Lu Yuwen smiled warmly. “Alright, you treat me next time.”

Su Man chewed her chopstick thoughtfully. “…Would you prefer Chinese or Western? I’ll ask some friends which restaurant is best.”

She didn’t pay much attention to food herself. Whatever was made at home, she ate. When it came to taking someone out, she honestly had no idea which restaurant would be right.

Lu Yuwen said, “Either works for me. What about you — any restrictions?”

“None,” Su Man said candidly, shaking her head. “As long as it tastes good, I’ll eat anything.”

Lu Yuwen smiled, tilted his chin slightly to gesture toward her plate, and asked, “Do you like pasta?”

“Ah, this is so good!” Su Man quickly said, being earnest rather than just polite. “I don’t know how you made it, but honestly, this is the best pasta I’ve ever had. My parents are used to Chinese food, so Auntie Zhang never makes things like this, and even when I want a change, I can’t get it at home…”

She caught herself mid-sentence and paused, worried Lu Yuwen might misread her meaning. She hurried to add flatly, “I — I don’t mean I want you to cook it again. I’m really sorry about today — you’re our guest, and we should be the ones looking after you properly… but somehow it seems like we’ve turned you into our kitchen help…”

That didn’t sound right either.

Su Man pressed her lips together, looking flustered, her voice dropping lower, carrying a self-directed impatience: “I’m not very good at saying the right thing. People around me always say I have a knack for offending people. Please don’t take it to heart.”

“I won’t,” Lu Yuwen said, watching her with a soft expression. “I think you’re just fine the way you are — straightforward, no need to beat around the bush. Talking with you is very relaxing.”

Su Man froze. “…Really?”

Lu Yuwen smiled. “Do I look like someone who would say something insincere?”

A faint color rose to Su Man’s cheeks.

In all her life, it was the first time she had ever received a compliment like that.

Lu Yuwen lowered his head and ate his pasta at an unhurried pace. He brought up casually: “Today I went out to get my replacement ID, and by the time I came back it was already past lunchtime. I had ordered delivery, but the food wasn’t very good, so I borrowed your kitchen instead…”

“It’s fine — use it whenever you like,” Su Man said sincerely. “You’ve done me a favor too, letting me eat so well. Did you study cooking? It’s really amazing!”

Lu Yuwen looked up at her, warm amusement in his eyes. “I only know a little. Since I’m in this industry, I don’t need to cook myself, but it’s good to have a grasp of the basics. If you like it, I’ll make it for you again sometime.”

Su Man’s face grew redder. She hastily swallowed the food in her mouth and choked slightly, coughing twice in embarrassment. “That would be too much to ask for…”

Lu Yuwen raised one hand and quietly pushed the glass of water on the table to within her reach, not wanting the gesture to be too obvious. He changed the subject naturally:

“You seem more yourself now. When you first came in, you didn’t look very happy.”

“Ah?” Su Man looked up at him blankly. “Was — was it that obvious?”

Lu Yuwen smiled. “Your answer just now — does that count as a confession?”

His teasing tone made Su Man laugh too, a little sheepish as she explained: “I just felt like today was especially unlucky… so my mood was a bit affected…”

As she thought back over the whole day, a wistful look drifted across her face without her realizing it.

“It feels like I can’t do anything right. My dad’s in the hospital, and I really wanted to take care of him — but at the hospital I was useless, I just watched the aides work while I played on my phone. My close friend had his commendation ceremony — I’d promised to be there to cheer him on, but by the time I arrived, it had been over for ages. And then there’s the detective thing — nobody believes in me, everyone thinks I can’t do it… Sometimes I think I don’t believe in myself either…”

She pressed her lips together and murmured softly: “Maybe my parents are right. Maybe I’m better suited to be a traffic officer…”

“If it’s something you genuinely love, then fight for it,” Lu Yuwen said, looking at her steadily. “Most things in this world, no one is simply born knowing how to do.”

—