After the waiter brought the food and left again, Gu Li picked up her glass, the red wine swirling inside, and said, "To you."

Jiang Xu also raised his glass, "What are you toasting me for?"

"I don't know," the glasses clinked gently. "Maybe it's the youthful vigor and the dashing demeanor of a young man," he said casually, then thought for a moment and smiled, "or maybe it's a toast to the friend who fed the cats with me this afternoon."

Jiang Xu took a small sip and said, "I think the one after that has a better chance."

Gu Li put down the cup, picked up the knife and fork, and began to eat. "I have them all," he said gracefully, "because they're all yours anyway."

Jiang Xu: "Your compliments are quite sophisticated."

Gu Li: "Yes, I am that kind of high-class person."

Jiang Xu: "That really shows that birds of a feather flock together."

Gu Li chuckled softly, “Yes,” the laughter barely concealed in her voice, “You see, the way you brag is so sophisticated.”

Jiang Xu said, "It's just a fact." He chewed on a piece of steak, his eyes slowly brightening. "Lu Chao said you were really being picky. Your taste is really something else."

Gu Li suggested, "I recommend praising directly. Sometimes omitting certain things can be more effective."

Jiang Xu said, “Omitted words can’t express how delicious your taste is.” He looked at Gu Li after he finished speaking. “It’s very tasty. The time I spent here was definitely worth it. It’s very good.”

Gu Li could tell that he really liked it. His deep black pupils were serious and focused. Gu Li couldn't stand that look. "Okay, I understand. It's good that you don't omit anything." After he finished speaking, he raised his head slightly to signal Jiang Xu. "Eat quickly, it will be a big problem if it gets cold."

Jiang Xu noticed that Gu Li seemed a little uncomfortable. He lowered his head and smiled slightly. "Okay, you should eat too." His voice was gentle and had a relaxing quality.

The quiet was punctuated by faint clattering sounds, along with soft breathing and chewing noises, creating a particularly beautiful atmosphere under the starry sky.

Gu Li propped his chin up with his hand, holding a fork in one hand, looking down at his plate as he slowly chewed.

"Gu Li." Jiang Xu called out Gu Li's name when he saw Gu Li eating with a somewhat bored expression. Then he saw Gu Li tremble and his fork clink against the plate.

Jiang Xu felt he should have spoken even more softly; he hadn't expected Gu Li to be so focused while lost in thought.

At this moment, Gu Li just wanted a crack so he could disappear instantly. He was terrified even though he wasn't scared at all in the haunted house.

He looked up as he pondered, a natural smile playing on his lips. "What's wrong?" Stay calm, it's just a small matter.

Jiang Xu saw through Gu Li's feigned composure, and he looked at Gu Li with a smile, "I've discovered something interesting and wanted to ask you about it."

Gu Li said, "I think I might not know. Why don't you ask someone else?"

Jiang Xu: "It's related to you, but if you don't know, I'll ask someone else. I hope the people in the group know."

Gu Li said, "No need," he put down his knife and fork, "I think I'm very likely to know, go ahead and ask." He spoke quickly, while observing Jiang Xu's movements.

When Gu Li realized that Jiang Xu wasn't making any move to pick up his phone, she felt that her reaction was a bit too obvious.

Jiang Xu said slowly, as if he were really thinking.

Gu Li wasn't in a hurry. He propped his face up and waited patiently for Jiang Xu, preparing some rebuttals for when Jiang Xu asked if he was scared. He figured he could just deny it and be done with it.

Jiang Xu piqued Gu Li's curiosity further, "I wanted to ask if you're free tomorrow?"

"Hmm?" Gu Li hadn't expected this question. Jiang Xu was still using a casual tone. "Something interesting?"

Jiang Xu nodded, his tone sincere, "Isn't something about interesting people interesting?"

Gu Li took his hand off his face. "What you said makes sense," he said, realizing he had prepared for nothing. "I'm free tomorrow afternoon. If you need me to come along, please."

Jiang Xu said, "I remember some people were not satisfied with the results at the gym last time. Well, the weekend is plenty of time, how about we have another competition?"

Gu Li said, "Of course," he downed his glass of red wine in one gulp, "Drink this glass, and get ready to lose tomorrow."

Jiang Xu also downed his drink in one gulp, saying, "Those who are destined to lose won't win just because they're stubborn."

Gu Li: "Are you really this ruthless? There's no need to be so pessimistic, although I certainly won't hold back."

Jiang Xu, "I came here to give you some pointers, so you won't cry when you lose."

Gu Li tilted his head. "Crying?" He frowned. "What does that mean? Explain it to me," he said, seemingly genuinely confused. "Or demonstrate it to me tomorrow."

Jiang Xu didn't argue any further. "So, shall we go together tomorrow?"

Gu Li thought for a moment, "You go first, I'll be here at two o'clock this afternoon."

Jiang Xu nodded. "Call me if anything happens, tomorrow." He looked at Gu Li's neck; the gauze had been removed, and the injured skin was mostly healed, leaving only a faint mark. "Could you help me put on the necklace?"

Damn it! This was Gu Li's only thought.

He was so stunned by those words that he nodded, and he didn't even realize when he had arrived at the gate of Pear Blossom Courtyard.

Gu Li woke up to the 'beep' of the card reader. "Jiang Xu," Jiang Xu turned to look at Gu Li after swiping his card, his mind instinctively asking, "What time is it?"

Gu Li: I really don't want to talk nonsense.

Jiang Xu looked at Gu Li with a hint of sarcasm. "It's almost 10 o'clock," he said, then pointed to Gu Li's hand. "The thing you're holding in your hand with the watch on isn't your phone, is it?"

Gu Li, “…um,” he nodded calmly, “I’m testing if you’re drunk, in case you’re too drunk to stand up straight.”

Jiang Xu said, "I'm not drunk, so I'll test you too." He looked at Gu Li under the streetlight and asked, "Did you answer my question just now?"

"The question?" Gu Li pondered, then a memory exploded in his mind like thunder—it was the question about the necklace. "I answered it," he thought of his state at the time. "I told you," he slowly sorted through his memories, speaking slowly. "Okay."

The streetlights cast long shadows of the two men facing each other. Jiang Xu smiled, a gentle smile from a young man. "Well, you're not drunk either. I think you can stand up straight."

Gu Li nodded, "Of course." The young man's eyes gleamed as he raised the corners of his eyes.

The bedroom curtains fluttered slightly, letting in a breeze through the crack in the balcony door. Gu Li lay on her side on the bed, watching the breeze, when her phone vibrated and she received a message.

He clicked on it and saw another photo of himself and Jiang Xu, accompanied by the caption: "I don't want to remind you again."

Gu Li replied: I'm too lazy to explain again.

He deleted the message immediately after replying; he couldn't let these useless messages linger in his mind. Instead, he was thinking about what to wear tomorrow to match the necklace.