"Don’t be so quick to turn down, Junior Ling Ning. The place I’m talking about is the newly opened beef hot pot restaurant~ You really don’t want to give it a try?" Zhao Rui’s tone was laced with temptation.
Hearing this, Ling Ning narrowed her eyes, briefly recalling the restaurant Zhao Rui ntioned. After a mont, her eyes widened in surprise. "You an the one with lines out the door every day? Isn’t it always packed?"
"That’s the one~ I had to negotiate with the owner to reserve a spot for lunch. Otherwise, I wouldn’t bother waiting in those endless lines either," Zhao Rui said with a light chuckle.
"I see..."
Ling Ning blinked. She had been wanting to try that restaurant for a while. Ever since it opened, there were rumors of queues stretching into the night, with people lining up as early as six o’clock to finally get in by nine. The beef hot pot there was said to be phenonal and surprisingly affordable!
A classmate who had managed to eat there once had highly recomnded it to her.
Ling Ning loved beef, but she didn’t have the patience to stand in line for hours, especially in this freezing weather. Hearing Zhao Rui’s invitation now was rather tempting.
But agreeing would an dealing with Zhao Rui’s endless questions, wouldn’t it? Ling Ning found herself torn.
"They’re running a promotion now," Zhao Rui added casually. "Every diner gets a chance to win a prize. The grand prize is a mbership card—no queues, discounts every visit."
"I’m in!"
If she could snag that mbership card, she could bring her daughter to enjoy the hot pot without any hassle. It was a dream co true.
"Then it’s settled. We’ll et downstairs after class. Don’t be late~"
With that, Zhao Rui turned gracefully and walked off, leaving Ling Ning standing there, staring at her retreating figure. She let out a long sigh. Sohow, she always found herself outmaneuvered by Zhao Rui.
Why did it always end up like this? Well... never mind. Since she’d already agreed, and it was just a free lunch, what harm could it do?
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a ssage from Xia You, asking why she hadn’t returned to class yet.
Ling Ning froze. Realizing she’d completely forgotten about class while chatting with Zhao Rui, she bolted toward the classroom as though her life depended on it. And it did—this was Bai Jie’s lecture, and skipping wasn’t an option!
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"Junior Ling Ning, over here~"
Hearing Zhao Rui’s voice, Ling Ning looked around and spotted her in a corner. That familiar faint smile hadn’t changed since the day they t. It felt like a mask, always the sa.
"Senior."
"Such punctuality, Junior Ling Ning. You ca straight after class, didn’t you?"
"Yeah..."
Ling Ning’s indifferent response didn’t faze Zhao Rui, who chuckled lightly before heading toward the exit.
Seeing Zhao Rui’s back, Ling Ning frowned. What exactly was the purpose of this lunch? It piqued her curiosity.
Though she was curious, Zhao Rui didn’t seem inclined to explain. Instead, she engaged Ling Ning in casual small talk about winter skincare routines. Ling Ning replied half-heartedly as they walked.
Before long, they arrived at the hot pot restaurant Zhao Rui had ntioned. As expected, the entrance was crowded with people waiting in line. If she had to wait, Ling Ning figured she’d still be there by the ti her next class started.
Zhao Rui spoke briefly with the staff at the door before signaling Ling Ning to follow her inside. The aroma of hot pot greeted them imdiately. Glancing around, Ling Ning saw that every table was full. The phrase "packed to the brim" ca to mind.
They were led to a private room. Blinking in surprise, Ling Ning realized Zhao Rui must have connections with the owner. She had assud they’d be sitting in the main dining area, not in a private room. Sharing such a large space with just one other person felt oddly wasteful.
As Ling Ning’s thoughts wandered, Zhao Rui handed her the nu with a smile. "Take a look and order whatever you like~"
"N-no need. Senior, you can order."
Zhao Rui smiled faintly and began ordering with practiced ease. Watching her, Ling Ning couldn’t help but feel that this wasn’t Zhao Rui’s first ti at this restaurant.
As if reading her thoughts, Zhao Rui explained softly, "It’s a chain. There’s one near my ho that I visit often, so I’m pretty familiar with the nu."
"Ah, I see."
"By the way, would you like so alcohol, Junior Ling Ning?"
"No, thank you."
"Alright, then~"
After finishing her order, Zhao Rui turned her gaze back to Ling Ning, as if studying her. The intensity of her stare made Ling Ning uncomfortable—it felt far too invasive. If a man looked at a woman like that, he’d undoubtedly be labeled a creep.
Just as Ling Ning was about to speak, Zhao Rui beat her to it. "It’s warm inside. You can take off your coat, Junior Ling Ning. Otherwise, you might get too hot later~"
"Alright."
Once Zhao Rui averted her gaze, Ling Ning let out a small sigh of relief. She removed her scarf and coat, adjusted her posture, and asked, "Senior, may I ask why you invited out? I doubt it’s just for lunch."
"Of course, it’s just lunch! What else would it be? You act like you’re afraid I’m going to eat you up," Zhao Rui teased, sticking out her tongue and licking her lips playfully. Even her smile turned seductive.
Avoiding her gaze, Ling Ning muttered, "Senior, you must be joking."
"Alright, alright. I’ll stop teasing. Truthfully, I do have sothing I’d like to discuss with you~"
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Author’s Note:
Today, this salted fish finally completed my magic battle set, though it’s useless. I heard Hood’s swimsuit is coming out soon... slip~
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