A Fiery Trap

Despite the playful struggle, Bai Zhiyue ultimately prevented Chen Sishi from getting her way. Defeated, Chen Sishi puffed out her cheeks and settled glumly onto her chair.

Watching the two girls bicker, Lin Yi found himself unexpectedly amused.

They settled at a four-person table, secluded and semi-enclosed, with partitions offering privacy on either side.

Once the food was ordered, Lin Yi grew restless. He cast a sidelong glance at Li Yan, who was completely absorbed in his game.

Meanwhile, Chen Sishi and Bai Zhiyue, seated across from him, hadn’t once averted their eyes. He felt as if he were prey, fixed under the predatory gaze of two wild beasts, and a shiver ran down his spine.

“Um… would you like anything to drink? I’ll go get it for you.”

“Didn’t I say I’m treating? Tell me what you want, I’ll fetch it.”

With those words, Bai Zhiyue promptly headed to the counter. Lin Yi’s hopes of making a quick escape vanished, leaving him to exchange an awkward smile with Chen Sishi.

Li Yan, who had been fully immersed in his game, stole a quick glance at the unfolding scene. He then wiped the smile from his face, feigning urgency.

“Alright… you two chat. I need to use the restroom.”

With that, Li Yan rose to his feet. As he departed, he gave Lin Yi a pointed, encouraging look. Lin Yi felt utterly dumbfounded.

‘We vowed to face life together, brothers for life,’ he thought, ‘so why are you running now?’

Witnessing this exchange, Chen Sishi couldn’t help but inwardly chuckle. ‘Li Yan isn’t so bad after all,’ she mused, ‘at least he knows when to make a discreet exit.’

“Um… Sishi, is there something on my face?”

Hearing this, Chen Sishi tilted her head.

“No, why?”

“Then… why are you staring at me?”

As the words left his lips, Lin Yi felt his heart pound frantically. His body began to tremble uncontrollably, fearing what audacious move Chen Sishi might make next.

Chen Sishi covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. For some reason, she found Lin Yi’s flustered state rather endearing. It only intensified her desire to claim him as her own.

A pang of regret struck her that she hadn’t brought *that* medicine today. If only she had, she could have been with Lin Yi forever.

“What… what are you laughing at?”

“Oh, nothing, nothing at all. Just thinking of something amusing.”

“Why do I have a feeling that your ‘amusing’ thought is actually quite dangerous?”

He muttered a silent complaint, just as Bai Zhiyue returned with four bottles of peanut milk. Catching sight of them, Lin Yi was inexplicably reminded of the incident at the hot pot restaurant.

“Here, for you.”

Tossing one bottle to Lin Yi, Bai Zhiyue then placed the remaining three bottles of peanut milk to the side. Lin Yi gazed at the drink in his hand, then at the trio of bottles on the table’s edge, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

‘Bai Zhiyue should have given one to Chen Sishi first, right? Why did she give it to me?’

As if sensing Lin Yi’s gaze, Bai Zhiyue met his eyes and spoke.

“Why are you looking at me? I don’t even like drinking it.”

This made it even more peculiar. Bai Zhiyue didn’t like peanut milk, yet she bought four bottles and deliberately tossed one to him. Clearly, something was amiss.

His gaze flickered between the two girls, yet Lin Yi couldn’t discern anything out of the ordinary.

When Lin Yi’s attention wavered, Bai Zhiyue nodded, discreetly pulled out her phone, and sent a message to Chen Sishi.

[Bai Zhiyue: Sishi, I knew you wouldn’t bring *that* thing. I tampered with the bottle I gave him. Just entice him to drink it later.]

Chen Sishi offered no reply, merely casting a sidelong glance at Bai Zhiyue. Their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them.

After an indeterminate wait, the dishes began to arrive, yet Li Yan still hadn’t emerged from the restroom. Cold sweat beaded on Lin Yi’s forehead; he truly couldn’t endure much longer.

While idly spinning the bottle moments earlier, he had inadvertently noticed a tiny, almost imperceptible hole. It was a testament to Lin Yi’s keen eyesight that he spotted it at all.

This drink had almost certainly been tampered with. If he actually consumed it, he might not live to see the sunrise tomorrow.

Feigning boredom, he glanced at his phone, then secretly sent a message to Li Yan.

[Lin Yi: Did you fall into the toilet? Get out, I can’t hold on much longer.]

After sending the message, Lin Yi cautiously picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks. This dish was served by a waiter; surely, it hadn’t been tampered with…

As he pondered anxiously, Lin Yi’s phone suddenly vibrated. He impatiently swiped open the screen, and upon seeing Li Yan’s reply, his mood immediately soured.

[Li Yan: Huh? Sis-in-law is that fierce?]

[Lin Yi: Damn it, if you don’t come out now, you’re in for it!]

[Li Yan: Hey, Brother Lin, I’m creating an opportunity for you, why are you…]

[Lin Yi: Enough talk! I need to see you in two minutes!]

Lin Yi finally understood. Li Yan wasn’t in the restroom at all; he was likely just hiding inside, playing games.

“You two go ahead and eat. I’m going to check if that kid Li Yan fell into the toilet.”

With that, Lin Yi headed straight for the restroom. The two young women exchanged a glance but made no move to follow.

“Sishi, why aren’t you making a move?”

Bai Zhiyue’s gaze was filled with confusion as she looked at Chen Sishi, who merely shrugged helplessly.

“Lin Yi probably won’t drink it. He only bought that bottle to counteract spiciness. If he avoids spicy food, he generally won’t touch it.”

Bai Zhiyue’s eyes gleamed at this revelation. A mischievous, almost wicked, idea instantly sparked in her mind.

“That’s easy then. While he’s away, we can secretly mix chili into the other dishes.”

“Excellent idea!”

****

Just as Lin Yi reached the restroom entrance, Li Yan emerged. The sight of him instantly filled Lin Yi with exasperation.

“Did you have a good meal in there?”

“Ahem, Brother Lin, what’s with you? I was trying to create an opportunity for you. Why are you so uncooperative?”

“Get lost! Who asked you to ‘create opportunities’ for me?”

The two bickered good-naturedly as they returned to their seats. This time, Lin Yi had a stroke of genius. He reached for an unopened drink, feigning that it was for Li Yan.

Without the two girls noticing, he deftly swapped the tainted drink for an untampered one, passing the problematic bottle to Li Yan. Unaware, Li Yan accepted it and set it aside.

Finally, a breath of relief escaped him. Lin Yi cautiously picked up a morsel of food, placed it in his bowl, and meticulously examined it. Only after confirming nothing seemed amiss did he take a bite.

The dish tasted unexpectedly spicy, causing Lin Yi to frown. He tried another, but it, too, carried a distinct kick. By the time he had sampled every dish, his brows were tightly furrowed.

A fiery sensation bloomed in his mouth, spreading like wildfire through his entire body. Cold sweat pricked Lin Yi’s forehead from the intense heat.

Could this restaurant specialize solely in spicy cuisine?

Still bewildered, Lin Yi managed a few more bites of rice before he could no longer tolerate the burning. He twisted open the bottle cap and took a small sip.

He dared not drink too much; if he consumed too much without any apparent effect, it would only arouse Chen Sishi and Bai Zhiyue’s suspicions.

‘Just a small sip shouldn’t cause me to collapse on the spot, right…?’

As he thought this, Lin Yi subtly glanced at Chen Sishi’s face. Indeed, the amusement in her eyes was practically overflowing. It was a good thing he had covertly swapped his drink with Li Yan’s.