Chapter 78: How Do I Put Love into Words?

Qin Luo's steak arrived swiftly. On the edge of the plate lay two slices of dark green pepper, and at the center, a large chunk of beef, charred and blackened from the grill. Qin Luo gazed thoughtfully at the row of gleaming silverware before him, hesitated, then selected a steel fork. He stabbed it into the middle of the steak, lifted the entire slab, and brought it to his mouth.

The waiter, who was pouring their red wine, was stunned by Qin Luo's action. He failed to notice the wine overflowing onto the table. "Hey. It's full," Qin Luo said, struggling to tear at the beef as he addressed the waiter.

"Ah! I'm terribly sorry," the waiter finally snapped to attention, hurriedly grabbing a white napkin to wipe up the spilled wine.

Qin Luo waved dismissively. "It's fine. Go about your work. If we want more wine, we can pour it ourselves."

"Thank you," the waiter said repeatedly, but couldn't help glancing at Qin Luo, who was devouring his steak with gusto.

This guy is ferocious!

Lin Wanxi returned from the restroom and paused at the sight of Qin Luo eating his steak as if it were barbecue pork. She covered her mouth, unable to suppress a gentle laugh.

"Steak isn't meant to be eaten like that," Lin Wanxi said with a smile as she took her seat across from Qin Luo.

"I know," Qin Luo nodded. "But this way is convenient."

"------"

"Have you never eaten steak before?" Lin Wanxi asked, delicately carving her own food and taking small bites.

"I’ve watched others eat it. Isn’t steak just a big piece of beef? Eating it like this isn’t so bad. All that cutting is too troublesome," Qin Luo replied.

"Well, do as you like. As long as you’re full," Lin Wanxi said, not insisting he change his ways. Though many around them cast puzzled or contemptuous glances, she paid them no mind.

"That’s just how he is," Lin Wanxi thought. "And it’s good."

Ling Xiao deliberately lingered behind, pinching her brother Ling Yun sharply at the waist. "I invited Guan Xu for dinner—what are you two doing here?"

Ling Yun looked at his sister with affection and sighed, "It was Guan Xu who asked us to come."

"If he tells you to come, you just come? Can’t you say no?"

"Ling Xiao, you should wake up," Ling Yun said gently. "Don’t you see what he’s doing?"

"I don’t understand. I don’t want to understand," Ling Xiao shot him a glare and hurried toward Guan Xu.

Ling Yun smiled wryly and shook his head. He knew his sister was beyond saving.

"Hey, isn’t that bumpkin the jerk we just ran into?" Ling Xiao said as she passed a corridor, spotting Qin Luo gnawing on his steak.

"A lady—a lady," Ning Suisui tugged at Ling Xiao’s hand, urging her not to get too riled up.

It had been hard enough to get Guan Xu out for dinner; ruining her image now would be disastrous.

Unexpectedly, Guan Xu overheard their conversation and followed Ling Xiao’s gaze. His pupils widened in surprise.

"You know him?" Guan Xu asked casually.

"Ha, just an acquaintance—not close," Ling Xiao replied awkwardly. Enemies meeting face to face, the tension was palpable. She’d been too obvious; if Guan Xu knew she’d been arguing again, her image would surely suffer.

"It’s all that annoying bumpkin’s fault," Ling Xiao cursed inwardly.

"Since he’s a friend, why not go say hello?" Guan Xu smiled.

"Ah?"

"Come on. We don’t want to seem rude," Guan Xu said, eyes narrowed in a smile.

Ling Xiao and Ning Suisui exchanged glances and, though reluctant, walked over to Qin Luo’s table.

"Hey, you’re dining here too?" Ling Xiao stood at the table, her smile stiff as she greeted Qin Luo.

Qin Luo turned, recognizing the wealthy girl who’d nearly run him down earlier. His face darkened. "Why shouldn’t I eat here? What are you doing? Are we close?"

"You—" Ling Xiao nearly coughed up blood in anger, abandoning her lady-like composure. She pointed at Qin Luo, snapping, "Who do you think you are? You think I want to talk to you? Even if you gave me a million, I wouldn’t. Just seeing you dirties my eyes."

"Sister-in-law, you’re saying I begged you to come over? Did I ask you to?" Qin Luo retorted, sneering.

These rich people look down on others too much. Do they think he can’t afford a meal here?

That forced smile of hers was irritating. She probably thought he belonged at a five-yuan takeout shop.

Poor Qin Luo, so accustomed to contempt, had developed a hypersensitive reaction to humiliation—

"Who are you calling sister-in-law? I’m young, thank you very much. You’re the old man here—look at your shabby clothes, such a bumpkin—hmph, I’ve never seen anyone hold up a whole steak with a fork and gnaw on it like a bone."

"I like it. If I want to wrap my steak in a flatbread, that’s my business. What’s it to you?"

As Qin Luo and Ling Xiao bickered, Lin Wanxi saw Guan Xu standing behind them, his face lit with a smile—just as he had looked the first time they met.

Would you appear suddenly, in a corner café,
I’d greet you with a smile,
No talk of the past, just small talk,
Just one thing, only one thing,
Long time no see—

"Long time no see," Guan Xu said, his voice rich and magnetic, as if it held an endless allure.

"Yes," Lin Wanxi replied. In that moment, her heart suddenly felt calm.

All the fear she’d felt about facing him, turned out to be nothing.

"Are you well?" Guan Xu asked, gazing intently at her delicate face, smiling.

"Very well."

"I remember, the first time we met in Yanjing was right here, at this restaurant. Table one hundred and sixteen—I still remember the number," Guan Xu said softly, as if stating a trivial fact, yet there was the air of a seasoned hunter, patiently awaiting his prey.

Last time he’d been too careless and let his best prey escape. He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

Qin Luo and Ling Xiao’s argument came to an abrupt halt. Both stared at Guan Xu in surprise.

If he hadn’t spoken that line, they would never have suspected his identity.

Seeing Qin Luo’s gaze shift to him, Guan Xu offered his hand. "Hello, I’m Guan Xu."

"Qin Luo," Qin Luo replied, shaking hands.

So it was true—he was Guan Xu.

Now Qin Luo understood why Lin Wanxi had chosen this place for dinner. Now he understood the significance of table one hundred and sixteen.

To invite one man, only to wait for another?

Then what role did he play in this drama?

Qin Luo, who had never understood love, suddenly felt a pang of sadness—more anger than anything. He felt deceived.

Helpless to resist, because of Lin Wanxi’s choice, his first meeting with Guan Xu was a total defeat.

Guan Xu’s hand released Qin Luo’s, then he turned to Lin Wanxi. "I won’t disturb your dinner. Let’s have tea together sometime."

Without giving Lin Wanxi a chance to refuse, he was already gone.

"Big brother, your girlfriend is really pretty," Ning Suisui said, glancing at Qin Luo and then at Lin Wanxi, smiling sweetly.

Qin Luo nodded slightly, but felt no joy.

"Well, I won’t keep you from your meal. See you next time," Ning Suisui waved goodbye.

Ling Xiao studied Lin Wanxi for a moment, then hurried after Guan Xu.

Ling Yun and Li Lingxi exchanged a glance, sensing that things were more complicated than they appeared.

Once Guan Xu and his group left, the two lost all appetite for their meal.

"When we met, it was in America. The only time he returned for a family visit, we saw each other here in Yanjing, at this restaurant. Back then, it had just opened and few people knew about it. It was an evening when the city lights first came on, table one hundred and sixteen, and he lit the candle himself—" Lin Wanxi murmured, not noticing Qin Luo’s expression.

"So that’s why you invited me here?" Qin Luo smiled, but his eyes turned cold.

Seeing Qin Luo look at her that way, Lin Wanxi felt a sudden panic.

That gaze was frightening, as if he meant to sever all ties, never to connect again.

She had shown that expression countless times when rejecting other men’s advances, holding them at a distance.

Now, she saw the familiar scene from someone else.

"Qin Luo, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t want to reclaim anything. I just—"

"Just what?" Qin Luo was still smiling, but the warmth and kindness Lin Wanxi knew were gone, replaced by an unfamiliar chill.

"Sometimes, I think I’m a good listener. That’s all," he said.

"No, I consider you a friend," Lin Wanxi said urgently.

She didn’t know why she felt the need to explain, only that she must.

She sensed something important slipping away.

"Friend? Sometimes, that’s the cheapest thing there is. It can be given freely, and taken back just as easily," Qin Luo said with a smile. "Thank you for dinner. I have things to do—I’ll be going now."

He nodded to Lin Wanxi, stood, and walked out.

Lin Wanxi opened her mouth to call out, but no sound emerged.

When Qin Luo’s figure vanished, and the flickering lights disappeared from her sight, the tears finally slid down her cheeks.

The feelings she thought she had forgotten returned so easily.

She poured herself a glass of wine and drank it with her tears.

Another glass. Another swallow.

No lingering sweetness, only endless bitterness.

"It’s not like this. How could it be as you imagined? So many years ago, I could have chosen to leave—how could I ever turn back?"

"The one you can’t forget is actually long forgotten. I can handle the nervous encounter well now. I neither love nor hate him. I can face him calmly. At last, we are strangers."

"I thought my illness was cured. Though I still don’t want to talk to other men, I enjoy listening to you. That’s enough for me. My longing is only to bid farewell to the past. And you, you are the best witness to the end of this love. Because—because—"

"Qin Luo, what should I do? I’ve fallen in love with you, but how can I tell you?"