Vinegar essence mixed with alcohol

The lighting inside Shi happy Ju is warm-toned, and the decor mostly uses natural wood, creating an overall warm and comfortable atmosphere.

"Ding-a-ling—" The bell at the shop door rang as the door was opened.

As Shen Jiamu strode in, he saw Xu An leaning against the bar talking to a woman. He didn't know what he said, but the woman blushed and lowered her head to laugh.

Ha, as expected, there's no way to expect Xu An to behave himself. I should have dealt with him until he couldn't get out of bed yesterday.

With a dark expression, Shen Jiamu walked straight to the bar and sat down next to Lin Nuan.

Lin Nuan couldn't help but take a look.

Shen Jiamu is tall and his outfit, from the suit to the cufflinks, is impeccably exquisite.

Of course, these are just decorations; what truly draws attention are the man's deep, handsome features and his undeniable aura.

Shen Jiamu ignored Lin Nuan's scrutiny and looked straight at Xu An.

Seeing the undisguised marks on Xu An's collar, his expression softened slightly.

Xu An flashed a standard business smile and asked him, "What would you like to eat today?"

I'll eat you.

Shen Jiamu thought to himself.

Seeing that Shen Jiamu remained silent, Xu An offered a suggestion: "The okra is very fresh today. How about I serve you a cold okra salad to whet your appetite? You can think about it while you eat."

"Okay." Shen Jiamu nodded.

Xu An gave Xiao Lu a wink, and Xiao Lu went to inform the kitchen.

Lin Nuan came to Shixiju almost every day, but this was her first time meeting Shen Jiamu. However, judging from Xu An's attitude towards Shen Jiamu, which didn't seem like that of an ordinary customer, she curiously asked Xu An, "Is this handsome guy a friend of Boss Xu?"

Xu An: "Yes."

Shen Jiamu: "No."

Lin Nuan:?

Xu An shrugged. "If he says no, then no."

Shen Jiamu scoffed, "Does leaving without saying goodbye every time count as being a friend? I don't think any friends can be like us—."

Shen Jiamu deliberately dragged out his words, his eyes sweeping over Xu An from head to toe with a rather aggressive look.

Xu An paused almost imperceptibly, then narrowed her beautiful peach blossom eyes, slightly upturning the corners, and said with a smile, "Mr. Shen is right, I am unworthy of your status."

Xiao Lu brought over a plate of exquisitely prepared okra salad and placed it on the bar counter in front of Shen Jiamu.

Green okra, cut in half lengthwise, is neatly stacked and soaked in a brown sauce, garnished with finely chopped red chili rings. The aroma of sesame oil awakens the taste buds, making it a perfect appetizer.

Xu An leaned against the bar and said, "Try it. Also, the seafood is pretty good today. You can make boiled fish or sweet and sour fish chunks."

Shen Jiamu looked at Xu An with a sly smile, picked up half an okra with his chopsticks, bit one end between his teeth, and then slowly rolled the okra into his mouth with his tongue before chewing it carefully.

The implication is very strong.

Xu An scratched his forehead with his index finger and smiled helplessly. He didn't know what Shen Jiamu had gone through in the past three years to change a person so much.

Lin Nuan frowned at the strange atmosphere between the two. She instinctively felt that Shen Jiamu was aggressive towards Xu An, but this aggression didn't seem like that of someone treating an opponent.

Xu An didn't want to continue the confrontation with Shen Jiamu, so his gaze swept to Lin Nuan's hand and he saw the new watch she was wearing today.

"It's my fault for being careless; I only just noticed the TJ show model watch Ms. Lin is wearing today. I don't remember it being released in China yet."

Seeing that Xu An was paying attention to her, Lin Nuan smiled sweetly, "Yes, my friend just came back to China recently, and I asked her to bring it back. I was just thinking, if Boss Xu didn't notice this, he's really out of touch."

"I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to pay much attention, but Miss Lin's taste has always been exceptional."

Lin Nuan was very pleased with Xu An's generous praise.

Shen Jiamu rolled his eyes.

He had known for three years that Xu An was a very shrewd and sophisticated person.

As long as he's interested and willing to chat with you, he can talk about the latest fashion trends, gossip, abstract art with down-on-his-luck artists, and rhymes with hip-hop artists.

Back then, Shen Jiamu, who hadn't even graduated from school yet, was bewitched by Xu An.

During that time, he went to the bar to see Xu An every day, which finally caught his attention.

That day, Xu An drank a bit too much. In the back alley of the bar, Xu An, with bleary eyes, asked Shen Jiamu, who was supporting him, "Want to kiss?"

Shen Jiamu already had ulterior motives, so he couldn't resist the temptation, and that was their first kiss.

Xu An's lips were soft, and Shen Jiamu awkwardly pried open his teeth, stealing all the air from his mouth.

That was Shen Jiamu's first kiss, completely devoid of skill, but utterly earnest and focused.

My thoughts drifted back to the present. Xu An hadn't aged with the passing years; on the contrary, she had become even more alluring.

For the past three years, Shen Jiamu has never forgotten him.

"Since Boss Xu recommends it, I'll order a fish dish. The cooking method is up to you, and Boss Xu will cook it himself. How about that?" Shen Jiamu interrupted Xu An, who was chatting enthusiastically with Lin Nuan.

Lin Nuan felt the pressure from the man beside her, smoothed her hair, and said, "I'm finished eating too. I'm going home to sleep. See you tomorrow, Boss Xu."

"Go get your beauty sleep, and say goodnight in advance."

"Good night." Lin Nuan paid the bill and gracefully walked out of Shi Xi Ju.

"President Shen, please wait a moment."

Xu An entered the kitchen, and a chef came over and asked, "Boss, what are you making?"

Xu An waved his hand, "You guys go ahead with your work, I'll do this myself."

When Xu An brought out a plate of sweet and sour fish and rice, Shen Jiamu had just finished a phone call with his subordinate. His expression had lost the frivolousness he had shown when joking with Xu An; his brows were slightly furrowed, exuding the authority of a superior.

Shen Jiamu took over the family company in just three years, which, apart from luck, was due to his extraordinary efforts.

On a white porcelain plate, several perfectly fried fish pieces are coated in orange sweet and sour sauce, glistening under the light. The sourness of the vinegar diffuses into the air, carrying with it the freshness of the fish and the aroma of the seasonings, making it very tempting.

Shen Jiamu picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth. The sweet and sour ratio was just right, and the fish was very flavorful.

Xu An knew that Shen Jiamu liked sweet and sour foods, which made Shen Jiamu secretly pleased.

It's true that good food can make people feel happy.

Shen Jiamu finished off a plate of fish and said, "I'll come over for a late-night snack every night from now on. You can have whatever you want. If I have something I'd like to eat, I'll let you know in advance."

Xu An lowered his head and rubbed his fingertips together, then said, "May I ask why?"

"Because it's convenient." Shen Jiamu said matter-of-factly, taking out his phone and handing it to Xu An, his tone leaving no room for refusal, "Add me as a contact."

Xu An didn't hesitate and scanned the QR code to add him as a friend.

Xu An's portrait is a photo of the main entrance of Shixiju Restaurant.

Shen Jiamu's profile picture is of a glass of Margarita. This wine is sour and salty, much like tears, tears commemorating a deceased lover.

Xu An's heart skipped a beat again.