"Boss, I want 20 lamb skewers."
"Five chicken wings."
"Two of these baked rice cakes."
"Five squid balls."
"Three tofu skewers here."
"Ah, this fried rice looks good."
The boss's wife was delighted: "The fried rice is our signature dish!"
"Then I'll take another order of fried rice."
Yu Na closed the menu and smiled sweetly at the boss's wife: "I'd like it packed to go."
"Sure!"
Yu Na said thanks and inadvertently met Xiao Chen's startled gaze.
His mouth was slightly open, an expression clearly made in reaction to her.
"Did I order too much?" Yu Na was a little embarrassed.
"......" Xiao Chen thought: "You call that just a little too much?"
"Oh!" Yu Na tapped her forehead in frustration, "I forgot you're paying."
Xiao Chen: "......"
It's hard not to think you did that on purpose.
Yu Na added: "Or I'll pay, don't want to impose on you for so much."
Xiao Chen internally: "Who are you looking down on?"
He got up and casually threw out, "You think I can't afford this BBQ?"
Then he went to pay.
Xiao Chen paid the boss's wife in cash. Then he bought two bottles of orange soda from her as well.
He stood at the booth, waiting for the boss's wife to get his change. From the corner of his eye, he saw Yu Na sitting alone at a small table not far away waiting for him.
She wore a green halter dress, her hair tied in a casual low ponytail with a black hair tie, languidly draped over her right shoulder.
Her skin looked snow white, standing out conspicuously among the crowds, as if she alone carried a soft beauty filter.
She obediently sat on the chair, head lowered as she played on her phone, with no privacy screen protector.
He could vaguely see she was chatting on WeChat.
Completely unaware that many men around were sneaking peeks at her.
The boss's wife gave Xiao Chen an apologetic smile: "Wait a minute, young man. I don't have change here. Let me get it from next door for you."
"Sure."
Xiao Chen stood there waiting.
Just then, he saw a young man suddenly get up, somewhat hesitantly, and walk over to Yu Na.
The young man looked very young, probably a college student.
He took out his phone, opened WeChat, with a somewhat shy expression.
"Hello, can I add you on WeChat?"
Xiao Chen was standing not far away. He could hear the young man's words clearly.
Yu Na smiled politely at him. "Sorry, my boyfriend is over there settling the bill."
These words also went straight into Xiao Chen's ears, clear as a bell.
In a split second, his heart raced, somewhat out of control.
Xiao Chen felt several hot stares fall on him.
He simply turned his head the other way to avoid those gazes.
As luck would have it, the boss's wife came over with the changed money, an apologetic smile on her face. "Sorry to keep you waiting, young man."
"It's fine."
Returning to his seat, he handed her a bottle of orange soda without asking about what just happened.
He understood that Yu Na made up an excuse because she didn't want to be pestered.
But still, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Her BBQ was still grilling.
The two didn't know what to say to each other.
Yu Na also guessed he overheard her using him as a shield.
She secretly glanced at him. Xiao Chen kept his head lowered looking at his phone, showing no intention of speaking first.
Yu Na thought, was he unhappy about being used as a shield?
That shouldn't be.
Back in college, she had used Xiao Chen as a shield before too, to escape meetings arranged by her dad with business partners' sons.
Back then, he didn't mind one bit. On the contrary, he even spoke up for her.
Of course, it was also possible that was because at that time, they were very familiar with each other.
Moreover, he had always been the kind of person who would lend a hand whenever he saw someone in need of help.
But after Xiao Chen rejected her confession, and explicitly stated there was no possibility of them being together, they lost contact.
Meeting again this time was also pure coincidence.
Five years apart meant their relationship was obviously not as close as before.
So it was possible he was unhappy about being used as a shield this time.
Yu Na said softly: "Sorry about just now, taking advantage of you."
Xiao Chen was replying to a WeChat message, didn't even lift his head. "It's fine, I understand."
Just then, her BBQ was packed up, the three bags stuffed full.
"......"
She suddenly regretted why she ordered so much......no way she could finish all this.
Noticing her subtle change in expression, Xiao Chen's lips curved up slightly as he teased her: "Let's go, Ms. Big Appetite."
Yu Na: "......"
The two walked one in front of the other.
Xiao Chen asked: "Where do you live? Want me to give you a ride back?"
"If it's not too much trouble, then thanks."
"......" Xiao Chen reacted for two seconds. "Let's go."
A shiny sports car was parked at the roadside. Xiao Chen opened the car door.
Yu Na got into the passenger seat and voluntarily rolled down the window, saying: "Looks like you're doing quite well."
"Keeping a low profile." Xiao Chen asked: "Where do you live?"
"Jinyu Jiayuan."
Xiao Chen thought he misheard. "......What?"
Yu Na repeated, puzzled. "Jinyu Jiayuan. What's wrong? Don't you know the address?"
"I know it."
He did know the address. He would drive by that complex on his way home.
But Jinyu Jiayuan was just an ordinary old residential area with so-so environment, though not too far from campus.
For a born rich young miss like Yu Na, to live here?
What on earth happened to her?
Xiao Chen was completely puzzled as he drove her home, thinking about it the whole way.
Could it be her family business had......impossible.
Such a huge enterprise couldn't just collapse overnight. And he hadn't seen any related news reports.
Moreover, Yu Na didn't seem to have suffered any harm at all, not looking destitute like a fallen rich miss in the slightest.
On the contrary, in addition to her inborn confidence, there was an extra touch of happiness coming from her heart.
The car stopped outside Jinyu Jiayuan compound.
Xiao Chen still couldn't resist asking in the end: "You're......doing alright?"
"I'm doing fine." Feeling somehow compelled, Yu Na glanced outside the window. Guessing his intention in asking, she awkwardly explained, "I'm only staying here temporarily. I should be moving into the teacher's dorms early next year."
"Oh." Xiao Chen nodded in understanding, said no more, "Then go on back."
"......Mm." Yu Na was unsatisfied he was so quick to get rid of her. Unwilling to just leave like this, she asked about work: "You read the notice about evening self-study?"
"I did."
"Is Qiao Rui going?"
"He is."
"Okay."
Yu Na opened the car door to get out, thanking him again.
Xiao Chen only gave an indifferent hmm in response.
Her figure gradually disappeared from his view. Xiao Chen was in no hurry to leave. Having passed by here countless times, this was still his first time scrutinizing the complex.
The buildings were slightly yellowed. Laundry and quilts of various households hung outside sans restraint.
It couldn't be called shabby, but very ordinary and inconspicuous. The only slightly better part was probably the location, adjacent to a bus stop, with bustling crowds right outside the complex.
He couldn't imagine this was the complex Yu Na lived in.
To this day, he still remembered how stunned Yu Na's wealth had left the circle of overseas students back when they studied in the UK.
Her rich dad had specially purchased a luxury mansion for her over there. And servants, housekeepers, bodyguards were all arranged to attend her in the UK.
Just for fear his precious daughter wouldn't be able to adapt.
Xiao Chen leaned back against the seat back and heaved a long sigh.
After lingering here a while, he finally started the car and left, heading for S Hotel.