Volume One: First Steps into the Dao Chapter Thirty-Seven: Keeping Others in Suspense

As the two continued their cheerful conversation, the food on the table was finally finished. Lin Xin wiped her mouth, thoroughly satisfied, and said, "The food here is just amazing. I’m so full. I need to rest for a bit."

Ye Junze looked about the same and replied, "No wonder you found this place, Senior. It’s really great."

"Of course it is," Lin Xin said proudly. "I've been around, after all."

They sat for a while longer, resting, before Ye Junze called over a waiter. When the waiter approached, he asked, "Hello, sir, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Could you please bring us the bill? Thank you," Ye Junze replied politely.

"Certainly. Please follow me to the register," the waiter said respectfully.

The moment Ye Junze called for the bill, Lin Xin grew restless. Seeing Ye Junze stand to pay, she hurriedly said, "Let me handle it, Junior. After all, I ordered everything."

Ye Junze quickly waved her off. "We agreed I'd treat you, so please, don't argue. You've helped me so much, I'd feel bad otherwise."

Lin Xin was about to protest, but Ye Junze cut her off, "Come on, let me treat you today. Next time, you can treat me instead."

"Alright, it's a deal," Lin Xin nodded.

With that, Ye Junze followed the waiting waiter to the register. When they arrived, the waiter announced, "Table Eight is ready to settle up."

"Please wait a moment," the cashier replied.

It wasn't long before the cashier calculated the total. "Table Eight, your bill comes to three hundred and twenty yuan. Thank you for dining with us."

Ye Junze quickly pulled out his phone to transfer the money, making a small gesture to indicate he was done. "All set."

"Thank you. We look forward to your next visit."

After handling the bill, Ye Junze returned to where Lin Xin was waiting. "Senior, I've paid. Have you rested enough?"

Seeing him return, Lin Xin smiled and said, "All rested. You really went out of your way for me today." She seemed a bit embarrassed as she spoke.

Ye Junze waved it off. "It was nothing. I promised you, and as long as you enjoyed yourself, that’s all that matters."

"Of course I did," Lin Xin replied with a grin. She stretched, then said, "Alright, I think I’m good to go. Shall we?"

"Sure," Ye Junze answered immediately.

With that, the two stood up and left the restaurant together.

Once outside, Lin Xin still looked delighted. She smiled as she asked, "So, Junior, where do you want to go next?"

Ye Junze scratched his head. "I'm not sure where's good around here. I’ll leave it to you, Senior."

"Alright then, let’s just wander around for a bit," Lin Xin replied.

"Okay, sounds good," Ye Junze agreed.

With that, Lin Xin took the lead, walking ahead while Ye Junze followed at an unhurried pace. He didn’t seem at all worried that Lin Xin might lead him somewhere dangerous; in fact, he seemed to trust her completely.

Lin Xin strolled along, taking in the sights with a leisurely air, as if she knew every nook and cranny of the entertainment district. After a while, she suddenly stopped and rubbed her chin thoughtfully, as if considering something. Ye Junze, who had been following her closely, saw her halt and worried something was wrong. He quickly stepped closer and asked with concern, "Senior, is something the matter? Did something happen?"

Lin Xin snapped out of her thoughts and replied, "Oh, nothing. I just suddenly remembered a place I want to take you."

Ye Junze's curiosity was piqued at once, and he smiled as he asked, "Where is it? It must be special if you had to stop and think about it."

But Lin Xin only smiled mysteriously. "You’ll see when we get there. For now, you’ll just have to guess."

"Senior, there you go again, keeping me in suspense," Ye Junze said helplessly. "Honestly, I think you must have learned this trick from Teacher Li Xi!"

At that, Lin Xin nodded in agreement, as if she knew exactly what he meant, and said with a hint of mischief, "So you’ve all suffered under his suspenseful ways too?"

Just thinking about it, Ye Junze couldn’t help but picture Teacher Li Xi’s face whenever he left everyone hanging. It was infuriating, but there was nothing they could do. With a sigh, Ye Junze said, "That’s right, so please, Senior, promise me you won’t keep us guessing like Teacher Li Xi does!"

Seeing Ye Junze’s exasperated expression, Lin Xin couldn’t help but laugh. "Alright."

Ye Junze was about to say more, but Lin Xin cut in, "But you’ll still have to wait and see where we’re going next."

Just as Lin Xin expected, Ye Junze’s face fell into an even more helpless expression, his brows furrowing slightly, which was somehow quite amusing. Lin Xin, seeing she’d predicted his reaction exactly, burst out laughing. It was unclear whether she was pleased at being right, at Ye Junze’s expression, or both.

Ye Junze, unsure why Lin Xin was laughing, looked at her with confusion. "Huh? What is it?"

"Nothing, nothing at all," Lin Xin said with a wave, not revealing the reason behind her laughter. Yet inside, she couldn’t help but wonder how he would react if he knew. The thought made her lips curl upward unconsciously.

"Alright, let’s go. The next place I’m taking you is bound to be fun," she said as she set off again into the distance.

Ye Junze, unable to quell his curiosity, could only follow after her with a resigned sigh.