The Destination of the Run Was the Barbecue Stall

"I can't take it anymore..."

Hua Xin was breathing heavily. Although she had tied her hair into a ponytail, the hair that was wet with sweat was still sticking to her face.

The only downside to having long hair is that, although it looks great, it can be a bit of a hindrance in everything you do, including when you're doing that.

"Just hang in there a little longer and you can rest. It's only been about a kilometer."

After glancing at the data displayed on his wristwatch, Xia Yan turned around with a helpless look and said this to Hua Xin, who was lying on the verge of death behind him.

Hua Xin seemed to have truly reached her physical limit, her hands resting on her knees as she panted and spoke intermittently:

"One kilometer is fine... isn't the sports meet just 800 meters...?"

"That's enough, that's enough... I need to rest!!"

"..."

Seeing that Hua Xin was already crying and saying she couldn't take it anymore and wanted to give up, Xia Yan silently lowered his arm, allowing the panting Hua Xin to see the numbers on it.

It took them almost ten minutes to complete the one-kilometer journey.

Hua Xin wanted to say something more, but faced with these cold, hard numbers, she seemed to have no room for argument.

At this rate, let alone defeating Lin Qingyu who trains regularly, I'd be lucky if I didn't come in last place.

I shouldn't have impulsively decided to sign up; it's just a coincidence that Mu Feng brought it up...

Well.

Damn this competitive mentality.

However, if we're only considering the level of participation, it doesn't seem like much...

But how could it be nothing?!

The reason is that Lin Qingyu is going to participate, so I signed up as well, and that's why I'm only now starting to exercise. If I slack off, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting defeat?

A resolute glint flashed in Hua Xin's eyes. Her previously exhausted body inexplicably surged with strength. She straightened up, took two steps forward, grabbed Xia Yan's hand, and said, quite unusually:

"Walk!!"

A hint of relief flashed in Xia Yan's eyes. He gently wiped the sweat from the girl's nose and then followed behind her...

Left or right?

Ten minutes later, at the roadside barbecue stall.

The most popular nighttime dining option in summer is probably the combination of barbecue and beer, which remains a timeless favorite during the hot Xia Ji months.

At this time of year, few people eat barbecue inside the restaurant, even if there are fans and air conditioning. The outdoor environment seems to make people feel more relaxed and comfortable.

After all, there was still night and a cool evening breeze.

Earlier, while she was jogging, Hua Xin noticed an unusually noisy atmosphere and the aroma of barbecued meat filling the air. After turning left and right and searching around, she found a small alleyway filled with barbecue stalls.

"Boss, one order of garlic crayfish and one order of Thirteen Spices Crayfish... oh no, both orders of Thirteen Spices Crayfish!"

"And then another twenty skewers of Fatty and Lean Skewers meat, and twenty skewers of lamb!!"

"Want to have a drink? I'm off tomorrow..." Hua Xin flipped the menu over and looked up to see Xia Yan sitting opposite her, who had already opened two bottles of Coca-Cola.

"I'll just drink Coke. If I drink alcohol, I'll just sleep until noon tomorrow."

Xia Yan handed the Coca-Cola to Hua Xin with a hint of helplessness, then nodded with a slight smile to the man beside him and said gently, "Thank you, Brother Liang. Also, please add five skewers of grilled chives and two kidneys. Thank you."

That's all for now.

"Okay."

After repeating the number of dishes the two ordered, the easygoing man wearing a hair-binding hat tore off the note he had written down and headed towards the kitchen.

However, just as he was about to turn around, the man called Brother Liang gave Xia Yan a thumbs up where Hua Xin couldn't see, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Xia Yan touched his hair somewhat awkwardly, but still had a slight smile on his face.

"What's wrong? What happened? You two know each other?"

Hua Xin had just finished jumping rope at home to burn fat and then going for a run outside, all of which were exhausting activities. She downed half a bottle of cola in one go. Afterward, she looked at Xia Yan's actions with some suspicion, while also keenly noticing the way Xia Yan had addressed the man earlier.

Xia Yan withdrew his gaze and then patiently explained:

"When I finished the college entrance exam, I wanted to try out a part-time job. At that time, I hadn't found the computer assembly job I have now, but apart from Milk Tea Shop, there weren't many places that needed short-term workers. If all else failed, I would have to work in a factory..."

"I worked at Brother Liang's barbecue restaurant for three months, and I even had a meal with Mu Feng and the others when university was about to start."

"He's a very nice person, and he pays a high salary."

"I see..."

Seeing Xia Yan's somewhat reminiscing expression, Hua Xin picked up the glass bottle on the table and gently touched it to the one in front of Xia Yan, as if they were clinking wine glasses. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she said:

"No wonder you chose this restaurant on this street..."

"Didn't you pull me in?" Xia Yan leaned forward and then rubbed Hua Xin's face repeatedly with his hands.

"..."

Although she really wanted to yell something like "Stop rubbing me, it's annoying!", she wasn't actually wearing makeup and didn't dislike it, so she didn't interrupt Xia Yan's actions for the time being.

However, Hua Xin felt that it was better to massage the areas that needed massaging when she got home. What's the big deal about massaging her face?

"But... sigh."

Xia Yan sighed and said calmly:

"I didn't expect that someone would give up after running a kilometer in just over ten minutes. I really don't know how I'm going to compete with that other person in the future."

Although there was no sarcastic tone, the meaning was self-evident.

"... Do you know that a moment of high-intensity exercise can cause rhabdomyolysis?"

"The sports meet is still a month away, which is plenty of time for me to showcase my talent."

Hua Xin snorted coldly, then somewhat displeasedly slapped away Xia Yan's wicked hand that was reaching for her leg under the table.

"Yes, yes, yes..."

"My wife's talent is such that she could surpass Bolt after just one month of practice."

"Speaking of which..." Hua Xin suddenly said, stopping Xia Yan from complaining.

"Um?"

Are you tired?

Hua Xin looked at him with a hint of hesitation, as if she were asking Xia Yan, who was working at a barbecue restaurant to earn a living back then, or as if she were asking Xia Yan, who was now working hard to make a living.

Xia Yan paused for a moment, then chuckled and said:

"If it were in bed, it shouldn't be tiring, since someone's stamina is terrible, they'd beg for mercy in no time."

"?"

A genuine look of shame and anger appeared on Hua Xin's face, her eyes seemingly filled with the emotion of "Try saying that again," as she lowered her voice and gritted her teeth, saying:

"That's what you meant when you ordered grilled chives and kidneys, right, Xia Yan! I've finally seen through the wolfish ambition hidden beneath your innocent, recent college graduate exterior!"

"Then tonight..." Xia Yan coughed softly.

He quietly placed his hand in Hua Xin's hand.

"No way!?"