Chu Yi sniffled and replied.

“Are you not working overtime today?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Then I’ll book a restaurant and send you the details. You can come straight there after work.”  

“Sure, whatever you choose is fine.”

“Okay, I have to go now, still busy.”

“Alright, I’ll go pick a restaurant.”

Ah, Chu Yi put away her phone, feeling a rush of emotions. She quickly hid her sigh and began searching for a restaurant.

Given Mr. Qiao’s particular tastes, Chu Yi didn’t dare to book a Western restaurant. She found a highly-rated music restaurant on a review site. The pictures looked nice, the food seemed tasty, and most importantly, they offered a variety of flavors—salty, sweet, spicy, mild—something for everyone.

After sending the address to Qiao Anchen, Chu Yi started getting dressed. Even though the cold wind was biting, a girl’s desire to wear a dress couldn’t be stopped. She put on a coat over her dress, exuding confidence and showing off her curves.

She arrived early at the restaurant. The ambiance was indeed excellent, with a chic, modern decor. Large pots of greenery and flowers were placed throughout, and the tables and chairs were made of dark walnut wood. There was even a band performing on the stage.

The restaurant was spacious but quiet, with each booth offering a high level of privacy, separated by plant stands, and the lighting above was uniquely styled.

After waiting for about ten minutes, Qiao Anchen appeared at the door, right on time. It was clear he had rushed over right after work, still in his crisp suit with his coat draped over his arm. His searching gaze caught the attention of several tables.

Qiao Anchen was a punctual person, almost to the second. This trait, likely due to his profession, meant that even a casual promise was taken seriously.

So, most of the time, Chu Yi felt very secure with Qiao Anchen because she knew he would always follow through on his word.

However, he never took the initiative to express this.

“Over here—” Chu Yi waved to him, and his gaze immediately locked onto hers. He nodded and walked towards her.

“Have you ordered yet?” Qiao Anchen asked as he placed his coat on the back of the chair. Chu Yi shook her head.

“No, I was waiting for you to order together.”

They studied the menu for a while before Chu Yi ultimately selected a few dishes highly recommended by online reviewers. While waiting for the food, Chu Yi asked him.

“What made you decide to invite me out for dinner tonight?”

“Isn’t it Christmas Eve?” Qiao Anchen said, pouring himself a glass of water and taking a sip, looking puzzled.

“But you’re the kind of person who doesn’t even celebrate Valentine’s Day,” Chu Yi pointed out.

Qiao Anchen paused mid-drink, seemingly reflecting on something.

“Times have changed…”

“?” Chu Yi thought of his behavior yesterday; he had shown no signs before bed that he was planning to celebrate Christmas Eve.

A thought suddenly crossed her mind.

“Did your colleague remind you?” Chu Yi asked suspiciously, and Qiao Anchen’s expression stiffened.

“He might have mentioned it in passing…”

Actually, that wasn’t the case. Jin Ran had specifically come to remind him before leaving work, telling him not to take her to a Hunan restaurant on Christmas Eve.

Qiao Anchen had no idea that Christmas Eve was a special occasion where couples were supposed to go out to eat.

After a few seconds of pondering, he immediately texted Chu Yi.

Chu Yi: “…”

She knew it.

For Qiao Anchen, thinking of taking her out for a special holiday dinner was as unlikely as a meteor hitting Earth.

She gave up.

Chu Yi poured herself a glass of water, took a sip, and suppressed the emotions swirling in her mind, keeping her tone polite and composed.

“Well, I really have to thank your friend. I’ll have to thank him in person next time.”

The food arrived, and it all looked quite appetizing. Before picking up her chopsticks, Chu Yi felt a little nervous, watching Qiao Anchen closely, afraid he might suddenly say—

“This dish isn’t cooked properly.” Or, “The taste is off.” Or worse, “We should’ve just gone to that Hunan restaurant.”

At that point, Chu Yi would want to crawl under the table.

But fortunately…

“Hmm… the taste is alright.” Qiao Anchen took a bite, nodded, and seriously evaluated it. Chu Yi let out a sigh of relief.

“Glad to hear that.”

Overall, the meal went pretty well. At the end, Qiao Anchen went to pay the bill. While he was at the counter, swiping his card and waiting, a few other customers stood nearby.

Chu Yi looked down at her phone for a moment, and when she looked up again, she noticed a woman standing next to Qiao Anchen, smiling and chatting with him.

From where she was sitting, she could only see Qiao Anchen’s profile and back and couldn’t hear what they were saying. She waited for a bit, but the conversation seemed to continue without any sign of ending.

Chu Yi shifted her attention and began packing up her things.

Suddenly, Qiao Anchen waved at her from across the room.

Chu Yi was startled, but she got up and walked over, grabbing her belongings and picking up the coat Qiao Anchen had left on the chair.

“What’s going on?” she asked him, glancing at the woman standing nearby.

The woman was mature and glamorous, with exquisite makeup and elegant attire—definitely a beauty, though still not quite on Cheng Li’s level.

Chu Yi thought.

She suppressed the petty jealousy bubbling up inside her and deliberately moved closer to Qiao Anchen.

But before she could react, Qiao Anchen suddenly pulled her into his arms, holding her close by the shoulders with a serious expression and tone.

“This is my wife. I’m already married.”

“Miss, please respect yourself.”

“Well, alright.” The woman pouted, looking a bit disappointed as she sized up Chu Yi, as if she found the situation regretful.

“Sir, your wife doesn’t seem to be a good match for you,” she said with a shrug.

“You deserve better.”

“This doesn’t seem to concern you,” Qiao Anchen’s face darkened completely.

“Besides, I believe my wife is a hundred times better than you.”

“At the very least, she wouldn’t approach a random man to ask for his contact information, and then persist even after he told her he was married.”

“I think before you judge someone else, you should reflect on yourself first.”

After saying this, Qiao Anchen seemed to calm down a bit. He held Chu Yi close and started to walk out, without bothering to look at the woman whose face was now twisted in anger.

Chu Yi… Chu Yi was completely stunned.

She thought, maybe there’s still hope for saving this marriage… tot~