Chapter 67
The hectic year-end schedule had come to a halt, and the few days of leisure he'd stolen seemed especially precious. Ling Yao, still thinking of the potato and pork rib soup restaurant he'd mentioned taking Su Rui to, had deliberately chosen an old shop tucked away deep in a traditional market, where the customers were mostly middle-aged residents and few young people, to avoid being recognized.
The restaurant was buzzing with life, white mist rising from the steaming clay pots, and the air was thick with the rich aroma of meat and soju. They chose a seat in the corner, took off their coats, and quickly ate until their foreheads were sweating. Ling Yao looked at Su Rui's cheeks, slightly red from the heat, and the beads of sweat on the tip of his nose. With a smile in his eyes, he naturally picked up a tissue and reached over to wipe his hands.
"Isn't it too hot?" Ling Yao's tone was doting. "I remember there was a drink called Strawberry Milk. It was sour and sweet, and really delicious." He paused, looked at Su Rui, and lowered his voice with a hint of teasing and tenderness. "It tastes a lot like you. Wait, I'll go to the convenience store and buy it for you."
Su Rui felt a little embarrassed by his words, but her heart was sweet. She nodded and said, "Well, come back soon."
Ling Yao put on a mask and hat, stood up, and walked quickly out of the shop. Su Rui watched his back disappear into the bustling crowd in the market, lowered her head, and continued to eat the tender stewed spine in small bites, her lips unable to help but curl up.
Not long after, Ling Yao returned with a bottle of pink strawberry milk in his hand. He had just pushed open the door and walked in, but before he could even walk to the corner, one of the young girls at the table next to him suddenly let out a muffled cry, and then screamed in disbelief: "Oh my God... Is that Ling Yao Oppa?!"
Ling Yao's steps paused momentarily, his body stiffening imperceptibly. Su Rui's heart leaped into her throat, and she subconsciously lowered her head, tightening her grip on her chopsticks.
Ling Yao quickly turned around and faced the table of fans who were about to jump up with excitement. His eyes curved up behind the mask, revealing an idol's standard, friendly yet distant smile, and he made a "hush" gesture to them.
"What a coincidence! You're eating here too?" His voice, gentle and polite, came through his mask, with no hint of anything unusual. The girls were so excited that they were incoherent, pulling out their phones to take pictures. Ling Yao kept smiling, but his tone was filled with an unquestionable, gentle refusal: "Sorry, it's private time, so it's not convenient to take pictures." He glanced at their table and said to the boss very naturally, "Auntie, let's put this table's bill together." He took out his card and quickly paid the bill, including the girls'.
During the whole process, he didn't even glance at Su Rui in the corner, as if it was just a strange empty seat.
After paying the bill, he did not return to Su Rui's table. Instead, he spoke to the boss in a neither loud nor soft voice, as if he had just come in to order food: "Auntie, could you please pack another portion of potato and pork rib soup to take away?" His posture was as natural as if he was a customer who just came to take food away.
The boss responded and went to prepare. Ling Yao simply stood there waiting, occasionally chatting briefly with the still-excited fans at the table, asking if they were on holiday and urging them to eat more. His performance was impeccable, an idol who perfectly met his fans, gracious and generous while maintaining boundaries.
The takeaway box was quickly prepared. Ling Yao took the bag and nodded politely to his fans: "I'll be leaving first. Take your time to eat." After that, he picked up the potato and spine soup that was supposed to be enjoyed by the two of them but now became a prop, turned around and walked out of the store without a trace of nostalgia.
From beginning to end, he didn't even glance at Su Rui.
Su Rui sat alone in the sweltering heat in a corner, staring at the direction Ling Yao had vanished, listening to the girls at the next table excitedly chattering about things like, "Oppa is so gentle and handsome," and "He even paid for us." She felt like a completely forgotten, invisible person. The unfinished spinal soup on the table had lost all warmth, sitting heavy in her stomach.
A few minutes later, his phone vibrated. It was a message from Ling Yao's assistant, Xiao Chen: "Mr. Su, please finish your meal and exit the market from another exit. My car is parked over there. The license plate number is xxxxxxx. I'll take you back to the hotel."
Su Rui looked at the message and slowly put down her chopsticks.
He couldn't eat another bite.
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