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Tang Wulin scanned the humble little shop, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"I never expected someone like you, Master Xie, to frequent a humble street-side eatery like this."
Xie Xie's steps faltered slightly. His voice softened, almost imperceptibly:
"My mom… she used to love the Clay-Pot Beef here."
His fingers gently brushed the slightly worn wooden table.
"Every once in a while… I still come here to eat."
Without another word, he strode to the farthest table by the window and sat down with practiced ease.
Tang Wulin paused—then quickly followed, taking the seat beside him.
Fang Yang, holding Gu Yue's hand, came next and sat across from them.
Gu Yue, ever perceptive, noticed that Xie Xie's chosen seat gave a clear view of passersby through the window—yet remained just distant enough to feel private.
"Ah! Little Xie's here!" a middle-aged shopkeeper in a grease-stained apron hurried over, wiping his rough hands on his apron. His face broke into a warm, familiar smile. "Brought friends this time! Same as always?"
"Yeah, thanks, Uncle Li," Xie Xie replied, lifting his head—and revealing a gentle smile Fang Yang and the others had never seen before.
Moments later, four steaming clay pots of beef, bowls of glistening white rice, and two small side dishes were set on the table.
Rich, savory fragrance instantly filled the small space.
"Little Xie," Uncle Li said, ruffling Xie Xie's hair with his calloused hand, eyes full of affection, "this is the first time you've ever brought friends. These two side dishes are on me."
"Thank you, Uncle Li!" Xie Xie bowed his head gratefully.
To Fang Yang and Tang Wulin's astonishment, the usually fastidious, almost germophobic Xie Xie didn't flinch from Uncle Li's slightly oily hand.
This side of Xie Xie shattered their image of him entirely.
"I… uh…" Tang Wulin was speechless.
Once Uncle Li left, Xie Xie quickly urged, "What are you waiting for? Eat up!"
He lifted the lid of his pot—releasing a wave of rich aroma.
Inside, dark-golden broth swirled around tender cubes of beef.
A light poke with chopsticks—and the beef fell apart instantly.
He deftly placed a dripping piece onto his rice—his movements so practiced, so familiar.
Tang Wulin eagerly followed suit—and his eyes lit up the moment he tasted it.
Fang Yang took a bite and couldn't help but exclaim: "This is incredible!"
The beef's depth, the broth's savory richness—perfectly balanced by the plain rice—exploded into pure joy on the tongue.
Gu Yue took a small bite—her eyes flickering with quiet surprise.
Seeing this, Fang Yang immediately transferred some beef from his bowl to hers.
"Don't you like it?"
Gu Yue tilted her head slightly—a strand of black hair slipping from her shoulder.
"You're not eating?"
Fang Yang smiled softly. "You like it—so have more."
The moment the words left his lips, Xie Xie suddenly found his food lost all flavor.
A faint blush colored Gu Yue's pale cheeks.
She picked up a piece of beef with her chopsticks and held it to Fang Yang's lips.
"You… you eat too."
Fang Yang blinked—then opened his mouth without hesitation, his lips brushing the chopstick tip.
That tiny contact made Gu Yue's ears burn crimson.
She quickly withdrew her chopsticks, pretending composure as she placed another piece in her own mouth.
Xie Xie and Tang Wulin watched, utterly stunned.
"I've learned something," Tang Wulin thought, "I'll save this move for Senior Sister."
Xie Xie, however, had reached his limit.
Watching Fang Yang and Gu Yue feed each other was too much dog food to swallow.
He raised his voice: "Uncle Li! Four more servings, please!"
"Coming right up!" boomed the reply from the kitchen.
And so, in this modest shop, under dim yellow light, at worn wooden tables, four friends sat together.
Though the setting was simple, the food was astonishing.
Beef, broth, side dishes, rice—
each bite warmed them from within, turning an ordinary night into something precious.
Three months of training had forged a deep bond between them.
"Thank you," Fang Yang suddenly said softly. (T/N: Also pronounced as 'Xie Xie' in Chinese)
Xie Xie looked up, his bangs swaying gently. Confusion flickered in his eyes. "Fang Yang… what?"
"I wasn't calling your name," Fang Yang chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm thanking you—for bringing us to such a special place."
Xie Xie's expression suddenly twisted into something bittersweet.
His eyes reddened. His voice dropped low.
"My name… Mom gave it to me. She said… she chose 'Xie' to remember her first meeting with Dad—the happiest moment of her life…"
"But…" His voice cut off abruptly.
His face paled. His grip on the chopsticks tightened visibly.
"Your mom… she…" Fang Yang's heart clenched—words stuck in his throat.
Xie Xie's lips trembled.
"Dad was always busy—even when Mom was dying, he was away on business."
His voice grew quieter, heavier.
"Her last wish… was just to see him one more time. But he… came back too late."
A tear splashed onto the table.
Xie Xie's voice cracked with suppressed grief:
"I'll never forget that night… Mom crying, her eyes full of regret… as she let go of my hand."
His shoulders began to shake uncontrollably.
"I hate him! And I hate my name! If they'd never met… maybe Mom wouldn't have…"
He collapsed onto the table, sobbing.
The proud, aloof boy—here, in this place—finally let his guard down, revealing the pain he'd hidden for so long.
Just then, Uncle Li returned with more steaming pots.
Seeing Xie Xie weeping, he sighed deeply.
"This poor child… His mom used to bring him here all the time."
He set the pots down gently, voice thick with pity.
"Ever since she passed, he's always come alone. Every visit brings back memories… Don't blame him, alright?"
Uncle Li wiped his hands on his apron, eyes glistening.
"Today, seeing him with friends… my heart is truly glad. He's so young, yet carries so much weight… Please, look after him."
A heavy silence followed.
"Don't cry," Fang Yang and Tang Wulin said in unison, each placing a hand on Xie Xie's shoulders.
Gu Yue stood quietly nearby—her usually cold eyes now filled with complex emotion.
"Is this… what human feeling truly is?"
After a pause, she pulled out a tissue and placed it before Xie Xie.
"Xie Xie… stop crying," she said softly. "I'll make Fang Yang treat you."
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