Su Xiaobai drove onto the highway, the road outside dark and shrouded, lit up by the orderly street lamps, making everything seem even more hazy. She glanced at the man sitting beside her and casually started a conversation.
"How did you end up there?" Su Xiaobai found it almost unbelievable. She never imagined she would run into Qiao Nan at an underground dog fighting match. But then, Qiao Nan had helped her greatly. If it hadn't been for his whistle, she probably would've already been sent to the hospital by now.
Qiao Nan, who had been lazily reclining against the backrest, opened his eyes when she asked and smiled, "Why wouldn't I be there?"
Su Xiaobai rolled her eyes but muttered, "I thought someone like you, a big shot, would find such things beneath you. I didn't expect you to be interested in dog fighting."
Qiao Nan didn't take her sarcasm to heart. In reality, his appearance at the dog fighting ring had been a coincidence. He had been at a shooting range earlier, and when he ran into some old acquaintances from a drinking session, they exchanged pleasantries. One of them, hoping to ingratiate himself with Qiao Nan, invited him to the underground match, thinking that someone as seemingly indifferent as him would be interested in something more thrilling.
Indeed, Qiao Nan couldn't deny that he had developed some interest in the match. However, what really caught him off guard was that the person running the match was Su Miao, Su Xiaobai's brother. The unexpected turn of events surprised him even more.
Su Xiaobai seemed to remember something and furrowed her brows, biting her lip as if speaking to an old friend. Her tone was filled with concern.
"Do you think that young man, Deng Shao, who lost the match, might take his anger out on Su Miao? I heard this Deng Shao is quite powerful, and it seems he and Su Miao have some history. I'm afraid he might seek revenge later." Su Xiaobai had a bad habit—when she was worried, she tended to chew on her fingers. Now, she was nibbling on her nails again.
Qiao Nan noticed this and squinted his eyes before casually asking, "How well do you know your brother?"
The question caught Su Xiaobai off guard. After thinking about it for a moment, she wasn't as worried as before. Still, she continued chewing on her finger and nodded. "Su Miao is an adult now. He should know what he's doing, but I still think he should stay away from these kinds of matches. It's obvious that someone's pulling the strings behind the scenes, and he shouldn't just rush in blindly."
The car gradually approached the city center. Su Xiaobai chose a 24-hour diner, one that had a bar downstairs and a casual dining area upstairs. There weren't many people inside at this time, just a few adults having drinks downstairs. Compared to the noisy, flashy bars, this quieter place was more suited for a casual chat.
Su Xiaobai and Qiao Nan chose a window-side table on the second floor. From here, they could see the road below. Su Xiaobai ordered some fried squid, steamed shrimp, and a small bowl of seafood porridge, avoiding any alcoholic drinks. They both had to drive later, so she didn't want to risk drinking.
As soon as the seafood porridge was placed in front of her, Su Xiaobai pushed the steaming bowl toward Qiao Nan with a smile. "The seafood porridge should be eaten while it's hot. If it cools down, it won't taste as good." After taking a bite from her own bowl, she nodded, "It tastes pretty good. You should try it."
Under her bright gaze, Qiao Nan couldn't help but scoop a spoonful and taste it. The rich seafood flavor was refreshing and smooth, instantly warming him up and clearing away the chill from earlier. He even forgot that he was allergic to seafood, and before he knew it, he had finished the whole bowl of seafood porridge.
After he put down the bowl, he noticed that there were several peeled shrimp on the plate in front of him. He saw the woman across from him, unfazed by the greasy mess on her hands, continuing to peel and eat several shrimp, savoring them as if they were the most delicious thing in the world. Her face and brow relaxed, and she seemed thoroughly pleased.
It was only when she finally realized he had been staring at her that Su Xiaobai gave a somewhat embarrassed grin. "Why aren't you eating? It's really good, try it. I've already peeled them for you."
Qiao Nan noticed her skillful technique in peeling shrimp. The shell was removed perfectly, without damaging the shrimp meat at all. The pink and white flesh was tender and plump, making it look so appetizing that it could make anyone's mouth water. He asked her, "Where did you learn how to peel shrimp like that?"
Su Xiaobai was still peeling another shrimp, and casually answered, "I didn't really learn it anywhere. I just like eating shrimp, so I came up with the easiest method myself. Look, I start by gently prying at the tail, and the whole piece of meat comes right out. Here, this one's for you. Actually, this is the first time I've peeled shrimp for someone else." She said this without thinking too much, happily eating a few more shrimp herself, oblivious to the fact that Qiao Nan was smiling with slight amusement while eating the shrimp she had peeled for him.
When they had eaten enough, they ordered a pot of Bi Luo Chun tea. It was a little chilly in the evening, and Su Xiaobai kept both hands around the warm teapot, her head lowered in slight embarrassment. Her voice was unusually soft. "Thanks again for earlier. If it wasn't for you, I probably would've been bitten by that vicious dog."
Qiao Nan just smiled, seeing that she was now feeling a bit shy. "Didn't you already treat me to a meal?"
Her face turned a little awkward at his teasing. She looked up at him, realizing that her little plan had been completely seen through. Indeed, after he had saved her, she figured that there was no longer any debt between them. The promise and the call he had made to her couldn't really be used again after that, so she thought inviting him to a meal would balance things out. Even though the two things weren't comparable, at least it would give her a reason to ask for his help again in the future.
Su Xiaobai quickly took a sip of hot tea and then said sincerely, "Honestly, I really appreciate you saving me earlier. Let's put it this way: I owe you one now. If there's anything I can help with in the future, though it's not like I can throw myself into a fire for you, I'll definitely help within my abilities."
That was Su Xiaobai speaking from the heart. She knew that Qiao Nan was far more capable than she was, and she wasn't sure if he would ever need her help, but she genuinely wanted to let him know that she appreciated him.
Qiao Nan just smiled and didn't say anything, leaving Su Xiaobai unsure whether he had taken her words to heart.
Later, Qiao Nan drove her to Peace Hotel, where her car was still parked in the underground garage. After getting out of the car, she didn't continue to linger with him. After all, their relationship wasn't even close to being friends. If they stood too close to each other, it might feel awkward for both of them. Moreover, she had to be mindful of her identity. She was still legally married, so as long as she wasn't divorced, she needed to manage her public image. In today's world, there were always people gossiping behind others' backs.
Qiao Nan waited until her figure disappeared at the end of the parking lot, then smiled to himself. He didn't even know why he was so mesmerized by the sight of her. This was the first time in over thirty years. He quickly wiped away the smile, turned the steering wheel, and left.