CHAPTER 841: CHAPTER 841: LENDING A HAND

Though there weren’t many people to meet on this road, it must be said that the decor of this store is different from other shops in the small town, standing out like a crane among chickens, and of course, the prices on the menu are significantly higher compared to other small shops.

"Now I know why this place doesn’t attract many customers." Xu Ke looked at a simple tomato mixed with sugar priced at 188, finally understanding why the business here was so slow. This approach of not opening for half a year but making enough when it does to last three years is quite unique.

"What? You think it’s expensive?" As soon as Shui Jing entered the store, she discreetly kicked off her dry shoes and now comfortably stood barefoot on the cold restaurant floor, wearing a satisfied expression.

"These prices are still acceptable." Xu Ke called the waiter and randomly ordered a few dishes, then handed the menu to Shui Jing, "I don’t know what you like to eat, so I’ll let you order for yourself."

Without ceremony, Shui Jing picked up the menu and, without even lifting her head, ordered several items, finally requesting a bottle of wine from the store, looking like a seasoned diner.

"You won’t mind that I ordered a lot, will you?" Shui Jing set down the menu and seemed to realize something, speaking up.

"No, not at all." Xu Ke shrugged, his relaxed demeanor making it clear he wasn’t just being polite.

Thus, Shui Jing couldn’t help but feel curious about Xu Ke; one was intentional, the other sincere, and they quickly found themselves deep in conversation. By the time the restaurant served the dishes, Shui Jing was already reluctantly closing her mouth.

As they left the restaurant, Shui Jing had already unilaterally exchanged contact information with Xu Ke, given that Xu Ke had lost his phone and had yet to buy a new one.

"Once you buy a new phone, make sure to contact me." Shui Jing stood at the restaurant’s entrance face-to-face with Xu Ke.

"Okay." Xu Ke nodded with a smile, agreeing.

Just as Xu Ke was about to turn and leave, Shui Jing called him again, "Wait a moment, I have a gift for you, as a thank-you for the dinner. You can’t refuse."

Shui Jing had said this much, what else could Xu Ke do but thank her with a smile?

But Xu Ke didn’t expect the gift to be her kiss.

Xu Ke’s eyes widened slightly, full of disbelief, unable to believe what had just happened to him, making Shui Jing burst into laughter, "What, so innocent?"

Shui Jing spoke while trying to reach out to pinch Xu Ke’s cheek, but Xu Ke stepped back to avoid it.

"Men and women shouldn’t touch casually." Xu Ke covered his face and took a step back, looking at Shui Jing as if she were a big flirt.

"Alright then, I won’t tease you anymore, I’ll head off now." Shui Jing gazed at Xu Ke with eyes full of amusement before finally turning to leave.

Not until Shui Jing’s silhouette vanished did Xu Ke lower his hand that had been covering his cheek, and his expression transformed, all previous innocence and naivety replaced by an all-dark expansiveness. Xu Ke took out a tissue from his pocket, repeatedly wiping the spot where he’d been kissed until his skin reddened and felt painful, only then did he stop, though his eyes still showed traces of disgust.

"What a nuisance." Xu Ke spoke expressionlessly, looking at the tissue he’d thrown into the garbage, then focused on the paper in his palm with Shui Jing’s contact information written on it. His hand stretched towards the trash a few centimeters but eventually pulled back, putting the paper back into his pocket.

The small town is only so big, Xu Ke knew he’d run into this person sooner or later, but didn’t expect them to meet again so soon. Although they parted that afternoon, they ran into each other again that night; who knows what kind of fate this was.

Nighttime Shui Jing was completely different from daytime Shui Jing. Daytime Shui Jing dressed elegantly, while nighttime Shui Jing was dressed more sensually, with colorful tattoos sprawling on her slender exposed arms and colorful tattoos covering her left thigh, with a simple small line on her collarbone.

When Xu Ke met Shui Jing, Shui Jing was standing on the street waiting for her food, holding a cigarette between her index and middle fingers, exhaling clouds. On seeing Xu Ke, she wore an obvious look of surprise, which quickly turned into a smile, "Twice in one day, what fate is this?"

"It’s pretty amazing."

"Fancy a late-night snack? I’ll treat you, their food here is all really good and quite comprehensive. If you want to try some local snacks, this place will pretty much satisfy you." Shui Jing introduced as she pointed with her cigarette at the stall she was standing at.

Xu Ke indeed wanted to try the local snacks, so hearing Shui Jing say this, he didn’t leave, and instead stood behind her, obediently lining up to wait his turn.

Watching Xu Ke’s reaction to seeing her, like a mouse seeing a cat, Shui Jing couldn’t help but find it amusing, amused enough to want to play tricks on Xu Ke, "Why are you avoiding me? Didn’t we have lunch together today? There were so many people watching, and you even hugged me then. Why weren’t you shy then, but afraid of people looking now?"

Xu Ke didn’t want to be close to Shui Jing, yet Shui Jing moved in closer, and the distance between them gradually narrowed.

"What happened during the day was unavoidable, you were injured then, helping you was the right thing to do, but now you seem perfectly fine, so getting so close isn’t appropriate." Xu Ke said, his manners polite but tinged with nervousness.

"Why is it inappropriate? I like being this close to you." Shui Jing teased, observing Xu Ke’s actions.

Speaking while moving closer to Xu Ke yet again, Shui Jing was about to lean on Xu Ke when a voice filled with anger suddenly called out from the side, stopping Shui Jing’s movements in their tracks.

Xu Ke looked toward the direction of the voice, seeing four people arrive, with the leader of them being somewhat fat, very different from the typically short southern man, his height and weight far exceeding others. He approached like a mountain moving toward them. However, his height gained no advantage in front of Xu Ke, where Xu Ke lost was in weight; Xu Ke simply couldn’t compare with this man in that regard.

The newcomer’s face was ashen, a path automatically cleared for him as he walked, soon reaching Xu Ke and Shui Jing without hindrance.

"What are you doing?"