Heavensea City lay by the sea, and the air always carried a salty, damp scent.
Ziyang and Na'er parted ways with Leng Yaoyu at the Spirit Pagoda in the city center.
Leng Yaoyu said she was going to see an old friend. She tossed out a "Don't cause trouble" before leaving, clean and decisive, without even sparing them an extra glance.
The two walked along the main street for over ten minutes before stopping in front of a grayish-white building.
A wooden sign hung above the entrance, displaying its signature dish: salt-grilled bluefin tuna.
This was the restaurant Gu Yue had chosen.
Ziyang pushed open the wooden door, and a scent of sea salt mixed with charcoal smoke rushed over him.
The dining hall was not large. Around a dozen tables were covered in dark-blue tablecloths, while fishing nets and oars hung on the walls as decorations. Warm yellow lights cast down a soft glow, giving the entire space a languid atmosphere.
A window-side table stood empty, with a small Reserved sign on it. Ziyang glanced at it, then walked over and sat down.
Na'er followed behind him and took the seat across from him, her gaze beginning to wander around the hall.
Gu Yue had not arrived yet.
Several groups of diners were scattered throughout the hall. In one corner sat a family of three, their child poking at a fish tail on a plate with chopsticks. Two middle-aged men sat at the center table, drinking and talking in low voices. Near the entrance sat an elderly man dining alone, slowly sipping tea from a pot before him.
A waiter approached with a menu in hand and gave a slight bow. "Would you two like to order first?"
Ziyang shook his head. "We're waiting for someone."
"We'll order first."