girls had already been sneaking peeks at him.
"Do I need a reason to treat you to a meal?" Sheng Ning’an earnestly heated a set of tableware for her Young Uncle.
Sheng Yeli was initially uncertain, but seeing his grandniece’s fuss, he had a clear idea in his heart.
This girl had likely done something that necessitated his help in cleaning up afterward.
"Out with it, what’s the matter?" Sheng Yeli asked indifferently.
"It seems I really can’t hide anything from you, Young Uncle."
Although her school wasn’t far from the research institute, Sheng Ning’an knew her Young Uncle’s personality—unless there was something important, she seldom disturbed him.
Sheng Ning’an mentioned the incident a few days ago when someone snapped a picture of him as he walked her back to the dormitory.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Yeli’s expression darkened, and he became more serious, "Do you need me to step in and clarify it?"
"No need, it’s already been resolved! It’s just that my roommate saw your photo and wanted to meet you. Don’t worry, it’s just a meal together," Sheng Ning’an emphasized.
Sheng Yeli frowned slightly upon hearing this, looking at her with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.
He wasn’t angry, just puzzled.
This girl usually never meddled in such matters.
Sheng Ning’an spread her hands in resignation, "Do you know how many admirers I’ve had to turn away for you these past few days? You can’t expect me to offend my roommate as well, right? Besides, it’s just a meal, you’re not losing out on anything. If you don’t like it, you just don’t have to talk, that’s all."
Sheng Yeli glanced at his grandniece and neither agreed nor disagreed.
"Then I’ll take that as your agreement." Having spent so many years together, Sheng Ning’an understood her Young Uncle—saying nothing was akin to tacit consent.
Sheng Ning’an took out her phone to summon others.
Before long, Tian Yu and Xue Xian arrived, and their eyes lit up the moment they saw Sheng Yeli sitting opposite Sheng Ning’an.
They stood in front of Sheng Yeli like elementary students, respectfully saying, "Hello, Young Uncle!" They were short of bowing ceremoniously.
Sheng Ning’an froze, looking at them with a bewildered expression, "What did you call him?"
While stealing glances at Sheng Yeli, the two replied, "Isn’t he your Young Uncle? It shouldn’t be wrong for us to call him Young Uncle, right?"
He was her Young Uncle, indeed, but had these two forgotten why they had come here?
Could it be that they fancied a love that was forbidden?
Tian Yu leaned in and whispered to her, "Hehe, we’re just kidding with you! How could someone as outstanding as your Young Uncle take an interest in us? We just wanted to have a close-up look at a handsome man."
Sheng Ning’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
"Sit down!" Sheng Yeli called out flatly for their sake, but his expression was stiff, and his tone was cold, showing no warmth.
Clearly, he had little interest in them.
Sheng Ning’an had anticipated this and wasn’t surprised in the least.