The New Favorite

She left the hotel, found a public phone, and called Mo Xiaoxiao, telling her she had an urgent matter and couldn’t accompany her. Mo Xiaoxiao, in a taxi, was hopping mad, ready to bite someone. Xu Ke quickly hung up. As the city lights came on and people hurried by, Xu Ke felt annoyed at the thought of going home to cook for Lin Yao. Suddenly, she remembered there was a congee shop near the Imperial Dynasty Restaurant known for its excellent congee. She used to go there often, even bringing Shen Mu along. She walked over, and though the sign had been redone, the interior remained the same. Xu Ke chose a secluded seat, flipping through the menu, which hadn’t changed either, only the people had. She felt nostalgic, reminiscing about the past. Shen Mu never liked congee, always looking forced and grimacing as if drinking poison whenever she dragged him there. At the time, she thought even his grimaces were handsome, not realizing that forcing someone or oneself isn’t sustainable. She quietly closed the menu. Suddenly, the light dimmed before her eyes, and a low, wistful voice sighed, “We really are quite fated.” Xu Ke immediately had a dark line on her forehead; this wasn’t fate, it was a cursed connection. Shen Mu’s tall figure loomed like a wall, blocking half of the overhead light. Xu Ke weighed the odds of their “chance encounters” happening twice in a row, finding the probability of mere coincidence to be minuscule. She held back several times but couldn’t help asking with an irritated eyebrow raise, “Are you stalking me?” After asking, she regretted it, feeling overly self-important. What about her was worth stalking? Sure enough, he didn’t miss the chance to mock her, squinting his eyes with a smile, “A client invited me for dinner at the Dynasty, I just stepped out after the event, didn’t expect to bump into you again. Are you here to reminisce?” As he spoke, he pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down casually, as if he was there to meet her. Xu Ke straightened her posture, “I’m here to eat. Doesn’t Mr. Shen dislike congee?” She regretted her words again, revealing that she still remembered his preferences. She should have acted like she had forgotten everything about him. Indeed, his smile deepened, “You remember my likes? But, I now enjoy congee.” Xu Ke was speechless, unsure if he had followed her or just happened to be there. However, remembering he had ordered congee at Rong Rong’s place, she thought it was quite possible he was indeed here for congee. Xu Ke ordered a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat congee and a side dish, with no intention of treating him. Shen Mu also ordered congee and then quietly watched her. Xu Ke felt very uncomfortable, wishing she could invite him to sit at the next table, but speaking out would make her seem petty or still bothered by him. Fine, she’d endure it. After the congee arrived, she ate quickly to escape his gaze sooner. Shen Mu whispered, “Slow down.” She ignored him, continuing to eat fast. He suddenly pressed her hand. Xu Ke was startled, looking up at him. His smile had faded, his expression serious, and he softly said, “Listen.” Just two simple words, spoken with his deep, slightly hoarse voice, carried a hint of indulgence, his gaze deep and captivating. Xu Ke’s heart skipped a beat, and she involuntarily lowered her eyes, not daring to look further. Before, she often lost herself in his gaze, unable to distinguish between east, west, north, or south, let alone deception or revenge. Now, she wouldn’t. He ate little, seemingly preoccupied. Xu Ke glanced at him inadvertently and noticed he had lost some weight; was he too busy? She wanted to say something, but the polite concerns like “take care of yourself” were better left unsaid by her. After the meal, Xu Ke paid the bill. As they left the congee shop, she seriously told Shen Mu, “This time, I paid, so consider it my treat.” Shen Mu snorted disdainfully, “Too cheap, doesn’t count.” Xu Ke also snorted, “Mr. Shen, you’re too hard to please.” Shen Mu looked at her displeased, “Can you not call me Mr. Shen?” Xu Ke thought for a moment, then said, “Then, should I call you stepbrother? That’s too formal, hard to say.” Shen Mu’s face darkened, glaring at her, “What did you call me before?” “Before? That was too shocking! I actually called you brother, how foolish.” Xu Ke laughed, breathing in the night air, her nose tingling. When she first met him, she was only 16; when he stood before her, she instantly understood what it meant to be “ruined for life by meeting Yang Guo.” Fortunately, she was relatively lucky, only being ruined for a few years. Shen Mu remained silent, his silence terrifying. Xu Ke smiled slightly, “Mr. Shen, goodbye.” Shen Mu suddenly grabbed her arm, pinning her against the vermilion pillar at the entrance of the congee shop. He was tall, and she was on a higher step, facing his angry eyes. He looked handsome even when angry, with thick eyebrows like ink and deep, mysterious eyes. He said word by word, “Try calling me Mr. Shen again?” Xu Ke’s stubbornness flared up, “Mr. Shen, have something to say, say it properly.” Shen Mu’s gaze intensified, and he lowered his head. Xu Ke was both shocked and embarrassed, “Shen Mu, let go, this is a public place! You dare!” He scoffed, “Watch me dare.” Xu Ke, in anger, shouted, “Shen Mu!” He smiled, his lips brushing past her cheek, “See, you’re not calling me Mr. Shen now.” Xu Ke was taken aback; was that all? Shen Mu raised an eyebrow in a half-smile, “What did you think I was going to do?” Xu Ke was both annoyed and embarrassed. He chuckled, stepping down from the steps as if nothing had happened. Xu Ke stood there glaring at his back. He was adept at stirring her anger and then diffusing it with a light laugh. The bittersweet, gain-and-loss, heaven-and-hell feelings from their time together were suddenly evoked, vividly clear in her heart. Those memories, buried for six years, carried the scent of time like aged wine. Shen Mu turned back with a smile, “Are you mad I didn’t kiss you?” Xu Ke glared at him and walked away. He drove after her, “Let me drive you home.” Xu Ke ignored him, heading straight to the bus stop. He wasn’t in a hurry, driving slowly behind her. Xu Ke found the scene cliché, like something she’d switch channels for on TV, yet here it was happening to her. But when it did happen to her, it wasn’t cliché at all, showing the vast difference between life and art. The usually flashy Porsche now moved like a snail on the road, with a huffing beauty walking ahead, drawing curious glances from passersby. Xu Ke felt it would be too pretentious not to get in the car. Countless experiences had shown that getting angry with him was like getting angry with herself. She stopped, facing Shen Mu. His lips curled in a smile, but Xu Ke found it provocative, his sharp, masculine features looking wild and dominant in the night. “Why won’t you let me drive you, are you scared of me?” “Scared of you?” Xu Ke smirked, stepped forward, opened the car door, and sat inside. Shen Mu watched her with a half-smile, “Reverse psychology works best on you. At your age, how can you still be so impulsive?”