We agreed not to date, so why are you crying now that I've become the richest man?

A black Mercedes-Benz S600 drove into the underground parking garage near the school and parked in a space.

Ye Chen turned off the engine, unbuckled his seatbelt, and casually put the car keys into the pocket of his black hoodie.

The motion-sensor lights in the garage turned on one by one as he walked.

Emerging from the ground-level passage, the back street of the university town was bustling at six o'clock in the evening. The white steam from the pancake stalls mixed with the fragrance of osmanthus flowers filled the air, and groups of students rode past on bicycles.

Ye Chen walked more than 400 meters along the sidewalk and stopped in front of a Korean barbecue restaurant with warm yellow lanterns hanging in the air.

Pushing open the wooden glass door, the shop's exhaust pipes hummed, and the aroma of cumin and charred oil wafted out.

The waiter greeted him warmly and asked how many people were in his party. Ye Chen replied, "Two people." The waiter then led him through the aisle to a wooden booth by the window.

This spot is backed by a bookshelf wall, so people in the hallway outside can't see what's going on inside. Outside the glass window is a row of neatly trimmed holly trees, making it quiet and private.

After Ye Chen sat down, he picked up the lemonade on the table, poured himself a glass, and took out his phone to send Gu Yuxuan a message via QQ.

"We've arrived. It's table number 08, the one furthest inside by the window."

My phone vibrated, and the other end replied almost instantly.

"I'm already outside the school, I'll be there in five minutes."

While waiting for someone, Ye Chen switched to a chat application, found his mother's number, and dialed it.

The call was answered quickly after two beeps.

"Hey, Mom, are you home yet?" Ye Chen asked gently, holding his phone.

"We've arrived." My mother's familiar, cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone. I could also vaguely hear my father changing his shoes and putting away his luggage behind me. "The train wasn't late, and the journey was smooth. You don't need to worry."

"That's good. You must be tired after traveling all day. Get some rest early tonight."

"Okay, make sure you eat well at school."

"Yes, I was just about to eat. You can go ahead and get ready. I'll hang up now."

After a brief chat to let each other know he was safe, Ye Chen hung up the phone.

He placed his phone face down on the table, rested his chin on one hand, and looked out the window.

Less than five minutes later, the glass door of the barbecue restaurant was pushed open.

Gu Yuxuan wore a light gray chunky knit cardigan over a white T-shirt, paired with slim-fit jeans. Her long, black hair was loosely styled in a bun, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears.

As soon as she stepped inside, the two boys at the front table who were drinking stopped eating and their eyes immediately fell on her.

Gu Yuxuan kept her eyes straight ahead, walked past the densely packed dining tables, and saw Ye Chen waving from the window. Her pace quickened noticeably.

She sat down opposite Ye Chen, placed her canvas bag on the bench beside her, and casually tidied the stray hairs by her ear.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

"It's okay, no rush, I just arrived too."

Ye Chen pushed the warm glass of lemonade in front of her and handed her the menu.

"Let's see what you'd like to eat."

Gu Yuxuan took the menu and, without any formalities, marked the signature thick-cut pork belly, seasoned beef short ribs, and lettuce platter with a pencil. Finally, she looked up at Ye Chen.

"Would you like another serving of cheese corn and bibimbap?"

"That's about enough. We'll add more if it's not enough later."

Ye Chen waved and handed the order to the waiter.

Soon, a glowing red-hot fruitwood charcoal brazier was brought to the table, with a copper grill pan placed on top. The waiter brought over the first plate of thick-cut beef and pork belly, using tongs to pick up two slices and place them on the grill pan.

With a soft sizzle, the slices of meat, alternating between lean and fatty, touched the scalding copper pan, their edges quickly curling up as the fat seeped out along the grain.

A moment later, Ye Chen picked up the long-handled barbecue tongs and skillfully flipped the meat slices over.

Gu Yuxuan held the water glass in both hands, looked at Ye Chen's profile as he bent over grilling meat, and asked with a smile:

"By the way, I heard your aunt and uncle came to Shanghai. How was your trip with them?"

"It's great. They're used to living in their hometown county, and it's their first time in Shanghai, so everything is new and exciting to them. We took them to the City God Temple and the Bund, and the elderly couple were in high spirits. They walked all day without feeling tired."

Ye Chen used scissors to cut the golden-brown pork belly into even small pieces, moved them to the edge of the baking tray to keep them warm, and continued with a smile:

"I took them to try Nanxiang steamed buns, and then we saw the night view of the Huangpu River. My dad, who doesn't usually like taking pictures, took a lot of photos with his phone last night, saying he would show them to all our relatives and friends back home. My mom was also very happy."

Gu Yuxuan smiled gently, a tenderness rising in her eyes:

"It's so nice to be able to get out and relax. And with you by their side as their tour guide, their uncle and aunt must feel incredibly reassured and proud."

At this point, she gently bit the straw, her tone carrying a hint of envy and sentimentality unique to young girls:

"To be honest, I haven't really gone out to play properly in the month or so I've been studying in Shanghai. I've only ever seen the Bund at night and the City God Temple in photos."

Ye Chen paused slightly, then looked up at Gu Yuxuan sitting opposite him.

The warm yellow light shone on her fair and delicate face, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, making her look exceptionally tender and charming.

Ye Chen's lips curled into a slight smile as he placed two pieces of grilled pork belly into the dipping sauce dish in front of her, his tone natural yet tinged with a touch of exclusive affection:

"That's great! I've taken my parents on this trip and done some research. Where would you like to go? Let's pick a time this weekend and I'll take you there."

Hearing Ye Chen's straightforward invitation, Gu Yuxuan's heart skipped a beat, as if a soft feather had gently brushed against her, creating a sweet ripple.

She looked up and met Ye Chen's focused and smiling eyes.

Her heart skipped a beat for no reason. Gu Yuxuan lowered her gaze with a slightly flushed face, but she couldn't suppress the smile that quietly bloomed on her lips.

She picked up a lettuce leaf, wrapped the slice of meat around it, and let out a soft, seemingly unintentional hum, her gentle voice revealing an undisguised joy and a touch of sweet coquettishness:

"You offered to do this yourself... Mr. Ye, your professional tour guide, then I'll have to make a good list. I won't allow it if you get tired or take the wrong route."

"Don't worry, we offer VIP service throughout the entire process, and you'll get a full refund if you're not satisfied," Ye Chen said with a smile.

"You smooth talker, who wants a refund..." Gu Yuxuan rolled her eyes at him, but her ears had already quietly turned a tempting blush.

The two chatted back and forth, and in addition to the aroma of roasted meat, a subtle and ambiguous feeling gradually filled the air.

Just as Ye Chen picked up a slice of fatty beef brisket to flip it over, a pool of hot oil accumulated under the slice of meat seeped through the perforated seams of the copper plate and dripped into the glowing fruitwood charcoal fire below.

A muffled thud.

Suddenly, a half-foot-high orange-red flame shot up from the charcoal brazier, followed by two or three drops of scalding oil that, fueled by the fire, splashed towards Gu Yuxuan's cheeks and collarbone.

The change happened very quickly. Gu Yuxuan was still holding chopsticks in her hand. She subconsciously shrank back in her chair, her shoulders tensing up.

Ye Chen, sitting opposite her, didn't even have a moment to think. He loosened the barbecue tongs with his left hand, and his right arm stretched across half of the table, his palm outstretched, firmly blocking Gu Yuxuan's face between the grill plate and the grill.

A soft snap.

The hot oil droplets that splattered all landed on the cuffs and outer forearms of his black hoodie, immediately creating two dark oil spots on the fabric.

The flames shot up briefly before retreating back into the charcoal brazier.