Sweetie, don't look at him, kiss me.

Why did Su Tingwan come?

Lin Qingmian paused for a moment, then subconsciously glanced at Ji Linzhou, lowering her voice: "Did you send her?"

The man glanced at her indifferently: "I'm not that free."

This could only have been done by Ji Xingqing, who just left.

Does this girl really not want to see her uncle and aunt alone together?

"Linzhou?"

The door to the private room knocked twice more, and Su Tingwan's voice became even gentler: "If you feel that I'm disturbing your time alone... I'll leave now."

Ji Linzhou frowned.

Lin Qingmian hesitated for a moment, then got up and went to the door, opening the door to the private room: "Miss Su."

The corridor lights illuminated Su Tingwan's fully made-up face.

She wore a stunning velvet gown that perfectly accentuated her figure and elegance, adorned with diamond earrings and a necklace. Her presence was captivating, and she looked so refined that it seemed she was about to step onto the stage and perform at any moment.

"Sleep."

Seeing Lin Qingmian open the door, a gentle smile appeared on her face: "Did I disturb you?"

Lin Qingmian shook her head and stepped aside to let her in.

Bypassing Lin Qingmian, Su Tingwan went straight to Ji Linzhou's side and sat down in the chair next to him: "Linzhou, I sent you a message but you didn't reply. So you were having dinner with Miss Lin."

As she spoke, she leaned closer to him, her posture intimate and natural as if the incident of being left alone in the restaurant by Ji Linzhou last night had never happened.

Ji Linzhou frowned slightly, and subtly shifted his body in the opposite direction from hers: "How did you know I was here?"

"Of course, I ran into some friends."

Her smile was polite and gentle: "This Imperial Kitchen isn't some closed-off place, it's normal for people to run into you."

"not to mention……"

The woman smiled and looked across the table at Lin Qingmian: "Miss Lin is quite a figure in Rongcheng now. It's natural that you two attract a lot of attention when you're together."

The air inside the private room became quieter.

Ji Linzhou didn't want to talk, and Lin Qingmian didn't know what to say.

But Su Tingwan seemed completely oblivious to the awkward atmosphere, and smiled as she glanced at the dining table: "Linzhou, I didn't expect that even after we've been apart for so long, you still like to order my favorite dishes, just like before."

"Next time you eat out, order your favorite dishes and invite me over."

After sweetly gesturing to Ji Linzhou, Su Tingwan turned to Lin Qingmian and said, "Linzhou has probably gotten into the habit of ordering these dishes... Please don't mind if you don't like them."

Lin Qingmian shook her head with a stiff smile.

She thought... Ji Linzhou had ordered these dishes for her.

Unexpectedly, it was simply because her tastes overlapped with Su Tingwan's.

"Are you done talking?"

A moment later, Ji Linzhou's cold and indifferent voice rang out from inside the private room: "You can leave now."

Su Tingwan's smile froze instantly.

After a moment, she paused, then moved her chair closer to him, her voice becoming even gentler: "Alright, Linzhou, I was wrong about what happened last night."

"I shouldn't... have wasted so much of your time."

She blinked her innocent eyes at him, her voice pleading, "I'll never do that again, please don't be angry anymore, okay?"

Lin Qingmian raised an eyebrow.

It turns out he had a fight with Su Tingwan.

No wonder that man acted that way when he got home last night.

She almost thought he was really unhappy because she didn't care about him coming home.

But then again, it makes sense.

They weren't in a normal marital relationship. After getting their marriage certificate, they barely saw each other for a year, but nothing happened between them.

It's impossible for a man to start treating her like a real wife just because they've slept together twice, right?

Thinking of this, she suppressed the bitterness that shouldn't have been there in her heart and looked up at the two people in front of her: "I'm done eating."

"Thank you for your hospitality tonight, Mr. Ji. I won't disturb you any longer."

After saying that, she stood up, ignoring the reactions of the two people opposite her, and strode away.

Regardless of her status, it wouldn't be appropriate for Su Tingwan and Ji Linzhou to stay here after their argument and reconciliation.

Closing the door to the private room, the chilly air in the corridor instantly sobered Lin Qingmian up considerably.

She breathed a sigh of relief and strode towards the restaurant's main entrance.

"Miss Lin... is still very sensible."

After the door to the private room closed, Su Tingwan's eyes darkened, and she looked up at Ji Linzhou: "Aren't you right?"

Ji Linzhou glanced at her, his eyes turning cold: "Sensible?"

Is it considered being sensible to leave your husband alone in a private room with another woman?

"yes……"

Su Tingwan sighed, "She's in such a hurry to leave because she doesn't want to disturb our time alone. We can't let her kindness go to waste, we..."

"What is our relationship? Why should I spend time alone with you?"

The man spoke coldly as he stood up and picked up his suit jacket draped over the chair: "Ms. Su, I remember I made myself very clear a year ago."

Su Tingwan was stunned for a moment, and her eyes instantly reddened.

She quickly reached out and grabbed the man's arm: "Linzhou, I thought that giving you a year would allow you to calm down..."

"In every respect, I am the most suitable marriage partner for you..."

She stared at him, a hint of expectation in her eyes: "You said you don't have anyone you like, and you have no expectations for marriage or relationships..."

"If that's the case, why not give me a chance to stay by your side?"

Ji Linzhou indifferently pulled away her hand that was gripping his arm: "I gave you a chance before, but you didn't cherish it."

After saying that, the man lifted his leg and strode out of the private room.

"Linzhou..."

Su Tingwan seemed unconvinced and immediately chased after Ji Linzhou into the corridor, her eyes brimming with tears, grabbing his arm again: "Why?"

"Can't I have another chance to choose?"

"I……"

She has already adopted a very humble attitude during this trip back to China.

What more does he want from her?

Ji Linzhou didn't even give her a second glance: "I rarely give others a second chance. You don't have that privilege with me."

This time, he was no longer gentle.

The man coldly shook off the woman's hand, his long legs bypassing her body that was blocking his way, and strode after Lin Qingmian in the direction she had left.