Was that self-deprecation?
An Ruo pressed her lips into a smile. This man could be quite dryly humorous sometimes.
"Did you just laugh?"
The girl froze for a moment. "How did you know?"
Because he could see all along...
Shen Xiaoxing's lips curved slightly, an eyebrow lifting. "Maybe it's because we're soulmates."
"..." An Ruo smiled silently. Since when were they soulmates?
It was clear that the man had been in a good mood these past few days, talking more gradually. At least he no longer ignored her like before, shedding some of that aloof coldness.
She just didn't know how long this peace between them would last. Shen Tingfeng had inexplicably been beaten up and was busy nursing his wounds, leaving her alone for now. For the time being, she could only take things one step at a time.
Han Chong stood nearby like a telephone pole, all the seats around taken. He felt awkward squeezing between the young master and his wife...
An Ruo noticed his discomfort. "Han Chong, sit down."
Han Chong stole a glance at the silent man. An Ruo assumed his ingrained servility kept him from daring to sit with Shen Xiaoxing.
After several attempts to persuade him, he still refused to sit. She deliberately smiled. "Standing there like that draws attention. People are sneaking looks at us."
From the moment they entered, the diners hadn't taken their eyes off them. But most were focused on the man's looks, speculating whether he was truly disabled.
Some lecherous men eyed An Ruo lasciviously, whispering about whether her face or figure was better.
Shen Xiaoxing took in those disgusting faces, his hand by his side clenching into a fist. But at this moment, he could only hold back!
Han Chong sat down with lingering unease just as the wontons arrived. The man shot him a sinister glance—get lost!
Intimidated by that look, Han Chong silently got up to share a table with strangers.
An Ruo looked up to find him at the next table, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "Why did you move over there?"
Before Han Chong could answer, the man interjected flatly, "He prefers sitting with strangers. Don't worry about him."
Han Chong: "..."
Young master, doesn't your conscience ache saying that?
Looking at their table, the young couple sat face-to-face, affectionate as lovers. He had shamelessly squeezed in beside the man, too awkward to even lift his head.
An Ruo didn't understand the secret between master and servant. She smiled and nodded, then picked up a wonton with her spoon, blew on it, and brought it to the man's lips.
"Try it and see how it tastes."
Over this time together, their relationship seemed much better than before. Though both hid secrets from each other, at least they no longer clashed.
Shen Xiaoxing had grown used to her feeding him. He opened his mouth to take the wonton she offered, his deep eyes reflecting the girl's expectant face.
"How is it? Good?"
He nodded in approval. "Better than what the cook makes at home."
Getting a compliment from this man wasn't easy. It seemed the wontons really suited his taste.
"I used to come here often in high school. Even during class, the aroma from the wonton shop would waft in." Thinking back to fun high school memories, An Ruo smiled softly.
Shen Xiaoxing raised an eyebrow. "You went to high school around here?"
"Yeah."
"What a coincidence. So did I."
An Ruo was momentarily stunned. "The same high school?"
It was an elite school. Given her background, studying there should have been an impossible dream. But her outstanding grades earned her a special admission. To ease the burden, she insisted on refusing private school. Her grandmother couldn't bear to see her sacrifice so much and spent a long time convincing her to enroll.
Her admission based on merit had offended An Qing, who had failed the entrance exam. An Qing's grades had always been worryingly poor.
But she had a wealthy father. An Deyu threw money into investments to get her in, giving An Qing every opportunity to bully her at school.
Later, to escape her, An Ruo scored high enough to enter A University, finally parting ways with An Qing.
"So, that means you should call me senior?"
An Ruo gave a faint smile. The man was six years older than her. If he really had attended that school, she supposed she should call him senior.
But she didn't want to. Who knew if he was lying?
"The wontons are getting cold. Eat up." An Ruo was taken aback.
At home, servants fed him. Now that they were out, she had to feed him first before she could enjoy her own meal.
"Look at that guy over there. Grown man still needs a woman to feed him. No shame!"
"Can't you see his eyes are vacant and unfocused? He's clearly blind. What blind person can feed themselves?"
"Tsk tsk tsk. Wheelchair-bound and blind too. What a damn tragedy!"
"Such a waste of a handsome face. God really isn't fair."
"Look at his clothes—they're fine. Even with his disabilities, he still carries himself with elegance. I bet he's some rich young master!"
"Probably faking it. If he were really rich, why wouldn't he get his eyes treated? With such a beautiful woman sitting in front of him and he can't see her—how frustrating is that?"
Their whispers started low but grew louder, tearing open others' wounds for all to see, with no regard for anyone's feelings...