The sudden turn of events happened too quickly.
Before the four people at the table could react, Xiangling had already bent down to pick up her chopsticks.
This was bad. They had gone too far.
"Lu Lin~"
Ganyu finally lost control, a soft sound escaping her lips.
An overwhelming sense of shame washed over both her and Hu Tao. Their bodies trembled as if something inside them had burst through.
Meanwhile, Lu Lin calmly felt as though he were washing his hands in warm water.
Xiangling picked up her chopsticks and quickly straightened up, her voice trembling.
"Uh—my chopsticks got dirty. I'll go get a new pair!"
She hurried out of the private room as if fleeing from a disaster.
It was too shocking.
In that brief moment—just one or two breaths—she had seen everything.
One of Lu Lin's hands was between Hu Tao's legs.
Another was between Ganyu's.
And even his foot was between Lady Ningguang's legs.
In that instant, Xiangling felt that no complex recipe could compare to the complexity beneath that table.
On the surface, everything looked harmonious.
Underneath, it was chaos.
She could hardly process it.
Weren't they only recently acquainted?
So… was she the only outsider here?
Her thoughts spiraled.
Still… Lu Lin was handsome. And gentle.
What was she even thinking?
She shook her head.
Right. Chopsticks.
Should she even go back?
She hesitated, embarrassed and strangely curious.
But she had invited them. She couldn't abandon her guests.
Convincing herself, she grabbed a new pair and returned carefully.
Inside the Private Room
Hu Tao and Ganyu leaned back in their chairs, breathing softly, eyes unfocused.
Lu Lin wiped his hands with a handkerchief Ganyu thoughtfully handed him.
The air in the room still carried a lingering scent.
Ningguang said nothing, quietly eating strawberries—the very fruit she had claimed not to like.
She had expected minor under-the-table flirting.
Not… this.
What kind of charm did this man possess?
Even after such humiliation, neither Ganyu nor Hu Tao blamed him.
Their bond seemed impossibly tight.
Was this truly the half-adeptus who had protected Liyue for millennia?
Was this the strong young Director who carried Wangsheng's burdens?
Questions filled Ningguang's mind.
Lu Lin calmly withdrew his foot—deliberately brushing her thigh one last time before doing so.
He helped tidy Ganyu and Hu Tao's clothing.
"It's all your fault. You made us embarrass ourselves."
Ganyu leaned softly against him, half complaining, half coquettish.
"It's fine. I'll explain to Xiangling. We're all adults here."
He added pointedly:
"Lady Ningguang is well-traveled and open-minded. Surely she won't take it to heart."
Ningguang's expression remained steady.
"Finding true love is a good thing. I only hope you don't disappoint such fine young women."
Her tone carried meaning beneath the surface.
Lu Lin pretended not to notice.
When Xiangling returned, the room appeared normal again—though the faint atmosphere hadn't fully faded.
As a chef, her sense of smell was sharp. She subconsciously sniffed.
Realizing what she'd done, her face turned red.
The meal resumed awkwardly.
Thankfully, Hu Tao soon revived the atmosphere with lively conversation.
Her newly enhanced eloquence worked wonders.
The tension gradually dissolved.
Despite the interruption, dinner ended on a positive note.
After Dinner
Ganyu and Hu Tao left first, each returning home.
Both were exhausted and decided not to visit the Serenitea Pot that night—perhaps as a playful "punishment."
Lu Lin stayed behind to speak privately with Xiangling.
He asked her to keep what she saw a secret.
"So… Miss Ganyu and Director Hu Tao don't know about you and Lady Ningguang?"
Xiangling was shocked again.
"Not yet. I'll tell them at the right time."
"I… I'll keep your secret."
She lowered her head, blushing.
Despite everything, she didn't feel disgusted.
"Thank you. And don't call me Mr. Lu anymore. Just Lu Lin. We share a secret now."
"Then… I'll call you Brother Lu."
"That works. I'll head out, Xiangling."
He left Wanmin Restaurant.
Outside—
Ningguang stood waiting quietly for him.
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