She walked up to Xu Yisen, a faint smile on her face, "Oh, Yisen, why are you here?"
"I heard you were returning today, so I specially came to pick you up. Welcome back." With that, he handed the bouquet of gorgeous flowers he was holding to Qin Muni.
Qin Muni lowered her eyes to the champagne roses he was offering, just about to reach out and take them when a hand was quicker than hers.
Standing beside her, Fujino Doxu took the flowers, lightly sniffed them, then lifted his head and flashed a warm smile at Qin Muni, "Munni, it’s the champagne roses you like."
In the moment Fujino Doxu took the bouquet, the smile on Xu Yisen’s face froze, a hint of coolness tinting his finely shaped brows.
He gave Fujino Doxu a sideways glance, then turned his gaze to Qin Muni, asking warmly, "Munni, who is this gentleman?"
"Allow me to formally introduce you; this is Fujino Doxu, a top chef I hired from Japan at a high price, who will be the head chef at the restaurant. Fujino, this is my partner, Xu Yisen."
Qin Muni’s overly simplistic introduction drew Fujino Doxu’s dissatisfaction. He placed the arm that was originally holding Qin Muni onto her shoulder, gently pulling her into his embrace.
He gave Xu Yisen a bright smile, and then said, "I’m also Munni’s close friend of many years! We have a great relationship!"
"Is that so?" Xu Yisen asked nonchalantly. His steady gaze swiftly swept over Fujino Doxu’s hand on Qin Muni’s shoulder before slowly settling on Fujino Doxu’s face.
He then said, "I’ve known Munni for eleven years, but she’s never mentioned you before."
The seemingly gentle words concealed a hint of provocation and subtle sarcasm.
Fujino Doxu pursed his lips, looked down at Qin Muni beside him in silence, and complained discontentedly, "Tsk tsk, Munni, you’re really heartless. I remember back in college you weren’t , always bragging about being my good friend."
Though it sounded like he was addressing Qin Muni, he was actually reminding Xu Yisen of his long-standing friendship with Qin Muni!
Their pointless exchange made Qin Muni roll her eyes. She glanced sideways at the slightly smug Fujino Doxu beside her, then looked at Xu Yisen standing across with a calm demeanor.
"Thank you for coming to pick me up, but I already have plans to have dinner with friends."
What she meant was, you can go now.
Xu Yisen, however, pretended not to catch her underlying message, his thin lips curling into an elegant smile, "It just so happens I haven’t had dinner yet, let’s go together."
Xu Yisen’s inability to take a hint left Qin Muni unsure of how to refuse.
She quickly glanced sideways at Fujino Doxu, as if seeking his opinion.
Fujino Doxu gave a barely perceptible raise of his brow, meaning he wanted her to refuse Xu Yisen.
After catching his little gesture, Qin Muni looked back at Xu Yisen, her eyebrows softly curved, and replied, "Then let’s go together."
Fujino Doxu: "...!" Munni, you misunderstood! I wanted you to refuse him!
Tang Haoliang had been waiting in the car for Xu Yisen and Qin Muni for a while. Seeing them walk out from inside the airport, he quickly got out of the car to greet them. But when he noticed Fujino Doxu being extremely close to Qin Muni, he couldn’t help but pause for a second.
Regaining his composure, he quickly bowed slightly to the two of them, and promptly took Qin Muni’s suitcase from her, very considerately placing it in the trunk.
Fujino Doxu naturally pushed his own suitcase towards Tang Haoliang as well, but Tang Haoliang just gave him a slight glance.