The two of them entered the restaurant together. As soon as the restaurant manager saw them, he immediately came forward enthusiastically and respectfully greeted, “Mr. Fu.”

Fu Zhiyuan gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. The manager then led them to a private room Fu Zhiyuan had reserved in advance.

The restaurant’s decor was elegant and exquisite. In addition to the spacious public dining area, several private rooms were designed with excellent privacy to cater to different customers’ needs.

Upon entering the private room, Shen Nanxing was immediately captivated by the view before him. Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, they could admire the dazzling city lights of the night, as if the entire city’s brilliance was laid out before their eyes.

Fu Zhiyuan considerately pulled out a chair for Shen Nanxing, his voice tinged with a hint of tenderness. “Xingbao, have a seat first.”

“Thank you,” Shen Nanxing responded with a smile.

After Shen Nanxing sat down, Fu Zhiyuan followed suit and began to look through the menu. His slender fingers flipped through the pages, occasionally furrowing his brows with a serious expression.

Shen Nanxing felt like Fu Zhiyuan wasn’t holding a menu but some complicated business proposal.

Unable to hold back, he burst into laughter.

Fu Zhiyuan looked puzzled. “Xingbao, what’s so funny?”

Shen Nanxing shook his head. “Nothing, you just looked so serious while choosing the dishes.”

Fu Zhiyuan’s face froze slightly—was Xingbao teasing him?

He then handed the menu over to Shen Nanxing. “Xingbao, you choose instead.”

Shen Nanxing glanced at the menu and told the waiter, “I’ll have French onion soup, a filet mignon, mushroom soup, and tiramisu.”

“Understood, sir,” the waiter responded, noting down the order.

Shen Nanxing turned to Fu Zhiyuan and asked, “What about you, Zhiyuan-ge? What would you like to eat?”

After all, he had just ordered everything he personally liked. Would Fu Zhiyuan think he was ordering too much?

Fu Zhiyuan looked at the waiter and replied, “The same as his. Oh, and please bring him a glass of juice as well.”

“Certainly, sir,” the waiter replied before leaving the room.

Shen Nanxing glanced around the room and was surprised to spot a piano in the corner. Pointing toward it, he exclaimed, “Zhiyuan-ge, there’s a piano here!”

Fu Zhiyuan remained calm, his voice still gentle. “Xingbao, do you want to try playing it?”

Shen Nanxing walked over and realized it was a rather prestigious Steinway piano. Though slightly inferior to the one in his music room, it was still impressive.

He pulled out the piano bench, sat down, and gently pressed the keys, a spark of excitement flashing across his face.

Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his posture before beginning to play.

As his fingers danced across the piano keys, the Steinway piano produced a melodious and pure sound.

He was playing a classic piece, its melody beautiful and rich with emotion, each note brimming with life. Shen Nanxing was completely immersed in the world of music, his fingertips gliding across the keys as if he had become one with the piano.

Standing to the side, Fu Zhiyuan watched him with a soft gaze, the corners of his lips curling up unconsciously.

When the piece ended, Shen Nanxing’s arms felt slightly sore, but his eyes were filled with joy. Playing the piano always brought him a moment of peace, calming his restless heart.

At some point, Fu Zhiyuan had approached him, now holding a bouquet of lisianthus flowers in his hands.

Shen Nanxing’s heart skipped a beat, his face full of confusion. “Zhi-Zhiyuan ge, what… what do you mean by this?”

Fu Zhiyuan gazed at him deeply, his voice low and husky. “Xingbao, can I pursue you?”

He hadn’t originally planned to confess so suddenly, worried it might startle Xingbao. However, after seeing him trending online with another man yesterday, jealousy and fear had crept into his heart.

He feared that if he didn’t express his feelings soon, Xingbao might be taken away by someone else before he had the chance.

This sense of urgency was unfamiliar to him, someone usually calm and composed. So, he decided to take the risk—he wanted to secure a ticket into Xingbao’s heart.

Shen Nanxing was utterly stunned by the unexpected confession, unable to meet his gaze. Lowering his head, he stammered, “B-but I don’t know if I like you or not…”

“Then do you dislike me?”

Shen Nanxing shook his head.

Fu Zhiyuan’s heart leapt with hope. “Not disliking me is enough. Just because you don’t like me now doesn’t mean you won’t in the future.”

Shen Nanxing: “…” *Help, help! I thought this was just a simple dinner. How did it turn into a confession scene?*

Feeling flustered, Shen Nanxing didn’t know what to do with his hands and fidgeted nervously with the hem of his shirt.

“Xingbao,” Fu Zhiyuan continued, pressing forward gently, “I’m only asking for a chance to pursue you. If, during this time, I ever make you uncomfortable, you can stop me anytime.”

Shen Nanxing anxiously pinched his clothes tighter and whispered, “Why… why do you like me? I don’t think I have anything special worth liking.”

Fu Zhiyuan’s gaze turned even softer, his voice firm yet tender. “Liking someone is such a mysterious thing. When your image kept replaying in my mind, when I wanted to know everything about you, when I longed to share my happiness with you—I knew it then. I like you, Xingbao. I really, really like you. Or rather… I love you.”

He had actually wanted to say it was love at first sight but held back, fearing he might scare Shen Nanxing.

Hearing Fu Zhiyuan’s sincere and passionate confession, Shen Nanxing felt his face heat up. *How could Fu Zhiyuan sound so skilled at confessing? Could it be that he’s confessed to others before?*

But he quickly dismissed that thought. He remembered in the novel, Fu Zhiyuan remained alone even until the very end, never having a romantic partner.

Could it be… he truly liked him?

Thinking of this possibility, Shen Nanxing’s heart raced wildly, an unexplainable nervousness rising within him.

“Then… what if I don’t give you this chance?” he asked cautiously.

Fu Zhiyuan paused slightly, then replied with a gentle smile, “If you don’t, that’s fine too. It just means I need to work harder.”

Seeing Shen Nanxing’s hesitant expression, as if he wanted to say something but held back, Fu Zhiyuan continued, “Xingbao, pursuing you is my choice. You don’t need to feel pressured.”

The atmosphere grew heavier, silence stretching between them.

Shen Nanxing remained quiet, his gaze lowered, lost in thought.

Noticing his silence, Fu Zhiyuan felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. With a hint of dejection, he added, “Alright, Xingbao, I understand. But don’t worry, I—”

Before he could finish, Shen Nanxing interrupted with a serious expression, “Okay… I’ll give you this chance.”

The reason Shen Nanxing hadn’t responded immediately was because he was genuinely thinking it through—what would happen if they got together? Would he regret it later?

But since coming to this world, he had finally broken free from the predetermined path of fate. Now, he only wanted to live for himself.

Deep down, he realized there was a part of him that did like Fu Zhiyuan.

To avoid future regrets, he decided to give Fu Zhiyuan this chance. If Fu Zhiyuan ever disappointed him, he wouldn’t hesitate to walk away.

With his thoughts finally sorted out, Shen Nanxing felt much lighter, a sense of relief washing over him.

Meanwhile, Fu Zhiyuan felt like he had just been on a rollercoaster—plunging into despair before being lifted back to paradise.

His body trembled slightly with excitement, and he gently ruffled Shen Nanxing’s hair, his voice filled with emotion.

“Xingbao… thank you!”