Su Zhiyi, who had no driver to pick her up in the first place, gladly accepted the invitation as soon as she heard Si Yanjing was willing to give her a ride.
Of course, she wasn't about to let Si Yanjing drive her back to that dirty, rundown rental in the slums.
Zheng Yu became the driver, sitting in the driver's seat, Si Yanjing in the passenger seat, and Su Zhiyi sitting behind them both.
"You really can't judge a person solely by their family background. He has a decent personality—I like him," Su Zhiyi discussed Si Yanjing with System 030.
Si Yanjing was somewhat interesting.
She had thought all those arrogant rich boys with money to burn were like Zhao Chengfei—cocky and insufferable.
She wanted to get to know Si Yanjing partly because she liked his looks and partly because his family background was impressive, which might help her later on.
Before asking for his contact, she had mentally prepared herself: if Si Yanjing turned out to have the same bad temper as Zhao Chengfei, she would delete him immediately.
"Check Si Yanjing's profile again. Are there any more details, like his hobbies or places he frequents?"
System 030 reopened Si Yanjing's profile and listed everything for Su Zhiyi.
"During his years studying abroad, he stayed home playing games when he wasn't busy. Occasionally, if a friend threw a party and invited him, he'd pick a few to attend. Oh, and he also likes racing—he even invested in a racing club overseas."
"A lot of people want to suck up to him, but he puts on a grumpy face for everyone, and his temper isn't great either... Wait, Host, why is his attitude toward you so different from how he treats others?"
Su Zhiyi didn't respond to System 030.
She squinted at the rearview mirror inside the car, where only half of Si Yanjing's side profile was visible.
Si Yanjing's jawline was perfect. His lips were pressed into a straight line, every muscle tense, clearly showing how nervous he was. He kept glancing up at the rearview mirror.
Their eyes met in the mirror.
Si Yanjing's ears instantly turned red, and he quickly looked away.
Su Zhiyi caught his fluster and let out a soft laugh.
From a good family, easy to handle...
Maybe she had found the most perfect, most convenient, most suitable tool.
After a long mental preparation, Si Yanjing exhaled and proactively sent another hint to Su Zhiyi: "I remember you said your parents were busy today, and it's almost dinner time now. Do you want to eat out or go home for dinner?"
Su Zhiyi had left school late to avoid the other students.
Now, with dusk settling outside the window, it was indeed dinner time.
Instead of answering directly, she asked Si Yanjing in return: "Why ask that? Are you trying to treat me to dinner?"
"Mm, mm." Si Yanjing let out two muffled sounds, then quickly turned around and raised his voice to say to Zheng Yu, who was driving, "Zheng Yu, didn't you say you had something urgent? Later, you can just get off and go home. I'll take the wheel."
Zheng Yu's grip on the steering wheel faltered, and shock was written all over his face: "???"
He tightened his grip: "I didn't know..."
Zheng Yu turned his head to question Si Yanjing, but as his gaze swept over the rearview mirror, he saw the pretty girl sitting demurely in the back seat. He bit back the second half of the sentence.
For his buddy's happiness...
Zheng Yu bit his tongue and forced a stiff smile.
"Haha, yeah, right. My uncles are visiting today, and my parents just called me to hurry home and entertain the guests. I'll drop you two off at Tianhua Commercial Street and then head home."
After saying that, he lowered his voice and said to Si Yanjing, who had been staring at the rearview mirror since they got in the car, his heart and eyes full of the girl: "Si Yanjing, you owe me one."
"Got it."
Si Yanjing said calmly, but his eyebrows lifted higher, betraying his poorly hidden joy.
Zheng Yu diligently drove them to Tianhua Commercial Street, parked the car, and left.
With the only third wheel gone, only Si Yanjing and Su Zhiyi remained.
Si Yanjing hadn't been in City A for the past few years, and after just returning, everything was unfamiliar. He couldn't pick a good restaurant.
First, he asked about Su Zhiyi's dietary restrictions: "Do you have any food allergies or preferences?"
"I can't stand cheap or bad food." Su Zhiyi answered directly and quickly.
After seeing the shock on Si Yanjing's face, she blinked playfully at him: "Just kidding! I'm not picky. I like anything delicious."
The somewhat distant atmosphere between them was broken by Su Zhiyi's joke.
Su Zhiyi asked Si Yanjing: "What do you like to eat?"
Si Yanjing curled his lips into a smile, further easing the mood: "You know, I haven't been in City A for a few years. I just got back two days ago, so I'm not very familiar with it. If you ask me what I like to eat... I really can't pick. I've been eating barely edible Western food while studying abroad, so my stomach has become ironclad."
"Oh?" Su Zhiyi's tone rose slightly, like a little hook: "Is Second Young Master Si asking me to take you to a good restaurant?"
Si Yanjing nodded: "Mm, is that okay?"
Su Zhiyi said: "Then it's my turn to ask. Do you have any dietary restrictions, Second Young Master Si?"
Si Yanjing shook his head slightly: "No restrictions. You pick the restaurant, and I'll pay. How about that?"
"Sure." Su Zhiyi took out her phone and started browsing nearby restaurants: "Then I'll definitely find a suitable restaurant for Second Young Master Si."
Si Yanjing had heard Su Zhiyi call him "Second Young Master Si" three times now, and each time it felt strange coming from her lips.
Everyone around him called him that, and he had never objected.