Chapter 11
Just as Lin Xiaotang had predicted, at this time, all the Western restaurants that required reservations and had a romantic atmosphere had long queues, with young couples cuddling and waiting outside. She asked at two restaurants, only to be met with apologetic smiles and long wait times.
Looking at the waiting crowd, Bai Sinian frowned slightly, his face showing obvious annoyance and apology: "I'm sorry, I didn't arrange it well... I didn't expect so many people." He was clearly unfamiliar with this kind of daily routine that required "queuing," and his expression was somewhat helpless.
Seeing his rare, almost clumsy embarrassment, Lin Xiaotang laughed and said in a relaxed tone, "It's okay, anyway, I didn't particularly want to eat Western food."
Bai Sinian paused for a moment, then subconsciously asked, "You don't like to eat it?" He realized his question was abrupt and his eyes flickered.
“It’s not a matter of whether I like it or not,” Lin Xiaotang shook her head, her eyes sparkling with a hint of slyness, “but I have something I love even more, and I promise—there’s absolutely no need to queue!”
Twenty minutes later, Per Sinian sat somewhat stiffly in an incredibly noisy Chongqing hot pot restaurant. The air was filled with the rich, pungent aroma of beef tallow, and all around him were the sounds of lively drinking games, laughter, and the bubbling of the pot—a raw and vibrant atmosphere of everyday life. This was completely different from the quiet, refined environment he was used to, leaving him momentarily disoriented.
Lin Xiaotang, however, was completely at ease. She skillfully ordered the nine-compartment hot pot base, added plenty of butter and Sichuan peppercorns, and then quickly ordered a bunch of tripe, beef aorta, duck intestines, and pig brains...
The pot quickly boiled, its red waves churning, with chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns bobbing in it. Lin Xiaotang dipped a large piece of tripe in, cooked it for a few seconds, then scooped it out, coated it with sesame oil and minced garlic, and put it in her mouth. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction, her cheeks quickly turning red from the steam, and fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.
She ate with great relish, clearly able to handle spicy food very well.
Looking at Lin Xiaotang across from him, whose lips were swollen and red from the spiciness and whose forehead was sweating, yet whose smile was more vibrant and unrestrained than ever before in the coffee shop, Bai Sinian's gaze became confused and focused again. His hand holding the chopsticks paused in mid-air, as if he saw a blurry and distant shadow through her at this moment.
"What's wrong?" Lin Xiaotang noticed his gaze, looked up, and asked while inhaling to relieve the spiciness, "Is it not to your liking? Or is it too spicy?"
Persian snapped back to reality, quickly lowered his eyes to hide the turbulent emotions within, shook his head, and said in a slightly strained voice, "No...nothing. It's delicious." He imitated her, picked up a slice of beef, and put it into the boiling red oil. The spiciness instantly assaulted his taste buds, making him cough lightly, but unexpectedly, he felt...very satisfied.
The chilled beer was served; one sip was fiery and hot, the other icy and refreshing—a perfect combination that gradually warmed the atmosphere. The two didn't talk much, but the atmosphere between them was much more relaxed and natural than in the coffee shop. After a few beers, both of their faces were flushed with a slight buzz.
As they paid the bill and left, a night breeze seemed to amplify the effects of the alcohol. Bai Sinian insisted on taking Lin Xiaotang home.
The two walked side by side on their way back to the apartment, passing a boutique cake shop that was still open. The window displayed beautifully designed cakes, which looked especially tempting under the warm yellow light.
Bai Sinian suddenly stopped, his gaze drawn to a small cake decorated with strawberries in the shop window. His eyes glazed over for a moment, as if touched by something, and he insisted on going in: "Wait a minute, I'll buy you a cake."
Lin Xiaotang was both amused and exasperated, and pulled him back, saying, "No need, Bai Sinian, it's not my birthday today. Besides," she pointed to herself, "I sell these things, why would you buy them?"
Lin Xiaotang quickly stopped him: "Really, there's no need! I'm already full, and what I made myself tastes much better." She found his behavior utterly inexplicable.
“It’s different.” Bai Sinian stubbornly shook his head, his tone carrying the obstinacy unique to drunkenness, even a hint of barely perceptible anxiety. “I have to buy it!” He suddenly raised his voice, shaking off her hand with considerable force, his eyes becoming unusually determined, even carrying a kind of obsession that Lin Xiaotang couldn’t understand. He strode into the store and actually bought a strawberry cake.
"Take it!" he almost commanded, shoving it into Lin Xiaotang's hand.
The delicate cardboard box was cool to the touch, but Lin Xiaotang only felt embarrassed and helpless: "Bai Sinian, have you had too much to drink? I told you I don't need it..."
She tried to push the cake back to him, but he held her hand firmly, preventing her from doing so. The two began shoving each other at the shop entrance, and in the struggle, the small cake box slipped from her grasp—
"Smack!"
The cardboard box fell to the ground, spilling out the delicate strawberry cakes and smearing cream all over the floor, making a mess.
The air froze instantly.
Per Sinian stared intently at the shattered cake on the floor, as if he had witnessed something utterly horrifying. His pupils contracted sharply, and his breathing became heavy. He abruptly raised his head, his eyes instantly turning red, and roared uncontrollably at Lin Xiaotang, "Why don't you want it?! Why don't you want it?! Why don't you want it even though I gave it to you?!"
His voice was hoarse, filled with immense pain and incomprehensible anger. The broken and desperate look in his eyes, which Lin Xiaotang thought had disappeared, reappeared, even more intense and terrifying than ever before.
Lin Xiaotang was completely startled by his sudden outburst. Her heart clenched, and she instinctively took a step back. The slight warmth and ease she had felt in the hot pot restaurant vanished instantly, leaving only icy fear and immense resentment.
His capriciousness, the unfathomable pain and anger in his eyes, all made her feel suffocated with fear.
She stared at the man before her, who seemed to have transformed instantly, her lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. Finally, she abruptly turned and, almost as if fleeing, ran swiftly towards the apartment, leaving him, his eyes brimming with pain, and the mess of cake on the floor behind her in the cold night.
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