The items she enjoyed eating remained plentiful in the pot, while those she disliked, Jing Ping seemed to quickly consume. Throughout the meal, she ate contentedly, and eventually looked up at him saying, “I’ve realized we’re quite compatible dining partners.”

“Are we?” Jing Ping smiled.

“When I eat with Mengshan, he always competes with me for the beef and sweet potato leaves, leaving behind a pile of radish and fish balls. This is perfect—I should invite you to meals more often.”

“Sure,” Jing Ping replied.

In truth, he didn’t have particular preferences—he was indifferent to what he ate. When she left things she didn’t like, he’d clear the plate entirely, not wanting to waste food. What she kept reaching for, he naturally left for her.

Jing Ping smiled again, “We do seem quite compatible.”

After their satisfying meal, You Mingxu paid the bill, and they sat across from each other, sipping clear tea to cut through the richness.

You Mingxu suddenly remembered to ask, “Old Jing, are you married?” Being assigned so far away in Hunan, what if he had a wife and children at home? Looking at him… You Mingxu suddenly realized you couldn’t tell from his appearance whether he was the family type or not.

Jing Ping took a sip of tea and said, “I don’t even have a girlfriend, let alone a wife.”

You Mingxu studied him—tall, handsome, with character, and shrewd beneath it all. Shouldn’t a man like this easily find someone suitable? Yet he was still single.

Though thinking about it, it made sense—given the nature of his work, where would he meet girlfriends? Ordinary girls probably wouldn’t dare to date him.

“I’ll have Matchmaker Xu find someone for you,” You Mingxu said. “Hunan has plenty of beautiful girls. What are your requirements, Old Jing?”

Jing Ping smiled and said, “Not many requirements. Beautiful, neither too fat nor too thin. Not too tall, not too short. I don’t like dark skin—at least not darker than mine. Independent and capable—when I’m away on missions, she should be able to take care of herself without making me worry. Kind-hearted, not greedy, with a strong sense of right and wrong. In my line of work, if your wife is easily manipulated, it’s like living with a time bomb. That’s about it.”

You Mingxu laughed, “You call that ‘not many requirements’? Where would you find someone that perfect? Forget I mentioned it.”

Jing Ping picked up the teapot, refilled his cup, and noticing her empty cup, filled hers too. His expression serene, he said softly, “Indeed, where would you find someone that perfect?”

You Mingxu suddenly froze. She quietly watched his hand holding the teapot—fair-skinned with defined knuckles, both back and fingertips bearing scars. The clear stream of water poured slowly, and both fell silent. Neither knew quite why.

Just then, You Mingxu’s phone rang, breaking the subtle, obscure stillness.

Seeing the name on the screen, You Mingxu felt an inexplicable sense of relief, though she wasn’t sure what she was relieved of. Her tone remained cool: “Hello.”

The man who hadn’t shown his face all day spoke in a deep, reserved voice: “Off work?”

“Mm.”

“I cooked myself today. Want to come try it?”

You Mingxu was somewhat surprised: “You cooked yourself?”

Yin Feng said, “The cook died, didn’t he?”

You Mingxu was momentarily speechless.

Across the table, Jing Ping could tell who was calling just from her tone. He lowered his head to drink tea, his expression neutral.

You Mingxu said, “I’ve already eaten.”

Hearing the noise in the background, Yin Feng knew she was out somewhere. His heart stirred as he asked, “With whom?”

You Mingxu answered, “Old Jing.”

At that moment, Jing Ping spoke up: “Give me the lighter and cigarettes.”

You Mingxu fished them from her pocket and handed them over, saying, “Just one.”

Jing Ping laughed, “Whose cigarettes are these, anyway?”

You Mingxu smiled.

Only then did she notice the person on the phone had remained silent? She asked, “Anything else?”

Yin Feng said, “What about you? Do you have anything to discuss with me?”

You Mingxu paused briefly before saying, “I’ll come see you in a bit.”

He replied coolly, “Fine,” and hung up immediately.

You Mingxu stared at her phone, feeling somewhat unsettled. Jing Ping had already stood up saying, “Let’s go.”

They walked out of the restaurant. Being close to the police station, Jing Ping could walk back. You Mingxu called a car and waited by the roadside, saying, “You go ahead. My car will be here soon.”

“It’s fine,” Jing Ping replied.

The two who had been chatting so animatedly in the restaurant now seemed to have nothing to say. They stood quietly on the street.

The car arrived quickly. As You Mingxu got in, she looked at the man outside and said, “See you tomorrow, Old Jing.”

Jing Ping stood under the streetlight, his jacket open, hands in his pockets, looking even more striking. His expression was clear and gentle, with a warm, lamplight-like smile: “See you tomorrow, You Mingxu.”