Chapter Twenty: Memories Like Smoke (Part Two)

Tao Ming loved hot pot, but the thought of two people's chopsticks stirring together in the bubbling broth made her wonder—wasn't this something only the closest of companions would do?

Su Nanxing, seeing Tao Ming silent, said, "I heard from your colleagues that you really love hot pot. Were they lying to me?"

Looking at the somewhat nervous man awaiting her response, Tao Ming imagined him sneakily inquiring after her preferences. It loosened something inside her, as if a door had swung open. Since she had come, why resist? Perhaps it was worth a try.

She smiled, "Hot pot it is. You lead the way."

Su Nanxing was overjoyed. He felt Tao Ming's usual aura of aloofness dissipate, and he began to eagerly describe the hot pot place. "It's a little shop I stumbled on by chance, tucked away in a neighborhood, not too big..."

As Su Nanxing rambled on, they arrived at the parking lot on the second basement level. He opened the passenger door for Tao Ming, shielding her head with his hand. After she settled in, he hesitated but refrained from fastening her seatbelt, then returned to the driver’s side.

The car moved smoothly, winding through turns until they reached a narrow street. When they parked, Su Nanxing quickly jumped out to open Tao Ming's door.

Inside the hot pot restaurant, Su Nanxing pulled out a chair for Tao Ming and handed her the menu across the table. "Order whatever you like."

Watching Su Nanxing's practiced gestures, Tao Ming wondered how many times he'd dated before. These were the marks of a man well-trained in romance. But she herself had loved before; clinging to the past seemed pointless.

The steam rising from the boiling hot pot made Su Nanxing across the table seem almost unreal.

Tao Ming ate and drank as she pleased, utterly at ease. In this vast world, nothing mattered more than a good meal—hot pot deserved full attention.

Seeing Tao Ming so comfortable, Su Nanxing relaxed.

Midway through the meal, Tao Ming asked, "What exactly do you like about me? I don’t think I’m particularly remarkable."

Su Nanxing laughed. "Once, at lunch, you and your colleagues ordered a cold tofu dish—the tofu was tough, and you said, 'This tofu is so hard, it’s like it’s been run over by a steamroller.' I was sitting behind you and nearly choked on my rice from laughing. I thought you were hilarious."

Tao Ming couldn't recall the incident. With a straight face, she said, "Have you never heard the story? Once, someone bought a pancake so hard and heavy that when it fell, it dented the road. As he fretted, another person arrived with a fried dough stick and said, ‘Use this to pry it out.’"

Su Nanxing burst out laughing. "You’re too funny!"

Several nearby tables looked over in curiosity, and Tao Ming quickly ducked her head, pretending to be a timid quail.

They left the restaurant thoroughly satisfied. Outside, Su Nanxing ventured carefully, "It’s still early, and tomorrow’s a holiday. Shall we catch a movie?"

Tao Ming was thinking about heading home to tackle a game raid and wanted to refuse, but seeing Su Nanxing’s anxious, hopeful gaze, she reconsidered. "Are you suggesting a movie just to spend more time with me, or is it really about the film?"

Su Nanxing was stunned—this wasn't how the script was supposed to go! But surely, it was an easy question. Of course, he wanted to spend more time with her. If possible, he'd stay with her all night.

Suppressing his excitement, Su Nanxing glanced down at Tao Ming’s hand and said, "I just want us to get to know each other better." Oddly, the hand looked slender, despite its softness.

Tao Ming replied, "Then find an internet café and join me in a game raid. We can chat and get to know each other."

Su Nanxing was dumbfounded. Wasn't dating about dinner, movies, and maybe a cozy hotel? What was this game raid business? The dark of a cinema was perfect for holding hands, but an internet café...

Though surprised, Su Nanxing dared not object—otherwise, he might lose even the chance to be with her.

They searched nearby and found a café. Settling in, Tao Ming logged into her game with practiced ease, bantering with her guildmates.

Su Nanxing sat beside her, glumly watching Tao Ming’s character dart around the screen. He felt frustration rising. After staring at code all day at work, he finally managed to ask a girl out, only to face another computer!

Still, if he didn’t keep at it, who knew how long it would take to woo her?

Eager to please, Su Nanxing bought milk tea, but Tao Ming was too busy with her rapid-fire keystrokes to drink. Su Nanxing rolled his eyes and held the cup near her mouth; Tao Ming glanced at him, then drank half the cup in one go.

Afterwards, she licked the milk tea from her lips with her tongue, and Su Nanxing, holding a tissue, froze mid-motion and blushed deeply. Mumbling, "I need the restroom," he fled.

Hiding in a bathroom stall, Su Nanxing replayed the image of Tao Ming’s soft tongue slowly licking the white milk tea off her lips, and his body responded involuntarily.

Since he was ten, his mother had schemed about potential daughters-in-law, orchestrating “chance encounters” with eighty or a hundred girls. None had ever stirred even a flicker of feeling in Su Nanxing.

They were all proper ladies, all graceful and demure, but their similar faces and affected airs left him cold. The thought of spending his life with one of them made Su Nanxing feel utterly hopeless.

He could only escape.

Uncle Qin was right—the women here were indeed different: vibrant, varied, lively, captivating, a delight to behold. He’d been here several years, and though his looks earned him some relationships, they always ended as quickly as they began. Whenever a girl drew near, his soul would cry out, "No! No!"

This left Su Nanxing embarrassed, and the girl even more so.

Until one day, in an elevator, a girl squeezed in, breathless, muttering, "Sorry, I’m in a hurry," and stood beside him. To spare her any awkwardness, Su Nanxing turned, offering his back.

More people crowded in, and the girl pressed against him. Su Nanxing felt as if struck by thunder from the heavens, his soul screaming, "Sleep with her! Sleep with her!"

The unprecedented urge left him flustered. He secretly used his magic—she was here for an interview.

From then on, his heart was set on her.

He timed his commutes to share her elevator.

He took lunch behind her; if someone else sat there, he’d use magic to make them leave.

Despite orchestrating so many encounters, the girl never glanced his way. Or maybe she did, but with the same indifference she’d show a pillar.

Fortunately, fate intervened—a sudden downpour, and she had no umbrella. A perfect opportunity to offer help. Su Nanxing lingered behind her, torn between approaching and fearing he might frighten her. With a flicker of intent, he cast a minor spell—she stumbled.

Regardless of the means, he successfully struck up a conversation.

Then came the art of persistence—after all, good women are said to fear persistent suitors!

And here they were, on a date today. Though dating in an internet café was odd.

No matter—details didn’t matter. The outcome was what counted.

Su Nanxing composed himself and returned from the restroom. Tao Ming was still engrossed in her game, seemingly oblivious to whether he was there or not.

He felt a little deflated.

He’d barely sat down before Tao Ming asked, "What took you so long? Stomach trouble? Was the hot pot unclean?"

Su Nanxing felt elated—Tao Ming was concerned about him!

His efforts were paying off.

After the rush of joy, Su Nanxing replied, "I took a call."

He must never let Tao Ming know he’d run to the restroom to deal with his physical reaction!

Tao Ming hummed, her attention soon back on the game.

Su Nanxing, in high spirits, idly browsed the web.

When Tao Ming finished her raid and glanced up, she saw a headline on Su Nanxing's screen: "Thirty-six Strategies for Wooing Women."

Noticing her gaze, Su Nanxing hurriedly closed the tab.

Tao Ming chuckled inwardly. "Luck wasn’t with me today—my gear didn’t drop."

"It’s just one line of code," Su Nanxing consoled her.

Tao Ming twitched her lips—was this his idea of comfort?