Ran Yuan had little time to read those comments. Rather than spending effort on showing off, it was better to focus her attention on the person right in front of her.
After all these wasted years, she realized how little she actually knew about him.
Asking him directly what he liked felt too cheap, so she decided to observe him discreetly instead.
Throughout the entire meal, ‘Li Yan’ barely ate anything, merely watching her eat with a gentle smile.
“You should eat too. Can you really get full just by looking at me?”
Ran Yuan coquettishly chided.
“Not really hungry. You go ahead and eat.”
‘Li Yan’ replied lightly with a faint smile.
“Is the food not to your taste?”
She put down her knife and fork worriedly, wondering if he might prefer Chinese cuisine over Western food.
“It’s not that. I usually don’t eat much anyway.”
‘Li Yan’ explained calmly.
But that’s not right… Previously when they ate together, his appetite seemed perfectly normal…
Ran Yuan grew increasingly puzzled but didn’t press further, instead seizing the opportunity to ask: “After we return to China, if you have time, shall I cook for you at your place? My cooking isn’t bad—not quite five-star chef level, but I can handle a few common dishes.”
“Sure.”
‘Li Yan’ didn’t refuse, agreeing with a smile.
By the time they finished eating, it was nearly 4:30 in the afternoon.
“Would you like to grab some coffee? I heard the café here has a nice atmosphere, quite different from what you usually find back home.”
‘Li Yan’ suggested again.
Ran Yuan’s smile froze for about a second before she nodded as if nothing had happened: “Okay.”
She wasn’t someone accustomed to pretending. The moment they entered the greenhouse café, she became quieter, her movements somewhat stiff.
“Yuan Yuan, don’t you like plants?”
‘Li Yan’ feigned confusion as he asked.
“No, they’re quite nice…”
“But you don’t look too comfortable.”
“Really? Maybe I’m just a bit tired.”
Ran Yuan awkwardly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her voice noticeably unnatural.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
‘Li Yan’s smile deepened slightly as he asked again.
She stiffened all over, her eyelids trembling faintly: “No.”
Her answer came too quickly, making the evasion obvious.
But ‘Li Yan’ didn’t push further, deliberately changing the subject: “You know, I almost killed Jiang Xiaoman yesterday!”
Ran Yuan’s eyes widened instantly, her face filled with fear as she stared at him.
“Think I went too far? She deserves it, doesn’t she? How dare she drug you!”
‘Li Yan’s smile was radiant, the inherent wickedness in him fully exposed at that moment.
It felt so alien it made her scalp tingle.
“Ah Yan… Can we just let this go… She’s actually quite pitiful…”
Ran Yuan’s voice trembled uncontrollably. Out of guilt, she couldn’t even bring herself to look him in the eye.
“You’re so ‘kind,’ Yuan Yuan.”
Not catching the sarcasm in his words, she gave a grateful smile: “Thank you, Ah Yan.”
“You’re welcome.”
‘Li Yan’ resumed his gentle, affectionate demeanor, lightly tracing the rim of his coffee cup as a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.
They stayed in the greenhouse for over an hour more, and it was almost time for his appointment with Jiang Xiaoman.
He escorted her back to the villa.
“Don’t go, Ah Yan…”
Ran Yuan tightly hugged ‘Li Yan’ from behind just as he was about to leave, her voice overflowing with unease.
She was afraid—afraid Jiang Xiaoman would reveal the truth, afraid she would disappoint Li Yan.
“So reluctant to let me go to the appointment?”
‘Li Yan’ chuckled softly, turning around to ask.
“Mm, don’t go, okay? I’ll explain the situation to her later… I don’t like you being alone with her… I like you, Ah Yan.”
Buried in his chest, Ran Yuan took a deep breath and confessed once more.
In her flustered state, she didn’t notice that the scent of ‘Li Yan’s’ cologne was different from usual—similar at first, but with a sharp chemical undertone if examined closely.
“Making you so uneasy is my fault. Shall we go to the appointment together then?”
‘Li Yan’s’ lips curved into a grin, his voice laced with a hint of malice.
Her eyelids heavy, Ran Yuan saw his lips moving but couldn’t make out his words.
“Lies deserve retribution, Ms. Ran Yuan.”
Li Yuan’s eyes brimmed with mockery as he let out a scornful laugh.
At 6:30 PM sharp, he arrived at Sunset Restaurant.
Still devoid of customers, Rose sat barefaced on the terrace overlooking the sunset, propping her chin as she gazed absently at the crimson sky.
She never appeared without makeup, even at her most destitute.
During work hours, she wore heavy makeup and revealing clothes; beside Li Xue, she opted for light makeup and professional suits—the standard office lady attire.
They say women dress to please those who appreciate them. Li Yuan had expected her to dress up elaborately like Ran Yuan, but her appearance genuinely surprised him.
Her hair was tied in a low ponytail with a few stray strands framing her face. Her bare face, uneven in tone from years of late nights, smoking, and drinking, looked sickly pale.
A loose beige knit camisole paired with matching wide-leg pants and white slippers completed her outfit, fitting a different interpretation of resort style—utterly casual.
“Has my status fallen so low that you can’t be bothered with makeup now?”
A teasing voice sounded beside her.
Rose turned to see ‘Li Yan’ in a three-piece suit, a flicker of sarcasm in her eyes.
“So I still warrant Mr. Li dressing up so formally? One might mistake this for a business negotiation.”
“If you don’t like it, I’ll dress more casually next time.”
‘Li Yan’s’ attitude today was a world apart from recent days.
But Rose acted oblivious, beckoning a waiter without looking at him and rapidly listing off a string of her favorite dishes.
“Since I don’t know what Mr. Li prefers, I’ll order as I please. Even if you’re dissatisfied, you’ll have to endure it. You upset me first—I need an outlet.”
A malicious smile curled her lips as she spoke.
Li Yuan was at a loss for words: “I never knew you had such peculiar tastes.”
With so many delicacies on the menu, she deliberately picked the most obscure ones. That spiteful girl sure holds a grudge.
Soon, the waiter served the dishes. When the lid was lifted, a foul odor wafted out.
“Ugh…”
Rose gagged, quickly covering her nose.
“That’s his—put it in front of him!”
Li Yuan: “…Can I skip this?”
“What do you think?”
Rose’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she smirked in reply.
Then she watched, wide-eyed, as he calmly ate the so-called Icelandic delicacy—fermented shark meat.
“Ugh…”
Rose gagged again. The dish was described as a blend of rotten meat and urine, a testament to its pungent flavor, yet he consumed it without batting an eye.
“You’re the one with peculiar tastes, aren’t you?”
She couldn’t help but speak up with disdain, feeling nauseous just watching others eat it. She would never try such dreadful food in this lifetime or the next.
“It’s not as bad as I imagined. At least, it’s much more delicious than rotten human flesh.”
Li Yuan raised an eyebrow and replied with a smile.
“Hmph, as if you’ve ever eaten rotten human flesh.”
Rose covered her nose with a displeased expression, complaining bitterly.
“How can you be so sure I haven’t?”
Li Yuan’s smile deepened as he stared at her intently with sharp and sinister eyes, countering her question.