55. First Meal
Although they had eaten alone a few times before due to work, this was their first time as lovers. Chi Jin chose a high-end restaurant near the university town, which she had never eaten at during her school years for various reasons.
Chi Jin looked across at Chen Yisheng. He had taken off his glasses, and there was a hint of relief between his brows, though the faint dark shadows under his eyes still betrayed the fatigue of a long day's travels. He was carefully washing their tableware with hot water, his movements unhurried and steady, his slender fingers fiddling with the porcelain cups and plates, a pleasing sight in themselves.
"What do you want to eat?" He gently placed the hot cutlery in front of her and pushed the menu over to her.
"Try it. I trust your judgment."
"We have similar tastes, so I believe we can't go wrong with anything we order." Chen Yisheng ordered a few signature dishes according to Chi Jin's preferences, and then instructed, "Soup first, dessert last, thank you."
Worried that Chen Yisheng would have to pay again, she went to the front desk to pay the bill under the pretext of washing her hands. Now that their status was different, she didn't want to let him pay all the time.
Just as I got the bill, someone patted my shoulder from behind.
"Hey, isn't that Chi Jin?" A slightly sharp female voice rang out, "You're dressed so beautifully, are you here to have dinner with your boyfriend?"
Chi Jin turned around and took a few seconds to identify him before he remembered. It was a classmate from graduate school, surnamed Song, who seemed to be staying on campus to pursue a doctorate. The two of them had rarely interacted during their school years, just a nodding acquaintance.
"Uh..." Chi Jin didn't know whether to deny or admit it for a moment, and smiled awkwardly, "Dr. Song? What a coincidence."
"Oh, you're going to Liu Xiaoke's wedding, right?" Dr. Song thought she was familiar with the couple, her gossip spirit burning, and she lowered her voice, "You two are getting married soon, right? Let me see him, I remember he was so handsome when he played basketball, and our roommates all said he had a great body." She obviously mistakenly thought that Chi Jin was still with her boyfriend from graduate school.
Chi Jin suddenly felt his scalp tingling. Just as he was wondering how to explain, a deep voice rang out from his side:
"Who is this?"
Chen Yisheng had come over at some point, clearly worried about her being away for so long. His eyes swept over the bill in Chi Jin's hand, and he instantly understood, but he didn't point it out. He simply looked at Dr. Song with a polite, distant smile.
Chi Jin seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw. He immediately reached out and hooked his arm around Chen Yisheng's. His body subconsciously moved closer to him. He quickly said to Dr. Song, "My boyfriend. Um... Dr. Song, we're done eating. We're leaving first. See you at Xiao Ke's wedding!"
The words "my boyfriend" came out almost spontaneously, so naturally that even she was surprised.
Chen Yisheng's arm was held by her, and his body paused almost imperceptibly. Then she smiled, nodded slightly to the stunned Dr. Song, and let Chi Jin half-dragged and half-pulled him to his seat.
"Why didn't I run into someone I know? I could also satisfy my curiosity and introduce you to someone."
Chi Jin didn't let go of her hand until he returned to his seat. He took a big sip of grapefruit tea to calm his nerves. "Don't mention it, I've even forgotten her name. They're all big mouths in the same dormitory. I stayed away from them when I was in school."
Chen Yisheng sat down, looked at her leisurely, and said slowly: "I just heard her say that your ex-boyfriend is very handsome?
The tone was calm, but it seemed to hide a tiny hook.
"Ouch." Chi Jin didn't know what he was jealous of. "Not handsome, not handsome, just an average guy. Editor-in-Chief Chen, oh no, Editor-in-Chief Chen is more handsome."
Chen Yisheng didn't seem to be willing to let go of this topic easily. He picked up the teacup and took a sip, his eyes gleaming behind his glasses. "But I can't play basketball."
There was a rare, almost childish calculating tone in his voice.
"It's okay! I don't like sports!" Chi Jin immediately expressed his loyalty, almost raising his hand to swear, "Don't worry, I don't have any bloody grudges with my ex or ex-ex, and there is nothing about them that you should be jealous of."
Chen Yisheng looked at her eager to explain, a hint of smile flashing across his eyes, but his words were low and serious: "Being able to participate in your past is something that makes me jealous."
Chi Jin's heart seemed to be gently bumped. She put down the cup, looked at him, and her voice softened: "In terms of time, you 'knew' me earlier than them, just in a different way."
"Have you only discussed these two?"
Chi Jin nodded honestly: "Yeah. What about you?"
The moment she asked, she suddenly felt a surge of regret. Given his circumstances, age, and charm, how could he possibly have no romantic history? Just imagining it made a strange, bitter emotion brew in her heart.
"Why do you feel guilty? Have you dated ten or eight people?" In fact, she felt guilty.
Chen Yisheng chuckled softly, "I was wondering if I should be more specific or detailed. After all, we've never discussed this topic before."
Chi Jin pinched her palms. Before he said a word, she was already starting to feel jealous and envious.
Chen Yisheng grabbed her hand and whispered, "Do you want to listen now?"
Chi Jin suddenly came back to his senses.
No, you can't act like a jealous person just after you get together!
She immediately took advantage of the situation to rub her stomach, frowning exaggeratedly. "I'm so hungry! The food is almost cold. Can we eat first? This topic doesn't seem very appetizing."
"Okay. This topic is definitely not suitable for eating." Chen Yisheng laughed, "I checked the New Year's Day holiday duty schedule, and we are all scheduled to be on duty tomorrow afternoon."
"This is even less appetizing, isn't it?" she said vaguely.
"What are your plans for tomorrow night?"
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, the last day of the Gregorian calendar year. According to conventional wisdom, this is undoubtedly a night spent together, a night filled with ritual. Chi Jin's heartbeat quickened again. Was he inviting her to spend New Year's Eve with him? And then? What happens after midnight?
Would it be too impolite to ask him to spend the night? But we were all adults, and since we were interested in each other, there seemed to be no need to be overly shy, and the topic should be open. But... just how far did he go?
She chose to play dumb for the moment, swallowing her food and pretending to be relaxed: "No. I wasn't planning anything. Maybe I'd hang out with my roommates or stay home and scroll through my phone. I pay so much rent every month, I don't want to waste a single day."
"Then," Chen Yisheng's eyes fell on her face, "Do you want to live with me?"
Chi Jin bit the straw, feeling her cheeks begin to heat up again. She nodded, her voice a little soft. "Of course I do. Do you have any ideas?"
"I don't think I'll have to work overtime tomorrow. How about having dinner after get off work and then going to the beach? There's a light and fireworks show at Seaside Park for New Year's Eve."
Seaside Park... It takes about an hour and a half to drive from Seaside Park to the city center. If you get back after midnight, it'll take at least two o'clock. Are you planning to spend the night at the beach?
But they had just confirmed their relationship today, and the next day they were spending the night together. Wasn't that too fast? She couldn't yet accurately read all the subtext from his calm proposal and deep eyes.
He is older than her and has more experience. If he doesn't take the initiative to make it clear, this ambiguous temptation will indeed seem a bit cunning to her.
She suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her mind, maintained composure on her face, and nodded: "Sure, that sounds great."
As if seeing through her concerns, Chen Yisheng's next words were clear and considerate: "Coming back in the early hours will disturb your roommate's rest. I'll book two rooms in a nearby hotel later."
Chi Jin finally understood and nodded.
Two rooms.
Chi Jin couldn't tell whether he felt relieved or a slight sense of disappointment. He had made all the arrangements clearly and was gentlemanly and thoughtful.
His tone was natural, as if he had planned it all out. "When I pick you up tomorrow morning, you can leave your luggage in my car. During the day on the 1st, we can also walk along the beach. There are also botanical gardens and oceanariums nearby."
"Editor-in-Chief Chen has such a strong sense of planning." She pursed her lips and smiled, her tone slightly teasing, "I really don't have to worry about it at all."
"We'll..."
"Oh no!" Chi Jin suddenly remembered something and cried out softly, "Oh no, I have to go home quickly."
"Is there an emergency?" Chen Yisheng asked with concern.
"No!" Chi Jin tugged at the expensive pearl gray satin dress she was wearing, looking annoyed. "I rented this for the awards ceremony! It's two hundred dollars a day, and I have to send it back before the courier gets off work today!"
Hearing it wasn't urgent, Chen Yisheng felt relieved. He was amused by her miserly look and gave her a piece of the tenderest ribs. "That's easy. We're in the mall, are you worried about not having a change of clothes? I'll take you to buy something later."
"No!" Chi Jinyi said righteously, "We need to make a gentleman's agreement first. I'm poor but ambitious. I'm not dating you just to get you to spend money on me. And don't give me too expensive gifts. I can't afford it."
Chen Yisheng suddenly remembered something: "You haven't opened the gift I gave you yet."
"Don't interrupt," Chi Jin insisted, unmoved, "promise me first."
Chen Yisheng put down his chopsticks, his expression becoming serious. He looked at her and said slowly, "Chi Jin, although you said you weren't with me to take advantage of me, the truth is, I'm older than you, your senior, and your superior. In this relationship, it's clear that I'm 'getting' more, and I'm taking advantage of you. I respect your independence and self-respect, but I also have my own considerations and sense of propriety."
Chi Jin tilted his head: "What are you considering?"
Chen Yisheng made a joke, and the atmosphere lightened up: "What if I don't treat you well and you run away?"
"You have been very good to me!" Chi Jin blurted out, referring to the known and unknown contributions she had made.
"That was in the past." Chen Yisheng's voice deepened. He reached out his hand again, crossed the table, and held hers tightly. "Chi Jin, you are my girlfriend now. I will treat you better. This is what I want to do most as a boyfriend, and it is also my 'proper conduct'."
girlfriend.
She held his hand with her backhand, feeling her nose a little sour, but she still insisted: "With your words... it's worth it to lie to me."
"Okay." Chen Yisheng smiled and squeezed her fingers, his eyes filled with tenderness and determination. "I won't lie to you. I finally got her, how could I bear to lie to you?"
"Now that you've calmed down, can we have a good meal?" Chi Jin's stomach was already ready for action.
"Of course." Chen Yisheng nodded gentlemanly.
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