After Ye Qiu walked out of the convenience store, he slowly strolled through the neighborhood, enjoying the quiet night. The cool breeze and the distant lights of the city gave him a rare sense of peace. It had been a while since he'd taken a walk like this, and he relished the simple pleasure of it.
Suddenly, he felt a pair of arms wrap around him from behind, pulling him into a tight hug. His body stiffened for a second, and his mind raced, wondering if he had just been ambushed by some random stranger. But as he spun around, he was greeted by a familiar, warm face.
"Stacy!" Ye Qiu smiled, his expression lighting up. It was his girlfriend, Stacy Li, who had just returned from her trip. She was clearly excited to surprise him, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Surprised you!" she grinned, almost bouncing on her feet. "I knew it was you."
Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow, amused. "What if it wasn't me? What if it was some random guy, and you just started hugging him like that?"
Stacy chuckled and playfully poked him in the chest. "I'd know. You've got a very distinct walk, you know? And besides, no one else would be carrying around that many snacks."
She was referring to the large bags Ye Qiu was still holding from the store—ramen, drinks, and snacks galore. He had been too caught up in the surprise of her arrival to even notice them still hanging from his hands.
"Fair point," Ye Qiu shrugged, his smile widening as he wrapped an arm around her, and they began walking towards his apartment. "So, how was your trip?"
"Las Vegas was amazing! I mean, there were so many places to see, but honestly, the best part was... the food! I ate so much," Stacy grinned, clearly enjoying the memory. "I think I might've gained a few pounds."
Ye Qiu chuckled, "You? Gain weight? Impossible."
"I'm serious!" she insisted, laughing. "Anyway, how's life been here while I was away? You didn't do anything crazy, right?"
Ye Qiu hesitated for a split second before replying casually, "Me? Crazy? Never." he said.
As they reached the door to his apartment, Ye Qiu paused, his hand on the doorknob. Suddenly, a wave of dread washed over him. His apartment was a disaster. Empty ramen bowls from past days, half-eaten snacks, and a pile of laundry that looked like a small mountain. The smell of stale pizza and the odd collection of dirty dishes filled the air. It was a mess.
His heart sank. "Uh… hold on a second."
Stacy, who had been walking ahead, turned back at the sudden delay. "What's wrong?"
Ye Qiu fumbled with the doorknob, his mind racing. He really didn't want Stacy to see his place in such a chaotic state, but it was too late. "Well, you know how I've been busy with stuff," he started, his voice rising nervously. "I was thinking, maybe... we could go out for dinner?"
Stacy raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Dinner? At this hour? You just got back from the store with, what—two weeks' worth of snacks?"
"Exactly!" Ye Qiu said with exaggerated enthusiasm. "So how about we just go out? You know, eat fancy dinner at a nice place."
Stacy stared at him, a bemused expression on her face. "Ye Qiu... why are you acting so weird? You always have a weird way of doing things. I swear, I never know what to expect from you."
Ye Qiu shot her a nervous smile. "Come on, you know I'm full of surprises."
She shook her head, laughing. "Okay, fine. But at least put your groceries inside first. Or, I don't know, change or something. It's like you just stepped out of a cave."
Ye Qiu's face immediately flushed, and he quickly shook his head. "No, no need for that. Let's just go. I'll deal with the groceries later. Besides, it's all about the experience, right?"
Stacy sighed, but ultimately, she gave in with a shrug. "Alright, alright. But only if you promise we'll go to that new sushi place you were talking about."
Ye Qiu grinned and turned her around, ushering her away from the door. "Deal."
As they walked away from his apartment, Ye Qiu couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Sure, his place was a mess, but at least he'd gotten away with it—at least for now. It was a miracle that Stacy hadn't noticed the unwashed dishes that seemed to have taken over his kitchen counter.
As they disappeared into the night, the door to his apartment remained slightly ajar, revealing the chaos inside. A pile of empty instant noodle cups, a stray sock lying on the floor, and a stack of unopened ramen packages on the couch.
Ye Qiu let out a quiet sigh. Maybe he'd clean up tomorrow... or the day after. Probably.
When Ye Qiu and Stacy arrived at the sushi restaurant, they were greeted by the disappointing sight of the doors already locked for the night, it had a 'closed' sign on it. Stacy's face fell, her excitement deflating as she stood there, gazing at the closed restaurant.
"I really wanted sushi..." Stacy sighed, her mood dampened by the sudden change in plans. She had already been looking forward to a nice meal, and now it seemed like that simple pleasure was slipping away.
Ye Qiu smiled warmly, trying to cheer her up. "Don't worry about it. I know just the place. How about we try somewhere new?"
Stacy blinked, her eyes lighting up with curiosity, despite her initial disappointment. "Somewhere new?"
"Yeah," Ye Qiu said, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "Trust me, you'll love it."
And with that, they strolled toward another part of town. As they walked, Stacy was still a little hesitant.
"You'll love it. Don't worry," Ye Qiu replied nonchalantly.
Soon enough, they reached the restaurant, and Stacy couldn't help but gawk at the building. It was sleek and elegant, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, polished stone floors, and a large, shimmering chandelier hanging in the center of the room. It was the kind of place that looked like it belonged to the wealthy elite—a far cry from the casual eateries Ye Qiu usually frequented.
Stacy's eyes widened. "Ye Qiu... this place looks... so expensive." She hesitated, a little overwhelmed by the setting. "Are you sure about this? I mean, I don't want you to—"
Ye Qiu waved her concern away with a chuckle. "It's fine, really. it's no big deal."
Still unsure, Stacy followed him inside, the elegant atmosphere a stark contrast to Ye Qiu's usual casual style. As they walked toward their table, Stacy noticed the sharply dressed men in suits and the glamorous décor, feeling a little out of place. Meanwhile, Ye Qiu, who normally wouldn't have looked twice at a place like this, strolled confidently as if it were no big deal.
They sat down at their table, and as Stacy glanced around, her eyes inevitably fell to the bags of groceries Ye Qiu had placed beside his leg on the floor. His ramen cups and snacks now seemed hilariously out of place in the shiny, upscale setting. Stacy's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Ye Qiu, did you... really have to bring those in here?" she whispered, her face turning pink.
He glanced down at the groceries nonchalantly, as though it were just another part of the evening. "You never know when you'll get hungry, right?" he joked, though his nonchalant attitude didn't help much in easing her embarrassment.
Then, Stacy's attention shifted to something else. Ye Qiu looked a little off—his face a shade paler than usual, although his usual energetic demeanor was still intact. It wasn't a drastic change, but it was noticeable. Stacy's concern deepened as she looked at him closely.
"Ye Qiu..." she started, her voice soft with concern. "Are you feeling okay? You don't look so well. You're a bit pale."
Ye Qiu smiled and waved her worry away. "I'm fine, really. It's just how I was born," he shrugged casually, "always looking pale" he added, though there was an oddness in his tone, something that didn't entirely convince Stacy.
Before she could press further, a waiter came over, interrupting their conversation. "Good evening," the waiter said with a polite smile. "Here's the menu. Please take your time to choose."
They quickly skimmed through the menu, settling on a few dishes, and handed their orders back to the waiter. As the waiter left, Stacy couldn't help but glance back at the prices. Her eyes widened slightly at the high numbers listed.
"Ye Qiu... this is really expensive," she said, a bit shocked. "Are you sure you can afford all this?"
Ye Qiu, not missing a beat, gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Remember i told you once that I have an online freelancing job. It pays quite a lot, actually. I do well enough to treat us to something nice every now and then."
Stacy raised an eyebrow, still a little unsure. "I had no idea you were making that much. But I guess... if it's your treat, I'll enjoy it."
As they dug into their food, the conversation flowed more easily. They talked about her trip to Las Vegas and the crazy adventures she'd had with her friends, all while Ye Qiu listened with genuine interest. He was more than happy to just be in her company,
After a while, Stacy cleared her throat, seemingly gathering her thoughts. "So... I wanted to tell you something," she began, her voice soft. "My family is throwing a big event in two days. It's a tradition, you know? Every ten years, we have this big celebration, all the family members will be there. And I really want you to be there. I want to introduce you to my family."
Ye Qiu blinked in surprise but smiled warmly. "Of course, I'll go. Since It means a lot to you, then I'll definitely be there. I'm looking forward to it."
Stacy smiled, her eyes lighting up with joy at his response. "Really? You'll come? That's great. It's going to be a big event, and I really want you to meet everyone. It'll be fun!"
Ye Qiu nodded, already imagining the awkwardness of meeting her family—he had no doubt they would be a bit intimidating. But for Stacy's sake, he was more than willing to face it. "I'll be there, don't worry. It sounds like it'll be... interesting."
As the evening wore on and they finished their meal, the couple continued chatting about everything and nothing, enjoying each other's company. Despite the odd setting and Ye Qiu's strange quirks, they both felt content. As the night ended.