With global currency devaluation, I'll wear these back and take my whole family flying!

"If this happens frequently, won't you feel annoyed or angry after a while?"

Tang Song asked this question with unusual caution, which shows that he cared about it a lot.

Shen Ci simply shook her head indifferently: "I would not completely rely on a man for my emotional value. You may not like to hear this, but it is indeed the case for me."

"It's good to have each other's company, but if not, I have many other things to do. You can put your work first, and I won't just revolve around you."

She spoke these words with remarkable frankness, even with a touch of nonchalance.

But in the not-too-distant future, while the two were having a good time, Tang Song suddenly received a phone call, put on his clothes, and left. Only then did she realize that she had spoken too soon!

That's such a disappointment!

But at this moment, her words did reassure Tang Song quite a bit.

Before long, all the dishes were served. They were all new fusion dishes, some of which had unique ways of being eaten. Tang Song patiently taught her how to eat them and even thoughtfully peeled shrimp for her and picked all the crab meat out of the shell before placing it in front of her.

He doesn't talk much, but he pays attention to detail in everything he does.

Meanwhile, several people were leaving a private room at the back of the shop, and Li Xiao was among them.

As if sensing something, even though he could have turned right and left with his friend, his gaze inexplicably drifted to the corner by the window on the left as he entered the store's lobby, and the only person he saw was Shen Ci.

He paused slightly, his steps unconsciously halting.

He has hardly left the house these days. Since being "forced" by Lin Biqi, his condition has worsened. His once handsome face has become much more weathered. He only came out today to accompany his childhood friend on his birthday.

What a coincidence!

"What's wrong, Xiaozi?"

His childhood friend put his arm around his shoulder and asked with curiosity.

At this moment, Shen Ci suddenly turned her head. For some reason, Li Xiao's subconscious reaction was to hide himself. He quickly turned his head to avoid Shen Ci's gaze, and shook his head with a somewhat dejected and flustered expression: "It's okay, let's go."

He seemed to have lost his previous confidence and relentless courage, because he knew he was no longer worthy!

His childhood friend, oblivious to anything amiss, chuckled and said, "I thought you'd seen someone you knew. Tonight, we're going to '3CC'. I had the PR person reserve all the pretty girls for us. You've broken up, you can't skip it tonight, don't spoil the fun for your bro."

Li Xiao didn't hear a word his childhood friend said; he just wanted to leave as soon as possible.

"I also bought movie tickets after dinner," Tang Song suddenly said to Shen Ci. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Don't you think my date arrangements are a bit old-fashioned?"

Seeing how serious he was asking the question, Shen Ci found him rather endearing at that moment.

"If it's a horror movie, then it is indeed a bit old-fashioned."

Tang Song quickly replied, "It's a science fiction film."

Shen Ci raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and smiled, "Inviting a girl to watch a sci-fi movie is something else, but you got lucky, because I like it. My favorite movie is 'Interstellar.'"

Tang Song's eyes lit up: "Me too!"

Their eyes met, and at that moment Tang Song felt as if his soul resonated with Shen Ci's, causing his heart to skip a beat.

This was the first time Shen Ci had seen such a clear change in expression on Tang Song's face. His eyes were beautiful, and the overflowing joy he had just displayed made his bright pupils resemble stars in the sky, bringing him to life.

However, during this movie, the two of them were genuinely just watching a movie.

Throughout the Tang and Song dynasties, Tang and Song officials sat upright and composed, displaying remarkable gentlemanly conduct, without even engaging in any ambiguous or suggestive advances.

Shen Ci was both amused and exasperated. She laughed at herself for not being able to deny the anticipation she felt, but she cried at Tang Song for being so clueless in such an atmosphere.

When the two returned to the dormitory building to say goodbye, Shen Ci looked him in the eyes and asked directly, "Were you pretending to be a gentleman or a real gentleman at the movie theater just now?"

Tang Song also lowered his head slightly to look at Shen Ci, paused for a moment, and then said, "Pretentious."

Shen Ci laughed in disbelief, but she was happy to hear this answer.

"Thank you for bringing me back. I had a great time on my date today."

Upon hearing this, Tang Song's expression relaxed, and he subconsciously asked, "Are you satisfied with me?"

Shen Ci glanced at his face and said, "Whether I'm satisfied with you or not remains to be seen; it's too early to draw conclusions now."

Tang Song was stunned for a moment before he realized what was happening, and a meaningful expression appeared on his face. Had he just been teased by Shen Ci?

Shen Ci smiled, waved goodbye to him, and then ran into the dormitory.

Tang Song looked at her back, and his handsome features softened a bit.

Back in the dormitory, Shen Ci opened the door and saw Pili had returned. Before she could even greet her, Gu Lianxing looked up at her with her eyes swollen like walnuts and brimming with tears.

Shen Ci was startled: "What's wrong, Lianxing? Why are you crying?"

Upon seeing Shen Ci return, Gu Lianxing cried even harder, rushing forward to hug Shen Ci tightly and sobbing, "It's so tragic, she's so pitiful!"

Shen Ci looked completely bewildered, casting a questioning glance at Pili with three question marks hanging above his head.

Who's worse off?

Who is pitiful?

Pili sighed helplessly and pointed to himself: "She's talking about me."

"what?"

Shen Ci blinked, puzzled, and quickly straightened Gu Lianxing's body: "Pili is still here, it's not appropriate for you to cry like this, is it?"

Pili shrugged and said nonchalantly, "She insisted on asking me all sorts of questions, so I told her my story. But before I could finish, she started crying and begging me to stop."

That should be a tragic story, right? But judging from Pili's reaction, it seems like she, the person involved, doesn't care at all.

Pili had to tell Shen Ci the story again. In short, Pili's background was very tragic. She lost both her parents when she was young, and none of her close relatives were willing to raise her. In the end, it was her father's good brother, Master Chen of Baolin Martial Arts School, who adopted Pili.

At that time, her name was Jin Cancan. Later, after Master Chen taught her martial arts, she changed her name to Pili.

Practicing martial arts is extremely arduous. From childhood to adulthood, Pili has never gone a day without injuries, but she never complains because she knows that she has no one to rely on but herself. This is also the original intention of Master Chen in making her learn martial arts to become stronger, so that she can protect herself when she grows up and no longer be the abandoned child who is passively chosen.

Just six months ago, the teacher's wife, who had treated her like her own daughter since childhood, suddenly fell ill with a rare terminal illness and was admitted to the ICU. The exorbitant costs forced the family to the brink of despair. Master Chen had to sell his ancestral home, and Pili also chose to secretly fight in underground boxing matches to earn money.

It was this very background that made Gu Lianxing cry uncontrollably.

"Hey, stop crying, it's like I'm dead!" Thunderbolt said.