Shao Yan listened to everything he was telling her while eating her meat bun on the side. It felt like it had been forever, but it was only few months ago that he bought that bun for her when she had upset stomach.
She had always noticed this. Li Xiqing was always the one who blanketed her with warmth. Showered her with attention.
Shao Yan looked at him again. Her heart was beating so fast. She was getting more and more confused by him.
Li Xiqing noticed her staring intently at him, he looked back at her and smile, "What is it? Something on my face?" he started to touch his face.
Shao Yan smiled so warmly and said, "Li Xiqing", she called him, before she paused for a while, seemed hesitated.
"Let's have a date tonight".
She sighed inwardly. Li Xiqing, you deserved someone much better than me.
.....
Li Xiqing was pleasantly surprised.
This was the first time Shao Yan took the initiative to invite him on a date. This was a great progress! He was ecstatic.
He gave her a very gentle smile, "Sure! I will pick you up after work later".
Li Xiqing then continued to talk to her about some other topics.
When they arrived at the office, Li Xiqing parked in front of the lobby and then got down from the car. He picked up the laptop bag from the back seat, and walked to her side.
Shao Yan was already standing outside the car, looking at his approaching figure.
"Don't forget to drink a lot of water", Li Xiqing handed her the bag, "The weather is getting warmer, don't get sick" he continued to nag her.
Shao Yan smiled helplessly. Sometimes, this guy was even more of a 'mother' than a real mother.
When she was about to step away, Li Xiqing called her again, "Shao Yan".
She turned around and looked at him.
"I will see you tonight?"
Shao Yan paused for a while hesitated, but soon changed her mind, she nodded and smiled.
Li Xiqing noticed her pause. But he didn't want to think much about that. So he just smiled and waved at her.
He watched her for a while until she disappeared into the lobby before he started the car and went back home to sleep.
.....
Because of the date that she initiated today, Shao Yan had been very distracted the whole day.
She was supposed to call some suppliers, but she forgot. Shao Yan missed a floor when she went for a meeting today.
People who saw her clumsiness today, teased her for missing Daniel and that was the reason why Shao Yan kept making mistakes.
Shao Yan could only helplessly smiled, and ignored them.
She kept thinking of how to bring up the topic with him. Shao Yan practiced her words carefully over and over again.
Shao Yan forced herself to concentrate on work. And without her realizing, it's already the end of the day.
Shao Yan took out her phone, and saw there was no calls or message from Li Xiqing. Did he fall asleep?
Shao Yan was debating if she should call him. She had never call him before. Her fingers were tapping on top of her desk, while she was playing around with her phone, flipping it upside down, over and over again, while she was thinking.
After a while, she decided to just go for it, she hit the dial button.
And suddenly she heard a ringtone from behind her, Shao Yan swiftly turned around, and saw him. He was leaning on the door frame, seemingly watching her.
He straightened up and walked closer. Shao Yan hung up the call.
.....
Today, he looked handsome as usual. He had put on a matching outfits with her. Li Xiqing had white print shirt and dark blue pants.
"When did you arrive?" She asked as he got closer. Shao Yan blushed a little.
Li Xiqing paused before answering, "Just now. I was about to walk in when you called. Are you done with work?"
Shao Yan nodded, "I'm ready, let's go". She got up and started to get ready to leave.
Li Xiqing took her laptop bag as usual, and then they walked out together.
He had his hand inside his pants pocket.
What Shao Yan didn't know, Li Xiqing had been watching her for the last 30 minutes. He enjoyed looking at her serious face while working.
So Li Xiqing saw when Shao Yan was hesitating to call him. Unconsciously, he clenched his fist and he couldn't stop but feeling uneasy.
Now that he thought about it, Shao Yan had been weird since this morning. She was restless and nervous. And she was unusually talkative.
Li Xiqing knew there must be something that she wanted to do or say. That's why she initiated this date. His face darkened. What was going on now in that little beautiful brain of hers?
They walked to the parking garage, and then he drove out to the city.
"Where are we going?" Shao Yan asked after she saw he exited the highway.
Li Xiqing replied, "The cheesiest, most common date ever" and then he grinned "We'll have dinner and then movie date".
And suddenly he asked, "Do you skate?"
Shao Yan was dumfounded. Was he taking her to ice skate??
.....
But Li Xiqing lied.
He didn't take her to ice skate. It was a quaint little garden. Surrounded by man-made pond with a lot of big fat koi fish swimming around and lush of bamboo trees.
There were musician playing Chinese instruments on the side of the garden. There were also fireflies string lights surrounding the area.
The dusk color sky, peaceful serenade, the sound of water fountain, beautiful scenery. This place was amazing and full of Zen.
Shao Yan couldn't believe that this kind of place even existed. it's like a dream land.
There were only several tables set up. Li Xiqing explained to her that this was a private dinner hosted by private food connoisseur who invited different chef every week.
Li Xiqing just happened to know the host and when he knew Li Xiqing was going on a date, he invited Li Xiqing over.