Warm Water, Scorching Heat

Chapter 3

Having such a beautiful roommate upon starting university was something Xiao Xinrui absolutely had to show off in her Moments.

The main reason was that Wen Yan wasn’t just ordinarily pretty. She had an impeccable figure, strikingly gorgeous features, and was even more beautiful than actresses on television. Her skin was at least twice as fair as Xiao Xinrui’s.

At that moment, Xiao Xinrui seriously wanted to get plastic surgery using Wen Yan’s face as the template.

Wen Yan couldn’t bring herself to refuse, so she stood beside Xiao Xinrui and made a peace sign toward the camera.

After taking the photo, Xiao Xinrui introduced her mother. Her cheerful and lively personality was clearly inherited, because her mother was just as outgoing. They chatted with Wen Yan for a while, then Xiao Xinrui’s mother took out two bags of local snacks from the suitcase.

“Xiao Yan, these are both specialties from Binzhou. Come and have a taste. It’s fate that you and our Rui Rui became roommates. You two must get along well from now on!”

“I’m not hungry, Auntie. I’ll eat later,” Wen Yan replied.

“Oh, come on, just try a little! Come, good girl!”

Unable to refuse such warm hospitality, Wen Yan walked over and sampled the local specialties.

“By the way, Xiao Yan, did you come to school all by yourself? Where are your parents? Didn’t anyone come with you?” Xiao Xinrui’s mother asked.

Wen Yan didn’t elaborate. Chewing the food in her mouth, she simply answered, “No. My parents are both very busy.”

“Oh, then after we’re done unpacking, come have dinner with Rui Rui and me!”

—

Night gradually fell, and the last trace of orange sunlight disappeared behind the buildings beyond the dormitory balcony.

With her mother’s help, Xiao Xinrui finished making her bed in no time. After Wen Yan finished organizing her desk and swept the dormitory floor, all three of them were hungry, so they decided to head out for dinner.

Outside Qing University’s Lanyuan Apartments was a bustling food street. At dusk, it was at its liveliest, filled with the warmth and energy of everyday life.

Xiao Xinrui searched on Meituan and found an extremely popular hot pot restaurant with excellent reviews and affordable prices, so she suggested going there.

However, when the three arrived, they found a long line of people waiting outside. They would have to take a number and queue.

“Let’s go somewhere else, sweetheart. Who knows how long this will take?” Xiao Xinrui’s mother, Du Jiao, said.

“Come on, Mom, let’s wait a little. I saw this place on Douyin—it looked so delicious! They even give out free drinks and desserts. The line shouldn’t take too long. Look, there are two floors. Seats should open up pretty quickly.”

“Fine, fine. We’ll wait.”

“Xiao Yan, let’s wait together,” Du Jiao said, turning toward Wen Yan and gently patting her on the back.

Wen Yan looked at her for a moment before nodding.

“I’ll go get our number! I’ll do it!” Xiao Xinrui dashed toward the reception counter at the restaurant entrance.

…

The streetlights came on, and the lively atmosphere outside Qing University contrasted sharply with the academic tranquility inside the campus.

In a seafood buffet restaurant nearby, there were very few customers.

Crystal chandeliers poured warm golden light onto the enormous circular ice display, where an impressive assortment of seafood was elegantly arranged.

In a private room on the eastern side, by the window, three people sat in a black velvet booth.

The man on the right wore a white dress shirt, with his black suit jacket casually draped over the armrest. As he held his fork, a gold wristwatch peeked out from beneath his left sleeve, occasionally reflecting a faint bluish gleam. His side profile was cold, his thick eyelashes lowered.

Across from him sat a young man and woman, both obviously several years younger than he was.

The young woman was fashionably dressed. Her chestnut-colored wavy hair framed her face, and her red gemstone earrings drew immediate attention. She wore a smoky pink spaghetti-strap dress adorned with petal-like layers.

Beside her sat a taller young man in a black T-shirt. His sharp features carried the same detached expression throughout.

“Uncle… what do you think? This place is pretty good, right? Eat as much as you like. Today’s meal is on me, so don’t hold back,” Jiang Lu’er said, cutting into an Australian king crab while blinking expectantly at Fu Lanzhuo across the table.

Half of Fu Lanzhuo’s straight nose was hidden in the shadows.

Instead of answering immediately, he took a sip of his coffee before saying, “That’s rare. You actually know how to treat someone to dinner now.”

“Oh, come on. It’s because you’ve always been so busy. I’ve wanted to treat you several times already, but you never gave me the chance.”

Fu Lanzhuo’s lips curved ever so slightly.

Jiang Lu’er struggled for quite some time with the massive crab in front of her. Growing impatient—and distracted by the matter weighing on her mind—she simply picked up the crab and dropped it onto the plate of the young man beside her.

He glanced at her without saying anything, quietly cracked it open for her, then placed it neatly back onto her plate.

Finally gathering the courage she’d been building up, Jiang Lu’er looked at Fu Lanzhuo.

“Um… Uncle…”

“I have something I’d like to ask of you.”

Fu Lanzhuo had just cut into a piece of sea urchin.

“Go ahead.”

“Well… I’ve been really broke lately. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have invited you to a buffet.” Jiang Lu’er pouted. “For the past two months, I’ve been spending Jin Yang’s money. My mom froze all my bank cards. Could you please talk to her for me?”

She had already gone to the company to see Fu Baoxin, but her mother refused to meet her. This time, she had truly made her angry.

Fu Lanzhuo didn’t respond.

Instead, he gazed out the window.

“Uncle,” Jiang Lu’er called again.

He still ignored her.

Frowning, she also looked outside.

There was nothing unusual below besides the bustling crowds.

Just as her gaze happened to catch a familiar figure, she heard Fu Lanzhuo’s calm voice.

“Why did she freeze your cards?”

Unable to take another look at the person she had spotted, Jiang Lu’er withdrew her gaze.

“Well… it’s a long story. Uncle, I really don’t want to talk about it. Just help me convince my mom.”

“Tell her not to be so heartless. Please, Uncle.”

Fu Lanzhuo’s expression softened slightly, though it remained impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Jiang Lu’er’s fork scraped loudly across her plate.

She had no idea whether he would agree.

Then she suddenly heard him say,

“All right.”

He added, “I’ll have someone get you a supplementary card later. Use that for now.”

It worked!

She knew playing pitiful would work!

Jiang Lu’er’s eyes instantly lit up.

“Great! I knew it! Uncle, you’re the best person in this family! Uncle, I seriously love you!”

She suddenly regretted not coming to him much sooner.

…

“I can’t wait any longer. If we keep standing here, my stomach problems are going to flare up. Forget the hot pot—I’m taking you two to the seafood buffet across the street!” Du Jiao finally gave up waiting. She stood up and grabbed her handbag.

“Mom, seafood buffets are really expensive!”

“So what if they’re expensive? It’ll cost even more if my stomach acts up! Come on! I’ll treat you girls to something good!”

As she spoke, Du Jiao took Wen Yan’s hand first.

The seafood buffet Du Jiao mentioned was located on the third floor directly opposite the hot pot restaurant.

Its signboard looked far more upscale, glowing brilliantly beneath the neon lights of the evening.

“Wow, there are so many choices! Hey, Yan Yan, have you ever had a seafood buffet before? This is actually my first time!” Xiao Xinrui exclaimed excitedly after entering the restaurant.

Wen Yan shook her head.

“Neither have I… I’ve only been to barbecue buffets.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the two girls burst into laughter together.

Du Jiao no longer had the stamina of the two younger women. She had spent hours riding the high-speed train to accompany her daughter to university, and she was starving by now.

Patting Xiao Xinrui on the shoulder, she said, “You and Xiao Yan go pick whatever you want. I’ll go find us a seat first. Just bring me whatever you choose later. Pick plenty of food—and go for the expensive stuff!”

“Got it, Mom! Go ahead.”

Du Jiao nodded and went off to find a table.

“It smells amazing over there. Let’s go take a look,” Xiao Xinrui said, pulling Wen Yan toward the barbecue section.

A chef was grilling scallops, white smoke rising from the hot iron plate as golden cheese-baked scallops sizzled in the oil.

In front of the grill sat a row of freshly cooked garlic abalone and lobsters.

Swallowing hard, Xiao Xinrui picked up two plates.

“Yan Yan, my mom’s stomach isn’t very good. She can’t stay hungry for too long. I’ll bring these over so she can eat a little first, then I’ll come find you. You go ahead and pick whatever you like!”

“Okay,” Wen Yan replied.

Beside the barbecue area stood an enormous chilled lobster display.

Various kinds of lobsters rested inside glass tanks.

As Wen Yan drew closer, the cool, ocean-scented air brushed gently across her cheeks.

She curiously looked around when a chef wearing a tall white hat walked over.

His eyes paused briefly on her face before he handed her a plate.

“Miss, what kind of shrimp would you like? We can steam them, grill them, or cook them in hot pot—whatever you prefer.”

Slightly slow to react, Wen Yan accepted the plate.

“I’ll look around first. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The chef smiled and returned to the cooking station just as another customer brought over some seafood.

Holding the plate, Wen Yan carefully browsed the selection.

When she reached a tank labeled Argentine Red Shrimp, a familiar figure entered her field of vision.

The man’s white dress shirt was of exceptional quality. His sleeves were rolled up exactly twice, exposing well-defined forearms and the familiar gold wristwatch.

One hand rested casually in his trouser pocket as he selected shrimp.

Wen Yan paused.

She recognized him.

The president of Yaoheng Group.

Still, such a chance encounter wasn’t enough to produce much of a reaction on her face.

She merely stopped walking before shifting her attention from the man to the Argentine red shrimp in front of her.

After looking them over, she picked up a pair of stainless steel tongs.

The shrimp inside the oxygenated tank were lively and energetic.

Having no experience with this, Wen Yan was a little too softhearted and couldn’t bring herself to squeeze firmly.

It took three attempts before she finally managed to pick up two shrimp.

Just as she was about to place them onto her plate, one slipped free.

The escaped shrimp landed on the counter and immediately began crawling away with an astonishing will to survive.

Wen Yan’s lips pressed together slightly.

She watched the shrimp but made no attempt to catch it.

Instead, she wanted to see whether it could escape its so-called fate.

In the end, it couldn’t.

The shrimp that struggled so desperately was effortlessly caught by a large, well-defined hand.

Wen Yan slowly lifted her gaze and met the eyes looking back at her.

His eyes were cold and profound, carrying a trace of scrutiny.

For some reason, a faint blush spread across Wen Yan’s cheeks.

The man walked over, his gaze sweeping across her once more before placing the shrimp into her plate.

“I caught it for you.”

His voice was clear and steady as he looked directly at Wen Yan.

—

Chapter 3: Aurora Lifted Her Up from the Ground

Wen Yan nodded.

She was so distracted that she even forgot to say thank you, her eyes lingering on the two shrimp now pressed together on the plate.

“I’ve seen you before.”

His voice sounded again.

His voice is really pleasant.

The thought flashed through Wen Yan’s mind as she looked up again.

“Mhm…” she answered softly. “At the airport.”

A hint of warmth appeared on Fu Lanzhuo’s otherwise indifferent face.

“You’re a student at Qing University?”

“Yes.”

“A freshman?”

To Fu Lanzhuo, the question was unnecessary.

Wen Yan simply looked far too young and inexperienced.

She nodded.

“What about you?”

He hadn’t expected her to ask in return.

After a brief pause, Fu Lanzhuo replied, “Me? I’m just here for dinner with my niece.”

“It’s pretty obvious that I graduated from here a long time ago.”

He smiled faintly as he said the last sentence.

“Were you also a student at Qing University?” Wen Yan asked again.

Her clear, ink-black eyes met his once more.

Direct eye contact always made people uncomfortable.

Wen Yan immediately regretted asking.

“Yes. I studied at Qing University for two years. After that, I spent the next two years overseas.”

Perhaps he had gone abroad as an exchange student.

Or perhaps he had graduated early.

Wen Yan quietly guessed, deciding it wasn’t appropriate to ask any further.

She also realized that she had somehow started chatting with Fu Lanzhuo, even though they were practically strangers.

She could feel the plate in her hands trembling slightly.

Only then did Wen Yan lower her gaze again, finally noticing the Argentine red shrimp with its incredibly strong will to survive, still wriggling restlessly on her plate.