Shi Ci has been annoyed to death by Ms. Ding recently. She even wanted to arrange a blind date for her. She didn't know where she got the connections she had developed, but she actually found someone who shared the same "interests and hobbies" as her.
Shi Ci tolerated her urging once, but the second time he said, "If you do this again, I will go back to the United States."
He also added, "I won't come back like that."
Ms. Ding realized that her daughter was angry when she used the honorific "you", so she finally restrained herself temporarily.
Old man Shi also talked to her and taught her a lesson that as a teacher, one must be responsible and set a good example, and cannot just leave like that.
But the older, the wiser. Not long after, Ms. Ding started to act up again. Her tricks were endless and she never fell into the same old routine. She didn't cry or make a fuss. Every night she would call to talk to her, talking about everything from poetry to the philosophy of life, from her father's childhood to her own childhood, from people's livelihood to the US election, and so on. Ms. Ding was a journalist, had worked as an editor, and had published several books. She was best at expressing herself and she never lacked topics.
Before long, Shi Ci couldn't stand it anymore. "Mom, I have my own personal life at night. Can you leave some time for me?"
Ms. Ding: "Aren't you single? What's your personal life like?"
"Besides, it's summer vacation now, so you have even less time!"
Shi Ci exhaled, "…Ms. Ding, please tell me directly, who do you want me to meet?"
From the phone, you can hear Ms. Ding pretending to be calm while trying to suppress her inner excitement, "Well, he's about your age, and he runs a private veterinary hospital. I met him when I took Pudding to take a bath..."
Shi Ci admires Ms. Ding's communication skills very much.
"I'm just going to meet someone."
"Of course, of course. You are in charge of everything from now on."
What else
"I'll decide the time and place."
"Sure, sure. As long as you go."
Haha, oh my go, oh my go, oh my go!
Before Shi Ci hung up the phone, he heard Ms. Ding's uncontrollable smug laughter on the other end of the line.
Shi Hai also knew about this. He patted his chest and said to Shi Ci, "Sister, it's okay. I will rescue you 20 minutes after you go in."
Shi Ci raised his eyebrows, "Okay."
Shi Ci set the time for noon a week later, at a very good western restaurant - Little Rose. It was not in the city center, but was a remodeled old house with two floors and an old courtyard, where many varieties of roses were planted, mainly white. They were carefully cultivated, and retained a bit of wild vitality.
Shi Ci arrived on time and saw that the reserved table was still empty.
She didn't show any expression and sat down first. Just as she sat down, someone came over to the table and said, "Sorry, I'm late."
Shi Ci raised the corner of his lip politely, "No, I just got here too."
Doctor Yang, who was sitting opposite, ran a pet hospital. He was dressed in a neutral style, had very short hair, wore glasses, had a delicate appearance, fair skin, was not tall, and was not thin. He looked at Shi Ci with an expression of amazement that could not be concealed, "You are even more beautiful than in the photo."
Shi Ci smiled politely again.
She never expected, no matter how much she planned, she could not have imagined that the day would come when she, Shi Ci, would need a blind date.
The first time he saw her, Shi Ci knew that Ms. Ding knew nothing about his preferences.
Well, she held on for 20 minutes, hoping that Shi Hai would be of some use.
"Hello, ladies. I am waiter No. 20, Tang Zuo. I will be serving you today. Are you ready to look at the menu?"
When Shi Ci heard the name, he looked over in search of the familiar voice.
Shi Ci doesn't actually eat lunch. She has her own set of eating habits, which have been formed over the years. But if she makes an appointment for dinner, it will be too much like a date. At noon, there are few people who make reservations in this restaurant, and she likes the green plants and roses growing wildly on the second floor of this restaurant.
In such an environment, Tang Zuo wore a simple white shirt and a black hip skirt, with her black hair tied into a short bun at the back, revealing a snow-white face and big, lively eyes.
Waiters in western restaurants have to wear light makeup, and her lipstick-coated lips are like the most delicate rose on the wall.
It really suits this environment.
Shi Ci and the lady opposite took the menu. Shi Ci was in no hurry to open it. She raised her lips and asked, "Summer job?"
Tang Zhuo pursed his lips slightly and called out politely, "Professor Shi."
Hmm? Not Teacher Shi anymore
Shi Ci's smile deepened, and he said to the curious lady opposite him, "She's a student from the same university as me."
"Oh, what a coincidence." Ms. Yang looked Tang Zuo up and down, "She's so cute."
If other girls heard compliments, they might shyly say something like "no" or compliment each other, but Tang Zuo did not react to such words. She said in a businesslike manner, "Do you want me to introduce today's special dishes to the two ladies?"
Shi Ci smiled and agreed with her, "Are there any fresh ingredients today?"
“Scallops and lobster are fresh, and…”
Tang Zhao leaned forward slightly, spoke at a moderate speed, and enunciated her words clearly. Her voice was very clear and transparent, with a bit of the crisp sweetness of a young girl, and was very pleasant to the ear.
Shi Ci listened to the end with a smile, and then said, "We are teachers and students from the same school, there is no need to be so formal, classmate Tang Zuo."
Doctor Yang also smiled, "Yes."
Shi Ci looked at the young girl's expression, her eyelashes drooping, her cheeks slightly puffed up, and she seemed to be a little embarrassed.
Shi Ci thought that this time and the time he "forced" her to date Shi Hai, the little girl must be disgusted with him.
Oh, and that time she fell.
She must have hated him.
What's going on with this inexplicable feeling of joy...
In addition to the appetizer, Shi Ci ordered a lobster and scallop pasta as the main course, and Dr. Yang across from him also ordered sirloin steak. Both of them skipped the dessert.
Dr. Yang just ordered a glass of juice.
Shi Ci looked at Tang Zuo and asked, "Can you open a bottle of wine?"
Tang Zhuo looked at her and answered, "Yes."
Shi Ci stretched out his hand, and the antique square ring on his slender index finger glowed slightly with gold. "Give me the wine list."
"Want to drink?" Dr. Yang asked.
"Have a drink." Shi Ci smiled at her, "Will you come later?"
"Well, I can too. Or I can drink some juice and then I'll take you back later?" Dr. Yang said suggestively.
Shi Ci flipped open the wine list and automatically omitted this sentence, "It's more fun to drink with two people." She just glanced at it and tapped her fingers, "This. One bottle."
Tang Zhuo took a look and was unable to react for a moment.
Doctor Yang was stunned. "Isn't it too expensive?"
A whole bottle of Louis XIII? The market price is more than 20,000 yuan per bottle, and it will be even more expensive here...
Shi Ci looked at the slightly stunned Tang Zuo and said with a smile, "I want this one."
Tang Zhao nodded, put away the menu and wine list, and said, "Ladies, please wait a moment."
Shi Ci watched her back. The shirt and skirt were very tight-fitting. Although she was thin, her proportions were perfect. Her calves were particularly long and her hips were high and upturned. Sometimes her temperament was also brought out by her perfect figure. Although she was still young, her feminine charm was already formed.
"I heard from Aunt Ding that you teach at L University?" Doctor Yang's words rang in his ears. Shi Ci withdrew his gaze and began to socialize politely.
"You have a younger brother, right?"
I almost forgot that I was out for a blind date today. After a few boring conversations, the food was finally served.
Tang Zuo stood straight, walked lightly, and the tray swayed slightly in front of his chest with his steps.
Shi Ci finally agreed that the phrase "beauty is a feast to the eyes" really does exist.
After the dishes were served, she left to serve the wine. Shi Ci had completely forgotten about the 20-minute appointment with Shi Hai.
He showed the bottle of wine to Shi Ci in the wine basket, "Do you want to open it now?"
Shi Ci smiled faintly and nodded.
The wine stopper is in the shape of a three-dimensional royal lily, with a gold-plated neck and a circle of crystals arranged in the shape of water drops. The bottle body and the liquid look like a shell with an amber golden glow.
Of course, bottle opening training is part of the waiter training, but how could such a precious wine be used for practice? Tang Zhao had never seen it before, so she was very nervous. Louis XIII should be the most expensive wine in their store. Few people order it, especially at noon. When she returned to the kitchen just now, the other waiters were all in an uproar, envious of her commission for this order. Even the foreman was startled and came over to ask a few questions, and told her to treat the guests well.
Tang Zhao silently recited the steps he knew by heart, took out the wine bottle, placed it on Shi Ci's right, removed the white orchid-shaped wine cap while wearing gloves, cut the cap along the outer circle of the bottle mouth with a knife, wiped the bottle mouth with a clean napkin, screwed the threaded tip of the wine opener into the center of the cork, stuck it in the node, lifted the handle, and then lifted the cork.
Success! Tang Zhuo cheered in her heart. She relaxed and a faint smile appeared on the corners of her lips like snow melting. It felt like... Shi Ci was thinking about how to describe it - like a liberal arts student solving a math problem, as if facing a great enemy, very serious, calculating step by step according to the math formula in his mind, for fear of missing a number or step.
Too cute. Shi Ci held back his laughter.
When pouring wine, open your palm naturally, hold the bottle, with your thumb facing inwards and your index finger pointing to the bottle mouth, bent at a 60-degree angle with your thumb. The other middle finger, ring finger, and little finger should be lined up side by side, and work with the thumb to hold the bottle tightly, and pour a little into the glass.
Tang Zuo still didn't dare to relax and was still reciting the steps in his mind.
Shi Ci picked up the wine glass, took a sip, savored it for a while, and nodded to Tang Zuo.
The bottle of wine was short and round. Tang Zhao had small hands and was not very skilled in holding the bottle with one hand, so it was still a little difficult for her to hold it with one hand. She concentrated all her energy and slowly poured the wine into the cup next to Shi Ci's hand to fill it 50% full, but one or two drops still splashed out.
Just as Tang Zhuo was about to apologize, the bottle was held by another slender white hand. Shi Ci said naturally, "Let me do it."
Shi Ci took the initiative to pour half a glass for Dr. Yang.
Tang Zuo stepped back automatically.
The waiters cannot be too far away and must always pay attention to the guests and serve them in a timely manner.
From the angle Tang Zuo was standing at, she could directly see Shi Ci and half of the profile of the lady opposite her.
I didn't have time to pay attention to it just now, but after watching for a few minutes, I always feel that the atmosphere between these two people is weird.
She couldn't tell what was strange.
Tang Zuo was looking at him in thought when Shi Ci's eyes just happened to float over and meet his own.
One second, two seconds, then pick up the glass and drink.
Just take a small sip.
She didn't really want to drink.
Tang Zuo could be sure.
So why order wine? And such an expensive one
Is it because I work here
Probably not...
Just as she thought of this, Tang Zhuo saw Shi Ci's eyes falling on her again. There seemed to be some deep meaning in his eyes, and she took another sip of wine.
She wore a dark blue satin shirt with crane embroidery on it, and wide-leg cropped pants of the same color. She looked extremely charming and romantic, and this neutral dress neutralized that charm, adding a unique neatness and handsomeness.
Tang Zuo thought about the three times he had met Shi Ci, each of which was quite brief. He only knew that she was beautiful, and he also knew that others said she was beautiful.
But this was the first time she had looked at her closely and seriously.
The previous conversation with Zhang Zinan flashed through my mind.
"Oh, is Professor Shi really that beautiful in person? I've only seen her in videos."
"video?"
"Yes, the videos of her classes are all in the Department of Mathematics. They are uploaded by the School of Economics and Management. Even Fang Xiuqi and his colleagues in the Computer Science Department are watching them... I've also watched a few."
"She's a professor now?"
"Associate professor! It's only a matter of time before she becomes a full professor. She's amazing, that's what the students in her department call her. Do you want to watch the video of her lectures? I have it! Although I don't understand it!"
"…Isn't it right to call him Teacher Shi?"
"It's not wrong, but the title of teacher is so overused and common in college. We call dormitory managers teachers, counselors teachers, and library staff teachers. Professor Shi is different! She is so beautiful! So amazing!"
Zhang Zinan kept sighing, and then he thought of something, "Tang Zuo! If you agree to Shi Hai, Professor Shi will be your sister!"
…
Just as she thought of this, Tang Zhuo saw Shi Hai really appear, walking past her and heading straight for Shi Ci.
He was wearing a hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, and he looked as youthful as the morning sun.
But he stepped forward, bent down, hugged Shi Ci's shoulders, and quickly kissed her on the cheek, his tone still pitiful, "Baby! Why are you here? Didn't you say you wanted to date me today?"
Doctor Yang on the other side was speechless: "..."
Shi Ci suppressed the twitch of his mouth, glanced at the hand on his shoulder, and looked up at Shi Hai.
This really made Shi Hai feel uneasy.