The spicy aroma of hot pot drifted through the restaurant, and bubbles rose in the red chili broth, enough to make anyone's mouth water.
All around them, the place bustled with noise and activity.
Bai Lian, dressed in his staff uniform, still stood in front of Jiang Xun. He lowered his gaze to meet those lively, expressive eyes and pressed his lips together in silence for a long moment before asking, "Then how should I add you?"
For a moment, Jiang Xun genuinely had no answer.
He picked up a plate of sliced beef and tipped it into the pot, then continued adding other ingredients, leaving Bai Lian standing there.
A dozen seconds later, the beef was cooked. He fished it out and put it straight into Lin Jian's bowl. "Don't be shy. Eat up."
"Thanks." Lin Jian dipped the meat in sauce and ate, quietly observing Jiang Xun and Bai Lian, who was a stranger to him.
Even when ignored, Bai Lian's handsome, youthful face betrayed little emotion. He stood there like a wooden post.
Jiang Xun scooped more meat into his own bowl and dipped it in sauce. Without looking up, he said, "First, tell me why you want to add me on WeChat."
Bai Lian kept it brief. "To pay you back."
Jiang Xun's hand paused. No wonder he had accepted the money so readily last time. He had never intended to take it for free.
Jiang Xun didn't want anything to do with any of the main characters in this lousy novel. He avoided contact whenever he could.
He stuffed the meat into his mouth and looked up, meeting Bai Lian's dark, stubborn eyes. Then Bai Lian held his QR code out in front of him again.
This damn kid really was persistent.
Jiang Xun swallowed