The private room wasn't very large, but its décor was tasteful. As soon as Yin Xian walked in and glanced around, he subtly nodded in approval. Li Si noticed his expression and smiled softly. If Yin Xian, with his discerning eye, found the place satisfactory, it was likely to please anyone.
After taking their seats, everyone ordered the restaurant's signature dishes. While waiting for the food, they chatted casually. Yin Xian leaned close to Li Si and whispered, "Li Si, why did you leave in such a hurry that ti? Beibei even had bring him to your house to look for you a couple of tis afterward!"
Thinking of Beibei's adorable little face, Li Si smiled and said, "I was back at school once the sester started. When you have ti, let him know. I'll make sure to visit him when I get the chance!"
"You should say that to him in person. If he knows you're looking for him, that kid will be over-the-moon happy!" Yin Xian had seen firsthand just how fond Beibei was of Li Si.
"Really? I really like that kid too. After the New Year, when I have so free ti, I'll take a trip to Beijing!" Li Si was genuinely delighted. Being cared about and liked by soone—especially such an adorable little boy—was a wonderful feeling.
"Maybe you won't even need to go to see him," Yin Xian said with a mysterious smile. Earlier, while they were waiting for the others, he had called his sister Yin Qi and found out that their family was already on their way to North City.
"Seriously? Are they really coming to North City?" Li Si rembered Aunt Han had ntioned her hotown was North City, but considering her age and how far Beijing was from North City, it would be a hassle to make such a trip without a good reason.
Yin Xian nodded with a smile. Li Si, growing excited, asked, "When will they arrive? I've really been missing Beibei a lot."
"You'll probably see them tomorrow!"
"Haha, that's fantastic! My school starts winter break tomorrow, so I'll have plenty of ti to properly host Aunt Han and the others!" Li Si was already thinking about how to spend winter vacation—perhaps taking Beibei out to play.
"What about ? Isn't it important to host well while I'm here?" Yin Xian asked cheekily.
Li Si was startled; she hadn't expected him to say that. "You? Of course, I'll host you properly too! Isn't that what I'm doing now, treating you to dinner?"
Yin Xian laughed heartily. "But you're not only treating ! There are others here too!" For so reason, talking to Li Si always put him at ease and made him happy—he couldn't help but tease her.
Bai Shasha had been observing the two of them for quite a while but didn't participate in the conversation since she wasn't familiar with what they were talking about. Hearing this, she quickly added, "You can ignore the two of us. Just ignore."
Jia Yuejing chid in, "You two keep up the flirting banter; we're just air—air, right, Bai Sha?"
Bai Shasha, who hated being called Bai "Shark," shot him a glare and said indignantly, "You're still bold enough to tease others? Nobody calls Bai Shark, got it?"
Jia Yuejing froze for a second, realizing it was easier to call her that because of the pronunciation but quickly apologizing, "Sorry, Bai Shasha, it was a slip of the tongue, purely accidental. I'll punish myself with a drink!" He grabbed his tea and drained the cup in one go.
"Hahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter. Bai Shasha was always laidback, so she didn't take offense.
Just then, the waiter arrived with the dishes: signature Braised Pork with Potatoes, Lion's Head atballs, Spare Ribs with Green Beans, Stead Hairy Crab, Special Marinated Pork Bones, Pig Ear and Cucumber Salad, and a Russian Borscht.
The dishes were brought to the table one by one, wafting with mouthwatering aromas. The vibrant colors tempted everyone's appetite. Li Si and the others dug in with their chopsticks, their mouths brimming with complints.
The sound of clinking chopsticks and cheerful chatter filled the table. Bai Shasha, enjoying her food, exclaid in wonder, "This is so delicious! How does this restaurant make food like this?"
"Indeed, the flavor is incredible!" Jia Yuejing nodded in agreent. Though he and Yin Xian ca from affluent families and had tasted countless delicacies, the food here was so good they could almost lick the plates clean!
Yin Xian wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, still savoring the flavors, "If this restaurant opened a branch in Beijing, I'd definitely visit regularly."
Li Si watched the group, so now holding their stomachs, and chuckled. The food was undoubtedly top-notch. Yin Xian's suggestion of opening a Beijing branch sounded promising—perhaps sothing for the future.
Midway through dinner, a complintary fruit platter arrived. The serving of cantaloupe, waterlon, and apple prompted another round of admiration. Silently pleased, Li Si called over a waiter to settle the bill. She was surprised to learn the check had already been paid.
Li Si froze for a mont, wondering if Uncle Cui recognized her and decided to waive the cost. But upon further thought, that didn't seem right. Among them, only Yin Xian had left briefly to go to the restroom. Judging by his expression now, there was little doubt he had paid the bill!
"Brother Yin, why did you settle the bill? I said I would treat you! I wanted to host you properly!" Li Si couldn't help but feel a little put out, though she also felt awkward about it, as she'd genuinely ant her offer.
"I had to pay. Look, I'm a man—how could I let a lady foot the bill? Besides, it's just dinner, not a big deal. We're close, so don't sweat it!"
"Exactly, Li Si, don't feel bad about it. Brother Yin has plenty of money—if he doesn't spend it, who will? So, where should we head next?" Jia Yuejing said, shrugging it off easily. To him, it really wasn't a big issue.
Li Si thought for a mont. "How about we go sing karaoke?" She figured if dinner had been paid for, she ought to cover sothing else—otherwise, she'd keep feeling uncomfortable.
"Sounds great!" Everyone nodded in agreent. They left Uncle Bo's Ho Cooking and headed straight to Happy Dee Karaoke Lounge.
At Happy Dee Karaoke Lounge, Li Si and the group picked a mid-sized private room. After sitting down, Yin Xian and Li Si moved to the touchscreen song-selection station. Yin Xian's gaze lingered on the young woman before him. Under the dim light, her fair skin seed to glow even more. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she focused on the screen, sparking a sudden urge within him to reach out and touch them. Dressed now in just a white crew-neck T-shirt and snug white pants, having removed her down jacket, she looked especially striking.
Bai Shasha and Jia Yuejing sat together on a sofa, each holding a Budweiser, chatting idly. From beyond the private room, faint echoes of male or female singing drifted in.
"What song do you want to pick?" Yin Xian asked, leaning slightly closer to Li Si. The faint fruity scent emanating from her made his head swim.
Li Si felt the warmth near her left ear and blushed faintly. Fortunately, the room was dim, making it hard for others to see. "Let scroll through first; I can't rember the lyrics to anything—it's been so long since I've sung!"
Yin Xian chuckled, watching her subtly shift away with a shy deanor. He sensed her slight unease, which ignited a warm flutter in his chest. "Then I'll pick one first, while you take your ti browsing, alright?"
Li Si nodded softly. Yin Xian selected a song on the touchscreen—Tao Zhe's "A Townie Girl." As the music started playing, Yin Xian picked up the microphone and began singing, his deep, resonant voice captivating Li Si to the point where goosebumps rose on her skin.
"Still rember years ago holding your hand
You'd shyly refuse to look up"
"Only staring blankly at the stars above
You were always so pure"
"Knew you received the acceptance letter"
"My heart turned chaotic then"
"Was I happy for you or sad for myself?"
"Just had to let you go"
"Don't understand, don't understand why I couldn't let go"
"Couldn't bear this love"
"You'll never fully understand your place in my heart"
"I understand, I understand you'll forever be in my thoughts"
"Maybe one day you'll reminisce
But by then, I won't..."
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