At 11:40 AM, Tang Song got out of the taxi and first messaged Xie Shuyu before looking up at Yan Bin Lou Restaurant. The three-story standalone building had a dark gray facade adorned with simple lines and geometric patterns, exuding a very stylish vibe. The large floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a modern and fashionable interior, clean and tidy. No wonder it had become a popular social media hotspot.

As he walked through the dark glass doors, he immediately recognized a familiar figure. Zhao Yue, wearing a long blue dress, was with a tall, slim young man. Taking a couple of steps closer, Tang Song recognized the young man as Wang Yubo from the sales department, a straightforward and honest guy. The two seemed to be waiting for a table, chatting and laughing intimately like a couple in the early stages of romance.

Seeing Tang Song enter, a receptionist quickly approached, "Hello, sir. How many?"

"Two, we have a reservation for Table 10 on the second floor."

"Sure, please follow me."

Hearing the familiar voice, Zhao Yue's ears twitched, and she turned to look. Her face showed a flash of awkwardness as she instinctively let go of Wang Yubo's arm.

Tang Song smiled and greeted them, "Good afternoon, Zhao Yue, Yubo."

Zhao Yue brushed her bangs aside and pretended to be nonchalant, "Hello, Brother Song. Are you here for lunch too? Wow, your outfit looks great today! And your hairstyle is very nice!"

Tang Song usually wore a typical nerdy look at the company, with only different lengths of hair and a couple of outfits he rotated through. Today's somewhat trendy outfit was a first, and indeed, it made a refreshing impression.

Tang Song smiled and casually replied, "Your dress looks very nice today too."

After a few more pleasantries, Tang Song waved and said, "I'll be heading up now. Bye."

With that, he followed the receptionist up the stairs. Watching him disappear around the corner, Zhao Yue tightened her grip on her purse strap, feeling a mix of shame and annoyance. She had been worried that Tang Song might feel jealous or cause a scene, but his lack of reaction left her uncomfortable, as if a fish she had kept in her pond had escaped.

At that moment, a waiter approached them, "Excuse me, we have a table available upstairs. Please follow me."

On the second floor, they sat near a corner. Wang Yubo scanned the QR code for their couple's meal while Zhao Yue discreetly observed the restaurant, quickly spotting Tang Song. He was seated in the best spot in the restaurant—by the east-side window, spacious and quiet. Yan Bin Lou was a very popular local restaurant, and getting such a spot on a weekend required advance reservation.

Seeing Tang Song's attire and attitude today, Zhao Yue's eyes sparkled as she speculated. He must be meeting a girl! Hu Mingli? Li Yan? Several names of female colleagues who were close to Tang Song popped into her head.

Noticing Zhao Yue's distraction, Wang Yubo followed her gaze and chuckled, "Who knew Tang Song, our tech nerd, could be romantic? He must have a girlfriend."

"I'm not sure, maybe," Zhao Yue replied.

"The wine-braised pork and steamed dishes here are excellent, and the presentation is beautiful. I'll take some photos for you." Latest content published on novel_fіre.net

"Sure, I trust your photography skills."

As Zhao Yue chatted with Wang Yubo, she continued to keep an eye on Tang Song. Seeing him focused on the staircase, seemingly waiting for someone, she couldn't help but message him repeatedly.

"Brother Song, Yubo just got promoted and is treating me to lunch to celebrate. We’re good buddies. Haha."

"By the way, I forgot to ask, who are you meeting today? All dressed up? It must be one of our company’s beauties, right?"

After a while, her phone vibrated with a message from Tang Song.

[Tang Song: "Indeed, a great beauty, but not from our company (#smile)"]

Zhao Yue took a deep breath, feeling even more uncomfortable. Despite Tang Song's less-than-stellar appearance and conditions, he was highly skilled, the best programmer in their department. In addition to backend development, his frontend skills were also excellent, greatly helping her at work.

Grinding her teeth, Zhao Yue replied, "Hehe, is she prettier than me? Why don’t you ever invite me for lunch, Brother Song? (#sad) (#doghead)"

...

Reading Zhao Yue's messages, Tang Song couldn’t help but laugh. He really didn't understand why she was so confident. Zhao Yue was at most average-looking, with a few minor facial advantages that, when covered by makeup, barely made her a 6 out of 10. She probably took her beautiful, edited photos on social media as her real appearance.

As he pondered how to reply, a striking figure caught his eye, making his heart skip a beat. Even on the bustling second floor, she stood out instantly. Her appearance drew everyone’s attention, a testament to her charm. It wasn't just her looks and figure but also her outstanding aura and presence, something Tang Song was striving for.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Song stood up from his seat, a radiant smile on his face.

...

In the corner, Zhao Yue was still waiting for Tang Song's reply. When she didn't get one, she glanced over again, immediately noticing him standing. Her heart skipped a beat as she followed his gaze. Her expression froze. Approaching Tang Song was a model-like woman, tall and slender, with striking features, fair skin, and thick, dark hair. She wore a coffee-colored casual shirt, a plaid A-line skirt, flesh-colored stockings, and brown high heels, and carried a high-quality camel coat on her arm.

She looked elegant, stylish, and had a unique charm. Although slim, she exuded vitality, stood upright, and had bright, spirited eyes, giving a clean, decisive, and efficient impression, much like a beautiful CEO in a TV drama. Her clothes and accessories looked very expensive. Zhao Yue recognized the bag on her shoulder—a Louis Vuitton "Golden Sahara" worth over 200,000 yuan, often referred to as the pinnacle of crocodile leather bags, a luxury item she dreamed of owning.

Watching her walk up to Tang Song, Zhao Yue muttered in disbelief, "This... can't be real, right?"