The Wind Heard Her Confession - Chapter 9: A Blinding Crush part 1

With Gu Jiaze gone, the two fell back into their soundless routine. The private room was hushed.

Lin Yuran fidgeted awkwardly, picking at her fingernails. Fortunately, the housekeeper soon started bringing in dishes one by one. Without exchanging a word, they buried their heads in their food,mutely eating. Chi Ye occasionally refilled Lin Yuran’s juice glass.

When they’d eaten their fill, Chi Ye broke the silence. “Is it good? If you don’t like something, you don’t have to finish it.”

Lin Yuran mumbled, “It’s pretty good.”

Chi Ye put down his chopsticks, took a sip of juice, and watched quietly as Lin Yuran finished eating.

He remembered that Lin Yuran used to be an extremely picky eater in the past. 

Her fussy eating wasn’t limited to flavors; she also had specific preferences for ingredients and the way dishes were prepared. For example, she wouldn’t eat sliced radish but would if it was diced into chunks. She rejected cubed potatoes, but accepted them if they were thinly sliced… There were many foods she wouldn’t eat, and her taste buds were even more finicky. At school, she would only eat from a single food window out of all the choices available. Even when it came to three-ingredient dumplings, she’d only eat the ones from the vendor at the east gate and not the one at the south gate. Yet to others, there was hardly any difference in taste between the two.

He didn’t fully understand her preferences himself. When ordering today, he’d only noted down the few restrictions he knew about. There must be more foods she couldn’t eat.

But now, watching her, it seemed like she’d eat anything.

Can someone’s tastes really change that quickly? Chi Ye wondered, puzzled.

After the last dish was served, the housekeeper casually placed the menu card on the table and smiled. “If you’re not full, feel free to order more.”

Lin Yuran had been worried earlier. They’d arrived as a group of three, and she’d thought Chi Ye might order enough for three. That would be a waste if he couldn’t finish it all, especially when the food was so expensive.

But once all the dishes were served, she realized Chi Ye hadn’t ordered much at all – just six dishes. The portions weren’t big, though, enough for two people to share.

How come it feels like Chi Ye didn’t order anything for Gu Jiaze? But when Gu Jiaze said he was leaving, the menu was already set.

So what was Chi Ye writing all that time just now?

Lin Yuran tilted her head and glanced briefly at the custom menu on the table.

There were indeed a lot of words on the menu. Only six dishes were listed, but there were several lines of notes.

Lin Yuran skimmed through them:

[Radish: diced only

Potato: sliced thin only

Tofu: must not be overcooked…

Beef: cooked to medium-well, no more, no less; less or more is unacceptable

Shrimp: lines must be thoroughly removed; if even one is found, entire dish is rejected

Scallion: cut large, stir-fried until flavorful, then pick out; no hint of ginger allowed

Use ground Sichuan pepper, not peppercorns

No sesame seeds; do not sprinkle sesame seeds

Do not season with doubanjiang paste…]

How bizarre.

She couldn’t shake off the feeling that Chi Ye wasn’t as fussy as he’d become. She had no idea he was like this.

After they finished eating, Lin Yuran excused herself, saying she needed to freshen up in the restroom. In truth, she wanted to get the check first. She was worried that if Chi Ye paid, he might not include her share, and she wasn’t shy about asking him to split the cost.

But when she got to the register, they told her the restaurant was members-only, and the charge would be automatically deducted from the member’s card.

By the time she returned from the restroom, Chi Ye had already packed up his things and was waiting for her to leave. Before she could say anything, Lin Yuran grabbed her stuff, and they headed out together.

If she wanted to split the cost, now was the time. Any later, and it would be even harder to bring it up.

They paused at the stairwell turn.

Lin Yuran stopped and asked bluntly, “How much was the meal? Let’s split it.”

Chi Ye halted as well, lowering his gaze slightly to glance at her. “No need,” he said coldly. “I’ve got it.”

Just as I thought!

“No, I insist. This place is way too expensive. Splitting is just right,” Lin Yuran persisted.

Chi Ye remained firm. “It’s really no trouble at all.”

Lin Yuran pulled out her phone. “Listen, I’m a modern woman who knows the value of equality. Don’t feel embarrassed about splitting the cost. Just tell me how much, and I’ll text it to you right away.”

Seeing her pull out her phone, the corners of Chi Ye’s lips curved slyly. He no longer resisted. “I’ll go ask how much it’d be with the member card discount.”

He turned and walked towards the checkout. Two minutes later, he came back, said nothing, and pulled out his own phone to type something.

Lin Yuran instinctively opened WeChat, ready to receive the message. As she saw Chi Ye’s profile picture, it suddenly hit her:

—She had added Chi Ye on WeChat and talked to him, but everything they exchanged were nonsense. She even pretended she didn’t know it was his account. Initially planning to delete him, she’d decided against it at the last moment and then simply forgotten about it.

Oh no! What do I do now?

It was too late. Her phone beeped. Helplessly, Lin Yuran watched as a prominent red ‘1’ appeared next to Chi Ye’s profile picture in WeChat. Swallowing nervously, she steeled herself to open the message.

【Dark Night: 518.】

For a moment, Lin Yuran doubted the authenticity of this number. What kind of card could get such a discount? Based on the menu prices she had just checked, she expected to owe at least 2,000 yuan for this meal. She had mentally prepared herself for that hefty sum.

She never expected this price – a number well within her acceptable range. Unfortunately, considering the earlier conversation, these digits had a completely different meaning.

【[flirting emoji]】

【?】

【How much is a full night?】

【?】

【[seductive card emoji] Asking for the price politely?】

【518.】

“…”

Agh! I’m done for!

With no way out, Lin Yuran had to double down. She closed her eyes, steeled herself, and decided to keep pretending.

She quickly typed: 【That’s so expensive!】 and hit send.

Then, without hesitation, she edited a new line: 【Too pricey, I can’t afford it. Sorry for the bother.】 and sent that too.

Next, she long-pressed Chi Ye’s profile picture, saying: “I don’t have your WeChat yet. I’ll just give you cash instead. How much do you want?”

Her finger hovered over ‘Delete Contact’. Just as she was about to tap ‘Confirm’, Chi Ye spoke up: “It’s 518, I just sent it via WeChat.”

Lin Yuran froze.

“I’m the one behind Dark Night,” Chi Ye added.

……

(T/N: Chi Ye knew how picky Lin Yuran is without Lin Yuran knowing she is that picky hahaha and their chat convo killed me on the spot hahaha)