Chapter 196 Extra 20

Tang Zhixu arrived at the restaurant half an hour early. In the past few meals he and Annie had eaten, she had always arrived first. Today, he didn't want her to be the one waiting again.

When Anne arrived, he was looking out the window. Perhaps because of the exhibition, his hairstyle and clothes were more formal than usual, and he looked more like the photo she had seen of him when she first saw him.

"Are you here? I ordered some dishes. Do you want to add anything?"

Tang Zhixu handed her the menu.

Annie took a look at the dishes he ordered and said, "No need to add more. This is it."

Tang Zhixu signaled the waiter to serve the food and poured tea into Annie's cup.

"When are you going back? Today?"

"And you?"

"I'll stay for a few more days until most of my friends have arrived."

"I've taken annual leave. There's no rush. I'll wait for you to go back together."

Tang Zhixu took a sip of tea, turning the cup and saying, "If you have something to do in Beijing, you can stay as long as you want. Just let me know if I can help you. If you want to wait for me, there's really no need."

Anne didn't answer. He knew she understood. If he hadn't been so caught up in the conversation, he would have said it after dinner, not wanting to ruin everyone's appetite before dinner.

The roast duck was served and placed between the two of them, but no one picked up their chopsticks.

"Is your secret crush over?" Annie's voice rang out.

"it's over."

"So, I'm not good enough."

"It has nothing to do with anyone." He subconsciously turned his face away, trying to avoid the question, but he already understood that avoiding it would not solve any problem.

He looked into her clear eyes. Clarity flowed through his mind like a script. "You're so good, let's be friends." But he would never say such a thing again. He never wanted to be friends with any girl of the opposite sex again. The next person he fell in love with, he wanted to confess his feelings immediately and never part with her.

"Once, I didn't understand my own feelings and started a new relationship seamlessly. Since then, I missed someone. I don't want to repeat the same mistake, and I don't want any girl to be the one to fill the gap."

Annie looked at his handsome face. His expression was serious, his tone sincere. But the words he spoke were a refusal. She smiled, picked up the duck skin, wrapped it in a duck pancake, and stuffed it into her mouth. This was the first time she'd ever spoken to him, like a friend, while eating.

"You know what? You said this, you will never make the same mistake again, so I will not be your gap. Everyone's feelings are different in each period, and the anchor points are also different. After a breakup, some people can start the next one right away, while others will never start again. What are you worried about? Are you worried that I will fall in love with you and wait for you until old age? Don't be silly, where can you find such a woman? Find one. Tang Zhixu, while I'm still single, I'm willing to look for a handsome guy while watching you. If you want to start over one day, come to me. If I haven't found someone more handsome than you, maybe I will go back to you."

After she finished speaking, she wrapped another pancake and handed it to him.

"Do you want to eat? It's getting cold."

Tang Zhixu scratched his head.

"Have a piece."

Before Song Suiyang arrived at the Shanghai Museum, news of her winning first prize in the youth category of the National Restoration Competition reached the museum. Her university group was buzzing with activity.

She unceremoniously sent the restored photos and the first-prize certificate to the group.

"WOW, Teacher Song is incredible now."

"It wasn't me who did it all," Song Suiyang typed quickly. "My master showed up at the crucial moment. Without him, I wouldn't have won the award."

This was the truth. Without Tong Zhongyuan, she would never have won the first prize. Tong Zhongyuan's suggestions certainly played a big role. But what was more important than his guidance was that Zheng Rongyan made a mistake!

She didn't know at first. Tong Zhongyuan hung up the phone and left without even a glance at her. He acted as if he was coming because his wife asked him to.

Fortunately, she was used to it, so she just despised him in her heart and got back into the game.

Just as Zheng Rongyan had been secretly observing her, she had also been paying attention to her progress. Over the past three days, she had come to terms with reality. Zheng Rongyan was truly a leader among the younger generation; at her current level, she was no match for her.

But she was surprised to find that Zheng Rongyan's concentration was waning. She had already reached the Qi-receiving stage, which required the most concentration and experience. Just as she looked at Zheng Rongyan, she actually made a mistake!

Although mistakes can be remedied, it is troublesome, stressful and time-consuming.

She watched Zheng Rongyan frantically trying to make amends, and since then, her condition has become visibly weaker.

She was full of questions, wondering what was wrong with her. Suddenly, an idea flashed in her mind, and Tang Zhixu's words appeared in her mind.

"I'm attracted to him."

Ha, when I think about it carefully, it was after Tong Zhongyuan came that Zheng Rongyan's rhythm was disrupted.

She put her hands on her hips and laughed at the sky. "Master, oh master, not only did you come to teach me your skills, but you also shamelessly kissed me in public. The killing power is MAX. You are worthy of being my master. This is really wonderful."

Song Suiyang's morale was greatly boosted, and he became more and more courageous as the battle went on. He performed at his best and won the first prize.

Qin Tian and Tong Zhongyuan had come to Beijing together that day, partly for Tang Zhixu. It was her friend's first exhibition, so she should be there. But she also did it for Song Suiyang. With Tong Zhongyuan's support, Song Suiyang would at least be able to handle the situation. But she never expected Song Suiyang to actually win first prize.

Tong Zhongyuan remained silent. Whether Song Suiyang won the award or not was none of his business. But she was the only female friend of Qin Tian he knew, and in the near future, he wanted her to do him a favor.

Tang Zhixu had also returned. Entering the museum, he inevitably engaged in another round of socializing. Over the past six months, his workplace landscape had shifted. People he'd previously had little in common with had joined him, while previously neutral relationships had faded, while others had become more cordial. It turned out that different perspectives truly offered different views.

There was one thing he had always wanted to do. Until he shook hands with Tong Zhongyuan for the first time at the art exhibition, he felt very calm, without jealousy or hatred, and he finally got over it.

He placed the watch on his repair table. This was his first time coming to the restoration room to see Tong Zhongyuan.

Tong Zhongyuan's appointment as the Shanghai Museum's restoration technical consultant has not been officially announced, but he has already arrived and visits the Shanghai Museum two days a week.

Tong Zhongyuan picked up the watch and smiled. Back then, he'd clearly wished Tang Zhixu had vanished from the world, yet he'd played it cool and ran to the store to buy him a watch. Then, as he took the watch home, his heart ached. The memory was both profound and strange, as if he hadn't been the one doing those things.

"I know you need everything. So, if I wanted to say thank you, would you like to share a drink?"

Tang Zhixu curled his lips: "Why? Don't you want to drink milk now?"

"It's up to you. I'm fine with whatever you say to drink." Tong Zhongyuan maintained a gentle smile. Now, let alone Tang Zhixu's ridicule, even if he scolded him, he wouldn't talk back. "If you want me to continue drinking milk, then milk."

As the saying goes, don't hit someone who smiles at you, and Tang Zhixu has no habit of hitting people.

Tong Zhongyuan had mentioned the idea of ​​having a meal together many times. In his heart, a simple thank you was not enough to offset the grudges between them.

To be honest, putting Qin Tian aside, Tang Zhixu didn't hate him, but he didn't want to get close to him either.

"Okay, let's do it together some other time when we're free."

He threw this sentence aside and walked towards the door.

"Can you bring Qin Tian with you?" Tong Zhongyuan's voice sounded behind him.

Tang Zhixu stumbled and turned back in shock. This kid, really didn't mean it? Who is he showing off to?

Tong Zhongyuan smiled at him and said, "If you don't take her with you, I'll cook dinner for her in advance."

Tang Zhixu waved his hand and walked out.

Burn it, it’s up to you whether you want to burn it or not.