In a city as vast as Shanghai, the odds of running into the same person at two different restaurants on two consecutive days were so slim that even without studying probability, Meng Chu knew how unlikely it was.
Shanghai had a permanent population of nearly 25 million.
Meng Chu could hardly believe it was truly such a coincidence.
But she also knew Cheng Jinyu wouldn’t be following her.
If only this kind of luck could apply to her lottery tickets instead.
The real question now was-was this man really Cheng Jinyu?
The quickest way to find out would be to message Cheng Jinyu directly.
But what if she was wrong?
How would she explain it?
“Oh, I’m just so popular that I ran into some one who sent me an Australian lobster at a random restaurant!”
The mere thought of that scenario made her cringe.
And if it really was Cheng Jinyu, that would be equally mortifying.
After all, tonight she had been inexplicably set up on a blind date by her father.
Lost in thought, Meng Chu remained silent until Li Huaiqian, sitting across from her, noticed and asked, “Is that someone you know?”
Prompted by his question, Meng Chu turned back to the waiter.
“Did that gentleman mention which ‘Cheng’ he is?”
The waiter thought carefully before shaking his head.
“Sorry, he didn’t say.”
“If he’s not a friend of yours, we could have the dish removed,” Li Huaiqian offered, noticing her hesitation.
The waiter quickly interjected, “Sir, if you don’t want the dish, we can take it away. But the payment won’t be refunded to the gentleman who ordered it.”
Even the experienced waiter seemed to sense something unusual.
She couldn’t help but press her lips together as she spoke.
*
After all, a man suddenly sending an Australian lobster to a couple dining together?
It reeked of provocation.
A love triangle?
“Wait a moment,” Meng Chu said, stopping them.
“Let me check something.”
Her phone was already in her hand, her WeChat open.
But she hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard-typing, revising, deleting.
Finally, she steeled herself.
Better to face the music now than drag it out.
Just as she was about to send the message, her phone vibrated first.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
Above the half-written message she had been agonizing over, a new notification appeared.
From Cheng Jinyu.
A single, succinct yet loaded symbol:
Cheng Jinyu: 【? 】
Meng Chu didn’t have time to wonder why he had suddenly messaged her.
She quickly typed back: 【Can I ask where you are right now?】
She wasn’t going to ask directly-better to approach it indirectly.
His reply came swiftly.
Cheng Jinyu: 【Checking up on me?】
The moment those words appeared on her screen, Meng Chu felt her breath catch.
Blood rushed to her head, scattering her thoughts into chaos.
Her cheeks and ears burned with a scalding heat.
Checking up on him?
What kind of relationship did they have for her to be “checking up” on him?
And yet, she couldn’t exactly deny it—she was his newlywed wife.
Across the table, Li Huaiqian watched as Meng Chu, engrossed in her phone, suddenly flushed a deep red.
The blush spread from her neck to her cheeks in seconds.
He suddenly grew curious about the person she was texting at that moment.
Did this person know their mere words could cause such a transformation in someone?
In the end, Meng Chu decided to ignore those two words.
Meng Chu: 【Perhaps you’re dining at a restaurant near the Bund right now?】
Seizing the moment before Cheng Jinyu could reply, she glanced up at Li Huaiqian across the table.
“Sorry for being on my phone so much.”
After all, they weren’t that close, and constantly texting during a meal was impolite.
But Li Huaiqian seemed understanding.
“It’s better to clarify things. Though this lobster isn’t cheap, it’s not great to owe a favor for no reason.”
He probably guessed that it might have been sent by one of Meng Chu’s friends.
Or perhaps an admirer?
Some women were so beautiful that even having a partner didn’t deter suitors.
Just then, her phone buzzed again.
She picked it up and opened the message.
Cheng Jinyu: 【Guess?】
Again, just two words.
But this time, they hit her like a blunt strike to the back of her head.
Was he toying with her now?
Or was he only capable of replying in two-word increments?
Biting back her irritation, she was about to respond when another message arrived.
Cheng Jinyu: 【Mhm.】
This time, just one word.
But it was the word that settled everything.
Knowing it was from him, her heart finally steadied.
Because if it was Cheng Jinyu who sent it, she didn’t have to worry.
What she hated most before were the inexplicable bouquets or gifts that would appear at the company reception-awkward to deal with, with no clear way to return them.
But as for Cheng Jinyu…
Meng Chu stared at the massive, crimson lobster head on the table, now merely a decorative piece after cooking.
She thought to herself—if she could accept a diamond ring worth millions, eating a lobster was nothing.
Smiling at Li Huaiqian, she said, “Let’s eat, Senior. I’ve got it figured out.”
Li Huaiqian asked kindly, “All cleared up? No issues?”
“It’s fine, it’s just my…” She paused, the word husband lingering unspoken on her lips.
“Your friend is too generous. This lobster looks like it weighs several pounds-probably the biggest one in the restaurant. To send something like this out of the blue…”
A trace of helplessness flickered across Li Huaiqian’s lips.
“I almost feel guilty, benefiting from your connection.”
His words flashed through Meng Chu’s mind like lightning.
As if reminding her.
Right-why had Cheng Jinyu suddenly sent her a lobster?
She looked again at the enormous, scarlet lobster head on the table and suddenly understood.
This wasn’t just a lobster.
It was a warning.
And she, the one being warned, had only just pieced it together.
Of course.
Imagine walking into a restaurant and seeing your newlywed yet still unfamiliar-wife seated at the most romantic table by the window, overlooking the Bund’s dazzling nightscape, across from a strange man.
In that scenario, anyone would feel a shade of green creeping over their head.
But someone like Cheng Jinyu, so aloof and dignified-how could he possibly resort to something as crude as a confrontation?
So instead, he sent a lobster.
A small but unmistakable reminder.
Ha. Now, seeing things from Cheng Jinyu’s perspective, it all made perfect sense.
This time, Meng Chu didn’t think she was overanalyzing things.
Though she lacked experience in intimate relationships, she couldn’t possibly misinterpret signals every single time.
“You’re right, this is indeed too valuable. I should go thank him personally,” Meng Chu said apologetically to Li Huaiqian.
“Please enjoy your meal, I’ll excuse myself for a moment.”
If Meng Chu had any red line, it would probably be anything related to cheating or infidelity.
Just the thought made her stomach churn.
While today’s incident wasn’t her fault, she didn’t want Cheng Jinyu to misunderstand.
She couldn’t wait another second—she had to explain things to him immediately.
On the balcony, the evening breeze was gentle.
The winds by the Huangpu River in late August were so pleasant they made one want to close their eyes in contentment.
Meng Chu leaned against the more secluded edge of the balcony, gazing at the night view across the river.
This Western restaurant’s fame came precisely from its riverside location and balcony seating.
Just minutes ago, she’d sent Cheng Jinyu two messages:
【Are you free to meet】
【I’m waiting on the balcony】
She hadn’t even used a question mark in the first message, hoping Cheng Jinyu wouldn’t refuse her.
But after standing on the balcony for several minutes without him appearing, she was about to take out her phone to message again when she suddenly noticed a figure approaching.
Dressed entirely in black, he should have blended into the night, yet he stood out like a luminous pearl-the moment he appeared, he effortlessly drew all eyes toward him.
At the balcony tables where groups of girls sat, all eyes were fixed on him.
Their gazes held no restraint.
Seeing Cheng Jinyu, Meng Chu turned slightly toward him.
Today, unlike usual, she hadn’t tied up her hair.
She’d washed it that morning but hadn’t had time to blow-dry it properly.
By the time she reached the office, she’d forgotten to tie it up.
The evening breeze playfully lifted strands of her raven-black hair, sending silky locks dancing in the air.
As Cheng Jinyu stopped beside her, the surrounding stares only intensified rather than diminishing.
“I didn’t expect you’d be dining here today too,” Meng Chu said, initiating conversation since she’d been the one to invite him out here.
Cheng Jinyu gave a low hum of acknowledgment: “Just happened to be having dinner with friends.”
Meng Chu: “The same ones from yesterday?”
This time Cheng Jinyu lifted his eyes to look directly at her, suddenly smiling slightly.
He said, “Yes, the same ones from yesterday. No one else.”
Only then, from his emphasized “no one else,” did Meng Chu belatedly realize the implication of his words: “So you really came to check up on me.”
“No, I was just asking casually.”
Meng Chu tried to keep her expression as nonchalant as possible.
After all, she really had just been making conversation.
“Actually,” Meng Chu remembered the main reason she’d come to the balcony.
But she’d barely gotten two words out when Cheng Jinyu rested his hands on the railing.
Leaning forward slightly, he turned his face toward her:
“When I came in earlier, I saw you discussing something, so I didn’t approach. My friends had preordered two Australian lobsters, so I sent one over for you to try.”
“I hope I didn’t interrupt your work discussion?”
Cheng Jinyu’s gaze held hers—those usually cold, unapproachable dark eyes now brimming with sincerity.
Meng Chu quickly shook her head: “No, not at all…”
“That’s good,” Cheng Jinyu seemed to relax slightly, his deep voice carrying an extra magnetic quality in the night air: “When I got your WeChat message, I thought maybe sending the food had disturbed your work.”
Meng Chu: “…”
Meng Chu, look at the mess you’ve created.
This is the perfect embodiment of “measuring the mind of a gentleman with one’s own mean standards”!
This is exactly what “taking kindness for ill intent” means!
Here it is!!!!!
For the first time, she realized these sayings could be so vividly personified.
And she was the one who started it all.
For a moment, indescribable emotions churned in her heart.
No wonder he was so successful in his career.
In this situation, his concern wasn’t about her infidelity—it was about disturbing her work.
Because Meng Chu was now overwhelmed with guilt, she felt she still needed to explain.
“The reason I asked you to meet me on the balcony was to clarify things.”
“Clarify?”
Cheng Jinyu seemed to pick up on something.
He straightened slightly, resting his elbows on the railing this time, one long leg propped slightly forward. His posture was like a drawn bow-cool and sharp.
Meng Chu: “Tonight’s dinner was originally set up as a blind date, arranged by my dad. But you know my family situation—after he remarried, we haven’t been in close contact. So he had no idea about my circumstances and went ahead with this matchmaking.”
This time, Cheng Jinyu lowered his gaze slightly and stayed silent.
Meng Chu thought he was upset anyone would be in this situation.
She understood.
So she quickly clarified: “I made it clear from the start. I told them I already have a partner.”
“You have a partner,” Cheng Jinyu repeated her words, almost verbatim.
Meng Chu choked.
This was the second time!!
If Cheng Jinyu now believed she was going around flaunting her marriage, she’d really have no way to defend herself.
But to prove her innocence, she still nodded.
Then, as Cheng Jinyu looked her up and down, he suddenly let out a soft laugh.
“Well, you’re not wrong.”