Around 6 o'clock. Lin Yuan's house.
The two siblings were on the couch playing on their phones. They had already left Ning Qing's house a few hours ago.
"Oh by the way, I'll be having dinner with Ning Qing and a few of our friends." Lin Yuerong got up and stretched.
She glanced at her brother. He usually didn't care about her life, but she thought maybe now it might be different. She was somewhat expectant.
"I already heard." Lin Yuan still had his head down.
"What time will you be home?" He asked.
"Oh, it'll be a bit late but you don't need to wait up, hehe." Hearing that he was actually concerned about her, Lin Yuerong was happy.
"It's fine." Lin Yuan glanced up from his phone, "Are you going to drink?"
"Just a little..." Lin Yuerong was embarrassed, "But my tolerance is very good!"
Actually this was true.
"Should I pick you up?" Lin Yuan didn't know how to drive a car, but he could ride the train very well.
"No it's fine I won't drink that much, plus we'll just be having a meal."
Lin Yuan didn't worry too much, he thought even though his sister was scatterbrained she would be with Ning Qing after all. He didn't know Ning Qing that well, but he could feel that she was very capable.
Lin Yuerong left soon after to pick up Ning Qing, and together they went to the university. Renmin University was relatively close, usually it would take half an hour by high speed rail to go from home to school for Ning Qing.
So it was around 7 o'clock when they reached the entrance of the university.
Du Wei was waiting for them but Zhou Ye was nowhere to be seen.
"Senior Zhou said he would meet us at the restaurant." Ning Qing looked at her phone, "He says he's already picked a place."
"Huh? What is this kid up to?" Lin Yuerong was confused. They had planned to meet first and probably pick one of the nearby hotpot restaurants to have a get together. Now he was going rogue.
"It's fine, Senior Sister. Don't worry, the restaurant is very close anyway." Ning Qing assuaged Lin Yuerong who felt her authority as the eldest was being threatened.
It was only when they finally pulled up to the place that Zhou Ye had given that they realised it was a high end western restaurant.
When Lin Yuerong got out of her car she turned toward Ning Qing who looked elegant in a long dress and cardigan, and then to Du Wei who had styled her hair carefully and put on makeup. It seemed like she was the most underdressed.
Dammit Zhou Ye! How dare you embarrass me?!
"Also why are you guys dressed up so much?! Didn't I tell you we were going to get hotpot?!" She was mainly talking to Du Wei.
"Hehe, this is what I usually wear…" Du Wei chuckled awkwardly.
Lin Yuerong didn't have much time to feel self conscious however because someone was already approaching them. It was a little dark so she couldn't see properly but she could tell it was a handsome man.
Lin Yuerong was already used to this. She glanced at Ning Qing then stepped forward and waved her hand, "Sorry, we're already with someone."
"No it's-"
The man was about to speak but he immediately got interrupted. Lin Yuerong felt she needed to prove her status as the eldest sister, so she continued in an assertive tone.
"- Look, don't make it any more awkward that it needs to be okay, our friend is waiting for us…"
Before she could berate the stranger for not taking the hint, Du Wei pulled her shoulder and whispered quickly, "Senior Sister stop! That's Senior Zhou!"
"Huh?" Lin Yuerong was stunned. She immediately turned to Ning Qing.
Seeing a familiar glint in Ning Qing's eyes, Lin Yuerong instantly knew that Du Wei was telling the truth.
"You're Zhou Ye?! But how is that possible? Where's your glasses and your hair, you cut your emo hair!" Lin Yuerong didn't understand, how could this strange man be her silly junior brother?
Zhou Ye's face twitched.
Ning Qing also smiled.
"Ahah, Senior, it's really been a long time." Zhou Ye composed himself and laughed heartily, he turned to greet the other women, "Ning Qing, Junior Du."
The two of them returned his greeting, and then Ning Qing, seeing that Lin Yuerong was still speechless, beckoned everyone toward the restaurant, "Shall we go?"
So the four people walked to the restaurant chatting amongst themselves. Well, it was mainly Zhou Ye talking to Du Wei and Ning Qing, while Lin Yuerong stared at him silently.
When they reached the entrance, Zhou Ye held the door for them.
"Thank you Senior Zhou!" Du Wei said excitedly. He flashed her a smile in response, but it faltered when he noticed Lin Yuerong still staring at him out of the corner of his eye.
Even when he took everyone to their private room, he could feel Lin Yuerong scrutinising him.
It was only when they all sat down, and were looking through the menu, that Lin Yuerong finally spoke.
"Wow! It really is you!" After some careful analysis, under the bright lights of the restaurant, she could clearly make out the familiar face. But still, how could someone change so much? It wasn't just the face but even the body. Zhou Ye used to be such a scrawny guy.
Did he experience puberty or something? Lin Yuerong was confused, it's not like he left for Germany as a teenager or something, it was only three years ago.
"Aha, of course it's me Senior! Do I really look so different?"
Lin Yuerong nodded seriously, "Yes, you've changed a lot. Ning Qing told me before, but it still surprises me."
"Well it has been three years." Zhou Ye smiled slightly, "Almost four…"
"But you're still the same Senior, and Junior Sister Ning too." He glanced at Ning Qing, "But let's not get too nostalgic, we should order something. I'm starving!"
Zhou Ye took the menu and handed it to Lin Yuerong, "Today is to celebrate Senior's success."
Lin Yuerong took the menu and glanced at the dishes. She didn't know most of their names but she could recognize the price tag clearly.
"Hiss!" Du Wei took a sharp inhale and couldn't help but blurt out. "Everything's so expensive!"
Lin Yuerong nodded. She wasn't frugal when it came to food, but it felt inappropriate especially considering Ning Qing and Du Wei were here.
However, Zhou Ye just waved his hands, and smiled gently at Du Wei "Don't worry, how can I ask you guys to pay? This is my special gift for Senior's game launch. Everything is on me tonight!"
He turned to Ning Qing, "Do you think we should get the foie gras? That's the speciality at this place. Or what about the duck soup?..."
Listening to Zhou Ye speak with Ning Qing, Lin Yuerong was surprised. Zhou Ye had really changed.
It wasn't just that he became more muscular. She didn't notice it through their messages, but he was much more assertive now. He no longer looked down at the ground when talking to people, or hid his eyes behind his long hair. He was straightforward, well styled, and altogether confident.
It was a little uncomfortable.
Lin Yuerong shook away her thoughts. Tonight was meant to be a celebration.
"Alright, alright, everyone let's have fun today!" She turned to Zhou Ye and Du Wei, "So what will you be drinking? Do you just want to get some wine?"
She knew Ning Qing didn't drink so she didn't bother asking her, but surprisingly Zhou Ye also rejected her, "Sorry Senior. I don't drink."
"No way, I can't be drinking by myself!"
"It's fine Senior Zhou, you guys can drink, I'll drive everyone back." Ning Qing added.
But Zhou Ye still insisted, "No it's fine, I don't like alcohol."
Lin Yuerong turned to Du Wei with a dull face.
"Um, uh…I'll have some wine Sister Yuerong." Du Wei said hesitantly.
"..."
In the end no one drank during the meal. Anyway, Lin Yuerong also wasn't a huge drinker.