0054 Meal 1
In winter, Beijing is often shrouded in smog. The sky is always shrouded in a thick fog, as if covered by a layer of gray gauze. Even on sunny days, the sunlight is always thin, as if afraid of the cold north wind and dare not show itself.
When Song Ning woke up, Shen Yuxiu was sitting beside her, his back relaxed and upright against the headboard, a laptop on his lap, his clean and slender fingers sliding on the touchpad, his expression focused on the laptop screen, but he didn't seem to be working.
Song Ning propped herself up: "You woke up so early?"
Shen Yuxiu's lips curved into a smile, seemingly quite pleased with her sleepy and drowsy appearance: "It's already past 9 o'clock."
The weather today gave the illusion that it was still early. Song Ning knew she wasn't a heavy sleeper, but she seemed to have had a dream last night. She forgot what she dreamed about, but her body remembered the fatigue in the dream, so she woke up later than usual: "Looking at the sky, I thought it was only a little past 7 o'clock."
Shen Yuxiu tapped his fingers lightly twice on the touchpad: "Hmm, the smog is heavy today."
Song Ning ran her fingers through her hair, rubbing her heavy head: "What are you doing?"
Shen Yuxiu stopped what he was doing, turned the laptop screen towards Song Ning, and asked for her opinion: "Shall we watch this?"
He gave his reason: "It's a romantic comedy with a good ending."
Song Ning was taken aback, then burst out laughing. It felt like a bubbly drink was rising in her chest, making her feel refreshed.
The movie they discussed last night hadn't been decided yet, but it's decided now.
"Okay," Song Ning said. "The expression you made just now, were you choosing a movie?"
What expression?
"It's like an expression of someone tackling a world-class puzzle."
Shen Yuxiu didn't speak, but his eyebrows twitched slightly, as if to say, "Isn't that right?"
However, he didn't say it aloud, but instead changed the subject: "Get up, go out to eat, and then we'll eat at Dad's place tonight."
Song Ning thought to herself, "When can I go drive a sports car?"
Seemingly knowing what Song Ning was thinking, Shen Yuxiu closed his notebook, looked into her eyes, and smiled, "They have a competition tonight. There are fewer people during the day, so it's not worth going."
Upon hearing about the competition, Song Ning felt a little relieved: "My car can't compete in professional races."
“Not professional, your car is just right,” Shen Yuxiu explained.
"That's good."
To do something well, you must first have the right tools. She wouldn't use a road motorcycle or a professional racing motorcycle.
Song Ning got up, dressed herself up, and went out with Shen Yuxiu to the largest district in Yanjing.
As he was leaving, Shen Yuxiu glanced at Song Ning.
Song Ning's long hair was tied up, revealing retro metal earrings. She was wearing a short, off-the-shoulder dress with a long black eco-friendly fur coat, and her thin black stockings and high heels perfectly accentuated her long and slender legs.
Shen Yuxiu frowned in disapproval. She was beautiful, but dressed too scantily.
Song Ning noticed Shen Yuxiu's expression but didn't want to pay attention to it.
She grabbed her evening bag, intending to sneak out, but just as she reached the door, Shen Yuxiu grabbed her wrist.
She felt a sudden force on her wrist, turned around, and landed in front of Shen Yuzheng.
Shen Yuxiu reached out with both hands toward the fur coat on her chest, his thumbs tracing the two rows of plackets from top to bottom, as if he were carefully searching for something.
Song Ning knew he meant no harm, but a tingling, itchy sensation still rose in her body.
Shen Yuxiu carefully touched it twice, his voice gentle and warm: "Can't the clothes be buttoned up?"
Shen Yuxiu and Song Ning locked eyes. Shen Yuxiu's flirtatious and amorous eyes met. Song Ning's lips were dry and her voice was hoarse: "There are no buttons."
"Can't we wear even more?" This was both a question and a suggestion.
"Not really." Song Ning couldn't bear the tenderness in his eyes and looked away.
Shen Yuxiu folded his shirt over his shoulder and pulled it up: "Wrap yourself up tight, or you'll get sick again and won't be able to play tonight."
Song Ning tightened her clothes as instructed and said kindly, "It's not cold inside."
"Let's go." Shen Yuxiu knew that Song Ning always valued beauty more than practicality, so he had no choice but to give in.
Shen Yuxiu chose a Nordic restaurant on the 5th floor of the mall, where you need to swipe a card to go upstairs.
When they arrived, a waiter was already waiting for them at the entrance to the underground parking garage and led them to the restaurant.
The restaurant is decorated in a white Scandinavian style, simple yet sophisticated, with an open kitchen. There are only five tables in the dining room, and perhaps because we arrived early, the other tables were empty.
Upon entering the restaurant, a waiter took their coats and led them to a window seat.
A sheer white curtain hangs over the large glass window next to the seats, ensuring the guests' privacy without obstructing the view outside.
Outside the window is the most bustling commercial street in Yanjing, and below the window are people strolling around.
The head chef stepped forward to introduce the dishes and ingredients to them. The sommelier asked about the wine to accompany the meal. Shen Yuxiu had to drive and wouldn't allow Song Ning to drink alcohol today, so they chose the restaurant's non-alcoholic juice set meal.
Song Ning and Shen Yuxiu had eaten at all kinds of restaurants since they were young, so they weren't particularly surprised by this kind of fine dining restaurant, but it was rare to see one that was open at lunchtime.
"Is this restaurant open at lunchtime?" Song Ning rested her chin on the back of her hand, gazing at Shen Yuxiu and admiring his good looks today.
Shen Yuxiu was wearing a well-tailored handmade suit and the tie clip she had given him, but he had changed his watch. She had never seen him wear this watch before, but she knew the brand; it was at least a seven-figure watch.
Although Song Ning had seen him wear suits countless times, his refined and austere appearance and temperament were so well-suited to this style that she could never get tired of looking at him.
"We're not open for business, but the dinner Dad prepared for you is the same, so I have to swallow my pride and ask someone to help me and ask the chef to work overtime."
Song Ning looked at the head chef who was preparing appetizers. The head chef was a foreigner. When he saw Song Ning looking at him, he gave her a warm smile. Song Ning smiled back and turned to look at Shen Yuxiu: "I thought foreigners didn't like working overtime."
Shen Yuxiu picked up the juice, took a sip, and glanced at the head chef who was grinning broadly, a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth.
I do not like it, but now, it seems that I don't have much of an opinion.
Shen Yuxiu put down his juice and asked, "Do you think he doesn't like it?"
"Doesn't seem like it; she looks quite happy." Song Ning leaned back lazily in her chair.
"Well, but his only talent is cooking. As for other things, it's best to keep your distance," Shen Yuxiu said.
Song Ning didn't know why Shen Yuxiu told her to keep her distance, but the chef was indeed highly skilled and had exquisite craftsmanship.
The dishes were presented in a unique way, and the taste was even more unforgettable. No wonder Shen Yuxiu asked the head chef to work overtime to bring her here.
The meal lasted more than three hours. While waiting for dessert, the chef personally pushed a cart over and placed a rose cake in front of Song Ning's table: "Happy birthday, Ms. Song Ning. This is a cake I made for you myself. I hope you like it."
He then handed over a pure white birthday card with gold foil lettering: "This is a birthday card I wrote for you myself. I wish you will always be as bright and beautiful as a rose."
"Thank you, Enrico." Song Ning accepted Enrico's greeting card with both hands and smiled as she thanked him.
"It's my honor to be remembered by you." Enrico made a gentlemanly gesture by crossing his right hand over his chest, then winked at Shen Yuxiu after standing up, seemingly with a hint of boasting.
Shen Yuxiu smiled nonchalantly, ignoring his provocation.
Enrico, his expression turning sour, put on a warm smile and said to Song Ning, "Please enjoy your meal."
After saying that, he pushed the food cart back to the open kitchen area.
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