Xia Xi picked up the canvas bag and went out. She took off her coat and held it in her other hand.

Xu Yanfeng wanted to help her carry the canvas bag, but she put her hands behind her back to avoid it. Her face looked natural, without any sign of abnormality: "It's not heavy, I can carry it myself." She threw her coat to him.

"Why are you here?" Xu Yanfeng took a look at the bookstore. The interior design was very unique, but it was not close to Nanjing University.

Before he came, Xia Xi had already thought of an excuse, and her answer was smooth and wouldn't arouse suspicion: "Doing homework at school is a bit annoying, and a change of environment makes me feel better. This bookstore is newly opened, with a nostalgic style, it feels like I'm back in my childhood."

Xu Yanfeng smiled, took her free hand, and led her to the parking lot: "Have you had lunch?"

Xia Xi shook his head.

Xu Yanfeng took her to lunch at an Italian restaurant on the top floor of a building. The panoramic windows offered a wide view. Looking down, the tall buildings lined up like blocks of tofu. It should be beautiful at night, with the lights on in the tall buildings, staggered and arranged, like stars falling to earth.

There were not many people at noon, only a few tables of customers. Soothing light music was playing in the hall, which was not noisy but had the effect of relaxing the mind.

Xia Xi sat down and placed the canvas bag on the empty chair next to him.

A waiter in a black suit and bow tie brought the menu. Xu Yanfeng handed it to Xia Xi first, then took a sip of the water himself.

Xia Xi dug her fingernails into the cardboard menu and told herself to stay calm. Even though her mind was full of the script Chairman Xu had given her, and every time she looked at Xu Yanfeng, she felt like she was dying, she had to keep her emotions steady and not break down in front of him.

She flipped through the menu from beginning to end, but didn't order a single dish. Xu Yanfeng's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he asked softly, "Is there nothing you like to eat?"

"No. I've never been here before, so I'm not familiar with it and don't know what's good to eat." Xia Xi smiled calmly and pushed the menu to him. She held her chin with one hand, recalling the times she used to spend time with him, and said coquettishly, "Order for me. If it's not good, I'll beat you up."

Xu Yanfeng raised his thin lips slightly and took the menu obediently. He knew her taste very well and ordered everything she liked.

After the dishes were served on the table one by one, Xia Xi tasted them and curled her lips in satisfaction: "They are all delicious. You really understand me." She ate the garlic shrimps with toasted steamed bun slices one by one, and ate them with relish.

Xu Yanfeng watched her eat and his appetite was aroused. He rolled up some pasta and put it into his mouth. After swallowing it, he said, "What exactly is this thing about you that is 'difficult to explain in a few words'?"

Xia Xi paused, stopped chewing, and her eyes darkened. She lowered her eyelids to hide it, and when she looked up at him, a flawless smile was already on her lips. "I'm just curious what birthday present you're going to give me." She talked nonsense. "Last time you made a share transfer contract, it scared the hell out of me. I'm a little worried that you'll be up to your old tricks again and give me some big-name gift, so I wanted to inquire about it in advance so I can be mentally prepared. If it's not suitable, I'm going to reject it!"

She was trying hard to imitate her former self. In the past, she spoke in such an irrational and confident manner, often making him laugh and cry.

Xu Yanfeng made various assumptions, but he never thought that what she was going to say was this. His hand holding the silver fork hovered, and he stared into her eyes and asked, "Is that it?"

Xia Xi looked at him calmly, "Yes, that's it."

Xu Yanfeng really put on a face that didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "It's hard to explain this in a few words."

"You were in a meeting at the time. How could I have disturbed you by saying something like this?" Xia Xi brushed her hair and raised the corner of her lips. "Of course I had to find an excuse to let you finish the meeting first. I'm so considerate."

Xu Yanfeng smiled and nodded, then nodded again. She was quite understanding and not being sarcastic.

Xia Xi took a sip of the sparkling wine and said, "Can you give me some hints?"

Their time together was limited, and an invisible countdown board had been hung above her head, invisible to others but only to her. The board showed how many days remained until she and Xu Yanfeng parted ways. If nothing unexpected happened, she would have to part ways with him before her birthday.

She was really curious about what he was going to give her.

Xu Yanfeng looked at the goblet in her hand and frowned slightly: "Can you drink?" This glass of sparkling wine was a gift from the restaurant, he didn't order it.

Xia Xi was stunned and didn't react. Why couldn't she drink anymore?

Xu Yanfeng: "Don't you have a cold?"

Xia Xi then remembered that the last time she saw him, he was not in good condition. She lied and said that she had a cold and had forgotten about it. There is a saying that is very true: one lie needs to be covered up with countless lies.

"It's ready." Xia Xi didn't touch the glass of wine again. "Don't change the subject. Tell me quickly, what's the birthday present?"

Xu Yanfeng only wanted to keep the surprise until her birthday and didn't want to reveal it in advance. He lowered his head, picked up the knife, cut the tuna steak, and put a piece on her plate: "Keep it a secret."

Xia Xi pouted.

If he didn't tell her, she definitely wouldn't be able to ask, and her tone accidentally carried a hint of regret: "Okay then."

Xu Yanfeng raised his eyes to look at her. She gripped her fork tightly and lowered her head to eat the tuna steak he had just cut for her. The surface was covered with a thin layer of green sauce. The taste was a bit strange, but very delicious. The skin of the fish was slightly charred, and the inside was tender.

She said it was delicious, so he cut it into pieces for her again, and the waiters beside them became mere decorations.

*

Xu Yanfeng had something else to do in the afternoon and had to go back to the company. He hugged Xia Xi and kissed her for a long time in the car. When it was time to leave, he rubbed his lips against the corner of her lips and asked in a low voice: "Should I take you back to school now?"

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!