"Then..." Pei Nian's voice was very soft, "Will you take me home?"

"I won't take you home," Huo Jingnan chuckled. "I'd like to treat you to a late-night snack!"

"Um?"

Without a word, Huo Jingnan grabbed Pei Nian's hand and ran. Pei Nian's heart trembled violently; her reason wanted to break free, but her fingers gripped his tightly.

The two of them ran quite fast, and the wind brushed against her lips, carrying a slightly sweet taste.

Pei Nian laughed and ran even faster.

Soon Huo Jingnan took her to a small noodle shop.

The storefront isn't large, but the place is very clean. The owner is a kind-hearted uncle who speaks in a booming voice when he says "Welcome," and he laughs heartily.

It was already late at night, and there were no other customers in the shop, so Huo Jingnan led her to a seat by the window.

He ordered two bowls of beef noodles, but neither of them touched them after the steaming hot noodles arrived.

"What's wrong?" Huo Jingnan asked with a smile.

Perhaps sensing the doubt in her eyes, he took the initiative to say, "The owner of this noodle shop is the father of one of my comrades in the army. Don't let the small size fool you, the portions are generous, the food is clean, and the taste is quite good. All the noodles are handmade by the uncle himself!"

As he spoke, Huo Jingnan added some vinegar and chili to her sauce, saying, "It tastes even better this way!"

Pei Nian paused, then chuckled softly, and after a moment asked him in a low voice, "Do you get along well with your former comrades?"

Huo Jingnan had no idea what she wanted to ask.

"I... everything went well at work today," Pei Nian said softly. "It's just that interpersonal relationships are a bit of a headache. I can ignore them, but sometimes a project requires everyone to work together, and if I keep ignoring them, then..."

"Actually, it doesn't matter." Huo Jingnan smiled. "Some people are just not suited for socializing. Someone like Junyang, who is a social butterfly, is someone you can only meet by chance."

Don't you think there's something wrong with me?

"Of course not!" Huo Jingnan looked at her seriously. "Actually, I'm not good at handling interpersonal relationships either... Pei Nian, don't you think we're a match made in heaven?"

Pei Nian blushed, lowered her head to eat her noodles, and ignored him.

Huo Jingnan, however, was quick-witted and nimble, snatching the largest piece of beef from her bowl before she could even put down her chopsticks.

"Hey, you..."

"Let me try yours!"

Pei Nian was both amused and exasperated, so she simply gave him all the beef instead of eating it herself.

However, after taking a couple of bites of noodles, she shoveled the contents down and discovered a heart-shaped fried egg underneath.

Huo Jingnan leaned closer to look and chuckled, "Oh my, whose heart is this? How did it end up in your bowl?"