"I'm good with anything." Lingyuan tore open the plastic wrapper around the straw and slid it into the milk tea cup. "Drink up. Half-sugar, warm."

"Thanks, Gege." Yanxi reached for the cup just as a wisp of smoke drifted over. The sharp smell made her nose wrinkle.

Noticing her subtle reaction, Lingyuan stood up. "Sit on my side. You won’t smell the smoke here."

"Okay!" Yanxi nodded. But as she squeezed past others, Manager Han’s gaze locked onto her.

"That girl’s seriously stunning."

"Keep it down, Manager… People might hear…"

"So what if they do!?"

Yanxi’s striking beauty contrasted sharply with Lingyuan’s plain appearance. Manager Han’s face twisted in displeasure.

"What did this guy do in his past life to deserve a wife like her in this one?" he bellowed loud enough for the whole shop to hear.

"That bastard…" Yanxi spun around, ready to argue, but Lingyuan held her back.

"Ignore him. Let’s just eat." Lingyuan flipped through the menu as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

"Don’t you think they’re being too harsh?" Yanxi murmured, settling beside him.

Seemingly overhearing them, Manager Han shouted again: "One deal with Mengxi Group nets me hundreds of thousands in commissions! Could you earn that in a lifetime? Ditch that loser. I’ll keep you instead—100k a month."

"Manager, please stop… It’s rude to say such things…"

"Am I lying? Why can’t I speak the truth?"

Fury burned in Yanxi’s chest. A cold, out-of-place smile flickered on her lips.

*One hundred thousand? That’s less than half my monthly allowance. And Mother reimburses me for most things anyway.*

Suddenly, Lingyuan stood and walked over to Manager Han, extending his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Manager. I understand President Yan is cautious in business. Your company must be exceptional to secure Mengxi Group’s orders."

Confusion rippled through the onlookers.

Lingyuan kept a polite smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "In ten days, President Yan is hosting a birthday banquet for Deputy Minister Ling. I wonder if your company qualifies to send a representative?"

Manager Han’s brow furrowed. Deputy Minister Ling was a high-ranking official—only influential figures attended his events.

And this ordinary-looking kid… How would he know about the banquet?

"Who are you?"

"You don’t need to know." Lingyuan’s tone turned uncharacteristically serious. "If your company is invited, we’ll meet there."

With that, he turned, grabbed Yanxi’s hand, and pulled her out of the barbecue shop.

Only after walking far enough to ensure no one followed did Lingyuan exhale. "That was close. You were about to charge back in."

Yanxi huffed. "So what? They insulted you first!" Her eyes still smoldered with rage. She wanted to tear them apart.

*[How dare anyone insult my most beloved Gege to his face!]*

"They’re drunk. Best not to provoke them." Lingyuan watched her puffed-up cheeks with quiet warmth in his chest.

"But still—"

Yanxi clenched her fists, unconvinced.

Then Lingyuan’s hand cupped her cheek. His palm was unexpectedly warm, like snow melting on skin in winter.

"Come on," he said gently. "What if they’d gotten physical? I can’t fight them all alone. And someone as pretty as you shouldn’t get hurt, right?"

"Oho~ Gege touched me first time ever!"

"…"

Lingyuan yanked his hand back. "Your mood shifts too fast."

"Hehe." Yanxi threw herself into his arms. Lingyuan staggered, nearly losing his balance.

"You were so cool back there! I love love love it!"

"Huh? Ah… Was I?"

"Yep! But…" Yanxi pulled back, tapping her chin with a finger. "Do you like me, Gege? Like… as a sister~?"

"Drink your milk tea. I’m not answering that." Lingyuan turned away, shoving the cup into her hands.

"Eh? Gege’s blushing!"

"Nonsense. It’s from their rudeness." He dodged her gaze. "Let’s grab street food over there."

"Eh? Don’t change the subject~" Yanxi wasn’t letting go.

"I’m hungry. Let’s go."

"Ugh…" Yanxi pressed a hand to her stomach. A loud *gurgle* reminded her she hadn’t eaten in nearly nine hours. "Fine… But what to eat?"

"How about fried chicken?"

"Too greasy."

"Stir-fried rice cakes?"

"Too sweet."

"Stinky tofu?"

"Boring."

Lingyuan sucked in a breath. "No wonder you’re a spoiled miss—your standards are sky-high."

"Pfft! When it comes to food, you never compromise." Yanxi placed a hand over her heart, utterly sincere. "Some alleyway stalls beat five-star restaurants—better and cheaper. Be grateful you’re eating at all."

"Hmph! Bad food isn’t worth fifty cents. Good food is worth any price. WHOA—is that new?!"

Yanxi’s eyes lit up. Before Lingyuan could react, she dashed to a stall.

"Hey there, gorgeous! What’ll it be?" The young vendor grinned.

"That squid’s huge! One skewer, please!"

The squid skewer was as long as an arm—the biggest she’d ever seen at a street stall. It sizzled on the griddle, making her mouth water. But before it was ready, her attention snapped to egg burgers nearby.

"Hey! You can’t finish all that!"

Yanxi had a tiny appetite. The squid alone would fill her. Yet she ordered an egg burger too.

"Eh, no worries! Leftovers are for Gege!" She took one bite, shoved the half-eaten burger into Lingyuan’s hand, and sprinted to another stall.

Lingyuan sighed at the bitten burger. "You’re impossible."

*—*