The people at the table were stunned, including Xu Qingsong. "Damn, have you lost your mind? Our table's barely big enough as it is. You want to squeeze them in?"
"Just go. This meal's on me."
Xiao Yu said. Although neither of them was short on money for a meal, this move was unprecedented. After all, he hated girls clinging to him.
But now Xiao Yu was actively inviting them.
Was it because of Huang Xu?
Now Xu Qingsong was a bit curious too. He pushed himself up from the table and agreed readily. "Fine, fine. I'll go."
Huang Xu and his friend had just finished playing basketball. Hearing the food here was good, they'd planned to have dinner here, but they didn't expect so many people.
He smiled at Ye Qingli. "Looks like next time we'll have to come earlier. Too many people, too little food."
"Yeah, we didn't expect this many either," Ye Qingli nodded in agreement.
Waiting like this wasn't a solution. With so many people, who knew how long they'd have to wait. Huang Xu tentatively asked, "Want to go somewhere else? My treat."
They were actually considering that too. They looked at each other. Xu Yan glanced around and wavered. "Anyway, it's not like we're getting served anytime soon. Maybe..."
"No need to leave. Come join our table."
Ye Qingli turned around. Xu Qingsong was standing right behind her. His gaze lingered on her for only a second before shifting past, then he smiled at the boy in front of him. "Hey there, Huang Xu. What a coincidence. Didn't expect to see you at the night market."
His words seemed familiar, but his tone was full of alienation and sarcasm.
How could Huang Xu not notice? He paused but still smiled. "Yeah, quite a coincidence. Are you eating nearby too?"
What a waste of words.
Xu Qingsong thought to himself, pointing behind him. "Mm, hanging out with some buddies."
Ye Qingli followed his finger and immediately spotted Xiao Yu sitting at the center of the table.
Their eyes met.
"Anyway, A Yu asked me to invite them to join us. Gotta go now." Xu Qingsong said casually, but he deliberately mentioned Xiao Yu's name. Sure enough, Huang Xu's face turned ugly.
It changed in an instant, like a chameleon.
Xu Qingsong almost couldn't hold back his laughter.
"No way. You have so many people. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to come over," Ye Qingli shook her head. "We don't have to eat at this place."
"Yeah, yeah. We don't want to trouble you guys," Xu Yan echoed. Actually, she was a bit scared. That table didn't look like it had decent people.
But Huang Xu, the senior, was handsome and suave, seeming upright and honest.
Xu Yan bit her lip, a smile gradually forming. Seeing this, Xu Qingsong quickly pushed her forward. "Oh, come on. What's there to trouble? Just come eat with us. You're not exactly a lady, so stop pretending to be shy."
He was the type to say whatever came to mind, only focused on getting the task done without overthinking. Xu Yan grew more and more irritated as she listened, exploding in front of him. "Hey, why does your mouth have to be so foul? How am I not a lady?"
"If I say you're not, you're not."
The two bickered as they walked away, leaving the other three standing there exchanging glances. Jiang Mo took a breath. "Maybe... we should go over?"
Since Xu Yan had already been dragged off, they couldn't just ignore it. Ye Qingli sighed and gave in. "Alright." She turned to Huang Xu. "Senior, we'll be going then."
This was clearly taking the person away from him, using such a low-handed method that left him with nothing to say. Huang Xu nodded silently, giving his consent.
Watching the three figures walk away, his friend muttered, "What are Xiao Yu and Xu Qingsong up to? Looking for trouble?"
Huang Xu clenched his empty fist, the muscles in his arm tensing. He dropped the act, his face turning cold. "Let's go."
They had quite a few people. The table had been for a group anyway, and although there were some seats, adding four more stools made it a bit cramped.
Xiao Yu's personality was cold. When his face was expressionless, his whole body exuded a chill. Zhang Yan glanced at him and silently sat next to Jiang Mo.
"..." That left the seat beside him for Ye Qingli.
Ye Qingli had no choice but to sit next to him. Accidentally brushing his arm, Xiao Yu put away his phone, grabbed the menu nearby, and handed it to her.
"Order."
Maybe he'd smoked too much, or maybe he'd caught a cold from the weather; his voice was a bit hoarse today.
Ye Qingli paused, took the menu, scanned it, ordered spicy crawfish, and passed the menu to Zhang Yan.
"Just ordering crawfish? That won't fill you up. Don't worry about it; this meal's on our A Yu!" Liu Xu patted Xiao Yu's shoulder, looking pleased.
"If you can't get full, eat the shells," Xiao Yu said, opening a disposable chopstick and poking at the plastic wrap on the tableware.
"..." Ye Qingli shot him a speechless glance, then turned to Liu Xu with a smile. "I eat very little. Ordering more would just be wasteful."
After a moment, she corrected herself. "Besides, it's already enough trouble for you to let us join. We can pay for ourselves; you don't need to treat us."
So considerate, speaking so gently, and so good-looking. Liu Xu clicked his tongue and shook his head at Xiao Yu. "Tsk, it's rare to find someone who doesn't fall for your looks and doesn't want to spend your money."
"Say one more word and you're out."
Xiao Yu poured himself a cup of tea, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. His Adam's apple bobbed. Ye Qingli only looked for a second before quickly turning away.
Few people weren't attracted to his face, right? It was just a matter of whether they liked that type.
Liu Xu raised his hands. "Alright, alright. I'll shut up."
In the end, they ordered a huge table of food. The guys ate what they ordered, and the girls ate what they ordered, no interference.
Ye Qingli really just ate those crawfish. Occasionally, her roommate would take a few. Liu Xu sighed again about how girls had tiny bird-like appetites.
"Not really. Appetite depends on the person's needs, not gender." Ye Qingli discarded the crawfish shell in her hand and grabbed a tissue to wipe her fingers. "I just have a bad stomach, so I eat less."
Liu Xu nodded. "Oh, that explains why you're so thin. Looks like you'd blow away with the wind."
"Want to switch seats?" Xiao Yu said flatly, poking at his bowl with his chopsticks, occasionally making a crisp sound.
"No thanks." Liu Xu chuckled, turned his head, and focused on his own food.
The others weren't done eating yet, and Ye Qingli had no one to talk to now, so she just played on her phone.
As her finger swiped across the screen, a message popped up at the top. Zhang Yan happened to catch a glimpse and exclaimed, "There's rain tomorrow? It was sunny this afternoon."
"The weather forecast changes every minute." Ye Qingli was unfazed. She swiped it away and continued scrolling through videos.
Xu Yan quickly clasped her hands together in prayer. "Heavens, please don't let it rain. Or tomorrow's plan is ruined."
Xu Qingsong tossed a peanut into his mouth, curiosity piqued. "What plan?"
"We're going hiking tomorrow."
"Oh my god, with your old bones, can you even make it up the mountain?"
That foul mouth started attacking right away. Xu Yan pointed at herself, eyes wide with anger. "What old bones? You have no idea how to talk. If I'd known, I'd have gone to eat with Senior Huang Xu!"
How could she bring him up again? Xu Qingsong squinted and threatened her, "Say, you mention him again and I'll hit you, believe me?"
"I'll say it anyway. It'll make you mad. And tomorrow we're going hiking together!"
In an inconspicuous corner, Xiao Yu's fingers paused.
Xu Yan was determined to piss him off, even making up such an absurd excuse. Jiang Mo tugged her sleeve and whispered, "That's enough. These guys will rip your head off if you push it."
That was true. Xu Yan realized and shut her mouth.
After they'd eaten and drunk their fill, Ye Qingli went to pay, but the clerk told her Xiao Yu had a prepaid card there and had already settled the bill.
She went back to get her backpack and, while bending over, said softly to him, "I told you we'd pay. Now I owe you another one."
Her voice was low. Xiao Yu lit a cigarette, watching her with a smile. "That's exactly what I want—for you to owe me."
Ye Qingli was stunned. When he smiled, his eyes narrowed long and slender, like a bewitching fox.
Then Xiao Yu enunciated slowly, "That way, if I pursue you, it'll be a little easier, won't it?"