Chen Lin and Song Qiuya walked along the brightly lit pedestrian street at Yida Plaza.
Half a step separated them, and neither spoke.
Chen Lin glanced at the icy beauty beside him, her commanding presence as strong as ever, and broke the silence.
"Manager Song, I almost didn't recognize you."
His voice held a smile as his gaze settled on her long black dress.
"That outfit... looks much better than the 'battle armor' you wear at the store."
His good-natured teasing was like a pebble dropped into a still lake, instantly breaking the invisible barrier between them.
Song Qiuya's steps faltered almost imperceptibly.
Without her even realizing it, the lines of her cool face, usually fixed in a professional expression, softened considerably.
"Even generals need to take off their armor and rest."
Her voice remained quiet, but it no longer carried that distant, strictly business tone.
"Today, I'm off duty."
They chatted casually, drifting from Yicheng's weather to the new bubble tea shop in the plaza.
Chen Lin discovered that Song Qiuya wasn't truly cold.
She was simply used to protecting herself behind a wall of professionalism.
Once she let her guard down, she was actually a very good listener. She didn't say much, but every comment hit the mark.
Without either of them noticing, the distance between them narrowed.
Just then, a little girl with pigtails darted out from the side. Carrying a large armful of roses wrapped in plain cellophane, she stopped in front of them.
"Buy a flower for the pretty lady!"
The little girl tilted her face up, her voice bright and clear, her big eyes blinking eagerly.
Chen Lin looked down at the girl, then turned toward Song Qiuya, who was clearly a little flustered.
He smiled.
"How much are the flowers, little girl?"
"Ten yuan each, or six for fifty!"
"All right, I'll take everything you've got."
Chen Lin pulled out his phone without hesitation.
The little girl froze. It usually took her an entire evening to sell the dozen or so roses in her arms.
Scarcely able to believe it, she asked, "You... you want all of them?"
"Yes, all of them."
Chen Lin scanned her payment code and paid, then took the heavy armful of roses from the delighted little girl.
He turned around.
Under Song Qiuya's astonished gaze, he held the entire bouquet out to her.
"Here, these are for you."
His tone was casual, as though he were merely handing her a bottle of water.
"Consider it... an early thank-you for treating me to dinner."
Song Qiuya stood rooted to the spot.
Her brain had crashed.
It wasn't as though no one had ever given her flowers before.
Her suitors had always sent expensive, meticulously wrapped bouquets, complete with cards full of sickeningly sweet declarations. Their intentions had been so blatant that all she wanted to do was frown.
Yet this armful of roses, damp with the night's dew, with soil still clinging to a few leaves, left her utterly at a loss.
He wasn't trying to pursue her.
He had simply responded to a little girl selling flowers with a spontaneous act of kindness, then casually passed that kindness on to her.
Precisely because there was no ulterior motive, the gesture was like a burning stone dropped straight into the long-frozen lake of her heart, sending hot ripples across it.
"I..."
Song Qiuya parted her lips, only to find that she couldn't get a single word out.
Heat rose uncontrollably from her neck to her ears, and she could distinctly feel her cheeks burning.
Flustered, she reached out and took the flowers with a slightly awkward movement.
Her helpless confusion made her seem like an entirely different person from the decisive, commanding store manager she usually was.
Holding that enormous bouquet, with the rich fragrance of roses filling her nose, Song Qiuya instinctively lowered her head. For a moment, she didn't dare look at Chen Lin's face.
Only after a long while did she finally calm her racing heart and recover a trace of "Manager Song's" composure.
They arrived at the underground parking garage.
When Song Qiuya saw Chen Lin heading toward a brand-new Qin Plus with temporary plates, she froze again.
This car... was his?
She had personally watched 4.35 million yuan land in his bank account.
Shouldn't a twenty-four-year-old who suddenly had several million in cash go out and buy a Porsche or an AMG?
Instead, he had bought a Chinese-made electric car that cost less than a hundred thousand yuan?
This man was different from everyone she had ever met.
"What's wrong?" Chen Lin opened the car door and asked in puzzlement when he saw her still standing there.
"Nothing." Song Qiuya shook her head and got into the passenger seat with the flowers in her arms. "I was just thinking you're quite an interesting person."
Chen Lin started the car and smiled. "Really? Tell me more."
"I can't quite put it into words. You're like a mystery."
Song Qiuya said little for the rest of the drive.
But her gaze kept drifting involuntarily toward Chen Lin in the driver's seat.
She watched his profile as he concentrated on driving and his long fingers wrapped around the steering wheel, filled with a curiosity unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Her staring made Chen Lin a little uncomfortable.
Lady, keep looking and I'll have to start charging.
Following Song Qiuya's directions, the Qin Plus rolled smoothly onto the Cross-River Bridge, heading toward an isolated island in its center.
There stood Peach Blossom Island, one of Yicheng's most prestigious restaurants.
As the car passed through the Manor's gates, the sight before Chen Lin gave him a small shock.
This was no mere restaurant. It was a sprawling modern Manor.
The carefully trimmed lawns, artfully arranged gardens, and brilliantly illuminated modern building in the distance, with its striking architectural design, all proclaimed one thing-expensive.
The Manor's parking lot was already packed with luxury cars of every kind.
Chen Lin marveled inwardly.
If only my Farmhouse Courtyard could reach this scale someday...
Song Qiuya also looked surprised at the parking lot, where finding a space seemed nearly impossible.
"That's strange. I come here often, but I've never seen them this busy."
"It isn't even the weekend. Why are there so many people?"
They drove around the lot and finally managed to find an empty space in a corner.
After parking, they walked side by side toward the restaurant lobby.
A sharp-eyed lobby manager in a suit, standing straight and tall, spotted Song Qiuya immediately and hurried over with a broad smile.
"Manager Song! What a rare pleasure! Welcome, welcome!"
After exchanging pleasantries, Song Qiuya asked curiously, "Manager Li, is there some event today? Why is it so busy?"
Manager Li's smile grew even brighter, carrying a hint of mystery and pride.
"Manager Song, you've come at just the right time! We launched some brand-new specialty dishes today, using premium ingredients sourced through an exclusive supplier! As soon as word got out, our regulars went wild. They've all rushed over to try them!"
As he spoke, he gestured for them to follow and personally led the way.
"Come with me, both of you. I've saved you a quieter spot."
Following behind, Chen Lin began to wonder as well.
What kind of specialty dishes could draw this much attention?
Manager Li led them to a private room at the end of a corridor and opened the door.
It was a tiny room with tasteful decor and intimate lighting. A square table just large enough for two stood in the center, while the window looked out onto a carefully tended bamboo grove at night.
This atmosphere...
Chen Lin glanced at Song Qiuya and saw a trace of awkwardness return to her lovely face, which had only just regained its normal color.
Well, now. A couples' private room.
They sat down somewhat awkwardly. After handing them the menu, Manager Li tactfully withdrew.
Song Qiuya passed the menu to Chen Lin.
Chen Lin waved it away and leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"You order. You're a regular, and I trust your taste."
That simple expression of trust instantly dispelled Song Qiuya's lingering unease, and a faint smile blossomed on her lips.
She opened the beautifully designed menu, her gaze falling on the "Today's specialties" page.
The next second.
Her smile froze.
Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, and her slender fingers unconsciously tightened around the menu.
On the recommendations page were the following dishes.
Braised bream: 1,888 yuan per serving.
Braised crucian carp: 1,888 yuan per serving.
Steamed Sharp-Snout Fish: 2,688 yuan per serving.
Poached fish slices: 3,888 yuan per serving.
Song Qiuya felt as though her entire worldview had been violently shaken.
Had the Peach Blossom Island Restaurant lost its mind?
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