Edge of A Burning Kiss - Chapter 33

“Hmm? What did you do to feel sorry for me? Did you steal my partner?”

Xia Jin had already started the car and couldn’t easily turn to look at Qin Yu.

Nor could she see the heartache in Qin Yu’s eyes.

“After high school graduation, I was forced to go abroad. I had no news from home at all. I didn’t know you…”

“Didn’t know I had such a rough time, right?”

Xia Jin finished his sentence with a laugh, showing no trace of resentment. “It’s no big deal, really. It’s fine. By the time you came back, all you’d see is how amazing I am, just in time for me to show off.”

At this point, she suddenly had a thought. “Wait, did you see how well I was doing and decide to come back just to mess with me?”

Qin Yu looked at the still-optimistic girl beside him and couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare. Boss Xia is so impressive, I concede defeat.”

“What are you going to tell your family after our contract relationship ends?”

Xia Jin suddenly threw out this seemingly random question.

“What do you mean?”

Xia Jin said, “I mean, if one day you no longer need to keep pretending to be my boyfriend, will you just tell them it was all fake, or will you say we broke up due to unforeseen circumstances?”

Qin Yu wasn’t sure how Xia Jin would react to either answer.

“Is there a difference in meaning between the two?”

“Of course there is!”

But Xia Jin didn’t explain what that difference was.

In truth, even if it was a fake relationship, Xia Jin cared deeply about it.

Back then, even though Ji Zhenli had been kept as a mistress by Xia Hongchang, he had genuinely cared for her.

So much so that after she gave birth to Xia Jin, he allowed her to conceive Xia Ziling as well.

What about Qin Yu?

Did he ask her to play the role of his girlfriend because of their high school bond, or because of Xing Lifang’s influence?

Or perhaps…

Was it because of Xia Jin herself?

When Xia Jin drove to Wangjiang Pavilion, she was surprised to find not a single car parked outside.

“No way. Wangjiang Pavilion couldn’t be closed, could it? But I already made a reservation!”

Upon closer inspection, she saw staff standing at the entrance, it was clearly open for business.

Qin Yu said, “Maybe there just aren’t any customers today.”

“How is that possible? Wangjiang Pavilion stays open even later than Xing Lifang. There’s no way it’s empty!”

Xia Jin cursed inwardly. Had someone booked the entire place?

Why hadn’t they called to let her know in advance?

Qin Yu smiled reassuringly. “Let’s go in and find out.”

Xia Jin shot him a sidelong glance, a suspicion forming in her mind.

As soon as they stepped out of the car, a staff member greeted them: “Welcome! We hope Mr. Qin and Ms. Xia have a wonderful date tonight!”

As they walked inside, Xia Jin hissed in Qin Yu’s ear, “You could’ve told me you booked the whole place. I wouldn’t have had to pull strings to get a reservation!”

Qin Yu countered, “No way! Booking the place was my business. You still had to go through the proper channels, otherwise, how could it count as you treating me to dinner?”

The staff led them straight to the top floor of Wangjiang Pavilion, where a massive floor-to-ceiling window offered a clear view of the Bund in the distance.

Xia Jin was instantly captivated by the dazzling scenery outside.

The Bund’s glittering neon lights reflected on the river, shattering into a flowing river of stars.

The pleasure boats glided through the water, parting the shimmering waves like luminous tails trailing behind them.

Across the river, the skyscrapers stood brilliantly illuminated, their glass facades reflecting lights that danced in the night breeze.

Xia Jin couldn’t help but press closer to the window, her lashes catching the glow of the neon lights.

Qin Yu followed closely behind her. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Xia Jin sighed. “Of course it is.”

“If you’re poor, the capital is just the capital, all you’ll see are overcrowded subways and endless overtime shifts.”

“But if you’re rich, the capital becomes a dazzling metropolis, a city of revelry and imperial splendor.”

“No wonder everyone says that dining at Wangjiang Pavilion is secondary, the real highlight is the view. It’s absolutely breathtaking from here.”

Qin Yu smiled. “Really? It’ll be even more stunning at night.”

The moment his words fell,

A lavish bouquet of fresh, velvety roses suddenly appeared before Xia Jin.

Her lips parted in surprise. “What’s this?”

Qin Yu peeked out from behind the bouquet. “Didn’t you say it once? A proper date should start with a bouquet of flowers.”

Xia Jin took the roses hesitantly. “When did I say that? I don’t remember.”

“Back in our second year of high school, when Tang Wenlun went on a date with that girl, you reminded him to bring flowers.”

“That was ages ago!”

Xia Jin carried the bouquet to her seat, carefully placing it on the table as if afraid a single petal might fall.

“You remember that so clearly… Could it be?”

She gasped suddenly, as if stumbling upon some earth-shattering revelation.

Qin Yu’s heart skipped a beat. Had this slow-witted girl finally caught on?

“You… don’t have a crush on Tang Wenlun, do you?”

Qin Yu’s face darkened instantly. “Nonsense! Let’s eat!”

Xia Jin sat back, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “You know, you asked me to pretend to be your girlfriend, could it be to cover up your… questionable preferences?”

Qin Yu let out an exasperated laugh. “If you doubt my preferences, why don’t you come to my room tonight and verify them yourself?”

Xia Jin stiffened, her head whipping around to check if any waiters were nearby.

Luckily, the staff had left right after delivering the roses.

“You-you shameless jerk!”

Qin Yu propped his chin on one hand, blinking innocently with his mesmerizing peach-blossom eyes.

“Me? Shameless? You’re the one questioning my orientation.”

“You!” Xia Jin was at a loss for words and quickly changed the subject. “Let’s eat! I’m starving!”

“Of course. Whatever you say.”

Qin Yu chuckled softly as he watched the flustered girl across from him, her cheeks flushed red.

The private dining room’s door opened, and the lights dimmed. Waiters filed in one after another, carrying trays of food.

A candle was lit between Qin Yu and Xia Jin.

The soft glow flickered in the darkness, the roses adorning the table, the exquisite dishes glistening temptingly.

Amid the fragrant haze, affection seemed to flow silently in the hazy light.

Xia Jin froze at the sight.

Was this…

A candlelit dinner?

A waiter opened an enameled food box, and misty dry ice swirled upward like clouds.

As the vapor dissipated, a pair of butterfly-shaped yam cakes appeared, their outlines delicately traced in edible gold leaf.

The cakes were snowy white and velvety, adorned with bright red wolfberries like twin butterflies playing with pearls.

“This ‘Butterfly Pair’ dessert was specially ordered by Mr. Qin,” the server patiently explained. “We carefully select iron-rod yams, hand-grind them into paste, and steam them nine times under the sun. It symbolizes your relationship: soft, sticky, enduring, sweet but not cloying.”

Xia Jin stared at the delicate pastry and suddenly asked, “Do you use the same promotional spiel for every dessert?”

The romantic atmosphere was instantly shattered by her remark.

The server froze for a few seconds, clearly, this was the first time they’d encountered such a guest.

“Of course not,” they replied. “Every dish was personally chosen by Mr. Qin, and our chef genuinely hopes this dessert can serve as a testament to your love.”