Chapter 22: Hotpot (Requesting Monthly Votes)

“Are you here to pick up Accountant Jiang after work?”

Shen Siyuan was slightly surprised to see Tao Guangxia.

Tao Guangxia nodded without denying it, but immediately added: “Mr. Shen, are you free tonight? My daughter’s mother and I would like to treat you to dinner.”

“Again?”

Shen Siyuan now realized—he wasn’t here to pick up Jiang Wenxin; he was waiting for him on purpose.

But not today—he’d already made plans with Jiang Tingyu.

“We’re going out to eat tonight. I’ve reserved a table at Yun Ding Restaurant.”

Yun Ding Restaurant was the tallest in Binhai City; dining there offered not just a view of the sea, but a full panorama of Yulong Bay—a prime scenic spot.

Of course, the prices were steep; Shen Siyuan had only seen it on Douyin and never dined there.

To be honest, Shen Siyuan wanted to experience it, but he couldn’t break a promise.

So he shook his head directly: “Not tonight. I’ve got plans.”

“I see…” Tao Guangxia’s face fell with disappointment.

Shen Siyuan let out a light laugh, pinched his fingers into a seal, and a cold wind rose from nowhere, swirling once around Tao Guangxia like a mischievous little spirit.

“Dou Dou?”

Tao Guangxia’s face lit up with delight, casting a questioning glance at Shen Siyuan.

Shen Siyuan nodded, then said: “Alright, let’s have dinner next time. I’ve got to go.”

With that, he stepped into the opened elevator.

As the master of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, even if Dou Dou was thousands of miles away, he could summon her at will and dismiss her just as easily.

Shen Siyuan trusted Dou Dou to wander freely, unafraid she’d reveal her form, harm others, or cause trouble—all because of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner; his words were, to her, absolute commands.

Even though Dou Dou was still a child, she would never defy him.

Shen Siyuan reached the ground floor, hailed a taxi, and headed toward the meeting spot with Jiang Tingyu.

His electric scooter had to stay at the company—Lin Manzhi had driven in today, so he couldn’t ask her to ride it back.

The meeting spot between Shen Siyuan and Jiang Tingyu was a hotpot restaurant called “Lao Qiao.”

Shen Siyuan chose it—he’d eaten there several times before and knew the flavor was excellent; Jiang Tingyu was a Sichuan girl, so hotpot would suit her taste.

True enough, Jiang Tingyu didn’t object—she accepted immediately.

Shen Siyuan finished work at six, but due to rush hour, he arrived at the restaurant nearly seven.

Jiang Tingyu had already arrived, sitting quietly at her table, scrolling through her phone.

“Jiang Tingyu?” Shen Siyuan walked over and asked tentatively.

Jiang Tingyu looked up, her eyes like autumn water, brows like distant ink-wash mountains, cheeks round and full, nose high and straight, her hair tied high in a neat, tidy bun.

She smiled and nodded: “Shen Siyuan?”

“Yes, it’s me. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No problem—I arrived early. It’s not even the agreed time yet.” Jiang Tingyu set her phone aside.

Shen Siyuan sat across from her, glanced at the empty table, and asked: “Have you ordered yet?”

“No. I didn’t know your dietary preferences, so I held off.”

Shen Siyuan immediately scanned the QR code with his phone, opened the ordering app, then handed it to her: “Order what you like. We’ll eat and chat.”

Jiang Tingyu didn’t refuse, took the phone, and asked: “Can you handle spice?”

“Yes.”

“Then I won’t order the split pot—just a red broth?”

“Fine.” Shen Siyuan said.

While she ordered, he studied her again.

She wore a round-neck, off-shoulder blouse, revealing delicate collarbones and rounded shoulders—beautiful, but lean, with little flesh.

Even seated, her upper body suggested she was at least 1.7 meters tall.

Jiang Tingyu returned the phone, smiling: “Pretty? Satisfied?”

Clearly, she’d noticed his gaze—this made Shen Siyuan slightly awkward.

So he said: “You’re beautiful.”

Then he looked down at what she’d ordered.

Jiang Tingyu, in turn, openly studied Shen Siyuan in detail.

Shen Siyuan added a few more meat dishes, then placed the order, put away his phone, looked at her, and repeated her words: “Pretty? Satisfied?”

Jiang Tingyu laughed: “Since we’re on a blind date, we should see each other clearly.”

Jiang Tingyu was straightforward; when she smiled, her white teeth showed, radiating cheerfulness and openness.

“But you’re really twenty-six? You don’t look it at all.”

Jiang Tingyu stared intently at Shen Siyuan, especially his eyes—eyes like autumn water, sparkling with starlight, making her almost unable to look away.

“As real as it gets. Would I lie about that?”

“But you look much younger than your age. How do you take care of yourself?” Jiang Tingyu exclaimed in amazement.

“Take care? I’m a man—what’s there to take care of? No time for that. I’m just naturally youthful-looking.”

“Your eyes are so beautiful. They say eyes are windows to the soul—yours are so lovely, you must be a good person too.” Jiang Tingyu fixed her gaze on Shen Siyuan.

“Is this a friend zone card?” Shen Siyuan joked.

Then he added: “You’re beautiful too. You must have plenty of suitors—why end up on a blind date?”

Jiang Tingyu didn’t answer, but asked instead: “What about you?”

“Because I’m poor—and I still want to eat hotpot.” Shen Siyuan said.

Jiang Tingyu burst out laughing; she caught his meaning—he was poor, so he had no girlfriend, and came on the blind date just to find someone to eat hotpot with.

“You haven’t answered my question yet,” Shen Siyuan pressed.

“If I say I haven’t met the right person, you’ll think I’m brushing you off—but that’s exactly the truth. There’s another reason too…” Jiang Tingyu said.

Shen Siyuan was listening, when she suddenly fell silent.

“Sorry.” Clearly, she didn’t want to say.

Shen Siyuan shook his head, showing he understood.

Seeing his generosity, Jiang Tingyu felt a little embarrassed.

“I just…”

She wanted to explain, but didn’t know how to begin.

“You don’t need to explain. Not everything needs a reason, and not everything needs to be explained to outsiders.”

“Thank you~” Jiang Tingyu said, deeply grateful.

Shen Siyuan paused, then smiled inwardly.

The person Lin Manzhi introduced was still reliable—so far, Jiang Tingyu truly was a wonderful girl.

So Shen Siyuan’s impression of her improved, but he also saw that Jiang Tingyu had no current intention to date; she came on the blind date likely just to appease Lin Manzhi’s goodwill.

Still, as they ate hotpot and chatted easily, Shen Siyuan told stories from his gaming company, and she shared many tales from her work at the aquarium.