Qiu Yingying is reborn and bound to a learning system.

As the banquet drew to a close, the guests gradually dispersed. Qiu Yingying was about to leave when someone gently touched her wrist.

Meng Yanchen appeared behind her unnoticed, his voice low and gentle: "Miss Qiu, would you mind having a word with me in private?"

Qiu Yingying turned around and saw him still dressed in a sharp suit, exuding a noble and composed air. She nodded, "Of course."

The two walked to the corridor outside the banquet hall, where the lighting was soft and the atmosphere was much quieter.

Meng Yanchen looked at her, his gaze lingering on the rhinestones on her dress. He paused for two seconds before speaking, "Do you have time after the banquet?"

Qiu Yingying was somewhat surprised: "Is there something you need, Mr. Meng?"

Meng Yanchen looked at her, his tone calm but with a hint of barely perceptible expectation: "I checked the wonton shop you mentioned a while ago, it's not far from here."

Qiu Yingying was stunned: "Now? Let's go eat wontons?"

Meng Yanchen nodded: "Yes. I'd like to eat with you."

Qiu Yingying looked at him and suddenly felt that the suggestion was a bit absurd, yet strangely interesting. A CEO in a high-end custom-made suit and a stunningly beautiful woman in a velvet dress eating wontons in an alley late at night—the image just seemed incongruous.

She couldn't help but laugh: "Wouldn't it be too strange to go now? Dressed like this."

Meng Yanchen glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips: "That's precisely what makes it interesting."

Qiu Yingying chuckled at his words, and her initial nervousness eased somewhat. She thought for a moment; she hadn't eaten much at the banquet and was indeed a little hungry. So she nodded, "Okay. I'm a bit hungry anyway; some wontons would be perfect."

A clear hint of pleasure flashed in Meng Yanchen's eyes: "I'll go get the car and wait for you at the door."

"it is good."

The alley was narrow, and the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, making their shadows appear very long.

Qiu Yingying, in her high heels, carefully followed Meng Yanchen inside. Her skirt occasionally brushed against her ankles, carrying a cool, velvety touch. He reached out to support her arm, and she glanced at him, unable to suppress a soft laugh: "Won't we be mistaken for taking pictures of guys like this?"

Meng Yanchen looked down at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes: "What kind of GG are you filming?"

"High-end suits and evening gowns, appearing late at night in a bustling alley," Qiu Yingying gestured, "The theme is 'The President and His Little Follower's Late Night Food Hunt'."

Meng Yanchen's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile as he was amused by her, and he lowered his voice: "Little follower? It should be the beautiful President Qiu and her gluttonous bodyguard."

Qiu Yingying then realized what she had said, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she coughed lightly, "I was just talking nonsense."

Meng Yanchen didn't press further, but simply reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead, his movements natural and restrained. His fingertips inadvertently brushed against her earlobe, bringing a slight tingling sensation. Qiu Yingying's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously quickened her pace.

The sign light of the wonton shop flickered, emitting a slight electrical hum. The sound of the door opening drew the attention of the few customers at the few remaining tables.

The owner was carrying a bowl of wontons out of the kitchen when he looked up and saw the two people at the door. He froze, almost dropping the tray in his hands.

The man wore a well-tailored dark gray suit, his shoulders and back straight, exuding a cold and aloof air; he clearly wasn't the type to frequent a small shop like this. The woman wore a deep sea blue velvet gown, its skirt spreading out like a flower quietly blooming in the night. Tiny rhinestones shimmered under the dim light, highlighting her slender neck and delicate collarbones—she was breathtakingly beautiful.

These two people look like they stepped right out of a TV show.

The owner opened his mouth, but couldn't speak for a long time: "You two, are you here for dinner?"

Qiu Yingying was almost amused by his reaction and quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders trembling slightly. Meng Yanchen glanced at her, his smile deepening, but he still nodded seriously to the boss, and the two of them ordered food.

"Okay, okay!" The boss finally snapped out of his daze and quickly replied. He turned around but couldn't help glancing back at them twice, muttering to himself, "Is this a movie shoot or something?"

Qiu Yingying heard this and couldn't help but exchange a glance with Meng Yanchen. They both saw a smile in each other's eyes, then lowered their heads at the same time, their shoulders trembling slightly, trying not to laugh out loud.

"See," Qiu Yingying said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I told you we were too conspicuous."

Meng Yanchen looked at her slightly reddened earlobes and said in a low voice, "No."

Qiu Yingying looked up: "Still don't know how? The boss is dumbfounded."

Meng Yanchen paused, then said seriously, "He's like me; he's looking at you."

Qiu Yingying's heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to retort, the owner brought over two bowls of wontons. Steaming white mist instantly filled the space between the two of them, carrying a familiar aroma.

"Enjoy your meal!" The owner put down his bowl, couldn't help but glance at Qiu Yingying a few more times, before turning to leave, muttering to himself, "This girl is really pretty, like a movie star."

Qiu Yingying's cheeks flushed even more from the compliment. She lowered her head, picked up her spoon, and gently stirred the wontons in her bowl to hide her unease: "Eat quickly, they won't taste good if they get cold."

Meng Yanchen hummed in agreement, picked up his spoon, and took a bite. The familiar taste spread in his mouth. He looked up at Qiu Yingying across from him. She was carefully blowing on the wonton in her spoon, her eyelashes drooping, casting a small shadow under her eyelids. The light fell on her profile, outlining her soft features.

The dress strap slipped slightly, revealing her fair shoulders, a stark contrast to the dark velvet. Meng Yanchen's gaze paused briefly, then shifted away, his voice calm: "Delicious."

Qiu Yingying smiled, her eyes curving into crescents: "I knew it!"

The two ate their wontons quietly, occasionally glancing at each other before looking away again, their lips curling into undisguised smiles.

The surroundings were filled with the noise of people and the clatter of bowls and chopsticks, and the air was filled with the aroma of food and the smell of cooking. It was incongruous with their suits and formal wear, yet surprisingly harmonious.

Suddenly, Qiu Yingying thought of something, took out her phone, and quietly took a picture of her and Meng Yanchen's bowls. Then she turned the camera towards him and said, "Should we take a picture together to commemorate this strange night?"

Meng Yanchen paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

Qiu Yingying held up her phone, adjusted the angle, and leaned closer to him. The hem of her dress touched the sleeve of his suit jacket, creating a somewhat comical yet strangely attractive scene.

Come on, smile.

Meng Yanchen looked at the camera, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, revealing a very faint but gentle smile.

"Click."

The photo captures this moment.

The dim lighting, the small wonton shop, the two people dressed in formal attire and suits, their smiles clean and genuine.

Looking at the photo, Qiu Yingying suddenly felt a strange, indescribable feeling.

She sent the photo to Meng Yanchen: "Here you go."

Meng Yanchen glanced at it and said in a low voice, "I will keep it."

Qiu Yingying's heart skipped a beat. She pretended not to hear and continued eating her wontons with her head down. But in that instant, a corner of her heart quietly loosened a little.