[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner":3,"chapter-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-22":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm Not Crazy—This Is the Emperor's Banner",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2291362,4480,"Chapter 22: Hotpot (Requesting Monthly Votes)","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>“Are you here to pick up Accountant Jiang after work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan was slightly surprised to see Tao Guangxia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan now realized—he wasn’t here to pick up Jiang Wenxin; he was waiting for him on purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not today—he’d already made plans with Jiang Tingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re going out to eat tonight. I’ve reserved a table at Yun Ding Restaurant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the prices were steep; Shen Siyuan had only seen it on Douyin and never dined there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, Shen Siyuan wanted to experience it, but he couldn’t break a promise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he shook his head directly: “Not tonight. I’ve got plans.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see…” Tao Guangxia’s face fell with disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dou Dou?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Guangxia’s face lit up with delight, casting a questioning glance at Shen Siyuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan nodded, then said: “Alright, let’s have dinner next time. I’ve got to go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he stepped into the opened elevator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Dou Dou was still a child, she would never defy him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan reached the ground floor, hailed a taxi, and headed toward the meeting spot with Jiang Tingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The meeting spot between Shen Siyuan and Jiang Tingyu was a hotpot restaurant called “Lao Qiao.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True enough, Jiang Tingyu didn’t object—she accepted immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan finished work at six, but due to rush hour, he arrived at the restaurant nearly seven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tingyu had already arrived, sitting quietly at her table, scrolling through her phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Tingyu?” Shen Siyuan walked over and asked tentatively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled and nodded: “Shen Siyuan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it’s me. Sorry to keep you waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem—I arrived early. It’s not even the agreed time yet.” Jiang Tingyu set her phone aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan sat across from her, glanced at the empty table, and asked: “Have you ordered yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I didn’t know your dietary preferences, so I held off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tingyu didn’t refuse, took the phone, and asked: “Can you handle spice?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I won’t order the split pot—just a red broth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.” Shen Siyuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While she ordered, he studied her again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a round-neck, off-shoulder blouse, revealing delicate collarbones and rounded shoulders—beautiful, but lean, with little flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even seated, her upper body suggested she was at least 1.7 meters tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tingyu returned the phone, smiling: “Pretty? Satisfied?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, she’d noticed his gaze—this made Shen Siyuan slightly awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he said: “You’re beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked down at what she’d ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tingyu, in turn, openly studied Shen Siyuan in detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tingyu laughed: “Since we’re on a blind date, we should see each other clearly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tingyu was straightforward; when she smiled, her white teeth showed, radiating cheerfulness and openness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you’re really twenty-six? You don’t look it at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tingyu stared intently at Shen Siyuan, especially his eyes—eyes like autumn water, sparkling with starlight, making her almost unable to look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As real as it gets. Would I lie about that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you look much younger than your age. How do you take care of yourself?” Jiang Tingyu exclaimed in amazement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take care? I’m a man—what’s there to take care of? No time for that. I’m just naturally youthful-looking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this a friend zone card?” Shen Siyuan joked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he added: “You’re beautiful too. You must have plenty of suitors—why end up on a blind date?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Tingyu didn’t answer, but asked instead: “What about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I’m poor—and I still want to eat hotpot.” Shen Siyuan said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t answered my question yet,” Shen Siyuan pressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan was listening, when she suddenly fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry.” Clearly, she didn’t want to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan shook his head, showing he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his generosity, Jiang Tingyu felt a little embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to explain, but didn’t know how to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t need to explain. Not everything needs a reason, and not everything needs to be explained to outsiders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you~” Jiang Tingyu said, deeply grateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shen Siyuan paused, then smiled inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person Lin Manzhi introduced was still reliable—so far, Jiang Tingyu truly was a wonderful girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>",1103,"2026-06-20T03:53:08.657Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","8392d5e1bde5cfc2ca4ae835276ccf176101ffe7a6f79e020c9e1f065b7228c1","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-23","i-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-chapter-21",623,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-not-crazy-this-is-the-emperor-s-banner-cover.jpg"]