More and more people arrived at the hot pot restaurant, and soon there was a long queue outside.

The waiter quickly brought their fragrant soup base.

Xu Zhilu stopped talking and focused on eating. She was really hungry. Despite having eaten a lot in the morning, the mental strain from the competition had drained her energy.

After eating for a while, Xu Zhilu’s face turned red from the spiciness. As she reached for her cup, she realized it was empty.

“Ah, Shen Siyan, can I get some water?”

Shen Siyan turned to look at her and frowned. “Try some ice jelly first.”

“Okay.”

Xu Zhilu took the ice jelly from him, ate a few spoonfuls, and felt much better.

“No one’s competing with you,” Shen Siyan said, frowning. “Eat slowly.”

Without thinking, Xu Zhilu retorted, “Aren’t you?”

Shen Siyan: “…”

He choked, then said helplessly, “I’ll order more after you finish eating. Did you forget?”

“…”

Xu Zhilu pouted. “I’m so hungry.”

“Um.”

Shen Siyan glanced at her and said, “Give me the cup.”

Xu Zhilu handed it to him.

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Siyan looked at the other two and asked, “Would you like some milk tea?”

Xin An’an nodded immediately.

Xu Zhilu also nodded.

Shen Siyan looked at Cheng Song and said, “Watch them. I’m going to get some milk tea.”

Cheng Song: “…”

He turned to look at the two girls and said, confused, “Do you still need me to keep an eye on them?”

Xin An’an burst out laughing. “Just watch them. What if someone comes up and asks for Zhilu’s contact information?”

Cheng Song: “Got it.”

He casually added, “That’s exactly what I mean.”

Xu Zhilu ignored their teasing and focused on eating the meat.

She had to admit that hot pot was really delicious, and she never got tired of it.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated.

Xu Zhilu picked it up and saw a photo sent by Shen Siyan—a menu from the milk tea shop.

Shen Siyan: What do you want?

Xu Zhilu zoomed in and replied, I’d like a mango sago.

Shen Siyan: What about the others?

Xu Zhilu asked them and replied, They both want mango sago.

Shen Siyan: Okay, one cup is enough.

Xu Zhilu: …We’re not pigs.

She turned off her phone and continued eating.

When Shen Siyan returned, everyone had nearly finished eating.

Xu Zhilu took the mango sago from him, drank it through a straw, and looked very satisfied.

“This mango sago is delicious,” she said.

Shen Siyan pulled at his lower lip. “Have you finished eating?”

Xu Zhilu was silent for a moment, then glanced at the remaining food. “You can still eat a little more.”

After saying that, she felt a bit like a pig.

Fortunately, Shen Siyan made no comments or suggestions and simply asked calmly, “Do you want more dishes?”

“We don’t need any more. If you want more, go ahead,” Xu Zhilu said.

Shen Siyan ordered two more portions of meat and continued eating.

After Xu Zhilu was full, Shen Siyan ate slowly.

She couldn’t help but watch Shen Siyan. For some reason, she found his eating posture quite pleasant.

As she observed him, Xu Zhilu became distracted.

Shen Siyan looked up and noticed her gaze. He paused for a moment, stared at her, then suddenly lowered his head.

“Xu Zhilu.”

Xu Zhilu came back to her senses and blinked. “What?”

Shen Siyan asked, “Since you passed the competition, will you be going to the provincial level next time?”

“Um.”

Xu Zhilu sipped her drink and asked, “Why?”

Shen Siyan shook his head. “Just asking.”

Xu Zhilu said, “Oh,” and didn’t pursue the matter further.

After finishing the hot pot, Xu Zhilu took Xin An’an shopping.

Cheng Song and Shen Siyan decided to stay behind and play games upstairs.

–

“What are we buying?” Xin An’an asked.

Xu Zhilu shook her head. “Just browsing.”

Xin An’an said quietly, “Then come with me to choose a gift.”

Xu Zhilu raised an eyebrow. “For whom?”

“Cheng Song.”

Xin An’an explained, “My birthday is coming up soon.”

Xu Zhilu was surprised and nodded. “Oh, I see. Let’s go then.”

As they walked, Xin An’an suddenly asked, “By the way, where is the gift Shen Siyan gave you for your last birthday?”

Xu Zhilu blinked. “Huh?”

She was curious. “Last birthday?”

“Yes.”

Xin An’an said, “It was just over two months ago.”

Xu Zhilu, a Pisces, had received gifts from her friends on her birthday, but it seemed that Shen Siyan’s gift was missing.

She recalled that in her previous life, she hadn’t received a birthday gift from Shen Siyan that year, which led to a falling out between them.

Shen Siyan thought Xu Zhilu was being unreasonable. During those days, they had no contact at all. Whenever they did meet, Xu Zhilu wasn’t as enthusiastic as she used to be.

Eventually, it was Xu Zhilu who couldn’t hold on any longer. She had always enjoyed being close to Shen Siyan, and a week later, she took the initiative to reconcile with him.

Thinking about this, Xu Zhilu turned to Xin An’an, curious. “Shen Siyan didn’t give me a gift.”

Xin An’an’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s not possible! I saw him buying a gift for you. I even asked him directly if it was for your birthday, and he confirmed it.”

Xu Zhilu was confused. “When did you see this?”

“In the mall,” Xin An’an explained. “I was shopping with my mother that day and happened to run into him.”