Can I ask you out for dinner alone

After watching for a few minutes, Su Yang smiled and said, "No problem, this place isn’t far from the downtown shopping district."

"There are a lot of clothing stores over there that stay open pretty late."

"That works~" Lu Yun beamed.

The two chatted for about an hour.

Then, the speaker at the shop entrance called Su Yang’s number.

"Finally, it’s our turn. Let’s go—you must be starving, right?"

"Yeah, a little."

"Being a bit hungry makes the food taste even better."

The two followed a server into the restaurant, which was packed to the brim.

However, since the place was so popular, they had long ago rented out the neighboring unit to expand.

So, the interior still felt relatively spacious.

They were seated at a table for two, and the server handed them each a menu.

"Take a look, handsome and pretty, see what you’d like to order."

After taking the menu, Su Yang glanced at Lu Yun. "I’ll order for us. You haven’t been here before, so you wouldn’t know."

"Okay~"

Su Yang quickly picked up the pencil on the table and marked down garlic butter crayfish, spicy crayfish, two steamed Australian lobsters, mantis shrimp, clams, snails, and more.

Lu Yun tilted her head and asked, "Isn’t that too much? Can we finish all this?"

"How much meat do you think these little things have? I’m worried it’s not enough."

After adding two more of the restaurant’s popular dishes, Su Yang finally handed the menu back to the server.

"Here you go, buddy. Oh, and bring us two bottles of ice-cold Coke." He then turned to Lu Yun. "You’re okay with cold drinks, right?"

"I am~" Lu Yun replied with a shy smile.

"Great, make it Coca-Cola," he added, looking up at the server.

"Got it~" The server grinned and turned away.

Soon, a table full of delicious lobster dishes arrived.

Su Yang’s eyes gleamed as he quickly put on two disposable gloves. "Here we go! Dig in while it’s hot—it’s absolutely amazing!"

"Alright, I’m drooling already~"

They didn’t even wait for the rest of the dishes before diving in.

"Mmm!! So good!" Lu Yun exclaimed between bites.

Su Yang grinned. "Glad you like it. Eat up—we can always order more if it’s not enough."

About ten minutes later, Su Yang was too engrossed in eating to even talk, focusing solely on his meal.

The last time he’d eaten here was… well, the last time.

Just as he was thoroughly enjoying himself, a clear voice called out from nearby.

"Su Yang?"

Despite the noisy crowd, the voice was loud enough, and Su Yang’s sharp senses caught it immediately. He instinctively looked up.

A tall, elegant beauty was walking toward him with a smile.

"Little Su?"

"Yep, it’s me~"

Indeed, it was Su Qingci, the girl they’d met by chance in Shima Town.

"Weren’t you traveling? Back so soon?"

"Suddenly lost interest. It’s not as fun alone." Su Qingci pulled up a plastic chair and sat beside Su Yang.

She smiled at Lu Yun across the table. "Hey, Sister Lu! Fancy seeing you here~"

Lu Yun returned the smile. "Yeah, what a coincidence! Are you here alone?"

"Nope, I’m with a friend. She’s parking the car now~"

"Ah, got it." Lu Yun nodded.

Su Yang chuckled. "How many of you are there?"

"Just two."

"My table’s a bit small, otherwise I’d invite you to squeeze in with us."

"No need~ I already got a number."

"Alright. So, is it a boyfriend or girlfriend?" Su Yang teased.

Su Qingci laughed. "Of course it’s a girl. I don’t have a boyfriend~"

"No handsome guys chasing after you?"

"Plenty! The line of guys at my school could probably circle the campus." She smirked proudly.

"Haha, pick one already."

"Hmm… none of them are my type."

"Your standards are that high?"

"Not really. It’s just about liking someone, right, Sister Lu?" Su Qingci blinked at Lu Yun.

"Exactly~"

"See? Women understand women… Anyway, you two—is this a date?"

Lu Yun blushed. "We’re just having a normal meal."

Hearing this, Su Qingci’s eyes sparkled mischievously. She leaned in and whispered into Su Yang’s ear, "Bro, isn’t Pan Ning your girlfriend?"

"Wha—?" Su Yang froze mid-bite.

"Who told you that?"

"Does anyone need to? It’s obvious."

"Damn! Don’t go making wild guesses, kid. You don’t understand these things yet."

"Pfft, I know way more than you."

Su Qingci lowered her voice again. "So… can I take you out to eat sometime? Just us."

Su Yang leaned back, surprised. Seeing she was serious, he smiled after a moment. "Sure."

"Great! Anyway, gotta go—my friend’s here. Bye, Sister Lu!"

"See you! Let’s grab a meal together sometime~"

"Absolutely~" Su Qingci dashed off energetically.

What’s her deal? Are college girls these days this bold?

"What were you two whispering about? Something I shouldn’t hear?" Lu Yun teased.

"Uh, nothing. She said she’d treat us to a meal another time~"

"Oh, that’s nice. She’s got such a fun personality."

"Yeah, forget about her. Let’s focus on eating."

"Alright~"

They continued for another half hour, polishing off every last bit of lobster.

By the time the side dishes arrived, Lu Yun was too full to eat more, leaving Su Yang to finish them alone.

Wiping her mouth, Lu Yun stood up first to pay the bill.

Su Yang called out, "What are you doing?"

"Paying, of course~ You always treat me—it’s my turn this time."

Su Yang thought for a second, then chuckled. "Fine, go ahead. Next time’s on me."

"Deal~"

After settling the bill, they stepped outside.

At the entrance, Su Yang spotted Su Qingci and a short-haired girl waiting among the crowd.

Su Qingci noticed them too and waved. "Done eating?"

"Yep, we’re heading out. Enjoy your meal." Su Yang nodded.

"Alright~ Won’t see you off then!"

Su Yang rolled his eyes playfully. "No need. Later~"

"Bye, Qingci!" Lu Yun waved as well.

"See you, Sister Lu!"

Twenty minutes later, Su Yang drove Lu Yun to a high-end mall in the city center called SOP.

SOP was positioned as a luxury fashion hub, one of the world’s most iconic high-end department stores.

It was also one of Haicheng’s most exclusive shopping destinations—essentially a playground for the wealthy.

Despite living in Haicheng for years, this was Su Yang’s first visit. He’d heard of it before but never dared to step inside.

A single pair of sunglasses here could easily cost fifty or sixty thousand—definitely not a place for the average shopper.

The interior of SOP was lavishly decorated, housing nearly every major international luxury brand.

For example, the most familiar luxury brands like Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Armani, Gucci, Prada, and so on.

After parking the car, the two took the elevator into the mall.

……