The next day, Lu Xinyi found herself in a restaurant with five men accompanying her for lunch. The shop was offering popular local cuisine dishes, something that she knew her husband enjoyed. Almost everything inside was made from wood that was carved with different types of flowers.
She sat across her brother with Shen Yi sitting beside her, and a huge white teddy bear on her right side. The waiter arrived and brought in the menu immediately. Lu Xinyi took the menu and placed it in front of her husband.
Shen Yi scanned the menu and ticked in some dishes his wife liked.
“If you think the dishes are insufficient, you may order more,” he said as he turned his attention to his wife who was leaning forward to check the menu.
“This is more than enough, dear. I don’t think we can finish these.”
“You are forgetting Xue is here with us,” Shen Yi reminded her.
“Ohh…”
Hearing his name being mentioned, Shen Xue’s head lifted up and growled at his brother.
“What’s that supposed to mean?!” he demanded.
“I mean what I said. Are you going to deny it, or do I need to remind you who became a food thief in our neighborhood?” Shen Yi eyed him.
Hearing that Shen Xue almost spurted a mouthful of blood. Why did his brother bring it up again? Was paying thrice the amount he’d eaten in his place still not enough as compensation?
“You still ask such an obvious question? Your stomach is as big as a cow.” Kang Wei laughed and lifted up a hand with a lighter to light up his cigarette.
He stopped when he felt a cold glare coming his way from Shen Yi. Ah, how could he forget that Lu Xinyi hated the smell of cigarette smoke? Fine, he would get his dose of cigarettes later.
They started conversing with each other while Tian Lingyu and Shen Yi only spoke a few words in reply. After their meal, Lu Xinyi decided to try the house special dessert, an Osmanthus cake.
“Hmm… this so good. I wonder if they can teach me tricks how they made it.” She hummed as she continued to devour the cake.
“Slow down, Shorty. I’m surprised to see that your teeth aren’t falling out yet.” Tian Lingyu grinned.
Lu Xinyi stuck her tongue back at him.
“I like sweets and thanks for the concern, Yu Gege, but I know how to brush and floss my teeth properly.”
“Ah, if you want to make a better Osmanthus Cake, I’ll teach you next time.” Her brother offered. Lu Xinyi was about to agree when Shen Yi lifted his hand to call the attention of a waitress.
The woman came over their table with a friendly smile. She slightly blushed as she saw five handsome men dining with a woman. How lucky could this woman be surrounded by such eye-catching men?
“How can I help you, sir?”
“Is the owner available? I would like a word from him.” Shen Yi requested.
Huang Shenghao stared at him in shock, his grip on his chopsticks loosening, making it fall on his plate. He took a quick glimpse in his friend and saw Tian Lingyu’s expression darkened. President Shen was now fighting for his sister’s attention!
“I’ll go and check. Please wait for a moment.” The waitress bowed her head and left to call the shop owner.
“Are you serious?” Huang Shenghao blurted out. This demon king was spoiling his wife too much, and he didn’t even bat an eyelid when paying for her purchases earlier. It was like he was pleased that he could pay for the things that could make Lu Xinyi happy. Was he somehow a member of a wife-doting husband club?
“You are spoiling her too much,” Tian Lingyu hissed.
Shen Yi just smirked, not denying the accusation thrown at him. When he saw that Lu Xinyi was enjoying her meal, he was reminded again how she would behave when it came to food. He crossed his legs and opened his email while his other hand unconsciously sought Lu Xinyi’s hair.
Tian Lingyu kept silent. Lu Xinyi barely talked to him which he a.s.sumed that she was still upset that he’d abducted her from President Shen.
The waitress came back with a smile and regarded Shen Yi.
“Sir, our owner agreed to meet you. If you could please follow me…”
“Alright,” Shen Yi stood and patted Lu Xinyi’s head. “Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”
Lu Xinyi just nodded and continued eating as if she hadn’t heard him.
They watched Shen Yi’s back as he left with the waitress.
“Is he always like this?” Huang Shenghao asked after regaining his composure. He picked up his chopsticks and continued eating.
“Always. Shen Yi is whipped.” Kang Wei replied while Shen Xue nodded in agreement.
“Do they even fight or argue?”
“Ah, my brother is an a.s.s, but he’s a softy if it’s about Big Sis. Everything is all about her. It might look like he’s wearing the pants, but when Big Sis complains about something, silence would be his answer. A few minutes later, he’ll fix it for her.” Shen Xue stuffed his mouth with another pork steamed bun.
Lu Xinyi stopped eating to look up at her brother-in-law.
“Xue, if your brother hears you say that, you know what will happen…”
Shen Xue s.h.i.+vered hard and instantly shut his mouth. Of course, he knew his brother well.
The shop owner came back with Shen Yi. The old woman smiled as she saw Lu Xinyi eating the second serving of her Osmanthus cake.
“Xinxin, Granny here is the one who made your Osmanthus Cake.”
Lu Xinyi stood at once and bowed her head in respect. “I would be honored to learn from a master.”
The old woman smiled gently and held Lu Xinyi’s hand. Her fingers lightly brushed against Lu Xinyi’s palm as if she was feeling her.
“You’ve got a good pair of hands for cooking,” she commented.
“Granny, this is my wife, Lu Xinyi. She adores the cake you’ve just made, and she’s hoping she can learn it from you.”
“This cake takes time to prepare. Would you mind staying for a few hours today in the kitchen with me? I might need some help.” The old woman offered.
“No worries, Xinxin can stay with you. We’ll just have to pick her up later.” Shen Yi placed a hand at his wife’s back. “Is it alright with you, dear?”
Lu Xinyi’s eyes sparkled and nodded her head excitedly.
“Then we may start now, Madam Shen. Please follow me to the kitchen,” the shop owner said.
Lu Xinyi threw her arms around Shen Yi and kissed him. Shen Yi was stunned as he stood at the same place. She’d never kissed him in public before. Even Kang Wei and Shen Xue froze at the scene they had just witnessed while Tian Lingyu clenched his fists hard under the table.
“Darling, you are the best! I’ll see later, alright? Love you!”
Lu Xinyi ran to catch up with the shop owner. She talked with the old woman with a big smile plastered on her face. Shen Yi broke out from a trance and shook his head. Seeing her happy, he gave himself a mental pat for doing a great job.
After finis.h.i.+ng their meal, their group went back to the inn where they were staying without Lu Xinyi. Huang Shenghao talked animatedly with Kang Wei and Shen Xue while Tian Lingyu and Shen Yi kept their distance from each other. Neither of them spoke as they walked back to the inn.
“The juniors training camp will start in two days,” Huang Shenghao said, “after this, I think Headmistress Han will give them a two-week vacation to prepare for their first quarterly exam,” he added.
“So what will happen if they fail the exam? They have to leave Silver Leaf?” Shen Xue asked.
“Of course, but they’ll be given a chance to come back if they pa.s.s a wildcard exam that is yearly given by the academy. It’s rare to pa.s.s it because it would be harder than the entrance exam itself.”
“I heard a challenge is waiting for Big Sis.”
“Ah, that…” The Silver Leaf Prince scratched his head. Shen Yi stopped and waited for his answer, which made Huang Shenghao faltered on his steps. How was he able to explain this to Lu Xinyi’s sponsor?
He tried to ask for Tian Lingyu’s help, but the man already parted ways with their group and left the inn without a word.
“Indeed, Han Yixin is just waiting for Junior Sister Lu to get her 1,000 points.”
“According to the student’s manual, Senior Year students aren’t allowed to challenge their juniors so how come she was able to place her intent to challenge?” Shen Yi broke his silence.
“Han Yixin requested it to Chairman Han directly. He approved the request, and Headmistress Han can’t do anything about it. We could only wait for Junior Sister Lu to meet the requirements.”