The next day.
Wen Zhixia met Shen Jiachen at a Sichuan restaurant outside the school. Wen Zhixia had been to this restaurant quite a few times, and sometimes she would even pack the signature dishes to take back and eat with Wen Sisi.
She arrived at the restaurant first, sent Shen Jiachen her seat number, and ordered two dishes. Just as she finished ordering, Shen Jiachen arrived as well.
"Zhi Xia."
Wen Zhixia looked up and watched Shen Jiachen walk towards her step by step. She wondered if he had dressed up specially, but she felt that Shen Jiachen seemed even more handsome today.
His normally fluffy and natural hair was now styled with hairspray, and the hair in front of his forehead was combed back, revealing his full forehead, sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, and a pair of half-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose, giving him a more mature and ascetic feel.
He wore a well-tailored white shirt, which was quite interesting. The shirt was thin and clung to his muscles, and with just a few movements, it was clear that his well-trained muscles were filling out the shirt.
With a smile on his face, Shen Jiachen walked step by step toward Wen Zhixia, his long legs encased in black suit trousers.
He doesn't look like a senior student; he looks more like a male model who just came off the runway.
Wen Zhixia was stunned for a moment, until he walked up to her and called her with a smile, "Zhixia".
Wen Zhixia snapped out of her daze, realizing she had been a bit out of line. She coughed lightly, lowered her eyes, and picked up the water glass in front of her. It contained the shop's complimentary barley tea, which smelled quite fragrant... Hmm, why does barley tea smell like perfume?
Wen Zhixia couldn't describe the smell, but it just smelled really good.
Shen Jiachen pulled out the chair opposite her. This Sichuan restaurant had a good level of privacy. He had taken a quick look around when he came in, and to be honest, he had never been to a restaurant like this before.
Wen Zhixia looked up at Shen Jiachen, who was still smiling, waiting for her to look up at him.
Wen Zhixia handed him the menu: "I ordered two dishes, see if there's anything else you'd like to eat?"
Sichuan restaurants are generally quite spicy and flavorful. Shen Jiachen's tolerance for spice is average, so he quietly ordered an egg custard and some seasonal vegetables: "Okay."
Wen Zhixia handed the menu to the waiter, poured Shen Jiachen a cup of barley tea, and pushed the cup in front of him.
"Thank you." Shen Jiachen gave her another silly grin, picked up the cup, and took a sip.
Wen Zhixia asked, "What's with your outfit?"
Shen Jiachen's smile never faded. He said, "There's a rather important meeting to attend today, so I'm dressed quite formally."
"Was it too much of a bother to ask you out for lunch today?" Wen Zhixia asked.
"It was all done this morning." Shen Jiachen actually had his own little thoughts. He read online that many girls like to dress like men in formal attire. Wearing a suit in this weather is a bit over the top, but a shirt is just right.
Wen Zhixia said "Oh," and just then, the pickled pepper bullfrog she had ordered was served.
Shen Jiachen stared at the bullfrog in the pot, his pupils dilating in surprise: "Huh?"
Wen Zhixia, however, remained unfazed and said, "It's their signature dish, senior, want to try it?"
Shen Jiachen had never eaten this thing, and had almost never seen it before.
Is this edible?
Seeing that he wasn't eating, Wen Zhixia didn't urge him. She simply picked up her chopsticks, took one for herself, and lowered her head to eat silently.
Shen Jiachen blinked several times, seemingly trying to mentally prepare himself, but seeing Wen Zhixia's unchanging expression, just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, the waiter brought out another dish.
Sweet and sour pork ribs—this dish suits Shen Jiachen's taste, at least better than pickled pepper bullfrog.
Wen Zhixia looked at Shen Jiachen and asked, "Doesn't it suit your taste, senior?"
Shen Jiachen snapped out of his daze, picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of the tender, fall-off-the-bone sweet and sour pork ribs, and silently put it in his mouth.
A few minutes later, the steamed egg custard and seasonal vegetables were also served.
Shen Jiachen couldn't help but look up at Wen Zhixia across from him. She was quietly eating bullfrog, her expression unchanged, without saying a word.
He pursed his lips, his gaze falling on the pickled bullfrog in front of him. After only a second of thought, he picked up a bullfrog with his chopsticks and started eating it in silence.
But one bite was too spicy, so he picked up the water glass next to him and finished the rest of the barley tea.
Just then, the waiter brought over the two glasses of watermelon juice that Wen Zhixia had ordered. Shen Jiachen gulped down the juice in two gulps, finishing one glass in no time.
His eyes were watering from the spiciness, but Wen Zhixia ate without batting an eye, as easily as drinking water, while for him it was like a volcano erupting in his mouth after just one bite.
Wen Zhixia was startled by his reaction. She quickly pushed her glass of watermelon juice over and asked the waiter to bring two more glasses of watermelon juice.
Shen Jiachen waved his hand and said, "It's okay, it's okay, I can do it."
The restaurant had air conditioning on, but he was still sweating profusely, looking like he was really suffering from the spiciness.
When Wen Zhixia ordered the food, she actually ordered mild spicy, not expecting that Shen Jiachen couldn't handle any spice at all.
"I'm fine." Shen Jiachen took the tissue she handed him, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and then, taking advantage of Wen Zhixia's inattention, wiped away his slightly fragile tears.
"If you can't handle spicy food, then don't eat it. I'll order something non-spicy." Wen Zhixia was about to call the waiter over, but Shen Jiachen stopped her: "No need, it's quite delicious."
Shen Jiachen took a breath: "It was also a wonderful experience."
Wen Zhixia put down her chopsticks. Looking at Shen Jiachen's flushed face, she reached out and pushed some more watermelon juice towards him: "Have some more."
Shen Jiachen did not refuse and silently took another sip. Now that his mouth had cooled down, his reaction was not as strong as before.
He said, "I'm sorry you had to see this... I definitely won't do it again next time."
Wen Zhixia sighed and asked in confusion, "Senior, why? You clearly can't handle spicy food, yet you force yourself."
Shen Jiachen was well aware of Wen Zhixia's intention in ordering this dish; she was telling him that the flavors were completely different and it was not suitable at all. But he was not going to give up!
Shen Jiachen actually found it difficult to express his thoughts to Wen Zhixia, because he felt that no matter how he put it, he was like a scumbag who deceived girls' feelings.
These days, who believes in love at first sight?
But he wanted Wen Zhixia to see his sincerity. Shen Jiachen knew very well that if he missed this opportunity, it would never come again.
He wanted to... keep this feeling of excitement.
Shen Jiachen also put down his chopsticks and said slowly, "It's not that I'm forcing myself. I wasn't prepared this time. Next time we eat spicy food together, I'll definitely be able to eat without flinching."
“You clearly understand what I mean,” Wen Zhixia said. “We’re not a good match.”
"You haven't even tried it, how can you think it's not suitable?" Shen Jiachen's eyes were bright as he looked at her. "I think I'm pretty good, and taking me out certainly won't embarrass you. Don't you really have any feelings for me at all?"
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