Chapter 3

Upon seeing her expression, Zhang Heng's face contorted slightly, and he asked in a low voice, "Yuan Xi, you don't also want a perfect score, do you?"

Bu Huaiyu and Zhang Heng both laughed as the three of them sat down in a quiet corner, following the waiter. Zhang Heng took the menu, leaned over, and jokingly said to Yuan Xi in a low voice: "It's fine, don't be nervous. Just watch how your brother does it and you'll be able to do it too..."

Yuan Xi thought for a moment and asked, "Do KFC and McDonald's count?"

Yuan Xi nodded vigorously while pursing her lips, walking towards the door and laughing, "If you want to go, then go! Just don't regret it! I haven't eaten breakfast yet! And don't look down on me! This is my first time eating Western food!"

As they were speaking, the waiter asked how well done they wanted their steaks. Zhang Heng ordered his medium, while Bu Huaiyu requested his well done. When it came to Yuan Xi, he appeared to be in a dilemma.

Zhang Heng is also a very clever and quick-witted person. Upon seeing this situation, he recalled the different reactions of Yuan Xi and Bu Huaiyu when he initially asked if they knew each other. He found it somewhat amusing, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth, and chose not to ask further, naturally shifting the topic to something else.

Zhang Heng! Bu Huaiyu stopped him from continuing, saying, "Don't pay attention to his nonsense, if there is something, just go first."

Yuan Xi nodded

Yuan Xi looked at him and nodded apologetically; she really did not dare to eat undercooked food

Moreover, they actually brought her to eat Western cuisine, and she had never eaten Western food before. Wouldn't it be a source of embarrassment when she goes in?

After getting off the car, Yuan Xi hesitated in her steps. Zhang Heng, standing in front, noticed that she was not moving and thought she was waiting for Bu Huaiyu, who was parking the car. He cheerfully called out, "No need to wait for him, let's go in first"

Hearing Yuan Xi's words, Zhang Heng's expression turned somewhat displeased, his brows furrowing slightly, "Tsk tsk, you girl, not straightforward at all! You—"

Yuan Xi recalled the night when he had taken a ride in Huai Yu's car, uncertain whether that seat was dirty or not, but there was no way to ask about it, causing his face to flush slightly

Yuan Xi pressed her lips together and said, "Well, because this meal you invited me to must not be cheap, I don't have that much money to treat you in return, so—"

Yuan Xi was suddenly exposed by Zhang Heng, feeling even more embarrassed. However, at this point, she surprisingly felt a bit liberated. After thinking for a moment, she raised her head and said generously: "I am sorry, I should not have lied. I have no plans for lunch, but I cannot join you for the meal."

Yuan Xi looked at Bu Huaiyu in surprise, "Do you really have a perforated stomach?"

"One sentence, to go or not to go?" Zhang Heng asked

Zhang Heng nodded earnestly, "It's just a bit too sensitive. Take today's meal for example, do you think you're being too fussy? Who is born a wealthy person? Take this kid for instance, don't be fooled by his current appearance; he has also come from a time of hardship. When he was at his poorest, he survived on instant noodles for a month. If it weren't for me, he would have died at home from a perforated stomach!"

To be honest, Yuan Xi feels that these dishes are not as delicious as what she makes herself, but the atmosphere here is truly pleasant, especially with such outstanding men like Zhang Heng and Bu Huaiyu sitting beside her, chatting softly while they eat, it really feels quite nice

Yuan Xi smiled faintly and shook his head, "No, I have my principles. One should not receive rewards without making contributions. If I were to accept a meal from you, it would weigh on my mind. Although I am poor, I do not wish to owe anything to others"

Bu Huaiyu patted Zhang Heng on the shoulder, stopping him from continuing his words. He turned to Yuan Xi and said, "Don't think too much about it. We rarely come here anyway. Today, I made a bit more money, and this kid insisted on treating me here. Next time, you can treat me anywhere you like. Since we have become friends, there is no need for so many formalities"

As the conversation progressed, the topic shifted to Yuan Xi. Zhang Heng laughed and said, "Yuan Xi, I can tell just by looking at you that you are quite good, very down-to-earth. Nowadays, girls perm their hair to look like curly lions, and their clothes are all mismatched, with some layers long and others short, the long ones short and the short ones long. Their faces are like palettes, overly focused on pursuing individuality, it makes me dizzy just looking at them. It's much better to be like you, dressed in a casual manner, with a bare face, not even grooming your eyebrows. It's quite nice, you are becoming a rare breed these days."

Bu Huaiyu still smiled faintly, "Almost, but my stomach is indeed not very good, otherwise how could I see at a glance that you covered the wrong place that night."

Bu Huaiyu smiled gently without saying a word, but Zhang Heng deliberately put on a surprised expression and asked, "No way? Yuan Xi, how can you be so old-fashioned? Is this really your first time?"

Bu Huaiyu fiddled with the car keys in his hand, gazing lightly at Yuan Xi, without saying a word

Bu Huaiyu noticed Yuan Xi's flushed face and suddenly realized that it was inappropriate to bring up the matter again. He had spoken carelessly just now, and now felt somewhat embarrassed. Seeing Zhang Heng asking, he was also concerned that mentioning it again would make Yuan Xi uncomfortable, so he smiled and said, "It's nothing, just go ahead and eat, there's no need to make a fuss about it."

Yuan Xixiao nodded and indeed ordered the same as Bu Huaiyu

Bu Huaiyu spoke little, and during the meal, it was almost all Zhang Heng who was talking. This kid could really talk, and whatever he said was lively and vivid, making Yuan Xizhi laugh uncontrollably. At times, he was so amused that he didn't dare to eat, fearing he might spit it out again.

Yuan Xi let out a soft "hm" but did not move from her spot. She looked up at the sign of the restaurant, which had words that did not seem to be in English, then turned back to glance at Bu Huaiyu, who had followed her. Biting her lip gently, she hesitated before finally looking up and said: "I am truly sorry, but I just remembered that I have something to attend to at noon, so I cannot join you for lunch. Perhaps we can do it another time."

Zhang Heng also chuckled, "Exactly, just learn from it. Who hasn't had a first time? My third girlfriend, when we went out to eat, even asked for her steak to be well done! And now? She's just getting along fine as if she were from England"

So you are not going? Zhang Hengqi asked

Zhang Heng asked: "Have you seen clearly?"

"Hmm? What are you all talking about?" Zhang Heng asked in confusion

She felt a twinge of regret, blaming herself for her lack of foresight. She had clearly heard her colleagues mention that Bu Huaiyu was quite capable of making money, so how could she not realize that the places where people like him dined were simply beyond her means? Perhaps, just the cost of this one meal would require her to save for an entire month to send back home. How many fewer deliveries could her father make for others?

Yuan Xizui's mouth twitched slightly as he asked Zhang Heng, "Are you complimenting me?"

Although Bu Huaiyu had not spoken, a faint smile appeared on his face at that moment as he quietly watched Yuan Xi, which made Zhang Heng even more puzzled

Zhang Heng smiled helplessly, "Did we ever say that you should treat us, girl? Really, I just thought that since we've met a few times in a row, it must be some kind of fate. Besides," he smiled and pointed at Bu Huaiyu, saying, "having a cold and aloof big man like him for dinner is nowhere near as comfortable as having a little sister like you around. Why do you think so much about these things, girl?"

Yuan Xiyi was taken aback, and then heard Zhang Heng cheerfully say: "What I said is truly a reflection of forgetting the matter, while yours is clearly fake. Honestly, can't you even tell a lie smoothly? It would be better if you just didn't say anything; it really hurts our brotherly feelings!"

As the car arrived at the entrance of the restaurant, Yuan Xi felt a sense of unease. From the outside, it was evident that this restaurant was not inexpensive. To come here so recklessly for a meal, how would he be able to reciprocate in the future? Would he also need to treat them at such an expensive place?

Bu Huaiyu was also smiling gently there, but he had replaced Yuan Xi's dish with something else. Yuan Xi smiled at him, feeling somewhat grateful for his thoughtfulness.

Zhang Heng was taken aback for a moment, then carefully scrutinized Yuan Xi before suddenly breaking into a smile. He turned back and stood beside Yuan Xi and Bu Huaiyu, and then abruptly slapped his forehead with force, a look of regret on his face. "Oh no! My pig brain! How could I forget! I have something to do at noon, so I can't have this meal today! Let's do it another day, how about it, brothers? Next time, it's on me!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xi felt rather petty; seeing Bu Huaiyu looking at him with such sincerity only deepened his inner conflict

After speaking, he looked at Yuan Xi with a face full of apology. Yuan Xi was somewhat taken aback and felt a bit of regret in her heart. Had she known that he also had matters to attend to, she wouldn't have had to say those nonsensical words earlier, which made her feel a flush on her face.

Bu Huaiyu observed Yuan Xi, who was indeed listening seriously to Zhang Heng's nonsense, and softly said: "Don't listen to his nonsense, if you can't do it, you can't do it, there's nothing to be ashamed of. If you don't know something, just choose the same as us."

Upon her saying this, Zhang Heng became even more confused, thinking to himself how this girl could be so inconsistent. He first looked at Yuan Xi with a puzzled expression, then turned to look at Bu Huaiyu.

Zhang Heng rolled his eyes and said, "Fine, consider what I just said as if I never said it."