Chapter 29: Chinese Food

The first dish to arrive was Spicy Chicken.

"Wow, what's this?" Thomas exclaimed, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"Spicy Chicken," Qin Li answered patiently.

Thomas nodded approvingly. "The colors are amazing. So vibrant with the reds and greens."

"That's nothing," Shu Shu interjected, reaching for an empty plate in front of Thomas. She began picking out the chili peppers one by one, seemingly setting them aside for disposal.

Touched by her apparent thoughtfulness, Thomas blushed slightly and said a shy "thank you," clearly misunderstanding her intentions.

Just as Shu Shu was about to question why he was thanking her, Thomas popped a chili pepper into his mouth, chewing with gusto. He'd assumed she had carefully prepared the plate for him.

The women froze for a moment, exchanged glances, and then erupted into uncontrollable laughter.

"What's so funny?" Thomas asked, looking genuinely perplexed.

"Is it good?" Qin Li asked, holding back her giggles.

Thomas nodded earnestly, "Delicious."

Without missing a beat, Shu Shu slid the entire plate of chili peppers toward him. "Don't be shy. Have some more!"

Thomas, oblivious to the sarcasm, eagerly dug in, munching happily. A few moments later, his eyes began to water, and he fanned his mouth, gasping, "It's just... a little spicy."

The women were now laughing so hard tears streamed down their faces. Shu Shu wiped her eyes and managed to choke out, "Is this guy here to audition as a comedian or what?"

Qu Dani clutched her sides, her laughter uncontrollable. "Don't underestimate our foreign friends. Oh my God!"

Thomas looked utterly lost, still unsure why they found his behavior so amusing.

Just then, the waiter brought out the next dish: Boiled Beef in Spicy Sauce. Spotting the chili pepper in Thomas's hand, the waiter cried out in disbelief, "Oh no! You're eating the peppers?!"

Thomas frowned. "What else am I supposed to eat?"

The waiter looked at him like he'd just landed from Mars. "You're supposed to eat the chicken, not the peppers!"

Thomas gawked at him as though the man had just revealed a groundbreaking secret. "Wait... there's chicken in there?"

Ignoring him, the waiter placed the beef dish on the table and warned them solemnly, "For this dish, stick to the beef. Do not drink the soup!"

Hearing this, Yan Sen quietly pulled back the hand he'd extended toward the soup ladle.

Eating Chinese food was turning out to be way more complicated than the two brothers had anticipated.

Feeling a bit sorry for them, Qin Li decided to step in. "Okay, here's the deal. The chilies and peppercorns are for flavor and aroma. Just pick out the meat and enjoy."

To demonstrate, she placed a piece of chicken in each of their bowls.

The brothers hesitated but eventually took a bite. The chicken was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with layers of flavor—spicy, savory, and oh-so-satisfying.

"This is incredible!" Thomas exclaimed, his enthusiasm lighting up the room.

"Then eat more," Qin Li encouraged, smiling.

Yan Sen, not a man of many words, focused intently on picking out the chicken pieces, his chopsticks discarded in favor of a fork for greater efficiency.

Shu Shu, not to be outdone, placed a piece of beef into Yan Sen's bowl. "Try this," she offered cheerfully.

"I'm not crippled," Yan Sen replied flatly, not even looking up.

Shu Shu's face turned beet red, her good intentions backfiring spectacularly.

Qu Dani cackled, her schadenfreude obvious. "Maybe you should just focus on yourself!"

Shu Shu shot her a glare, but the damage was done.

Yan Sen tried the beef and paused. "What is this?"

"It's beef," Qin Li replied, bemused.

Suspicious, Yan Sen chewed slowly, finding the texture surprisingly tender and the taste addictively rich.

"How is it this tender?" he asked.

Qin Li chuckled. "Well, you cut it thin, marinate it with plenty of cornstarch, and balance the fat-to-lean ratio…"

Noticing his bewildered expression, she stopped herself. "Never mind. Just enjoy it."

Yan Sen nodded in agreement, clearly more interested in eating than in culinary lessons.

As more dishes arrived, the table quickly filled with vibrant reds and glistening sauces. Thomas let out a loud "Wow" with each new arrival, his enthusiasm peaking when the centerpiece of the meal was presented: Mao Xue Wang, or Blood Curd Hotpot.

"Mao Xue Wang!" Shu Shu declared, nodding with approval. "This place does authentic Sichuan cuisine."

The dish arrived steaming and vibrant, half the bowl filled with red chili oil. The aroma of spices filled the air, making their mouths water before a single bite had been taken.

Thomas pointed at the ominous-looking bowl and stammered, "Uh... this one... I think I'm scared."

Qu Dani rolled her eyes. "Scared of what?"

"This place isn't secretly a cannibal's den, right? That kitchen isn't hiding a crime scene?"

Qu Dani dismissed him with a wave, shouting, "Dig in!"

The spicy broth, rich and aromatic, brought the group to a reverent silence as they dove in with their chopsticks. The girls shared knowing glances, savoring every fiery, flavorful bite.

The brothers exchanged hesitant looks before joining in.

Thomas picked up a piece of pig's blood and reluctantly took a bite. His face immediately contorted as the spice hit him hard, but there was also something oddly satisfying about it. Despite the burn, he found his chopsticks reaching for more.

"What is this?" he asked, his voice strained.

"Pig's blood," Qin Li replied casually. "Though I prefer duck's blood—it's smoother."

Thomas froze mid-bite, his face a mix of shock and awe. "Wait… this is blood?"

Shu Shu turned to Yan Sen. "How do you like it?"

Yan Sen, in his usual calm tone, replied, "I've lived for thirty years, and this is the first time someone has tried to convince me that one kind of blood tastes better than another."

Shu Shu was at a loss for words.

Qu Dani, meanwhile, turned to Thomas, watching his conflicted expression as he reached for another piece. "You okay over there?"

Thomas sighed dramatically. "It's so weird. It's like... I'm eating some kind of soul-enhancing drug. I want to stop, but I can't."

Qin Li was about to say, It's just a plate of spicy boiled blood curd, why so dramatic?

Then she noticed Yan Sen nodding seriously beside her, his expression unusually earnest. "It really is like that," he agreed.

It made them want to puke, but not eating it… left an unshakable void.

The two foreigners reached a unanimous conclusion: this dish was addictive—probably toxic!

Out of the five dishes, the five foodies polished off every last bite, leaning back with full stomachs and satisfied smiles.

The owner brought out a plate of fruit and the check.

Thomas grabbed the bill, studying it with mock seriousness. As the owner casually asked, "Was everything to your liking?"

Before anyone else could answer, Thomas chimed in. "Everything was great… except for one dish."

The owner's brows furrowed in concern. "Which dish? Let me know, and I'll have the chef adjust it next time."

Thomas pointed at the receipt, specifically at the line for Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork, and said, "This one."

"What's wrong with it?" the owner asked.

"There's no fish in it!" Thomas declared, his tone dead serious.

The owner froze for a moment, her lips twitching between laughter and disbelief.

Qu Dani smacked him on the head. "Idiot! Stop embarrassing us. Pay the bill, and let's leave!"

Thomas, still holding the bill, muttered under his breath, "Why hit me? If there's no fish, why call it 'fish-fragrant'? Isn't that misleading?"

Qu Dani stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words.

Shu Shu pinched his arm. "Moron. If you don't understand something, keep your mouth shut."

Thomas mumbled an obedient "oh" and quietly handed over a hundred-euro note.

Qin Li and Qu Dani exchanged knowing glances, hiding their amusement.

Outside the restaurant, night had fully fallen, but Munich's bustling streets were alive with cars, lights, and crowds. A far cry from the quiet darkness of their rural town.

Shu Shu asked, "So, where are we off to next?"

Thomas perked up. "We're out, so let's hit a bar!"

Qu Dani agreed immediately. "I'm in."

Qin Li turned to Yan Sen. "What about you?"

He nodded. "Okay."

And so, the group dove headfirst into Munich's nightlife.

Munich's bars were diverse—some were quiet spots for drinks and conversation, while others had dance floors where patrons could let loose. They ended up in an Irish pub, the kind with a lively atmosphere where you could drink and dance.

As soon as the three Asian women walked in, a few whistles cut through the air.

Feeling the attention, Qin Li couldn't help but think, Scarcity really does increase value.

Since Yan Sen was the designated driver, he ordered four pints of dark beer and a cola for himself.

Qin Li took a sip of the beer and immediately scrunched up her face. Bitter!

Noticing her expression, Yan Sen asked the bartender for another glass. He poured half of his cola into her beer.

When Qin Li's wide, dark eyes landed on him, he gestured for her to try again. "Now taste it."

She hesitantly sipped the concoction, and her face lit up. The sweetness of the cola balanced the bitterness, making it surprisingly enjoyable.

Shu Shu pushed her glass toward him. "No favoritism! I want some too."

Qu Dani smacked her hand away. "Stop butting in. Let them have their moment."

Shu Shu pouted dramatically, while Thomas offered, "How about I just get you another cola?"

She huffed in mock indignation.

The bartender brought over a plate of snacks. Seizing the moment to lighten the mood, Thomas turned to Yan Sen. "Hey, remember the game we used to play as kids?"

Yan Sen's lips twitched in a rare smile. "I remember."

Thomas picked a peanut from the plate and tossed it toward Yan Sen, who leaned forward and caught it in his mouth effortlessly.

Thomas hurled five or six more, and Yan Sen caught every single one with perfect precision.

The women stared, their mouths agape.

They never imagined this usually stoic man could play such a childish game—and be so good at it!

Thomas was thoroughly enjoying himself, throwing peanuts from varying distances and angles, sometimes even climbing onto the chair for better leverage.

Qin Li finally couldn't help herself. "How old are you two?"

Thomas beamed. "This is how we've bonded since we were kids."

"Well, you two must have a great relationship," Qin Li remarked dryly.

"Of course!" Thomas declared with pride.

Qu Dani's gaze shifted to a stack of UNO cards at the bar. "Why don't we play a game of UNO?"

Shu Shu dismissed the idea. "Why play UNO? Let's do Truth or Dare. What do you think?"

Thomas jumped at the idea. "Yes, yes! Let's do that!"

Qin Li raised a brow at him. "You're really into this, huh? Did Shu Shu catch your eye? You agree with everything she says."

For once, Thomas's face flushed red, and he awkwardly spun an empty beer bottle on the table.

The bottle spun in circles before landing squarely on Qin Li.

"Truth or dare?" Thomas asked with a smirk.

"Truth," Qin Li replied without hesitation.

Thomas, clearly taking his chance for revenge, asked, "Do you like my brother?"

Qin Li shot him a glare and responded immediately, "No."

Yan Sen's gaze flicked toward her, his expression unreadable under the dim lighting.

Thomas shook his head dramatically. "You've wounded my brother's pride."

Qin Li crossed her arms. "I'm just being honest."

Sensing the awkwardness, Qu Dani quickly interjected, "Alright, next round!"

A few turns later, the bottle pointed at Yan Sen.

"Dare," he said coolly.

Without missing a beat, Qu Dani blurted, "Kiss someone!"

Her intention was obvious—she wanted him to kiss Qin Li. But Shu Shu chimed in, "You can choose from any of the three of us!"

Qin Li, noticing his gaze linger on her, chuckled nervously and looked away.

In the end, Yan Sen kissed no one. Instead, he downed his cola in one gulp and stood abruptly.

Thomas, startled, asked, "Where are you going?"

"Dancing," Yan Sen replied over his shoulder, leaving them with nothing but his retreating back.

Shu Shu groaned in disappointment. "That's cheating!"

Qu Dani tugged her toward the dance floor. "Give it up. He's just not into you. Come on, let's dance."

Dragging both Shu Shu and Qin Li with her, the three made their way to the pulsating heart of the bar.

Qin Li, however, wasn't much of a dancer. She fumbled to match the beat, her movements clumsy compared to Qu Dani and Shu Shu's effortless rhythm.

While she was lost in thought, a pair of hands suddenly gripped her waist. Startled, she turned to see Yan Sen standing behind her.

She forced a smile. "You guys go ahead. I was just about to head to the—"

Before she could finish, Yan Sen grabbed her hand and spun her out, pulling her back with a firm tug. As she leaned back, he leaned forward, their bodies moving in sync with surprising ease.

Then, with the crowd watching, Yan Sen tilted his head down and kissed her.

It wasn't like the dream—vague and distant. Nor was it like the cold, clinical rescue kiss by the river.

This was warm, deliberate, and undeniably real.

His lips parted hers gently, his tongue teasing hers with a sweetness that tasted faintly of cola. The kiss was intoxicating, leaving Qin Li breathless and flushed.

As they broke apart, her cheeks burned with embarrassment, her heart pounding wildly.

Leaning close to her ear, Yan Sen whispered in a low, teasing voice, "You really don't like me? Hmm?"