The spot for their date—no, their dinner—was in the South District.
Or rather, it belonged to the South District.
Chen Nannan had long been eager to bring Shen An here, and now she had finally turned that cherished idea into reality.
Eating was a pleasure Chen Nannan had grown deeply accustomed to.
But she didn’t enjoy it in every situation—only when she craved something particular or came across food she loved did her enthusiasm truly ignite.
Fortunately, her constitution was exceptional. No matter how much she ate, she rarely put on fat anywhere except for a touch of plumpness in her cheeks, which was scarcely a flaw.
Even if she gained a little weight, it wouldn’t matter. Chen Nannan had no plans to become a model.
She had sampled nearly every shop, large and small, in the South District.
Bringing Shen An here was her chance to show off her “gourmet expertise.”
The shop sat in a remote alley deep in the South District. As they stepped into the quiet lane, Shen An felt for a moment like he had wandered into a nighttime market in some forgotten corner of the city.
Glancing around, he sighed with admiration. “I had no idea the South District had hidden gems like this. You’ve really opened my eyes, Senior Sister.”
He had pictured a university commercial district as much like the big malls outside—wide avenues lined with brightly lit, upscale shops.
The scale might be smaller, but he hadn’t expected such a thick aura of old-school street market charm.
Hearing this, Chen Nannan felt a secret thrill and teased, “You’ve got a lot left to discover.”
“Take the South District—it’s not entirely on campus. Places like this one? You can access them from outside, but they’re tricky to find. And you’d need to show your student ID at the school gate.”
“Most people on campus don’t even know how to get here—or that it exists at all.”
Shen An arched an eyebrow. “Kept separate? It reminds me of the North District.”
The North District apartments weren’t fully on school grounds either. Plenty of buildings were rented to outsiders.
They shared the same neighborhood, but barriers divided them, with school security guards on duty. Without student credentials, you couldn’t cross into the North District from campus.
“More or less.”
Chen Nannan spoke softly. “This area’s pretty out of the way, though. Even outsiders rarely stumble upon it.”
Shen An shrugged. “Most people probably head straight for the big malls when they want to eat or shop—it’s easier.”
“But I like these hidden spots.”
Chen Nannan flashed a sly grin. “The world’s best food is tucked away in places like this.”
“Think about those unassuming street stalls. Sometimes, their dishes outshine anything from a fancy hotel.”
Shen An blinked in surprise. “Looks like we’re two of a kind.”
Chen Nannan bared her white teeth in a grin, her eyebrows arching into playful crescents. “We’ve always been two of a kind.”
“Haven’t we?”
Shen An reached out and ruffled her silky hair. “A match made in heaven.”
Pfft~
Chen Nannan swatted his hand away with a huff. “Stick close to me, or you’ll get lost.”
Night had deepened, and the narrow lanes all blurred together under dim lights. Some stretches lacked streetlamps entirely, turning the paths into a true labyrinth.
Yet Shen An loved it.
He had once lived in a place much like this—an urban village that outsiders saw as a dirty, chaotic maze full of risks and hassles.
To him, though, it had been a haven.
Messy as it was, the vibrant human warmth was something pristine cities and gleaming malls could never match.
That was, until life intervened, and he had to leave.
Winding their way through the twists and turns, they finally spotted light ahead.
Chen Nannan turned to speak to Shen An, only to catch a faint nostalgia on his face—as if he knew these streets better than she did.
Surprised, she paused, then it dawned on her.
His family wasn’t well-off, so… his old home must have been nothing fancy.
With that thought, Chen Nannan pressed her lips together. In the alley’s faint glow, she sidled up and looped her arm through his. “We’re almost there.”
Shen An looked down just then, quickly masking the sentiment in his eyes. When he glanced up, mischief danced in them.
His lips curved smugly as he teased, “I’ve been thinking… this feels a little unfair.”
Unfair?
What was unfair?
Chen Nannan blinked in confusion, waiting for him to explain.
“You said we should take it slow, build our feelings gradually, and not rush—especially that I need to keep my impulses in check.”
“But what if you’re the one who can’t hold back? What if you get impulsive when I don’t want to go there?”
Huh?
It was a question Chen Nannan hadn’t even considered.
She figured she would never throw herself at him so shamelessly.
But reality hit as she realized his teasing stemmed from her arm still linked with his.
She went speechless.
Irritated, Chen Nannan released his arm and punched him squarely. “Hurry up!”
What impulses… She had only… only wanted to keep him from getting lost in old memories!
Ow.
Shen An rubbed his arm and trailed after her at a leisurely pace.
Chen Nannan knew the area like the back of her hand, exchanging greetings with vendors along the way.
She was clearly a favorite; the shop owners lit up with enthusiasm.
After navigating a few more side streets, they arrived at their destination.
Shen An peered at the weathered sign, where only a few faded characters remained legible: “Lamb Stew.”
He murmured it aloud. Chen Nannan turned with a gentle smile. “That’s right—lamb stew. This place makes the best.”
Shen An hesitated. “Senior Sister, you really want to eat here?”
“Mm-hmm.” Chen Nannan licked her lips at the mere thought. “It’s been forever… not since the semester started.”
Noticing his expression, she asked curiously, “What’s up? Can’t you eat lamb?”
“Not exactly.”
Shen An cleared his throat. “I actually love lamb stew, but…”
Before he could finish, Chen Nannan tugged him inside. “But what? If you can eat it, we eat first and talk later!!”
The shop’s owner was a stern-looking old man.
He mustered a thin smile for Chen Nannan—the most he seemed capable of.
But when his eyes shifted to Shen An, it vanished in an instant.
Whoa…
It felt like facing a judge eyeing a suspect.
Shen An opted not to push his luck.
After a brief chat with the old man, Chen Nannan led the way up the creaky wooden stairs to a small private room on the second floor.
The shop was quiet, and soon the old man delivered a steaming pot of lamb stew, along with rice.
Catching the old man’s lingering stares, Shen An raised an eyebrow. “Senior Sister, is this guy some relative of yours?”
Chen Nannan was poised to dig in. “Huh? No, of course not.”
“Then why’s he glaring at me like that?”
Shen An grumbled. “It’s like I stole his granddaughter or something.”
Chen Nannan blinked. “Shh—the old man’s got sharp ears despite his age.”
Shen An straightened up, then lowered his voice anyway. “What’s there to fear?”
Pfft.
Chen Nannan picked up a piece of lamb and placed it in Shen An’s bowl, her voice soft. “I come here so often, we’ve gotten to know each other over time.”
“Plus, he has no kids of his own. Might stir up some feelings.”
Ah.
Shen An ate with relish. “You’re quite the local celebrity, Senior Sister.”
“If I were him, I’d like you too.”
Chen Nannan froze mid-chopstick, shooting him a glare.
“Ahem, not like that.”
“Eat your rice.”
“But you still haven’t answered my question, Senior Sister.” Shen An gulped down a mouthful and beamed at her.
Chen Nannan faltered, a touch of guilt in her voice. “What question?”
“Hey, no amnesia allowed, Senior Sister.”
Shen An pouted. “You punched me so hard it stung.”
Chen Nannan shot him a fierce look, all tsundere pride. “Just relax—I’d never do anything to you.”
“I’m not like you, always groping around!”
With that, she warned him venomously, “Touch me again next time, and I’ll chop off your hands and feet, toss them in the pot, and stew them with the lamb!”
Shen An inwardly whistled, muttering, “Didn’t peg you for the heavy-taste type, Senior Sister.”
Chen Nannan scooped up more lamb and stuffed it straight into his mouth.
Shen An’s brows smoothed in delight. As he bit down, he playfully clamped onto her chopsticks, only letting go after she tugged.
“See? No touching here~”
Shen An proclaimed righteously.
Chen Nannan stared at him in utter exasperation…
This guy could turn even this into an advantage…
“Dig in already—I’m starving!” Chen Nannan paid him no mind and shrugged off her reservations, tucking into the food with gusto.
Shen An had finally met his match. Up until now, it had always been her watching him devour his meal; this time, the tables had turned, and he was the one on the sidelines.
He was a little stunned.
Hadn’t she been eating so daintily before? How had she suddenly ramped up to pro level?
But he wasn’t about to be outdone. Before long, he was silently pitting himself against Chen Nannan in an unspoken eating contest.
The two of them snatched up a piece every few seconds, chowing down relentlessly. In short order, they demolished the massive pot of lamb.
One had to admit, the old man clearly doted on Chen Nannan. It was just a standard pot of lamb, but heaven only knew how many spices he’d thrown in—the meat alone was so satisfying that it filled them right up, leaving the pot of rice on the side untouched, lid and all.
