Xu Ke was taken aback. Wong Qifu's expression was far from friendly, and her sudden words carried the distinct undertone of someone looking for a fight. He had just opened the door when she confronted him with a sharp remark.

This only confused Xu Ke even more, so he simply stepped aside. "Excuse me, Sister Wang, please come in."

Wong Qifu walked straight in. As she passed by, Xu Ke could smell the faint fragrance on her. This was the first time he had seen her since he left the Wang Family Corporation. The woman was still breathtakingly beautiful.

Wong Qifu walked to the table, then turned to look at Xu Ke, her face still an expressionless mask. The room was very quiet. Xu Ke closed the door and approached her. The wind blowing in through the window felt a little chilly.

"Sister Wang..." Xu Ke attempted to start a conversation.

"Don't talk," Wong Qifu cut him off.

Xu Ke shut his mouth.

Wong Qifu glanced at the time and spoke indifferently, "It's midnight. Are you tired?"

Xu Ke was a bit puzzled. "Not really, I'm quite awake."

"Then why were you tired at this time yesterday?" Wong Qifu suddenly stared at him, her gaze sharp.

Her words sent a chill down Xu Ke's spine. Her gaze was murderous. He finally understood where the problem lay.

Just as Xu Ke was about to explain, Wong Qifu cut him off with a scoff. "You can wait for an hour now without feeling tired, but last night, after we'd barely exchanged three sentences, you said you were tired?"

"Xu Ke, back when you were my coach, didn't you tell me you could chat with your little girlfriend until the middle of the night?" Wong Qifu's words were colder than the wind outside, carrying a hint of murderous intent.

An icy dread washed over Xu Ke. He gave a sheepish laugh and tried to explain, "Sister Wang, there's a reason for that. I thought you might be busy, and I didn't want to disturb you, so I..."

"Hmm?" Wong Qifu stared at him.

Xu Ke didn't dare say another word. Only then did he belatedly realize what a huge mistake he'd made yesterday.

After a moment of silence, Wong Qifu finally spoke indifferently. "Don't let it happen again." Then she asked, "Are you angry about having to wait an hour?"

Xu Ke breathed a sigh of relief and quickly shook his head. "Not angry."

Not to mention he wasn't angry in the first place. Even if he were, he wouldn't dare admit it.

"I was very angry yesterday," Wong Qifu cast a cold glance at Xu Ke. She had thought he would eventually realize his mistake and send a message to make amends. In the end, she discovered she had expected too much. Wong Qifu was very angry, and the consequences were quite serious.

Xu Ke was speechless.

"Take this." Wong Qifu picked up a small box from the table and handed it to him.

Xu Ke caught it reflexively, puzzled. "Sister Wang, did you call me over just to give me this?"

"No." Wong Qifu shook her head, a trace of a cold smile playing on her lips.

Xu Ke was taken aback for a second.

"Go upstairs and bring down the steak I was pan-searing. We'll eat at the table outside," Wong Qifu said. After handing him the box, she moved past him and walked out.

"You were pan-searing steak upstairs just now?" Xu Ke asked, surprised.

"Get them," Wong Qifu said succinctly, showing no intention of explaining.

Xu Ke didn't press the matter.

Clutching the small box, Xu Ke didn't open it as he walked up to the second floor. Thinking about the occasional noises he'd heard from upstairs earlier, it suddenly dawned on him that Wong Qifu had been trying to cook steak all along. At this thought, he found it somewhat unbelievable. Wong Qifu, pan-searing steak for me... The very idea sounds fantastical. Moreover, Xu Ke actually felt a little flattered.

After going upstairs, however, Xu Ke realized he was mistaken. The second floor was filled with the smell of something burning, and acrid smoke hung in the air.

Now I know why I didn't realize she was cooking. The range hood was off. He silently switched on the brand-new appliance.

WHIRR.

Xu Ke stared at the two blackened steaks on the plates. If I bring these downstairs, what if Wong Qifu makes me eat both of them? I don't mind having steak for a late-night snack, but if I eat this, my stomach won't survive... That's a pretty big problem.

He considered throwing the steaks away but was worried it would make Wong Qifu even angrier. After pondering her true intention for sending him up here to get the plates, Xu Ke clenched one fist and smacked it into his other palm. She must have wanted me to come up here and remake them.

A little while later, at the dining table outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Wong Qifu swirled the red wine in her glass, gazing at the star-dusted night sky.

Just then, a fragrant aroma reached her. She turned her head and saw Xu Ke approaching with two plates of steak, which he set on the table. They were smeared with sauce—a bit rudimentary and not as luxurious as something from a Michelin-starred restaurant, but at least they looked edible. A barely perceptible smile touched Wong Qifu's lips.

"Sister Wang, you left the steaks in a strange spot. It took me a while to find them," Xu Ke said, sitting across from her and starting to tell a blatant lie.

Wong Qifu stared at him until he started to look guilty, then she averted her gaze. "If you remade them, just say so. There's no need to lie," she said confidently. "It was my first time pan-searing a steak. It's normal to fail. There's no shame in admitting it."

Hearing this, Xu Ke couldn't help but mutter inwardly, Who burns a steak to a crisp the first time they try to cook one?

"Why aren't you talking?" Wong Qifu looked at him. "What? Are you laughing at me in your head?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare," Xu Ke said, waving his hands hastily.

"Good that you don't dare." Wong Qifu picked up her knife and fork, a smile gracing her face. "I was actually planning on making you eat those other two plates."

Xu Ke was speechless. Thank goodness I made the right choice.

Wong Qifu raised her wine glass. "Drink up."

There was also a glass of red wine in front of Xu Ke. He raised his glass. Their glasses clinked. Wong Qifu tilted her head back and drank. The deep red of the wine made her skin seem exceptionally pale and luminous. She was a feast for the eyes.

Xu Ke smiled and took a drink from his glass.

They both set their glasses down and began to quietly cut into their steaks.

"Did you look at what's in the box?" Wong Qifu asked without lifting her head, her tone placid.

Xu Ke paused. "Not yet."

"Open it and have a look."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ke took the box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was a plain, dull-looking ring. But the moment he opened the box, it began to emit a faint red glow.

"What is this?" Xu Ke was stunned. What does this mean?

"Put it on," Wong Qifu said, still not looking up.

Seeing that he wasn't going to get an answer, Xu Ke took the ring out and slid it onto his finger.

His ring finger.

It fit perfectly.

Xu Ke flexed his finger slightly, observing the ring as it occasionally flickered with a soft red light.

Wong Qifu put down her knife and fork and looked at him.

Xu Ke looked back at her.

"The ring finger?" Wong Qifu smiled. "You catch on quick."

"What?" Xu Ke was startled.

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