Now, going in the opposite direction is exactly the direction Shen Xingmian takes every day when she goes to work.
Nan Zhi sat by the window, looking at the food stalls along the road. Shen Xingmian's workplace was not far from the school. The restaurant was called Yipinge, which specialized in hot pot, and it was located on this very street.
After driving for about twenty minutes, Nan Zhi saw the three large characters "Yipin Pavilion". A sly glint flashed in her eyes, and she called out, "Let's park in the parking lot nearby."
Seeing this familiar scene, Shen Xingmian's expression stiffened slightly, but he tried his best not to show it. Nan Zhi couldn't possibly choose a hot pot restaurant.
After parking the car, the driver waited there, while Nanzhi and the other two got out. The parking lot had already passed Yipin Pavilion. After they came out of the underground parking lot, Gu Ying asked, "Sister, what should we eat?"
Nanzhi thought for a moment, then pointed in a direction, "How about this way?"
That's the direction of Yipin Pavilion.
“Great, I see there are quite a few restaurants here.”
Gu Ying nodded. "Then what does my sister want to eat?"
Nanzhi smiled at him and said, "I feel like I haven't had hot pot in ages. How about we go have some?"
"Mmm, I want to eat it too."
Gu Ying actually really likes hot pot, but he hasn't eaten it since he came here.
Upon hearing this, Shen Xingmian felt a sudden panic, but he pretended to be calm and said, "Why don't we go eat over there? I remember there are a few good hot pot restaurants there."
He was pointing in the opposite direction.
Nan Zhi smiled, but her tone was innocent and naive. "But I just saw a hot pot restaurant over there that looked really high-end. I've never eaten there before."
"The food over there isn't good."
The boy replied instinctively.
Nan Zhi and Gu Ying looked at him at the same time, "How did you know?"
Shen Xingmian: "......."
In the end, the three voted and Nan Zhi and Gu Ying won with two votes, so everyone headed in that direction.
With each step Shen Xingmian took, his heart pounded with unease, but he tried to reassure himself that there was more than one hot pot restaurant over there, and maybe they weren't going to the one where he worked.
But Shen Xingmian miscalculated, and Nan Zhi just happened to choose this Yipin Pavilion.
As soon as the three arrived at the door, an employee greeted them.
The man was taken aback when he saw Shen Xingmian and asked:
"Didn't you ask for leave because of something? Why are you back?"
Shen Xingmian was immediately embarrassed. Nan Zhi and Gu Ying were both staring at him, making Shen Xingmian feel ashamed.
"Brother, so you work here. That's a great place."
Gu Ying smiled as she looked at the plaque above her head. It had a retro feel to it, and it was quite elegant and unique.
Nanzhi chimed in, "It really is quite good, so let's eat here today."
She looked at the man who was greeting guests and said, "I just finished dealing with some things at home, and Shen Xingmian recommended that we come here to eat hot pot, saying that the taste is very good."
Upon hearing this, Yingke smiled and said, "Our food is indeed delicious. Since you are family members of Xingmian, the restaurant will give you a discount."
Gu Ying and Nan Zhi's words gave Shen Xingmian a way out.
Nanzhi turned to look at him. "Let's go, let's have a good meal."
Shen Xingmian felt relieved, nodded, and pushed Nanzhi forward.
The hot pot at Yipin Pavilion was indeed delicious. Nanzhi's face was flushed when she ate it, and she was extremely satisfied.
"So delicious." Nan Zhi took a bite of tripe and exclaimed.
Seeing her constantly picking at spicy food, Shen Xingmian was worried about her health and said:
"You should have the seafood one, it's a bit spicy."
"It's mildly spicy, it's alright."
As she was about to pick up another piece of meat from the spicy pot, Shen Xingmian stopped her, saying, "No, you've already eaten enough spicy food."
Nanzhi: "..."
Gu Ying also thought that Nan Zhi might not be able to eat spicy food so recklessly, so she tried to persuade her, "Sister Xi Xi, I also think it's a bit too spicy. Why don't I eat the seafood dish with you? It's quite delicious too."
Under their relentless attacks, Nanzhi had no choice but to give up the idea. "Fine, fine, I'm scared of you. I can't eat spicy food."
Afterwards, Nanzhi noticed that Gu Ying and Shen Xingmian stopped putting food into the spicy pot. Although they ate very little spicy food at first, they didn't touch it at all later. Nanzhi felt a warmth in her heart.
With my current physical condition, I really have to be extra careful even when eating.
However, Nan Zhi has always liked to enjoy life to the fullest, but now, because of Gu Ying and Shen Xingmian, she has become much more restrained.
When I got home, it was already evening, and we ate hot pot for two hours.
"By the way, Brother Xingmian, didn't you say your shop was closed today?"
Gu Ying frowned in confusion, staring intently at Shen Xingmian.
Shen Xingmian: "......"
I thought they had both forgotten, but who knew they would ask again now. When Gu Ying asked the question, she seemed to really not understand anything, just wondering and being curious.
Nan Zhi's big, dark eyes were also fixed on Shen Xingmian, wanting to hear his answer.
Shen Xingmian racked her brains but couldn't come up with a suitable reason.
"Brother Xingmian must have been worried about Sister Xixi, which is why he took leave to go back to school."
Gu Ying spoke as if to herself, her eyes filled with innocence, but in her heart she was convinced that what he saw was right. She had long felt that Xingmian treated Xixi differently, and now it seemed that he was just all bark and no bite, giving all his care to Xixi.
After saying that, Gu Ying waved to the two of them, "I'm going upstairs to sleep first, you two chat."
Then they left without taking a single cloud with them.
"So you care about me, Shen Xingmian."
After remaining silent for a long time, Nanzhi finally spoke.
The boy's ears turned slightly red, his eyes flickered, and he stubbornly said:
"I'm afraid that Aying won't be able to take care of you, and I'll feel very guilty if that happens."
Nan Zhi chuckled inwardly. Really, her excuses were always so flimsy. "Is that so?"
Shen Xingmian: "......Yes."
"Take me back to my bedroom."
Nan Zhi spoke up in a good mood, and Shen Xingmian finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that she was no longer going to investigate.
The matter passed, but for Nanzhi, it was indeed a confirmation of Shen Xingmian's feelings. The Shen Xingmian she knew couldn't lie with those eyes.
In the days that followed, Nanzhi was in a good mood and often took the initiative to ask Shen Xingmian some knowledge-related questions, which Shen Xingmian answered for her.
Days passed by, and the midterm exams arrived as scheduled.
The day before the exam, Qin Yi said to Shen Xingmian:
"Don't forget our bet."
Shen Xingmian gave a cold laugh, "Don't forget that you'll soon be changing positions."
Qin Yi: "......" He was so angry, but he couldn't lose.
"Don't make promises you can't keep, or you'll regret it."
Qin Yi retorted angrily, but Shen Xingmian didn't care.
He has a strong learning ability. In the past half semester, he has caught up on all the knowledge and is now able to handle the classroom with ease, and is even learning more advanced material.
So Qin Yi probably still thinks he's that unambitious person.
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