Qiu Yingying is reborn and bound to a learning system.

A month slipped by unnoticed, and spring arrived quietly in Shanghai. The camphor trees along the street sprouted tender red buds, the chill in the wind lessened considerably, and the scent of sun-baked grass and trees made one want to venture outside more.

Qiu Yingying's life became increasingly stable. The projects at GG Company were progressing smoothly. The exhibition booth construction project in the city center square had helped her establish herself in the company, and the director had entrusted her with handling several important clients.

She is no longer the panicked girl who needed others to bail her out. Now, when she holds project meetings, she can clearly break down requirements and assign tasks. When faced with unexpected situations, she can calm down and think of solutions. Even her former colleagues who mentored her can't help but say, "Qiu Yingying is becoming more and more like a project manager."

On this weekend, the weather was unusually sunny, with warm sunshine streaming down. Qiu Yingying had arranged to go shopping with Guan Juer early in the morning. The two took the Jing'an Temple subway together. Guan Juer wore a light gray long coat, a beige turtleneck sweater underneath, and black straight-leg pants, maintaining her clean and neat style.

Qiu Yingying wore a cream-colored knitted cardigan over a white floral dress that barely reached her knees, paired with white leather shoes. Her hair was loosely draped behind her head, revealing her slender neck. She had her nails done with yellow daisies, and her whole demeanor exuded a gentle spring vibe.

"Good morning, Yingying!" Guan Juer greeted her with a smile, carrying a small canvas bag. "Where do you want to go today?"

"Let's go shopping first. I want to see the new spring coats, and then we can go to that highly-rated private kitchen in the alley next door." Qiu Yingying took her arm, her eyes sparkling. "I saw someone recommend it on Xiaohongshu last week, saying their sweet and sour pork ribs and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish are especially delicious."

"Great! I was just thinking of buying a professional book, and the bookstore over there is pretty good." Guan Juer nodded, and the two walked side by side into the mall.

The mall was already filled with the atmosphere of spring, with brightly colored new clothes displayed in the shop windows and girls crowding around the cosmetic counters to try on makeup. Qiu Yingying and Guan Juer chatted as they shopped, talking about everything from work to life, from the dramas they were currently watching to their favorite foods, their conversation flowing endlessly.

Qiu Yingying tried on a workwear jacket, which made her skin look even whiter. Guan Juer couldn't help but praise her: "This one looks really good, it suits you very well, and it makes you look especially dashing."

"Really?" Qiu Yingying turned around in front of the mirror, a smile spreading across her face. "Then I'll buy it! Perfect for spring."

Guan Juer picked out two law-related books in the bookstore and also grabbed a collection of essays. The two of them shopped until noon, their stomachs growling with hunger, so they followed the directions and wandered into a quiet alley.

The alley was lined with sycamore trees, their branches sprouting new green shoots. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Several private restaurants were hidden in the alley, and the one they were looking for was deep inside. A wooden sign hung at the entrance, its characters bold and vigorous, and two bright red potted plants stood prominently by the door.

"This is it!" Qiu Yingying pushed open the door, and a rich aroma of food wafted out, a mixture of the mellow flavor of soy sauce, the sweet and sour taste of sweet and sour sauce, and the fresh fragrance of fresh ingredients, instantly whetting one's appetite.

The restaurant was small, with only six or seven tables. It was decorated in a retro Chinese style, with old black-and-white photographs of Shanghai hanging on the walls. An old-fashioned gramophone sat in the corner, slowly playing Zhou Xuan's "Night Fragrance," creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere. Several tables were already occupied, with customers chatting quietly, occasionally breaking into soft laughter—it was quite lively.

"Ladies, please come in!" The proprietress, a warm and cheerful woman, quickly came forward and led them to a table by the window. "It's crowded today, but luckily we still have a good seat."

Qiu Yingying and Guan Juer sat down and took the menu. The menu was handwritten, and as they turned the pages, each dish was accompanied by a simple description, which looked very appetizing.

"The sweet and sour pork ribs, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, braised eel in sizzling oil, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and this shepherd's purse and bamboo shoots we just discussed—they all look so delicious!" Qiu Yingying exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she looked at the food. "Okay! Let's eat these, and the two of us can enjoy ourselves!"

Guan Juer smiled and nodded: "Okay, but don't order too much, it'll be a waste if we can't finish it."

"Don't worry, we can definitely finish it! If we can't, we'll take it home to eat." Qiu Yingying called out to the proprietress, "Boss, we'd like an order of sweet and sour pork ribs, an order of squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, an order of braised eel in sizzling oil, an order of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and an order of shepherd's purse and bamboo shoots! Also, two bowls of rice and a pitcher of plum juice!"

"Okay!" the proprietress readily agreed and turned to go to the kitchen.

The two leaned back in their chairs, basking in the sunlight streaming through the window, sipping freshly served plum juice, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"Have you been particularly busy with work lately? Your dark circles are quite noticeable," Qiu Yingying asked Guan Juer with concern.

"Yes, I've been very busy lately, working overtime until very late every day, and sometimes I even have to go on business trips to other places." Guan Juer rubbed her eyes and smiled helplessly, "But it's also quite fulfilling, and I'm learning a lot."

"Then you should also take care to rest and not overwork yourself," Qiu Yingying advised. "Health is the foundation of everything."

As they were chatting, the wind chimes at the door started tinkling, and another guest walked in.

Qiu Yingying subconsciously looked up and then met Guan Juer's gaze—both of them were very good-looking, but their demeanor exuded an inexplicable sense of distance.

A man and a woman walked in. The woman was wearing a simple white down jacket, the zipper pulled up high, almost covering half her face. Her exposed eyes and brows were cool and indifferent, with a hint of barely perceptible stubbornness. She was slender; it was Xu Qin.

The boy was Song Yan, wearing a black work jacket casually draped over his shoulders, over which was a slightly faded gray undershirt, the collar slightly open, revealing his well-defined collarbones. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with sharp brow bones, a high nose bridge, and especially a jawline so sharply defined it looked as if it had been carved with a knife, exuding an untamed and rebellious edge.

"They look quite special." Qiu Yingying lowered her voice and leaned close to Guan Juer's ear, her tone filled with pure curiosity.

Guan Juer nodded slightly, her gaze briefly sweeping over the two of them before returning to her side, and she replied softly, "Yeah, they have quite a strong presence."

The two tacitly avoided looking at each other too much, only occasionally glancing at the neighboring table out of the corner of their eyes while picking up food, due to their innate gossip-loving nature.

Song Yan and Xu Qin found a table in the corner and sat down. He first pushed the menu in front of Xu Qin, his tone carrying an unquestionable familiarity: "Order, choose whatever you want."

Xu Qin picked up the menu, flipped through a couple of pages, and her eyes landed on a dish of "Stir-fried Beef with Scallions," clearly tempted. She pursed her lips and said softly, "Then... how about adding another dish of stir-fried beef with scallions?"

Song Yan's brows furrowed instantly, as if stung by something, and his tone turned cold: "Two dishes aren't enough? Don't order any more, that's enough."

Xu Qin paused, her fingers tightening slightly as she gripped the menu. A fleeting hint of disappointment crossed her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it and whispered, "Oh... alright then."

She closed the menu and placed it aside, being excessively obedient.

Song Yan nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the proprietress and called out, "Proprietress, one order of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, one order of spicy chicken, and two bowls of rice." After calling out, he took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket and started puffing away.

Song Yan stubbed out his cigarette after smoking half of it, his face still carrying a hint of smoke.

Just then, the proprietress brought out the dishes: red and white scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and a plate piled high with glistening spicy chicken, the chicken pieces crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with white sesame seeds and scallions.

Song Yan picked up his chopsticks, first taking a piece of spicy chicken, and started gnawing on it himself, deliberately leaving a small piece of bone with some meat on it. Then he raised his hand and held it to Xu Qin's mouth, his tone tinged with a playful smugness: "Here, I saved it for you."

Qiu Yingying had just picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs when she saw this scene and froze instantly, instinctively stopping her actions, her eyes full of confusion. Guan Juer also happened to look up and, seeing this scene, frowned slightly and quietly pursed her lips.

Xu Qin seemed used to it. Her eyes lit up instantly, and her face flushed. Without the slightest hesitation, she tilted her head slightly and carefully began to gnaw on the bone in his hand. Her eyes were full of unconcealed happiness, as if it were some rare treasure.

After finishing gnawing on the bone, she looked up at Song Yan, her eyes glistening with tears, her voice soft yet incredibly firm: "Song Yan, you are my life."

Song Yan's heart warmed at her straightforward confession. A smug and triumphant smile spread across his lips as he gently wiped the sauce from her mouth. His tone was a mix of boastful indulgence and affection: "It's good that you know. From now on, follow me closely."

Qiu Yingying quickly looked away, lowered her head and pretended to concentrate on gnawing on the ribs, but couldn't help but lean close to Guan Juer's ear, her voice extremely low, carrying a hint of disbelief as she complained, "My god, he gave her the bones he'd already gnawed on? That's so weird! And just now, when the girl wanted to order another dish, he frowned and wouldn't let her. That's so stingy!"

Guan Juer frowned slightly and whispered in response, "It is indeed a bit puzzling. Adding a dish wouldn't cost much, so it does seem rather stingy. Besides, handing over a gnawed bone doesn't seem very hygienic."

"You bet." Qiu Yingying shook her head slightly, still looking confused. "I've never seen anything like this before. Is this how dating is all the rage now? Stingy and unrefined, it's totally mind-blowing."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at the next table out of the corner of her eye. She saw Xu Qin happily serving food to Song Yan, while Song Yan looked smug and self-satisfied. She found it even more unbelievable and silently made a "mysterious" face at Guan Juer.

Qiu Yingying couldn't help but wink at Guan Juer, secretly making a playful face—imitating Xu Qin, her eyes deliberately glistening with tears, and lowering her voice to imitate her soft, sweet tone: "Er'er, you are my life~"

Guan Juer shook her head slightly, amused by her words, her eyes filled with a hint of helpless confusion. She whispered, "It's probably just their unique way of getting along. Let's just observe and not overthink it."

"Yeah, that's true." Qiu Yingying nodded, no longer looking at it deliberately, but she still thought to herself, wow—a perfectly good date, and they couldn't even enjoy a meal, and they even had to share bones they'd already gnawed on, it was really beyond her comprehension.

The atmosphere at the next table was still intense. Xu Qin's eyes were full of dependence, and Song Yan's face showed undisguised smugness. The interaction between the two was straightforward and special, as if they were isolated from everything around them.

Qiu Yingying and Guan Juer stopped discussing it and continued eating quietly. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the two completely different meals: one a lavish and lively spread of five dishes and a soup, the other a simple yet uniquely atmospheric two dishes and rice, reflecting the couple's incomprehensible way of interacting. The lively atmosphere of the alleyway, mingled with the gentle singing from the surroundings, made the scene both real and magical, a small, unexpected interlude on this spring afternoon that Qiu Yingying and Guan Juer encountered.