Feelings!

Tang Wulin glanced around the simple little restaurant, raising his brows in mild surprise. "I really didn't expect Young Master Xie to visit a roadside hole-in-the-wall like this."

Xie Xie's steps paused slightly, and his voice unconsciously softened. "My mom... used to love the Braised Beef Can here."

His fingers gently brushed over the somewhat worn wooden table. "Every so often, I come here and sit for a while."

With that, he walked straight to the window table at the very back and sat down with practiced ease.

Tang Wulin froze for a moment, then quickly followed and sat beside Xie Xie.

Fang Yang led Gu Yue by her Slender Jade Hand and followed after them, taking seats across from the two.

Gu Yue keenly noticed that Xie Xie had chosen a spot where he could see the Pedestrians passing along the Streets through the window, yet still maintain just the right sense of distance.

"Well, if it isn't Little Xie! You even brought so many friends. The usual?"

A middle-aged owner wearing a grease-stained apron hurried over, Wiped his rough hands on his apron, and smiled warmly.

"Mm, thank you for the trouble, Uncle Li."

Xie Xie looked up, revealing a gentle smile that Fang Yang and the others had never seen before.

Before long, four steaming portions of Braised Beef Can, translucent white rice, and two small dishes of sides were placed on the table.

The rich aroma of beef immediately filled the cramped space.

"Little Xie, this is the first time you've brought friends here."

Uncle Li's rough hand gently rubbed Xie Xie's head, his eyes full of affection. "These two side dishes are Uncle Li's treat."

"Thank you, Uncle Li!"

Xie Xie nodded to Uncle Li again. What surprised Fang Yang and Tang Wulin was that Xie Xie, who was usually so obsessed with cleanliness that he almost had a germaphobia, did not dodge Uncle Li's slightly greasy hand.

The way Xie Xie acted completely overturned Fang Yang's understanding of him.

"This..."

Tang Wulin was too surprised to speak.

After Uncle Li turned and left, Xie Xie hurriedly said, "What are you waiting for? Eat."

As he spoke, he had already lifted the lid of the clay pot before him. A rich beef aroma immediately wafted out. The broth was a dark golden color, with chunks of diced beef visible within.

Xie Xie touched the beef with his Chopsticks, and it immediately fell apart from tenderness.

He picked up a piece of beef coated in broth and placed it over his white rice, his movements so practiced that it was as though he had repeated them thousands of times.

Tang Wulin eagerly copied Xie Xie and took a bite. His eyes immediately lit up.

Fang Yang could not help praising it after swallowing a piece of beef. "This is way too delicious!"

The rich fragrance of the beef blended perfectly with the savory freshness of the broth. Balanced by the white rice, it burst across the tongue with an intoxicating flavor.

Gu Yue tasted it in small bites, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes.

Seeing that, Fang Yang immediately transferred the beef from his bowl into hers.

"Aren't you eating?" Gu Yue tilted her head slightly, a strand of black hair slipping from her shoulder.

Fang Yang smiled gently. "If you like it, then eat more."

The moment he finished speaking, Xie Xie suddenly felt as though the food in his bowl had inexplicably lost some of its flavor.

A faint blush spread across Gu Yue's fair cheeks.

She picked up a piece of beef and held it to Fang Yang's lips. "You... you should eat too."

Fang Yang was briefly stunned, then opened his mouth without hesitation and took it, his lips accidentally brushing the tips of the Chopsticks.

That tiny contact instantly turned the tips of Gu Yue's ears crimson.

She withdrew her Chopsticks and, pretending to remain calm, picked up another piece of beef and put it into her own mouth.

Xie Xie and Tang Wulin watched from the side, dumbfounded.

Tang Wulin thought to himself, I've learned it. I need to remember this move and try it on Senior Sister later.

Xie Xie truly could not take it anymore. If he kept watching Fang Yang and Gu Yue flaunt their affection like this, he would be full from all the dog food alone.

He raised his voice. "Uncle Li, four more servings, please!"

"Coming right up!" Uncle Li's voice rang out from the kitchen.

It was just such a small restaurant. Beneath the dim yellow lights, with its worn-out tables and chairs, the four of them sat around one table.

Though the surroundings were simple, the food was astonishingly good.

Beef, rich soup, side dishes, white rice—everything warmed them from the inside out, making this ordinary night seem especially precious.

Three months of Special Training had already forged a deep friendship among the four of them.

"Thank you."

Fang Yang suddenly spoke softly.

Xie Xie looked up, the loose strands of hair over his forehead swaying lightly with the motion. A hint of Confused flashed through his eyes. "Fang Yang, what are you doing?"

"I wasn't calling your name. I was thanking you for bringing us to such a special place." Fang Yang shook his head helplessly and Explained.

Xie Xie suddenly gave a bitter smile. His eyes reddened slightly, and his voice grew low. "My mom gave me my name... She said she chose the character 'Xie' to commemorate her encounter with my dad. That was the happiest moment of her life..."

"But..."

At that point, his voice abruptly cut off.

Xie Xie's face suddenly turned a little pale, and the hand gripping his Chopsticks visibly tightened.

"Your mom, she..." Fang Yang's heart clenched, but he did not know how to continue.

Xie Xie pressed his lips together. "Dad was always busy with one thing or another. Even when Mom was gravely ill, he was still running around outside."

His voice grew quieter and quieter. "Before Mom passed away, her final wish was to see him one last time. But he... still came back too late."

A tear splashed onto the table. Xie Xie's voice was choked with suppressed sobs. "I'll never forget that night... Mom let go of my hand with tears in her eyes, her gaze full of regret."

His shoulders began to shake uncontrollably. "I hate him! I hate this name of mine too! If it hadn't been for that encounter, Mom might not have..."

At that, Xie Xie suddenly collapsed onto the table and began to cry.

This boy, normally so cold and proud, had finally shed all his disguises for the first time since coming here and bared his heart to his friends.

Just then, Uncle Li walked over carrying a steaming Braised Beef Can.

Uncle Li looked at the sobbing Xie Xie and sighed. "This child is really pitiful... His mom used to love bringing him here."

He gently set down the Braised Beef Can, his voice full of heartache. "Ever since his mom left, he's always come here alone. Every time he comes, he thinks of his mom... Don't blame him!"

Uncle Li Wiped his hands on his apron, kindness shining in his eyes. "Seeing him bring friends here today makes me happy from the bottom of my heart. He's still so young, but he carries far too much in his heart... Please help him more. Ah, what a tragedy!"

"Don't cry. Everything will get better."

Fang Yang and Tang Wulin gently patted Xie Xie's shoulders from either side, comforting him.

Gu Yue stood quietly to one side, a trace of complicated emotion flashing through her usually cool eyes.

"Is this... human emotion?"

After being Silent for a Moment, Gu Yue pulled out a tissue and held it out to Xie Xie.

"Xie Xie, stop crying. I'll make Fang Yang treat us."