At around four in the afternoon, Xiao Chen finally walked out of the Lonely Bar.
He and Xiaodao had sat drinking for more than three hours, polishing off five bottles of Red Star Erguotou between them. Even Xiao Chen, who prided himself on his tolerance, felt a heavy buzz and ended up dozing on the sofa instead of leaving right away. As for Xiaodao, he was far worse off—still clutching the bloodied knife that had ended so many lives, he simply collapsed under the table in a drunken heap.
The image of Xiaodao groaning and clutching his head when he finally left made Xiao Chen chuckle. That kid had actually dared to provoke him—he was paying the price now.
On the way out, Xiao Chen phoned Su Qing, picked her up from her office, and the two headed straight for Su Xiaomeng's school. By the time they arrived, classes were over, and just as they parked, Xiaomeng came walking out through the school gate.
"Su Qing, how's Xiaomeng doing in her studies?" Xiao Chen asked.
"Not well," Su Qing sighed. "Barely passing in every subject."
She hated bringing it up. As her younger sister, Xiaomeng's education should have been a priority, yet Su Qing never had the heart to push her too hard. After years of struggling in society, she knew that grades weren't everything—a diploma didn't always guarantee success.
"Sixty points across the board?" Xiao Chen raised his brows.
Su Qing gave a wry smile and nodded. "She doesn't like studying, so I don't force her. I've been considering sending her abroad after her college entrance exams."
Xiao Chen, however, smirked. "You know, scraping sixty marks every time might actually be harder than scoring full marks." His tone carried a deeper meaning as he looked toward the approaching Xiaomeng.
Su Qing froze, then widened her eyes in realization. Could it be?
"Alright, don't bring it up—Xiaomeng's here," Xiao Chen said with a knowing smile. So she's hiding her abilities… but why deliberately fail?
Su Qing's heart lightened. If her sister had been failing exams on purpose, it at least meant she wasn't genuinely bad at studying. She made a note to have a heart-to-heart with Xiaomeng when the time was right.
The car door opened, and Xiaomeng slid in. Spotting the smile on her sister's face, she tilted her head curiously. "Sis, what's making you so happy?"
"Nothing much," Su Qing said warmly. "Tell me, Xiaomeng, what do you want for dinner tonight?"
"I want Western food. There's a new French restaurant in French City that's supposed to be authentic—let's try it!"
"Alright, anything you like."
Thrilled by her sister's easy agreement, Xiaomeng beamed. "Sis, you're the best!"
As the sisters chatted, Xiao Chen drove toward French City, a district on the east side of Longhai built along the river. Once the French Concession, the area still retained old European-style buildings, now mostly filled with Western restaurants. Xiao Chen had been there before, so he quickly navigated them to the place Xiaomeng mentioned.
"Been here already?" Su Qing asked, surprised by his familiarity.
"Twice," Xiao Chen nodded casually.
The moment they parked, Xiaomeng finally acknowledged him—only to say, "You can leave now, Xiao Chen. Just pick us up when we're done."
"Xiaomeng!" Su Qing scolded, frowning.
Pouting, Xiaomeng thought bitterly, You always scold me, but never see how this guy bullies me. He even dared to touch me…
Su Qing hurried to smooth things over. "Don't mind her—she's spoiled."
Xiao Chen laughed it off. "I already treat her like my own sister. Why would I be angry?"
Inside the French restaurant, they chose a quiet corner. When the elegant waiter handed over the menu, Su Qing passed it to her sister. "Go ahead, Xiaomeng. Let's hear some of your French."
Xiaomeng, however, smirked inwardly. She had other plans. Handing the menu to Xiao Chen, she said sweetly, "Brother Chen is our guest. He should order first."
Su Qing, thinking Xiaomeng was finally being polite, approved. Xiao Chen, reading her expression, realized the little girl wanted to embarrass him by making him face a French menu.
Instead, he smiled, took the menu, and after glancing through it, spoke with the waiter in flawless French. The waiter's eyes lit up in admiration, clearly impressed.
Xiaomeng froze. That wasn't supposed to happen! Su Qing too was taken aback—his French was even better than the tutor she had hired for her sister.
With a faint smile, Xiao Chen handed the menu back. "I've ordered a few authentic dishes he recommended. Want to try them?"
"Uh… sure," Xiaomeng mumbled, still stunned.
Su Qing stared at Xiao Chen with growing curiosity. Just who was this man? Every time she thought she understood him, he surprised her again.
Soon, plates of French cuisine filled the table. Xiaomeng's earlier schemes forgotten, she dove in eagerly. Su Qing ate gracefully, every movement refined, while Xiao Chen ate with casual ease—his battlefield-honed discipline making him indifferent to elegance.
As live piano and cello music floated across the restaurant, Xiaomeng gazed enviously at the performers. "They look like princesses, so elegant."
"Now you're envious?" Su Qing teased. "Didn't I ask you to learn piano before? It's not too late now."
Xiaomeng hesitated. "Which would give me more temperament, piano or cello?"
Before Su Qing could reply, Xiao Chen cut in with a grin. "Temperament's about looks, not instruments. If you're pretty, you'll look elegant even blowing a suona. If you're ugly, even playing golf looks like shoveling dung."
Both sisters froze. Xiaomeng, disgusted, tossed down her fork. "Ugh! Xiao Chen, do you want us to lose our appetite?!"
Su Qing also glared, while Xiao Chen gave a sheepish laugh. "Alright, my bad."
Dinner ended on a lighter note, followed by a stroll around the nearby mall. Later, they returned to Tulip Villa.
As Xiaomeng went to flop onto the sofa, Xiao Chen suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Don't go in yet." His face had turned serious.
Startled, Su Qing asked, "What's wrong, Xiao Chen?"