C11 Go to the Hotpot

Last time we went out to eat, Tongtong seemed a bit wary of spicy food, but this time, I'm determined to take her out for some!

"How about we go for some hot pot? I haven't had it in ages, and I'm really craving that flavor," Fu suggested, glancing at Tongtong beside her.

Tongtong hesitated, a bit awkwardly, "Maybe not. Hot pot can be a bit much, and we just got our hair done. It'll end up smelling like the food!"

"No worries, I don't mind. But if you're not up for it, maybe we should skip dinner together today. I wouldn't want to force you into something you're not comfortable with," Fu smiled at Tongtong. "Besides, if we don't share the same tastes, how are we going to hang out in the future?"

"Oh, come on! I'm just a little concerned, but it's not like I can't eat it at all," Tongtong clapped her hands, pretending to be enthusiastic. "Let's go! I'm throwing caution to the wind for my best friend—hot pot it is!"

"Great, Tongtong, you're the best! By the way, you have to fill me in on Fenng Yun's preferences too!" Fu said as she pulled Tongtong into the hot pot restaurant.

They got a private room, a space meant for a dozen people, just for the two of them to enjoy their meal.

The server came over with the menu and asked, "What kind of broth would you like? We have a mild mushroom broth and a spicy one. You can choose the nine-grid style or individual pots."

"Of course, we have to go for the spicy pot, the spicier, the better!" Tong Fu eagerly ordered the base, "And make it a big pot with sections, so we can really enjoy it together!"

"Alright, please hold on a moment."

A few minutes later, the server brought out the pot. The surface was covered with a thick layer of chili oil, with peppers floating on top. The dipping sauces were brought into the private room, allowing them to add whatever they liked.

Mao Tongtong asked the server for a pack of kitchen napkins to keep nearby. Once everything was ready, Tong Fu enthusiastically dipped lamb and beef into the pot, while Mao Tongtong hesitated, not quite ready to dig in.

"Come on, eat up! Don't be shy! If you're worried about the cost, I'll cover it this time. You can treat me next time, how about that?" Tong Fu pulled out a secondary credit card from her bag, smiling happily. "Honestly, Feng Yun is something else, giving me a secondary card like this. I have my own money and don't need to spend his. But he cares about me and wants me to live comfortably. What can I say?"

"A secondary card? He actually gave you one!" Mao Tongtong's eyes lit up, as if she understood something. "Yeah, Feng Yun is really wealthy, much more than most people! I remember you mentioned you were with him for the influence? If that's the case, you must also care about his money, right?"

Tong Fu set down her chopsticks and glanced at Mao Tongtong. "What do you mean?"

"Don't overthink it, I mean no harm. It's just that we're good friends now, and sometimes it's nice to have a heart-to-heart. Fenng Yun is quite wealthy, isn't he?" Mao Tongtong said casually, picking up some vegetables to dip into the hot oil.

"Yes, we're best friends now, so we should be able to talk about anything. Honestly, I'm not that focused on money; I'm more interested in his influence. Of course, with influence, money isn't an issue. He mentioned a few days ago that he hopes I can work at his company, so he can see me anytime. I'm really torn about it. Do you think I should go?"

Tong Fu added another plate of lamb to the pot. The strong flavor was something Mao Tongtong couldn't stand.

"You should definitely go. Your relationship with Fenng Yun is great right now, so it makes sense," Mao Tongtong said, pinching her nose and taking a sip of juice, feeling overwhelmed by the aroma.

Tong Fu smiled softly and took out the vegetables Mao Tongtong had cooked earlier, placing them in her bowl. "I thought you'd never had hot pot before! I didn't expect you to be such a pro! Hot pot is best with lamb, beef, and veggies. Especially these greens—they soak up the spice and flavor so well. It's such a treat! Dig in!"

Mao Tongtong carefully picked out a few pieces of lettuce, placing them on a paper towel in the kitchen to soak up the oil, and glanced awkwardly at Tong Fu.

That day, Tong Fu ate heartily, while Mao Tongtong left the hot pot restaurant with a frown. Someone like her, who preferred dining in upscale restaurants with expensive meals, couldn't understand the appeal of a place with such strong flavors. To her, hot pot, with its communal dipping, was downright unappetizing.

But Tong Fu saw things differently. Among all foods, hot pot was her favorite.

The two parted ways in front of the department store.

"Let's call it a night! I need to head back. Thanks for dinner today, and next time, it's on me! The hot pot was really delicious, thanks a lot!" Tong Fu said with a smile as she hailed a cab, leaving under Mao Tongtong's forced and insincere gaze.

As the taxi drove away, Mao Tongtong was nearly driven mad by the lingering smell on her clothes.

"Oh my gosh! Tong Fu, just you wait, I'm going to get back at you for this!"

That evening, Mao Tongtong used an excessive amount of body wash and sprayed herself with perfume after her shower. She also had the maid wash her dress and hang it out to dry on the balcony.

Actually, Tongtong would never wear that outfit again, so she usually gave it to the maids at home.

At Feng Yun's villa, Tong Fu had just taken a shower and changed into her pajamas. She sat on the bed, browsing job listings and chatting with her good friend, Liao Wen.

Around ten o'clock, Feng Yun called.

"I heard you went to see Tongtong today. What did you two do?" Feng Yun asked coolly.

Thinking about the day's events, Tong Fu felt quite pleased. "Oh, we didn't do much. Tongtong wanted to make up, so we got our hair done and had a meal together. Oh, and we had hot pot! She kept saying how delicious it was. I'm thinking of inviting her for another meal next time," Tong Fu said with a smile, showing no hint of sarcasm.

However, Feng Yun had known Tongtong since they were kids. Even though he didn't like her much, he was familiar with her habits. A princess like her would usually turn her nose up at such flavors, so how could she possibly enjoy hot pot?

Feng Yun couldn't help but chuckle and said to Tong Fu, "Well, you've been behaving these past few days. Get some rest. I'll be back at the office tomorrow, so come by and report in."

"Sure, no problem." Tong Fu waved goodbye to Feng Yun and hung up the phone.