Even pretending was out of the question.
Qiao Yiyang seemed not to have noticed her stiffness; he pulled out a chair for her and courteously invited her to sit down.
He sat down next to her, and although there were no seats separating them, the distance was just right—not too close to make one feel embarrassed or have wandering thoughts.
"Let's order first, then we can talk while we eat," he said as he handed her the menu, and Lin Xinlan didn't hesitate, choosing a few dishes before handing it back to him to order.
Qiao Yiyang selected several dishes with good flavors, then called the waiter to serve the food.
Lin Xinlan rested her arms on the table and slightly bowed her head, silent. She didn't know what to say to him.
Qiao Yiyang also fell silent for a moment, and then gave a self-deprecating smile, "Have I caused you trouble? You obviously don't like me, and yet I went against your wishes and confessed my feelings, putting you in a difficult position, didn't I?"
