Hearing Shen Xichuan’s words, Xu Jialan’s eyes clearly showed a trace of astonishment.
“You… what does that mean…?”
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Xichuan already knew what she wanted to ask.
His expression remained unchanged, his tone gentle. “Didn’t we come out to meet and eat for a blind date?”
Xu Jialan opened her mouth slightly. “Yes, it’s just…”
“Since that’s the case, then we’re meeting with the premise of dating or marriage, right?”
A faint smile played at the corner of Shen Xichuan’s lips as he gazed at her intently.
Xu Jialan pressed her lips together. “Right.”
The man’s lips curved upward. “Then what’s your answer?”
What did she think of him?
Xu Jialan clutched her cup, momentarily speechless.
Just then, the server arrived with their food.
Shen Xichuan withdrew his gaze from her.
Xu Jialan breathed a sigh of relief.
After the food was served, Shen Xichuan filled a bowl of soup for her and placed it by her hand.
“I didn’t expect our tastes to be so similar. You like spicy food too?”
Xu Jialan’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as she looked down at the hot soup beside her hand, murmuring softly, “Yes, I do.”
“Since you like it, eat more.”
“Okay.”
Both of them ate quietly.
Xu Jialan ate very slowly, chewing each bite carefully.
This formed a sharp contrast with Shen Xichuan beside her.
The man’s eating pace wasn’t particularly fast, but it wasn’t slow either.
Perhaps a habit formed from years in the team.
But his dining manners were pleasing to the eye, clearly cultivated since childhood.
Shen Xichuan wiped his mouth unhurriedly and looked up at Xu Jialan across the table.
Noticing the man’s gaze, Xu Jialan paused briefly before quickening her chewing pace.
The man chuckled softly. “Take your time, I won’t fight you for it.”
Xu Jialan swallowed the food in her mouth and responded with an “Oh.”
Just then, the server brought a dessert.
Shen Xichuan had it placed in front of her.
It was tiramisu.
Seeing this dessert, Xu Jialan stopped eating.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like it?” the man asked.
“No.”
Xu Jialan looked up at him. “You ordered this?”
Shen Xichuan hummed in affirmation. “I heard girls like desserts, so I ordered one for you. Try it and see if it’s good? If you like it, I’ll order it for you again next time.”
Xu Jialan pressed her lips together, put down her chopsticks, picked up the fork beside the tiramisu, scooped a small piece, and put it in her mouth.
Slightly bitter, with a hint of sweetness.
It was a familiar taste.
The man watched her. “Is it good?”
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, falling on Shen Xichuan.
In that moment, he seemed to be glowing.
Just like in her memories.
The corners of Xu Jialan’s mouth slowly lifted, her eyes slightly sore as she murmured, “It’s very delicious.”
Shen Xichuan looked at her, his brow twitching slightly, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes.
If it was so delicious, why were her eyes reddening?
In the end, Xu Jialan finished the dessert in front of her.
Completely clean.
Shen Xichuan noticed.
It seemed she really did like it.
…
The two walked out of the restaurant.
Shen Xichuan took out his phone and looked at Xu Jialan before him.
“Let’s exchange contact information.”
He turned his phone screen toward her, showing a QR code.
Xu Jialan stared at the profile picture in the center for several seconds.
She took out her phone and scanned it, the device emitting a beep.
The man lowered his gaze to watch her movements, only withdrawing his gaze after seeing her send the verification message, then returning to the contacts list and tapping “Accept.”
Staring at the newly added friend, Xu Jialan felt a complex mix of emotions.
“Xu Jialan.”
After accepting the request, Shen Xichuan looked down at the top of her head and let out a soft chuckle.
Hearing this, Xu Jialan instinctively looked up.
“Hmm?”
The sunlight was too glaring. She squinted against the brightness.
The man chuckled softly, took a step forward, and raised his hand to shield her from the harsh sunlight overhead.
Xu Jialan slowly opened her eyes.
Their gazes met at close range.
Shen Xichuan was very tall, standing at 189 centimeters.
Xu Jialan was only 167 centimeters, just reaching his chin.
One looking down, the other looking up.
Xu Jialan could even sense the hormonal aura emanating from Shen Xichuan, along with a faint scent of tobacco mixed with sandalwood fragrance.
She knew that agarwood fragrance was his signature men’s cologne.
This scent was not unfamiliar to her.
Shen Xichuan looked down at the young woman before him.
His impression of Xu Jialan remained from high school—she always ranked second right behind him in every exam.
She spoke very little, but her eyes were beautiful.
They were clear, dark pupils that carried a subtle chill and sense of distance when she glanced over.
She seemed as if there was nothing she particularly cared about.
But he knew better—she cared about her grades.
That evening on the rooftop, her broken sobs had been somewhat heartbreaking.
Years later, seeing her again in her lab coat, she still maintained that familiar, cool demeanor.
“Xu Jialan, would you consider it?”
“Consider what?”
“Consider whether I could be your romantic partner or marriage prospect?”
…
Xu Jialan returned to her car.
Even with the air conditioning on, it couldn’t disperse the warmth from her face.
The man’s final words kept echoing in her ears.
Xu Jialan closed her eyes for a long moment before finally starting the car and driving away from the restaurant.
…
Meanwhile.
Shen Xichuan had just gotten into his car when his phone rang.
He answered the call but didn’t start the engine, instead watching Xu Jialan’s car that had just pulled away.
“Mom asked me to check how your blind date went.”
Shen Yankai’s voice came through the car speakers.
Shen Xichuan rested his arm casually on the window frame, watching the distance with a slight smile.
“It went well,” he said.
Shen Yankai was silent for a moment. “Really well?”
Shen Xichuan chuckled softly. “Brother, do you believe in fate?”
“What do you mean?”
Instead of answering, Shen Xichuan said, “Tell Mom she doesn’t need to arrange any more blind dates for me.”
Shen Yankai sighed helplessly. “Xichuan, you know Mom won’t give up as long as you’re still active duty and unmarried.”
“I know.”
“Then you—”
Shen Xichuan interrupted him. “Brother, I’ve found someone I want to love.”
“What?” Shen Yankai sounded stunned. “Since when?”
Shen Xichuan’s voice was deep. “Just now.”
Silence stretched on the other end of the line.
So long that Xu Jialan’s car had already disappeared from view.
Finally, Shen Yankai spoke. “The person you like… is today’s blind date?”
“Yes,” Shen Xichuan confirmed.
Shen Yankai paused for two seconds. “Xichuan, even if Mom wants you to get married, she wouldn’t force you to marry someone you don’t like. So, you don’t need to rush into…”
“Not rushing anymore.”
Shen Xichuan interrupted him again.
“Bro, we were high school classmates.”
Shen Yankai remained silent.
Shen Xichuan continued, “The girl I rescued from the fire a few days ago – the one I specially bought flowers for and visited in the hospital after saving her – that was her.”
Shen Yankai recalled what Shen Xichuan had said earlier about fate.
He paused. “So, you just fell for her like that?”
Shen Xichuan smiled. “Maybe.”
After saying this, he paused and added, “Or maybe earlier.”
He didn’t specify how much earlier.
Shen Yankai didn’t ask either.
But knowing that person was his high school classmate, he felt slightly relieved.
“Alright, I’ll talk to Mom about it, but you’ll have to explain the real reason to her yourself.”
Shen Xichuan chuckled softly and started the car. “Okay, I understand.”