It was originally agreed that Su Bai would have dinner with Liu Chen'ang.
But she suddenly received a phone call, saying she had something urgent to attend to, looking rather flustered.
Su Bai decided not to disturb her—it must be something important.
Even as the child of wealthy parents, one still gets assigned real responsibilities.
Unlike Su Bai, who had nothing serious to do all day. The only thing that could be considered "serious" was school, and even that could be handled with his carefree approach to studying.
In a way, Su Bai was happier than many big-shot business owners. Those tycoons had to worry about their enterprises every day, while Su Bai only needed to think about how to maximize his cashback rewards from spending.
After chatting idly with his senior, Zhou Jialu, who didn’t bring up Liu Chen'ang again, she focused on peeling shrimp for Su Bai.
Today, Su Bai had ordered a lot of lobster and botan shrimp.
These two were among the more popular choices for raw shrimp sashimi.
Popularity didn’t mean they lacked sophistication—quite the opposite. It meant the supply channels were reliable, and if the restaurant could source high-quality stock, Su Bai was happy to indulge.
He didn’t subscribe to the "eat expensive, not right" philosophy.
He preferred to prioritize flavor and texture.
Earlier, Su Bai had ordered a few skewers of grilled chicken with leeks and kept the bamboo sticks after finishing.
Zhou Jialu skewered the peeled shrimp onto the sticks, arranging them neatly.
Then she drizzled them with sashimi soy sauce mixed with premium wasabi paste.
Wasabi had a more refined kick than regular horseradish—less harsh, complementing the shrimp’s delicate texture with layered richness.
Devouring an entire skewer in one go tapped into that primal human craving for high-quality protein.
"Mmm… not bad," Su Bai mumbled with his mouth full.
"Junior, you feast on rich food like this every day. Be careful—you might end up with gout," Zhou Jialu teased with a smile.
"Thanks for the concern, but I know my body well," Su Bai replied, giving her a mischievous look. "If you’re really worried about my health, you could help me exercise more. Faster metabolism, you know."
"Ugh, you’re thinking about those things again…"
Zhou Jialu rolled her eyes at him.
Though she feigned annoyance, her mind was already wandering, contemplating how they’d spend the afternoon.
There was no need to visit the car exhibition again during their break.
This Japanese restaurant was part of a chain where Su Bai had a membership card, but it was a bit far from his usual haunt—the Ascott.
After some thought, Zhou Jialu suggested, "How about we book a room nearby to rest at noon?"
"What, is the car not spacious enough for you…?"
"It’s not that… I just prefer sharing a big, soft bed with you, junior."
Zhou Jialu blinked, her expression shy yet suggestive.
In this regard, Zhou Jialu was surprisingly traditional.
Very traditional.
That demure, almost innocent shyness contrasted sharply with her fox-like, alluring appearance.
"Sure, let me check nearby hotels… There’s a W Hotel here—probably the only one in Jiangcheng."
"The one known for its trendy vibe?"
"You know about it too? I’ve heard it’s considered a hotspot for couples on dates~"
Su Bai immediately caught the implication.
After all, given W Hotel’s "fashion-forward" branding, online jokes often labeled it as the go-to place for wealthy young men and their companions…
…
"Excuse me, sir. This is today’s VIP-exclusive hidden menu. Would you like us to prepare it for you?"
A server outside their private room announced.
"Absolutely," Su Bai agreed without hesitation. A hidden menu? Definitely worth trying.
Even if some of the ingredients sounded bizarre, this was a Japanese restaurant—many seemingly unusual dishes turned out to be surprisingly mild in flavor.
Soon after, an attractive waitress arrived with the "hidden menu," wearing a sweet smile.
Out of habit, Su Bai scanned her with his system.
To his surprise, she just barely met the S-tier beauty standard.
But her "relationship count" of 13 was… concerning.
Damn, that’s a lot of transfers.
Instantly, Su Bai lost all interest in her delicate features.
Clearly, innocence wasn’t something you could judge by looks alone.
Noticing Su Bai’s indifference, the waitress’s eyes flickered with disappointment.
She bit her lip, reluctant but maintaining professionalism as she explained, "Today’s hidden menu features Japanese-style grilled venison."
"Oh-ho, they serve venison here?" Su Bai perked up. "You use this torch to sear it?"
"Yes, sir. We sear first, then glaze it… If you’d like to try yourself, I can guide you hands-on."
"Sure, let’s do it."
Su Bai was eager—he enjoyed cooking.
Lately, he’d even splurged on high-end kitchenware online.
Combined with the equipment in his duplex by the mountains, he planned to experiment with gourmet dishes in his free time.
Rolling up his sleeves, he got ready.
"The key is controlling the torch’s distance…"
The waitress naturally leaned in from behind, gently guiding Su Bai’s wrist.
Su Bai remained unfazed.
Even after the venison was perfectly seared, his expression stayed neutral—well, except for his appreciation of the dish itself. The meat had a unique, delicious texture, so he did enjoy that.
The waitress, however, was thoroughly discouraged and decided to escalate her hints.
"I’ll leave you to enjoy your meal. If you need anything else, feel free to ask. Oh, and if it’s alright, could I add your WeChat? We send exclusive promotions to VIPs."
"Great idea." Su Bai turned to Zhou Jialu with a grin. "Senior, why don’t you add her?"
Zhou Jialu mirrored his smile and pulled up her QR code.
The waitress’s expression stiffened awkwardly.
Su Bai’s message was clear: he wasn’t interested.
Damn it. With her extensive experience charming men, she was sure her subtle touches and the way she’d let her warm, fragrant breath brush his ear would’ve set any guy’s pulse racing.
Yet this man hadn’t reacted at all?
Was it because the vixen beside him was just that captivating?
Defeated, the waitress retreated.
"Junior, you seemed to enjoy learning how to grill earlier. Why not add her yourself?" Zhou Jialu teased.
"Meh, she’s not my type—not pure enough, and her figure’s too flat. I prefer someone like you… If you don’t believe me, teach me how to grill instead. I guarantee I’ll enjoy it ten thousand times more."

villain is the number one simp for the book's leading female protagonist, Shen Wan'er. As expected, he later becomes a tool for the main character to show off and slap faces, ultimately meeting a tragic end with his family ruined and his life in shambles. Fortunately, he awakens the [Universal Pure Love System], which allows him to earn points by performing acts of pure love. To change his fate, Gu Yan makes a decisive choice to seek warmth and companionship with the book's biggest villain—Cold Qingqiu. ........... My name is Leng Qingqiu. To find the murderer who killed my parents years ago, I deliberately blinded myself so that everyone would lower their guard around me. Just as I was secretly accumulating power and capital according to my initial plan, a man walked into my world. "Lengleng, Qingqing, Qiuqiu, which nickname do you prefer?" I don't like any of them. You'd better leave quickly! "Why aren't you saying anything? How about I call you my baby wife?" Leng Qingqiu thinks to herself, this man is truly annoying! (Stubborn pure love warrior + single female lead + true pure love + 1v1)

lanned to earn money steadily and take life at a slower pace. But he never expected... his father's remarriage, and the stepmother bringing along a dependent, would completely disrupt his life's plans...

tions: attribute allocation, analysis, proficiency, and simulation. Specializing in mechanical alchemy, from crafting sorcerous battle armor to handcrafting mechanical maidens, his mechanical legion conquers endless realms... Relying on his wits, he begins with a student-teacher romance, wins over a female director, enslaves a female assassin and a underworld queen, becoming the husband of a Grand Duchess... He enslaves the Goddess of Magic from the divine realm, developing his power simultaneously in both the Wizard World and the Realm of Gods...

transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”