Chapter 440: 464 The Relaxed and Direct Pei Zhuxuan (Seeking Subscriptions and Monthly Tickets)

It was past 7:00 PM, and the sky over Gangnam District in Seoul had already turned completely dark.

At this time of day, Gangnam District was at its busiest; various signs along the road were lit up, and warm yellow light spilled out from the glass windows of restaurants and cafes.

The air carried the distinct chill of winter, and the breath exhaled turned into a faint white mist under the streetlights, dissipating quickly.

A row of cars was parked along the side of an alley in Gangnam District.

Inside one inconspicuous sedan, Pei Zhuxuan was sitting in the driver's seat, one hand propping up her chin, the other holding her phone, looking around with some curiosity.

The screen of the phone displayed the chat window between her and Lin Xiuyuan.

The latest message was sent by Lin Xiuyuan, and the content was very brief, just a few words: "I'll be there after I make this turn."

When Pei Zhuxuan saw this message, she began to look up toward the entrance of the alley.

However, after waiting for a few minutes, she still couldn't see a familiar figure appear, so she picked up her phone again and glanced at the time.

7:06 PM.

She thought about it and felt that the traffic on the road might indeed be a bit heavy; after all, the traffic volume in Gangnam District at this time of day was quite significant.

So she scrolled through Instagram again.

But after another few minutes passed, her fingers began to tap unconsciously on the steering wheel, and her eyes swept toward the direction of the alley entrance in the rearview mirror, feeling that something was not quite right.

This turn was taking a bit too long, wasn't it?

Thinking of this, Pei Zhuxuan picked up her phone and opened the chat interface with Lin Xiuyuan, intending to type a line to send over, when her peripheral vision caught a pair of headlights sweeping across the alley entrance, and then a somewhat familiar car slowly drove past her vehicle.

So her fingers stopped, and she looked up.

That car wasn't driving very fast; after passing her, it slid forward for a short distance and then pulled over and stopped not far ahead.

It was Lin Xiuyuan's car.

She had only seen it once not long ago; although she couldn't call it familiar, she at least had some impression of the license plate, so it shouldn't be wrong.

Seeing that the car had finally arrived, Pei Zhuxuan stuffed her phone into her coat pocket, placed her hand on the door handle, and prepared to push the door open to get out.

But just as her fingers had gripped the door handle and even lifted it slightly, and the car door had emitted a faint unlocking sound.

Her hand lowered again.

Because the front passenger door of that car had been opened, and then a woman stepped out who made even her feel a bit inferior.

And it gave one an exaggerated sense of stunning beauty—a beauty that was striking at first glance.

The other person was actually dressed very simply, in a very clean and elegant outfit.

The upper body was a light-colored sweatshirt worn as an inner layer, with a short black down jacket worn over it, the zipper unzipped and left open.

The lower body was a pair of khaki cargo pants, the legs slightly loose and cinched at the ankles, resting on a pair of black ankle boots.

The overall look was both casual and sharp, as if she had grabbed a few pieces of clothing from her closet to wear before heading out, but the most fashionable item in the ensemble wasn't actually any of the clothes.

It was that face.

Han So-hee's mature and charming face, with its highly recognizable features, looked good in basically anything; whether it was heavy makeup or a bare face, whether it was carefully coordinated or just thrown on, it looked like a fashion pictorial that had been deliberately designed.

So much so that when Pei Zhuxuan saw Han So-hee's face and her outfit, she almost reflexively lowered her head to look at the clothes she was wearing herself.

Because she was also wearing a pair of khaki pants today, though she had chosen a straight-leg cut, which was the same width from thigh to calf, making her leg shape look very straight and sharp.

On her upper body was a tight black knitted base layer, a thin layer clinging to her body, outlining the lines of her shoulders and waist.

She had also draped a dark, short wool coat over it, but because she had been sitting in the car, she had taken it off and placed it on the passenger seat.

The two outfits were more or less the same, and both faces were quite impressive.

One was exquisite and petite, with features that looked as if they had been carefully carved, every detail just right, standing up to close inspection.

The other was atmospheric and relaxed, carrying a bit of a mature woman's charm and ease.

The only thing that was a bit unequal was the height.

And after Pei Zhuxuan's gaze lingered on Han So-hee for a few seconds, she withdrew it and turned to look at Lin Xiuyuan, who had followed her out of the car.

Pei Zhuxuan sat in the car, watching the scene of the two people standing on the side of the road from a distance, her fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel again, her expression showing no change in emotion.

Outside the car.

After getting out of the car, Lin Xiuyuan walked to Han So-hee's side, and the two stood on the curb by the road.

The streetlights shone down, casting the contours of light and shadow on his face.

Then he looked at Han So-hee and said, "Then I'll head up first; be careful on your way back."

"Mm, thank you for your help tonight," Han So-hee nodded gently, her voice not loud, but her tone very sincere.

In fact, after getting off the highway at the beginning, Lin Xiuyuan had asked her if she wanted him to take her directly home; at that time, the car had already entered the city, and it wouldn't have made much difference to take this extra stretch, so he could have dropped her off at her doorstep before going to his appointment, saving her from having to hail a taxi or call a car herself.

But Han So-hee had refused.

Her thinking at the time was very simple: Lin Xiuyuan had already done her such a big favor, and now he still had a date to attend; how could she have the nerve to make him go out of his way to take her home? If he were late because of dropping her off, she would feel even worse.

So she told Lin Xiuyuan not to bother and to just drive to the destination, and she would hail a car back herself once they arrived.

Regarding this, Lin Xiuyuan did not try to persuade her much.

In his view, one couldn't really call it gentlemanly conduct, after all, he still had to rush to his date.

He had already been delayed for so long on the highway; if he really let Pei Zhuxuan arrive first and then had to wait for him for a long time, that wouldn't be justifiable.

One thing at a time; he could still distinguish the order of arrival.

Thus, the two, having chatted for a few sentences, separated one after the other.

Lin Xiuyuan turned and walked toward the building that was several stories high on the side of the road, pushed open the glass door, and entered, his figure disappearing into the light of the hallway.

Han So-hee walked to the side of the road, stood under a streetlight, took her phone out of her pocket, and prepared to open a ride-hailing app to call a car home.

Just then, Han So-hee, while waiting for the car, suddenly saw a somewhat familiar figure get out of a car on the side of the road.

That car was parked not far from her; she hadn't paid much attention when she got out of her car just now.

The car door opened, and a petite woman stepped out from the driver's seat, closed the door, and walked quickly toward the building in front.

She was wearing a dark coat, her hair gleaming with a soft luster under the streetlights, her walking posture brisk, her steps short but rapid.

As the other person moved, Han So-hee's gaze happened to catch their profile, and some light from the roadside fell right onto their face, making the contours incredibly clear.

It was Pei Zhuxuan.

Han So-hee blinked, stunned for a beat, and then couldn't help but let out a low exclamation.

"Wow, am I seeing this right? It's her??"

She subconsciously took half a step forward, as if to confirm she hadn't misseen, but the small door had already closed, and Pei Zhuxuan's figure disappeared into the hallway.

Standing under the streetlight, Han So-hee gripped her phone, her mind automatically replaying and piecing together the scene she had just witnessed.

First, Lin Xiuyuan went in, and after about a minute or two, Pei Zhuxuan followed him in.

One after the other, the same building, the same point in time.

Thinking of this, the curiosity in her eyes could not be concealed at all.

Inside the building.

Lin Xiuyuan, who was waiting in front of the elevator, pulled his hand out of his coat pocket, intending to take out his phone to send Pei Zhuxuan a message and ask where she was.

Just as he unlocked his phone, with the interface still on the chat box with Pei Zhuxuan, he heard the sound of high heels clicking on the floor.

The sound came from the corner behind him, the rhythm fast, *da-da-da*, the kind of pace that clearly carried a sense of urgency.

Subconsciously turning his head to look, Lin Xiuyuan saw that the very lady he had just been thinking about had already appeared at the corner and was walking toward him.

Seeing her, Lin Xiuyuan hurriedly shoved his phone into his pocket, raised his hand to wave, and greeted her with a smile.

"Hi, what a coincidence, I thought I'd have to wait for you a while."

Pei Zhuxuan walked to Lin Xiuyuan's side in two steps, tilted her head to look at him, and then retorted with a huff, "It's me waiting for you, I've been waiting for nearly ten minutes. Who was it that said they'd be there just around the corner?"

"Wow, you arrived that fast?" After the shock, Lin Xiuyuan replied with a smile, "Can't help it, there was traffic."

Just then, the elevator arrived, the elevator door opened with a *ding*, and it was empty inside.

Warm yellow light shone out from the elevator car, the floor polished very clean, reflecting the light from above.

The two walked into the elevator one after the other, Lin Xiuyuan reached out to press the floor button, and the elevator door slowly closed, shutting out the hallway.

"What are we eating?" Lin Xiuyuan leaned against the elevator wall, tilted his head, and asked Pei Zhuxuan.

"Sushi," Pei Zhuxuan replied.

Lin Xiuyuan had only received the address Pei Zhuxuan sent today and didn't know exactly what they were going to eat.

He hadn't asked at the time; he'd know once he got there anyway.

So now, hearing the word "sushi," an image immediately popped into his mind, and he blurted out.

"The kind made by a master artisan?"

Pei Zhuxuan was amused by his phrasing, turned her head to glance at him with a look of amusement, the corners of her eyes curving slightly, "What kind of sushi isn't handmade, Xiuyuan?"

Then she withdrew her gaze, looked at the blurred reflection of the two of them on the elevator door, and continued, "The head chef here is said to be the owner who came over from Ginza; he spent many years in Tokyo, so the taste is very authentic. Plus, they only take reservations for a dozen people a day, so it's very hard to book."

"So you were able to book it so quickly this afternoon; it seems your fame really is quite useful," Lin Xiuyuan teased slightly, a smile on his lips.

Pei Zhuxuan didn't reply this time, just smiled.

The elevator continued to go up, the floor numbers jumping one by one.

The elevator car was very quiet, with only the faint hum of the machine running and the natural silence between the two.

After a moment of silence, Lin Xiuyuan spoke up again, "If we're eating sushi, I'll have to go down to the convenience store later to rent a power bank. At this rate, we'll be eating for an hour or two at least, and my phone will definitely run out of battery."

For this kind of Omakase-style sushi, the chef serves dishes one by one, and the rhythm is entirely controlled by the chef, so eating for two hours is a common occurrence.

However, faced with this remark from Lin Xiuyuan, Pei Zhuxuan was truly amused to the point of anger.

Turning to face Lin Xiuyuan, she pointed a finger at her own face, her eyes filled with an expression that was both annoyed and amused, her tone carrying a hint of disbelief.

"Xiuyuan, you're having a meal with me, and you're playing on your phone?"

As she spoke, Pei Zhuxuan's eyebrows arched slightly, her lips held a smile, but her eyes revealed a streak of seriousness.

The elevator door opened right on time, emitting a crisp prompt sound.

So, after saying this, Pei Zhuxuan immediately stepped out, her high heels clicking crisply on the hallway floor, and after two steps, she threw back a sentence with a smile without looking back.

"Then go eat with your phone."

"Eh~ wait a second."

Knowing he had said the wrong thing, Lin Xiuyuan hurriedly followed her out of the elevator, taking large strides, and caught up behind Pei Zhuxuan in a few steps, "I didn't mean it like that, it's just that if my phone runs out of battery, I'll feel insecure."

"But you just said you were going to play on your phone." Pei Zhuxuan walked in front without looking back, but her voice was clearly filled with laughter.

"Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue," Lin Xiuyuan said hurriedly, his tone carrying an attitude of admitting his mistake.

At this, Pei Zhuxuan finally slowed her pace a little, letting Lin Xiuyuan catch up, and the two walked side by side in the hallway.

After walking a short distance, Pei Zhuxuan suddenly spoke again, her voice carrying a sense of relaxation that even she found a bit surprising, "So you're treating this meal?"

As she said this, she was actually a bit surprised at her own level of relaxation.

You know, when she interacts with people, especially with the opposite sex, she usually maintains a polite and proper sense of distance most of the time, and she is quite careful about her boundaries when speaking.

There were basically no people besides the members of her group and a few particularly close friends who could make her joke around so casually.

Among the opposite sex, there were almost none.

But she didn't expect that she would be so relaxed and natural with Lin Xiuyuan; even she herself was a bit surprised.

As for Lin Xiuyuan, he was completely indifferent to this suggestion, walking beside Pei Zhuxuan with his hands in his pockets, "It's just a meal, that's fine, as long as you're happy."

Pei Zhuxuan looked back at him, her eyes carrying a bit of a smile and something indescribable.

The light in the hallway shone on her face, making her features look exceptionally soft.

Then she withdrew her gaze and walked into the Omakase private shop with Lin Xiuyuan.

The shop entrance was a very simple wooden sliding door, with a small sign hanging at the entrance displaying the shop's name in handwritten characters, which had a lot of texture.

After pushing open The Gate, the space inside was not large, but it was decorated with great care.

I don't know if it was because it was still a bit early, or because this shop always kept the number of daily reservations very low, but the shop was not yet full of customers at this time.

There were about a dozen seats in front of the bar, and currently, only two white foreigners were sitting there, a man and a woman, who looked like they were here for tourism.

They were sitting in the middle of the bar, whispering to each other, and there were already several empty plates on the table.

Then a waiter came up to greet them, confirmed the reservation information with Pei Zhuxuan, and then guided Pei Zhuxuan and Lin Xiuyuan to walk inside, all the way to the corner seat to sit down.

That seat was against the wall, relatively quiet, and they would not be disturbed by other customers, nor would they disturb others.

Inside the bar was the chef's workspace, where one could see the chef quietly preparing ingredients, his hands steady, every cut clean and precise.

And after sitting down, there was a very meticulous service process.

The waiter first handed over steaming hot towels for them to wipe their hands.

Then came hot tea to rinse their mouths; the teacup was that kind of small Japanese-style ceramic cup, warm in the hand, and the taste of the tea was very refreshing.

After all this was done, the waiter then respectfully handed over the menu for the evening.

The so-called menu was actually just a simple folded sheet with the names of the dishes to be served that evening written on it.

The name of every dish was very carefully chosen, things like "Sea of Winter" or "Fishing Lights Under the First Snow," carrying a kind of poetic and ritualistic feeling unique to the Japanese style.

Lin Xiuyuan, having received the menu, just opened it and took a look, scanned the contents on it roughly, and then closed it, placing it on the table to the side.

Noticing this action of his, Pei Zhuxuan turned her head and asked, "What's wrong, not to your taste?"

"No."

Lin Xiuyuan shook his head, leaned his body back against the chair, and explained in a very casual tone.

"These menu names are clearly artistic embellishments; things like 'Sea of Winter' or 'Fishing Lights Under the First Snow' look quite atmospheric, but they actually have nothing to do with what you're eating. It's better to just wait and taste the flavor when it's in your mouth later."

After hearing him say this, Pei Zhuxuan thought about it, and it seemed that was indeed the case, so she also smiled and put down the menu in her hand, stacked it together with Lin Xiuyuan's, and pushed it to the side.

"That seems to make some sense."

After she finished this sentence, she picked up her teacup and took a sip, taking the opportunity to turn her face to look at Lin Xiuyuan.

The light shone down from above, casting a small shadow under her eyelashes, and also making her bright eyes look exceptionally beautiful.

And it was under these circumstances that she spoke.

Her tone was very ordinary, as if she were asking what the weather was like today, "So, Lin Xiuyuan-xi, are you and Karina together?"

Beside her, Lin Xiuyuan had just taken a sip of tea, and as a result, he was almost choked by this sentence.

Then he hurriedly put down the teacup and turned to look at Pei Zhuxuan beside him, the expression on his face changing from calm to shock, his eyes widening a circle more than before.

"Wow, is it that direct?"

Although he knew before coming that he would be gossiped about tonight no matter what—after all, that text message from Pei Zhuxuan about the "Chinese teacher" had already exposed her curiosity quite thoroughly.

But he thought the other party would at least chat about something else to pave the way first.

For example, asking what he had been busy with recently, or what good food he had eaten, and then slowly leading the topic in that direction.

He didn't expect Pei Zhuxuan to open with a "king bomb," without even a buffer, cutting straight to the core issue with one stroke.

And after Pei Zhuxuan said this, she herself felt a bit embarrassed, questioning someone about their private affairs so directly.

Yet she herself didn't know why, but when she was around this boy, her whole body and mind felt particularly relaxed and at ease.

Usually, when she talked to others, especially to the opposite sex, she would pay more attention to propriety and a sense of distance; she wouldn't ask such blunt questions, let alone ask about someone's relationship status right off the bat.

But when she was with Lin Xiuyuan, those social boundaries seemed to disappear automatically; she said whatever came to mind, without needing to think it through at all.

Even though the two of them had only met a few times and hadn't known each other for long.

However, after blushing for a moment, Pei Zhuxuan hummed softly twice, as if to bolster her own courage, and raised her head again to speak once more.

This time, there was a hint of teasing in her tone, "Then in that case, how about I change the question?"

"That's fine too."

Hearing this, Lin Xiuyuan leaned his body toward the bar, turned his side to face Pei Zhuxuan's direction, and assumed a serious posture.

Pei Zhuxuan looked at Lin Xiuyuan's appearance, her eyes widening slightly, the light from above the bar reflecting in her black pupils, and she blinked as she asked the other curiosity in her heart.

"Then what is your relationship with that beautiful woman Han So-hee who just got out of the car? Are you two-timing?"

Huh???