Chapter 26 A Direct Approach, His Rumors

The expected spicy and savory flavor did not materialize.

Instead, a table of light and nourishing medicinal dishes was served.

The chicken soup with angelica, red dates, and astragalus was steaming hot, while goji berries floated faintly beside the crucian carp and tofu soup. The other vegetables were simmered in broth, and there was not a trace of spiciness on the table.

Qu He stood frozen in place, stiffly turning her head to look at Zhuang Bieyan standing beside her.

"sit."

Zhuang Bieyan smiled slightly, stepped forward, and pulled out a chair.

He rested one hand on the back of the chair and tilted his head slightly towards Qu He.

Qu He twitched the corner of her mouth and sat down.

Zhuang Bieyan walked around the table and sat down opposite her. He ladled out a bowl of peach gum and white fungus soup and then gently pushed the turntable. The soup was in front of her the next second.

"Try it."

The porcelain bowl was warm, and the soup smelled wonderful.

After thanking her, Qu He lowered her head and took a sip; it tasted sweet.

"How does it taste?" Zhuang Bieyan asked.

"It tastes very good." Qu He nodded.

Qu He took another sip, then put down her spoon and looked at the person sitting opposite her, "President Zhuang..."

"Um?"

"Did you order this to be done? How did you know?"

Zhuang Bieyan picked up another empty porcelain bowl and ladled out some soup. His voice was low and deep. "Qu He, did you think that for those two hours, I was just helping you watch the shop?"

Qu He: "..."

Zhuang Bieyan pushed the prepared Angelica, Red Date and Astragalus Chicken Soup in front of her, saying, "I read online that it's good to drink Angelica and Astragalus soup during this period. I asked the chef to reduce the oil when making it, so it shouldn't be too greasy. Try it."

Qu He stared blankly at the soup in front of her.

The golden chicken soup was almost devoid of oil, with a few red dates and goji berries floating and swirling on the surface, a testament to the care and effort put into the cooking.

Zhuang Bieyan just mentioned online?

Could it be that during the two hours she was asleep, he went online to look up precautions for menstruation?

Qu He couldn't describe how she felt, but her eyes inexplicably felt hot.

In his memory, Qian Zhaoye never paid attention to these things.

He would only say, "Ahe, hang in there a little longer. This meeting is very important. I'll take you home to rest after it's over," when she was in unbearable pain.

Hang in there.

Just bear with it a little longer.

And then she endured it year after year...

Persevere. Be patient.

These two words permeated her entire seven years.

Qu He was lost in memories, clenching her palms tightly, until Zhuang Bieyan's words pulled her back.

"What's wrong?"

She snapped out of her daze, trying to cover up her earlier emotions with a joke, and said in a relaxed tone, "I thought Mr. Zhuang was bringing me here to eat lobster."

Zhuang Bieyan's eyes flashed, "During menstrual cramps, avoid raw, cold, and spicy foods."

A faint smile played on his lips. "If you want to eat lobster, I'll bring you next time."

next time....

Qu He did not answer.

The two remained silent and began to drink their soup without disturbing each other.

Qu He took a sip of the angelica, astragalus, and red date chicken soup and frowned slightly.

It has a medicinal flavor that even seasonings can't mask.

Unacceptable.

She put down her spoon and continued drinking the peach gum and white fungus soup she hadn't finished earlier.

The bowl of soup was empty, and I was just about to go get more.

Zhuang Bieyan had already turned the soup to her.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhuang."

Zhuang Bieyan watched her ladle the soup and slowly said, "So when we were in the car, you thought I was going to take you to eat lobster?"

Qu He: "Hmm?"

She thought for a moment, smiled, and nodded.

Zhuang Bieyan's eyes darkened. He rested his hands on his lap, leaned back, and stared intently: "What if I really came to take you out for lobster?"

Qu He scooped up a mouthful of soup and put it in her mouth, saying softly, "I was originally planning to eat less."

"Quhe."

"What's wrong?"

She looked up and met Zhuang Bieyan's deep eyes.

Their eyes met in mid-air. Whether it was the steam from the soup on the table obscuring their vision or just their imagination, Qu He seemed to see Zhuang Bieyan sigh helplessly.

"It seems I haven't done a good enough job."

"?" Qu He didn't understand what he meant, but she still subconsciously said, "President Zhuang, you've already done very well."

Zhuang Bieyan gave her a deep look. "Is that so? Then I hope to hear your honest opinion next time, whether it's about liking or rejecting."

Qu He pursed her lips.

In the years she's been by Qian Zhaoye's side, she has subconsciously placed herself in the lowest position, both in terms of her preferences and her emotions.

Therefore, 'refusing' and saying 'I don't like it' are unfamiliar things to her.

But now someone is telling her that she can express her thoughts freely.

The last time they ate together, Zhuang Bieyan told her that she could learn to bravely try new things.

This time too...

She tightened her grip on the spoon handle, looked up at him, and said, "I don't like this chicken soup. It's too bitter, and the herbal taste is too strong."

She pushed the chicken soup aside, her expression resolute, as if no amount of persuasion could change her mind.

But under the table, where Zhuang Bieyan couldn't see, her fingers were nervously twisting together.

Just a moment later, a soft laugh came from the other side.

Zhuang Bieyan stared straight at her and gently shook his head. "I didn't expect the first truth I heard would be this."

Qu He coughed lightly, "You're the one who told me to say it."

"Is that why you only took a sip?"

"ah?"

Qu He was taken aback. So Zhuang Bieyan had already noticed it?

Zhuang Bieyan called in a waiter and had all the soups with Chinese medicinal ingredients removed from the table, replacing them with several servings of sweet soup.

He looked at Qu He, his voice gentle: "It's one thing to have a child at home who loves sweets, but I didn't expect there to be one here too."

Qu He paused in her soup-drinking motion, and then, realizing what was happening, her ears began to burn.

The one at home is Zhuang Xi, and the one "here" is... are you talking about her?

She didn't stop scooping soup, and in her panic, she choked on the sweet soup. She covered her mouth and coughed a few times, then patted her chest to calm herself down.

"Slower."

Qu He looked up and met Zhuang Bieyan's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but not smiling.

She subconsciously looked away.

Her mind was a bit of a mess, like tiny people were fighting inside her, and she wanted to say something to ease the strange atmosphere.

After calming down, Qu He pretended to be calm and changed the subject, "I still have to thank President Zhuang for today's matter. I didn't expect you to be so capable as a shop assistant."

Zhuang Bieyan picked up a piece of crucian carp and put it in his bowl. "Really?"

"In the eyes of the people of Beicheng, you are a god-like figure, Mr. Zhuang. Who would have thought that you would do something like running a shop?"

"Immortal..." Zhuang Bieyan's hand holding chopsticks froze in mid-air.

Qu He: "What's wrong?"

Zhuang Bieyan quickly regained his composure and said, "It's nothing."

Qu He didn't take it to heart. After what had just happened, she had become a bit bolder, and her words carried a hint of teasing.

She leaned forward slightly. "There are countless rumors about you, President Zhuang, in Beicheng."

Zhuang Bieyan gave an "Oh," and then asked meaningfully, "What rumors are there?"