Chapter Twelve: Surprise

Yan Xuan quickly answered the call. "Hello, Bai Jing?"

"Yan... Yan Xuan, where are you right now?" Bai Jing’s voice was cautious on the other end.

"Me? Do you need something? I’m shopping at Xincheng Mall."

"It really is you?" Bai Jing exclaimed in surprise.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Yan Xuan glanced around and happened to lock eyes with Bai Jing through the window.

He immediately waved at her and spoke into the phone, "Bai Jing, come in! I’ll treat you to lunch."

Bai Jing entered the restaurant, accompanied by another young woman who seemed about her age, but clearly much more lively and spirited.

"Yan Xuan..." Bai Jing sat across from him without reservation, still seeming a little in disbelief. Was this really the same Yan Xuan who had been so disheveled yesterday? So handsome, so elegant—he looked like a noble young man stepped right out of a drama.

"Sit down! Listen, today’s my treat. Order whatever you like, don’t be shy," Yan Xuan said with a warm laugh.

He had felt a bit regretful coming out alone today with no one to celebrate with, but running into Bai Jing was truly fate.

"Jingjing, is this your friend?" the girl beside Bai Jing smiled and greeted Yan Xuan first. "Hello, I’m Qi Meijia."

"Hello. I’ve known Bai Jing for several years—we were university classmates," Yan Xuan replied with a smile. "My name’s Yan Xuan."

"Yan Xuan?" Qi Meijia’s beautiful eyes widened, then she suddenly turned to Bai Jing. "Wow, Jingjing, you never told me Yan Xuan was so handsome!"

"Hmm?" Yan Xuan was taken aback.

What? Did Bai Jing chat about him with her friends in private? Ah, it must have been all those embarrassing stories of his.

"Meijia, what are you talking about?" Bai Jing’s face flushed bright red.

"What’s the big deal? Didn’t he just break up with his girlfriend?" Meijia mumbled, though Yan Xuan didn’t catch it.

"Stop it!" Bai Jing, cheeks burning, protested. "Are you here to eat or not?"

"Of course I am! If a handsome guy’s treating, how could I say no? Even if I had to treat him, I’d be happy. He’s a feast for the eyes—just looking at his face is enough for me," Qi Meijia said, utterly enchanted.

Yan Xuan was dumbfounded. This was the first time he’d met such a lively and candid girl. Bai Jing, helpless beside him, covered her face. "Yan Xuan, sorry about her, she’s always like this..."

"Ah, it’s fine. I like it," Yan Xuan laughed heartily.

There was nothing wrong with a girl being cheerful and outgoing; it was certainly more charming than someone like Liu Peina, who was always sarcastic and moody.

"Exactly," Qi Meijia picked up the menu. "So, handsome guy, what’s the limit?"

Yan Xuan paused, then understood her meaning and shook his head with a smile. "I’m treating Bai Jing today. You can order everything on the menu if you wish."

"So generous!" Qi Meijia stuck out her tongue. "Well, I won’t hold back then."

Yet, in the end, she only ordered one dish and insisted Bai Jing order another.

Yan Xuan couldn’t help but smile. She talked a big game, but between the two of them, they’d barely ordered a hundred yuan’s worth.

If it had been someone like Liu Peina, she’d probably have started at the first page and kept going.

Since they were being so modest, Yan Xuan felt he couldn’t be stingy either. Otherwise, he’d have to apologize to the tens of thousands of yuan’s worth of clothes he was wearing, not to mention the twelve-hundred-yuan haircut.

This restaurant specialized in Hunan cuisine. Yan Xuan ordered their signature double pepper fish head, which alone was nearly two hundred yuan. Seeing that he was about to order more, Bai Jing quickly stopped him.

"Yan Xuan, these three dishes are enough!"

"Bai Jing, I wanted to celebrate with you today as well as treat you. Don’t worry, I can afford it."

Bai Jing awkwardly withdrew her hand, but her brow furrowed. In her eyes, Yan Xuan’s sudden change in demeanor might have been caused by his breakup with Zhou Man.

In the end, Yan Xuan listened to Bai Jing and only ordered two more, so they had four dishes in total.

It was a hot day, and no one felt like having soup, so Yan Xuan ordered a jug of freshly squeezed sweet corn juice.

The dishes came one after another. It had to be said, this restaurant’s high prices were justified—not only was the food delicious, but the portions were generous too.

By the end, not only Yan Xuan, but even the two girls were stuffed.

The restaurant even gave them three complimentary desserts, which they simply had packed to go, unable to eat another bite.

"Thank you, Yan Xuan. Sorry for making you spend so much. I’ll treat you next time," Bai Jing said, biting her lip as if she’d made up her mind.

"No need to be so formal. We’ve always been close. There will be plenty of chances in the future," Yan Xuan waved it off. "I hope that even without others around, we’ll still be friends."

"Of course!" Bai Jing replied without hesitation.

"Alright, are you two going to keep shopping? I’ll need to head back," Yan Xuan said with a wry smile, lifting his arm. The shopping bags were not light.

"Okay, we’ll part ways here then," Bai Jing said, a little reluctant, but she didn’t say more.

"Wow, is that Blue Flame?" Qi Meijia exclaimed, her expression toward Yan Xuan changing instantly.

"What?" Bai Jing turned to her friend.

"This Yan Xuan of yours isn’t ordinary," Qi Meijia said seriously. "Your pretentious bestie probably got played!"

"What do you mean?"

"Blue Flame—Blue Flame! That niche but super expensive menswear brand. Every set starts at this number," Qi Meijia gestured with her fingers.

"Over three thousand?" Bai Jing was stunned.

"Three thousand? Try thirty thousand! That’s for the cheapest set—some cost seventy or eighty thousand," Qi Meijia sighed. "Good looks and money. Jingjing, you’ve got some competition."

"Over thirty thousand... Meijia, maybe you’re mistaken. Yan Xuan’s family doesn’t have much money." Bai Jing didn’t believe it at first, but her friend’s words made her expression darken. "Honestly, I never really had much hope."

"Don’t say that. He seems to treat you well. Before becoming a couple, you have to be friends first," Qi Meijia said firmly. "Besides, could you really give up such a high-quality man?"

"I... I can’t," Bai Jing’s eyes sparkled.

If she didn’t truly like Yan Xuan, she wouldn’t have spent all these years as Zhou Man’s best friend.

She and Zhou Man weren’t as close as Yan Xuan thought, not really. In fact, Zhou Man and Liu Peina, even though they only met after starting work, got along much better. She and Yan Xuan often felt like outsiders, just listening in.

"Sis, go for it! You can do it. Chasing a man is as easy as breaking through a thin veil. If Yan Xuan really is as steady and driven as you say, he’ll definitely see your worth!"

"Mm!"

Yan Xuan, carrying his bags, headed home first. The place was cramped, especially with both his sisters at home. If he just barged in, it would be inconvenient for everyone.

After a nap, Yan Xuan woke and began working on his designs. Once a designer’s mind enters that state, he’s completely absorbed. Especially Yan Xuan, who had just glimpsed a new world yesterday—he was more focused than ever.

He was so engrossed in his work that he didn’t notice the little black creature quietly slipping out again.