Chapter 31 They Are No Longer That Kind of Relationship

She held a bowl in her hands and turned to look back. Gu Shiyan, dressed in a robe, was leaning against the doorway, his eyes reflecting the light as he watched her.

"Did you wash your hands before beating the eggs?"

Luo Xing nodded, "I did!"

Gu Shiyan dragged out the syllable, a clear hint of mockery in his gaze. "When you fry the tomatoes, make the sauce thicker."

Luo Xing put down the bowl and looked at him, imitating his tone, "I can't make sauce! And I can't make it thick! Why don't you do it yourself?"

"So, did I beat the eggs for you too?" Gu Shiyan shook his head and turned to leave. "Suit yourself."

The trailing edge of his words was full of arrogance.

Luo Xing had actually been thinking about beating another egg. But now, what was the point? She should have just mixed those bits of eggshell in and let him eat it.

She looked at the tomatoes and the eggs in the bowl.

She gave up.

Gu Shiyan was sitting in the living room, head lowered, playing on his phone. Hearing footsteps, he glanced up. "What, are you done cooking already?"

"Order delivery," Luo Xing replied, still wiping her hands with a tissue.

Gu Shiyan looked over, stood up, and noticed the tissue in her hand. "Did you cut yourself?"

Luo Xing shook her head.

Not convinced, Gu Shiyan pulled the tissue from her hand.

Luo Xing was momentarily stunned. "What are you doing? I’m fine, really."

She really was fine—her hands were still soft and fair, without a scratch.

Gu Shiyan glanced toward the kitchen and saw the lone tomato still sitting untouched on the cutting board.

A muffled laugh escaped his chest.

Clearly, her "three minutes" had been spent on beating an egg before she gave up.

"The delivery driver can’t get in; outside food isn’t allowed inside."

Luo Xing licked her lips. In truth, after a nap, she was getting hungry.

She glanced at Gu Shiyan. "Then, why don't we go out to eat?"

Gu Shiyan raised an eyebrow.

—We?

He tilted his gaze, sighed lightly, "All right."

They both went upstairs to change.

Luo Xing rarely came to Beijing, usually only when her parents brought her. Her mother, a doctor, was always busy, and her father, an executive, was just as occupied. She’d only visited two or three times.

As Luo Xing was heading out, Gu Shiyan caught her by the arm.

He turned and led her in another direction.

"I remember coming in from over there," she muttered.

Gu Shiyan nodded. "You really plan to walk? It'll take at least half an hour on foot from here."

Luo Xing remembered it had taken her ten minutes by car that day.

She fell silent.

Gu Shiyan led her to the garage.

Inside was a dazzling array of luxury cars.

He picked a diamond-pink convertible.

Luo Xing slid into the passenger seat. "I didn't expect you to like pink."

Gu Shiyan turned, "Isn’t pink your favorite?"

"It is," Luo Xing replied offhandedly.

A moment later, she realized something was off about his tone. He’d emphasized ‘isn’t’—so he chose the pink car because she liked it?

Luo Xing shook her head, trying not to think too much.

Gu Shiyan glanced at her as he turned the wheel. "Are you cold?"

"No," she replied.

Just cold from her own vanity.

Gu Shiyan pulled out of the garage.

The car moved slowly until they left the villa grounds. Then the speed picked up.

Luo Xing knew Gu Shiyan had had all his cars confiscated by his father after a fight. He must have been craving a drive.

The cool night breeze was refreshing.

Watching the trees and streetlights retreating rapidly, Luo Xing couldn’t resist recording a short video and sending it to her group chat.

Gu Shiyan noticed her action, but when he caught sight of that familiar profile picture on her phone, his mood soured.

Shen Que, he’d added him too—the sunrise avatar he found so annoying. She was always sharing updates with him.

"Is your phone that much fun?" Gu Shiyan spoke up.

Luo Xing found him baffling. "What do you think?"

He said nothing more, but Luo Xing sensed his displeasure. Still, she didn’t ask—after all, they weren’t exactly on comforting terms.

"What do you want to eat?" he finally asked.

"Up to you, you know this area; I don’t."

"Fine," he replied coolly.

In the group chat, Yuncai had also sent a video.

Luo Xing opened it. A sky full of stars.

Gu Shiyan’s tone was sour. "He really is your good friend, isn’t he?"

Luo Xing found him strange. "Don’t you have any friends? Is that why you’re jealous?"

She matched his sarcasm with her own.

"Not as good as yours," Gu Shiyan glanced at her while waiting at a red light. "How come you’re not carrying your water bottle now?"

He leaned toward her. "What if our little angel gets thirsty later? Your good friend isn’t here now."

His tone was just asking for a fight.

"Hmm?" He smirked, the challenge in his eyes unmistakable.

Luo Xing turned away, ignoring him.

They pulled up to a restaurant.

"It’s so late, and it’s still open?" Luo Xing got out of the car, following him.

A man in uniform emerged from the restaurant to greet them in person.

Luo Xing glanced at Gu Shiyan.

He walked over unhurriedly. "What are you looking at? This place belongs to the old man."

Luo Xing said nothing, smoothing her shoulders as she followed him inside.

They picked a secluded corner.

"It’s so late, and there are still people here," Luo Xing muttered.

A waiter brought over a tablet to order. Gu Shiyan nodded toward her, letting the lady order.

He explained casually, "During the day, this place is usually fully booked. At night, it’s mostly out-of-towners coming to check in."

Luo Xing looked around; sure enough, many people were taking pictures or filming.

She browsed the menu. "Pan-seared sirloin steak..."

Gu Shiyan looked up at her.

Luo Xing paused mid-sentence, realizing she’d instinctively chosen his favorite. She quickly corrected herself, "Not that. I’ll have the special lamb chops."

She nodded, turning to Gu Shiyan. "What about you?"

He smiled, eyes dark and shining. "One pan-seared sirloin steak."

Gu Shiyan asked if she wanted a drink.

Luo Xing shook her head. "You can’t have alcohol—you’re driving."

Then, she added, "I’m just looking out for my own safety."

"So cautious? I never said I’d drink," Gu Shiyan replied, nodding to the waiter.

The little corner was left to just the two of them.

Leaning against the glass window, outside the city was awash with neon lights.

Luo Xing turned her head away from him, admiring the night view.

The neon shimmered across the buildings, dazzling her eyes.

The air conditioning inside was strong, and Luo Xing, always susceptible to the cold, had just spent the ride in the wind. Her palms rubbed her arms, raising goosebumps.

Suddenly, Gu Shiyan stood up.

Luo Xing looked at him.

"I’ll be right back," he said, offering no explanation. With his long strides, he soon vanished from her sight.