Chapter 9: A Young Man in His Prime

Chapter 9: A Young Man in His Prime

"Minhui, could he be using the pretext of asking about courses just to talk to you?"

"I've heard that he was dumped by a senior girl yesterday afternoon. He must have been caught flirting around outside. You girls should stay away from that kind of person."

Li Zhanpeng sat down next to Fang Minhui while complaining.

Fang Minhui frowned slightly, showing a hint of displeasure.

Li Zhanpeng didn't notice Fang Minhui's expression. Looking in Shen Yuan's direction, he continued dismissively: "I also heard that he refused to apply for a student grant. His family is already in that situation, yet he's still putting on airs."

"This kind of person doesn't even know how to share the burden with his family."

After finishing, Li Zhanpeng realized that no one was responding to him. He turned around and noticed that Fang Minhui's expression seemed off. He laughed awkwardly and changed the subject: "Hey, you guys already started eating? Didn't I tell you I'd buy breakfast today?"

Chen Ling couldn't help but roll her eyes. They had agreed to meet at the cafeteria at 8:00, but he dragged himself down at 8:10.

Seriously, breakfast costs just a few yuan.

She had heard from Minhui yesterday that they had movie tickets for 7:30 PM last night. They could have eaten outside before watching the movie.

But Li Zhanpeng said he needed to go back to the dorm to change clothes, and didn't come down until 6:30. Then he had the nerve to suggest they just make do with the cafeteria food today and eat outside next time.

No wonder Minhui came back right after the movie last night.

This kind of person, with money at home but still so stingy.

Look at Shen Yuanhe took her straight to a top-tier Japanese restaurant. One meal there costs as much as twenty movie tickets.

Can't even afford to treat someone to a meal, yet trying to chase girls!

Fang Minhui also felt somewhat annoyed. She had thought Li Zhanpeng came from a good family and would be generous. But yesterday on their first date, Li Zhanpeng actually took her to eat at the cafeteria.

The key is, if you're going to be stingy, just be stingy. But he had to pretend to be generous.

Meanwhile, Shen Yuan returned to his table, planning to finish his remaining half bowl of noodles. Huang Haibao couldn't help but lean over and ask in a low voice: "Third Brother, how did it go?"

Shen Yuan shook his head: "She hasn't agreed yet."

"I knew it," Cao Shunjin said matter-of-factly. "Third Brother isn't the same Third Brother as before, and Fang Minhui isn't the same Fang Minhui as before."

"Third Brother, seeing that you can't win her over either makes me feel better," Huang Haibao patted Shen Yuan's shoulder.

"Damn, you dog, you were just supporting me earlier!"

Although Shen Yuan cursed, he was still quite confident. The Xingyu restaurant was often promoted online and had high visibility, with many celebrities having visited.

Most girls would find it hard to refuse such a prestigious Japanese restaurant.

By junior year, the course schedule wasn't as packed as in freshman and sophomore years. Today was Thursday, with just one class in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Class time was always boring. Shen Yuan checked in and then slept on his desk. It wasn't until almost lunchtime that he sent Fang Minhui a WeChat message:

"Tonight at 6:30, waiting for you."

He also attached the location of Xingyu restaurant.

Fang Minhui had been concentrating on the lecture when she felt her phone vibrate. She opened it to see Shen Yuan's WeChat message.

She turned her head to look at Shen Yuan sitting in the last row, thinking that she hadn't even agreed yet, but he was already assuming she would go.

She hesitated, wondering if accepting a date so easily would make her seem too casual. After all, Li Zhanpeng had asked her out several times before she reluctantly agreed.

But on the other hand, the opportunity to visit such a high-end Japanese restaurant was rare.

Fang Minhui was torn. Chen Ling, sitting beside her, also saw the WeChat message and nudged her soft waist with her elbow, whispering: "Xingyu restaurant! You should definitely go. It's just a meal anyway."

Fang Minhui tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, thinking that her friend had a point. It was just a meal, and Shen Yuan hadn't shown any intention of pursuing her.

She picked up her phone and replied with an "OK" emoji, adding: "Then take me with you. I'll wait for you at the school gate at 6."

Shen Yuan had fallen back asleep after sending the message and didn't see Fang Minhui's reply until he was queuing for lunch in the cafeteria.

"The fish took the bait after all," Shen Yuan muttered with a smile.

Huang Haibao, standing behind him, asked curiously: "What bait?"

"Nothing," Shen Yuan replied with a faint smile. He didn't want to tell Huang about this yetthe guy was too fragile to handle such a blow.

At 5:50 PM, Shen Yuan appeared at the international school gate. He had booked a Didi ride in advance, with the app showing an estimated arrival at the passenger's departure point at 6:00.

At exactly 6:00, Fang Minhui arrived gracefully. For tonight's date, she had specially changed into a ladylike outfit: a beige fitted long skirt and a light-colored, form-fitting sweater.

Compared to her bold and lively appearance in the morning, she now looked more elegant, though her outfit still showcased her graceful figure.

Especially that waist-to-hip ratiosimply perfect!

Shen Yuan found himself distracted. She had clearly studied danceher figure was truly impeccable!

Just then, the Didi car arrived. Shen Yuan waved to her: "Let's get in."

"Mm," Fang Minhui responded with slightly flushed cheeks as she followed him into the back seat.

She was actually somewhat excited and a bit nervous, partly because this was her first date with Shen Yuan, and partly because it was her first time dining at such a high-end restaurant.

Xingyu wasn't actually very large, nor was it extravagantly decorated. At first glance, the storefront looked like an ordinary sushi shop.

Shen Yuan led Fang Minhui out of the Didi, and they walked through streets and alleys for ten minutes before arriving at the restaurant.

At the entrance, a female server dressed in a kimono greeted them warmly: "Hello, do you have a reservation?"

"Yes, ending in 4115."

"Welcome, Mr. Shen. This way, please."

The server gestured for them to follow her.

Shen Yuan was actually a regular here. He used to bring Zhou Wanteng often, and occasionally brought Huang and Cao to improve their meals.

For this reason, he had become a member.

The restaurant operated on a reservation system, serving only a limited number of guests each evening. Normally, reservations needed to be made 3-5 days in advance, but members like Shen Yuan could get special arrangements when needed.

"Mr. Shen, please have a seat."

In the cozy private room, the server thoughtfully laid out cushions for them, then handed Shen Yuan the iPad from the table.

"Would you like to order, or would you prefer my recommendations?"

"Please recommend something. I haven't been here for a while and don't know if your menu has changed."

"Certainly. Besides our signature sashimi, we recently added Kuki-ban live eel with foie gras and wagyu fried rice. Would you like to try them?"

"Yes, please serve portions for two people, and also add a matsutake seafood soup for each of us."

"Very well."

The female server crossed her hands respectfully and backed out of the door, thoughtfully sliding it closed for them.

"The service here is really excellent," Fang Minhui remarked. Indeed, this Japanese restaurant with its thousand-yuan-per-person price tag gave people a feeling of being at home.

This was her first time dining at such a restaurant, and she was certainly broadening her horizons today.

"The service is good, but mainly the taste is excellent. I used to come here often," Shen Yuan said casually, though he wasn't particularly impressed. Because this was a Japanese-style restaurant, the private rooms had no chairsdiners had to sit cross-legged or kneel.

He didn't understand why the Japanese preferred to eat this way.

When Shen Yuan came here, he usually preferred to sit at the counter, watching the chef prepare the food while eating.

If he wasn't trying to create an intimate atmosphere, he wouldn't have booked a private room.

Shen Yuan sat cross-legged and pointed to the other cushion: "Have a seat."

Because she was wearing a long skirt, Fang Minhui couldn't sit cross-legged. She gently held her skirt and slowly knelt down.

From Shen Yuan's angle, he could see Fang Minhui's full buttocks. The key was that this posture very easily led to inappropriate thoughts.

Shen Yuan couldn't help but swallow. To be honest, the last time he had been intimate was two months ago.

That was when he was still with Zhou Wanteng.

Every man has physiological needs, especially a virile young man like him.

But the time wasn't right yet. He needed to stay calm, stay calm...