"Let's go eat at Ge Lao Guan, I want to eat some frog, it's been a while."

"Perfect, I haven't had frog in ages either."

The two arranged to have a meal together. Seeing that he hung up the phone, Sun Zhidong weakly asked, "What about me?"

"There's a cup of instant noodles left in the hotel that I bought last time, you might as well help me eat it before it expires."

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhidong got furious about being suggested to eat expired instant noodles, his nostrils flaring in anger: "Li Xiang, that's too much, man. I came to pick you up in good faith, and you want me to eat expired noodles?"

"If not noodles, then dog food? Or do you think this third wheel isn't bright enough?"

Before, it was always Sun Zhidong and Xiaomei eating dog food with him, which was plenty. Now that he had a chance to get back at Sun Zhidong, Li Xiang was not polite to him.

Seeing Sun Zhidong so flustered, Li Xiang felt a satisfying sense of revenge.

"You know, buddy, I'm not trying to rain on your parade here, but you and Lin Feifei aren't going to happen. She's a top pop star, and you're just an auxiliary officer. I'm telling you this as a friend, don't get too deep into it."

Considering the gap between their statuses, Sun Zhidong wasn't optimistic about them. If it were before, with Li Xiang's second- and first-class merits, making waves in the police force, and rapidly getting promoted, there was a slight possibility.

But now...

Sigh~ Sun Zhidong silently sighed to himself.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Li Xiang actually knew about the gap between them, but he had a belief that anything is possible.

Besides, whoever you marry, might as well find someone both pretty and capable.

Even toads dream of eating swan meat, he couldn't be worse than a toad, right?

"Alright, after a shower, I'll drop you off at Ge Lao Guan. Ah, what a hard life, all I get to eat is instant noodles."

The two of them went to the bathroom, took a good soak, and steamed in the sauna, feeling much lighter afterward.

When they left the bathhouse in new clothes, they felt cozy, not caring about the cold wind outside.

By now, dusk had fallen. After Sun Zhidong dropped Li Xiang off at the restaurant, he was ready to head back to the hotel alone. As he was getting off the car, Li Xiang noticed he was about to video call Xiaomei.

Guess he couldn't handle longing after so many days apart.

Li Xiang arrived quite early, so there was no need to queue, and there were plenty of seats.

Considering Lin Feifei's public persona, Li Xiang specifically chose a corner seat where they wouldn't be easily noticed, then confirmed with Lin Feifei that she'd be there in about ten minutes, just as the hotpot base would take ten minutes to be prepared.

"What kind of hotpot base would you like? Scan the code with your phone to order."

Li Xiang took out his phone and scanned the ordering code on the table, picking the Spicy Beef Oil hotpot base from ShuJiuXiang, then selected 8 frogs."

Both he and Lin Feifei could handle spicy food, so ordering a clear soup in a Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot restaurant was out of the question.

Of course, they had to try the signature hotpot base.

The base hadn't arrived, but the person had.

Before ten minutes were up, Li Xiang saw a beautiful sight entering through the doorway.

Today, she wore a turtleneck wool sweater, with a trench coat on top, slim-fit jeans paired with white knee-high boots, and a black baseball cap on her head, striding towards him with an air of confidence.

"Have you been here long?" Lin Feifei took off her hat and placed it on the table, then glance at Li Xiang's chosen spot, saying, "You're quite thoughtful."

"No other choice, I'd rather not be surrounded by a crowd while eating."

"It's not as exaggerated as you say. Right now, my songs are popular, but I'm not. I still need more exposure, but I'm already quite satisfied—making money without the hassles of a big star."

Lin Feifei chuckled then asked, "What hotpot base did you order?"

"Our tastes are similar, I ordered the Spicy Beef Oil hotpot base from ShuJiuXiang, and eight frogs, how about that?"

"Perfect, finally found a dining buddy. My assistant can't handle spicy food, so whenever I dine out with her, I have to hold back on the spice."

While they were talking, the hotpot base arrived, with the server adjusting the heat for them.

"What do you want to drink?"

"I'm driving, so I'll have some sour plum juice. Are you having any alcohol?"

Li Xiang shook his head, he was still a bit put off about drinking after that fifteen-day detainment for it: "Let's both have sour plum juice, then."

"Thanks for looking after Coal during this time. I toast you in soda for taking care of him while I was detained."

Being detained for more than half a month meant Lin Feifei had looked after Coal for that long. Being a pet owner himself, he knew well the troubles of pet care.

"No need for thanks, you've helped me a lot too. Besides, Coal's adorable. He drinks milk every morning, has canned meat for lunch, and on nights when I have time, I'll make him a nutritious meal. He's gotten so used to staying with me, he might not even want to go back to you."

"That's quite a good deal, isn't it?"

Hearing this, Li Xiang was a bit startled, realizing that Coal was living better than him, joking, "Any chance you'd take in a single guy? I'm easier to please than Coal."

Lin Feifei playfully rolled her eyes at Li Xiang: "Hah, you wish."

"Even swans eat frog meat, why can't I eat swan meat?"

"Haha, no problem, no objection."

Lin Feifei laughed aloud, having just taken a big bite of frog meat, quickly grabbing a napkin to dab her mouth.

Good food cures all unhappiness; Lin Feifei has been quite unhappy at her company recently.

The recent gossip had quite an impact on her, and rumors spread by word of mouth made her restless.

But now, having a meal with Li Xiang, she felt genuinely happy, her previous gloominess completely swept away.

The deliciousness of the frog meat exploded on the palate, giving a great satisfaction to the desire for food.

"Eat slowly, careful not to burn yourself."

"It's so delicious, I've not had such a satisfying meal in a long time."

"Eat as much as you like, their frog meat is quite tender, I'm buying today. If it isn't enough, we can order more."

"Then I won't be polite."

As they finished the main food, Li Xiang and Lin Feifei ordered a vegetable platter as well.

Their table looked like a mess, but they had eaten everything clean.

"What have you been busy with lately?"

"Practice singing, the company is capitalizing on my current popularity and is planning a concert in Lakechuan next month. I was going to bring Coal if you hadn't shown up."

Lin Feifei didn't tell Li Xiang about the grievances she suffered in the company. Besides, this was not the time to discuss unhappy matters when she felt so cheerful now.

Since childhood, she had been through more than people her age, hearing cold remarks all her life, yet it had significantly strengthened her willpower.

If it were someone else in her shoes, they might have developed depression.

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