Song Wenhui said with a smile, "Chen Jin, Xin Xin has moved in next door to you. I'm planning to have her get acquainted with you, so I'm bringing her to a banquet. You know Xin Xin doesn't know anyone in A City, so I'm afraid she'll be bored."
Sheng Chen Jin's eyes instantly darkened.
Song Wenhui noticed and explained awkwardly, "Xin Xin isn't used to interacting with strangers, that's why I wanted her to go."
She paused and continued, "Of course, I won't force her. If she doesn't want to, I won't let her go."
With that, Song Wenhui gave Shi Xin Xin a look.
Shi Xin Xin bit her lip and finally conceded.
She slowly stood up and looked at Sheng Chen Jin, "Auntie, since this is your kind offer, I'll attend this banquet."
"So good!" Song Wenhui praised her with relief, then said to Sheng Chen Jin, "Chen Jin, I'll go back and change first. You two chat, I'll be back later."
After saying that, Song Wenhui turned and left.
After Song Wenhui left, Sheng Chen Jin glanced indifferently at Shi Xin Xin, "If you didn't want to go, why didn't you say so?"
Shi Xin Xin said softly, "I don't want to cause you any trouble because of me."
Sheng Chen Jin sneered sarcastically, with a hint of mockery, "Do you think I'm causing trouble for you?"
Shi Xin Xin looked up at him, her voice trembling, "Aren't you?"
"Of course not. If I told you I didn't want to get married, that I didn't want to marry you, do you think you would still stay by my side?"
Shi Xin Xin's face turned pale, and she forced a smile, shaking her head, "No, I've known for a long time that I'm not good enough for you, and the gap between us is too wide. I dare not ask for too much, let alone try to climb up to you. Don't worry, I'll keep my promise and won't tell your grandparents."
Sheng Chen Jin's gaze sharpened, "Then why are you still living here? Do you know? I can't wait to throw you out."
Shi Xin Xin pursed her lips and said softly, "Because I'm an orphan, I have no family, no one to rely on. I'm alone in A City and have nowhere to go. And I don't want to lose this job, I really need it to support myself."
A hint of surprise flashed in Sheng Chen Jin's eyes. He stared at her, suddenly feeling pity, "So you'd rather inconvenience yourself to stay by my side?"
Shi Xin Xin nodded heavily, then looked at Sheng Chen Jin, "Young Master Sheng, I know I'm stupid and can't do anything you ask. I can only work hard and hope that one day you'll see my worth."
Hearing Shi Xin Xin's words, Sheng Chen Jin felt a strange feeling.
But he couldn't quite pinpoint what was strange.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint appearing in them, his thin lips pressed together.
After a moment, he finally spoke indifferently, "I'm hosting a banquet tomorrow night at the Century Grand Court, which is under Hua Sheng. Wear a gown and come. I don't mind if you're not suitable or not beautiful."
Shi Xin Xin was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded, "Yes, thank you, Young Master Sheng."
Shi Xin Xin's reaction slightly surprised Sheng Chen Jin.
He had expected to see her reaction, but he hadn't anticipated her accepting it so calmly.
Looking at her, he felt a moment of disorientation, even thinking Shi Xin Xin was acting.
But upon further reflection, he knew Shi Xin Xin wasn't acting.
She truly didn't want any entanglement with him, which was why she had agreed to her mother's request.
Sheng Chen Jin ignored the bitterness in his heart and smiled faintly, "Since you agree, I'll have someone pick you up when I get back from work tomorrow, at seven in the evening."
"Okay," Shi Xin Xin nodded.
Sheng Chen Jin asked again, "Have you eaten?"
"Not yet," Shi Xin Xin shook her head, then asked, "Young Master Sheng, I was thinking of going back to cook some noodles. What about you?"
"Me too. We can eat together," Sheng Chen Jin smiled.
Shi Xin Xin blinked, "Ah?"
Sheng Chen Jin narrowed his eyes, looking at her with a clear gaze, "What? You don't want to?"
Shi Xin Xin quickly waved her hands, "No, how could I not want to? It's just that I don't know what to make."
Sheng Chen Jin said, "Just make a couple of bowls of noodles. What flavor do you like?"
Shi Xin Xin said, "Shredded pork with green peppers and mushroom and egg, is that okay?"
Sheng Chen Jin smiled, "Yes."
Shi Xin Xin breathed a sigh of relief. She thought she would be rejected.
After all, how could a man of Sheng Chen Jin's noble status eat something like noodles?
However, she was grateful that she had specifically learned how to cook today.
She remembered when she was little, she would go grocery shopping with her mother. Every time her mother asked her what dish she liked, she would list her favorite dishes.
So, even though she couldn't cook now.
She could still make instant noodles.
"I'll go to the kitchen and help you chop the scallions," Shi Xin Xin said, picking up a knife and heading into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Sheng Chen Jin leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets, watching Shi Xin Xin busy herself.
The hum of the range hood was exceptionally loud in the quiet space.
His gaze became deeper and more complex. Looking at Shi Xin Xin's busy back, his eyes moved slightly.
Shi Xin Xin poured the chopped scallions into the pot and stirred them evenly with chopsticks.
Then, she poured some water into the pot. When the water boiled, she added seasonings.
She made a simple version of instant noodles, and quickly prepared three bowls of fragrant instant noodles.
Sheng Chen Jin washed his hands and came out. Shi Xin Xin had already placed two bowls of noodles on the dining table and gestured for him to come over.
"Young Master Sheng, try my cooking!" Shi Xin Xin smiled and gestured for him to sit opposite her.
Sheng Chen Jin looked at the steaming, enticingly fragrant instant noodles, his eyes flickering slightly.
He didn't reach for the bowl. Instead, he looked up at Shi Xin Xin, "Did you cook this?"
"Yes!" Shi Xin Xin nodded, then pointed to one of the bowls, "Try it. If it's not good, I'll clear it away immediately."
Hearing this, Sheng Chen Jin frowned, then walked to Shi Xin Xin's side and picked up the other bowl.
He gracefully and calmly picked up a strand of noodle and put it in his mouth.
After chewing a few times and swallowing, he asked Shi Xin Xin, "How is it?"
Shi Xin Xin looked at him somewhat nervously, "How is it? Is it bad?"
Sheng Chen Jin shook his head, "It's quite good, but..."
Shi Xin Xin eagerly interrupted him, "But what? Are you afraid of spicy or do you dislike it?"
Sheng Chen Jin looked at Shi Xin Xin and suddenly felt like laughing, "Why are you in such a hurry? Didn't you say you would do whatever I asked?"
Shi Xin Xin was embarrassed, "I'm just worried."
"Don't worry, it's not bad," Sheng Chen Jin smiled faintly.
Shi Xin Xin breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good. Then let's eat."