"Sichen, let's eat. Anyway, you can think about how to coax her after we finish our meal. If you're hungry, you can't come up with any ideas, right?" Shen Tian gently persuaded.
"No need to coax her. If she wants to make a fuss, let her have her fill," Ye Sichen sulked.
"..."
Shen Tian didn't say a word. She was happy that Ye Sichen didn't want to coax that woman named Tang Su.
"Waiter, let's order." Ye Sichen snapped his fingers, summoning the waiter.
He had reserved a spot at Qimeng Restaurant, originally planning to celebrate getting a marriage license with Tang Su. Who would have thought such an accident would happen?
Tang Su actually had such a temper, which he had never seen before.
Luckily, this didn't happen after marriage, so now both of them could cool down.
Just as the dishes were served, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Ha, Mr. Ye hits someone and doesn't think about apologizing. Instead, he's rekindling a romance with an old flame? Mr. Ye is really in good spirits," Sun Qing mocked as she arrived with Tang Su, not sparing Ye Sichen any politeness.
Considering Sun Qing was Tang Su's childhood friend, Ye Sichen didn't take it to heart. He looked up at Tang Su behind Sun Qing, "Tang Su, I waited for you at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau all afternoon. Where have you been?"
"This restaurant, I had reserved a place to celebrate with you, but you didn't show up. And now I can't even catch up with a friend, right?"
"A friend? Ha, Ye Sichen, don't you feel guilty when you say that?" Sun Qing interrupted him.
"Why should I feel guilty?"
"You really have the nerve. Not getting it until you see the coffin, huh? An ex-girlfriend is an ex-girlfriend. When others break up, they avoid each other like the plague. And you? You're even friends with an ex-girlfriend. What, planning to rekindle an old flame anytime?"
"Sun Qing, mind your language. I'm only letting this slide because of Tang Su," he said.
"Heh, do I need to be polite to you? Do you even deserve it?" Sun Qing did not accept his 'kindness' at all.
"Tang Su, hello, this is our first meeting. I am Shen Tian. You really misunderstood me and Sichen." Shen Tian stood up and spoke gently and calmly to Tang Su, wanting to explain for Ye Sichen, "I didn't come back to catch up with Sichen or to rekindle anything."
"Where did this fly come from, buzzing around nastily?" Sun Qing swatted the air with disdain.
"Sun—Qing—" Ye Sichen called out, his words heavy with warning.
If she kept speaking so rudely, he wouldn't consider anyone's feelings.
"Sun Qing, call the police," Tang Su said, feeling there was no point in talking with them once she saw how protective Ye Sichen was of Shen Tian.
Ye Sichen hitting someone, and her as the victim—it was completely normal to call the police.
"Alright." Sun Qing took out her phone and dialed 110 directly.
"..."
At the sound of Tang Su's voice, Lu Han, who was seated at the table behind her, looked up.
It really was her?
He suddenly remembered Tang Su saying that she would treat him to a meal the next time they bumped into each other. He had thought they wouldn't see each other for at least three days.
Yet, less than an hour after getting off work, they had unexpectedly encountered each other at the same restaurant.
Jiang Shanshan, sitting across from Lu Han, noticed him staring at someone else. She followed Lu Han's gaze towards Tang Su's group, then turned back and asked, "Lu Han, do you know her?"
Lu Han looked down, "Yeah, she's a patient who came over this afternoon to check her ears."
"Oh, shall we order then? I feel like we've been stood up by that bunch of guys." Jiang Shanshan felt relieved after hearing Lu Han mention a patient.
The moment Lu Han looked up, his eyes lit up so brightly she thought he had seen someone important.
Lu Han was always responsible and caring towards patients, especially the young ones.
"..."
Lu Han's deep eyes were fixed on Jiang Shanshan, leaving her feeling somewhat guilty.
Today, she had asked her coworkers to help her out, so she could trick Lu Han into having dinner alone with her.
Today was her birthday, and she only wanted Lu Han to spend it with her, but she knew that if Lu Han found out she'd only invited him, he surely wouldn't come.
So, she had resorted to asking Lu Han's colleagues from the same department.
She worked with Lu Han at the same hospital; Lu Han was in otolaryngology while she was in pediatrics. They were both on the same floor, so they saw each other all the time at work.
Lu Han wasn't from Hua City; he had been in Hua City for nearly three years now, and she had been secretly in love with him for three years.
"Let's order."
Lu Han had guessed what was going on, and knew he should have left immediately and not gotten involved in this mess. But like a ghost possessed, he ended up staying.
"Sure." Jiang Shanshan was thrilled, she waved over the waiter, "Waiter, we'd like to order."
"Call the police? Tang Su, have you lost your mind?" On the other side, Ye Sichen's anger was through the roof, raising his voice more than eight decibels.
The restaurant was designed with a couples' theme, so the distance between tables was generous, and there were screens for privacy, protecting each group of customers.
At this moment, Tang Su hadn't yet noticed Lu Han behind the screen.
"I've lost my mind? Ye Sichen, you slapped me so hard I almost went deaf, and you haven't even apologized. Shouldn't I call the police?" Tang Su retorted with a cold laugh.
"...Deaf?" Ye Sichen's voice had become a lot hoarser. He hadn't seen Tang Su for two days, and her face was still a bit swollen. Upon calming down, he did feel guilty, but deaf?
"How could that be?"
"How could it not? This afternoon, I took Tang Bao to the hospital. Let me tell you, Ye Sichen, men who hit women are the lowest, the most despicable. You're really something, hitting Tang Bao too? What gives you the right to hit her?"
"..."
Ye Sichen was speechless; he truly hadn't expected such a serious outcome from a single slap.
He knew he should apologize.
But the setting wasn't right. If it were just the two of them, he would definitely apologize to Tang Su.
However, making an apology in front of Shen Tian was something he found hard to do.
Soon, the police arrived.
"May I ask who called the police just now?"
"It was me." Sun Qing raised her hand confidently.
"Tang Su, you actually let her call the cops?" Ye Sichen couldn't believe it as he stared at her.
Couldn't they sit down and talk about whatever was the matter, instead of making such a scene?
This was a public place, after all. She might not care about losing face, but he did.
This time, Tang Su couldn't even be bothered to respond to him.
"Tang Su, this matter is really just a misunderstanding, and besides, you and Sichen are boyfriend and girlfriend, right? A little quarrel between a couple doesn't need to be blown out of proportion, does it?" Shen Tian stepped in again to mediate and set up a good image in front of Ye Sichen.
At the same time, she indirectly informed the police of Tang Su and Ye Sichen's status as a couple.
It was just a small quarrel between a couple; there really was no need for the police to get involved.
"Are you two a couple?" the police officer asked.
"No, we've already broken up." Before Ye Sichen could speak, Tang Su flatly denied it.
Ye Sichen stared fixedly at Tang Su; just over a slap, she actually wanted to break up with him?
And it was unilateral too; had he agreed to break up?
"Would you be willing to accept mediation here?" the police officer asked again.
"No," Tang Su said decisively.
"Well then, I'd like to ask everyone involved to please come with us to the local police station for further investigation."
"Alright." Tang Su agreed readily.