Chocolate-flavored candy.
Sweet without being cloying, utterly addictive.
The figures tucked away in the corner went unnoticed amid the bustle, with the photographer’s voice drifting over now and then.
Listening closely, the sharp clicks of the camera rang out crystal clear.
Lu Zhixia’s chest felt ready to burst, her heart pounding like it might leap right out.
It was the same person, yet the presence of others all around turned it into a thrilling act of stolen pleasure, sending shivers of excitement through her body.
Her breath had nearly stopped altogether. Shen Wanqing pulled away, gently pinching her earlobe as her warm breath tickled Lu Zhixia’s ear. “Breathe.”
Lu Zhixia gasped like a fish drowning on dry land, gulping down air just to stay alive.
Before she could fully recover, Yan Fanghua called out to the two of them.
Lu Zhixia scrambled to her feet and hurried toward the inner room, only to be yanked back by Shen Wanqing.
“What?” Her voice came out low and husky—a touch sexy, though her glare was fierce.
Shen Wanqing lifted a hand to wipe the corner of her mouth, her expression calm as she reminded her, “Lipstick.”
Lu Zhixia scrubbed at her lips haphazardly and walked inside. “Mom.”
“Where’d you disappear to? Grab me a bottle of water—filming’s got me parched.” Yan Fanghua griped about being tired, but the blissful smile shining from her eyes told a different story.
Shen Tingyun was a man of few words. He stood obediently at her side as she drank.
Once she finished, he took the bottle from her, twisted the cap back on, and pulled a tissue from the nearby box to gently dab the water droplets from the corner of her mouth.
The photographer seized the moment for a candid shot: the tall, gentle man and the woman with her shy, smiling eyes—a picture-perfect pair.
Lu Zhixia stood below the platform, her foggy brain finally clearing as a surge of emotion hit her. She fired off a message to Shen Wanqing: What was that about, taking advantage of me?
The reply bubble popped up: Typing…
Shen Wanqing: You were the one seeking a kiss from me.
Lu Zhixia, mortified: Who sought a kiss from you?
Shen Wanqing’s response was cool and detached: Oh, right—from my photo.
Lu Zhixia had snuck the picture from her mother’s phone to send to herself, and Shen Wanqing had caught her red-handed. Flushed with embarrassment, she typed back: I was just showing it to a friend who’s getting married so she could see the dress. I’ll delete it right now.
Shen Wanqing: If you delete it, I’ll be heartbroken.
The typing indicator lingered for a good while before three words came through: Who cares about you.
Shen Wanqing’s lips curved into a smile at the corner of her mouth. She didn’t reply.
Lu Zhixia fiddled with her phone for a moment longer before pocketing it and wandering over to the computer nearby to admire the freshly shot photos.
Once the couple finished, the photographer turned to them with lingering enthusiasm. “How about you two get in on the action?”
“No thanks.” Lu Zhixia spoke up first, and Shen Wanqing stayed silent.
“Tingyun, how about a family portrait?” Yan Fanghua suggested. Shen Tingyun agreed, Shen Wanqing had no objections, and Lu Zhixia had no choice but to go along with it.
Shen Wanqing selected a sleek black gown, its elegant lines accentuating her neck like a graceful swan.
Lu Zhixia had picked out her own outfit too, but only after her mother’s persistent nagging—a complementary white dress.
In that moment, the long skirt lent Lu Zhixia an extra touch of soft, feminine beauty.
Her skin was fair, not quite the cool porcelain tone of Shen Wanqing’s but a warm, rosy white that glowed from within.
As her doctor had once put it: “Your kid’s got one of those rare, truly healthy constitutions—not subpar health, but the real deal.”
Yan Fanghua beamed with approval, tugging at Shen Wanqing’s arm. “Doesn’t she look great in a dress? She’s always off running wild, complaining skirts are too much hassle.”
Shen Wanqing’s gaze was far bolder than the look she’d given Lu Zhixia at the kitchen door back home.
Her eyes lingered hungrily. Lu Zhixia, usually clad in casual wear, had transformed into a divine masterpiece—beauty beyond words.
Perhaps a hint of shyness played into it, her eyes cast downward, a faint blush dusting her cheeks just so.
She was like a ripe water honey peach, juicy and irresistible. Shen Wanqing suddenly craved fruit.
Pursing her lips, she murmured an assent. “She looks good.”
Shen Tingyun studied her intently. The white gown evoked purity and sanctity, her dark eyes resolute with an indescribable strength. “She really does,” he said.
Skirts had been rare in Lu Zhixia’s memory; after starting work, it was all formal pantsuits.
A white long dress was a first for her, and the girl in the photos looked like a stranger even to herself.
“Professor Yan, let me take a photo of the two of you.” Shen Wanqing offered. Yan Fanghua lit up. “Wonderful, sweetie—come on over.”
Yan Fanghua was in high spirits, her good mood infectious. Lu Zhixia’s lips tugged upward into a smile.
“Sweetie, you take one of Wanqing and the others too,” Yan Fanghua directed.
With the photos wrapped up, Yan Fanghua headed off to change first. A voice called from the doorway: “Brother Luo, you done?”
Lu Zhixia glanced back coolly for an instant before looking away. She bent to pick up her mother’s bag and headed backstage.
Shen Wanqing, shrouded in the shadows below the platform, pocketed her phone and went to change as well.
The four of them emerged together as a makeshift family, right around noon.
“Let’s go grab some dinner,” Yan Fanghua suggested, and it passed unanimously.
The group headed to the German Restaurant, arriving just in time for the buffet discount. Lu Zhixia stood at the entrance, staring at the discount sign for a good while. “This is honestly the first time I’ve ever seen a place like this offer discounts.”
“Is it?” Yan Fanghua stood beside her. “Do you want to go for the buffet?”
“Yeah, the supreme seafood VIP package—I think it’s nearly ten thousand without the discount.” Lu Zhixia tilted her head toward her mother. “But eating buffet with them… doesn’t that feel a bit off?”
Mother and daughter murmured quietly at the door as Shen Wanqing’s phone rang.
The ringtone was familiar: Charlie Puth’s “Suffer,” with its explosively spicy lyrics.
Shen Wanqing stepped outside to take the call, glancing back now and then. In a flat tone, she said, “Let’s catch up after this busy stretch is over. Take care of yourself.”
She hung up and walked back inside. Lu Zhixia nudged her, while Yan Fanghua turned with a smile. “Done with your call?”
“Yeah.” Shen Wanqing paused in front of the discount sign. “The buffet sounds fine to me.”
“Right?” Lu Zhixia turned to her, eyes sparkling.
Shen Wanqing proposed the buffet, and Shen Tingyun—who had never been picky about food—nodded in agreement.
The four of them took their seats. Shen Wanqing first headed back to the entrance, then returned, skirting the fruit section.
Lu Zhixia was at the seafood area, where she grabbed a live lobster and took it to the processing station. After a short wait, she came back bearing a plate of typhoon shelter lobster.
Shen Wanqing was eating a water honey peach. Lu Zhixia blinked in confusion. “Fruit at a buffet? That’s a rare sight.”
“It’s pretty good.” Shen Wanqing picked up a piece and held it out. “Try some.”
“How good can a peach really be?” Unconvinced, Lu Zhixia leaned in to take a bite, but under the gaze of those heterochromatic eyes, she felt awkward and held out her bowl instead. “Put it in here.”
“There’s water in your bowl—it’ll ruin the flavor.” Shen Wanqing’s voice was even. “Hurry up. My arm’s getting tired.”
Lu Zhixia leaned closer and took the peach into her mouth with a crunch, then another.
A faint blush colored her cheeks. It was cool and sweetly refreshing, with an excellent texture—definitely delicious.
Shen Wanqing watched her intently, without so much as blinking. Lu Zhixia ducked her head and said shamelessly, “I know I’m good-looking, but you don’t have to stare. I still think the lobster’s better.”
She wasn’t picky, but at heart she was a total carnivore—one big lobster wasn’t even enough to tide her over.
Yan Fanghua and Shen Tingyun returned too, plates of salmon sashimi in hand.
Shen Tingyun set some thickly sliced salmon in front of Shen Wanqing. “Got some for you.”
Shen Wanqing thanked him and went back to her water honey peach.
Throughout the meal, Shen Tingyun stayed quiet, but Yan Fanghua and her daughter kept the conversation going, tossing in questions for Shen Wanqing now and then. The table never grew too silent.
“I still remember the last time you were back in the country for a conference. You ate here, and I rushed over but still missed you.” Yan Fanghua sighed. “It’s good that you left the Translation Bureau—now Mom can see you more often. But sometimes I think about it… such a great place.”
“Mom,” Lu Zhixia cut in, changing the subject, “let me tell you, the best thing I’ve had here is the Pine Leaf Crab. Its roe and paste? In Japanese eyes, that’s some noble delicacy—like dragon liver and phoenix marrow.”
Yan Fanghua nodded. “Though it doesn’t seem to be on tonight.”
“That’s expensive stuff. They’d lose money putting it out at a buffet.” Lu Zhixia glanced at Shen Wanqing. With her small appetite, after a few water honey peaches and some sashimi, she had already set down her chopsticks and was fiddling with her phone.
Moments later, a server wheeled over a cart and gave a slight bow. Today was one of the days in the German Restaurant’s anniversary celebration—they’d be drawing lucky customers, and their table had the good fortune to be selected.
The prizes were generous, including a Pine Leaf Crab trio platter.
Whether raw, in soup, or as tempura, it all tasted great.
Shen Wanqing tried a little. Lu Zhixia, full of anticipation for the dish she’d just recommended, stared at her with wide eyes. “Is it good?”
“Delicious.” Shen Wanqing smiled faintly. “If Little Sis likes it, you can come home with me tonight.”
Lu Zhixia was wiping her hands when Shen Wanqing continued, “Perfect timing—there’s a wedding tomorrow. We could head over together and pick up the things I need for it while we’re there.”
“We could go get them now.” Lu Zhixia blurted out straightforwardly. “It’s only three o’clock.”
“I have to head out for something.” Shen Wanqing’s expression cooled, tinged with regret. “If Little Sis doesn’t want to go, that’s fine. I’ll handle it myself tomorrow.”
Lu Zhixia grinned from ear to ear, exaggerating wildly. “I’ll go, I’ll go!” She turned to shoot her mom a pitiful look, her eyes silently protesting: You trying to get me killed or what?!
“Anyway, Wanqing, do you need help with your afternoon errand?” Yan Fanghua said with a smile. “Little Xia’s got nothing going on—she could tag along. But if it’s not convenient, she can just meet you there tonight.”
“I can, but I’m afraid little sister might not want to.” Shen Wanqing was always exceedingly obedient in front of Yan Fanghua. Lu Zhixia admired her acting chops and mimicked her tone to perfection, sounding utterly meek. “Big Sister, you’ve wronged me. Of course I want to go. But what exactly does Big Sister need me to accompany her for?”
“I’m going on a blind date. Does little sister want to come along?” Shen Wanqing’s gaze was cool and detached, with no hint of a joke.
Lu Zhixia’s heart skipped a beat. She dropped the playacting and asked seriously, “For real?”
“For real.” That came from Shen Tingyun. “It was arranged by Wanqing’s grandfather.”
“Ah, then Little Xia shouldn’t go.” Yan Fanghua moved to stop her at once. “It’s not appropriate.”
“What’s so inappropriate about it?” Lu Zhixia kept a straight face. “Big Sister’s blind date—little sister tagging along to vet the guy. No issue there, right?”
“Exactly.” Shen Wanqing smiled faintly. “That’s precisely what I was hoping for.”
The two of them were perfectly in sync, playing up the big sister–little sister routine without missing a beat.
Shen Wanqing needed to leave early to beat the traffic.
Yan Fanghua pulled Lu Zhixia aside for a private word. “Don’t go just for show. Give Wanqing some real backup. Who knows—it might actually work out?”
Lu Zhixia glanced over at Shen Wanqing, who was waiting for her, and replied offhandedly, “Don’t worry about it.” Her eyes met Shen Wanqing’s cool gaze, and she flashed a sly, wicked grin, her words dripping with innuendo. “I’ll make damn sure I send Big Sister straight to heaven.”
