Ye Mochen’s gaze fell on the top of the straw, where there was a faint trace of her lipstick, the color like a rose blooming at dawn.
His Adam’s apple moved almost imperceptibly as his eyes shifted from that rosy hue to meet her expectant gaze.
Silently, he leaned down slightly, took the straw from her hand, and bit onto it.
【Doudou: Ahhh! Indirect kiss achievement unlocked! Heart rate monitor off the charts! Sis, his heart is beating so fast!】
An unfamiliar, fruity sweetness exploded in his mouth, starkly different from the bitter black coffee he usually drank.
Ran Weiyi asked with a smile in her eyes, “How is it? Delicious?”
Ye Mochen released the straw, his eyes lingering on her lips, now even more moist from the milk tea, and replied in a low voice.
“Mm, very sweet.”
It was unclear whether he meant the milk tea or her.
After finishing the last sip of milk tea, Ran Weiyi let out a small, satisfied burp.
Ye Michen glanced at her, a faint trace of amusement flickering in his eyes, then took her hand and led her toward the parking lot.
Jiang Pei and the other bodyguards followed silently behind, only daring to breathe a sigh of relief once they were seated in the car.
The car drove smoothly away from the bustling commercial district, eventually stopping outside a tranquil courtyard.
There were no flashy neon signs here, only a simple wooden plaque with three elegantly carved characters: Lanyue Pavilion.
As soon as the car door opened, a middle-aged man dressed in an exquisite Tang suit, who appeared to be the manager, hurried over and bowed respectfully. “Master Mo, you’ve arrived.”
When his gaze fell on Ran Weiyi beside Ye Mochen, he showed no unnecessary curiosity, only adding more humbly, “Good evening, miss.”
Ye Mochen gave a slight nod, still holding Ran Weiyi’s hand, and walked straight inside.
The manager led the way through a winding corridor, finally stopping before a heavy solid wood door.
This was Lanyue Pavilion’s exclusive VIP room, not open to the public, and also Ye Mochen’s private domain. The furnishings inside were exquisitely elegant, a world apart from the noisy milk tea shop earlier.
Ye Mochen pulled out a heavy rosewood chair and motioned for Ran Weiyi to sit first.
She complied, her fingertips brushing over the cool, smooth texture of the tabletop.
He then took a seat beside her, the two chairs separated by a perfectly appropriate social distance.
Ye Mochen frowned. In his eyes, this distance was utterly displeasing.
The next moment, under the watchful eyes of the manager and servers who kept their gazes respectfully lowered, he moved.
He extended a long arm, wrapping one hand around Ran Weiyi’s slender waist and pulling her toward him, while his other hand precisely gripped the leg of her chair and yanked it inward. With a soft “click,” the two chairs were pressed tightly together.
His arm around her waist did not loosen; instead, it seemed to have found the most comfortable position, resting there naturally. The warmth from his palm seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes, continuously radiating onto her skin.
The entire process was smooth and effortless, carrying an air of unquestionable dominance. Ran Weiyi only felt her body lighten before being enveloped in a familiar, reassuring presence.
She tilted her head, only able to see the man’s perfectly chiseled jawline.
He kept his gaze forward, his expression calm and unbothered, as if he had merely moved a piece of furniture in his way, not a living person.Ran Weiyi suppressed a smile and gently nudged his firm abdomen with her elbow, earning a glance from him as he looked down, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry that seemed to ask, “What’s wrong?”
The manager acted as if he had seen nothing, his professionally respectful expression not showing the slightest wrinkle.
With steady steps, he approached and presented a thick menu wrapped in dark golden silk with both hands to Ye Mochen.
“Master Mo.”
Ye Mochen didn’t even glance at it, his gaze remaining fixed on Ran Weiyi’s face.
He simply reached out, took the menu that would have intimidated an ordinary person, and without the slightest hesitation, turned it around and gently placed it in front of Ran Weiyi. His attitude couldn’t have been clearer: he was here solely to accompany her for a meal. What to order and what to eat were entirely up to her.
Ran Weiyi’s heart softened at this subtle, unintentional display of favoritism.
“Yiyi, whatever you want to eat, you order.”
Ran Weiyi took the menu and opened it.
Her fingertips glided over the smooth pages as she leisurely pointed to a few dishes: “Basil black pepper baked cod, chicken oil and Shaoxing wine steamed Sanmen crab, sesame shrimp with coral sauce, and avocado tartare with cheese and fruit vinegar.”
The manager immediately chimed in, “The young lady has excellent taste. These are all our head chef’s signature dishes.”
She added, “And one more—braised bamboo fungus with matsutake and vegetable hearts.” She remembered Ye Mochen’s taste preferences.
Ye Mochen’s gaze had been fixed on her all along. Upon hearing this, he straightened slightly from his reclined position in the chair. The coldness in his deep eyes dissipated completely, replaced only by a soft, warm glow.
He lifted his chin toward the manager, signaling that was all. Understanding the gesture, the manager bowed and retreated, gently closing the door behind him.
The spacious room was now left with just the two of them, and the atmosphere instantly became intimate and serene.
Ye Mochen reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The warmth of his fingertips felt almost scalding.
The dishes were soon brought in one after another by the waitstaff, the exquisite white porcelain plates complementing the dark rosewood table perfectly.
The lead waiter placed the chicken oil and Shaoxing wine steamed Sanmen crab in the center of the table, its plump crab roe shimmering with an enticing orange-red glow under the light.
After setting down the utensils, the waiters silently withdrew, as if they had never been there.
Ran Weiyi picked up the specialized crab-eating tools, ready to tackle the crab, but her wrist was gently held back by a warm, large hand.
Ye Mochen took the tools from her and set them aside, his tone calm. “Let me.”
He turned the crab toward himself, his slender fingers picking up the tools with an elegance and skill that seemed almost unreal.
The crab shell was effortlessly pried open, the meat from the legs meticulously extracted, and the orange-red crab roe carefully scraped into a clean white porcelain bowl, piling up like a small mountain.
The entire process was carried out without a single unnecessary sound, nor a drop of grease.
He pushed the bowl filled with crab meat and roe toward her, then picked up the serving chopsticks and placed a piece of deboned cod at her lips.
Ran Weiyi looked at him and whispered, “I can do it myself.”
Ye Mochen didn’t say a word, just looked at her, his arm holding the chopsticks unwavering. His eyes clearly said: I want to feed you.Ran Weiyi silently met his gaze for two seconds before conceding defeat, opening her mouth to eat the fish. The tender fish melted in her mouth, carrying a hint of black pepper’s mild spiciness and the unique aroma of basil.
Seeing her eat, a slight curve finally appeared at the corner of Ye Mochen’s mouth. He set down his chopsticks, picked up a spoon, and scooped a spoonful of crab roe to feed her.
Ran Weiyi obediently enjoyed the service of having food delivered to her mouth, but her mind was wandering with wild thoughts.