Night fell, and the north wind howled.

Inside the VIP private room, the hot pot simmered, and a dazzling array of fresh ingredients were laid out to the side, with waiters bringing out plate after plate.

Ming Haoyuan enthusiastically introduced, "I often eat at this restaurant; I'm their top VIP. I don't know what you like to eat, so I ordered a little bit of everything—fresh beef, lamb, and some seafood..."

“That’s enough.” Yuan Heng shook his head: “It’s too much. This is enough for several people to eat. Don’t waste it.”

"Yes, yes, yes!" Ming Haoyuan smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Young Master Yuan cherishes food and upholds traditional virtues—that's fantastic!"

Yuan Heng ignored him and looked at Shan Jueyi opposite him.

"Senior... um... could you please have some more vegetables?"

Shan Jueyi smiled slightly and said, "Bring more tomatoes and lettuce."

Yuan Heng hurriedly tried to press the bell—but Ming Haoyuan snatched it away!

He smiled and said, "You can sit here. I'll take care of the arrangements. Today it's my treat, so I'll make sure Dean Shan and Young Master Yuan have a good time."

Yuan Heng stared at him suspiciously, his face darkening.

This guy is being so attentive to Senior Sister Shan—he's being unusually attentive; he must be trying to woo her!

Dan Jueyi coughed lightly and asked, "How has Ning Lang been lately? My sister told me that she only stayed for a short while at the last Ning family gathering before leaving in a hurry. She must be very busy."

Yuan Heng replied with a smile, "She's very busy, especially at the end of the year when there are a ton of accounts to handle. She does it all by herself, which is quite tiring."

Ming Haoyuan, who was standing to the side, blinked slightly and whispered, "I heard... you and Miss Ning have a very good relationship." Last time, his cousin said that they were best friends, but he didn't believe it at all.

Yuan Heng was secretly startled. He glared at him, then looked at Shan Jueyi with trepidation. Seeing that she was very calm, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He quickly replied, "We're best friends, we've known each other for many years."

"Really best friends?" Ming Haoyuan's eyes widened in surprise, and he excitedly grabbed his arm. "I thought—I thought you two were dating."

Yuan Heng rolled his eyes and said irritably, "We only have family ties and deep friendship between us, don't talk nonsense!"

Dan Jueyi's gaze was somewhat complicated as she said gently, "The end of the year is a time when everyone is extremely busy. You should advise her to rest more. After all, money can never be earned enough, and health is the most important thing."

“A doctor is a doctor, he can’t stop talking about his profession!” Ming Haoyuan laughed.

Dan Jueyi frowned slightly, inwardly displeased. Why did this person always like to interrupt?

Yuan Heng finally got to talk to the person he had been longing for, but Ming Haoyuan kept interrupting, which made him so angry that he wished he could kick him out!

Ming Haoyuan was busy washing the beef when he smiled at Shan Jueyi and said, "Dean Shan, whether you want it spicy or mild, it's up to you!" Then he used serving chopsticks to put a few slices of beef into Yuan Heng's bowl.

"Aheng, you should try it. This is the most famous snowflake beef in this restaurant. It's so fresh and tender."

Yuan Heng stuffed a piece into his mouth.

Ming Haoyuan quickly brought over a small bowl of sauce and said with a smile, "Try dipping it in a little more chili sauce, it's only mildly spicy. By the way, do you like spicy food?"

"I don't particularly love it, I only eat it occasionally." Yuan Heng dipped a little sauce in it and ate it. "It's not bad."

Ming Haoyuan immediately smiled and said, "Me too! I only eat mildly spicy food at most. I'm afraid of getting a sore throat, so I don't eat it much. Just like you, I only eat it occasionally."

"Oh," Yuan Heng replied perfunctorily.

Seeing that he had finished eating the beef, Ming Haoyuan quickly brushed some green vegetables and stuffed them into his hands.

"To change things up, I'll brush some tender lamb on the sides. Here! It's ready, try it, but be careful, it's hot!"

Left standing to the side, Shan Jueyi trembled as she looked at them suspiciously with her chopsticks twitching.