Cen Chi let out a soft sigh.
“Things were going fine at first, but ever since he found out I liked him… something changed. Maybe he was just toying with me. And once he had me, he lost interest.” There was a faint trace of despondency in Cen Chi’s voice as he said, “It’s the kind of thing that makes you love and hate someone all at once.”
Chi Zhan found himself wavering again. Cen Chi’s expression looked too genuine, too sincere—it chipped away at his previously firm resolve.
“He’s asleep next door. Why don’t we all have a meal together later?” Cen Chi suggested. “I want to introduce the person I like to you.”
“…Alright.”
Chi Zhan had originally planned to put some distance between them. But curiosity got the better of him. Just who was this player who had the heart to reject Cen Chi?
As it turned out—such a person really did exist.
When the player woke up and Cen Chi extended the invitation to dine together, Qi Wen froze for a beat, then replied coldly, “I don’t want to eat with you, Doctor Cen. Let’s not see each other again.”
And with that, he turned and walked out.
“…?”
Cen Chi spread his hands with a helpless smile.
“See? That’s how it is. He couldn’t even be bothered to lie to me.”
Chi Zhan was stunned. Was there really someone out there who hated Cen Chi this much?!
“Sorry you had to witness that,” Cen Chi murmured, his gaze lowered, looking so fragile in that moment. “Ah-Zhan, I’m sorry. Let’s go eat.”
Chi Zhan paused, then nodded.
“…Alright.”
They returned once more to that couple’s restaurant near the hospital. The place was unusually packed today. Due to a mix-up by the staff, the table Cen Chi had reserved had been given away. The manager looked visibly troubled and asked if they would mind switching to a smaller table.
Chi Zhan didn’t care one way or the other. But when they reached the new table, Chi Zhan started to notice something felt… different.
The table was rather narrow; when they sat down, their knees almost immediately brushed against each other. A bouquet of red roses sat in the center, and even the menus were shaped like little hearts.
Only when he glanced around—at the couples all around them whispering sweet nothings, eyes full of affection—did he realize.
This was the couple-exclusive section.
The restaurant was divided into three zones: business, friends, and couples. Each area had its own unique decor. The couple’s section was infamous for its romantic atmosphere—it was even a popular place for confessions. That reputation was part of what made the place so trendy.
Chi Zhan suddenly wanted to strangle his past self for saying, “Anything’s fine.”
“Maybe we should just pick another place,” Cen Chi offered. “Although the food here is really good…”
“Forget it. It’s just a meal. No need to make a fuss.”
Seeing how downcast Cen Chi looked, Chi Zhan didn’t have the heart to push the issue further.
Cen Chi nodded. While Chi Zhan was asking the waiter about the dishes, Cen Chi’s lips curved slightly at the corners.
This method… was clearly working quite well.
***
Chi Zhan flipped through the menu. It only listed set meals for two: A, B, C, and D. He figured that must be a feature of the couple’s section. Not wanting to make the decision himself, he gave the menu to Cen Chi.
“My treat today—you choose.”
The recently heartbroken deserved special treatment.
Cen Chi accepted the menu. The waiter, who had been quietly observing them, suddenly spoke up.
“Oh! Mr. Cen!”
“You’re a regular here,” the waiter said with a smile. “But you always eat in the business section. This is the first time I’ve seen you in the couple’s area.”
Chi Zhan blinked. Cen Chi didn’t explain. He simply set down the menu and looked at Chi Zhan.
“Is Set A okay? It has cilantro and carrots.”
Chi Zhan had no objections.
“I’m not picky. Anything’s fine.”
“Set A, then. No white radish or shredded ginger,” Cen Chi instructed.
The waiter took the order with a bow and left.
Cen Chi rested his chin on one hand and gazed at Chi Zhan. The intensity of his stare made Chi Zhan a little uneasy.
“What is it?”
“I just realized… Ah-Zhan is pretty easy to feed,” Cen Chi said with a grin. “Unlike me—I’m a nightmare. There’s a ton of stuff I won’t eat.”
“I never noticed before. What don’t you eat?”
“Lots of things.” Cen Chi began listing them in a leisurely tone. “No animal skin or organs. No green peppers, eggplant, white radish, or loofah. Nothing with minced meat. No ginger either. And…”
He trailed off, adding more and more to the list, until Chi Zhan was floored.
“You never mentioned this before.”
“Didn’t want anyone to find out. It’d ruin my image. I mean, I’m a doctor—people expect me to set a good example with healthy eating. It wouldn’t look good if I were a picky eater.”
“So why bring it up now?” Chi Zhan asked with a laugh.
“Because I think…” Cen Chi blinked at him, voice soft, “maybe Ah-Zhan would accept even the worst parts of me. Even my picky habits.”
The atmosphere of the couple’s section had a way of seeping into one’s skin. The tables were built narrow—just sitting upright was enough to occasionally bump knees. Every little accidental brush stoked the air with tension.
A quiet intimacy blossomed without warning.
The other diners were clearly all real couples, completely at ease with the ambiance. But the two of them—thrown into the middle of it—felt painfully out of place, and yet switching seats now would only make things more awkward.
Chi Zhan’s heart fluttered. For some reason, it started to beat a little faster.
“Of course. I’m your friend. Naturally I’d accept your flaws.”
Thanks to Qi Wen, Chi Zhan had let down some of his defenses around Cen Chi. But he still kept a mental line between them. After all, the System had clearly warned him—Cen Chi’s favorability score was too high. That weight still lingered in his chest.
He wasn’t sure whether he should tell Cen Chi. But since Cen Chi already had someone he liked… maybe it wouldn’t hurt?
Chi Zhan discreetly scooted his chair back a little, giving them a bit more space. It helped, but only barely. Their knees and ankles still occasionally brushed beneath the table. Cen Chi, meanwhile, hadn’t moved an inch—he just kept getting bumped into.
Having legs that long came with its own challenges. Nowhere to put them.
Physical touch was the fastest way to generate chemistry between two people—especially when there was nothing else to distract the senses. Everything outside seemed to blur, as if the entire world had faded into the background.
It was too awkward to apologize, but staying silent made it worse.
