Chapter 80: I Remember Everything About You

The hot pot bubbled merrily, releasing fragrant steam from the swirling red chili peppers. The enticing aroma, even in the dead of night, made one’s stomach rumble with anticipation.

Despite it being summer, the hot pot restaurant was bustling with customers.

Eating hot pot with the air conditioning on was pure bliss.

A plate of hand-cut lamb arrived, and Su Yiren eagerly grabbed a piece with her chopsticks, dipping it into the non-spicy pot.

Seeing her eagerness, Si Hong couldn’t help but chuckle.

However, after the lamb was cooked, Su Yiren didn’t devour it immediately. Instead, she leaned forward and placed the piece of lamb on Si Hong’s plate.

Si Hong was taken aback and looked at Su Yiren in surprise.

She was smiling with her eyes crinkled, looking adorable.

“Great Si Hong, you’ve been working so hard lately! You’ve lost weight, you need to eat more to replenish your energy!”

Si Hong shook his head and laughed, thanking her.

He usually preferred bland food, but he always followed her preferences when eating, never making any demands.

Su Yiren knew this, so she had specifically ordered a hot pot with two different broths for this outing.

Si Hong saw her smiling at him, her eyes fixed on him, as if urging him to eat.

He picked up his chopsticks and placed the lamb in his mouth, chewing slowly.

“Si Hong, has anyone ever told you that you look really handsome eating? Like a prince.” Su Yiren asked with a smile.

Si Hong didn’t answer immediately. After finishing the lamb, he put down his chopsticks, raised his eyebrows at her, and said,

“What do you want to ask me? Just say it.”

“Hey!” Su Yiren was immediately unhappy.

“What, just because I complimented you, does that mean I’m asking for something?”

“Isn’t it?” Si Hong’s tone was gentle.

“Half a month ago, I went to Jiangcheng to pick you up. I was almost there, but you suddenly said you wouldn’t be coming back. What did you say then?”

Su Yiren awkwardly scratched her nose.

That day, she had just finished an auction and asked Si Hong to pick her up. But soon after, she was pushed down the stairs and rushed to the hospital that night. Later, she went to the ancestral home with Jiang Jinyun for a few days, so her return was naturally delayed.

She was afraid that Si Hong would worry, so she didn’t dare tell him the truth. She simply said that Chi Muyang had just returned to China and wanted to take him around.

Si Hong, though good-natured, couldn’t help but sound a little disappointed when he heard she wouldn’t be back for a while.

She could only apologize and flatter him, saying he was broad-minded and magnanimous, not petty like her.

Only when she heard Si Hong laugh on the phone did she breathe a sigh of relief.

Actually, she wasn’t intentionally hiding it from him. Si Hong, though seemingly easygoing, was quite stubborn, especially when it came to her.

If he knew she was hospitalized with a foot injury, he would definitely rush over that night.

Seeing Su Yiren’s awkward silence, Si Hong continued slowly,

“Two years ago, you just took over the company and wanted me to manage it for you. But instead of saying it directly, you praised my abilities, efficiency, and called me a world-class talent. I remember correctly, right?”

Su Yiren immediately nodded, “Of course! You are the most talented person in the world!”

Si Hong continued, listing off memories like a catalogue,

“Three years ago, you wanted to find a painting by a deceased master. You said I was eloquent, good at socializing, and had a wide circle of friends, so I could definitely find that rare piece.”

“Seven years ago, you hit a snag in your design and asked me to take you on a field trip. What did you say then?” He pretended to think, imitating her tone,

“I want to go out and see the world, but I’m so beautiful, I’m not safe anywhere. Look at you, you’re so strong, better than a professional bodyguard. And we’re so close, traveling together is definitely more interesting than with a bodyguard. Why don’t you travel with me?”

Su Yiren covered her face and giggled, muttering,

“Si Hong! You’re not even close! I’m not that narcissistic!”

Si Hong looked at her with soft eyes, chuckled lightly,

“Not close? I think it’s pretty close.”

Su Yiren blushed with embarrassment, glared at him in frustration,

“That was so many years ago, how do you remember so clearly!”

“I remember everything about you.” Si Hong replied instinctively. After saying it, he realized it was inappropriate and quickly picked up his cup, using a drink as a cover.

Su Yiren didn’t notice the underlying emotion in his words. She rested her chin on her hand and sighed,

“I can’t believe we’ve known each other for so long…”

Si Hong paused, nodded,

“Yeah, almost 20 years.”

He looked up at Su Yiren. She was no longer the little girl in a princess dress, looking like a doll.

But he could still see her from 20 years ago in her.

Smart, witty, quirky, and incredibly cute.

The waiter brought dish after dish of food, filling the table.

Si Hong saw her picking up food and throwing it into the spicy pot. He quickly reached out with his chopsticks to stop her,

“You have a weak stomach, are you sure you want to eat something so spicy?”

Su Yiren nodded, “Of course! How can you eat hot pot without spice!”

Si Hong stubbornly stopped her, using his eyes to signal her to put it in the mushroom broth next to it. Su Yiren grumbled,

“But I ordered the spicy pot! It’s a waste not to eat it!”

“It’s even more wasteful to end up in the hospital with a stomach ache.” Si Hong was always stubborn when it came to matters of principle.

Since Su Yiren returned to Rongcheng, Si Hong had taken care of her meals, even ordering takeout, carefully selecting dishes that were good for her health.

Although the food was mostly bland, he changed it up every day for her, never finding it tasteless.

But after a while, she always wanted to eat something spicy. So today, she secretly ordered a hot pot with two different broths while he was in the bathroom.

“Just a little bit!” Su Yiren gestured with her hand,

“Such a big pot, it’s a waste not to eat it.”

Seeing her craving, Si Hong relented. He asked the waiter for a bowl of water, scooped out the few pieces of lamb from the spicy pot, rinsed them in the water, and placed them on her small plate.

Su Yiren: “…”

When you’re under the eaves, you have to bow your head.

Fine, I’ll eat it. It’s better than nothing…

Si Hong saw her initial reluctance, but after a few bites, her face was filled with satisfaction. He couldn’t help but shake his head and laugh.

After they had their fill, Su Yiren stretched contentedly, leaning back in her chair, with no hurry to go back. Si Hong finally asked his previous question.

“Why didn’t you lock the door at the company just now?”

Speaking of which, Su Yiren suddenly smiled mysteriously. She picked up her phone, went around to his side, and sat next to him.

“Let me show you something fun.”

As she got closer, her light, pleasant fragrance filled his nostrils.

For the sake of eating hot pot, Su Yiren had tied her long hair into a bun, looking cute and docile.

She unlocked her phone and showed it to Si Hong, her body unconsciously leaning towards him. Her white neck was exposed to him, and he wanted to look away, but he couldn’t.

Si Hong’s Adam’s apple bobbed, suppressing the subtle emotions, he shifted his gaze to the screen of her phone.

When he saw the image on the screen, his expression changed slightly, he frowned.