The Dangerous Omega Who is Good at Disguising Always Wants to Hook Me! - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Couple’s Restaurant

Why did Mr. Shen pick this restaurant?

Staring at the familiar exterior décor of the restaurant, Qi Yan was a bit surprised. This Chinese restaurant was a famous dating sanctuary in S City; he often heard his friends bring it up. However, even if it was a “couple’s restaurant,” that didn’t mean other people couldn’t dine there.

“You Yi kept introducing this place to me before, saying the food is great. He said if I ever wanted to treat someone to dinner, I should come here. Now I finally have the chance to try it,” Shen Xiliu said conversationally to Qi Yan as they stepped out of the car.

Qi Yan smiled. “So it was You Yi’s recommendation. He certainly knows his stuff. I often hear my friends talk about this place; apparently, the food is excellent, it’s just a bit hard to get a reservation.”

“Is that so? Then it seems You Yi’s recommendation this time wasn’t a deliberate prank, but a genuine suggestion for a good restaurant.”

Shen Xiliu had booked a table in advance, and a server led them to their seats. From their window-side table, they could see the shimmering river in the distance reflecting the flickering neon lights. The wind kicked up ripples, creating tiny, shattered points of dazzling golden light.

The view was indeed beautiful. Both inside and outside the restaurant, there was a pervasive sense of romance.

The server handed them the menus. Qi Yan let Shen Xiliu order first; he wasn’t a picky eater and was fine with anything delicious.

Shen Xiliu ordered a few dishes and then handed the menu back to Qi Yan, smiling. “Let’s order together. Just because you eat everything doesn’t mean you don’t have preferences. It would be odd if I’m the one treating you to dinner, yet I’m the only one choosing the food, wouldn’t it?”

His logic was sound, and Qi Yan couldn’t refuse. Recalling the dishes Shen had just selected, Qi Yan took the menu and said, “Actually, the dishes you picked are right up my alley. I noticed back at Shangwei Pavilion that our tastes are quite similar.”

Qi Yan preferred spicy food, and both last time and today, Shen Xiliu had ordered famous Sichuan dishes. The chefs at Shangwei Pavilion were skilled at bringing out the full potential of every flavor, and Qi Yan had enjoyed himself immensely last time.

In contrast, Shen Xiliu and Tan Yimin had been busy talking, and with one being injured and the other older, they couldn’t eat too much spice. Consequently, they hadn’t enjoyed the meal nearly as much as he had.

“That is a coincidence. I actually can’t handle spice very well, but even so, it hasn’t stopped my love for it. The flavor is quite good,” Shen Xiliu said reserveedly, his eyes brightening slightly.

“Less chili, please—mild is fine. Thank you.” Qi Yan finished ordering and handed the menu to the server, then smiled at Shen Xiliu. “No matter how much you like it, you have to exercise some restraint. Otherwise, it’ll be like last time: one bite of food for every glass of water. Two people at the table, yet I’m the only one with my head down eating.”

Shen Xiliu: “…”

His fingers tightened slightly. He hadn’t expected Qi Yan to notice such a detail, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Looking almost embarrassed, Shen Xiliu pursed his lips and gave a soft laugh. “I suppose because I like it so much, it’s hard to control myself. I didn’t expect you to notice, Qi Yan.”

“Probably because I was like that as a kid,” Qi Yan said. “Before my parents divorced, the food at home was very bland. After the divorce, I moved to my uncle’s house and discovered they put chili in everything they cook.”

Qi Yan’s aunt was from the Sichuan-Chongqing region and a professional chef. Her cooking was so good that she managed to lead an entire family who couldn’t eat spice down the “wrong path.” Now, everyone in the family loved spice—except for Qi Yan’s mother, who couldn’t eat it for health reasons.

“At first, I wasn’t used to it and always ate my meals with water. Although my uncle and aunt specially made dishes suited to my taste, I actually loved everything they cooked. Eventually, I got used to it, and my palate naturally changed.”

“Your relatives are very gentle people,” Shen Xiliu said, watching him with soft, smiling eyes. He could imagine a young Qi Yan, unable to handle the heat, drinking water with every bite, his cheeks flushed red as he fanned himself while continuing to eat. He must have been very cute.

Qi Yan nodded with a smile, a trace of nostalgia in his expression. “Yeah, they’re all great—very kind. I didn’t get to go back to see them this summer break, so I really miss them.”

The restaurant was busy, and the service was fast. Not long after they finished talking, the server brought out the dishes. The portions weren’t large, but the plating was exquisite. Qi Yan took a small taste; the flavor was indeed excellent.

“Is it good?” Shen Xiliu stared at the sliced beef with hot peppers Qi Yan was eating. It looked appetizing, but the chilies on top made him wary.

Didn’t he say mild? Why are there still so many peppers?

Qi Yan nodded. “Delicious. If you want to try some, get your water ready first. The ‘mild’ here is spicier than the poached fish we had at Shangwei Pavilion.”

He gave a very tactful warning, remembering how last time Shen Xiliu had taken one bite of the fish and proceeded to down a whole glass of water.

Shen Xiliu: “…”

“Now that you’ve said that, I want to try it even more.” Despite the “warning patch” he’d applied to his expectations, his resolve was wavering. Shen Xiliu lowered his eyes, reached out with his chopsticks, and took a small taste.

The moment it entered his mouth, a pungent spiciness exploded—it was as if a firecracker had been tossed onto his tongue. Boom. Every taste bud was instantly pierced by searing heat, and even his throat felt scorched.

“Cough, cough!” Shen Xiliu dazed for a second before bursting into a fit of coughing. His pale cheeks were instantly flushed, his hand pressed against his reddened lips, and even the corners of his eyes turned red.

Not expecting such a strong reaction, Qi Yan quickly handed him the ice water he had prepared. “Drink.”

Shen Xiliu downed two glasses of ice water before the spicy, choking sensation was suppressed. His throat felt slightly uncomfortable, and he felt a bit too embarrassed to meet Qi Yan’s gaze.

But Qi Yan didn’t seem to mind. Once Shen had calmed down, he said teasingly, “Based on my experience, this place’s version of ‘mild’ is on par with the Sichuan-Chongqing region. It seems Mr. Shen has been successfully defrauded by the term ‘mild’ as well.”

Amused by the joke, the shame in Shen Xiliu’s heart vanished. He said helplessly, “The flavor is indeed good. Despite the heat, you can still taste the fresh, tender texture. It truly is delicious…”

“A pity you can’t enjoy it. Mr. Shen, you should stick to these.” Qi Yan swapped his dishes with the ones in front of Shen Xiliu, saying with mock regret, “It’s delicious, but for the sake of your health, I’ll just have to reluctantly eat it all myself.”

“Then I truly am grateful to you,” Shen Xiliu said, unable to stop himself from laughing as he watched Qi Yan start eating with delight.

Qi Yan tapped his chopsticks twice and looked at Shen Xiliu, smiling. “It’s what I should do. After all, since Mr. Shen is treating me, I can’t let you eat yourself into an injury.”

It was a truly pleasant meal. The environment, atmosphere, and food were all excellent. Unfortunately, a couple on the terrace suddenly staged a proposal, turning the quiet restaurant into a noisy scene. Romantic music began to play, and a crowd of people around them began shouting for the person to “say yes.”

When the proposal succeeded, the patrons cheered. Some couples even leaned in for sticky kisses; pair after pair of young lovers were making eyes at each other, and the atmosphere was thick with “pink” romantic vibes.

The wind blew petals and balloons inside, and the scene gradually became romantic and ambiguous. Being close to the terrace, Qi Yan caught a petal that almost fell into his bowl.

They looked at each other, as if both had only just realized this was a couple’s restaurant.

“Mr. Shen…”

“Are you full?” Shen Xiliu asked steadily.

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s go.”

“No problem.”

Shen Xiliu called the server for the bill. The server reminded them kindly, “Today is September 14th, Photo Valentine’s Day. If you two are willing to take a commemorative photo in our shop, you can get 50% off~”

“That is a tempting discount, but no thank you,” Shen Xiliu said with a thin smile, glancing at Qi Yan, who was awkwardly rubbing his nose.

“Alrighty! This is a gift for our guests. Hope you enjoyed your meal~”

After the bill was settled, Qi Yan wanted to use the restroom. Shen Xiliu prepared to wait for him at the entrance. Before he could leave, the server stopped him and handed him a blue rose.

“May you stay with your lover forever,” the server blessed him with a beaming smile.

Shen Xiliu was stunned. His gaze fell on the large cluster of blue roses beside the server. Next to them was a sign explaining what different quantities of blue roses symbolized.

He stared at them for a while, his heart churning. He said to the server, “Could I trouble you for three of them?”

“Certainly~”

“Thank you.” Shen Xiliu took the three blue roses. The server refused his attempt to pay again. “No need to pay, these are complimentary gifts from our shop. If you like them, please come again~”

“I will. I’ll come back when there’s another chance,” Shen Xiliu said with a faint smile.

The blue roses were cold and elegant, their petals soft and delicate with lingering dewdrops. Shen Xiliu touched them gently, unwilling to damage them. Outside, the sky was gradually darkening, making his eyes look deeper.

As Shen Xiliu stood quietly at the door waiting for Qi Yan, thinking about giving the flowers to him, someone suddenly called out.

“Second Brother, why are you here too?”

Hearing that surprised voice, Shen Xiliu glanced over. A beautiful female Omega had just stepped out of the shop, her arm linked with that of a male Alpha.

“Mr. Shen, I didn’t expect to run into you here!” The male Alpha looked at Shen Xiliu with pleasant surprise and greeted him excitedly.

Shen Xiliu’s gaze slid past the man’s face—which looked about thirty percent familiar—without pausing for even a second. His eyes landed on Shen Xiangting, his expression cold as he completely ignored the man. “What, do I need to tell you why people come to restaurants?”

Hiss, that familiar mocking retort.

Shen Xiangting stuck out her tongue and hugged her companion’s arm tighter. “Second Brother, you know that’s not what I meant. This is a couple’s restaurant, right? Are you here with a lover too?”

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll assume you are.” When Shen Xiliu didn’t answer her, Shen Xiangting whispered with a hint of dissatisfaction, “Also, Second Brother, my boyfriend greeted you. How can you just ignore him?”

How rude.

Shen Xiliu’s gaze rested on her abdomen for a brief moment, a flicker of coldness passing through his eyes.

When his gaze returned to her boyfriend, Shen Xiliu slowly touched the seductive blue roses in his hand. His expression was calm and indifferent. “I’ve already given you plenty of face.”

Though he said that, his arrogant gaze was full of contemptuous scrutiny. When his eyes landed on Yi Yang, they were as cold as a venomous snake’s—he wasn’t looking at a person, but at a dead object.

Shen Xiliu’s gaze alone could exert a palpable pressure and deterrent force. It made Shen Xiangting involuntarily shiver, to say nothing of her boyfriend.