Shen Yunxi could sense that Lin Chen's words had a different meaning, but she thought that Lin Chen had misunderstood that she was about to have a good time. After all, she had just returned from the palace and would not have the opportunity to come and eat again after entering the palace.

Therefore, Shen Yunxi smiled and didn't care about the two people at the next table at all.

“How could there be no opportunity? Don’t worry, Brother Lin. I went to take care of that elder before, and she’s gotten much better. I should go there less often in the future. After all, it’s still most comfortable at home. I really wish I could stay at home forever. Just thinking about it makes me happy,” Shen Yunxi said.

Ji Shaoyue paused in his act of picking up food. Had he misheard something?

What did Shen Yunxi just say?

Staying at home for the rest of your life?

When did Shen Yunxi become so indifferent to Jun Xuan's existence?

Junxuan appeared to be eating, but he had no idea what he was actually eating. He was listening intently to the conversation between Shen Yunxi and Lin Chen, and he sensed something different from what Lin Chen had just said.

Junxuan didn't know if Shen Yunxi understood, but he knew that Lin Chen was testing whether Shen Yunxi was going to enter the palace and whether he would have another chance to bring Shen Yunxi here to eat.

Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief at Shen Yunxi's answer. He understood the unspoken meaning behind Shen Yunxi's words: she did not want to enter the palace.

As expected, Lin Chen's eyes lit up. He understood what Shen Yunxi meant and had a guess in his mind.

"That's a good thing, after all, that place isn't that great either. Of course, it's more comfortable to be at home. I heard a while ago that you encountered danger in Yanshan Tang, and I was a little worried, but the Shen family sent word that you were alright, and I was busy, so I didn't come to see you," Lin Chen added.

It's not that I'm busy, but rather that I don't dare to see Shen Yunxi for other reasons.

However, just now, there seemed to be a change between Shen Yunxi and Jun Xuan. She no longer seemed to have eyes only for that person, which made Lin Chen happy and relieved.

Finally, Shen Yunxi's heart no longer belonged only to Jun Xuan.

Shen Yunxi was unaware of what Lin Chen was thinking. She waved her hand dismissively, handed a pair of express delivery to Shen Anyu, and then handed another pair to Lin Chen.

"Don't worry about it. I know you're busy too, so it's not important whether you look at me or not. Besides, I'm fine and there's nothing I need to see. I was just frightened earlier, so you don't need to worry," Shen Yunxi said with a smile.

Hearing this, Lin Chen nodded, took the chopsticks that Shen Yunxi handed him, and said, "Alright, let's not talk about it for now. After you finish eating, I'll take you back to your residence and we can talk slowly."

"Alright," Shen Yunxi agreed. After all, this wasn't a place where it was easy to talk, so it was better not to say anything.

Although she wasn't worried about what would happen to Junxuan, Shen Yunxi still didn't want him to hear what she was saying, especially about things in the palace and about him.

They were having a quiet meal, and Shen Anyu didn't make a sound.

The other table was a bit noisy. Ji Shao kept commenting on each dish he ate, making Jun Xuan want to shut him up.

"Jinyu, try this fish, it's absolutely delicious! I really like it, it's much better than what the chefs in the manor make. I bet you've never tasted anything like it before. Your usual food may look better, but it doesn't necessarily taste this good. And this rabbit, it's so tender and fresh, I never expected it could taste like this. And this, look at these ribs, they're really..." Ji Shaoyue said while eating.

The rules of not speaking while eating or sleeping are meaningless to him.

Junxuan put down his chopsticks. He really didn't find anything about it delicious and couldn't understand why Shen Yunxi and Ji Shaoyue thought it was delicious.

In his opinion, the food here was just so-so, and he lost interest the more he ate.

"Alright, even eating can't shut you up!" Junxuan glanced at Shen Yunxi before speaking.

However, Shen Yunxi's gaze did not fall on him even slightly. Although the two of them were sitting directly opposite each other, Shen Yunxi did not pay any attention to him at all.

Junxuan's gaze grew increasingly cold in response.

Although Ji Shaoyue was usually slow to react, Jun Xuan's behavior was so different from before that he could easily notice it.

"Jinyu, don't be angry. Eat more vegetables. We can talk slowly later. I bet someone did this on purpose." Ji Shaoyue said in a low voice. He was referring to Lin Chen. This person's words seemed to be intentional and pretentious.

It's unclear whether Ji Shaoyue felt uncomfortable because of Lin Chen's words, or because he was a formidable business rival, which might have contributed to Ji Shaoyue's dislike of him, along with a degree of jealousy.

There's nothing he can do. He used to be a master at business, a professional businessman, but he was outdone by Lin Chen, a newcomer to the field. So it's only natural that he's unhappy.

Jun Xuan stopped what he was doing and looked at Shen Yunxi. A thought popped into his mind: Could it really be as Ji Shaoyue said, that Shen Yunxi was doing it on purpose?

It's not easy for someone to let go of feelings that have lasted for so many years, so it's not surprising that Shen Yunxi did it on purpose.

Thinking about this, Junxuan felt that he should trust Ji Shaoyue. After all, it is said that bystanders see things more clearly, and he would definitely be able to see through Shen Yunxi's thoughts.

The two were clearly thinking about different things, but they strangely reached a consensus, and then Junxuan and Ji Shaoyue focused on their meal.

Shen Yunxi breathed a slight sigh of relief. She could clearly feel Jun Xuan's gaze on her. She didn't know why Jun Xuan was paying so much attention to her now, but she didn't want it. She just hoped that she would have nothing to do with Jun Xuan anymore.

Fortunately, after Ji Shaoyue muttered a few words under his breath, Jun Xuan finally looked away, and Shen Yunxi was completely relieved.

When Junxuan was watching, she felt awkward even eating her favorite fish, but not anymore.

Chen An buried his head in his food and ate heartily, as if he hadn't eaten for several meals. Some people's eyes fell on him, with all sorts of expressions.

Shen Yunxi and Lin Chen ate with great care, paying no attention to the gazes fixed on Shen Anyu and the others.

Seeing Lin Chen like this, Shen Yunxi was very moved. Her older brother Lin had never looked down on Shen Anyu since they were young, and he always protected him in public. This older brother was truly a good one.

Junxuan and Ji Shaoyue finished eating first. Since they didn't plan to stay long, they left after finishing their meal.

Just as they were about to leave the restaurant, Junxuan suddenly stopped and looked up at Shen Yunxi. Shen Yunxi also looked up to see if they had gone far, and their eyes met.

Both of them were taken aback. Shen Yunxi calmly withdrew her gaze, while Jun Xuan coughed lightly before walking out.

Once seated in the carriage, Junxuan leaned back lazily, his right hand fiddled with the red cinnabar bracelet on his left wrist, his expression shifting between light and shadow.