The cozy warmth of the studio still lingered in Jiang Yue'er's skin as she followed Lin Feng down the sidewalk.
He was, as usual, dressed in that same black hoodie and worn sneakers—nothing about him screamed money or power. And yet, every time she thought she had him figured out, he surprised her again.
"Where are we going?" she asked, brushing her hair behind one ear as the midday sun caught her cheek.
"Lunch," Lin Feng replied casually. "Thought you deserved something nice. After all, you just exposed your soul through music—kinda rude not to reward that."
Jiang Yue'er snorted. "I didn't play for you."
"Oh, of course not. You just happened to pour your heart out dramatically in an empty studio, with perfect lighting, while I stood in the doorway looking like a scene from a coming-of-age drama."
She elbowed him lightly, but she couldn't help the smile curling on her lips.
They entered a quiet, high-end fusion restaurant tucked between two apartment buildings—easy to miss, unless you knew it was there. As the waiter led them to a private booth, Jiang Yue'er gave Lin Feng a sidelong glance.
"Do you always take girls to places like this?" she asked, more curious than accusing.
He raised a brow. "Would it make a difference if I said yes?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Yes."
"Then no."
[System: Host, do you lie this smoothly with everyone, or am I special?]
The corner of Lin Feng's mouth twitched, but he didn't respond. He let her order whatever she wanted, not blinking once at the prices. Jiang Yue'er noticed that. She always noticed.
The food arrived quickly—pan-seared duck breast with rose glaze for her, black truffle noodles for him. Between bites and soft jazz, the mood shifted.
A little softer.
A little quieter.
She set her fork down, glancing at him. "You really don't care what people say about you, do you?"
Lin Feng leaned back. "I let them talk. As long as I know what I'm doing, and who I'm doing it for… that's enough."
She lowered her gaze, voice barely above a whisper. "You keep showing up like this…"
Her fingers brushed the napkin on her lap. "You're going to ruin my pride, Lin Feng."
He looked at her for a moment, a long one. But before he could speak, her phone buzzed with a notification.
🗨️ DanceQueenYuwei:
"So now he's hanging out with the music goddess too? Lin Feng's got a real talent for saving damsels…"
Jiang Yue'er glanced at the screen, then turned it face down on the table, cheeks warming just slightly. "Your fan club's growing," she muttered.
[System: Host, I'm drafting your official nickname. How does 'Knight of the Emotionally Repressed and Musically Gifted' sound?]
After lunch, as they stepped outside, Lin Feng stretched lazily. "Hey," he said, glancing at her sideways, "What kind of piano would you get if you could choose anything?"
She blinked. "Why?"
"No reason." He shrugged. "Just curious."
Jiang Yue'er narrowed her eyes. "You're the type that casually drops Ferraris on people and calls it a thoughtful gesture, aren't you?"
"I take offense to that," he said smoothly. "I'm much more subtle."
[System: Host, your idea of subtle is like setting off fireworks during a stealth mission.]
She laughed again. And for the first time in a while, it didn't sound guarded. Just… real.
As they walked side by side through the city, something unspoken hummed between them.
Not quite love. Not yet. But something real enough to make them both wonder where this was headed.