11:40 AM.
Tang Song got out of the taxi and sent a message to Xie Shuyu before looking up at the Banquet Building in front of him.
A three-story, standalone building on the street, its dark gray facade embellished with simple lines and geometric patterns, it looked very stylish.
Inside, through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, the decor was modern and fashionable, and the environment clean and orderly.
No wonder it had become a popular hotspot for social media check-ins.
He walked through the dark glass doors and immediately encountered a familiar figure.
Zhao Yue was wearing a blue long dress, accompanied by a tall, thin young man.
Taking a few steps closer, Tang Song also recognized the young man as Wang Yubo from the sales department, a fairly honest and spirited lad.
The two seemed to be lining up for a table, chatting and laughing together with gestures that seemed very intimate, like a couple in a flirtatious phase.
Upon seeing Tang Song come in, the welcoming waiter quickly stepped forward with a warm greeting, "Hello sir, how many?"
"Two, we have a reservation, table 10 on the second floor."
"Alright, I'll take you there."
Hearing the familiar voice, Zhao Yue's ears twitched and she turned her head to look over.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed her face as she instinctively let go of Wang Yubo's arm.
Tang Song smiled and greeted them proactively, "Good afternoon, Zhao Yue, Yubo."
Zhao Yue adjusted the bangs in front of her forehead and pretended as if nothing was amiss, "Hello~ Brother Song, are you also coming here to eat? Wow! You look really dashing today! The hairstyle is pretty great too!"
At the office, Tang Song always sported the standard homebody style with haircuts that varied only in length and wearing the same few outfits on rotation.
His trendy outfit today was a first, indeed a refreshing change.
Tang Song smiled and casually commented, "Your dress today is very beautiful too."
The three of them exchanged a few pleasantries, and Tang Song waved his hand and smiled, "Well, I'm heading up now, goodbye."
He then followed the waiter up the stairs.
As she watched his figure disappear around the stairwell, Zhao Yue tightly gripped the strap of her bag, a glint of irritation in her eyes.
Just now, she had been anxious about being caught by Tang Song, worrying it might spark jealousy or conflict, but finding that he had no reaction at all made her somewhat uncomfortable.
It felt like the fish she nurtured in her own pond had escaped.
At that moment, the waiter quickly came over, "There's a spot upstairs for you now, I'll take you there."
They went up to the second floor and sat down in a spot near a corner.
Wang Yubo opened the QR code for the couple's meal for the waiter to check.
Zhao Yue, meanwhile, discreetly surveyed the restaurant and quickly spotted Tang Song.
He was sitting in the best spot in the restaurant, at the side by the windows, spacious and quiet.
The Banquet Building was a very popular local spot, especially on weekends, and securing that spot required advance reservations.
Thinking about Tang Song's outfit and demeanor today, Zhao Yue's eyes twinkled, and she instantly speculated.
He must have a date with some girl!
Hu Mingli? Li Yan?
Several names popped into her head, all of them female colleagues at the company who were on good terms with Tang Song.
Noticing Zhao Yue's unusual demeanor, Wang Yubo followed her gaze and chuckled, "Didn't expect our techie Tang Song to have a romantic side. Does he have a girlfriend now?"
"I'm not quite sure, maybe."
"This restaurant's meat dish and steamed dishes are absolutely fabulous, and the presentation is also very exquisite. I'll take some photos for you later."
"Great, I trust your photography skills."
While chatting with Wang Yubo, Zhao Yue kept an eye on Tang Song.
She noticed that the other person's gaze was fixed on the position of the staircase, seemingly waiting for something.
She couldn't help it, and took out her phone to send several messages to Tang Song.
"Brother Song, Yubo just got a promotion, said he's treating me to a meal to celebrate, we are good buddies, always had a good relationship, haha."
"Oh, I forgot to ask, who are you meeting today, Brother Song?"
"You're dressed up so nicely? It couldn't be some beauty from our company, could it?"
After a while, "Buzz Buzz Buzz—" her phone vibrated a few times.
[Tang Song: "Indeed a beauty, but not from our company (#smile)"]
Zhao Yue took a deep breath, feeling even worse.
Although Tang Song was not much in terms of conditions or appearance, his technical skills were excellent, the highest in the entire department.
In addition to backend, his frontend skills were also not bad, and he was a great help to her in the company.
Biting her lip, Zhao Yue continued to reply, "Hehe, is she prettier than me then? Otherwise, why haven't I seen you, Brother Song, inviting me for a meal? (#sad) (#dogHead) "
...
Reading the messages from Zhao Yue, Tang Song didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He really didn't know why she was so naive.
Zhao Yue was at most not ugly, with a few small standout features in her facial structure. With makeup to cover flaws, she barely qualified as a 6-point beauty.
Maybe she got taken by the flawless, retouched face in her social media pictures.
While pondering how to reply to her, a stunning figure flashed through his field of vision, making Tang Song's heartbeat skip a half beat.
Even though there were many people on the second floor, when you looked in that direction, you'd notice her instantly.
The moment she appeared, she became the center of attention.
This was the most direct manifestation of a person's charm.
Beyond looks and physique, there was the remarkable demeanor and aura.
This was also what he was striving for.
Tang Song took a deep breath, stood up from his seat, and revealed a radiant smile on his face.
...
In the corner, Zhao Yue was still waiting for Tang Song's reply. Seeing no response, she looked at him again and noticed his action of standing up immediately.
Moved by instinct, she followed the direction of his gaze.
Her facial expression froze instantaneously.
The woman walking toward them had the stature of a model, both tall and slim.
She boasted appealing features, fair skin, and thick, jet-black hair.
Wearing a caramel casual shirt, a plaid A-line skirt, skin-colored stockings, brown high heels, and draped over her arm was a camel coat of remarkable quality.
She looked dignified, elegant, and stylish, radiating a unique allure.
Though she looked slim, her vigor was extraordinary, her posture upright, her eyes bright and spirited.
She gave off the impression of being clean-cut and decisive, like a stunning female CEO from a TV series.
And her clothing and accessories clearly looked expensive.
While Zhao Yue did not recognize the brands, she identified the bag draped over her shoulder.
The LV 'petite malle' valued at over 200 thousand, dubbed the epitome of crocodile leather, the luxury item she dreamed of possessing.
Watching her slowly approach Tang Song.
Zhao Yue muttered in a daze, "This... can't be happening?"