"Five," Yu Sicong corrected. "You always ordered the spicy beef noodles and pretended not to cry when they made you tear up."
Fu Jian blinked.
"And you'd ask for a second boiled egg but pretend it was for 'protein,' even though you just really liked the yolk," Yu Sicong added with a grin.
Fu Jian stood frozen in place. "You… watched me?"
Yu Sicong shrugged.
"Back then, I liked you in secret. Watching you eat was the highlight of my week. You were always quiet here, so I figured this place was special."
Fu Jian lowered his gaze, heart thumping uncomfortably fast. "I didn't think anyone noticed."
Yu Sicong held the door open.
"Come on. Let's get you something real to eat. No tiny portions. No fake compliments. Just noodles."
They walked in together. The shop was nearly empty—just a sleepy old man behind the counter and the faint hum of a TV playing reruns in the back.
The smell of rich broth and freshly made dough wrapped around them like a blanket.
