With the help of the short-haired female shop assistant, the Polaroid photo was hung in the most prominent position in the middle of the photo wall.

When I walked out of the escape room, it was already getting dark and the wind was picking up.

Dai Wei sent a message saying that she had returned to the hotel.

Pei Xi replied with an "OK" emoji, closed her phone, and then realized she was a little hungry.

There were many more people in the food street than when she came. It was bustling with people, and the stalls selling grilled skewers were filled with smoke and a lively atmosphere.

She looked up at Jiang Cheng, a hint of gratitude in her eyes, "Want to go for hot pot? It's on me."

Jiang Cheng was taken aback.

Pei Xi glanced at his expression and hesitated before asking, "Do you have something else to do later?"

"No." Jiang Cheng shook his head.

"Let's go then." Pei Xi smiled. "Thank you for today. Without you, we wouldn't have broken the record."

"This is the first time I've broken a record." She was visibly happy. "Last time, Dai Wei and I ate at a hot pot restaurant nearby. It was delicious. I'll treat you to it, don't be shy."

Jiang Cheng looked at her, and she gave him that coquettish look again. Although he knew it was just her habit and that she would do that when talking to others, he couldn't resist when those eyes looked at him like that.

Anyway, there are only the two of them here, and no one will recognize them.

So he nodded and said to her, "Okay."

Pei Xi was prepared to be rejected, but when he heard him agree, he was both surprised and happy, and took him straight to the same popular hot pot restaurant from last time.

The hot pot restaurant was still bustling with activity, with diners sitting at tables, their faces steaming from the heat, enjoying their meals with great enthusiasm.

The waiter led the two to a seat by the window, served them the hot pot base first, and then handed them a menu to order.

While looking at the food, Pei Xi asked Jiang Cheng, "What do you like to eat?"

Jiang Cheng shook his head and said to her, "Just keep an eye on things, I've never eaten hot pot before."

Pei Xi paused upon hearing this, looked up at him, and showed a look of disbelief on her face.

She was surprised to find that there were people around her who had never eaten hot pot before.

These days, people who have never eaten hot pot are probably rarer than people who can get a perfect score on a math test.

What's even more incredible is that Pei Xi suddenly realized that a rare creature that meets both of these conditions is sitting right across from her at this very moment.

She actually felt a little like laughing subconsciously.

Her surprised expression faded, and she lowered her head to continue looking at the menu, saying as she looked, "Then let me recommend something to you."

Jiang Cheng looked at her and hummed in response.

Pei Xi traced the menu in his hand, muttering as he went, "This shrimp paste is especially delicious, and so is this fish tofu, and the braised beef..."

"By the way, the black tripe and honeycomb tripe are both delicious, and you absolutely must order these preserved vegetable meatballs. Also, you should try these beef meatballs, which I didn't have last time..."

The side dishes in this kind of street-style hot pot are very small, only a small plate.

Pei Xi ordered more than a dozen dishes.

She ordered while explaining the menu, as if she had been eating at this restaurant for years.

She kept her head down, rambling on without looking up, unaware that Jiang Cheng's gaze wasn't on the menu, but rather on her drooping eyelashes.

The pot gradually heated up, bubbling gently, dispelling all the coldness in his eyes and leaving only tenderness.

After they had ordered almost everything, Pei Xi suddenly remembered something and looked up at Jiang Cheng, asking, "Oh, by the way, do you have any dietary restrictions?"

Jiang Cheng shook his head, his emotions subdued, and said softly, "No, order whatever you like."

From childhood to adulthood, as long as he was full, that was enough for him. In a sense, he was very easy to feed; he would eat anything that was palatable.

There are no dietary restrictions.

"That's good." Pei Xi nodded and handed the menu to the waiter. "I'm sure all of these are delicious. You must try them all."

Jiang Cheng nodded and agreed.

The restaurant serves food very quickly. Before long, a waiter came over with a large tray and filled the table with all sorts of hot pot ingredients.

The pot was boiling, bubbling and steaming, emitting a rich aroma of butter.

Pei Xi used serving chopsticks to add the dishes in order, and when they were almost cooked, he took them out and placed them on the plate in front of Jiang Cheng.

To ensure the best taste, the timing of adding each ingredient to the hot pot is crucial.

She seemed determined to make his first hot pot experience perfect, doing everything herself.

Jiang Cheng's attentive and considerate attitude made it seem as if he wasn't unfamiliar with hot pot, but rather incapable of taking care of himself.

When the last piece of shrimp paste was placed on the plate, Jiang Cheng finally couldn't help but say, "I can do it myself."

Pei Xi paused, looked up and saw a hint of helplessness in his eyes, along with a very faint smile.

She smiled sheepishly and then nodded.

Just then, the phone on the table suddenly vibrated. Pei Xi put down the spoon and picked up the phone.

She unlocked the lock.

As soon as I opened the chat window, a message popped up on my phone screen: "I heard Jiang Cheng also went to Yi City?"

Her hand tightened instinctively around her phone as Pei Zhi's message popped up again: "Don't talk to him, understand?"

Pei Xi: "..."

How was she supposed to tell Pei Zhi that she had not only spoken to Jiang Cheng, but was also eating hot pot with him at the same table?