If You Can't Resist, Then Eat

Qianxiang City was not far from Xianyun Road—just 3.2 kilometers away.

However, this was peak traffic congestion, and unless they were flying a plane, they could only inch forward with the sluggish flow of cars.

The three-kilometer stretch took the two of them nearly half an hour to traverse.

Once they entered Xianyun Road, Pan Ning pulled out her phone and dialed Meng Qianyu’s number.

The call connected after a few rings.

Pan Ning switched to speakerphone, and a cacophony of noise immediately spilled from the device.

"Hey, where are you? Why is it so loud?"

"I'm at the hot pot place~ It's packed in here."

"Alright, we’re on Xianyun Road now. Hurry up and come out—it’s hard to park here."

Meng Qianyu’s voice on the other end cut in and out, making it hard to catch what she was saying.

After a few seconds, the signal stabilized. "Hey, sis, can you hear me now?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

"My friends want to meet you. Why don’t you and Su Yang come in first?"

"Meet me? Are your friends male or female?"

Meng Qianyu giggled. "Girls, of course."

"How many?"

"Two."

"Why would they want to meet me?"

"Hehe, actually, they really want to see Su Yang. I told them he’s super handsome~" Meng Qianyu lowered her voice for the last part.

Hearing this, Su Yang chuckled helplessly and chimed in, "Haven’t all your close friends already met me before?"

"These are two others—they’re pretty close to me too."

"Honestly, the main thing is that I said I was leaving, but they won’t let me go unless you two come in and see who they are~"

"Just tell them I’m your sister, problem solved~"

"Nope, they won’t release me unless they see you in person~"

Su Yang glanced at Pan Ning with resignation. "Guess we’re making a detour?"

"Fine, what a hassle~"

"Alright, gotta go, talk later~"

"Okay, but hurry! If the hot pot arrives before you, I might not be able to resist eating."

"Then eat!" Pan Ning retorted, exasperated.

"No way! I’m saving my appetite for Su Yang’s place. His cooking beats anything outside~"

"Bye." Pan Ning hung up without another word.

Su Yang shook his head, amused. "Let’s find a parking spot first."

"Mm, I’ll help look." Pan Ning rolled down the window and scanned the roadside parking spaces.

The entire right side of the street was packed with parked cars.

Su Yang slowed the car. "If we can’t find one here, we’ll have to try an indoor lot."

After driving a bit farther, they finally spotted a hotel on the right with parking available for visitors.

Su Yang turned into the underground garage, found a spot quickly, and the two headed out on foot.

Soon, they were back on the street. Su Yang looked around and immediately spotted the sign for "Mao Shang Hot Pot" across the road.

He pointed. "Over there. Let’s go."

Two minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of Mao Shang Hot Pot, where a crowd had gathered, waiting for tables.

Inside, the restaurant was bustling, packed with diners.

The arrival of Su Yang and Pan Ning instantly drew murmurs from the crowd.

"Look, look—a hottie!!"

"Where? Where?"

"Shh! Keep it down, unless you want him to hear you?"

"With all this noise? No way."

"But people around us can hear—so embarrassing!"

"Whatever, where is he?"

"To the right!"

......

"Damn?! A total knockout!!"

"Where?"

"Left side."

"Shit, she’s with someone. Probably her boyfriend. Ugh, if she were alone, I’d totally ask for her number."

"Who cares? If she’s not married, the wall can be climbed!"

"Then go for it!"

"Heh, nah. Just admiring from afar~"

......

Ignoring the chatter, Su Yang and Pan Ning strode inside.

A server approached them. "Table for two? You’ll need to take a number and wait~"

Su Yang smiled politely. "We’re not dining—just meeting a friend."

"Oh, of course. Right this way."

The server stepped aside, letting them pass.

The hot pot restaurant was spacious, specializing in Chongqing-style broth, with two floors packed to the brim.

Waiters darted between tables, balancing trays, while a line formed at the condiment station.

Su Yang turned to Pan Ning. "This place is huge. Is Qianyu on the first or second floor?"

"No idea. Let me ask."

As Pan Ning pulled out her phone, Su Yang gently caught her wrist. "No need—I see her. Over there."

He gestured toward a four-seater booth against the wall about ten meters away.

After a glance, the two made their way over.

"Excuse us, thanks~"

Meng Qianyu, mid-conversation with her friends, spotted them and immediately waved. "Sis!! Su Yang! Over here!"

At her call, the two girls across from her turned in unison—and their eyes widened.

"No kidding, he’s really hot!!" they whispered.

By then, Su Yang and Pan Ning had reached the table.

"Su Yang! Sit here!" Meng Qianyu grabbed his arm and tugged him onto the bench, then pulled Pan Ning down beside her, sandwiching herself between them.

The two girls across the table beamed. "Hey there, handsome and gorgeous! Qianyu, aren’t you gonna introduce us?"

"Oh! Right. This is my cousin, Pan Ning, and this is..." She paused briefly before continuing, "This handsome guy is my cousin’s friend, Su Yang~"

"Nice to meet you, Pan Ning! Hi, Su Yang!" The girls nodded cheerfully.

Pan Ning offered a faint smile. "Hello~"

Su Yang, ever affable, grinned. "Likewise. And you two are?"

The first girl, with ash-gray short curls and a round, cute face, spoke up. "I’m Guan Ruoqing—call me Ruoqing or Qingqing!"

Su Yang nodded, then looked to the other girl, who had an oval face and long hair.

She smiled. "I’m Zhou Ke. Just call me Keke."

"Got it."

Internally, Su Yang queried:

—System, what’s their attractiveness score?

[Guan Ruoqing: 78]

[Zhou Ke: 75]

He smirked faintly.

After a brief exchange, Pan Ning turned to Meng Qianyu. "Ready to go?"

"Yep! Ruoqing, Keke, I’m heading out now, okay?"

Hearing this, the two girls exchanged a glance and sighed, "Ugh, we finally managed to get you out for a meal, and you're leaving just like that? Fine, but Qianyu, why are you tagging along with your sister and her friend on their date?"

"Who said it's a date? I'm just—oh, never mind, don’t worry about it. Anyway, I’m off to eat something delicious! This time it’s really my bad—next time, I’ll treat you both to a feast~"

The two girls smiled helplessly. "Alright then~"

Su Yang and the other two bid farewell to the girls before getting up to leave.

......