Chapter 12

After Xiao Bing had been busy for a while in the noodle shop, he invited Zhang Yizhi out and to the small noodle shop of the Su family.

The noodle shop was not large, with seven or eight tables in the main hall and two small private rooms inside, each capable of seating five or six people. Xiao Bing had reserved one of these rooms and asked Wang Guifang, who was in charge of the kitchen, to prepare two small dishes to go with the alcohol, a plate of peanuts, and a pot of hot noodle soup. After everything was ready, Zhang Yizhi also entered, leaning on his cane.

Zhang Yizhi glanced around the hall, where a few groups of college students had already filled the seats. Seeing Zhang Yizhi enter, Xiao Bing immediately went up to him, "Old Zhang, this place can't compare to the grand banquets you usually have in the capital."

"Indeed," Zhang Yizhi seemed genuinely impressed, "This is what eating feels like. It seems there are no empty tables, though."

Xiao Bing smiled, "Look, how could I let you stand and eat? I reserved a private room for you."

Zhang Yizhi nodded slightly and, with Xiao Bing's support, walked to the private room.

It was usually very difficult for the powerful figures in the capital to invite Zhang Yizhi to a grand banquet. If they knew he was dining in such a small noodle shop with just one person, they would be so surprised their jaws would drop.

Once inside the private room, the dinner was already prepared. Xiao Bing closed the door and looked at Fuye, smiling, "Brother Fuye, you can sit down too, there's no one else here."

Zhang Yizhi smiled, "Don't make it hard for him, he's not used to it."

Xiao Bing glanced at Fuye and said helplessly, "You're from the Death Angels in Africa, one of the top experts there. How can you be so stiff?"

Fuye did not respond, not even looking at Xiao Bing, as if he hadn't heard or seen him, treating Xiao Bing as if he were air.

Zhang Yizhi smiled, "Don't blame him. Even in our country, especially those who have come from the military, there are very few men as unrestrained and free-spirited as you."

Xiao Bing corrected him seriously, "No, there's no one else like me."

Zhang Yizhi laughed, "That's right, there's no one else like you... Although I don't understand martial arts, I've heard that martial artists rarely spend too much time on women. But you were once a famous playboy in the capital, how many women were entangled with you? The princess of the Eagle Kingdom, the Hollywood actress from America, and the so-called most beautiful woman in the capital..."

Xiao Bing interrupted, "No... I'm not as promiscuous as you think. I always pass through the flowers without a single leaf sticking to me. Sometimes, when a man is too excellent, he can't help but be remembered by some women, especially someone as handsome as me."

Zhang Yizhi chuckled, "You're still the same as before, nothing has changed. I was worried that Pei Ya's incident would have a big impact on you, but now I'm relieved."

Mentioning Pei Ya, Xiao Bing sighed, raised his glass, and while Zhang Yizhi took a small sip, he drank a full glass of white wine in one go. When he put down the glass, he started coughing violently, his face turning a sickly red.

Zhang Yizhi looked at Xiao Bing, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes showing concern, and he sighed, "Your body isn't well yet..."

"I won't die," Xiao Bing put down the glass and smiled indifferently.

"You shouldn't drink like that. You're supposed to be drinking with me, not using alcohol to drown your sorrows."

Xiao Bing's face brightened, and he laughed, "Don't worry, Old Zhang, I've already let it go."

"Really let it go?" Zhang Yizhi asked, "You two had a good relationship."

"Yes! But the day before yesterday, I met someone, a girl... After talking to her, I've completely let it go, but there's still one last thing on my mind."

"Revenge?"

"Exactly, revenge."

Zhang Yizhi sighed, "The girl who helped you must be extraordinary."

Thinking of Yezi, her playful smile, her mischievous eyes, and her intelligent gaze, Xiao Bing felt a warm feeling in his heart, and his tone softened, "She's a very smart, cute, and beautiful girl."

Zhang Yizhi was amazed, "I've known you for so long, and I've never heard you praise a girl like this. I'm curious to meet her."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Xiao Bing looked at the door, "Come in."

The waitress, Li Hong, opened the door and walked in. Xiao Bing teased her with a smile, "Sister Hong, are you also here to join us for a meal?"

Li Hong stuck out her tongue and said, "Someone outside wants to eat the noodles you made."

Xiao Bing didn't show any displeasure but was a bit puzzled, "I said I wouldn't make the special noodles tonight. They can come back tomorrow if they want to eat them."

"But... but this person says she's your friend, and her name is Yezi."

That little girl had actually come. The image of the delicate and playful girl flashed in Xiao Bing's mind, and he suddenly felt an urge to go out immediately. But Old Zhang was still sitting here...

Xiao Bing cleared his throat, pretending to be hesitant, "She's my friend, and it's not easy for her to come here... But I haven't finished my meal with Old Zhang yet. It wouldn't be right to leave now..."

Even a fool could see that Xiao Bing's heart was no longer here. Zhang Yizhi shook his head and smiled bitterly, "It's fine, go take care of your friend. I can continue eating here..."

"Oh, okay, I'll be back in a bit!" Xiao Bing didn't hesitate at all and rushed out like the wind.

The three people left in the room looked at each other in shock. The kind of person who could leave Zhang Yizhi behind for a woman was probably unique in all of China.

Zhang Yizhi sighed, "He wasn't like this before. I'll finish this meal and then go see what kind of girl is worth his excitement."

When Xiao Bing came out of the private room, Yezi and two other girls were sitting around a table, with a few bottles of drinks on it.

Besides Yezi, the other two girls looked to be around twenty years old. One was wearing a denim outfit with a heart-shaped face, and the other was wearing a white floral dress with a round, doll-like face. Both were quite attractive, with the charm of youth and vitality.

As for Yezi, she was wearing a black dress and white crystal shoes. Standing there casually, she radiated a brilliant light. Her beauty wasn't stunning, but her bright eyes and beautiful smile were enough to make anyone's heart flutter.

When Xiao Bing came out, the round-faced girl was still complaining, "Yezi, we haven't eaten dinner, and we've been waiting for you. Are you only going to treat us to noodles?"

Yezi smiled, "I heard the noodles here are very good, and many classmates have come here before."

The girl in the denim outfit smiled, "The noodles here are indeed very good. I've been here twice before. I remember the noodles were made by an auntie, but they said they can't make noodles now. We shouldn't wait here with empty stomachs. Let's order something else or go to another place to eat."

Yezi smiled sweetly, "No matter what he's busy with, I guarantee he'll come out in less than two minutes."

Xiao Bing touched his nose, wondering where this girl got such confidence. Thinking about how he had rushed out, leaving the respected Old Zhang in the private room, he felt a bit embarrassed. Just as he was hesitating whether to go over immediately, the little girl noticed him, and her mischievous smile was like a fox spotting a rabbit, making it impossible for him to escape.

Yezi waved her delicate hand, "Brother Bing, over here."

The two girls' eyes lit up when they saw Xiao Bing. The heart-shaped face girl looked at Yezi and smiled, "No wonder you insisted on waiting for the noodles. It turns out the noodle maker is a handsome guy. What did you call him just now? Brother Bing? He really has a military aura, and he's very handsome and mature. Come on, tell us, how did you meet your Brother Bing?"

Yezi rolled her eyes at the heart-shaped face girl and pouted, "He's not Brother Bing, his name is Xiao Bing, and I call him Brother Bing."

The heart-shaped face girl laughed, "You even know his name. Oh, it looks like we're here to be the third wheel."

The round-faced girl also teased, "Why don't we go back?"

"No, no one can leave. I'm treating you to this meal," Xiao Bing smiled and walked over, extending his hand, "Hello, I'm Xiao Bing."

The heart-shaped face girl stood up and shook his hand, "Hello, I'm Xu Wenting, you can call me Tingting."

The round-faced girl also shook Xiao Bing's hand, her small, plump hand feeling soft. She looked at him curiously and said, "I'm Chen Yuanyuan."

"Wow... Chen Yuanyuan, the one who brought disaster to the country?" Xiao Bing was stunned. How talented were her parents to give her such a name?

Xu Wenting laughed, "She didn't bring disaster to the country, she's just round."

"Xu Wenting, you're always making fun of me. I'm cute, not round. I'll tear your tongue out..." Chen Yuanyuan pouted and pounced at Xu Wenting, who quickly ran away, heading towards the door. The two girls started chasing and playing.

Xiao Bing and Yezi exchanged a smile. Yezi deliberately put on a helpless and annoyed face, "They're my classmates and best friends. They're still young and don't know any better."

"Do you want to eat noodles?"

"Um-hum." Yezi blinked her big eyes, "I said I would come to see you, and I want to eat the noodles you made."

Yezi's big eyes made Xiao Bing lose his composure for a moment. His mind was slightly dazed, and when their eyes met, it seemed to spark a strange kind of chemistry.

Xiao Bing smiled, "I'll make them for you."