I loaded the character design panel.

Li An led Zhong Lixue into Shaxian Snacks. The owner didn't say anything like "Welcome," but was busy working in the open kitchen.

The shop is not large, but the environment is quite clean. There are eight tables in the front, one of which is piled with ingredients.

There weren't many customers in the restaurant, only four grown men, and they were all sitting separately, making it a bit deserted.

That's how it is on rainy days; it inevitably affects customer traffic in physical businesses.

Instead of braving the rain to go out, it's better to just order takeout, or if that doesn't work, there's always a delivery service.

Ang Lee went straight to an empty seat, sat down, and looked up at the menu on the wall.

There are quite a few dishes on the wall, including noodles, rice, rice noodles, soup, and wontons and dumplings, with prices clearly displayed.

The most expensive set meal is 25 yuan, which includes soup, meat, rice, and vegetables.

If you order à la carte, the prices of the dishes are generally in the range of 6 to 12 yuan.

As a popular restaurant chain with locations throughout the country, Shaxian Snacks is still very reputable, with very affordable prices, much better than many roadside stalls.

"Li, how about we go to another restaurant? How about hot pot? Or maybe grilled fish?"

Seeing him sit down, Zhong Lixue did not sit down directly, but looked at the menu on the wall and couldn't help but speak.

Although treating Li to Japanese food would be too expensive for her wallet, treating her savior to Shaxian snacks would be too stingy.

"We agreed that I would choose, so please have a seat."

Ang Lee shook his head, showing no interest in having a lavish meal.

Seeing his resolute attitude, Zhong Lixue had no choice but to obediently sit opposite him.

The two people were not speaking loudly, but their conversation was clearly audible in the store where the customers were keeping quiet.

Some people looked on with disapproval, thinking that young girls these days really can't endure any hardship. They only want to eat pretty food and don't understand the importance of being economical and practical.

Some people shook their heads helplessly, saying that young people these days really don't know how to cherish girls. She's already gone out on a date with you, how much does it cost to treat her to hot pot? A hundred or two can buy her that.

"Boss, one Yangzhou fried rice set meal."

Ang Lee made his choice quickly and shouted it out.

"Okay, please wait a moment, I'll cook it for you right away."

The restaurant owner, who was cooking, responded loudly and enthusiastically.

"Have you made your choice?"

After successfully placing the order, Li An looked at Zhong Lixue across from him.

"I'll have Yangzhou fried rice too."

There was no way to change restaurants now that things had come to this point. Zhong Lixue looked up at the various dishes on the wall, thought for a moment, and then made a decision.

Rice is more filling, so if you want to fill your stomach, rice-related options are naturally better.

"Two Yangzhou fried rice sets," Li An called out again upon learning of her choice.

"Received." The store manager was a middle-aged man in his thirties, with a strong, loud, and enthusiastic voice.

"Boss, I only want fried rice, not a set meal." Seeing this, Zhong Lixue quickly spoke up.

"Handsome, whose advice should I listen to?"

The boss was processing takeout orders when he noticed their disagreement, so he had to ask.

When a man and woman eat together, it's common sense for the man to pay.

Faced with this question, Ang Lee looked across at the other side.

"Li, I can't eat that much."

Zhong Lixue shook her head. The set meal was clearly written on the menu on the wall: Yangzhou fried rice + a large chicken leg + a self-service drink, totaling 18 yuan. There was too much stuff.

"Let's listen to her." Seeing that she was so hopeful, Ang Lee couldn't very well force her to make the decision.

"Got it, handsome. Help yourself to your drink." The boss was surprised that the girl would lower her expectations, but he still agreed.

Upon hearing this arrangement, Ang Lee decided to get up and check the refrigerator next to him.

"What would you like to drink? I'll get it for you." Before he could even get up, Zhong Lixue stood up quickly.

"7UP, or Sprite if you don't have 7UP." Seeing that she was offering to help, Li An simply let her have her way.

"Mmm." Having received a clear answer, Zhong Lixue nodded and set off.

She opened the refrigerator, looked around carefully, and found a glass bottle of Sprite in her hand. She pried open the bottle with a bottle opener, inserted a straw, and then returned to the table.

"for you."

Zhong Lixue placed the Sprite on the table and gently pushed it in front of Li An.

"Are you thirsty? Would you like some Sprite?"

Feeling a little uncomfortable with her considerate care, Ang Lee noticed a disposable plastic cup nearby and asked her about it.

"I'll just drink plain water."

Zhong Lixue shook her head, picked up a cup from the wall side of the table, and poured herself a glass of water from the large kettle.

Seeing their interaction, the men who were playing on their phones suddenly couldn't sit still anymore. They stopped looking down at their phones and started looking up.

Holy crap, are there still such good women these days?

Based on the conversation and details just now, the girl suggested going out for hot pot and grilled fish. Could it be that she wanted to treat the guy to a nice meal?

But that young man was nice; he knew how to save money for the girl.

"Student Li..."

Zhong Lixue drank a glass of water, looked at the boy opposite her, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"Just call me Ang Lee, it's too formal to keep calling me classmate."

Before she could finish speaking, Ang Lee interrupted her.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect... They met again after parting ways, and now they're even having dinner together. Considering the life-saving favor they received, they should be considered friends.

Most importantly, it feels really strange to keep addressing each other as "Classmate X." It's 2025 now, not the 90s or the millennium.

"Okay, then you can call me Xiaoxue." Zhong Lixue was thrilled by this, but then felt embarrassed and changed her address, thinking it might be too intimate. "Or you can call me Xiao Zhong."

"No problem, what were you trying to say?" Li An nodded and continued the conversation for her.

"Thank you. If you hadn't pulled me up, I might have gotten hurt."

Zhong Lixue paused upon hearing this, then looked up at him with gratitude.

She had thanked him more than once, but every time she thought of the car whizzing past her and crashing into the wall, she felt a chill of fear.

A mere scratch is fine, but if it were a fracture, or even a fall that leaves her paralyzed on one side... she wouldn't know what to do.

"You're welcome."

Faced with such a sincere thank you, Ang Lee paused for a moment, then smiled at her.

Seeing his handsome face and charming smile, Zhong Lixue suddenly froze, and Lu Yao's words involuntarily echoed in her ears again: "It was actually a hero saving a beauty! Xiaoxue, you have no choice but to repay him with your body."

"And as for this life-saving grace, I haven't yet thought of how to repay you..."

Zhong Lixue's daze was brief. When she came back to her senses, her face started to burn. She habitually lowered her head, and her voice became much softer.

Actually, she really wanted to say something like, "I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, so I can only offer myself to you," to test Ang Lee's thoughts with a joke, and maybe that would work out?

But she didn't have the courage to say it because she had no money, no good looks, and no figure.

If she were to offer herself in marriage, Ang Lee might think she was repaying kindness with enmity, and that would be disastrous.

"How will you repay me?"

As the conversation progressed to this point, Ang Lee pondered the matter, his gaze involuntarily falling on her.