Otherwise, why would Shi Xinxin want to go to so-called advanced studies in the United States? The goal was none other than to forget Sheng Chenjin completely, to erase him from her memory. This was Shi Xinxin's objective for this trip.
Soon, Xu Jiayi had ordered a whole table full of dishes. Shi Xinxin looked at the waiters placing one dish after another on the table in astonishment.
"Your dishes are all served. Enjoy your meal," the waiter said before quickly leaving.
"Eat up," Xu Jiayi said calmly, picking up his spoon and chopsticks as if to start eating.
Shi Xinxin was still taken aback by Xu Jiayi's "nouveau riche" demeanor.
"Xu Jiayi, do you have to be so extravagant?" Shi Xinxin's mouth still twitched slightly.
Xu Jiayi appeared very composed. "Extravagant? I told you when we entered. My status means I can't go to those small places."
"But you didn't have to order this whole table, and a private room too!" Shi Xinxin felt that Xu Jiayi was truly wasteful. "I'm still not used to this kind of extravagant lifestyle."
"You're not used to it?" Xu Jiayi raised an eyebrow slightly. "When you were with Sheng Chenjin, wasn't your life extravagant?"
Shi Xinxin shot Xu Jiayi a glare. "I told you not to mention that person. Just pretend you didn't hear it. You always bring him up."
Xu Jiayi stuffed a large piece of meat into his mouth. "In any case, I want to give you the best. Since I brought you out to eat, I want you to be happy and enjoy yourself."
As he spoke, Xu Jiayi gestured to the entire room. "The reason I chose this space is that I want to be alone with you, without anyone disturbing us. And this way, you can be yourself and not worry too much."
Hearing Xu Jiayi's words, Shi Xinxin didn't quite know what to say. But since Xu Jiayi had put it that way, Shi Xinxin could only say helplessly, "Alright, alright. Since you've said so. Then I'll be myself now."
A smile appeared on Xu Jiayi's face. "Yes, relax as much as you can. I know you've been repressed for a long time. Let yourself go, Shi Xinxin. Unleash your true nature."
At this moment, Shi Xinxin couldn't help but wonder if Xu Jiayi was a bit silly, having such a neurotic side.
But no matter what, Shi Xinxin wanted to tell Xu Jiayi about her studies in the United States during this time. This was actually a good opportunity.
Shi Xinxin did not, like Xu Jiayi, grab chopsticks and spoons and stuff food into her mouth. Instead, she clasped her hands on the table in front of her chest, looking at Xu Jiayi with a very serious expression.
Xu Jiayi noticed this and asked, "Why aren't you eating? Didn't you say you wanted to unleash your true nature and be yourself?"
"I have something very important to tell you." Shi Xinxin's serious expression made Xu Jiayi pause.
"What is it?"
"I'm going to the United States," Shi Xinxin said directly, picking up on Xu Jiayi's question.
Xu Jiayi didn't seem very surprised by the news. He simply smiled slightly and continued eating.
Seeing Xu Jiayi's reaction, Shi Xinxin found it very strange. "Xu Jiayi, don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
"What do you want me to ask you?" Xu Jiayi countered.
At this moment, Shi Xinxin didn't know what to say. She just looked at Xu Jiayi blankly. "I didn't expect you to be so calm."
"Is it because I pursued you too relentlessly before, so you thought I would be devastated upon hearing this news?" Xu Jiayi asked, looking at Shi Xinxin with interest.
Shi Xinxin quickly waved her hand. "Of course not, of course not. But I'm still surprised by your reaction. However, this is a good thing."
"A good thing?" Xu Jiayi looked at Shi Xinxin, confused. "Why is it a good thing?"
"It means you no longer have any romantic feelings for me, and I'm happy about that," Shi Xinxin said, genuinely excited.
Hearing Shi Xinxin's words, Xu Jiayi was unfazed and continued eating. "So that's what you thought, which is why you're surprised."
Shi Xinxin nodded.
Xu Jiayi smiled slyly. "But I haven't given up on you yet."
Xu Jiayi's words made Shi Xinxin's jaw drop again.
Xu Jiayi continued to explain, "The reason I'm acting so calm is not because I've given up pursuing you. On the contrary, my feelings for you haven't changed at all. It's just that I already knew about this."
Xu Jiayi's words shocked Shi Xinxin even more. "Who told you? How did you know about this?"
Xu Jiayi shrugged, looking helpless. "Shi Xinxin, can't you be a little smarter? I visit your magazine office often. Your director is a fan of mine, so he occasionally leaks some information to me."
"So you already knew?" Shi Xinxin thought about it and realized it was indeed possible. "So you really... you probably knew even before I did."
"You guessed right," Xu Jiayi laughed heartily. "That's right, I knew before you did. When I found out, your director was just about to tell you, so I was a bit earlier than you."
"I didn't know anything." At this moment, Shi Xinxin felt like a fool. She had been thinking about when and how to find a suitable time to tell Xu Jiayi, only to find out that he already knew.
"Actually, to be honest, Shi Xinxin," Xu Jiayi suddenly became very serious, which made Shi Xinxin also become serious.
"What is it?" Shi Xinxin asked nervously.
"I don't want you to go to America," Xu Jiayi told Shi Xinxin with seriousness and gravity. "Being alone in a foreign land is truly hardship, and I can't bear it. When I heard your director say he decided to give you the spot, I tried to object."
Upon hearing this, Shi Xinxin's eyes widened in surprise. The person who was supposed to be surprised today was Xu Jiayi, but to Shi Xinxin's astonishment, she was the one repeatedly being surprised by Xu Jiayi.
"I never thought there was something like this involved," Shi Xinxin muttered in disbelief.
Xu Jiayi smiled slightly. "Do you think I'm scary? You almost couldn't go to America."
"That's because you didn't succeed in stopping it?" Shi Xinxin continued to ask. Originally, Xu Jiayi was supposed to have many questions today, but Shi Xinxin felt so foolish that she had so many questions to ask Xu Jiayi.