To calm down Ru and to save himself from another thrashing, Xiao Zhiren zipped his lips and took her somewhere she'd forget all about his earlier remarks. And that place was... The Food Street of the Capital.
Obviously, to a foodie like Ru the only thing that could coax her would be food, not words. And as he had expected, Ru's eyes certainly brightened up at the sight of the bustling street filled with restaurants and food stalls. It was pure heaven for her.
The aroma of spices, burnt oil, sweetness, sourness, lingered in the air making one's taste buds to awaken. At least, Ru's inner food beast was awoken. She held Xiao Zhiren's wrist and dragged him along towards the cold rice noodles bar.
It was Xiao Zhiren's turn to be surprised as he felt her hands around his wrist. Her hands weren't like most girls. They were neither soft nor delicate. There was a distinct roughness that reminded him how much dangerous work she does every single day. Also, he was reminded of how tough she was.
"Two bowls of cold rice noodles," Ru gave the order and found an empty seat to sit.
Very soon, two bowls of cold rice noodles were placed before them on the plastic table. Seeing Ru's glimmering eyes, Xiao Zhiren couldn't even bring himself to say that he didn't like cold noodles.
Ru, on the other hand, had never been picky with food. No matter what the taste was, if she found it edible, you won't hear her complain at all. She immediately dug in with her disposable chopsticks. Since this was a spicy meal with a spicy sauce, Xiao Zhiren could see the red sauce smeared on her lips as she slurped on her noodles.
Her tongue came out to lick away the sauce and poor Xiao Zhiren felt like it was torture watching her eat. How he wished he was that bowl of noodles. Haiz! He was even jealous of noodles now!
"I've thought of another way to compensate you," Xiao Zhiren spoke while still not touching his bowl of noodles at all.
"What is it?" Ru really wasn't curious. His previous answer had already pissed her off.
"Since you don't fancy my body as compensation. How about letting me devote my life to you instead?" Ru's chopsticks halted for a second as she looked at him with a deep gaze. "You can't stop my heart from beating for you. Honestly speaking, I don't think even I can do it at this point. So, let my heart at ease. I won't burden you."
Ru didn't give him a direct reply but Xiao Zhiren decided to take her silence as her consent. As he picked up his chopsticks to take a bite, his bowl was snatched from him. He gave a wide-eyed look to Ru. "That's mine."
"Who said that? I ordered two for myself. And didn't you just say that you'll devote yourself to me? How will you be able to do it if you can't even give up your bowl of noodles to me?" Ru's retort came as a huge surprise to Xiao Zhiren but it was a pleasant one.
He found her act really cute as he lifted his hand and rubbed her head lovingly. "You're really..." Ru lifted her brow as if threatening him to continue, "Amazing. I was gonna say Amazing. Stop glaring." Satisfied with his reply, Ru focused her attention back to the bowl of noodles at hand.
But Xiao Zhiren's gaze didn't shift from her. He propped his chin on his hand and kept looking at her with tender filled eyes. Earlier he was gonna call her childish but cute; however, he had to change his words knowing she'd not like his original words at all.
Moving from that noodle bar, Ru pulled him to barbeque place and ordered a whole bunch of meat skewers, kebabs, and rice wine. Xiao Zhiren looked at all the food being placed at their wooden table and asked, "Who's gonna eat all of this?"
"This one," Ru pointed at herself proudly.
"Are you sure you can eat all this? You just had two bowls of rice noodles." Xiao Zhiren kindly reminded her.
"Oi! Are you underestimating me?" Ru gave him an inquiring look.
Before Xiao Zhiren could say anything, the shop owner who was an old lady spoke up, "Young man, don't ever question your wife. That's the only formula for a happy married life."
Ru wasn't pleased to hear someone calling her a 'wife' but Xiao Zhiren was over the moon. Ru wanted to clear the misunderstanding but Xiao Zhiren didn't give her a chance as his face broke into a bright smile and he said, "Lao Ban[1], I'll remember that advice of yours."
"Why didn't you let me speak anything?"
"Why does it matter?" He argued.
"Why doesn't it? I'm not your wife." Ru stated plainly.
"You're right. You're not." Then his voice turned into a whisper as he added, "Not just yet."
Ru ignored him since she really couldn't understand him at all. He was one hard person to read. And when Ru couldn't read people, she only got annoyed. So, she dedicated her sole focus to the meat-heaven before her.
Unbeknownst to them, a storm was brewing on the internet and at the Ji Family Mansion.
"Ran Zi, take a look at this," Old Madam Ji called Ji Syaoran as soon as he walked inside the house. "Come already. Look at this."
"I'm coming. What's the hurry? Even I'm not in such a hurry to show you those blurry photos of bro's girlfriend." Ji Syaoran sat down beside his grandmother on the couch and glanced at her mobile screen. His eyes bulged out as he snatched the phone from her hand frantically. "Where is this from?" He asked in disbelief.
"My favorite food blogger uploaded this photo from Food Street. It's taken only an hour ago." Old Madam Ji announced with palpable excitement on her old face.
Ji Syaoran was still in disbelief as he looked at the screen. On the food blog, a single click was shared in which Xiao Zhiren's hand was rubbing Ru's head while she scowled like a child. Although the picture was of their side profile, whoever knew them could recognize at one glance.
There was a single caption with the photo, "Today, I went to find the taste of spices. Look, I found the spices of love instead. #foodstreet #truelove P.S. Someone gift me a guy like him. I'm so envious seeing the love in his eyes."
This post was trending all over Weibo on hot searches within an hour. Why wouldn't it? The love was overloading in that photo.
Ji Syaoran scrolled down and read the comments out loud for his grandmother.
Chatter_box: Aiya! He's so handsome. And the way he's looking at that girl, I'm so green with envy that I think soon a horse will be able to graze on my head.
BlueStone: Why are people flaunting love in the food street? I can't even eat there in peace now! Too much dog food for a single dog like me.
StarryNight: Forget about flaunting love, someone just tells me why do I never come across such gorgeous couples?
DarkAsSnow: Why is no one focusing on the girl? With one look, I can tell, she's a beauty. That gorgeous shape cut is so rare to see. Why is no one signing her? I want to see her in a movie!
OverActive: The commenter above, do you really think that her boyfriend would allow her to work with other males? He might bury his love rivals. And I'm sure there'll be plenty of flies for him to shoo away already.
PoetryQueen: Haiz! I can't help but write these lines for this couple... "I knew it was love at first sight
The moment I saw that pair of eyes
As my heart skipped a beat
I took the hint to not breathe
I was afraid, you'd see my love
I was afraid, I'd never be enough
But then you held my hand
And it caressed my soul
All it took was a kiss from your eyes
And here I was coming undone."
"Bro is famous in a day." Ji Syaoran didn't know what else to say. It was supposed to be his ace point. But now, everyone knew about Xiao Zhiren's girlfriend.
"Oh my! That girl really looks gorgeous. My Zhiren won't choose just anyone. I'm sure she'd as outstanding as he is himself." Old Madam Ji had already started fantasizing about the future. Everything was planned up in her mind. Just a proper wedding was yet to be held.
~~~
In a faraway land, another pair of eyes were glued on the laptop screen as they stared at that photo of a loving couple.
With a rhythmic tapping on the oakwood desk, the person lifted his slender fingers and dialed a number. As the call connected, his pleasantly soft voice spoke, "Settle everything. We're leaving for China, today."
He hung up the phone and his fingers caressed the familiar figure in the photo as he whispered, "We'll soon settle our scores. Wait for me, my dearest love."
[1] 'Lao Ban': Boss as in someone who owns a business.