Inside the private room, Hua Cheng watched An Ning with a sincere expression, awaiting her answer.
An Ning retorted, "Why are you afraid of me?"
"I'm not— That's respect. Respect from the bottom of my heart."
Hua Cheng, who had just spouted nonsense without thinking, let out a couple of awkward laughs.
"Heh heh heh, it's true I can't beat you in a fight, but I really do admire you from the bottom of my heart."
An Ning glanced at Hua Cheng, then looked away. "You have good taste."
"Ah— Thank you, thank you!"
The two made some half-joking small talk, but they quickly ran out of things to say.
After a few more sentences, Hua Cheng suggested they order some food. However, An Ning, who had already eaten three steamers of shumai, wasn't the least bit hungry.
She looked at Hua Cheng and asked, "Are you hungry? We could also just wait for Jiang Xia to get here."
"Ohhh—"
That one drawn-out, winding "ohhh" made An Ning's eyes narrow. She waited for Hua Cheng's explanation.
