The weather was cool and airy so Dana decided to walk to the Cafe she had texted Bingwen. At exactly 4:50 Bingwen walked over his eyes Wondering as if looking for someone, when Dana saw him she was quite impressed who came 10minutes early to walk someone home? Weaving at him she was able to get his attention, as he walked over he curved his lips up in a smile.
"I almost didn't recognize you" he said smiling at her.
"And why's that? Dana asked curiously with a slightly serious face.
"I mean you look different"
"In a good or bad way?" Dana further inquired.
"In a very good way" Bingwen replied with a straight face.
"Was that a compliment" Dana teased with a smirk.
"Yeah... maybe" Bingwen said shyly.
"I didn't know chefs were good at complements, she said teasingly which caused him to laugh.
"Well it's courtesy of my grumpy boss, sorry our grumpy boss. Don't tell him I said that though" Dana said laughing at her own words.
"Trust me I won't, your secrets save with me" Minde replied grinning widely, sure Linx was annoying but he had never thought of him as grumpy but it felt good having someone to talk about that little mice with.
"Talking about secrets, tell me what's the secret to making a good meal because I really need to help someone with it" Dana said bursting into laugher again, she wished Xixi was here, her face would have turned purple cause the joke was directed at her, but she wasn't and Bingwen didn't really get the joke as he stared at Dana blanky.
"Why? Can't you cook? Bingwen asked with raised eye brows as he stuck his hands into his jacket which he had gotten from clothes store on his way from the office.
"Nope, I can. I'm asking for a friend, and just as a fair warning if you ever meet her and she offers you something she cooked if it isn't noodles please decline for the good of your poor tommy" her words caused she and Bingwen to laugh. Dana was really enjoying his company, he was easy to talk to and he didn't act like he knew something if he didn't allot of which surprised her as he didn't know allot of street food.
They both strolled slowly as Dana lead the way. Occasionally they would laugh at funny stories they both told although Dana only talked about things relating to Xixi, her neighborhood and her work she seemed to avoid any talks relating her family or school life.
Minde was careful so no one would recognize him but accessing the settings they walked through his worries lessen everywhere and everyone was busy and it was already dark. There was street food everywhere he had never witnessed something like that up close, some couples were holding hands, others took selfies, children were everywhere eating and running on around. Leaving the office instead of having that zoom meeting with Song International corporation in which the Song's daughter would end up flirting with him and making him uncomfortable with silly questions which didn't concern the meeting. Thankfully he escaped today and was spending his evening in the last place he had ever imagined he would be and he was quite happy and free, he could be himself, laugh as he wanted, tease his junior brother and tell jokes.
"Handsome man why don't you buy some snacks for your girlfriend" a treader called out, referring to Dana and Bingwen (Minde)
"He isn't my boyfriend" Dana replied shyly as her cheeks turned pink.
"Aw why, you guys look so cute together" a woman who looked like the treader's wife said looking a bit sad.
Minde's cheeks flushed pink, he didn't think anyone would mistake them as a couple, the media had on so many occasions tried to pair him with different girls ranging from models to actresses to rich heiresses and he never cared about it all he did was bring down the news and shut down some annoying news outlets if they seemed to be too interested in printing news about him, which was most times sponsored by the girls he was involved in the scandal with.
So why was he feeling so weird all of a sudden?
"Still you should try some Yang rou chuan with her, know you I fell in love with my wife 31 years ago in a small stall like this one while getting some Peking duck for my late father" the old man added further making them more shy.
Minde wanted to decline but he couldn't it would make him seem suspicious. Eating in a street stall? Oh no...he followed a strict diet but he couldn't do anything so he just tried to eat.
Dana ate two plates and was in her third when she looked up at Bingwen and realized he hadn't touched his food at all.
"Why ain't you eating" she said with a mouth full of food.
"I'm....i am not feeling hungry...."
Minde replied with a thin smile.
"Aw I see, are you shy to eat in public?
Her words caused Bingwen (Minde) to laugh nervously.
"No I'm not" he replied avoiding her eyes.
"Then you should try some, at least one stick, prove that you ain't shy, cause you already look pink" Dana's words made him blink in embarrassment, without a second word he stuffed the whole food in his mouth, eating 3 plates in total which he deeply regretted as his tommy rumbled in discomfort.
When they finished eating the old couple gave them a take away pack for free with the parting words "I hope you both end up together, you both seem to compliment each other well" Dana had laughed over it as she collected the pack bowing slightly which Minde had copied as she wished them goodnight and promised to return some other time.
Minde pretended to be ok as he strolled back quietly with Dana, she got to a spot which was not so as busy as where they had stopped to eat 12 minutes back and then stopped.
"I'll be leaving from here... Thanks allot for tonight, I really enjoyed your company" she said with a huge smile lifting her head to meet his gaze that towered above her.
"Same here, I should be thanking you, so thanks allot for tonight Miss Dana" Minde said with a grin.
"I'll see you tomorrow then ..." Dana drew hoping for a positive reply.
"Like tomorrow? Minde asked, he was smart when it came to business but figuring out exactly what girls meant when they said certain things wasn't something he was skilled at.
Dana gave a small nod.
"Yeah sure, definitely I'll see you tomorrow" he replied with an smile.
Hiding her excitement Dana quickly started walking when she suddenly stopped, turned back and called out to him "Bingwen..." What was she doing now she muttered hitting her head lightly so didn't even know what to say to him.
Minde continued moving, he still wasn't used to the name "Bingwen" when Dana called out again it finally hit him as he turned to face a blank looking Dana.
"Yes..." He answered
"I'll text you tomorrow, goodnight" Dana said waiting for his reply.
"Alright, goodnight" Minde replied.
Immediately she left he called his driver who was waiting at a corner of the street to come pick him as he could no longer hold the discomfort he felt in his stomach.
Minde ended up spending the whole day at home because of the stomach ache he came down with. By 6pm he went out to meet Dana and for the next three days that became his circle after work until Saturday evening when everything turned sour.