Watching Fan Bingbing place some celery on his plate, Lin Kuang picked it up with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
"Mm, not bad. This is delicious," Lin Kuang said with a look of genuine admiration.
As if to prove his point, Lin Kuang took another bite and ate with gusto, not at all self-conscious about having a beautiful woman beside him.
Watching him, Fan Bingbing’s heart filled with delight. Now this is a man, she thought. This is how someone should eat—with real enjoyment. Not like those other men who just pretend to be gentlemen. I can’t stand people like that.
"Here, try this one too," she said, her voice soft as she placed a piece of braised pork on his plate, her gentle manner reminiscent of a newlywed bride.
Lin Kuang didn’t hesitate, popping the braised pork into his mouth and chewing enthusiastically while nodding in satisfaction. Seeing his reaction made Fan Bingbing even happier.
She poured Lin Kuang a glass of Lafite from the opened bottle and then filled one for herself.
This Lafite is excellent, he thought, but drinking red wine with Chinese food feels a little strange. Still, it was Fan Bingbing’s arrangement, so he didn’t feel it was his place to comment.
"Lin Kuang, this is to thank you for saving me on the plane," Fan Bingbing said with a smile, raising her glass as she looked into his deep, dark eyes.
Lin Kuang raised his own glass and gently clinked it against hers. "You really don’t have to thank me. It was what anyone should have done."
"I insist. If it weren’t for you, I would have been done for! I’ll drink mine first as a sign of respect!" With that, Fan Bingbing tilted her head back and drained her glass of red wine in one go.
Seeing this, Lin Kuang didn’t hesitate, tipping his own head back and downing his wine.
Perhaps because she didn’t drink often, the wine brought a flush to Fan Bingbing’s lovely cheeks. The allure in her eyes deepened, making her look incredibly captivating.
"Eat something to soak that up. You don’t seem like you drink often," Lin Kuang said, placing a few slices of lotus root and mushrooms on her plate.
Fan Bingbing nodded, gracefully eating the food he had given her.
She had to admit she was quite fond of Lin Kuang. Especially in the days since they had parted, the image of his commanding presence on the plane lingered in her mind, impossible to shake. In the dead of night, that powerful figure only became clearer. She had tried to banish the image from her thoughts, but it only grew more distinct. Eventually, she stopped fighting it and just let his image reside in her mind. But the more she allowed it, the more she missed him, the more she yearned to see him again. Today, she simply couldn’t bear it any longer. That was why she had invited him to dinner and even cooked for him herself. Would she ever do that for a mere friend?
Eating the food Lin Kuang had served her, Fan Bingbing’s heart filled with a pleasant, warm feeling.
They were like a couple, serving each other food, drinking wine, and chatting leisurely as time slowly slipped away. It felt as if no time at all had passed, but it was already nine o’clock, and the bottle of ’82 Lafite was empty. Fan Bingbing had drunk just as much as Lin Kuang, if not a little more. Her pretty face was a deep scarlet, radiating a potent charm that was utterly mesmerizing.
"Alright, that’s enough. You’re going to get drunk," Lin Kuang said, catching her hand as she reached for more wine.
The moment he touched her, Fan Bingbing’s face flushed an even deeper crimson, so intense it looked as though it might bleed.
"Okay, then... let’s go sit over there and talk," she said, her voice shy. She didn’t pull her hand away.
Instead, she took the initiative, leading him by the hand to the sofa. The leftovers on the table, she knew, would be taken care of by someone else.
They sat on the sofa. Perhaps it was the wine, but Lin Kuang felt a little warm and tugged at his collar to cool down. Fan Bingbing sat right beside him, their hands still clasped together, fingers interlocked in a gesture of startling intimacy.
She remained quiet, and for a moment, Lin Kuang didn’t know what to say either. They simply sat there, holding hands in silence.
After what felt like a long time, Lin Kuang finally whispered, "Bingbing, your palm is sweaty."
"Hm? Ah? What—what did you say?" she asked, snapping out of her daze. Her face was flushed as she looked at him with shy, charming eyes.
"I said, your palm is all sweaty."
Seeing her blush, Lin Kuang’s heart gave an unexpected flutter. He’d nearly lost control with Lin Guo’er earlier today. Now, alone with Fan Bingbing after a bit of wine, a restless heat began to stir inside him.
Hearing his words again, Fan Bingbing’s face grew even hotter. She hastily pulled her hand away and dabbed at her palm with a tissue.
After she finished, she just sat there with her head lowered and cheeks burning, at a complete loss for words. She normally thought of herself as quite talkative, but right now, she had no idea what to say.
Lin Kuang was equally tongue-tied, and the two of them just sat there in an awkward silence.
After a while, Fan Bingbing finally spoke. "Oh, right! Lin Kuang, I’m having a concert at the East Sea Arena on Saturday night at eight. I got you some tickets. Will you have time to come?"
As she spoke, she looked at him and pulled over ten tickets from her purse. They were all VIP tickets for special seats that were impossible for the public to buy.
"Ah, yes, I’m free. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely be there to support you," Lin Kuang said with a smile as he accepted the tickets.
"Great! I’ll be waiting for you there. You have to come!" Fan Bingbing said, her voice filled with delight.
"Well, if the beautiful Bingbing is inviting me, how could I dare not show up?" Lin Kuang teased.
"Oh, stop it. You’re just talking nonsense," she replied, her face blushing again, looking irresistibly tempting.
Lin Kuang couldn’t restrain himself. He placed his hands on her delicate shoulders, his gaze fixed on her shy eyes.
As their eyes met, Fan Bingbing’s heart pounded furiously, threatening to leap out of her throat.
At that moment, Lin Kuang slowly leaned in, their lips drawing closer and closer.
Shyly, Fan Bingbing closed her eyes, her own lips puckering slightly, as if in anticipation.